It’s his way or the highway and Packers head coach Mike McCarthy has many ideas for improving his team in 2013. He’s not standing still.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

The NFL doesn’t stand still and neither do the teams that make up the league – and that includes Green Bay Packers and their head coach, Mike McCarthy.

That’s a good thing because we know if you become complacent in this ever-changing environment you will find yourself two steps behind and slipping on the third step trying to catch up.

When McCarthy announced yesterday that his plans were to flip-flop his offensive line – moving right tackle Bryan Bulaga and right guard Josh Sitton to the left side to swap with left guard T.J. Lang and left tackle Marshall Newhouse – it was a sign that the head coach was not happy with the status quo. He’s shaking things up – letting people know that number one, he’s concerned about the 51 sacks of Aaron Rodgers last year, and number two, that he’s serious about jumpstarting the team’s rushing attack.

The Packers offensive line will see dramatic changes this year.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

“We’re built that way because we’re blessed with Aaron Rodgers and we need to maximize the ability and create the opportunities for our perimeter group,” McCarthy said yesterday. “Running the football’s important. we’ve placed a high importance on it. We’ve created a lot of competition at the running back position with our new draft picks. We feel that overall, with our offensive personnel, the competition for opportunity has been greatly increased since we last played.”

He’s also not sold on former left tackle Newhouse. While he’s officially moving him to the right side, McCarthy isn’t saying he will be the starter. In fact, Don Barclay, who finished out as the starter last season at right tackle, is penciled in as the 2013 starter. Yes, there will be competition for the right tackle position, but Barclay showed a mean streak and a skill at run blocking that gives him the edge, at least at this point in the game. More will be nailed down once the teams get on the field and in the classrooms for the spring run-throughs.

The Packers are doing everything they can to protect Aaron Rodgers.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

“It’s really a combination of (many) things,” McCarthy said. “No. 1, it starts with (the fact) we have a right-handed quarterback. His back side is obviously the left side. Both Josh and Bryan are our two most accomplished offensive linemen. So that’s really the starting point. But there’s things that we’re going to do as we move into the season, particularly football scheme-wise, that we feel this is the best decision for us.”

In essence, what this all tells us is that though the Packers offense has been one of the most prolific the past several years, McCarthy feels it’s still not good enough.

Throw in the fact that the Packers drafted two highly-touted running backs – Eddie Lacy and Johnathan Franklin – two offensive linemen – David Bakhtiari and J.C. Tretter – as well as two jumbo-sized wide receivers – John Dorsey out of Maryland and Charles Johnson out of Grand Valley State – and you’ve got a recipe for potential change and improvement.

We know for sure that Lacy and Franklin are going to come into camp and compete immediately for a starting spot on the team. As for the new receivers – we know they’re not going to come in and unseat Jordy Nelson, James Jones and Randall Cobb, but with Jones in the final year of his contract and the potential for him to test the free agent market, the Packers have at least brought in some fresh legs to compete. Whether either or both of these new guys stick remains to be seen, but they put the coaching staff in a position to look closely at what they bring to the table. The same goes for the new offensive linemen … they will add depth and talent.

“It really doesn’t (matter) for us because of the way we play,” McCarthy said. “In the system I grew up in, you always wanted to be more athletic on your left and have your power players on your right side. You like to have that element as part of your offensive line, but, let’s be honest, we spread people out. And (with) our ability and our talent in our perimeter group, it’s important for both our right tackles and left tackles to be athletic.”

And that’s what makes the NFL so great. New players, new season, new opportunities.

Standing still is not Mike McCarthy’s modus operandi. He’s shown us with the movements along the offensive line and the new faces in town that he’s moving on.

We all better be ready for it.

Right tackle Don Barclay entered the Minnesota game and finished out the remainder of the season.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Grasping his side in agony, Packers right tackle Bryan Bulaga tried to stand but eventually succumbed to a hip fracture last season, but in his absence a under-appreciated rookie by the name of Don Barclay took command by solidifying an absent necessity.

By week nine the offensive line had been stretched like salt-water taffy and with a question mark revolving around center Jeff Saturday and left tackle Marshall Newhouse, something had to gel and gel quickly.

