Packers Regular Season Wrap-up (Seifert)

[LUKE23]

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth

Biggest surprise: The Packers were knocked out of the playoffs last season when an injury-depleted secondary gave up five touchdown passes to Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner. From a personnel standpoint, they did little in the offseason to bolster their personnel, instead counting on a number of players -- Al Harris, Brandon Underwood and Will Blackmon, among others -- to return from injuries. None of them contributed in a meaningful way in 2010, but the Packers are still in much better shape at the start of the postseason. Why? Tramon Williams developed into a Pro Bowl-caliber cornerback (he's an alternate), and rookie Sam Shields emerged out of nowhere to give the Packers a reliable nickel back -- just as the Packers planned.

Biggest disappointment: Tight end Jermichael Finley was lost in Week 5 to a season-ending knee injury, joining tailback Ryan Grant as the two most damaging injuries the Packers suffered this season. The Packers spent the offseason re-centering their entire offense around Finley, and he was on his way to a breakout season with 21 receptions for 301 yards in the first four games. (By my math, that put him on pace for 84 receptions and 1,204 yards.) All indications are that Finley will make a full recovery by next season, but the Packers were forced to make fundamental changes to their offense after his injury.

Biggest need: Grant's injury revealed the Packers to have dangerously thin depth at the position. In essence, they have spent the season without a featured back. Brandon Jackson proved to be a better receiver (8.0 yards per reception) than runner (3.7 yards per rush). John Kuhn is a fan favorite but in reality a specialist, and the Packers have seen only glimpses of promise from rookie James Starks. Even if Grant makes a full recovery, re-stocking this position is a significant priority.

Team MVP: Defensive coordinator Dom Capers rolled with wholesale injury replacements all season but still managed to hold opponents to the second-fewest total points (240) in the NFL. The Packers had five different starters on the defensive line, 10 different starting linebackers and saw their strong safety position split by rookie Morgan Burnett and veteran Charlie Peprah. Capers' time as a head-coaching candidate might have passed, but what he did this season merits acknowledgment from around the NFL.

A "slump?": Quarterback Aaron Rodgers started the Pro Bowl in 2009 but qualified only as an alternate in 2010. He missed one game because of a concussion and threw four more interceptions than he did last season. Despite what he has referred to as some "inconsistency" in 2010, Rodgers still had one of the best seasons in the NFL. His 8.3 yards per attempt average ranked No. 2 in the league, his 101.2 rating ranked No. 3, his 65.7 completion percentage tied for No. 5, and his 28 touchdown passes tied for No. 6. We should all be so inconsistent.

Definitely agree on Capers. If they gave a coordinator of the year award, I think he should/would get unanimous votes given how well the D played given all the injuries. He's been amazing his entire tenure here.

Regarding biggest need, I'd say OL is still it, it impacts the running game quite a bit. I was there on Sunday, the holes to run through just weren't there. Would I take a dynamic back? Obviously, but I think Starks can maybe give us that with another offseason. We need a bigger, more physical line.

Overall, hard to be upset with 10-6 with the toughest SOS of all the playoff teams and the most injuries of all the playoff teams.

[chuckleslove]

Add to that 6 losses by a combined 20 points. I know it is frustrating to lose all these close games but its amazing that we were even in them given all the injuries we faced.

[MickeyDavis]

Do we still use the zone blocking scheme? If we do maybe it's time to scrap that too.

[MickeyDavis]

Even with the injuries I'll still consider it a disappointing season if we go one and done again this year.

[Wade-A-Holic]

Do we still use the zone blocking scheme? If we do maybe it's time to scrap that too.

Would love to pick McCarthy's brain about the blocking scheme. Every time a reporter asks him about the zone blocking scheme, he almost gets defensive and insists that calling it a "zone scheme" is simplistic and not altogether accurate.

[MickeyDavis]

While I will agree that our talent at RB is below average there is no doubt the holes just aren't there as well. So it's either talent on the line, blocking scheme or both.

[Newz]

Brandon Jackson is pretty bad. I'm of the opinion that most running backs are interchangable, but he just doesn't get extra yardage by falling forward and such. John Kuhn is a FB.

When Starks is in the game, our running game looks serviceable. This is why I am confused as to why he sees so few carries.

[Wade-A-Holic]

While I will agree that our talent at RB is below average there is no doubt the holes just aren't there as well. So it's either talent on the line, blocking scheme or both.

I really think it's all of the above: Some scheme, some lack of line talent, some lack of RB talent.

[ReasonablySober]

While I will agree that our talent at RB is below average there is no doubt the holes just aren't there as well. So it's either talent on the line, blocking scheme or both.

I really think it's all of the above: Some scheme, some lack of line talent, some lack of RB talent.

Yup. A more talented back could turn some of those two and three yard runs into gains of five and six. Maybe when a crease is there a better, more faster back could actually bust it.

[El Duderino]

Jackson is fabulous at the blitz pick up and solid in the screen game, but when it comes to running the ball, he's terrible. No vision at all unless he's out in the open field after catching a pass.