Packers Offensive Preview
Who was the only team in the NFL to boast a 4,000 yard passer, a 1,000 yard rusher and two 1,000 yard receivers? That’s right, your Green Bay Packers. Throw in blossoming tight end Jermichael Finley and you have the recipe for the most dangerous offense in the NFL. While Donald Driver is certainly getting up there in age and may suffer some drop off in production, Greg Jennings relatively underperformed last year and should make up for any lag in Driver’s stats were he to take a step back. In his previous two seasons, Jennings accounted for 21 total touchdowns. Though his career high of 12 in 2007 was set with Brett Favre at the helm, there’s no logical reason to believe his 4 last year will be the trend with Aaron Rodgers. By most accounts, last year was an aberration, as 2008 saw Rodgers and Jennings connect for 9 scores, with Jennings topping 1,000 yards for the second time in his career, both on the receiving end of Rodgers passes.The root cause for Jennings reduced production last year may have been the Packers pass-blocking woes. Hurried short passes often replaced a lot of deeper looks Jennings would have received as Green Bay’s resident home run threat. Aaron Rodgers took a disproportionate amount of big hits over the course of last season, partially due to o-line play and in part his reluctance to get rid of the ball before making clear reads, an admirable quality in a quarterback until it lands him on the sidelines nursing an injury. In such an event, Green Bay’s offense would have to rally behind unproven Matt Flynn, who lacks Rodgers talent and first round pedigree. In order to protect Rodgers and take the offense to the next level, the Pack will need Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher to stay healthy all season. Rookie Bryan Bulaga should also help shore up last year’s line deficiencies as Green Bay looks to roll over opposing defenses with one of the league’s most well balanced attacks.