Have we improved?

[XPack]

From last season, I mean.

It was a brilliant piece of marketing from TT to ensure that we did not regress and lose (much) talent, but when I think overall I have lots of questions...

Comparing to last season...

1) Overall have we improved? - Not exactly. Retained par with re-signings at best, regressed at defensive back depth at worst will be my take.
2) Have we fixed any trouble areas? - Not exactly. The patch work at run defence remains with no good alternative to Clay at ILB. Lots riding on 2 NT's, one coming off injury and other liable to get penalized.
3) What can we hope for better? Hope for better performances from Richard Rodgers, Davante Adams & HHCD, I suppose. Can't think of anything else.
​

Thinking overall, I think we are slightly behind what we were as a team from last season. No improvements to defensive line and a weakening in secondary is a slight step backwards.

To summarize, our hopes on bettering ourselves depend on:
- 2015 rookies.
- 3 players from 2014 draft just off their newbie season.
- An injury returned Raji and a liable to be suspended Guion.
- ???

Am I being too pessimistic?

 

[Deleted member 6794]

From last season, I mean.

It was a brilliant piece of marketing from TT to ensure that we did not regress and lose (much) talent, but when I think overall I have lots of questions...

Comparing to last season...

1) Overall have we improved? - Not exactly. Retained par with re-signings at best, regressed at defensive back depth at worst will be my take.
2) Have we fixed any trouble areas? - Not exactly. The patch work at run defence remains with no good alternative to Clay at ILB. Lots riding on 2 NT's, one coming off injury and other liable to get penalized.
3) What can we hope for better? Hope for better performances from Richard Rodgers, Davante Adams & HHCD, I suppose. Can't think of anything else.
​

Thinking overall, I think we are slightly behind what we were as a team from last season. No improvements to defensive line and a weakening in secondary is a slight step backwards.

To summarize, our hopes on bettering ourselves depend on:
- 2015 rookies.
- 3 players from 2014 draft just off their newbie season.
- An injury returned Raji and a liable to be suspended Guion.
- ???

Am I being too pessimistic?

The Packers will return all 11 starters on offense from last season so we will be fine there.

On defense the Packers will get Raji back while losing Williams, House, Hawk, Brad Jones and Lattimore. I expect Thompson to address the defensive positions of need in the draft.

Overall the defense hasn't improved as of now but hasn't regressed either. I think the defense could be better than last season by adding an impact ILB and if Hayward is capable of being a solid starter opposite Shields.

BTW a team being five minutes away from going to the Super Bowl doesn't necessarily have to improve a lot.

 

[TJV]

It was a brilliant piece of marketing from TT to ensure that we did not regress and lose (much) talent, but when I think overall I have lots of questions...

First, it's too early for this question, comparable to asking have we won the game at halftime. Second, IMO the last thing Thompson is concerned with is marketing.

 

[El Guapo]

Am I being too pessimistic?

Yes

BTW a team being five minutes away from going to the Super Bowl doesn't necessarily have to improve a lot.

This is exactly what I was thinking while reading XPack's post. Every year about this time, when the Packers don't do much of anything in FA and prior to the draft there is a mild depression that sets through Packerland when people start worrying that the Bears, Lions, Vikings, and every other team took a step forward (because they brought in outside players) and we did nothing. The Packers still excel in the draft and re-signed their two most key free agents. Because we haven't bet the farm in the past, we have players with potential that can step into the roles that are open for competition.

I'm confident that we will be in contention again in early 2016.

 

[Dr. Kenneth Noisewater]

Everyone always talks about the year 1 - year 2 jump. We'll depend on that from all of last year's rookie class, not just the three you've named; people seem to have hopes for Pennel, Bradford and Hubbard.

No matter what you think about Raji, our Dline has improved from last year as a result of him coming back, although we're still waiting on news of Guion. We should be able to manage for the four games he'll probably miss.

My concern (obviously) is at linebacker. Not only inside, where I think we'll draft someone in the hope they'll be the starter (although I'm not a massive fan of Barrington, so I'm hoping for two) but also outside where Peppers' production is likely to drop and Matthews won't always be there. (I don't like that decision, but it's a fact) With that said, this year will be Perry's breakout year and he'll look like a Pro Bowl calibre player (just trust me).

In the secondary, I'm not convinced we need to add anything more than rotational players.

Have we improved? No
Are we likely to have improved by September? Yes

 

[Deleted member 6794]

My concern (obviously) is at linebacker. Not only inside, where I think we'll draft someone in the hope they'll be the starter (although I'm not a massive fan of Barrington, so I'm hoping for two) but also outside where Peppers' production is likely to drop and Matthews won't always be there. (I don't like that decision, but it's a fact)

I would be fine with the Packers adding an edge rusher in the draft as early as day 2 as a possible starter for 2016. There weren't any signs of Peppers slowing down last season.

I agree with your take on Barrington as I'm OK, but not excited about him being a starter. It would be great to get two ILBs capable of making an immediate impact in the draft, but it's highly unlikely.

There's still a glimmer of hope in me that Thompson will sign Spikes.

 

[TJV]

Everyone always talks about the year 1 - year 2 jump. We'll depend on that from all of last year's rookie class, not just the three you've named; people seem to have hopes for Pennel, Bradford and Hubbard.

