Tweet
For some time there has been optimistic speculation that the Packers might be able to pull of a Denver Broncos-like feat, and surround an ageing Brett Favre with a talented cast, particularly a zone-blocking running scheme that will take all the pressure off Favre, thus springboarding Favre to a great final hurrah, celebrated after a Superbowl victory.
Physically Favre may still be capable of such a feat. after all, John elway had (at the time) the worst QB rating of a victorious QB in SBXXXII. So why not Brett Favre. Well, there are two reasons.
Simply put, the Packers have nowhere near the horses (pun intended) that the Broncos had on offense in 1998. Not only do they have just one proven talent on offense in the playmaking category (Driver), but they dispensed with their only other talents, Green and Martin. Martin, although unreliable as far as injury was concerned, had succeeded last year in providing an alternative target when Jennings' ankle limited his speed and mobility. teams were able to focus on Driver and without Martin, the Packer offense was stagnant. Green was over the hill, but current running back Morency and Herron can't even locate the hill on Mapquest. Unless Thompson pulls off some minor miracle in the draft or finds a gem in the June 1 cutdown refuse, their will be zero talent on offense.
Now to Favre. Favre showed last year that he can still play. But interestingly, his play was inconsistent not so much within games but from game to game. It appeared that he would have up and down games. This variable play also seemed to directly correlate with games following difficult (physically) previous games. What this suggests is that Favre will probably not fade like other QBs, who lose it all at once and can't play. Rather, it's more likely that he'll have good and bad games, depending on whether he's more or less banged up from the previous week. If he really starts to go, he may have stretches of games where he plays porly, interspersed with solid performances.
Last year, Favre's worst stretch resulted from the combination of three things: 1) Difficult opposition, 2) Loss of playmakers/critical players, 3) Physical problems. In no game was this more apparent that against New England. The competition was difficult - the Patriots are a talented team with a superb coach and QB, while GB had an unproven coach and no talent. GB was missing Martin and Tausher and Jennings (as much as he could play) was essentially nullified with a bum ankle. Finally, Favre had a pulled groin from practice. The combination of these factors made the Packers look like a scrimmage partner for the Patriots.
So, it's likely that this year will bring more of the same. Favre, when he's rested and healty, should be able to beat up on pathetic team like Detroit, but without any talent, and the certainty of dips in performance due to the rigors of age, Favre will likely have at least several solid stinkers this season. So it won't be a terrible fade where fans will have to look the other way the entire season, but there will be a collection of games (the guess here is 3-6) where people will wonder why Favre returned. And there will absolutely be no glorious finale at the Superbowl. The Packers will finish week seventeen a dismal 6-10. Favre will retire with a quiet whimper.
Physically Favre may still be capable of such a feat. after all, John elway had (at the time) the worst QB rating of a victorious QB in SBXXXII. So why not Brett Favre. Well, there are two reasons.
Simply put, the Packers have nowhere near the horses (pun intended) that the Broncos had on offense in 1998. Not only do they have just one proven talent on offense in the playmaking category (Driver), but they dispensed with their only other talents, Green and Martin. Martin, although unreliable as far as injury was concerned, had succeeded last year in providing an alternative target when Jennings' ankle limited his speed and mobility. teams were able to focus on Driver and without Martin, the Packer offense was stagnant. Green was over the hill, but current running back Morency and Herron can't even locate the hill on Mapquest. Unless Thompson pulls off some minor miracle in the draft or finds a gem in the June 1 cutdown refuse, their will be zero talent on offense.
Now to Favre. Favre showed last year that he can still play. But interestingly, his play was inconsistent not so much within games but from game to game. It appeared that he would have up and down games. This variable play also seemed to directly correlate with games following difficult (physically) previous games. What this suggests is that Favre will probably not fade like other QBs, who lose it all at once and can't play. Rather, it's more likely that he'll have good and bad games, depending on whether he's more or less banged up from the previous week. If he really starts to go, he may have stretches of games where he plays porly, interspersed with solid performances.
Last year, Favre's worst stretch resulted from the combination of three things: 1) Difficult opposition, 2) Loss of playmakers/critical players, 3) Physical problems. In no game was this more apparent that against New England. The competition was difficult - the Patriots are a talented team with a superb coach and QB, while GB had an unproven coach and no talent. GB was missing Martin and Tausher and Jennings (as much as he could play) was essentially nullified with a bum ankle. Finally, Favre had a pulled groin from practice. The combination of these factors made the Packers look like a scrimmage partner for the Patriots.
So, it's likely that this year will bring more of the same. Favre, when he's rested and healty, should be able to beat up on pathetic team like Detroit, but without any talent, and the certainty of dips in performance due to the rigors of age, Favre will likely have at least several solid stinkers this season. So it won't be a terrible fade where fans will have to look the other way the entire season, but there will be a collection of games (the guess here is 3-6) where people will wonder why Favre returned. And there will absolutely be no glorious finale at the Superbowl. The Packers will finish week seventeen a dismal 6-10. Favre will retire with a quiet whimper.
Comment