Brett Favre is back for another season with the Packers, but he could be in store for another tough year. The team traded WR Javon Walker (Denver), but he was injured in the season opener last year. Brett Favre still has the dependable Donald Driver and Robert Ferguson. The team also claimed Rod Gardner off waivers late last season. Gardner had 8 touchdowns and 1,006 yards in 2002. He started 61 games over his first four season with Washington. Brett Favre always seems to get the most out of receivers with lesser talent, and he has an adequate group to work with. The Packers also selected a big-play guy in WR Greg Jennings (Western Michigan) in the second-round. The team has running backs Ahman Green, Najeh Davenport, and Samkon Gado all back from injury, but they did lose third-down back Tony Fisher (St. Louis) in free agency. Overall, the skill position players are average. The Packers probably have the most talented trio of tight ends in Bubba Franks, Donald Lee, and David Martin.
The big problem for Green Bay is the offensive line. The team let both guards (Marco Rivera and Mark Wahle) leave last year in free agency. Rivera went to the pro bowl in 2004 with Green Bay and Wahle earned a trip to Honolulu with the Panthers last season. They have solid tackles in LT Chad Clifton and RT Mark Tauscher, but the interior of the line is a mess. New offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski is trying to implement the zone-blocking schemes that Denver has used for years. Jagodzinski was successful using those schemes as the offensive line coach in Atlanta the past 3 seasons, but he had a lot more talent to work with. The team is currently planning to use second-round pick LG Daryn College (Boise State), 2005 fifth-rounder RG Junius Coston, and 2004 seventh-round choice C Scott Wells as starters. In short, this could be the worst line in the league.
It is misleading to say the Packers had the #1 pass defense last season. They did allow the least passing yards per game, but only because they were so often behind and could not stop the run. Defensive coordinator Jim Bates also left after being passed over for the head coaching position, which could have been a mistake. Bates went 3-4 as the interim coach in Miami two years ago and the Miami players lobbied the front office to keep him. The defense somewhat overachieved last season given the talent level and the onslaught of turnovers from Mike McCarthy's offense. The team did take some steps to make the defensive unit better. CB Charles Woodson is a big upgrade if he can stay healthy, even if they did overpay him. If Marquand Manuel plays like he did last year in Seattle, then the secondary should be solid with CB Al Harris also in the mix. Green Bay is planning on keeping 2005 second-round pick Nick Collins at free safety and putting Marquand Manuel at strong safety, making the team strong in coverage, but the run defense could suffer.
DT Ryan Pickett (St. Louis) might help out the defensive line. His play was inconsistent for the Rams, but he is talented and might benefit from a change of scenery. First-round pick LB A.J. Hawk (Ohio State) should make an immediate impact as a playmaker. However, Hawk is a lot like fellow LB Nick Barnett in that both have the potential to be engulfed by bigger lineman when the opposing offense commits to blocking them. DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila is the best player on defensive and has the speed to rush the passer effectively. The entire defense is fast and the new additions should make them solid in coverage. However, the defensive line is not very good and the team should be very soft against the run again.
The Packers signed some good players in free agency, but they did not really address the biggest problem on either side of the ball (the offensive line and rush defense). Brett Favre will be vulnerable to pressure up the middle and opposing offenses will run it down their throat until they prove they can stop the run. The loss of K Ryan Longwell (Minnesota) could also prove costly with K Billy Cundiff (Dallas, Tampa Bay) replacing him. The run game will improve if the running backs can stay healthy, but they should not have much room to run behind that line. The only way Green Bay will be successful on offense is if Jagodzinski pulls off a miracle with the young interior lineman. The Packers should struggle again this season for the same reasons they did last year.
Key Additions: CB Charles Woodson (OAK), SS Marquand Manuel (SEA), LB A.J. Hawk (R), DT Ryan Pickett (STL), WR Greg Jennings (R)
Key Loses:: K Ryan Longwell (MIN), RB Tony Fisher (STL)
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