NFC North Predictions

[Heyjoe4]

We did draft Punter Ray Stachowicz in the 3rd Rd, back in the early 80's

"Shankowicz" was picked in the third round?!?! Wow I did not know that. I just remember that he was one of the many failed punters the Packers went through. Bucky Scribner ("Squibner") was another name that comes to mind.

A great punter can have a huge outcome on a game, sometimes flipping field position with a big leg, other times pinning an opponent inside the 10 with precision.

I'm pretty happy with Whelan. He's got a big leg and seems he can kick with precision when needed. Was he drafted or was he an UDFA?

 

[SudsMcBucky]

We did draft Punter Ray Stachowicz in the 3rd Rd, back in the early 80's

And you remember how bad we were in the 80's, too, right?

 

[milani]

no one is asking you to I’ll do it for us

No but seriously. I forgot about Conway and looked him up.
First of all I value a good Placekicker over a good Punter if given the choice. So we can’t fault Ron Wolf. While Conway struggled in Preseason, he had actually succumbed to Quad injury before the regular season started. Longwell was brought in ti compete and immediately was a dominant Kicker at # 3 in points in 1997.
So that kinda shows more to my point that we have done a better job of acquiring talent (and developing) than the Bears and we’ve done it with less draft capital. In a redo I’d gladly hand a #90 selection for Longwell. For a GM the End justified the means. I don’t care how you get there just get there.

Reminds me of what the Packers do time and time again. We find players on the cheaper end of resources who come in and perform admirably. Meanwhile Chicago often gives away the farm to acquire players and we’re supposed to act impressed. I’m just being honest I’m not impressed I’m sorry if that’s hurtful to a Chicago fan I’m just being genuine. Sm opposing NFC North fan might not like my opinion but I’m not pretending.. you’ll know where I stand.

I just think the Bears have been speculative at best across the last 30 years of draft. Chicago has had MUCH better draft Capital and Cap space to work with due to constant changes at QB and cheap contract $$. It’s hard for me to listen to a Bears fan tell me how great a player or Coach is because too often they don’t work out. The media seems to do this also it’s like a fascination with trying to diminish GB and exhorting Chicago.ok I feel sorry for the Bears but do I have to pretend to be excited for Chicago? I’m not jumping aboard the Chicago train just yet. It’s the same song and dance every year and nobody apologizes when they are completely wrong. IMO Bears fans just need to own it and remain humble, then it will come. The constant haughty expression they assume is just a little too much.

Even Detroit fans at least mostly kept quiet when they were awful. We don’t need to be told when a team is good I think we’re all smart enough to see it.

Conway's failure in his first preseason game certainly paved the way for Longwell. Look at it that way. Another name to remember in Packer ST lore is one B.J. Sander.

 

[Curly Calhoun]

Conway's failure in his first preseason game certainly paved the way for Longwell. Look at it that way. Another name to remember in Packer ST lore is one B.J. Sander.

I remember that guy - They spent a third round pick on him.

After Green Bay released him (in favor of Jon Ryan), Sander spent a season with the Hamburg Sea Devils.

Quite a legacy.

 

[El Guapo]

Jon Ryan was a head-scratcher. I never heard what he did to make the head honchos mad, but it wasn't performance. He went to Seattle and stuck it to us for years.

 

[Calebs Revenge]

Hey, I get it man hopefully springs eternal, and yada yada yada and trust me. I've been been let down so many times by the Bears that this year could be no different but this year it really seems different and consistency can come now that we have a competent head coach I think like come on Eberflus couldn't coach his way out of a paper bag. It was ridiculous.

 

[Pkrjones]

Jon Ryan was a head-scratcher. I never heard what he did to make the head honchos mad, but it wasn't performance. He went to Seattle and stuck it to us for years.

Packers released Ryan 9/01/08, for Derrick Frost. Seahawks scooped Ryan up & he punted for them for 10 or 11 years.

 

[Magooch]

Hey, I get it man hopefully springs eternal, and yada yada yada and trust me. I've been been let down so many times by the Bears that this year could be no different but this year it really seems different and consistency can come now that we have a competent head coach I think like come on Eberflus couldn't coach his way out of a paper bag. It was ridiculous.

