Now that we've cooled off a bit..Review the season

[an_also]

Now that the season is in the books, how do you feel about it looking back? Success? Failure?

Facts:
We went from a 6-10 team that lost a lot of close games to 11-5 team which was a missed Rodgers longbomb to Jennings in OT from playing in the Divisional round.

Few obeservations:
This offense is ready for prime time and will be deadly for the foreseeable future barring a serious Rodgers injury *knock on wood.

After today, it looks like our 'top ranked' defense is severely overrated. The passing defense beat up on mediocre qb's all year long. The only good qb we shut down was Romo. Look what elite QB's did to us. Favre (twice), Warner, Ben Roflz. Its not even that they had good games against us, but they all literally had their way all game long.

Overall i cant say I'm too disappointed about how the season went. I predicted we would win around 10 games and make the playoffs. Anything more was a cherry on top...

[MadCityBucky]

This season despite that gut-wrenching loss was a huge success imo. Did anyone really expect to go from a 6-10 season to superbowl champs?

The defense was good for most of the season, hopefully today was just an anomaly though the game does show some alarming needs imo. They did disappoint in big games though, big time.

The team was in every game and all in all, I am happy with the progress made.

The guy I'm really going to miss is Finley-what a beast this guy is

[paulpressey25]

Success.

-A-Rod played 16 healthy games at a Pro-Bowl level.

-Going 7-1 down the stretch.

-Finley emerges

-Clay Matthews emerges

-We now know definitively the holes that need to be patched to be a Super Bowl team.

[CousinOfDeath]

a missed Rodgers longbomb to Jennings in OT from playing in the Divisional round. .

I think the season was a great success despite the fact that we did not fulfill my expectations in the playoffs. 11-5 is nothing to hang your head over. We're going to be a deadly offense for years to come with Arod, Jennings and my boy Jermichael. Our defense, while not a great defense like our rankings suggested, is still very good. We just need maybe one more playmaker and depth and we'll be fine.

I'm also sad that we wasted CWood's epic season. If he doesn't win DPOY then I will be pissed.

[Ayt]

i'd say the main thing we should all remember is that we completely revamped our defense and our defensive coaching staff. They had a great year overall despite the few terrible games they had. Losing Harris was big. Hopefully we can come back even stronger defensively next season. Woodson just put together a season I doubt any of us will see matched for years (even decades).

We showed a ton of resiliency after losing to TB and being 4-4 and nearly out of the playoff picture. The stomping of Dallas was huge, and from then on we won every game in the regular season except that tough Pitt loss.

Our offense, and Rodgers specifically showed a ton of resolve in the playoff game. What other QB 26 or younger could have put his team on his back like Rodgers did in that type of game, down 14 zip after the first 6 minutes, down 17 after the 1st, and down 21 with 2:16 left before the half? The answer is none. I'm not sure how many QBs in the league period could have played the way he did, and it was his first playoff game.

Despite the heartbreaking loss at the end of the season, it was a fun ride that was very up and down with the 2 losses to Minny, the loss to TB when we were all talking about who our next coach would be (Cowher or Gruden mostly) and whether TT should be fire, followed by a must win stomping of Dallas. We were one of the best teams in football in the final 8 games, and nearly all of them were important. We could have easily folded at 4-4, but we didn't and even in the playoff game we could have easily folded and didn't. We got back up off the mat and started pounding back but we just didn't have enough left to finish them off.

[LUKE23]

I think for the most part it was positive. We have a very good young core of players with Rodgers, Jennings, Finley, Matthews, Raji, Collins, etc. I think this is a sustained success type of roster, assuming we keep our key guys signed.

Packers will be good for a while.

[MickeyDavis]

I was disappointed that Capers didn't seem to be able to alter his game plan at all once he saw what AZ was doing. They kept doing the same thing over and over and over but so did we and the results didn't change. Granted we were thin at DB and some of those guys shouldn't even be in the NFL. Given that Capers is in his 60's and has had two head coaching shots I imagine he'll be here as long as we want him or until he retires. Continuity is a good thing. It's up to Thompson to fill the obvious holes, it will be interesting to see what the offseason plan is.

