PACK PRESEASON: REVIEWS & PREDICTIONS

[TopHat]

COMPARABLE PACKER NATION POLLS

SMALL PACKER NATION SITE'S POLL:

What will the Packers record be?

12-4 3%

11-5 3%

10-6 29%

9-7 35%

8-8 12%

7-9 16%

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LARGE PACKER NATION SITE'S POLL:

What should the Packers set as a realistic goal for this season?

1. Go 8-8 Again 20.6%
2. Win 9-10 Games 25.2%
3. Make Playoffs 35.9%
4. Win Playoff Game+ 8.7%
5. Win Super Bowl 9.5%

[TopHat]

OFFSEASON CONTRASTING REVIEWS

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/6817568

NFC North off-season review. With the NFL Draft over, it's time to take a look at how each team approached its off-season, concluding with the NFC North.

Green Bay Packers. Brett Favre was not happy with the draft. He did not get the "weapon" he so desperately wanted. The Patriots acquired Randy Moss for a measly fourth-round pick. The Packers' fourth-rounder was used on Allen Barbre, an offensive linemen from Missouri Southern State who is unlikely to contribute until Favre has happily retired in Mississippi. Of course, the fact that a team's biggest star did not like the draft does not mean it was a bad draft. Justin Harrell should fit in right away and help clog the middle. First-round defensive tackle Justin Harrell has amazing physical skills but battled injuries in his senior season. The Packers were widely considered to have "reached" for Harrell with the 16th selection, but Harrell also has been said to have "top 10" talent. Once running back Marshawn Lynch was off the board, no running back was worthy of a first-round pick. The Packers' next biggest need was arguably defensive tackle, and Harrell could contribute immediately.
With Lynch gone, the Packers targeted Brandon Jackson of Nebraska. They traded down in the second round to take him. Most draft prognosticators had multiple backs that Green Bay could have taken ranked higher. So, Jackson, even more than Harrell, becomes the key pick of this draft by Ted Thompson. If he is the best fit for the Packers' system — and he ran in a similar zone-blocking scheme in college — then this draft could be surprisingly productive. After an outstanding draft last season, Thompson should get the benefit of the doubt.
Favre finally got a receiver with third-round pick James Jones from San Jose State. He projects as more of a possession receiver due to average speed. Fifth-round receiver David Clowney from Virginia Tech may have more upside than Jones and is a deep threat. Third-round safety Aaron Rouse, also from Virginia Tech, is a former linebacker who may not have the speed to be a consistent safety but should provide good run support.
Besides Barbey and Clowney, the second day netted two linebackers, Korey Hall and Desmond Bishop; kicker Mason Crosby; running back DeShawn Wynn; and tight end Clark Harris. Hall and Bishop will be mostly special teamers behind an established linebacker corps. Crosby could make a run at Dave Rayner, who is not sufficiently accurate as a kicker. Wynn, the talented back from Florida, will have an uphill battle to make the team, but if he puts it together he will be a major bargain.
Remaining needs. The Packers filled defensive tackle running back, and wide receiver needs with their first three picks, but they did nothing to address their glaring lack of depth at cornerback. Behind veterans Al Harris and Charles Woodson, the Packers have the underwhelming trio of Will Blackmon, Patrick Dendy and Frank Walker. The Packers also did not touch their thin tight end position until the selection of Harris in the seventh round.
Undrafted free agents. The Packers added a handful of undrafted free agents. Quarterback Jerry Babb broke several of Jake Delhomme's records at Louisiana-Lafayette. Babb will compete with Ingle Martin for the third quarterback position. The player with the best shot to make the team may be Ryan Powdrell, a fullback from Southern California. Brandon Miree is the starter, but he is not a great player, and veteran William Henderson was released.
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http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/6817568

Worst to first: Ranking the NFL off-seasons.

29. Green Bay Packers:

Ugh, MORE talk about Brett Favre's future? After stealing headlines over Super Bowl weekend by announcing he wasn't retiring and coming back to Green Bay for one more season, the ageless veteran made news...when Jay Glazer reported talk of a possible trade request. On the field, the Packers' only notable off-season acquisition was the signing of underwhelming cornerback Frank Walker from New York. Gone are long time Packers fixtures Ahman Green and William Henderson, and young TE David Martin signed with Miami. Through the draft, the Packers took risks on two players who had injuries in college: DT Justin Harrell and RB Brandon Jackson. Biggest gain: Justin Harrell, DT. Biggest loss: Ahman Green, RB.

