After the latest meltdown by the Packers this season, I had to sit back for a change and try to gather my emotions. No such luck, I guess. But still, even with the disappointment of this season still really two weeks away, I don’t think the Packers are in for 20 years of losing like many of the comments here have suggested. Today’s NFL won’t allow that. Just ask Miami. The Packers are solid on offense and whether or not you like Aaron Rodgers, the fact is unless he gets hurt he will continue to get better. During the Packers 20 years of losing, quarterback was the main problem. However, when they finally got a good one – Lynn Dickey, they had the same problems Rodgers and the Packers have now. No freaking defense. The Packers 48-47 Monday win over the Redskins in 1983 was a typical game. It was like being in the WAC or something.
The 2008 Packers are almost identical, the big difference is Dickey was simply unstoppable at that stage of his career. With Lofton, John Jefferson and Paul Coffman, the Packers literally could score on any play, the problem was, so could the opponent. The tone was set opening day when the Packers beat the Oilers 41-38. Only twice that year did the Packers give up less than 21 points. Dickey threw for 4458 yards, a Packers record that will never be broken. It was Dickey who was able to at least get the Packers to a 8-8 record. For whatever reason, whether lack of experience or lack of confidence from his head coach, AaronRodgers has not been able to be that difference maker. The only difference on offense is that Dickey had a Pro Bowl tight end (oh yeah, the Packers could have had one of those a few weeks ago), but other than that, the offense is comparable. In fact, Greg Jennings is twice the receiver John Jefferson was. Lofton was a Hall-of-Famer, however, so I guess it evens out.
The biggest difference between those teams and now however is leadership. I’m not saying Ted Thompson and Mark Murphy are the greatest things since sliced bread, I’m saying the structure of the Packers is much different. Back then the team president had more to say about who was coaching and who made the team than many owners did. In 1982 Robert J. Parins replaced Dominic Olejniczak, who had been president since 1958, for heavens sakes. When Bob Harlan took over in 1989 things started to improve, especially when Harlan gave total football operations to a general manager. You may not like this general manager, but what I’m saying is as long as this structure remains in effect, the the Packers will not go through another stretch of losing like they did in the 70s and 80s. That is assuming Murphy makes the right call on the next GM.
I personally think the immediate future is very bright, provided Thompson addresses the Packers’ problems on defense. What was supposed to be a strong point this season with a first-year starting quarterback, turned into a nightmare and doomed the team from the get-go. We should have know we were in trouble when the Lions stormed to a 25-24 lead in the fourth quarter of week two. Thank Thompson for Charles Woodson and Nick Collins for that one. The Packers do have talent on defense, but the coaching talent is not the same. My choice for 2009 defensive coordinator would be the soon to be fired Lions’ coach Rod Marinelli. Anybody who can keep a winless team playing that hard and has the defensive background he has, working for Monte Kiffin, is good in my book. I wouldn’t mind Mike Nolan, either, but please no Jim Haslett.
If the Packers can improve the defense, especially the front seven, and continue to develop not only Rodgers, but Greg Jennings and receivers James Jones and Jordy Nelson, the future is bright. Donald Driver still has a few good years in him as well. To me, though, Driver is one of the guys who is at a crossroads. Driver should have been the veteran leadership on this team but have you ever heard Driver and word leadership mentioned in the same sentence? I haven’t. Driver might be playing elsewhere next year.
The Packers are still the youngest team in the NFL and at some point they have to age if they are going to win a championship. This goes for coaching too. When the Packers were winning in the 1990s most of the offensive staff and some of the defensive staff ended up with head coaching jobs in the NFL. I don’t think any of head coach Mike McCarthy’s current staff is too sought after right now. Changes need to be made, no doubt, but I think they need to start at the coaching level , not at the GM level. Not head coach, but the assistants leave more than a little to be desired. McCarthy needs to almost clean house if you ask me. He was young and inexperienced when he hired this staff and now it’s time for some of them to go. McCarthy is well respected and I don’t think he would have a problem hiring replacements.
The thing is, one player did not make the Packers 5-9. This season had to come at some point. It was made that much harder by the unexpected success of last season. I think if the Packers could somehow win the last two games, they could feel pretty good about themselves heading into the offseason of change. There will be a new defensive coordinator, for sure, and he will bring in his own people. Charles Woodson and Al Harris will have to adjust if they want to win. Woodson has shown that is no problem by his moving to safety this year. I could see a change at offensive coordinator as well. I know MM is the main man, but the OC has to at least be able to have people lined up in the right spots.
All I want to see is a win over the Bears, especially if the Vikings lose to Atlanta Sunday. Wouldn’t it be ironic that when the Bears suck and the Packers are good we can’t beat them but when they are good and we suck we can? Irony can be pretty ironic.