Don Barclay was a steadying force on the offensive line last season.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Barclay’s impact was immediate on the ground, while being cunningly agile and sturdy, the line could finally add a dimension they had been lacking.

An emergence of a running game come to fruition with James Starks returning from his 2010 slumber to churn out 61 yards on 17 carries against the stubborn Cardinals’ defense.

Resurgence became a theme with Ryan Grant’s performance against the Tennessee Titans in week 16 with 20 carries for 80 yards and two scores.

Head Coach Mike McCarthy has had his hands full the past couple of years in keeping the offensive line intact.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Since Head Coach Mike McCarthy came to the Packers with former offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski in 2006, the zone-blocking scheme has been a mixed bag. Sporadic success has given way to an abandonment of the ground attack as evidenced by the use of only Brandon Jackson and John Kuhn during the 2010 title run.

With Barclay, an undrafted prospect from West Virginia displaying true grit, he helped to beef up the strength of the line while also maintaining the pace of the offense.

Looking at the Mountaineers during his tenure, Barclay was a consistent force at the point of attack by crushing the opponent across the line with 64 knockdowns , helping the team average 185.3 yards of rushing per game in his final season.

While Bryan Bulaga is a stellar tackle, his talents derive from pure pass-blocking at the left tackle position, whereas Barclay possesses the speed and agility to pull and challenge the second level to create space for running backs.

Add the ability to rush the ball on offense and Barclay’s unknown ceiling with the small sample size and the Packers could have what they have been expected to search for in the coming draft.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) lies on the turf after getting sacked by the Seattle Seahawks during the first half at CenturyLink Field last season. How long can this go on? Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Last season, Aaron Rodgers hit the deck by way of a sack 51 times. In his five seasons as the Green Bay Packers’ starting quarterback, he’s been sacked a head-shaking 215 times.

Seriously? Two-hundred-fifteen sacks in just five seasons. That’s a lot of time for Rodgers’ butt to get acquainted with the various turfs around the NFL. What in the name of Forrest Gregg is going on here?

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) is pressured by San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Aldon Smith (99) during the second quarter of the NFC divisional round playoff game at Candlestick Park. Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

Now the club is about to make Rodgers the highest-paid player in NFL history, with a salary rumored to be as much as $25 million annually.

What I’m getting to here is that, barring teaching Rodgers to throw a football from his keister, something has got to give. You can’t build an NFL team essentially around one cog and then let him get knocked on his derriere by 300-pound gorillas 50 times a season.

You just can’t.

Marshall Newhouse was the man charged with protecting Rodgers’ blind side for part of 2011 and all of 2012, and he didn’t grade out anywhere near the top of the league’s left tackles in the latter season. In fact, just this week an unnamed NFC scout was quoted as saying that Newhouse is not an “ideal” left tackle in the NFL.

“You have to do things in your protection scheme to give him help at times,” the scout said. “Not every snap. You’re not going to want to leave him alone every snap. You really haven’t had anybody to push him. If you had somebody outside, he could be a swing guy.”

Offensive line coach James Campen gets into the face of Marshall Newhouse during the Packers season opener against the San Francisco 49ers last season. Newhouse’s inconsistency at the left tackle position was a problem for the Packers last year. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

In other words, Newhouse is best served to remain a backup, which is what he was until injuries decimated the offensive line (more on that later).

So does that mean the Packers will take a left tackle with their No. 26 pick in the NFL draft in two weeks?

Not necessarily.

Milwaukee Journal-Sentinal writer Tyler Dunne believes Bryan Bulaga could easily slide from right tackle to left, with undrafted upstart Don Barclay taking over the right side, at least until we find out whether former first-round draft pick Derek Sherrod’s shattered left leg has been properly put back together again.

However, Dunne also said he thinks it would be a smart move to draft Alabama tack D.J. Fluker with the No. 26 if he’s available, just in case Barclay takes a step back this season. The Packers could also look at lesser-known tackles like Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s Terron Armstead, Syracuse’s Justin Pugh, Florida State’s Menelik Watson or Tennessee’s Dallas Thomas in rounds one or two.

But before we get ahead of ourselves, there’s an intriguing article over at ESPN.com, saying that the value of left tackles is dwindling thanks to the changing nature of how the NFL game is played. The reasoning? With the read-option and spread offenses taking over the NFL, quarterbacks are spending less time in the pocket because they are either on the run or getting the ball out quickly with short, precise passing attacks.

