The Packers have the best young quarterback in the NFL in Aaron Rodgers, a great receiving core and an emerging star in tight end Jermicheal Finley. The Packers will never be a running team but have a solid starting running back in Ryan Grant and a improving Brandon Jackson behind him. I used to hate Jackson but the kid showed up big time this preseason.

If you are looking for a weak spot it would be the Packers’ defense. Even though they were the NFL’s second-best last year, three regular season games and one playoff game defined their year - awful! They could stop the scrubs like the Bears and Lions but not the Vikings, Steelers or Cardinals. In all those games they had no pressure on the QB. I think they will improve on that this year.

Why you ask? Why can they improve with the same players they had last year that didn’t produce? Hate to be company line but how can guys like B.J. Raji, and Clay Matthews not be better? Raji is right at home at nose tackle and Matthews is going to be a premier pass rushing linebacker in the NFL for a long time. I think the Packers’ defensive line is going to be a dominate force.

Next Sunday we will finally see Charles Woodson and Tramon Williams play for real, which will cure a lot of ills of the preseason. At safety Nick Collins looks solid as ever and newcomer Morgan Burnett looks better than Atari Bigby ever did if you ask me. I can’t wait to see this defense play with all it’s guns on the field. Kevin Kolb better be ready, the kitchen sink might be coming.

I was a little surprised at the final cuts but the fact that several of the released players were snatched up means the Packers have some good players on their team. Props to Ted Thompson for building such a solid team. I couldn’t name a player cut by the Vikings or Bears or Lions. I may be wrong but I doubt many of them got picked up.

Finally, game week is here. Let’s get it on!

A position I thought had the best and worst of both worlds might not be as bad as I thought. Aaron Rodgers is clearly an elite NFL QB but until recently I though Matt Flynn was a piece of dung. I’m coming around to Flynn a little (Caah-stanza), but that could all change Thursday night when Flynn will get a bulk of the playing time. I’d like to see Graham Harrell make it but odds are against it.

Running back looks like a two man crew with Ryan Grant and Brandon Jackson. Because of injuries to the running  back position the Packers could indeed keep three fullbacks again this year with John Kuhn playing the role of third running back. If that is the case the Packers could end up keeping three fullbacks and four tight ends.

Obviously Jermichael Finley is the starter at tight end but it seems a crap shoot after that. Donald Lee is a reliable player but Andrew Quarless doesn’t seem to be going anywhere and Spencer Havner and Tom Crabtree are special teams aces, which considering the Packers’ struggles with that unit makes both much more valuable than Lee. I’m guessing that is the way the Packers go. No more D-Lee.

Offensive line has turned out to be a good position this year. Allen Barber’s days are over in the Green & Gold, same probably for Evan Dietrich-Smith. I would hope the Packers don’t trade Jason Spitz, and I don’t think they will despite the talk. I think Ted Thompson has finally learned his lesson about not having enough quality offensive lineman. Now that you have some depth, you better not trade it away. I do hope they can sneak Marshall Newhouse to the practice squad.

On d-line I love Mike Neal and I can see Justin Harrell making the team. The former first-round pick stayed healthy all camp and flashed enough to keep the coaches intrigued with his potential. The kid hasn’t played in two years so it will take some time to shake the rust off and be confident his back will hold up. Could be a risky move but I bet they keep him.

The secondary is definitely a concern but the only new starter in the base is safety Morgan Burnett in place of Atari Bigby. The nickel back is where the real concern is and it looks like rookie Sam Shields is going to be that guy. Shields has looked good but asking him to be the savior of the Packers’ bad pass defense is asking a lot.

I like all the linebackers except Desmond Bishop. I could see Frank Zombo replacing Bishop on the final roster. All Bishop does is make big hits and give up good plays and we haven’t seen any big hits this preseason. Zombo has looked pretty good in his opportunities and certainly has a better upside than a guy who hasn’t gotten better after four years. I think the linebackers may end up being a strength of this defense like originally predicted when they went to the 3-4.

All of this will be determined in the Scrub Bowl to be played Thursday night in Kansas City. My favorite of all the preseason games.

