What is one thing that could happen that would make you optimistic about this year?

[vince]

Yep. The rookie year is all about getting better. Not that many rookies are great from Week 1. Especially Defensive tackles, who have a huge adjustment to make.

and are 20 year old underclassmen when drafted. Clark's still a baby in the NFL trenches.

I shouldn't be surprised, but wist, how can you not see a high ceiling for Clark? Quick, agile, active, strong, young, still learning technique... a wrestler who can move and is still figuring out how to use his quickness and strength to gain leverage inside - and is still maturing, learning and growing.... What doesn't he have that limits his ceiling, other than a position not suited to statistical achievement? In terms of what he's asked to do and his willingness to do that effectively, that kid's got high ceiling written all over him. In terms of raw ability, Daniels doesn't have a thing on him. He appears to have a pretty damn good work ethic too, which is promising.

I don't remember Ol' Cletidus ever being accused of "killing it in the weight room" after his rookie year.... and look at how great he was...

[Pugger]

If this defense can be just average I like our chances. Our offense should give CDs nightmares this year. We made it to the NFCC game with that terrible defense last year.

[RashanGary]

I'm excited for

Kenny Clark. Word is, he's come back a beast!
Damarious Randall - gonna have that davante Adams bounce back from health year
Davante Adams - gonna be a beast!
Marty Bennett - gonna help the run/pass balance
Jordy - full year after injury. Think this will be his last monster year
Montgomery - looks big!!!! He's a running back now
Brice - showed promise as a rookie. Should be improved!

I'm also excited to see what the rookie batch brings.

Clark might be a star tho! I'm getting a really good feeling about his chances of breaking out!

You get playmaker years out of
Rodgers
Nelson
Adams
Daniels
Clark
Mathews
Perry
Clinton dix
And maybe Randall or king or that rookie lb who runs 4.4...... could be that year!

[Rutnstrut]

Agreed on seeing them play... I think the potential is there, and this happening "would make me optimistic about the year."

I personally wouldn't consider Lacy/Starks to have been much of a dual-threat with any consistency. Lacy's only year with any receiving success was 2014 (42 for 427 - 26.7 ypg). Since then he's been pretty much invisible in the passing game. Starks did OK in 2015 (392 yds receiving) but did virtually nothing before or since.

My hope (cause for optimism if it happens) is that the upgraded TE group can also impact the RB's both running and receiving...

It doesn't matter how good of RB's they have. Stubby will refuse to use them anyway.

[vince]

It's one thing to criticize when it's warranted but that's just ridiculous IMO.

Here's the Packers' point production and league rank over the last decade under McCarthy. You want to criticize him for not using RB's enough?

Yr. .. Pts. .. Rank
2007 .. 435 .. 4
2008 .. 419 .. 5
2009 .. 461 .. 3
2010 .. 388 .. 10
2011 .. 560 .. 1
2012 .. 433 .. 5
2013 .. 417 .. 8
2014 .. 486 .. 1
2015 .. 368 .. 15
2016 .. 432 .. 4

Avg. .. 439.9 .. 5.6

That's as consistently elite as it gets. There's likely one team in the league who can outperform that decade of production. How exactly has McCarthy's utilization of RB's hurt the team?

Packer RB touches generally go up when the team is winning/controlling/finishing games - not vice versa - which is why I think RB production is cause for optimism. That doesn't mean they should be running the ball more early in games. Running more (and effectively) and/or controlling the clock with short passes to backs throughout, but particularly late in games is also the sign of defensive and passing game success I'm hoping to see.

[Joemailman]

Packers usually are in the middle of the pack as far as rushing attempts per game are concerned. They ran the ball less last year, but I think that can be attributed to the injury situation at running back, and perhaps to the Packers being behind more than usual. It wouldn't make any sense for a team with Aaron Rogers to lead the NFL in rushing attempts. Going back to 2015, the Packers finished 13th in rushing attempts. This was higher than Atlanta (16th) (Matt Ryan), New Orleans (20th) (Drew Brees) or New England (25th) (Tom Brady).

With better health and depth at the RB position this year, and better blocking from the TE position, I would look for the Packers to get to closer to their 2015 numbers in rushing attempts.

[Zool]

If only Belicheck would commit to the run more, the Patriots might win some games.

[texaspackerbacker]

If only Belicheck would commit to the run more, the Patriots might win some games.

Sometimes - make that rarely - even I can appreciate your sarcasm.

[Cleft Crusty]

It doesn't matter how good of RB's they have. Stubby will refuse to use them anyway.

You nag more than my wife when I leave my underwear in the bathroom sink.

[Upnorth]

Bitching about rb utilization on this team shows how good our O is imo.

I think what gives me cause for optimism is that for the first time since Raji second year I am excited to see our dl. Clark came up big in the last 6 games last year. I think he will be one of the motors on d this year.

[Joemailman]

Bitching about rb utilization on this team shows how good our O is imo.

I think what gives me cause for optimism is that for the first time since Raji second year I am excited to see our dl. Clark came up big in the last 6 games last year. I think he will be one of the motors on d this year.

I like the DL too. Daniels and Clark should be studs. Lowry surprised me last year. If he makes the 2nd year jump they hope for, he could be pretty good. Francois is a solid lunch pail type guy. Brian Price split time last year bettween the roster and the practice squad. He'll get a chance to show what he can do during Guion's suspension.

[vince]

I like the DL too. Daniels and Clark should be studs. Lowry surprised me last year. If he makes the 2nd year jump they hope for, he could be pretty good. Francois is a solid lunch pail type guy. Brian Price split time last year bettween the roster and the practice squad. He'll get a chance to show what he can do during Guion's suspension.

This group seems to have it all this year - youth and experience, talent and depth, gap penetrators and block eaters, pass rushers and pocket collapsers...

3-Down Core (1,3,5 Techs)
76 Daniels, Mike DT 6-0 310 27 6 Iowa
97 Clark, Kenny DT 6-3 314 21 2 UCLA
90 Adams, Montravius DT 6-4 305 21 R Auburn

Early-Down Base/Nickel Rotation (1,3 Techs)
95 Jean Francois, Ricky DT 6-3 313 30 9 LSU
96 Price, Brian DT 6-3 318 22 1 Texas-San Antonio

Passing-Down Nickel/Dime Rotation (3,5,7,9 Techs)
94 Lowry, Dean DE 6-6 296 22 2 Northwestern

In-Season Injury Insurance/Vet Depth
98 Guion, Letroy DT 6-4 322 29 10 Florida State
99 Ringo, Christian DT 6-1 298 25 2 Louisiana-Lafayette

Like you said Joe, it looks like the development of the two second-year guys - Clark and Lowry - could be huge. Price too has a lot of potential that could develop.

Adams may need a year yet, and with OK health from the rest of the group, he'll get it ... unless of course his play commands playing time. A year of learning and killing it in the weight room will likely help him a ton. If he can keep up with Daniels and Clark I think he'll be OK.

[vince]

[vince]

This makes me very optimistic.

[Fritz]

A year of exceptionally good health on both sides of the ball would make me very optimistic.