And consider this startling fact, related in the ESPN story:

Of the 12 left tackles drafted in the top 10 since 2004 – totaling contracts worth more than $500 million – only three have a postseason victory, and not one has an NFL title to his credit.

So just how important is left tackle?

Protecting Aaron Rodgers becomes more important this season.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Well, for Colin Kaepernick or Russell Wilson, perhaps that left tackle position, which traditionally has been an anchor of the offense as a whole, isn’t as important as one might think. But for Rodgers, whose style of play is to hold the ball until the last possible second, hoping a big play will develop downfield, a top-notch left tackle is less a luxury and more a necessity.

It also must be addressed that conventional wisdom is that the only way to get a sure-fire left tackle via the draft is to have a Top 10 pick. If the ESPN article is correct, however, even that doesn’t ensure success. But we do know there won’t be any left-tackle locks at No. 26. That’s what they call a Catch 22 – you gotta have a good left tackle to protect your $25 million man, but at the back end of the first round, there are no guarantees.

Whether it’s a fully-healed Sherrod (which doesn’t look terribly promising, to hear coach Mike McCarthy discuss it), a successful Bulaga switch or an inspired draft pick, GM Ted Thompson and his brain trust need to come up with an answer.  Because soon there will be an even greater need to invest in keeping Rodgers upright.

Nov 25, 2012; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants defensive tackle Chris Canty (99) trips up Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) during the first half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-US PRESSWIRE

The most common mistake we make as football analysts is overreacting to the most recent game or event while ignoring longer trends. A week ago, the Saints were championed as one of the “hottest” teams in the league. Bandwagoners were quick to point out a three-game winning streak and only one loss over their last six. This, of course, ignored the Saints appalling first four games as well as their weak mid-season schedule.

Similarly, many of us (myself included) saw the Giants’ recent struggles and felt the Packers could take them in New York. We focused on the fact Eli Manning hadn’t thrown a touchdown pass in a month. We focused on their last two games, both losses. We focused on the “revenge” factor we assumed would motivate the Packers.

Yet we ignored what really mattered: the Packers’ struggles with physical defenses, the extra week of planning the Giants gained from their bye week, and most importantly, Green Bay’s propensity for allowing pressure on Aaron Rodgers.

After eleven weeks of play, the Packers have given up 37 sacks. Only the Cardinals, who’ve alternated between three subpar quarterbacks, have given up more. Currently the Packers are projected to give up just under 54 sacks for 2012, the second highest one year total in team history.

So, where’s the Band-Aid? What can the team do to solve its historically pathetic pass protection?

Option 1: Call Chad Clifton

Sep, 18, 2011; Charlotte, NC, USA; Green Bay Packers tackle Chad Clifton (76) on the sidelines in the fourth quarter. The Packers defeated the Panthers 30-23 at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-US PRESSWIRE

The most common suggestion from fans is for Ted Thompson to make a call to Chad Clifton and see if he’d like to pick up a few more game checks. As fans are wont to do, this campaign makes the misguided assumption that Chad Clifton can still play. Last year demonstrated beyond any doubt that Clifton’s illustrious playing career is over. Even before Clifton’s injury he struggled with physical pass rushers, the very same ones the Packers struggle with today. Clifton is now 36 years old and hasn’t played a snap since January. This is ultimately not a solution.

Option 2: Derek Sherrod

Unfortunately, Derek Sherrod has contributed little to the Packers since they selected him in the 2011 draft. Worse, he’s not going to contribute again anytime soon. By all accounts, Sherrod will be placed on season-ending injured reserve sometime this week.

Option 3: Play Don Barclay at Tackle or Greg Van Roten at Guard

Much like the axiom, “the most popular player is the backup quarterback,” fans have started to grumble about trying out one of the unknown rookie linemen. In one scenario, Greg Van Roten would take over for Evan Dietrich-Smith. In another, T.J. Lang would shift back to his usual left guard spot with Don Barclay filling in at right tackle. These are novel ideas, but both bad ones. While the Packers have previously found undrafted free agents capable of contributing right away, this is generally a rare occurrence. The reviews of these players during camp were mixed, and neither is considered more than a long term project. Maybe next year one of these two will find a way to contribute, but even that’s a shaky proposition.

