Again...hard to argue with much of this. Wagner and Turner on the right side could create all kinda of problems vs a team like the Bears for example with Mack and Hicks on one side.

I know it's not the point of this thread, but Bulaga signed for such a reasonable contract, with an aging Rodgers, I just don't get not only NOT signing him, but then not using the money you didn't spend there on something else to help Rodgers. Particularly after all the reports about Gute wanting to add TWO premier pass catchers with Hooper being one.


But if they bring Veldheer back, I think he could start for us and is probably a better tackle than Wagner and we've got a young future All Pro IMO in Jenkins. Plus Turner and Wagner are both better run blocking. Also a big fan of Nijman, but most scouts that liked his upside thought he'd need a couple years learning. Definitely a good enough athlete though.

For this offense to get substantially better this year, you're going to need the backs to all contribute and then you're going to need at least ONE of the talented long shots in MVS, EST or Robert Tonyan to FINALLY step up and reach their potential.

Year 2 in this system has been great for Shanahan in ATL and SF and and in LA with the Golden Boy and Geoff, and we have a pissed off Rodgers, so hopefully he can have a bit of a bounce back season...which I get is a funny thing to say coming off a 13 win year, but Rodgers wasn't as sharp and missed a lot of open throws.

Like with the defense, I'm still hoping they can bring someone else in. Even a Kenny Stills who has a good chance to get cut in Houston could help.


I always try to be optimistic, but this looks like an 8-9 win team talent wise to me unless just about everything goes right and all the guys we're hoping break out...in fact break out.
But what the hell, Deguara's scouting report coming out of school was nearly identical to that of George Kittle's, so maybe he'll bust onto the scene with a 1200 yard season this year and become a dominant blocker, right???

Lazard and MVS seem obvious. I'm still riding with Tonyan though. I think this might be his last year to get a chance to put it all together, but I like him and he seems to have really good body control and a nice catching radius. He's a very solid blocker, so he's not a Graham type receiver, but he's very athletic.

As for Bulaga, he started all 16 last year. Yeah, he left some early, but he is a pretty damn good tackle. And with the massive jump the Cap is expected to see next year or at least was at the time of that signing, I just believe he signed for too cheap for the Packers to save ~5 million the next couple years for a far, far worse player. But maybe they really think someone like Light or Yosh are closer than we think to being ready.

Yeah, you're definitely right about Jenkins. That was a head scratcher for me at the time. Picking a Center with the 44th pick...but he looked like a future All Pro in his rookie year. And if you're talking about the best OL regardless of position value, you may be right. Doubtful he ends up as valuable as Clifton, Bulaga or Bahk, but he was a stud as a rookie and no reason to think that won't continue.

Sounds like Turner is going to open the season as our starting RT.

That'll mean Bahk/Jenkins/Linsley/Taylor and Turner at RT. That should be one of our best run-blocking OL's in a long time, but damn...I think Mercedes Lewis is going to be a glorified tackle much of this season though as Turner is an awful pass blocker at guard and even worse outside at tackle.


Other stories from camp;

MVS and Tonyan both apparently have been good. Both were slowed last year due to injury. But MVS is now in year 3 and that's when a lot of WR'ers really blow up. He has all the physical tools in the world, so it'd be REALLY nice if he could develop into a real #2 WR'er who was a big play threat but also more consistant across the board. Then Lazzard as your #3 is that much more effective. I haven't heard really anything positive about EQ, so if someone else has, I'd love to hear it.


Lane Taylor has been unbeaten in one on one going 14-0. Turner has been close at 14-2 according to ESPN...so not sure if he's improved or that those just aren't that telling, but by all accounts, he's been much better.

And...I know we hear about young guys doing well all the time, so take this with an extra grain of salt, but that Rodgers kid went 25-28 in a live session against the #1 defense. It's a bit early to say if he's got the ability to be able to translate that to the regular season, but we'll see.

Seriously though at QB, it also sounds like Tim Boyle has been really impressive. I'm feeling pretty confident that they roll with 3 QB's this year as it sounds like Love is really raw and has been erratic thus far. Don't mind Love just running the scout team and being the #3 this year at all. In fact, I hope they're real patient with him...and barring injury, they give him the 3 full years they gave Rodgers.

I was a little fatalistic about the Packers heading into this season, but if the reports about some young players really stepping up...Gary, Savage, Martin on D, MVS, Tonyan on offense and then the whole unit just being much more in sync and Rodgers having a much better understanding of the system....thereby giving him more freedom, I think this team is capable of winning 11 games and being in the hunt. They SHOULD win the North given how the Vikings defense has been decimated due to their big new addition Pierce opting out and the fact that they lost several players.

Biggest threat IMO comes from the Bears. They just need Trubisky to be solid for them and that Defense has a chance to be elite again this year. We shall see!