Jayrone Elliott is another player who could make a significant year-two jump. According to McGinn, he led the team in ST tackles while playing the fifth most STs snaps. And he recorded 5 sacks last preseason, including one against the first team of the Chiefs. Luther Robinson also showed some skill before going on IR.

 

[PackerDNA]

Jayrone Elliott is another player who could make a significant year-two jump. According to McGinn, he led the team in ST tackles while playing the fifth most STs snaps. And he recorded 5 sacks last preseason, including one against the first team of the Chiefs. Luther Robinson also showed some skill before going on IR.

This is the guy who intrigues me most of the whole group being discussed. I'm surprised he isn't mentioned much- here or anywhere else.

 

[RRyder]

Well the offense will be improved just by virtue of us retaining everybody and the added experience/development the brings.

On D the line should be improved by the return of Raji n development from a guy like D Jones.

LB is dependent on the draft.

CB depends on whether Hayward is able to step up n how we draft.

Saftey will be better due to added experience with Ha Ha and his devlopment along side Burnett.

So yes we're improved in most areas n 2 are contingent on the draft. We're still a pretty young team whos players should only get better or stay the same. The only contibuter Im worried about a drop off for Is Peppers. Pretty much everyone else we can expect the same we got from them last year n at quite a few spots those same players will be better this season having another year of experience and development under their belt. Not a bad position to be in

 

[PFanCan]

BTW a team being five minutes away from going to the Super Bowl doesn't necessarily have to improve a lot.

Not only a team that was 5 minutes away, but also a team that dominated the other team for the entire game up until that point.

I also think that not only were they 5 minutes away from the Super Bowl, but were also 65 minutes of game time away from hoisting the trophy. I believe that the Packers would have beat the Patriots. It's just me being a homer, but I do believe that the Packers were the best team last year. They just F*ed it up in a five minute span.

So, I agree with Captain... this team does not have to improve much if any.

The biggest factor, IMO, is can they have a rather injury-free season again? That is my worry.

 

[HardRightEdge]

Gains: Raji, Barclay

Losses: Williams, House, Flynn, Kuhn, Guion for part of the season in all likelihood, Hawk, Bush, Boykin, Harris, Lattimore

Improved? Not yet.

 

[sschind]

It just really really sucks that the season starts tomorrow already.

 

[NelsonsLongCatch]

I would have liked to have seen the Packers bring in a veteran inside linebacker or two. I'm not asking for high priced free-agents, just a body or two to compete with Barrington and Bradford. A guy or two who would either push the young guys or steal their spot.

The offense is still top-5 in the league and should get better with Davonte Adams and Richard Rodgers going into their second years and Abracadabra coming back from injury and possibly being a solid #4 receiver.

 

[Half Empty]

It just really really sucks that the season starts tomorrow already.

Just like it sucks that today's team is the only one we can discuss at this time. You tell us what it'll look like on Labor Day, and we'll discuss that one.

 

[Vrill]

Have we improved?

Ask me after the draft.

 

[Passepartout]

Well the team always finds a way to win no matter what. Draft or not. Just like Aaron Rodgers says relax!

 

[Pack-12]

We improved significantly from what the roster was after 2014 contracts expired. Everyone only ever looks at outside players that come in but the truth is every single team in the NFL gets worse immediately when the season ends. We started off by getting less worse than other teams when we got the top T and top WR in free agency. The fact that those players were no longer on our team after the season ended is not insignificant.

Look at last year this team seemed a lot better to me than the 2013 team when Rodgers was healthy and that isn't only because of Peppers. We don't know what this team is going to look like come September but I'm sure it will probably be one of the best in the league again.

 

[bozz_2006]

You're falling into the "we need better players" mentality. The Packers operate on a "we need our players to get better" mentality. Going out and getting new guys is not seen as a positive thing here. We rely on the players we draft to improve year to year. The roster is the same, and that is by design. Doesn't mean it isn't an improvement. It damn well better be an improvement.

 

[desertdog55]

I guess we will find out when the season gets underway. Or maybe just go and ask some of the doomsday people, they will tell you the sky is falling and TT sucks. Either way, I am, and will always be a fan.

 

[rodell330]

NO. The offense should be good, but whenever you get rid of guys like Jones and Hawk who were starters?? It makes you think about the guys behind them who couldn't put them on the bench ...how good are those guys?

 

[ivo610]

Free agency isnt the only way teams get better year to year.

 

[adambr2]

Really can't answer this until after the draft. I'm fairly satisfied with our offseason so far as far as keeping our offense in tact and keeping our big guys on the D line for another year. We'll have to address ILB and CB in some way yet.

 

[adambr2]

NO. The offense should be good, but whenever you get rid of guys like Jones and Hawk who were starters?? It makes you think about the guys behind them who couldn't put them on the bench ...how good are those guys?

I like how you've been begging for a long time for us to dump Hawk and Jones, we finally dump Hawk and Jones, and somehow you turn it into a negative to say we got worse.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

I like how you've been begging for a long time for us to dump Hawk and Jones, we finally dump Hawk and Jones, and somehow you turn it into a negative to say we got worse.

The Packers didn´t get worse by releasing Hawk and Jones, that´s for sure. But I think rodell has a point to question the quality of last season´s backups as they weren´t able to move ahead of them on the depth chart.

 

[PackerFanInVa]

IMO I think the guys stepping up will be what we need to bring it all together. Yeah it will take a lil time plus no clue as to who we get in draft but remember back to a guy drafted from the University of California. He sat on the bench for a while and look at him now.