Disappointed Packer fans forgetting that 2009 was never supposed to be “their year”; 2010 was
Seeing major media publications like Yahoo print stories on the “disappointing” Packers, complete with dramatic photos of a beaten down Aaron Rodgers after last Sunday’s loss to Green Bay, make me laugh.
It seems the Packer offense put stars in fans and pundits’ eyes early this season and made them forget that 2009 was never supposed to be Green Bay’s breakout season.
Don’t get me wrong – Packers general manager Ted Thompson is doing a phenomenal job building a team that should contend within a few seasons. Draft picks B.J. Raji and Clay Matthews added to a defense that was inexperienced but very high on talent. We’ve all seen how good Aaron Rodgers is and we know he has a fantastic group of receivers at his disposal.
However, as most of us knew when we made our preseason NFL picks, the Pack still had some major obstacles to overcome. The running game was shaky with Ryan Grant lacking burst and coughing up the occasional fumble. The defense had to adjust to a 3-4 scheme under Dom Capers – always a tough transition in the first year. Green Bay’s O-line is porous and allows way too many hits on poor Rodgers too.
We also know the Vikings and Bears were the real threats to “win now,” as they had better blends of young talent (Adrian Peterson, Percy Harvin, Matt Forte, Jay Cutler) and veteran presences (Jared Allen, Brett Favre, healthy Brian Urlacher).
If the Vikings or Bears flop this season, there will be reason for panic, as some of their key contributors are aging. If the Packers miss the playoffs, however, by no means should fans and sports picks experts consider them a failure. Green Bay entered 2009 as the NFL’s youngest team. Its early-season success, partially the product of facing Detroit and Cleveland, simply meant it was ahead of schedule.
The Packers still need to strengthen their O-line, secure a more reliable starting runner and lay the foundation to eventually replace Charles Woodson and Al Harris at corner. They’re not contenders yet but will be within a few years.
