Why the Green Bay Packers must become a complete team
By Nile McNair
New defensive coordinator Mike Pettine must help bring back the Green Bay Packers’ opportunistic defense of 2010.
Unlike the AFC, the NFC power teams are often in flux. For instance, just last season, all the division winners didn’t make the playoffs the year before. Nevertheless, the Green Bay Packers have been a dominant presence the past eight years. Winners of the NFC North five times, along with appearing in three NFC Championship Games, and winning one Super Bowl in that time span as well.
Following misfortune in the 2017 season the Packers now find themselves looking up in the standings to some NFC powers. At this moment, the Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Los Angeles Rams, New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons all appear to be better teams than the Packers. These are more complete teams, who don’t rely entirely on their offense or defense. The days of Aaron Rodgers dragging the Packers through the playoffs are over.
The Packers need balance like they had in 2010 when they won the Super Bowl. That season the Packers defense was second in terms of points allowed, only allowing 14.1 points per game. Also, they were second in interceptions that year with 24 and second in sacks with 47. The talent on that defense was better than what’s on current roster. Additions to the secondary through the draft or the remainder of free agency would vastly improve the talent on the current roster.
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Green Bay has been looking for a dominant number one cornerback since Charles Woodson departed after the 2012 season. Perhaps they could find one in Josh Jackson from Iowa. Jackson led college football with eight interceptions last season. Jackson is also a tall cornerback at 6-foot-1 and was an AP first-team All-American last year.
After drafting a corner in the first round, the Packers must focus on replacing Morgan Burnett, who left for the Steelers. Possibly in the second round by drafting Justin Reid out of Stanford who is often compared to Burnett. Another option includes getting Justin’s brother Eric Reid who was a reliable starting safety in San Francisco for the last five seasons.
Even though Clay Matthews is aging and his production is declining, getting a new outside edge rusher is something that can wait till next season. Matthews’ $10.4 million cap hit would be off the books by next year, alowing general manager Brian Gutekunst to go out and sign a better, younger pass rusher in free agency next year.
Improving the defense and Rodgers staying healthy are the keys to Packers being elite again. Green Bay must find a way to slow down the Falcons. A team that has scored over 30 points the last two times they faced the Packers. The Eagles, Vikings, Saints and Rams are teams that can do the same damage offensively because they all ranked in the top 10 in points scored last year.
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The old cliché is prevailing once again, defense win championships. The right arm of Aaron Rodgers can take Green Bay far. However, when you cannot stop anyone on defense you will lose every time. With an improved secondary by the start of the 2018 regular season, anticipate Green Bay to take part in race for the NFC North and NFC crown.