Green Bay Packers

Overview

The Packers were a Jekyl and Hyde team in 2009 starting the season 4-4 and then winning seven of their last 8 to claim one of the NFC’s wild card spots.  The season ended in disappointment as the Pack fell in overtime 51-45 in what turned out to be one of the most thrilling playoff games ever.  The Packers currently own the 23rd pick in the draft.

Assets

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is a rising star in the league and in just his second season at the helm threw for 30 touchdowns and over 4,400 yards.  Barring any major injuries the Packers are set at the quarterback positions for the next seven to ten years.

Mike McCarthy has reportedly grown restless waiting for running back Ryan Grant to establish himself as one of the league’s best backs.  Grant had a solid year running for over 1,200 yards and scoring 11 touchdowns, but, there were games when he seemed non-existent in the offense.

The passing attack featured a pair of 1,000 yard receivers last season in the ageless Donald Driver, who at the age of 35 posted his sixth straight season of 70 or more catches and 1,000 or more yards, and young play-maker Greg Jennings who posted his second straight 1,000 yard season and averaged 16.4 yards per catch.

Second year tight end Jermichael Finley had a break out season catching 55 passes and scoring 5 touchdowns despite missing three games due to injury.

Defensively the Packers ranked in the top seven in points allowed, total yards allowed, passing yards allowed, and rushing yards allowed.

Ageless wonder Charles Woodson claimed the league’s defensive player of the year award and was a huge factor in Green Bay’s stout defense.  He tied for the lead league with 9 interceptions, returning 3 for scores, led the team with 18 pass breakups and 4 forced fumbles, and was huge in run support notching 9 tackles-for-loss.

Rookie linebacker Clay Matthews was arguably the best defensive rookie in the league last season and led the Pack with 10 sacks.

Linebacker Nick Barnett posted his sixth 100 tackle season in 7 tries and logged a career high in sacks with 4.  He also led the defense with 10 tackles-for-loss.

Free safety Nick Collins continued his strong play picking off six passes and earning his second straight Pro Bowl selection in ‘09.

Liabilities/Needs

The Packers biggest issue last season was along the offensive line.  They battled injuries and Aaron Rodgers took a pounding in some games.  At times one wondered how he managed to play the entire season.  The Pack relied on aging veterans Mark Tauscher and Chad Clifton, both of whom battled injuries all season, to protect Rodgers last season.  The interior line was adequate but the Packers simply need to get younger and better at the tackle positions.

After Grant there is not a ton of depth at the running back position.  In fact it got so bad last season that the team went out and brought Ahman Green back into the fold.

Defensively the Packers need to add another pass rusher and add some depth at linebacker and in the secondary.

Aaron Kampman struggled to adapt to playing linebacker in a 3-4 front and saw his season end early due to injury.  After Matthews nobody else on the team had more than 4.5 sacks last season.  Green Bay needs to find a more natural fit at either end or OLB to enhance the pass rush.

Charles Woodson will be 34 by the end of next season and the team may need to think about who his replacement may be within the next couple of years.

Strong safety Atari Bigby is solid in pass coverage but did not give the team a lot on run defense last season.

Bottom Line

Green Bay could potentially tab Texas LB Sergio Kindle or Michigan DE/OLB Brandon Graham to give the pass rush a shot in the arm.

They could also look to taking Taylor Mays to strong safety.  Mays played free safety in college but he seems to lack the pass coverage skills to play it at the NFL level.

The best bet might be the Packers making a move to try and secure Maryland tackle Bruce Campbell who currently rates as a mid-to-late first round prospect.

Grabbing a speed back like Jahvid Best is not out of the question either.  Getting a dynamic play-maker like Best who can be a threat in the passing game would potentially discourage teams from blitzing with the threat of Best being a safety valve on a given pass play.

West Virginia tackle Selvish Capers is a potential second round target for the Packers at 56.

Mississippi’s Dexter McCluster would potentially be a nice fit as a change of pace guy to compliment Grant.

Tennessee’s Montario Hardesty is a second round prospect who would provide some depth for the team at running back.

Virginia corner Chris Cook is a potential second rounder who would give the Pack some needed depth in the secondary.

Oklahoma corner Dominique Franks, TCU DE/OLB Jerry Hughes, and Ole Miss pass rusher Greg Hardy are potential third rounders whom the Packers could target.