[BucksRuleAll22]

This year is a success but probly one of the most stinging heartbreaking seasons In Packers history.

We got whooped by Favre and the Vikings twice this year.
Lost to the defeated Bucs.
Lost to the Steelers the way we did.
And the way the Cardinal game went and ended fits the way the season went.
Just so many opportunitys missed. We could of easily got home field in the playoffs and contended.

Some good things is we have a stud TE in Finley, Claw Mathews is already a pro bowl LB in his first year and Rodgers took so many hits and played every game and is not only a pro bowl QB but could be a future MVP.

Some bad things is the Pass Defense is still one of the worst in the NFL. We lost Al Harris and we need a replacement since he up there in age. Jarret Bush still is a Packer, Crosby shouldn't be in the NFL. We took Raji over Crabtree and that still pisses me off.

What we need in this offseason is a kicker, Kick/Punt returner, solid DB, and a solid OT and I think we are a super bowl contender.

[Newz]

We took Raji over Crabtree and that still pisses me off.

How can that possibly piss you off?

[BucksRuleAll22]

Because Crabtree was the best player in the draft in my opinon and #1 on alot of teams boards. Crabtree would of been a nice weapon for Rodgers for the next 10 years. Who knows with Raji and he didn't show or do much this year. Crabtree was a sure thing and Raji is a gamble.

I think a WR core of Jennings, Driver, Crabtree, Nelson would be scary. Who knows Driver could retire this season or next its getting to that time.

[Newz]

Who knows with Raji and he didn't show or do much this year.

I think Raji showed that he has plenty of potential this season. He played well in several games.

Crabtree was a sure thing and Raji is a gamble.

I wonder if after Mario Williams first year, you were saying that taking him over Reggie Bush was a mistake.

We just dropped 45 points in a playoff game and our QB was breaking yardage records, while at the same time we got lit up defensively. If that doesn't tell you that:

1. We don't need to be thinking about taking offensive play makers high in the draft.
2. We need more help defensively. (Which Raji can provide as he develops)

Then I don't know what will.

And all of that is ignoring Crabtree's obvious attitude problems and already diva like WR issues.

[MickeyDavis]

The jury is still out on Raji but a year ago we were all crying about our defense and we all pretty much agreed we needed to draft defense first. No one was complaining about our offense or our receivers. I understand the logic behind drafting BPA vs. need but I don't think Raji was a stretch at all, nothing like the Harrell pick.

[LUKE23]

If Crabtree wasn't a gamble, why did he hold out and miss half the season (after skipping the combine)?

[eagle13]

Overall it was a very successful year!

DRAFT - 2009 was GREAT

INJURIES – DB was hit hard but overall number suffered were MODERATE and only a very few were major impact - Harris, Kampman & maybe Blackmon.

COACHING –
Head = OK – some questionable play calling but never lost team during adversity.
DC = Success – for a transition year.
OC = ? What does he contribute?

DEFENSE – SUCCESS
Going into season –
Defenses’ #1 Mission was improve run defense. – Much Improved. Only Benson and Jackson had big days.

Defenses’ #2 Mission was improve pass rush. - Slightly improved. Last year we had only one pass rusher- Kampman. This year we also only had one – Matthews. But our blitzes were at least more creative – if only slightly effective against good teams. THIS is THE Biggest defensive priority going forward.

Transition to 3-4 Defense – for 1st year we had great progress, more work to do. Our DL made great transition and is solid. Our DB did well but needs BIG help w/ depth. LB-Matthews was brilliant. Barnett OK. Hawk won’t be back. Even tho Jones did admirably we need better pressure. As we all know we need more pass rush from LBs.