[TopHat]

UNBEARABLE PREVIEW

http://www.acmepackingcompany.com/

PFW Rules Our World

...[T]he 2007 NFL preview issue by Pro Football Weekly that came out in May. Here are the projected records in the NFC North:

Chicago - 11-5
Green Bay - 7-9
Detroit - 6-10
Minnesota - 5-11

Here are the team rankings by position:
QB - Packers (B-), Lions (C+), Bears (C+), Vikings (D+)
RB - Vikings (B+), Lions (B-), Bears (B-), Packers (D+)
WR - Lions (B+), Bears (C+), Packers (C), Vikings (D)
OL - Bears (B+), Vikings (B), Packers (C+), Lions (D)
DL - Bears (B), Vikings (B-), Lions (B-), Packers (C)
LB - Bears (A-), Vikings (B-), Packers (B-), Lions (C-)
DB - Bears (B+), Vikings (B-), Packers (B-), Lions (C)
ST - Chicago (A), Lions (B), Vikings (C), Packers (C-)

QB Brett Favre is only a half a grade better than QB Rex Grossman? Kitna is as good as Grossman? Grossman shouldn't be trusted with the practice squad and should rank a lot lower.
There is no way the Packers defensive line is the worst in the conference. Led by Pro Bowl DE Aaron Kampman it is one of the better pass rushing lines in the NFL. There are teams in the NFL with more sacks, but the Packers record almost all sacks by their defensive line. They are as good against the run as Detroit and added DT Justin Harrell in the draft to add more depth.

CBs Al Harris and Charles Woodson continue to receive no respect for their solid 2006 season and are considered only as good as Minnesota and only slightly better than the awful Detroit cornerbacks.

No way the Packers special teams rank a C-. They were D to D- in 2006. Maybe PFW believes the promise of rookie K Mason Crosby single handedly improves them to C-.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Re: UNBEARABLE PREVIEW

Here are the team rankings by position:
QB - Packers (B-), Lions (C+), Bears (C+), Vikings (D+)
RB - Vikings (B+), Lions (B-), Bears (B-), Packers (D+)
WR - Lions (B+), Bears (C+), Packers (C), Vikings (D)
OL - Bears (B+), Vikings (B), Packers (C+), Lions (D)
DL - Bears (B), Vikings (B-), Lions (B-), Packers (C)
LB - Bears (A-), Vikings (B-), Packers (B-), Lions (C-)
DB - Bears (B+), Vikings (B-), Packers (B-), Lions (C)
ST - Chicago (A), Lions (B), Vikings (C), Packers (C-)

For what it's worth, the Sporting News has:

CBs - Packers (4th in NFC), Bears (6th), Vikings (7th), Lions (16th)
LBs - Bears (1st), Packers (6th), Vikings (8th), Lions (16th)
DEs - Packers (5th), Bears (6th), Vikings (14th), Lions (15th)
DTs - Vikings (1st), Bears (2nd), Lions (3rd), Packers (4th) -- a sweep by the division.

Other positions to follow.

[woodbuck27]

Re: COMPARABLE PACKER NATION POLLS

SMALL PACKER NATION SITE'S POLL:

What will the Packers record be?

12-4 3%

11-5 3%

10-6 29%

9-7 35%

8-8 12%

7-9 16%

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++

LARGE PACKER NATION SITE'S POLL:

What should the Packers set as a realistic goal for this season?

1. Go 8-8 Again 20.6%
2. Win 9-10 Games 25.2%
3. Make Playoffs 35.9%
4. Win Playoff Game+ 8.7%
5. Win Super Bowl 9.5%

There is going to be alot of very pissed off Packer fans after this season.

There will be intense pressure on Ted Thompson to step up his game or expect to be fired.

[Bretsky]

Re: COMPARABLE PACKER NATION POLLS

SMALL PACKER NATION SITE'S POLL:

What will the Packers record be?

12-4 3%

11-5 3%

10-6 29%

9-7 35%

8-8 12%

7-9 16%

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++

LARGE PACKER NATION SITE'S POLL:

What should the Packers set as a realistic goal for this season?

1. Go 8-8 Again 20.6%
2. Win 9-10 Games 25.2%
3. Make Playoffs 35.9%
4. Win Playoff Game+ 8.7%
5. Win Super Bowl 9.5%

There is going to be alot of very pissed off Packer fans after this season.

There will be intense pressure on Ted Thompson to step up his game or expect to be fired.

Packer Homerism makes fans pretty forgiving at times though

[woodbuck27]

Re: COMPARABLE PACKER NATION POLLS

SMALL PACKER NATION SITE'S POLL:

What will the Packers record be?

12-4 3%

11-5 3%

10-6 29%

9-7 35%

8-8 12%

7-9 16%

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++

LARGE PACKER NATION SITE'S POLL:

What should the Packers set as a realistic goal for this season?

1. Go 8-8 Again 20.6%
2. Win 9-10 Games 25.2%
3. Make Playoffs 35.9%
4. Win Playoff Game+ 8.7%
5. Win Super Bowl 9.5%

There is going to be alot of very pissed off Packer fans after this season.

There will be intense pressure on Ted Thompson to step up his game or expect to be fired.

Packer Homerism makes fans pretty forgiving at times though

Ted Thompson made alot of very positive statements about how we'll do in 2007nand he must be held accountable for results.

[BallHawk]

How does 10% of the Packer Population think we're going to win the Super Bowl? I admit, I'm prone to my bouts of Kool-Aid chugging, but I'm not that delusional.