Hey man, you do you. I can respect the optimism. Personally I'm inclined to be a bit more pessimistic in these things, or at least a bit more....tempered expectations, but nothing wrong with being hopeful. Not much fun or point in being a fan IMO if you're only going to project doom and gloom all the time, lol.

In general I think Johnson is a big exciting hire. He was the "big fish" this cycle, so you gotta get him, and props for getting it done. My only trepidation there is that there are a LOT of instances of coaches doing great as coordinators and struggling in a head coach capacity. I mean, lest we forget...nobody was saying "Eberflus couldn't coach his way out of a paper bag" before he took the job. Look just in recent history...Nagy was seen as a really promising up-and-coming coordinator with head coach potential. Andy Reid at the time said "he's the best head coach candidate I've ever had". Eberflus himself was a great DC who had been eyeballed as a head coach candidate for a while before Chicago hired him. Maybe neither had Ben Johnson-level hype, but they were both guys who folks thought had a lot of promise and potential as head coaches too. They weren't incompetent or unqualified or out of their depth until things really got going. So like I said, I like Johnson, and would hope and think that things would be different, but there is also reason to at least be a little wary...

 

[El Guapo]

Packers released Ryan 9/01/08, for Derrick Frost. Seahawks scooped Ryan up & he punted for them for 10 or 11 years.

That's what I remember. What I never heard the real truth on is why we released him right at the start of the season. Frost was terrible. There was another reason. He must have slept with somebody's wife.

 

[Calebs Revenge]

Hey man, you do you. I can respect the optimism. Personally I'm inclined to be a bit more pessimistic in these things, or at least a bit more....tempered expectations, but nothing wrong with being hopeful. Not much fun or point in being a fan IMO if you're only going to project doom and gloom all the time, lol.

In general I think Johnson is a big exciting hire. He was the "big fish" this cycle, so you gotta get him, and props for getting it done. My only trepidation there is that there are a LOT of instances of coaches doing great as coordinators and struggling in a head coach capacity. I mean, lest we forget...nobody was saying "Eberflus couldn't coach his way out of a paper bag" before he took the job. Look just in recent history...Nagy was seen as a really promising up-and-coming coordinator with head coach potential. Andy Reid at the time said "he's the best head coach candidate I've ever had". Eberflus himself was a great DC who had been eyeballed as a head coach candidate for a while before Chicago hired him. Maybe neither had Ben Johnson-level hype, but they were both guys who folks thought had a lot of promise and potential as head coaches too. They weren't incompetent or unqualified or out of their depth until things really got going. So like I said, I like Johnson, and would hope and think that things would be different, but there is also reason to at least be a little wary...

Yeah man, everything you said is true There have been times, like after we drafted Trubisky, we knew the next year or two we were going to be awful....
And to no one's surprise we were....
I was always nervous about Matt Nagy because he wasn't a play caller......
His shortcomings became obvious to everyone....if I had to listen to him say"what are the why's???? We gotta figure out the why's"......I might have had to pay coach a "visit"!!!
"Hey coach....I know the why's.....it's because you got your head up your rear!!!!!"

I do agree that lots of coordinators go on to flame out in the Big Chair.....
But..... with a lot of those coordinators, I think everyone can, for the most part, agreed that their HC mentors were leaps and bounds ahead of their pupils like BB and like Andy Reid.
All of Bill Belichick's assistants pretty much stank...... and really Bill Belichick was not that great of a head coach until Tom Brady came into the picture.... he failed miserably in Cleveland.... but then again who doesn't fail in Cleveland, right?!?!??

I just think everyone who looks at Detroit team the last three or four years has to ask themselves.."was it Ben Johnson or was it the maniacal craziness of the head coach Dan Campbell?!??!?!?!?!?!
I would say more people than not think that Ben Johnson was the main factor for not only Jared Goff's resurgence, but Detroit success as a whole..,.
And if you could take Detroit not only out of the basement of the NFC North, but the basement of the NFL itself...... I think we're cooking with gasoline now boys!!!!
And my major point is look at what Caleb was able to do with no help from a coordinator or a head coach!!!!!
Yes, we had the hiccup in Washington thanks to Tyrique Stevenson..... the blocked FG y'all had to win the game in CHI.... and I know everyone wants to say well we weren't really trying against y'all the last game of the season..... but it sure looked like you were trying during the first game in Chicago and we were in the exact same position as we were in week 18 to win!!!!!
But this is all conjecture that's why they play the games and I can't wait to get this season started!!!!
And I can't wait to do the league again because that was a lot of fun last year kept me busy because I didn't have any fantasy football teams!!!!!!