The Packers didn’t really dominate in any phase of the game and the Colts laid down in the second half but it is always fun to put up 59 points in a game. Aaron Rodgers had to overcome a slow start but was as hot as ever once he got in the groove. The guy gets better every game and I’m not sure who was the best QB on the field tonight, A-Rod certainly held his own.

The Packers’ defense actually looked a little better I think, even though they gave up a two play drive to start the game. The Colts led 7-0 with 14:38 time remaining in quarter one. Amazing! The Packers tied the game two minutes later and the shootout was on. The Packers did fall behind 17-7 but there was never any doubt Rodgers and Co. couldn’t get back in it. And it didn’t take long as the Packers led 28-17 by halftime.

The Packers’ defense and special teams looked the best they have all preseason. The defense finally got a little pressure on the quarterback and had some turnovers, and the special teams scored two touchdowns. The Colts’ defense isn’t very good and if this was a regular season game it would have probably ended 38-35 one way or the other.

I hate to admit it again but backup QB Matt Flynn looked great again tonight. I could not have been more wrong about the kid. Maybe the performance of Graham Harrell has sparked Flynn a little, whatever the case, he proved again he can move the ball. Speaking of Harrell, his performance tonight would make him a long-shot to clear waivers and end up on the Packers’ practice squad. I think the Packers should keep three QBs this year. Better safe than sorry. Prepare for the worst and it likely won’t happen, or so it seems for me.

Even with the impressive performance not many roster positions were cleared up. The backup running backs sucked, meaning three fullbacks might be the way to go again this year. Linebacker is still up in the air, but seeing A.J. Hawk playing late in the third quarter with the scrubs doesn’t bode well for him. Other than Clay Matthews and Nick Barnett, I don’t think I like any of them.

Nobody on the offensive or defensive lines stood out either way, even though I thought Marshall Newhouse looked solid at left tackle in the second half. I really like that kid and I doubt he would clear waivers either, and even if he does with his namesake he won’t last long on the practice squad without being offered a job. Here’s hoping they keep him, the more depth on the left side the better.

You can now close the book on the Packers’ starters until opening day in Philly, next week in Kansas City will be a cameo at best. I would love to see the starters play a half to keep them sharp but that went by the wayside years ago. So, on a side note, why would the players have a problem with playing 18 regular season games? Do they like not playing for two weeks prior to the season opener? But I digress, next week in KC will all about final roster spots.

Throw out tonight’s 59 points as fast as you can, the second Peyton Manning left the game the Colts quit. Could be a long year in Indianapolis. Hopefully it is a long year in Green Bay, as in still playing in February.

Jackson, who’s claim to fame thus far is his ability to pick up the blitz as a third-down back showed that his offseason lifestyle changes might be paying off. He seems more focused as a running back and clearly has the athletic skills to play in the NFL. I think the Packers will need Jackson to start a game or two this year because I think Ryan Grant takes too many hard hits with his running style. Last year the Packers would have been done had Grant got hurt, this year maybe not.

I still think Flynn sucks but he did make some big plays and orchestrated a great two-minute drive that started at the one and should have ended with a 41-yard field goal as time expired in the first half. The drive was classic – a few short plays got them out of the hole with no urgency, clock running, then all of a sudden a few big chunks via the pass and all of sudden you have a field goal chance. I was impressed.

I hate to even bring up Aaron Rodgers. The guy is just insane. It’s like I’m shocked when he throws an incompletion. I know it is only preseason and he looked lights out last year in the preseason, but he didn’t look this good. It’s almost scary.

The regular season will mean more attention to Finley, so we’ll see then how he responds to that. The beauty is taking Finley out means more chances for Jennings and Driver and the running game.

I really think we are headed to a lot of shootouts this year. Nobody can run on us and our offense can’t be stopped. I think you can win a Super Bowl with that combination. You can’t win a Super Bowl with a defense that can’t stop the run, it has to start there.

While I would love to see Al Harris on the roster opening day I also think he could be a huge addition six weeks in if the Packers can hold their own until then. The Packers don’t play a high-powered offense until the Vikings in game seven, perfect timing or what?

The Packers will get a good test this Thursday when Peyton Manning and the Colts come to town for an ESPN game. Could be a real shootout for three quarters. The master against the student. It won’t be long until the student becomes the master. If you ask me.

