Packers Training Camp Preview

Discussion in 'NFC North' started by Vintage, Jul 18, 2008.

  1. Vintage

    Vintage Defeating Communism...

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>2007 season recap
    Storybook season?: QB Brett Favre broke several NFL records and led the Packers to a 13-3 record and the NFC championship game.

    Training camp
    Location: Green Bay, Wis.
    Dates: July 27-Aug. 26
    Official Site: www.packers.com
    For more: Training camp dates
    2008 preseason schedule
    Date Opponent Time
    Aug. 11 Cincinnati 8 p.m. ET
    Aug. 16 at San Francisco 9 p.m. ET
    Aug. 22 at Denver 9 p.m. ET
    Aug. 28 Tennessee 8 p.m. ET

    Key comings and goings

    Veteran additions

    Veteran departures
    Jermichael Finley, TE
    Brett Favre, QB
    Corey Williams, DT
    Chris Henry, WR
    Bubba Franks, TE

    » Free agency tracker | Transactions

    2008 NFL Draft class
    Rd No. Player Pos. Ht. Wt. School
    2 36 Jordy Nelson WR 6-3 217 Kansas State
    2 56 Brian Brohm QB 6-3 227 Louisville
    2 60 Patrick Lee CB 6-0 200 Auburn
    3 91 Jermichael Finley TE 6-5 243 Texas
    4 102 Jeremy Thompson DE 6-5 264 Wake Forest
    4 135 Josh Sitton OT 6-4 319 Central Florida
    5 150 Breno Giacomini OT 6-7 303 Louisville
    7 209 Matt Flynn QB 6-2 228 LSU
    7 217 Brett Swain WR 6-0 200 San Diego State

    Key camp questions

    Has Brett Favre become a distraction?
    When Favre announced his retirement in March, the Packers were prepared to move on with Aaron Rodgers under center. Then the future Hall of Famer got the itch to return for another season, but the Packers were not ready to embrace him. Two weeks before training camp, Favre and his employer of 16 years communicated through text messages and press releases. The Packers do not travel to an isolated campus for training camp -- how can the situation not be a distraction?

    Can Aaron Rodgers carry the offense?
    Rodgers has the vote of confidence from the front office, who told Favre he could come back and compete for the starting job. Aside from the handling the pressure of filling some pretty big shoes, injury-prone Rodgers will need to stay consistently healthy. He has a stellar receiving corps and a steady runningback in Ryan Grant.

    Can Ryan Grant repeat his breakout year?
    When Grant became the starter for the Packers midseason, the running game turned around for the Packers -- he finished the season with 956 yards and eight TDs. This year the pressure is on Grant to take the pressure off of Rodgers. Last year's happy surprise will begin this year under the weight of big expectations.

    Key position battle
    TE Tory Humphrey vs. TE Jermichael Finley: Third round draft pick Finley is athletic with a ton of potential. His competition, Humphrey, hasn't played since 2006, as he's been hampered by injuries.

    Rookie spotlight
    CB Patrick Lee: The second round pick will learn from two of the league's best, Charles Woodson and Al Harris. The aging duo will mentor Lee, who may see playing time sooner than he thinks if injuries become a factor.

    On the spot
    Ted Thompson: The GM of the Packers may have turned some of the Packer faithful, who don't want to see Favre in another team's uniform, against him. If Favre does well with another team and Green Bay falters, it will be a very long offseason.

    Fantasy focus
    WR Greg Jennings: Jennings had a breakout season in 2007, scoring a career-best 12 touchdowns in what was a solid Packers offense. But with Aaron Rodgers now under center, Jennings’ scoring chances are almost certain to fall. He’s still a viable No. 2 fantasy receiver, but Jennings could see his numbers decline.</div>

    http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d8...mp;confirm=true
     
  2. Celtic Fan

    Celtic Fan Well-Known Member

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    I think this is still a very talented team and if Rogers is even mediocre they can win about 9-10 games.
    I think Grant will not have the same year as last year. With Favre gone (well most likely gone) Teams will concentrate a bit more on him.

    The defense is still solid so I don't see the team falling apart without favre.
     
  3. tim

    tim Respect JPJ

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    I liked what I saw from Rodgers in the game he played in. I still see the Vikings taking the division.
     
  4. Celtic Fan

    Celtic Fan Well-Known Member

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    Agreed, but the Pack won't be far behind and I think they get a wild card slot too.
     
  5. Hudge

    Hudge Active Member

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    I heard on ESPN that Ryan Grant didn't show [​IMG], anything to worry about?
     

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