As we ready for the season to kickoff tonight in New England, where their QB has 5 rings, there is rampant optimism that our historic franchise with Aaron Rodgers can get our 2nd come February in Minneapolis.
Once again Aaron Rodgers is the main reason there is hope for a 2nd Lombardi. Just like the days of Brett Favre, we always have a chance with a special QB. This year this team seems to have realized a little that it needs to do more as counting on 12 has proved futile in crunch time. He can't be all world every game and when the competition ramps up he's faltered in big moments creating a ton of slack that never gets picked up by the defense.
When it comes to the Packers defense, the proverbial millstone around this franchise's neck, it's the same and it's different. Another draft has come and gone, and what do you know? Just like every year there is a player at the position we just happen to be desperate for is just sitting there like it's been ordained by the football gods. Enter...Kevin King to fill a huge void among what was likely one of the worst CB groups to ever see a gridiron last season. Oh, the org didn't just stop there. It turned to an old familiar draft and develop and then give up CB in Davon House. Of course, Davon is no Casey Hayward, that's why he was available after being released by the Jacksonville Jaguars. The round of excuses for why House was let go painting him as something just short of a shutdown corner has grown louder in proportion with those who question him as our #1. Devo as he likes to be called, was given the #1 CB job by default. He certainly didn't earn it in camp or in pre-season games, but when you're as devoid of talent at the position you do curious things. As of this writing it wouldn't surprise anyone to see any one of our other CB's line up on the other side of House as there truly is no right answer there. Further, there isn't anyone who could say with a straight face they've seen anything from Kevin King to give hope he might somehow become an answer. The eternal optimists are banking that Randall and or Rollins are the next Davante Adams. However, for every Davante there's 5 who are not Davante. Nothing this off-season suggests that Damarious or Quinten are headed in Davante's direction going into season 3. There's little reason to discuss the other options. It was hard enough to get through discussing some of our "better" ones.
Therein lies the rub for 2017. Yes, it is fantastic to see this offense looking primed to potentially be the NFL's best. Yes, it's exciting to see the org actually go outside of itself realizing it has failed to stock the cupboards with draft and develop. Yes, we have some toughness on the defense that has evaded us like a bobble through Brandon Bostick's hands. All these are reasons the arrow is finally pointing more upward than it has in years. The philosophical change is refreshing and may be a sign of imminent regime change as our current GM seems to be struggling mightily with his health. Whether it's a true evolution in thinking from our front office or Eliot and Brian taking the baton, it's nice to finally feel like we're being aggressive because as Martellus Bennett opined football really isn't about the b*itches and being passive. His presence alone helps even the defense shed it's soft as Charmin label.
Here's where the train derails and the kool aid runs dry. Tell me a team that has won the SB with a CB tandem like the Packers will trot out this season? Davon House against any team's #1 WR is a total mismatch and it would be a mismatch vs. most every team's 2nd WR, as well. How does a team that can't stop the pass win when it matters in the NFL? When this team last hoisted our trophy, it was loaded in the defensive backfield. Yes, there are those who subscribe to the mantra that pressure up front can hide a multitude of weakness on the back end. Yes. That is true, however, what in the world would lead even the most optimistic fan to believe we're going to generate the kind of pressure that can protect House and whomever back there? That is pollyanna pie in the sky thinking to rely on the idea that we'll have enough of a rush to cover those deficiencies. Really ponder how this team is going to stop an upper echelon QB when it matters? Can you honestly say you believe they can? Oh, sure among the fan base anything is possible. What is most plausible? What is most realistic? It's a long 17 weeks until the tournament starts but how does the specter of what we have at CB not loom like a fart in an elevator ruining any fantasies currently dancing?
Short of finding ourselves in a situation where we face a 3rd string QB who has never played a down in an NFL game, I think January will be the 7th installment of the defense leaving us in the deep freeze after the warmth of optimism burned so bright throughout the summer.
Ted Thompson sits on his hands per former GM: "because they’ve had 25 fricking years of great quarterbacks. Of course it works. Try it without a special quarterback."