Green Bay Packers: 5 Keys to Defending the Title in 2012

The Green Bay Packers are Super Bowl Champions. Their wish list for the 2010-2011 season, is complete, but now their main focus is defending that title. 

Aaron Rodgers proved the critics and haters that he is an elite quarterback, showing he can take his wild card team and march his way through the playoffs. With his cannon that is in place of his right arm, along with his incredible field vision, Rodgers has proven to be one of the best quarterbacks in the league. 

I think the biggest story of the Green Bay Packer Super Bowl run, was the depth of the team, every time some one went down, another player stepped up. Ryan Grant, starting running back, goes down for the season in Week 1, but somehow the Packers were somehow able to average 100 yards a game in the regular season.

Clay Matthews was an instrumental part of bringing the Lombardi trophy back to Green Bay, where it all started. Matthews was a lightning rod in a stout defense that were able to create turnover after turnover in crucial situations. 

A great story..for last year. This year is a new tale, and the Packers are going to have to focus on defending that title. Their will be five keys for the PAckers going forward and ensuring that Aaron Rodgers gets to wear that belt and go to Disney World once more. 

5. Injuries

Injuries have plagued the the Packers all of last season. Injuries gave this team every opportunity to quit, pack it in, and say "well, it could have been a good season." Instead, this team, kept on fighting and kept on plugging in players.

The Packers lost a total of 143 man-games lost, with 15 players put on the season-ending reserve squad. All-Pro Cornerback Charles Woodsen broke his collarbone in the Superbowl. The list can go on and on, but the Packers overcame all of it.

This has to be the number one priority going into next season: stay healthy. If the Packers can keep that man-games loss total lower than 143 games, then they will see themselves in deep in the playoffs again. With a healthy Jermichael Finely in the lineup, a healthy Ryan Grant, and a healthier defensive back group, the Packers are without a doubt the team to beat.

4. Running the Ball

As I have said before, Ryan Grant played in most of the first game of the season, and that was it. Brandon Jackson is a serviceable backup and third down catching running back, not an every down, between the tackles back. 

James Starks exploded onto the scene, mainly the playoffs where he set the Packers rookie rushing record for a playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Packers were able to draft running back Alex Green out of Hawaii in the 2011 Draft, which will be a nice addition to a running committee of Ryan Grant, Brandon Jackson, and James Starks.

The defenses that Aaron Rodgers will face this coming season will be playing the pass a lot of the time, meaning the Packers are going to have to start running the ball with consistent effectiveness on a game in, game out basis. 

3. Pressure

The Packers were like a pack of wild wolves every time the ball was snapped. The Packers ranked tied for second in sacks, one off the leaders Pittsburgh (48). The amoeba defense that defensive coordinator Dom Capers has put in, has been an absolute enigma for offensive coordinators and head coaches to try and solve. 

The athleticism in the linebackers and the defensive backs allows for a defense, like Capers', to be a successful one. The Packers are going to have to get craftier as opposing offenses will try and do as much as they can to limit the Packers getting to the quarterback. 

The Packers ranked first in interceptions with 24 and 4th in total takeaways with 32. Pressure on the quarterback is directly related to the amount of take-aways a defense has. This was a huge part of their game plan and will once again be a huge part of their game plan if they want to repeat.

2. Clay Matthews

The heart and soul of this elite defense. Clay Matthews has played with a chip on his shoulder his entire life. He had to work his tail off in high school (his dad was the coach), he had to work harder than any player on the USC Trojans (and he didn't even play), and then he had to prove everyone wrong who said he would not be able to make it in the NFL. 

The 2010 Defensive Player of the year candidate has won the ultimate trophy in football, but do not think he still won't try and prove people wrong. He is going to prove critics that his team can and will win it again. Matthews recorded 60 tackles last year, 13.5 sacks (4th in the NFL), 2 forced fumbles, and 1 interception.

His highlights speak for itself and now he is going to have to pump up his game even more as he will try and help the Packers defend their title. 

1. Aaron Rodgers

I do not think it is any surprise that the biggest key to the Green Bay Packers' title defense is the captain and Super Bowl MVP, Aaron Rodgers.

Rodgers was able to thrust himself from an above average quarterback with a high ceiling, to an elite Super Bowl winning quarterback. He is going to have to replicate the kind of season he had, during which he only missed one game due to a concussion. 

Rodgers threw for 3,922 yards (15 games), 28 touchdowns, 65.7 percent completion percentage, and a quarterback rating of 101.2. 

Rodgers has shrugged off the talk of replacing Green Bay great Brett Favre by casting his own stone and etching his own name in Green Bay Packer history.