 

[Pkrjones]

.. Frost was terrible. There was another reason. He must have slept with somebody's wife.

Ryan had touchback percentages of 14.3% & 18.3%, whereas Frost's were 8.6% & 9.3% those same years. GB wanted better accuracy, Ryan had a bigger leg, percieved lack of accuracy. Pretty sure GB regretted that decision quickly.

 

[Calebs Revenge]

Ryan had touchback percentages of 14.3% & 18.3%, whereas Frost's were 8.6% & 9.3% those same years. GB wanted better accuracy, Ryan had a bigger leg, percieved lack of accuracy. Pretty sure GB regretted that decision quickly.

Is frost your punter or your field goal kicker because I'll be honest whoever you guys got later in the year seems to be a very decent kicker..... which sucks hahahaha

 

[DoURant]

Is frost your punter or your field goal kicker because I'll be honest whoever you guys got later in the year seems to be a very decent kicker..... which sucks hahahaha

Frost was from 10-12 years ago. As for right now, McManus is the Kicker we signed after week 6, he missed 2 kicks, both FG's, the rest of the season through the playoff game.... Not to mention, our Punter, Whelan, was a stud too, plus he is the holder.

 

[Calebs Revenge]

Yeah, y'all's kicking game definitely got better
Thank you very much for answering the question I appreciate it.....

 

[gopkrs]

There are fewer and fewer threads I care to look at. Is it possible to stick to the topic a little. And if we run out of things to say; start a new topic. Like "mediocre punters from awhile back" or something.

 

[DoURant]

My prediction is the Packers will have the best Punter and Kicker in the NFC North this season.

 

[Calebs Revenge]

My prediction is the Packers will have the best Punter and Kicker in the NFC North this season.

my Aussie is gonna go nuts this year!!!

 

[milani]

Hey, I get it man hopefully springs eternal, and yada yada yada and trust me. I've been been let down so many times by the Bears that this year could be no different but this year it really seems different and consistency can come now that we have a competent head coach I think like come on Eberflus couldn't coach his way out of a paper bag. It was ridiculous.

A fan has to stick with his or her team and hope even when things are dreary. I go through that with teams I support in other sports.

 

[Pkrjones]

There are fewer and fewer threads I care to look at. Is it possible to stick to the topic a little. And if we run out of things to say; start a new topic. Like "mediocre punters from awhile back" or something.

You'll need to post this in the "Complaints" thread.
Sorry for my role in the deviation.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Hey, I get it man hopefully springs eternal, and yada yada yada and trust me. I've been been let down so many times by the Bears that this year could be no different but this year it really seems different and consistency can come now that we have a competent head coach I think like come on Eberflus couldn't coach his way out of a paper bag. It was ridiculous.

Well, for the first time in many, many years - I think the Bears have the talent and coaching in place to have a solid year. After the 68 sacks, Poles gave Williams a lot more protection, and made other solid moves in the offseason.

But you know better than anyone, it's the Bears - of Jay Cutler (his name should be in the circle at Lambeau) and double-doink fame. But I do expect they will be a tough out this year.

 

[Voyageur]

The Bears may have improved substantially since last year. It appears they have. Fans have a lot of reasons to be happy about the direction they see the team going. None of that matters until we see how it all plays out inside the chalk lines. But make no mistake about it, the Bears are going to be tough competition for anyone in our division, and if the division is like it was last year, it could be the toughest division in the NFL during at least the regular season.

I've commented that the Packers could pick up as many as 11 wins. At 11-6, I'd say 3 of those losses would come inside the division. Everyone in it could beat each other because I believe it might be just that strong. If anyone in the division goes better than 4-2 inside their own group, I'd be amazed.

If I was to pick the finish of all four teams in our group, I'd say it would be as follows:

Detroit 12-5
Green Bay 11-6
Chicago 9-8
Minnesota 9-8

But that's just based on how I perceive each team has done to this point during the off season. For Detroit, Green Bay, and Chicago, their final standing will be based on the health of their starting QBs. For Minnesota, it's going to be more about ball control, and playing superior defense. If it fails, McCarthy, or whomever they put under center, is going to be turned into a tackling dummy.

