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Packers Great Run--NOT a Great Team

Packersā€¦ Great Run, NOT a Great Team

Celebrate the Packers run.  Beginning on with Thanksgiving weekend (Nov. 28th), they featured a dominant offense and a ā€œfake-toughā€ defense.  Green Bay went on an epic run, winning 6-straight to capture the NFC North title.  Aaron Rodgers was spectacular, as were all of his receiversā€”Jordy, Davante, Randall, Jaredā€¦all of them.  Even the defense did their partā€”pretending to be adequate.

The Packers displayed a 6-week finishing kick that was spectacular, and continued into the playoffs with a dominant Wild Card weekend win followed by one of the all-time classics in Dallas.  This is not meant to take away from the run, but on Sunday in Atlanta, it all unraveled and exposed the Packers as a one dimensional franchise that must adapt or accept that they cannot be champions.

Against average NFL offenses, the Packers defense was okay.  Against better offenses, Green Bayā€™s defense was overwhelmed.

In 7-games against the NFLā€™s top-15 scoring offenses, the Packers allowed an astounding 36.9 points per game.  Thatā€™s ridiculous.

For comparison sake, the Packersā€™ offense in 11-games against the NFLā€™s top 15 scoring defenses, averaged 28.5 points per game.  That would be rank Green Bay as the NFLā€™s 3rd best scoring offense.

For all of the discussion of the Packers defense being decimated by injury, the only consistent missing piece was Sam Shields.  That was a significant loss, as the teamā€™s best cover corner didnā€™t play after the opening day loss in Jacksonville.  Significant talent issues exist at Linebackerā€”and Cornerback.  The play from Safetyā€™s and interior defensive line is solid or even good.  The remainder of the defense is simply NOT good enough.

The answers are not easy.  Personnel issues likely trump the issues with scheme, but itā€™s absolutely time for an attitude change on defense, and that means saying goodbye to Dom Capers.  There are brilliant young defensive minds out thereā€”itā€™s time to put your faith in one of them.

As for personnel, thatā€™s a GM issue.  Ted Thompson has not drafted well on that side of the ball.  At the most, Thompson has two drafts remaining.  The only offensive positions that need attention in the draft are Running Back and Offensive Line depth.  Free Agency could help tooā€”sorry, not available with current management.

Bottom lineā€¦half of the team needs a complete and total reboot (defense) and the other half needs a little tinkering.

The last two months were greatā€”the next 8-months are critical.


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