It is safe to say the 2013 Green Bay Packers regular season is not turning out how many fans hoped/expected it would. My main message for Packers fans is that as a fan base, we have been very fortunate with numerous winning seasons. Many seasons end with “disappointing” playoff losses, which sting, but in my opinion, as a football fan, all you can truly expect is a playoff berth most seasons, with an opportunity to make a run to a Super Bowl every once in a while. Injuries and parity make it impossible to expect a dynasty now.
Each team with a true franchise QB (Manning, Brady, Rodgers, Brees, etc.) will experience a down season due to injuries, performance or other reasons. As a whole, Packers have experienced great success, as Aaron Rodgers is 57-29 career as a starting quarterback and the only losing season was 2008, Rodgers’ first year as a starter. Patience is needed when a franchise goes through a tough season like this, especially when the future is still quite bright for the team. 2013 is not over yet, and Packers could still be that team that gets hot late, but their future is still incredibly bright. To help people calm down about this season, we will look at what the future holds for this team.
Quarterback
There is still the biggest advantage Green Bay has over other teams. Rodgers will come back and be one of the best players in the NFL on a yearly basis. Despite the Packers ability to replace one legend with another (Favre to Rodgers) the quarterback position is one of the most difficult positions to replace. Many fans were upset about the lack of a recognizable backup quarterback, but there are an extremely limited number of people on the planet that can play the position at a professional level. Fans were upset about the options, but there are organizations that went into the season starting players like Blaine Gabbert, Brandon Weeden, and Christian Ponder, when all of their players were healthy. Seneca Wallace will likely not be back, but if the Packers can convince Scott Tolzien or Matt Flynn to continue to grow in Green Bay, they should be set with a backup for the next few years, but it will require a new contract.
Running Back
A position that used to be a huge weakness on the team is now considered a position of strength. With a stable of Eddie Lacy, James Starks (Could potentially find a new team), Johnathan Franklin, and a returning DuJuan Harris, many would expect the Packers to stand pat. But I would like to see one more guy brought in to provide another challenge in training camp. Keeping players on their toes in camp seems to make for better performances in the regular season, and this position has a lot of injuries across the league therefore one more body would not be terrible.
Wide Receiver
Next year will be an interesting transition year at this long-time position of strength for the team. One of the biggest bright spots this season has been Jarrett Boykin and he has earned himself a bigger role for the beginning of next season. James Jones, Jordy Nelson, and Randall Cobb all have contract issues coming up in the next few years, and the team will have some very tough decisions to make. Judging by the Packers’ history, it is likely one of them will not be back. Nelson seems to be the most irreplaceable, but will demand a high salary, and has been injury prone in the past. Cobb is a dynamic player, but has had injury concerns of his own, and his style of play puts him at a big risk with a slight frame. James Jones has long been under-appreciated, but still seems the most replaceable of the group. Many fans would like to see all of the players return, much like many other veteran players in the past.
My desire to see each come back will depend on the salary they would require in the coming years, but my gut says Nelson and Cobb are almost sure bets to stay with the team long term, and Jones’ status will depend on his contract request. The team should consider using a second to fourth round pick on the position this upcoming draft to get one more young, developing player on the field.
Tight End
This position was going to be in flux before Jermichael Finley suffered one of the scariest injuries I have ever seen live. Many reports seem to suggest Finley will not be back in a Packers’ uniform and logic points that way as well. It will be a long road back for Finley, one I hope is successful if he wants it to be, but the Packers’ reaction to one of my personal favorites, Nick Collins, suggest they will put well-being over football needs. I would like the team to move forward with Brandon Bostick for his potential, Ryan Taylor as a special teams ace, and one or two new guys for blocking/receiving. What was once an expensive position for the team will represent some cap relief. (Ed. Note – Texas Tech’s Jace Amaro or North Carolina’s Eric Ebron would be excellent first round draft picks if Green Bay went with tight end - CT)
Offensive Line
This is the easiest position to analyze. Move Bryan Bulaga back to right tackle, and the starting lineup looks like this. David Bakthiari-LT, Josh Sitton-LG, Evan Dietrich-Smith-C (Will need a new contract), T.J. Lang-RG, Bulaga-RT. Derek Sherrod can serve as the backup swing tackle, with Don Barclay focusing on the guard positions, and JC Tretter can be the backup at guard and center. The team can bring in the usual training camp signees to battle for positions, and potentially find some gems to challenge the backup
Defensive Line
A position that was constantly a thorn in the Packers’ side finally settled this year, but will have a lot of turnover next year. Let’s start with the guys who have contracts, and will be back next year: Mike Daniels, Datone Jones and Josh Boyd. B.J Raji, C.J. Wilson, Ryan Pickett and Johnny Jolly will all need new contracts next year, and it is likely many will move on.
Wilson seems the most likely to head elsewhere, as his snap count has gone way down since previous seasons. Pickett has had a stellar second half of a career in Green Bay, but is getting fairly old and may not like the contract offer he will receive from Green Bay. Johnny Jolly is one of the best feel-good stories in the NFL this year, and one of my personal favorites, but he might not return to Green Bay next year. Jolly lost numerous years of income while out of the league, and few would blame him for accepting the largest contract he could get. I hope that Jolly is wearing #97 in the Green and Gold next year, but he might want to move on.
The stickiest of all the contract issues is going to be Raji, and it feels like we are getting close to Greg Jennings territory. Raji is going to want a huge deal, and deserves one because he is a stellar defensive lineman, but the front office might decide that he will take up too much of the salary cap on the team. Regardless of which players return, I think the team will spend some draft picks, and low level free agent money on this position.
Linebacker
Clay Matthews will be manning one of the outside spots next year, and it is safe to assume Nick Perry will be part of a rotation on the other side. Brad Jones is likely to man one of the inside spots due to a recent contract extension, and it is safe to assume AJ Hawk earned the right to finish his career in Green Bay. Jamari Lattimore does not have a 2014 team option with Green Bay, nor does Mike Neal. I expect Lattimore to return, and the Packers will need to find one more inside linebacker. Neal has shown flashes of brilliance, but injuries have long been an issue. If Neal does not return, expect someone to be brought in to compete with Perry.
Cornerback
If the team is confident that Sam Shields’ performance this year is a prediction of the future, and not a product of contract year motivation, he should be the number one priority in the offseason. He should be the team’s number one corner moving forward. I would like to see Davon House get some time to develop and man the other outside spot, with Micah Hyde and Casey Hayward combining to work the slot. Tramon Williams is expendable due to his high contract, and slipping play, if he is willing to take a pay cut, I would be interested to see if he has the center field skills to slide to safety. I expect to see a fourth or fifth-round pick used on a corner to continue the development at the position.
Safety
Morgan Burnett is a keeper, and anyone else is at risk for the next year. If anyone shows some improvement, they will be brought for training camp, but this position could use some work. I have mentioned above that Williams could be an interesting safety prospect to fill a void for a few years. Of all the positions on the team, I would most like to see the team use a first-round pick on a safety that can truly make a difference. The weakness of this position comes not only in the mistakes that are made on the back end of passing plays, but the lack of a physical presence over the middle.
Special Teams
Mason Crosby, Tim Masthay, and Brett Goode should all be brought back for their jobs next year. As returners, Hyde and Franklin will be there next season, I doubt Cobb takes back kicks or punts anymore. It will be as it usually is with returners around the league, a crapshoot.
While Green Bay has not won a game in a month, the future is still quite bright for this team. The last month and possibly another one might decide the future of a couple of these players, but this will be a team that keeps recycling through talent. It should be an interesting rest of the year.
Adam
