Lookee over yonder. That bandwagon is filling up fast. So, what to do — hurry up and find a spot, or wait.
Think I'll wait. At least for now.
Seems like the majority of the Milky Way loves the Packers to reach the Super Bowl this year: Sports Illustrated, Pro Football Weekly, USA Today, the cast of "Modern Family" and Lady Gaga have all tabbed the boys up the street to play in Dallas in February, as best as we can determine.
Even the Packers are in love with the Packers, based on their sudden fondness for wearing cowboy hats in a public setting and having their coach, Mike McCarthy, explain why just in case anyone was mystified.
The Packers are the flavor of the month. Kind of curious, when you think about it, because they have a defense that puts the fear of God only in anyone not named Brett Favre, Ben Roethlisberger — i.e., any quarterback who has skills. And their special teams are, well, bad.
No, the nation is in love with the Packers because they're in love with Aaron Rodgers. Perhaps even more than his parents.
He's the reason why much of the country is going gaga — including the Lady — over the Packers.
You should have no issue with that. Rodgers is on the fast track to NFL hierarchy and it's hard not to get excited not only about his future, but the Packers'.
But let's face it. This is a team that enters the 2010 season today in Philadelphia that is not as good as the one that departed in 2009 after that unsettling loss to Arizona in the wild-card playoff round. There is no disputing that.
You have to look no further than the defense, which will be without veterans Al Harris and Atari Bigby in the secondary, replaced by rookie Morgan Burnett at safety and Tramon Williams at cornerback.
The Packers nickel back will be an undrafted free agent rookie in Sam Shields. After that, you have the likes of Patrick Lee and Jarrett Bush in the dime and, admit it, you'd give your last dime not to see them on the field.
They needed help with their pass rush, but acquired no help. Instead, they believe they've improved by simply moving linebacker Clay Matthews to the left side, separating him from their second-best pass rusher, right defensive lineman Cullen Jenkins.
Hmmm. We'll see.
And despite its No. 2 ranking last season, they've yet to prove they can put the clamps on any quarterback who is skilled at throwing the ball. Favre, Donovan McNabb, Tony Romo, Matt Ryan, Tom Brady and Eli Manning are all on the dance card this season and it's impossible to say at this juncture if the Packers will be equipped to slow down any of them.
As for the special teams, they remain a reason to cover your eyes each time they take the field and have no one you could identify will help them change field position, though Tim Masthay looks to be a nice upgrade at punter.
Now here's the good news. It may not matter if the defense is suspect or the special teams cause indigestion.
This is a far different era in the NFL than way back in, say, 1996. All three phases remain important, but it's no longer necessary to be strong in all to win a Super Bowl.
Both the Saints and Colts won Super Bowls in the past five years relying mainly on offense, and that will be the Packers' calling card this season. Their defense doesn't have to be great.
With the known weapons at Rodgers' disposal, the expected breakout year from Jermichael Finley and a possible step up for James Jones, the Packers, barring significant injuries, may be on the cusp of setting all kinds of offensive records this season.
They just may be good enough to wait for their defense to come around, outscore just about everybody until then and pile up wins.
They just may be good enough to get Green Bay to a Super Bowl, and win it, no matter what.
Maybe — and maybe not. There's plenty of time to get on board. But now is not the time.
Mike Woods column: Give Packers some time to show true selves before getting too excited | postcrescent.com | Appleton Post Crescent more: Mike Woods column: Give Packers some time to show true selves before getting too excited | postcrescent.com | Appleton Post Crescent
Think I'll wait. At least for now.
Seems like the majority of the Milky Way loves the Packers to reach the Super Bowl this year: Sports Illustrated, Pro Football Weekly, USA Today, the cast of "Modern Family" and Lady Gaga have all tabbed the boys up the street to play in Dallas in February, as best as we can determine.
Even the Packers are in love with the Packers, based on their sudden fondness for wearing cowboy hats in a public setting and having their coach, Mike McCarthy, explain why just in case anyone was mystified.
The Packers are the flavor of the month. Kind of curious, when you think about it, because they have a defense that puts the fear of God only in anyone not named Brett Favre, Ben Roethlisberger — i.e., any quarterback who has skills. And their special teams are, well, bad.
No, the nation is in love with the Packers because they're in love with Aaron Rodgers. Perhaps even more than his parents.
He's the reason why much of the country is going gaga — including the Lady — over the Packers.
You should have no issue with that. Rodgers is on the fast track to NFL hierarchy and it's hard not to get excited not only about his future, but the Packers'.
But let's face it. This is a team that enters the 2010 season today in Philadelphia that is not as good as the one that departed in 2009 after that unsettling loss to Arizona in the wild-card playoff round. There is no disputing that.
You have to look no further than the defense, which will be without veterans Al Harris and Atari Bigby in the secondary, replaced by rookie Morgan Burnett at safety and Tramon Williams at cornerback.
The Packers nickel back will be an undrafted free agent rookie in Sam Shields. After that, you have the likes of Patrick Lee and Jarrett Bush in the dime and, admit it, you'd give your last dime not to see them on the field.
They needed help with their pass rush, but acquired no help. Instead, they believe they've improved by simply moving linebacker Clay Matthews to the left side, separating him from their second-best pass rusher, right defensive lineman Cullen Jenkins.
Hmmm. We'll see.
And despite its No. 2 ranking last season, they've yet to prove they can put the clamps on any quarterback who is skilled at throwing the ball. Favre, Donovan McNabb, Tony Romo, Matt Ryan, Tom Brady and Eli Manning are all on the dance card this season and it's impossible to say at this juncture if the Packers will be equipped to slow down any of them.
As for the special teams, they remain a reason to cover your eyes each time they take the field and have no one you could identify will help them change field position, though Tim Masthay looks to be a nice upgrade at punter.
Now here's the good news. It may not matter if the defense is suspect or the special teams cause indigestion.
This is a far different era in the NFL than way back in, say, 1996. All three phases remain important, but it's no longer necessary to be strong in all to win a Super Bowl.
Both the Saints and Colts won Super Bowls in the past five years relying mainly on offense, and that will be the Packers' calling card this season. Their defense doesn't have to be great.
With the known weapons at Rodgers' disposal, the expected breakout year from Jermichael Finley and a possible step up for James Jones, the Packers, barring significant injuries, may be on the cusp of setting all kinds of offensive records this season.
They just may be good enough to wait for their defense to come around, outscore just about everybody until then and pile up wins.
They just may be good enough to get Green Bay to a Super Bowl, and win it, no matter what.
Maybe — and maybe not. There's plenty of time to get on board. But now is not the time.
Mike Woods column: Give Packers some time to show true selves before getting too excited | postcrescent.com | Appleton Post Crescent more: Mike Woods column: Give Packers some time to show true selves before getting too excited | postcrescent.com | Appleton Post Crescent
rayer:
