Can you feel it in the air? Patriotism running rampant amongst the millions of would-be soccer haters who are hopping on the USA bandwagon and seizing the opportunity to express their hatred towards those who speak a different language. It's a beautifully powerful thing really, people's desire to be a part of something bigger than themselves. It's why fans will riot whether their team wins or loses, just so long as a car gets flipped, because you can't do it ALONE (especially if you keep skipping your leg days, bro). It's why fights have been started over equestrian dressage and other equally riveting Olympic events. It's why "my god could beat up your god" and why Obama could dunk on whoever your president may be. It's the reason why even if we're not clinging to much, if we just believe in something bigger, we can still call you a loser.
That's why it pains me to remind my fellow Americans that we're not clinging to much. Even if we get past those Nazi losers (patriotism) on Thursday, there's still the rest of the world waiting to get even for basketball being in the Olympics. Does being a pessimist make me a communist? Absolutely. But I refuse to start anymore of my beloved USA chants until after they get waxed in Brazil. And in a classic bait-and-switch maneuver, I will become the anti-me by saying something I've always found moronic yet patriotic: let's talk about REAL football (those foreigners couldn't even spell it right, do you play with your Fut? Real men play with their hanz...)
That's right, non-Packer fans-- I've suckered you into reading two paragraphs and counting of an article that's actually about the Green and Gold. And that's right casual Packer fans-- get ready to realize how much you don't know about how good this team is/stop reading pretty quick because that's why you're a casual fan. You see, while you've been snap-chatting your nip slips and tindering yourself into countless STD's, I have been scouring the earth for any piece of irrelevant Packer information. Did you know that former Packer receiver Kole Heckendorf was recently forced to jump from his brother's second story window when a plane crashed into their Minnesota home? Although that name may appear to be straight out of Harry Potter, I assure you I didn't make it up. My point is that I know too much of this team's future and if I don't share it with you, then none of it will come to fruition. I will attempt to break it down for you position by position, although some won't need much update from last year.
QB- Aaron Rodgers has been doing yoga and has a hot new famous girlfriend. Are the two related? Insert sexist yoga joke here (I had a few, in poor taste). But that's the main news from him, so my guess is that he's still the best QB in the league. Tolzien is still seen as the more physically talented of the backups, but has not surpassed Flynn on the depth chart due to Matt's familiarity with the offense. Bigger loser backup: Guy who can't get a job, or guy who can't get a high five?
RB- The Packers have not only one of the best young runners in the league in Eddie Lacy, but as much depth as I can ever remember at the position. Jonathan Franklin's story is a very sad one, the 4th rounder taken last year who showed some glimpses of potential but suffered a neck injury that may have ended his career. By all accounts, he is a class act who takes comfort in his spirituality. I was rooting for him, but he wasn't really competing for touches anymore. Starks has been re-signed to be the quality number two that he is. And let's not forget last year's starter before his injury (which was ultimately life-threatening) Dajuan Harris. The scrappy and shifty runner may not get a ton of touches if the others stay healthy, but is a great insurance policy if they don't. Plus they've given him some looks at returning kicks.
FB- KUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUHN
WR- Would you believe that Rodgers said this is potentially the deepest group of receivers he's had yet? The same guy who had Nelson, Cobb, Jennings, Jones, Driver and Boykin in the same year. Well he did, and it's true. A pretty good receiver is going to end up getting cut by Green Bay because we can't keep 7 receivers on the roster, and signs are pointing to Chris Harper early on. A fourth round pick by Seattle last year, he was cut twice before signing with the Packers. He is a physical receiver who has been making plays in OTA's and shows promise. Unfortunately, there is too much promise in this year's draft picks to cut any of them. Rookie 2nd rounder Devonte Adams is going to fit in seamlessly and could one day be their best WR, but he will still likely be the 4th receiver behind Jordy, Cobb, and the incumbent Boykin who flashed at the end of the year. Fan-favorite Abbrederis will compete for some snaps, and can hopefully stay healthy enough to demonstrate his skills. He could also see some time at KR/PR. 7th rounder Jeff Janis really intrigues me; he is one of the most impressive physical specimen I've seen in a while, very comparable to Jordy although a little bigger, stronger and faster. Can he learn to run routes and have the same soft hands as Nelson? That's why he's a project, but one to be very optimistic about although he probably won't see much time this year.
TE- The boom or bust position. Without Finley, people view it as a position of weakness but I disagree. We have a lot of relative unknowns at the position. Quarless has some experience but doesn't inspire much optimism, I think we know what we're getting from him. The rest is up in the air, with Colt Lyerla showing as much talent as any of the draft. If you know any of his story, he is clearly a total head-case which is why he wasn't drafted. But cocaine can do that to a person. If you watch the highlights, it's hard to not be impressed. Lining up in the backfield, blowing by defenders or running them over; he's got the tools to be great. The comparison I like is Aaron Hernández, currently catching passes from Paul Crewe of the Mean Machine but formerly of the New England Belichecks. In college at Florida, he lined up all over the field and also did cocaine. Hopefully Green Bay can help him get things figured out, because he could be amazing. Richard Rodgers has been the big name heard in OTA's so far, with his soft hands and his ability to find openings in coverage. He may not have great speed, but that's not necessarily what being a tight-end is about. He lined up at receiver last year at Cal, which would immediately raise concerns about his blocking, but all other reports are that he is a natural in space and has caught everything thrown at him. Green Bay actually has 4 other TE's on the roster, the most notable being Brandon Bostick who has shown some flashes but zero consistency. Perhaps one of the others between Taylor, Stoneburner, and Perillo will make it based on blocking or special teams play but there is already plenty of youth to be excited about at this position with the oldest player being Ryan Taylor at age 26.
OL- I have been pleasantly surprised with the reports from this part of the team. I suppose it helps when no one has broken their leg yet this year, but there is actually some depth in case of injury. Bakhtiari turned a lot of heads last year at left tackle and seems to have locked that up with Sherrod there to back him up. Pro-Bowl left guard Josh Sutton isn't going anywhere. At center, last year's fourth round pick JC Tretter seems to be earning the trust of Mr. Rodgers, who is on his fifth different starter in as many years and is looking for consistency at this spot. He and this year's fifth round pick Corey Linsey out of Ohio St. will compete for that job, and should expect to hold it down for years to come. Right guard TJ Lang pairs with Sutton to give the Packers one of the best guard tandems in the league. And Bulaga is hopefully back and ready to hold down the right tackle position, and is considered to be an elite talent when healthy. Green bay also has Don Barclay on the bench who has experience at every position on the offensive line and provides much needed depth for an offensive line that has been destroyed by injuries in recent years.
The offense is of no concern to any Packer fan and should be as good as ever between the stable of runners, receivers, and lineman that Ted has been stockpiling. Really the only thing with any credibility on the line this year is yoga, because if Rodgers doesn't stay healthy, what else is to blame? It all hinges on yoga. I'll be back in a couple days to discuss the real reason I'm excited about this years' Packer team... yoga! I mean, the defense, the defense is way better. Although I bet Rodgers would look great in the mountain pose.
