As much as I enjoyed Lynn Dickey, he really is not close to AR in talent ……… Dickey’s best year in GB was probably 1983 when he threw for 4400+ yards & 32 TDs, but he also threw 29 INTs the same season ………… Dickey had the same issue as BF, never took care of the ball in critical times ………. AR has much more than just a strong arm, he’s also smart & well coached ………. Also, AR has a vastly superior supporting cast (overall & depth-wise) ………… Mostly, the rules of football have changed since Dickey …….. AR is the type of QB that fits the ‘new’ rules imposed on defenses.

First of all, Rodgers is the real deal. Whatever my past givings may have been, and I still think management bungled the turnover, but he has proven to be not only an accurate QB with the arm strength to burn you down the field, but more importantly to me, the type of guy that can withstand the hits to be a starter week in and week out. Given his injury history in limited playing time his first few years, this was my major concern esp. coming from a very spoiled point of view given the fact that Favre never missed a start in all those years.

Secondly (with the injury caveat always front and center) our O-line is in much better shape starting this year than last. We have proven guys up front. Hopefully they’ll last, but even if a guy misses some time here or there, we have Bulaga as help. Rodgers posted great numbers last year even though he had to run for his life half the time. A more set line, and more experience on his part as far as holding the ball too long, should mean we are in way better shape all the way around.

I’m a little concerned about our depth at RB, but frankly, with the passing options we have running the ball should be our “off speed pitch” and game closer when we have the lead. Again, with the exception of the always unpredictable injury bugaboo, I think Grant and Jackson are enough of a complement.

Major concern: the DEFENSE. We feasted on chumps last year, a lot less against really good O’s. I love TO’s as much as the next guy, but the reality is great offenses don’t give them up often enough to compensate for your inability to stop them. I haven’t posted much on here lately, but the bottom to me is if the D doesn’t play to a high enough standard, this could be the second coming of Lynn Dickey et. al. where we put up tons of yards and points and go 8-8. That’s not a prediction by the way, just a statement. I haven’t seen enough of the starters on D to make a blanket opinion. We’ll see when the games start counting this week.

The Bears look worse (it is only pre, but let’s face it, they look BAD), the Vikes are not even close, at least going in, to the team that could have went to the SB last year, and I don’t care how much tougher the Lions are, they are nowhere close to being able to compete for the division.

All this SB talk has made me nervous, as I’m sure it has many others. But if the defense can do anything, and the ST can at least help here and there, it’s more than just a pipe dream in my estimation.

And that’s the first time I can say that since 2007!