9:08 PM:  Nice 3-and-out for the defense. No put 7 on the board.

9:09 PM:  Wow what a pass and catch by Rodgers and Jennings! All year baby!

9:12 PM:  It is almost too easy with all the weapons the Packers have on offense. 7-0 Packers in 5 plays.

9:17  PM:  Special teams continue to suck. Underwood getting burned. Collins burned for a touchdown when Hasselbeck had all day to throw. 7-7. Quick and easy for the Seahawks too.

9:31 PM:  Still no running game. What is up with that? We were never this bad.

9:36 PM:  Got to finish this drive off with a TD. Then the starters can take a seat.

9:37 PM:  Finley wide open – touchdown! 14-7 Packers. Rodgers is going to have a Tom Brady-type year I think. Maybe not 50 TD passes, but I could see him in the 40s.

9:49 PM:  Hasselbeck is lighting up the defense. Underwood again. Lee the play before. So much for the young corners coming of age.

9:53 PM:  11-yard touchdown run by Leon Washington and the game is tied again. Little or no resistance. Starting to get a little concerned.

9:57 PM:  There is a God! Matt Flynn just completed a pass downfield.

10:01 PM:  That is the best I’ve seen Flynn look this year. Got a field goal out of the drive anyway. 17-14 Packers.

10:14 PM:  Bad series of plays for Flynn and Co. this time.

10:22 PM:  Defense actually held, thanks to some penalties, but I’ll take it. Of course the Packers had to take a time-out on the punt. Special teams are getting worse, not better.

10:29 PM:  Great drive by the Packers here in the last two minutes of the half. Flynn’s best showing as a Packer, same for Brandon Jackson, who is running like a beast. Started at the one and are out to the 45.

10:35 PM:  False start ruins a chance for a 47-yard field goal. Breno might be playing his last game in green & gold. Wasted a roster spot for two years.

In reality, I think the Packers, like myself, are glad that Butt Favre is back with the Queens. Revenge will not be as sweet without Favre under center October 24 when the Queens come to Lambeau. I just hope the old coot doesn’t get hurt by then.

I also think the Packers, like myself, believe they have the better team this year and are relishing the chance to make things right. The Packers have the better quarterback, the better receivers, the better tight end and the better defense. I would rate the offensive lines equal with Daryn Colledge at left guard but better than the Vikings if Brian Bulaga wins that job.

Like the Packers the Vikings made no major offseason acquisitions and their top two receivers and quarterback have not even practiced yet. The Vikings are also an older team than the Packers and last year might have been their best chance to win it all. For everything to fall into place again like it did last year is asking an awful lot.

While the Packers’ defense did get lit up by the Vikings last year, the Vikings defense was a middle-of-the-pack unit and I don’t see them being better this year. The Queens were fortunate to play the Packers twice before the emergence of Jermichael Finley in the second half of last season and simply put the Vikings don’t have anybody on defense that can cover Finley.

The Packers have concerns of their own on defense but outside of Charles Woodson and Al Harris they are younger and have more potential. And the good news is Harris may start practicing as early as next week, which would be huge. I think given the way teams are going to attack the Packers they will always give up a lot of passing yards, but when you can’t run you have to pass like it or not. If the Packers could somehow generate a better pass rush opponents would really be in a bind. That is my biggest concern regarding the Packers’ defense – lack of pass rush.

Listen to Sportsline after reading this and you’ll know where I’m coming from. According to Harry and Chris “your Packers” season has come to an end tonight. I sure wish we had a local radio show that was hosted by Packers’ fans. I have to stop listening to those guys, they just piss me off too much.

With weapons like Greg Jennings, Donald Driver and Jermichael Finley, the Packers have the ability to score a lot of points, and if they are going to be getting into shootouts every week they might rewrite the NFL record book. While I’d like to see a lot of points scored, you do need to control the ball and the clock and give your defense a rest every now and then.

The special teams looked like the same poorly coached unit they have always been under Mike McCarthy. Even with all the extra emphasis placed on them in the first two weeks of practice they still couldn’t even get the right personal on the field. Penalties and turnovers are once again their trademark. Special teams might be the downfall of this team for yet another year.

