Last season’s magical run after a 4-6 start came to a sudden halt after the Green Bay Packers fell to the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship Game. Much of the Packers woes last season came on the defensive side of the football, where injuries and inexperience riddled the secondary. Still, even with bad defensive play, Green Bay still managed to make it all the way to the NFC Championship Game. That sets the bar high for the Packers this season.
Green Bay Packers Pre-Training Camp Predictions
Offense
On offense, the Packers should be just as formidable as last season. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers will put up MVP-caliber numbers as always, and his three main wide receivers (Jordy Nelson, Davante Adams, and Randall Cobb) will all have very productive years. One of training camp’s key position battles will be at the WR4 slot, where Geronimo Allison, Trevor Davis and Jeff Janis all have a solid chance at earning the spot. Don’t sleep on rookies DeAngelo Yancey and Malachi Dupre, either. Green Bay is loaded when it comes to the passing game and should be incredibly productive once again in that area.
The running game is a different story. Former wide receiver-turned-running back Ty Montgomery has a clear advantage coming into training camp, but fourth-round rookie Jamaal Williams has a chance to make his case in training camp. Outside of those two, there’s no clear direction for the running game so far. As seen last season, Green Bay’s offense thrives when the short passing game is substituted for the run game, so the running game might not have as big of an impact as we’re accustomed to seeing.
Defense
On defense, Green Bay has nowhere to go but up from last season, where they finished 31st in pass defense and 22nd overall. Injuries and inexperience plagued the defense last season, particularly in the secondary. The additions of rookie cornerback Kevin King and former Packer Davon House will certainly help in the defensive backfield. Cornerbacks LaDarius Gunter, Damarious Randall and Quentin Rollins will all have more experience and will be fully healthy. Safeties Morgan Burnett and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix will be dependable as always, both serving well as ball hawking and hard-hitting safeties.
Even with the loss of Julius Peppers, the Packers front seven is still well equipped to stop the run and pressure the quarterback. Young linebackers such as Nick Perry, Blake Martinez and Jake Ryan will carry the load up front. Defensive linemen such as Mike Daniels and Kenny Clark will be a force to be reckoned with as they anchor what was the eighth ranked defense against the run last season. Though Clay Matthews has dropped in production the past few seasons, he’s still one of the Packers’ leaders in the locker room and is someone to be accounted for by opposing teams when he’s on the field.
Overall Expectations
The offense will as always be among the top units in the league so long as Aaron Rodgers and the receiving corps can stay healthy. The defense, while young, has plenty of talent and retains experienced leaders such as Clay Matthews and Mike Daniels. It will be an exciting year for the Packers and one that I believe will end with double digit wins and another NFC Championship appearance or perhaps a Super Bowl appearance.
