The 2019 NFC NORTH Title?

[pbmax]

The Bears did it last year.

Wasn't that year 2?

EDIT: It was not.

[bobblehead]

Lions: Last in the division. This team has been a mess for as long as I can remember. Management is lost. Stafford underachieves. They put themselves into bad contracts consistently. They draft TE's in the top 10. Top it off, Stafford HAS to be distracted as his wife is in really bad health (wish her well though). I can't see them being very good.

Vikings: I think they are a tad better than last year, but things like contract holdouts wear on an entire team. We saw how bad the packers can be with a team in disarray. The pressure of win now gets worse with each passing game. I still think Zim puts a really good D on the field and they have enough talent to win a division, but they have 2 big problems....Rodgers rebuilt and Da Bears. They need a really fast start so the distractions stop being brought up.

Bears: Will be really good. Defense is top notch. Losing DC will hurt though. I think they did ok with the picks they had, but didn't pick until 3rd round. Not much rookie help, but draft is overrated for first year production. They have to play a first place schedule this year. I see some regression in record and overall how good they are will depend on how the D performs with a new coach and how much the league can adjust to the offense that doesn't feature a marquee QB.

Packers: Although I hate win now approach and I said all offseason that we had too many holes to fill in one year....well, I didn't count on quite the spending spree put forth. And even though I don't like the approach, Gutes did address nearly every question I raised in pretty good fashion. Kool Aid is easy to drink this time of year, but every bitch I had about M3 is different with LaFlavor. Actual committment to an outside ZBS and calling running plays. You are going to see how much that helps a defense (if you aren't busy giving the new guys ALL the credit). Rodgers with a running game and a MODERN offense that utilized RBs out of the backfield...oh, if only we still had monty. No more disconnect of trying to force guys to play positions they aren't meant for. (looking at you Jones, get your ass in camp and learn the ILB spot).

I wish we hadn't traded 2 4ths to get our safety, but I get why he was their guy. I don't like spending up against the cap, but I understand each signing. We targeted guys going into a 2nd contract who were ascending. That is where you are supposed to put the money. Thing is, when you sell out you HAVE to be right on 90% of your plays. I like the direction Gutes headed, but for my taste it was too much too fast. If he is right we could have a top 5 defense and the offense I have begged for. If he gets it wrong on 2 of the 4 FA signings and Savage isn't really the savior....well, its going to be a cold looooong winter for the foreseeable future.

[mraynrand]

^^^ Good analysis, especially how you have to be right 90% when you target players. That's what makes it riskier. Higher risk, higher reward - if your judgment was correct.

[run pMc]

Does anyone think, the NFL allegedly being a copycat league, that teams will have taken note of how the Patriots shut down the Rams and that stopping the Shan/McVay/La Flower offense won't be a mystery?

[texaspackerbacker]

Nice to see the relative positivity, Bobblehead.

Improving through free agency and draft and develop are not necessary incompatible. As long as you can go for some quality players without ending up in cap hell, it's a good thing - proven players at positions of need. And you still have the potential of young stars for the future without needing to throw them into the battle before they are ready. It also allows the team to take some risks in the draft - feast or famine type players like Gary and possibly a couple of others.

[Radagast]

they play two 1st place teams...rams, saints. we got 3rd place teams...panthers, niners.

While it's true that the Bears will play both the Rams and the Saints, they will do so with a different Kicker. Anyone remember Cody Parkey missed FGs that lost the Bears their Wildcard bid last season.

Also, the 49er's injured QB will return healthy and will, IMO, make them competitive this coming season. Along with Garoppolo returning, I expect to see them play better D this season as well. The Panthers are better than they showed last season. They will not be an automatic Win for any team in 2019.

GB should be very interesting from the start of TC moving forward. In particular the WR/TE battles will be highly entertaining.

IMO, the most improved NFC North squad will be the Packers defense. The additions/subtractions could prove to be game changers.

[gbgary]

Nice to see the relative positivity, Bobblehead.

Improving through free agency and draft and develop are not necessary incompatible. As long as you can go for some quality players without ending up in cap hell, it's a good thing - proven players at positions of need. And you still have the potential of young stars for the future without needing to throw them into the battle before they are ready. It also allows the team to take some risks in the draft - feast or famine type players like Gary and possibly a couple of others.

true but why does gary have to be feast or famine? he could be in the middle too. would you take 10 years and 80 sacks?

[texaspackerbacker]

That's 8 sacks per year ....... yeah, I guess. It seems, though, if Fackrell is any indication, that Pettine's system is a good one for sack stats. So if that's the case, maybe we should expect more from a fairly high first round pick. It's also possible that 80 is unevenly distributed - only 3 or 4 the first couple of years with not many snaps, then he gets a lot more. We just have to wait and see.

[run pMc]

true but why does gary have to be feast or famine? he could be in the middle too. would you take 10 years and 80 sacks?

80 sacks in 10 years? Definitely.
In Pettine's defense? Absolutely.

[run pMc]

Fackrell lucked into a couple of sacks last year, and based on his play so far I just don't have confidence he can duplicate that.

Pettine's defense seems to bring pressure from a lot of places, so you end up with a lot of players with a few sacks. Blake Martinez had 5 sacks last year for goodness sake.
Averaging 8-10 sacks a year over a 10 year career is pretty good IMO. Looking at some Packers pass rushers of the past, that would put Gary about on par with Tim Harris or Clay Matthews, a little better than KGB, and well beyond Aaron Kampman. I'd take that.

[smuggler]

I have Bears regressing and finishing 9-7, third in the division.

[MadScientist]

Trubisky needs to make some strides this year for the Bears to win 12 again. Idk if I see that happening.

I agree that he needs to improve to keep the Bears at 12 wins, but he's going into his 3rd year, so it's not unreasonable to think he will improve. He's been in the offense for long enough to really get it, his coaches now get him, and he's seen what the NFL can throw at him. He should now be entering his prime, and we'll see what he really has.

OTOH, the Bears vaunted defense has taken a double hit with losing their coordinator and replacing Amos with HaHa.

[MadScientist]

How much do you trust our non Adams receivers????

Quite a bit actually. Allison for all he gets dinged around here due to his lack of top end speed is the epitome of an ideal possession receiver. He runs excellent routes, and has good hands. Rookie receivers rarely set the world on fire. MVS had more yards than Adams, Nelson, Cobb, Driver or Freeman had in their first years. Only Jennings in recent memory had more and that wasn't a whole lot more. Look for MVS and ESB to have good years. The only possible negative is if the receivers and Rodgers are not in sync due to the scheme change. OTOH receivers might actually be schemed open finally, meaning watch out rest of the league.

[Bretsky]

Amos is hyper responsible. Savage is smart, talented and driven. That back end should be cleaned up. Smith, Smith and Gary stabilize the EDGE position. I just don’t see how we should be expecting anything less than top 10, honestly. Especially when you spend every penny. No excuses there, other than injury.

I would agree with this; add we have about the best player in the NFL

We're going back to the playoffs. No excuse not to be

[texaspackerbacker]

You know that TV commercial currently going around - AT&T I think - "just ok"? That's what comes to mind when you talk about "going back to the playoffs". It ain't even close to enough with the talent the Packers have.