OFFENSE- SUCCESS
Rodgers is proven elite after 2 consecutive great years IMO.
WR & TE are great! Finley even blocks!
Grant and Jackson both looked better. Could use upgrade but not major need.

OL – Saved by 2 old crustys. Started like crap - nearly got Rodgers killed. Got better but due to old guys who are done. THIS is THE issue. Protect QB and open holes for RB.

ST – FAILURE
Stock out – Slocum in. No change.
Usually lost field position competition by a lot.
K – hugely inconsistent. Crosby gets 1 more year to find it.
P – disaster - why was Ryan ever cut?
Coverage – slight improvement
Return – mediocre when Blackmon went down. He seems too fragile to count on.

[an_also]

^^you're willing to give crosby another year?

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

^^you're willing to give crosby another year?

We gave up on Jon Ryan too soon, he is now a top 5 punter in the league. I think we gotta give Crosby one more year to redeem himself. He has a big leg and is a pretty good kick off guy too. It's not like he is shanking fgs like Rackers did in the 4th quarter last night, he basically misses just wide right by a few feet. If he can regain his confidence I still think he could be an elite kicker like he was in his rookie year.

[jviers77]

Team should be an NFC favorite next year if DB depth issues are addressed and OL continuity improves. I would like to see Capers get rid of that stupid "psycho" package. Pittsburgh and Arizona both carved that scheme apart. The team had a horrible time all season playing either with a lead or tied, often being way too conservative. The coaching needs to learn to put the foot on the throat of the other team when they get a lead. Overall, a better than expected season, but a horrible way to end it. There is absolutely no reason this team shouldn't make the playoffs next season.

[LUKE23]

I'd give Crosby another year. It's harder to find a guy with a strong leg that has some inconsistency issues over a guy that is more accurate but has a weak leg. Kicking is fickle, there are very few guys that are knock em dead consistent every single year.

And I've used the Jon Ryan example as well in the past. He's now a top 5 punter, but we gave up on him because of a rough stretch. Then we went to Frost, who was easily the worst punter in the NFL, to Kapinos, who on his best day is average.

[humanrefutation]

Positives:

Rodgers: really stepped it up this season, became more of a leader, and an even more prolific passer. Really had command of the offense and a great repoire with his receiving core. I was sold on him halfway through last season as a good QB, but now I feel that he is a great, top-flight QB.

Receivers: Fantastic again. What more can I say? Finley is a beast...has the potential and the ability to become an all-time great TE. He can split out and beat a corner or run over a linebacker. Toss it up and he'll pull it down. He's a stud. Donald Lee needs to go though. The guy can't catch or block.

D-Line: Thought they played very well this season, especially Jolly, Pickett, and Cullen. Raji will get better, hopefully. They're well suited for a 3-4.

Matthews and Woodson: Nothing more to add to what's already been said. They're just amazing.

Negatives:

O-Line: It got better as the season continued, but that was almost solely because we brought back Tauscher, Wells replaced Spitz, and Clifton got healthy. TJ Lang was decent but not great. Colledge wasn't good. Neither was Allen Barbre. We have little depth, and the depth we do have sucks. TT needs to step up his game and really solidify this O-Line. This might be one of the areas where I'd like to see some veteran help come in.

Secondary: Woodson was damn good, and Tramon was solid. The rest...ugh. I've always had a sneaking suspicion that Nick Collins was overrated and I still continue to believe so. His coverage ability is bunk. Same with our nickle and dime backs. I'd like us to ocus on adding depth here through the draft especially.

Special Teams Jordy was decent but would like a game-breaker in the return game. Crosby needs to go...and Kapinos needs to follow him out of the door.

[humanrefutation]

And to add...I like some of the moves Capers made, but I can't really say whether he did a great job because in some of our most important games we got torn up....both Minny games, Pittsburgh, and Cardinals. Until we step it up in big games consistently, I'm not sold on Capers. Seems to be a lot of bells and whistles but little substance.