Option 4: Give More Snaps to John Kuhn in Single Back Sets

Nov 20, 2011; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers fullback John Kuhn (30) during the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Lambeau Field. The Packers defeated the Buccaneers 35-26. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE

John Kuhn has been Green Bay’s best back in pass protection all year. Using Kuhn more often in single back sets – whether Rodgers is under center or in the shotgun – should give an extra second of protection. Kuhn has also demonstrated ability as a pass catcher. However, there’s a reason the coaching staff hasn’t and won’t make this adjustment fulltime. Kuhn is a subpar runner. Because Kuhn does not have much burst, there’s only a limited number of gaps he can run towards. Other teams know this, and have managed their defenses accordingly. Playing Kuhn more in single back sets will give defenses more freedom to clog the middle of the line and drop their safeties back. The Packers will probably use Kuhn more in single back sets, but don’t expect it to become their regular offense.

Option 5: Throw from the Spread

Feb 6, 2011; Arlington, TX, USA; General view of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) takes a snap from the shotgun formation at midfield during Super Bowl XLV against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Cowboys Stadium. The Packers defeated the Steelers 31-25. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

Rodgers has maintained that when the Packers put four or five receivers on the field, it gives them an advantage over any defensive backfield in the league. He’s right, but the drawback is the offensive line isn’t giving Rodgers much time to pass. Quick throws out of spread formations give the Packers a chance to get the ball in the hands of their playmakers against subpar defensive backs. In fact, the Packers have gone to this more and more the past two weeks with Cobb serving as the main beneficiary. This is what the Packers used to subsidize the run game in 2010 and 2011 and everyone knows how that worked out. This is another partial solution, but probably the most practical.

It’s important to remember that Mike McCarthy has been able to make major in-season adjustments before, and he’s likely to figure something out again. The last two weeks featured two of the best defensive fronts Green Bay will face all year. The Packers need to produce better protection. They’ve struggled with it all year. However, it’s incredibly premature to discount the Packers because of what’s happened the past few weeks. The Packers have given up 50+ sacks before during the Rodgers-McCarthy era and made the playoffs. They should be able to do that again this year.

Dec 25, 2011; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers guard Evan Dietrich-Smith (62) during the game against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field. The Packers defeated the Bears 35-21. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE

With the news that the Green Bay Packers will be without the services of starting right tackle Bryan Bulaga, opportunity has come knocking for a once unknown and unwanted backup lineman.

Evan Dietrich-Smith, an undrafted rookie in 2009 and twice released by NFL teams, has just been handed a seven week window to show the Packers – and perhaps the entire NFL – that he belongs. More importantly, he has the chance to prove he belongs in the starting lineup.

Barring injury, Dietrich-Smith should spend the remainder of the 2012 season stationed at left guard. This, however, may not be where his future lies. While Dietrich-Smith’s greatest asset to the Packers has been his versatility, the team may soon discover that the heir to Jeff Saturday already resides on their roster. If that were to happen, it would be a remarkable story and an even more remarkable surprise.

During the 2010 preseason, Dietrich-Smith was unable to beat out Nick McDonald – himself an undrafted rookie that year – for the final offensive line spot despite a full year on the active roster. The linemen-starved Seahawks picked him up only to release him that October. It appeared that in less than two years, Dietrich-Smith was already on his way out of the league.

Here’s where the story gets interesting. On New Year’s Eve 2010, the Packers were forced to put tackle Marshall Newhouse on injured reserve, opening up a spot for an offensive lineman on their 53 man roster. Dietrich-Smith, being both highly versatile and familiar with the Packers’ zone blocking scheme, was granted one more shot with the club.

While he was merely a ride-along on the Packers miracle Super Bowl run, Dietrich-Smith’s late season signing ensured him the inside track to make the team in 2011. He did just that, starting three games on top of occasional injury substitution duty.

Nov 24, 2011; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (90) stomps on Green Bay Packers offensive guard Evan Dietrich-Smith (62) after the play. Suh was ejected from the game during the third quarter at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-US PRESSWIRE

While playing for hobbled right guard Josh Sitton during a Thanksgiving matchup with Detroit, Dietrich-Smith unwittingly made headlines when he became the target of Ndamukong Suh’s right cleat. The event overshadowed the progress Dietrich-Smith made since returning to the club. While he still struggled with consistency, the Packers did not have to make major adjustments to account for him.

