Thoughts on the Packers Early in the Season

The Packers got whooped last night. I watched it with my own two eyes. Their coach said the same. I think the players would admit it as well. The Lions are a good football team, but I didn't think the Packers would get beat this easily at home. Let’s discuss.

I marinated on the game last night and this morning. It was interesting reading some comments from fans and media people alike right after the game. Bleacher Report had a headline right as the game finished that read, "Fans Flame Defense" in regards to how the defense played last night. Bleacher Report, just a week earlier during a Packers win, had a headline that read, "Fans Praise Defense". It just goes to show you how up and down the NFL can be, literally week to week.

I am here today to say that this is the team I expected this season. I thought, in my wildest dream season this year for the Packers, they'd be an 11 win team. That was as high as my optimism would go for this team. But, in reality, I expected them to be a 7 or 8 win team. Maybe they could sneak into just above .500 at 9-8. But that doesn't seem likely with this squad. The Packers are a weirdly constructed team. They have, in my opinion, a solid defense if everyone is healthy. Rashan Gary is a very good edge rusher. He is coming off a torn ACL though, I believe. Jaire Alexander could be one of the best cover corners in the league if he didn't miss so many games. Darnell Savage is a heavy hitter, but misses assignments, along with games. The linebacker unit seems to be forever changing due to injury or free agency. But when those dudes are on the field, they can mess stuff up. They do blow assignments too much, and they have trouble shutting down slant plays. All in all, when all these guys are out there I have no real qualms.

The offense is going to need time to figure this stuff out. They are young. Really young. The elder statesman in the skill positions are AJ Dillon and Aaron Jones. Aaron Jones has already missed two games and I think this is only Dillon's third year and first as a featured back. The receivers are very young. Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs are in year two. There is no Randall Cobb. Sterling Sharpe isn't walking through that door. Luke Musgrave is a rookie at tight end. I would love it if Jimmy Graham were still on this team. The o line is young too, or injured. David Bakthiari is back on the IR. Jon Runyan Jr is only a few years removed from college. I could say the same about Elgton Jenkins.

And then we have Jordan Love taking over at QB. He has played better than I anticipated. But he has a lot on his young shoulders. He is the first QB not named Brett Favre or Aaron Rodgers, can't stand either of them, to start a game for the Packers in many, many years. And Jordan Love has serviceable. He isn't making too many mistakes out there. He is finding open guys. He has taken decent care of the ball. He doesn't seem to be forcing things. He is also the best runner that they have had at QB in a long time. But he is going to have some real growing pains at the QB position, especially in Green Bay.

So when I see people on the internet griping about the team, and saying how bad they are, at 2-2 mind you, what did you expect? Did you really think the Packers were going to the Super Bowl this year? Did you expect them to win the NFC North again? Was Jordan Love going to be an instant MVP candidate? Was the defense really going to stay healthy all season long? This is who the Packers are going to be for a few seasons. The Lions are a better team. The Bears are rough and the Vikings need a new QB, so that helps them within the division. But if you were expecting more of the same from the Packers this year, that is on you. The Packers are, at the very best, a 9 win team. And that is okay. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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