SUPER CHARGED
Have subtle moves made Packers NFL’s best?
The Green Bay Packers are not new to playoff heartbreak, but that doesn’t lessen the sting of blowing a 12-point lead with a little more than two minutes to play in the NFC Championship Game.
That loss to the Seattle Seahawks could have had a serious impact on the franchise’s direction. Bad losses tend to do that in professional sports, leaving a poor taste in the mouths of the organization and its fans.
Instead of reshuffling the deck, the Packers front office decided to give this talented team another shot.
It looks like a smart decision. Green Bay was the better team on that Sunday in January and has room to grow with the roster in place.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers was limited in the playoffs with a calf injury.
The wide receiver corps — one of the best in the league — is young and will get better.
And the defense is a few pieces away from being an above-average unit made better by an offense capable of keeping it off the field for long periods of time.
After a solid draft, replenishing some of the depth the Packers lost in free agency, and a successful free agency period, in which Green Bay did not bring in any notable names but prevented a number of key contributors from leaving town, this is a team that should enter the season as a favorite to lift the Lombardi Trophy in February.
The roster is deep but has a few holes, the most glaring a run defense that finished 23rd in the league. That ranking would have been worse if not for the ingenious (or desperate) decision to kick outside linebacker Clay Mat- thews inside.
Sam Barrington’s emergence down the stretch also helped the run defense improve. But if the defense is going to reach its full potential, Matthews needs to be wreaking havoc on the edges.
The linebackers’ jobs will be made easier if the defensive line takes a step forward. Outside of underappreciated Mike Daniels, there’s isn’t much hope for the unit to improve after a quiet offseason.
With the Seahawks and Marshawn Lynch looming as Green Bay’s biggest obstacle in the NFC, the run defense is a big concern.
While the Packers haven’t made any huge changes, there has been tinkering, most notably coach Mike McCarthy giving up offensive play-calling duties. This comes after his play-calling in the NFC title game was criticized as too conservative.
McCarthy having less to worry about during games will allow him to concentrate on the game-day decisions that have given him trouble in the past and should make his game-planning skills even stronger.
“I felt that the play-calling was something that I could still be able to do,” McCarthy said of his decision, “but the commitment you have to make Monday through Saturday, I didn’t think it fit, I didn’t think it would work as good as I know it will work now with Tom (Clements), who’s basically taking the responsibilities on offense that I’ve had in the past.”
With Rodgers under center, it doesn’t matter who is calling the plays. But given how close the Packers were to the Super Bowl last season, these small changes could end up making the difference.
QUARTERBACKS
The Packers are again set at quarterback with the league’s MVP running the offense. Rodgers’ football IQ and athleticism allow him to bridge the gap between the NFL’s old school and new school quarterbacks. Fifth-round pick Brett Hundley could be a future starter.
RUNNING BACKS
After a rough start to his sophomore campaign, Eddie Lacy emerged as one of the best backs in the league. He’s a load to take down in the open field, but do not underestimate his ability to make defenders miss. Lacy also had 42 receptions in 2014, including four for touchdowns. Backup James Starks is a nice change-of-pace back, but Lacy is the bell cow.
WIDE RECEIVERS
The rich might be getting richer. If Pro Bowlers Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb weren’t enough, the Packers might have found Rodgers another dangerous weapon in Davante Adams. The rookie was impressive in the team’s divisional playoff win against the Dallas Cowboys, and McCarthy deemed him the MVP of Green Bay’s organized team activities.
TIGHT ENDS
If the Packers have a weakness on offense, it’s at the tight end position. Andrew Quarless and Richard Rodgers aren’t a bad tandem, but they are not going to keep defensive coordinators up at night.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Green Bay’s offensive line is in the discussion for the best unit in the league, and the front office was smart to keep it together by resigning right tackle Bryan Bulaga. Solid pass blocker David Bakhtiari will man the tackle spot on the left, with left guard Josh Sitton, center Corey Linsley and right guard T.J. Lang forming a talented interior trio.
DEFENSIVE LINE
The Packers did not address the defensive line during the offseason, which could prove to be a mistake if the run defense doesn’t improve in 2015. Sixth-round pick Christian Ringo is the only notable addition, but he will have trouble getting onto the field. Outside of Daniels, Green Bay does not have another true threedown lineman on the roster. Nose tackle B.J. Raji is on the wrong side of his prime, and the other option inside, Letroy Guion, is a liability against the run. Defensive end Datone Jones is a good pass rusher but doesn’t add value on run downs.
LINEBACKERS
One the biggest decisions facing the coaching staff is where to play Matthews. His biggest impact would come at outside linebacker, but Green Bay is loaded at that spot and weak up the middle. If fourth-round pick Jake Ryan and Barrington form a capable partnership up the middle, Matthews could join Julius Peppers and Nick Perry on the edges.
SECONDARY
The secondary’s depth took a hit in free agency, with cornerbacks Davon House and Tramon Williams leaving. The Packers turned to the draft to fill those holes, taking defensive backs Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins in the first two rounds. They will compete for the third cornerback spot with Sam Shields and Casey Hayward penciled in as starters. Safeties Ha-Ha Clinton Dix and Micah Hyde provide insurance on the back end.
SPECIAL TEAMS
What kicker Mason Crosby lacks in precision, he makes up for with a powerful leg. He’s not a difference-maker, but he won’t lose the Packers games. Punter Tim Masthay had a rough 2014 season, finishing 28th in net punting yards. On the whole, the specialteams unit was below average last season.
COACHING STAFF
McCarthy is back for his 10th year as head coach after a tough ending to the 2014 season. Give him credit for recognizing his weaknesses and trying to fix them. Giving Clements more responsibility with the offensive playcalling should free up McCarthy to concentrate on bigger decisions. Veteran coordinator Dom Capers is back to run the Packers defense and has the pieces to get creative.