We have become so use to Aaron Rodgers and the Cheese-heads of Wisconsin rolling into finals football every year, that it just seems the norm these days.
Even when they have a slow start to the season, have a bunch of injuries or a tough schedule, they always find a way. But I’m here to tell you, this won’t be one of those years.
Since the beginning of team sports, way back when cavemen would kick square rocks around the cave, it has been an essential part of development and growth to add to your squad. You must never rest on your laurels. Otherwise the teams around you will leave you for dead.
The Packers have added some talent, and lost some too. Here’s why these new additions, coupled with the current squad will struggle to make the grade.
In the Running back position, the Packers last season and this have relied heavily on Ty Montgomery, a receiver-turned-running back who led them with 457 yards and three touchdowns last season.
They added a couple of rookies to accompany him, which should spark some interest in training. But you cannot put all your eggs into the Montgomery basket.
Now for the receiving core of Randall Cobb, Jordy Nelson, Geronimo Allison and Davante Adams. Cobb is not at his best and is struggling with injury, Nelson is struggling with injury, Adams has taken a dive in fantasy, while Allison is holding the fort for all involved.
Montgomery and Allison cannot carry this team alone.
In the offensive line, the front seven is all but the same. They have the ability to hold the line so Rodgers has more time to look downfield and pass deep. This has never been a problem for them and should continue as normal in 2017.
But this season Rodgers has rushed himself more than in any other. Case in point, he led from the front last week against a poor Bengals side when they needed him the most. It took them all the way to overtime to win this one, but it’s a win nonetheless.
The secondary have been horrible for years. Last season they allowed a league-worst 8.1 yards per attempt and 31st in pass defence. They failed to address that in the off-season and will now have rookie Safety Josh Jones working behind Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix and Morgan Bennett. The Cornerbacks will need to improve considerably for them to be close to a playoff team.
You cannot continue to rely on your quarterback for everything, you need players around him.
On the other side of the coin is the improvement of the three other teams in the NFC North.
The Minnesota Vikings were a solid team in 2016 and have only improved on that this season. They picked up running back Dalvin Cook in the draft and we are continuing to see improvement from wide receiver Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs. Even with journeyman Case Keenum as quarterback, they are producing some great football and getting the results.
The Detroit Lions are firming as NFC North favourites. Their only loss so far this year was to last years superbowl runners-up in the Atlanta Falcons. The have upgraded the head coach to Jim Caldwell to replace Jim Schwartz for this season and have improved significantly.
They have always had a solid defence and this season they have a lot of targets for quarterback Matty Stafford to aim for. Wide receiver Kenny Golladay has been a great pick up from the draft. Wide receiver Golden Tate is back to his best and running back Ameer Abdullah is in fine form. They will be hard to stop in 2017.
Then we get to the Cleveland Browns. The NFL whipping boys for decades. Its always hard to pump up the Browns’ chances. They have added a great young quaterback in Mitchell Trubisky. They wont be troubling too many teams this season, but they are on the improve.
Its time for change in Green Bay. They have had so much success in the last decade, but they have neglected to improve their side in the past 12 months. This will be their eventual downfall. The teams around them are significantly improving and the Packers are standing still.
The Packers will miss the playoffs. Just remember, you heard it here first!
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