 

[OldSchool101]

So to be clear to @Calebs Revenge and any other Bears fans. I have already stated Chicago “should” be on pace to gain the most NFC North market share. +3 games area. Matter of fact maybe a coin flip Chicago is “in the hunt” with a few games left, type area. After all Chicago was the MOST aggressive in FA $$ and + had the most draft equity. So in theory they SHOULD improve.

if I’m a Bears fan (ducking and covering my head from things being hurled at me) I’m still uncertain about Caleb in Year 2. Even Aaron Rodgers, one of the better examples in NFL history took 3-4 years to peak. We all remember that Arizona shootout with Warner and the more typical Rodgers Postseason finish. It’s a lot to expect a QB in Year 2 to play near the top of their game imo. Year 3 or 4 in the SAME system? (ala Brett Favre) That’s more in line with success rates.

Then, as good a candidate for HC as Ben Johnson is, he’s still never held that position before. It’s setting a bar too high to expect to compete above an 11 Win team from the previous 5 Win season. While he’s a great O mind, He’s 0-0 as a Head Coach.

I’d be almost more excited had they gotten someone like Bill B. A Defensive sided Coach. After finishing Defensively

#13 scoring
#1 TD allowed
#21 in INT
#30 Yards allowed/Per Play
#27 Total Yards allowed
#19 INT
#29 Rush per Attempt
#26 1st Downs allowed
#30 Net Yards/Pass

If that Super Bend, not Break doesn’t get fixed and fixed pronto, very few Offenses will overcome that for a deep playoff Run.

At Detroit Ben benefited from 7th in Points allowed, which he was as much a benefactor as he was a help (because a high functioning O can aid the Defense) This Chicago Defense is not Detroit

 

[Sanguine camper]

Even if the Bears are improved, can they climb out of the celler? I'm not convinced. While Williams has the tools, so did a lot of other QB's who failed to grasp the speed of the game. He made his O line look even worse than it was by holding onto the football too long.

Detroit is still the best team in the division. They managed to win 15 games last season with a defense decimated by injuries. The question is who comes in second. Unless JJ McCarthy is a phenom rookie, I would think Minnesota will take a step back into 3rd place.

Unless the Packers see a leap by Love, Kraft and Reed into pro bowl territory, they'll continue to underperform in big games due to a lack of marquee players. The roster is solid, so 9-11 victories is a good probability. I don't see the team becoming competitive beyond the usual first round playoff debacle unless there's a whole lot of internal improvement. The off-season additions aren't going to change the need for that.

 

[Calebs Revenge]

I think the division is actually wide open!!!
I think Detroit could easily slip and lose close games this year. Their schedule is brutal.
The Bears schedule is pretty brutal also and everybody in the north is going to have to win the games if they want to get into the postseason so it's just gonna come down to execution.
The idea that 72 year old Bill Belichick without Tom Brady would be better than Ben Johnson is a little much for me, but everyone is entitled to their opinions, but I couldn't be happier that we are in the position that we're in and we'll see how it goes....
Just listening to it our old coaches used to just throw stuff at the wall to see what would stick and they were very predictable and not difficult to stop in certain areas because they were so predictable.....
Ben Johnson has actually talked about going over plays with Caleb, which again, is something new bc the old regime apparently they didn't believe in coaching up their quarterback or watching film....
Ben Johnson is not only trying to explain how the play works.....but also why....in every instance are they calling this play?
It's like we run this play to set up this play later and we scheme this....to open up this play or player later and then it sets up y and z......like there are levels to this thing......a guy like Eberflus or Waldron couldn't even begin to comprehend what Ben is cooking up.

 

[OldSchool101]

The idea that 72 year old Bill Belichick without Tom Brady would be better than Ben Johnson is a little much for me, but everyone is entitled to their opinions, but I couldn't be happier that we are in the position that we're in and we'll see how it goes....

I didn’t mean to infer Bill B would be the best alternative today in a literal sense. More that a great D mind as your HC would be preferred over a great O mind imo.

Listen us Packer fans of anybody understand you can have a powerful O but if not backed by a Top 8-10 area scoring D (or better) you’ll suffer in the Postseason. Balance is best but leaning Defense and that theory holds with rare anomalies across decades of NFL SB winners.