I’m confident the defense will be alright, I still don’t see anybody running the ball on them with any great success. It is hard to be real confident in the secondary, however. Players like Brandon Underwood and Pat Lee have to come of age in a hurry and the sooner Al Harris gets back the better. The third preseason game is the one to watch – Peyton Manning and Co. come to town. If the Packers’ defense gets ripped that night we might be in trouble.

It’s off to Seattle this week for game two. Another veteran quarterback in Matt Hasselbeck, so it should be a good test. I would expect to see the Packers try to put a little more pressure on the QB this week. They never touched Jake Delhomme in the Browns’ opening 80-yard touchdown drive.

I’m not going to panic yet, but it wasn’t a very good start for two-out-of three phases.

7:12 PM:  Good to see the defense picked up right where they left off last year – getting burned by veteran quarterback left and right. Hold ‘em to three.

7:14 PM:  7-0 Browns. The pitiful Browns go right down the field on the supposedly tough Packers’ defense. Thank God for three more preseason games. Rodgers better score and quickly to take that bitter taste out of my mouth.

7:20 PM:  Grant fumbles on the first play of the season?! Are you kidding me. I know this game means nothing and clearly the Packers want nothing to do with it either.

7:23 PM:  14-0 Browns. I think I’ll temper my Super Bowl talk for a while. Wow! Talk about not being ready to play a game.

7:34 PM:  Aaron Rodgers takes matters into his own hands and leads the Packers on an 80-yard touchdown drive. Six straight completions. Some pinpoint passing and a new quick release – Rodgers looks damn good!

7:40 PM:  Three-and-out for the Browns. That’s more like it. Tie it up and get the starters out of there!

7:48 PM:  14-all! Another great drive. This offense is going to be a beast to defend. So many weapons. Nice to see Greg Jennings making some plays again, not that he didn’t before, but he was a little quiet last year. Now we get to see the scrubs for three quarters.

7:57 PM:  Wow! The defense looks awful! 21-14 Browns.

7:58 PM:  Why is Rodgers still in the game? Playing with fire. Please be a three-and-out.

8:12 PM:  I don’t expect to see many first downs by the offense the rest of the way. Not unless Harrell lights it up in the second half.

8:29 PM:  If you ever needed proof that Matt Flynn has weak arm you just got it. A last play hail-mary that came up 20 yards short. Uncle Rico could have throw it farther, that is for sure!

Finley proved to be a man among boys, especially when playing against the second-team defense. The man simply is better than anybody that will be covering him unless the opponent makes a major change to their defensive game plan. Of course, with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback that just opens up other guys for big plays, either way the Packers win.

The first team defense looked every bit the force it was last year. The offense couldn’t run the ball at all and also couldn’t score in the two-minute drill. It seemed like on every running play the ballcarrier was getting smothered at the line of scrimmage or before. Granted, the Packers’ offense won’t be facing the leagues number two run defense every week, so I’m not too concerned, but damn, it would be nice to cross the line of scrimmage at least once.

The Packers’s special teams looked great, but with no tackling in those aspects of the scrimmage it really doesn’t mean anything other than from a kicking standpoint. Placekicker Mason Crosby looked better than I’ve seen in a while, but again, without the pressure of a real game to bother him. The punters looked like punters who never kicked in a game before. Anybody can boom them down the field when there is no pressure. I’m not worried about Crosby, I do admit he must be better, but the punting game is still a big question mark.

Aaron Rodgers looked like Aaron Rodgers but Matt Flynn looked like Brian Brohm, only worse. The Packers’ need for a backup quarterback was never more evident than last night when Flynn and Graham Harrell looked pitiful at best. I hate to even admit it, but Jeff Garcia would probably be the Packers’ best option at backup QB. I do love Daunte Culppeper, but Garcia is smarter and knows the offense, he could win a game or two.

The Packers kick off the preseason next weekend and we better see a better performance from Flynn. The Packers need a new Mr. October, but unfortunately, Flynn ain’t it. Oh well, the Cowboys and Bengals are about to kick off. Football is back! Football on one TV and “The Spy Who Loved Me” on the other. You don’t need sound when Barbara Bach is on screen.