The secondary is a mixed bag. Harris and Woodson may be the best corner duo in the NFL. They are extremely physical. While they draw a lot of interference calls, they make up for it with picks, third-down stops, and wearing down receivers.
However, both are over 30 years old. Bigby had an up-and-down first year starting, but ended up being the NFC Defensive Player of the Month in December, and was lights out in the playoffs. He needs to play like he did at the end of the year.
The Packers have issues at their other safety spot and in nickel and dime packages. They need players to step up there.
All in all, this is a very young defensive unit, other than the corners. This defense is going to have to carry the load in 2008 while the offense adjusts, something they should be capable of doing in a lot of games.
Weaknesses
It’s been a long time since we said the offense was the weakness of the Green Bay Packers. That is where the Packers find themselves in 2008.
I don’t want to come across as having the mentality that there is no life after Favre. He had a lot of help last year, and I like a lot of things the Packers have going on offense.
However, I also think people need to understand how key he was to what the Packers did. To assume a fourth-year QB that has yet to start an NFL game can just step in and keep the ball rolling is not realistic. It is not fair to Aaron Rodgers.
With regards to Rodgers, he may very well end up being a great quarterback. As a Packers fan, I hope he does. But one good half of football is too small of a sample to say he is definitely going to succeed. Throw out the Dallas game, it means nothing.
I like how he has progressed in making reads, and his command of the offense, since his rookie year. That was showing the entire 2007 preseason. What I am worried about is his durability.
The injuries have been freakish in nature, but it is a bad omen to be injured as the NFL’s all-time most durable starting-quarterback’s backup. Brian Brohm is a promising prospect, but not ready to carry this offense as a rookie.
The receivers are solid, and are the strength of the offense. They are great athletes and ranked No. 1 in yards after the catch. Donald Driver is a veteran presence, Greg Jennings looks to be an up and comer, and James Jones, Martin, and Nelson all provide good depth. Donald Lee had a good year at tight end. There is a lot of talent there that will help Rodgers make the transition.
Remember that the yards after the catch they were getting were partially the result of teams being scared of No. 4’s ability to throw the deep ball.
Those same cushions are not going to be there until teams respect Rodgers’s deep ball. I expect those players to be solid and put up good numbers, but not be as explosive down the field or in yards after the catch as they were in 2007.
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