Favre's "Most Talented Team" Comments Crazy or Legit? A Packers Preview
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by user Coreyisarealboy
"I really feel like as far as talent is concerned, this is the most talented team I've been a part of as a whole, but the most unproven and inexperienced team I've ever played on."
That was the quote Brett Favre fed to the masses at the start of training camp. He could have been saying it only to instill confidence in his teammates or he could've been entirely serious, in which case most will say that senility may be setting in.
From the immediate reaction of most of the ArmchairGM community, the majority of the users will vote the latter.
This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Packers' Super Bowl XXXI championship, an achievement the team plans on celebrating this year, something which was the butt of a joke by a SportsCenter anchor as a plan "to distract fans from the fact that this year's team isn't all that good."
One 4-12 season and the Packers become a laughing stock greater than the Houston Texans? Lest we forget, this is also the team that won the NFC North three years in a row prior to the 2005 season.
This is also the team that was completely decimated by injuries to the offense in 2005, injuries that claimed Ahman Green, Najeh Davenport, Javon Walker, Robert Ferguson and others along the offensive line, forcing the team to use unproven rookies.
This is also the team that lost eight games by seven points or less. An additional touchdown in eight different games could've given the 2005 team a 12-4 record, yet this team somehow became the joke of the league, despite injuries that probably accounted for a few of those missing touchdowns.
The defense also became disrespected as well throughout the season in 2005, yet somehow managed to finish seventh in total defense, giving up 293.1 yards per game. The defense was also one of the least penalized units in the league, in spite of Ahmad Carroll's best efforts, but with Carroll lay the problem. The defense only committed 98 penalties, fourth lowest total in the league, but for 975 yards, 18th in the league. Even Detroit, whose defense committed 32 more penalties than Green Bay's defense, was penalized less yardage.
However, Green Bay solved that by acquiring Charles Woodson. And why stop there? They also picked up Ryan Pickett and Marquand Manuel via free agency and drafted linebackers A.J. Hawk and Abdul Hodge to improve the seventh rated defense in the league.
Though not the blockbuster signings most were expecting from the Packers, Pickett and Manuel will no doubt be improvements over Grady Jackson and Mark Roman.
As for that linebacking corps, Hawk has solidified his spot in the lineup at weak-side linebacker, and according to an article in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, the team is considering moving Nick Barnett, who set a club record with 194 tackles last season, to strong-side to accomodate for Hodge's presence in the middle.
Barnett, though displeased with the possible move, says he would do it if the Packers gave him a long term extension, based on the idea that with less tackles would come less money in free agency.
At first glance, the Packers didn't make a whole lot of moves in free agency, but it appears as if they did enough on defense to shore up whatever holes remained vacant.
The question now is how well will the Bob Sanders system work in comparison to the Jim Bates system. Both operate a similar scheme, so I don't envision much of a difference production-wise either.
The offense, however, is an entirely separate story.
Favre is coming off a 30 interception season, his biggest threat (Walker) was traded to the Broncos and Green must return to his form from not one but two seasons ago in order to even be in consideration for elite back status anymore.
If Green doesn't return to that form, I don't expect new head coach Mike McCarthy to beat around the bush too long before promoting Davenport or Gado. Gado proved to be a more than adequate option after both Green and Davenport went down with injuries before succumbing to one himself toward the end of the season.
As for Favre, it is true he's getting old. It's true that he's not what he once was. But even at 36 he's still better than most of the quarterbacks in the NFL. Fact: He set a career high in pass attempts last season. Fact: His completion percentage was just 0.2 percent under his career average and higher than his MVP and Super Bowl winning 1996 season when he threw 39 touchdowns and just 13 INTs.
However, Favre doesn't have a whole lot to work with. Donald Driver is decent. Robert Ferguson as well. Rookies Greg Jennings and Cory Rodgers have potential. But none of them are major threats by any means.
I expect Favre to rebound from last year and silence some doubters, but not return all the way. He is 36 after all.
Was Favre right in his assessment of his team, though? In a way, yes. The team, especially the defense, has by far the most talent since the Super Bowl days in 1996 and 1997. Favre has never had great talent on offense. I don't consider Robert Brooks and Antonio Freeman top tier wide receivers by any means. Favre may be right. The success the talent brings is entirely another question.
Even so, the Packers may be a bit underestimated heading into the season. The defense is stronger than last year, and unlike last year has depth, especially at linebacker. It all comes down to where they're going to make up that one touchdown per game. The offense probably won't be the one doing it, so one can only look to the defense.
The Packers also have the advantage of boasting a relatively soft schedule (it helps being in the NFC North). The opportunity is there to be at least 3-2 heading into a Bye Week in Week 6. I see the Packers getting at least half of the games back from last year, finishing at 8-8 and just missing the playoffs.
Date
Thu 08/10/06, 5:34 pm EST