As we documented last month, the Packers backed themselves into a corner with their lack of depth along the offensive line. While Dietrich-Smith has improved greatly since returning and the play calling hasn’t been substantially altered by his presence, he’s still a largely untested commodity in charge of protecting the league’s most valuable player. Should Dietrich-Smith get knocked back at the point of attack or fail to pick up a blitzing linebacker, Aaron Rodgers could be left immobilized on the turf.

A similarly grim reality comes into view should Dietrich-Smith prove incapable or get hurt. The in-house replacement options are all undrafted rookies, one of which didn’t even make the 53 coming out of preseason.

Consequently, it’s imperative that Dietrich-Smith hold steady at left guard and remain healthy. If he can stabilize the offensive line, he could be looking at a new contract and the starting center position heading into 2013.

Sep 13, 2012; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga (75) during the game against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field. The Packers defeated the Bears 23-10. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE

Green Bay Packers General Manager Ted Thompson rolled the dice at the beginning of this season carrying only one backup offensive lineman with NFL experience. This past Sunday against Arizona that roll of the dice came up “snake eyes.”

Bryan Bulaga, whom many regard as the team’s best overall lineman injured his hip in that game, and was eventually placed on injured reserve.

So what does life without Bulaga look like?

We got a small glimpse against Arizona, and there was not much of a drop-off.  However that was only a preview, not the full length feature.

T.J Lang will slide over to right tackle for the rest of the season. While he has been solid at guard, his history at tackle is suspect at best. He started three games at tackle in 2009. He played inconsistently, giving up 5.5 sacks, and by week 5 they were calling Mark Tauscher out of retirement.

Evan Dietrich-Smith’s resume at first glimpse, is even less appealing. His lone career highlight  is being the recipient of “the stomp.” In reality,  he is an adequate backup, who seems to excel in spots, but has not been tested over the long haul.

After EDS, it gets a lot worse. Don Barclay and Greg Van Roten are both untested rookie free agents, who are yet to step on the field for any meaningful snaps. Derrick Sherrod has returned to practice, but has not had any football-related activity since December of last year, and he wasn’t that good then.

Next man up, right?

It’s not that simple anymore. The overall play of the offensive line had slipped before the Bulaga injury. They have dropped from 18^th in overall efficiency in 2011 to 28^th this year and have given up 29 sacks, which ties the team for 31^st in the NFL.

Also the rest of the schedule is chock full of teams that have elite pass rushers, and can really bring the pressure. In fact, only one team remaining on the schedule (Tennessee) is ranked outside the top 10 in rushing the passer.

Hopefully we can escape these games with a few wins…and a quarterback in one piece

Sep 13, 2012; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga (75) during the game against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field. The Packers defeated the Bears 23-10. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE

The unmentionable has officially occurred for the Green Bay Packers.

The offensive line, which has been intact for much of the season, received a blow when it was officially announced today that Bryan Bulaga, the Packers starting right tackle, would be placed on injured reserve, ending his season.

So, with the likes of Ndamukong Suh, Jared Allen and Julius Peppers licking their chops to get after Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the likelihood is that their chances may have increased with the loss of Bulaga.

However, there are those who may think that Bulaga hadn’t been playing his best ball over the first eight games anyway and the line continued to perform fairly well in the third and fourth quarters when Bulaga went out with a hip injury against the Arizona Cardinals.

When Evan Dietrich-Smith replaced left guard T.J. Lang when he slid over to replace Bulaga, the line continued to play without  too much of a drop-off – something they will have to continue to do when they come back out of the bye and play their first game against the Detroit Lions.

No doubt, that group of defensive linemen will be ready to test the Packers.

The good thing is that the Packers have the entire week to get the new players entrenched into their new positions before they head into the final stretch of the season. Just like all the other injuries that have taken starters away from the field, this one is no different. The continuing mantra of “next man up” continues with the offensive line.

