Packer Blog: Runnin' With the Pack

Well football is back and if you're a fan of the team that plays at 1265 Lombardi Drive, then you're ready to see how the Super Bowl champs will defend their title. Around the league prognosticators have given the Free Agency/Preseason championship to the Philadelphia Eagles but if you were present for the Pack's run to the title last year, then you know they play the games on grass fields not on paper.

The Packers will take the field with lots of new faces on the roster. Like most teams that win the championship, the Pack had to say goodbye to a number of faces. Gone from the roster are: TE Donald Lee, S Atari Bigby, G Daryn Colledge, RB Brandon Jackson, LB Nick Barnett, T Mark Tauscher, DT Dusting Harrell, LB Brandon Chillar to name a few. They resigned their own free agents — WR James Jones, K Mason Crosby and RB John Kuhn. Not to mention the injured players returning such as RB Ryan Grant, TE Jermichael Finely, S Morgan Burnette and DT Mike Neal. Add in impressive new rookies like RB Alex Green, WR Randall Cobb and T Derrick Sherrod and this roster looks as deep and talented as the team that won it all last year.

They coaching and GM tandem of Mike McCarthy and Ted Thompson brings the leadership that has proven itself over the past few seasons. The question that will arise are: Will success affect this roster? Will being the hunted on a weekly basis every week be something this young core of players can handle? Will the key replacement pieces make up for the losses? This is why they play the game.

Aaron Rodgers is one of the game's elite quarterbacks and has five very talented receivers that will test the strongest defenses. The running game should be improved with the return of Ryan Grant and a beefed-up and healthy James Starks. Tight end Jermichael Finley could be one of the league's best weapons if he stays healthy. On defense a play-making secondary will make lots of game-breaking plays and Clay Matthews leads a group of aggressive linebackers. The question mark is, will Mike Neal be able to replace the pass rush lost when Cullen Jenkins departed. Dom Capers will definitely come up with schemes to use this multiple attack defense.

My prediction is the Packers will avoid the crushing injuries and will rely on a group of veterans that are tested from a Super Bowl run last season. I think of all the teams that were affected by the lockout, they were least affected. They had a strong core of returning players and a strong management team.

I am predicting a 13-3 regular season with the losses coming against: Atlanta, NY Giants and Kansas City. They will advance to the Super Bowl and beat the New York Jets. what are your thoughts on the Packers? Sound off and share them with me.