The Green Bay Packers can paint any picture they want, but the bottom line is if they are to salvage their season they need to win the next two games and preferably the next three. Certainly the next two against the Lions at home and at Cleveland simply have to be won. There is no excuse available outside of losing Aaron Rodgers on the first play of the Detroit game that can justify losing either game. The Packers are in college football mode, they pretty much can’t afford another loss, for sure not in the division.
The Detroit Lions have lost 18 straight games in the state of Wisconsin and are facing a team on the brink. While the Lions are light years ahead of where they were last year, which isn’t really saying much, they should be no match for an angry Packers’ team. At least I hope the Packers are mad. They have underachieved on both sides of the ball thus far this year and are what they are at 2-2. Two convincing wins and 4-2 would look real nice going into the Vikings game in which the Vikings could very well still be undefeated. They also need two wins to keep pace with the Bears, who are looking better and better each week. The heat is on and it is hotter than ever since the Ted Thompson/Mike McCarthy era began in erst.
If I was GM for a day I would look at doing what I have to do to pry Steven Jackson out of St. Louis. The Rams have nothing to play for and I believe would gladly take a first or second-round pick to help them rebuild. Jackson would give the Packers the running back who can do it all – run up the middle, run the edge and most importantly, catch the ball out of the backfield, in other words it would make the Packers an instant contender. It would also be an admission of guilt to making a mistake on Ryan Grant but like Thompson’s mentor Ron Wolf would do is correct the mistake as soon as possible. Ask Ray Rhodes about that trait of Ron Wolf. Thompson can fix his mistake by getting Jackson.
Rumor is the Dolphins are dangling Ronnie Brown but I’m not sure he has the skill set to match the Packers’ offense, for one I don’t think he is as good of a receiver but he is younger and an awesome runner, which would make him more worth the compensation. Wolf, in his prime, pulled the trigger on Keith Jackson and it is time for Thompson to make his signature move. Thompson, like Wolf, found a QB, but Thompson hasn’t found the remaining pieces, which I think comes down to his choice of head coach. Wolf went two-for-two, Thompson’s choices still hang in the balance.
We will probably find out what we need to about McCarthy over the next 12 games, especially if the Packers don’t suffer any major injuries. Against Detroit they should have pretty much their opening day lineup on the field providing Atari Bigby and Chad Clifton return from injury. No more excuses, even though losing Bigby wasn’t nearly has huge as losing Clifton. Now with Mark Tauscher back in the fold and on track to start by the Vikings game, the offensive line does actually have a chance to improve. I still want to see Scott Wells back at center and Jason Spitz at right guard. You can’t tell me that Wells is not one of the top five lineman on this team. I have not always been a Wells fan, but right now he is easily one of the top five and you find a way to play your top five no matter what.
Like the US Government and its DEFCON level I have my Packers’ confidence level and at this point in time confidence remains high. Well, maybe PACKCON 4, PACKCON 5 should be reserved for when we win the Super Bowl
More to come…