Our hope is that any other injuries along the line can be avoided in this crucial stage of the season just when the NFC North Division standings have tightened with the loss by the Bears to the Houston Texans. And the rash of concussions to big-time players – Chicago QB Jay Cutler included – only underscores how injuries are affecting all teams.

This is the time of the season when team depth is a big player with which teams make the playoffs and which advance deep into the tournament and end up in the Super Bowl.

It’s time to buckle down, play hard and win games.

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Aug 19, 2011; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Derek Sherrod (78) looks on from the bench during the third quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at Lambeau Field. The Packers defeated the Cardinals 28-20. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE

With the injuries to Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, Charles Woodson, Sam Shields, Desmond Bishop, D.J. Smith, B.J. Raji, and Nick Perry, it’s easy to conclude that the Packers have become the walking wounded. I disagree. In my estimation, they’ve been extremely lucky that through roughly half an NFL season, their offensive line has been nearly unscathed.

It’s been a long time since the Packers had effectively the same five offensive linemen for a entire season: 2003 to be exact. Though the line has been up and down thus far, a single injury anywhere along line could likely result in disaster – knock on wood.

Aug 19, 2011; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Derek Sherrod (78) blocks during the third quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at Lambeau Field. The Packers defeated the Cardinals 28-20. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE

The first man up is Evan Dietrich-Smith, a journeyman who isn’t even replacement level on his best day. His best asset is that he can play any of the interior positions, but what if one of the tackles goes down?

In that scenario, T.J. Lang would move outside with EDS filling Lang’s spot. While Lang has improved considerably since the last time he played tackle, he struggles with finesse rushers. With Julius Peppers, Jared Allen, Chris Avril, and the Giants’ trio of Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora, and Jason Pierre-Paul left on the schedule, it’s a scary scenario.

All of which is why the news that Derek Sherrod is unlikely to play this year is a big blow to the Packers. Sherrod’s return would have given Mike McCarthy a serviceable option at tackle should something happen to Marshall Newhouse or Bryan Bulaga.

Think back to 2009 when Clifton was injured early in the season, Daryn Colledge slid from left guard to left tackle. The adjusted line played terribly, resulting in the aforementioned trial run of Lang as a tackle. Lang’s struggles on the outside led the team to re-sign longtime right tackle Mark Tauscher.

There’s no Tauscher fallback plan this year, and the Packers are just one injury away from needing one.

The emboldened ones are the actual predictions, and the other ones, are simply things that you won’t hear people say.

1. The Oakland Raiders will have at least a .500 season this year. With an improved defense, and an evolving offense with many young talents, the perennial “freebie wins” on opponents schedules, have become a formidable foe. Yes, they haven’t won more than five games since 2002. I know, but last year they showed glimpses  of promise. They defeated the Philadelphia Eagles, the Bengals, and then stormed Pittsburgh and upset them as well. The Raiders are finally pointed North, and mark my words, will win 8 games next year.
2. “Honey, that’s Brett Favre sitting at that table over there! My, he hardly looked at that menu. He is  a very efficient decison-maker! And there certainly aren’t dentures in his mouth. Oh, and look who he is sitting with, Ted Thompson and Tracy Porter.”
3. The New England Patriots will not be joining the playoff party this year. There defense is mediocre at best and nothing in comparison to the division rival Miami Dolphins and New York Jets’ defenses. They have no running game. Logan Mankins and Tom Brady are unhappy. With a tough schedule and a very competitive AFC East, I am going all in against Bill Belichick and his humble pie theology.
4. “Kids, I would like to introduce to you, the Green Bay Packers defensive lineman Johnny Jolly. He is here to speak to you today about the danger of drugs, especially codeine syrup, which is now commonly called, Jolly Juice.”
5. The Green Bay Packers’ offensive line will only allow rocket armed Aaron Rodgers’ million dollar butt slam to the turf 20 times or less this season. After allowing 50 sacks last year, the Packers’ offensive line was considered porous and week. However, after a took out my handy dandy magnify glass and took a closer look at the situation, I realized that 41 of those sacks were given up in their first 9 games. Only 10  sacks were given up in the last 7 games. That is a great reversal, and I expect that pattern to continue. The most important part of an offensive line, is their camaraderie. This team of 5 over sized gentlemen will have a year under their belt, and a deep bench behind them. 20 or less!