The Biggest Problems the Packers Face This Season?

[SpursNBucks]

What do you see as the biggest problems on the Packers for the 2015 Season?

No doubt this is a top five team in the NFL by most people's account and expectations should be Super Bowl or bust. That said there are still some question marks on both sides of the ball as we are nearing September.

Offense:

LT With the uncertain health of Bakhtari, the Packers need to look at the #1 backup spot at LT/RT. Protecting Aaron's blind side is imperative. Barclay has been worse then awful - not only in preseason games, but in practices. Some people have said undrafted rookie Josh Walker hasn't really embarrassed himself there, but to take on the best OLBs and DE's in the regular season seems like a super tall order.

I think they MUST look at vets that are available: Anthony Collins - Tampa Bay (released) had a rough 2014, but was good 2013. Jake Long - a 4 Time Pro Bowler - when he can go he is good, but he has dealt with constant knee injuries. The other thing to do is just wait for final cuts and pick the best out there.

TE- The Packers really have not been able to find a real good TE since Finley was in his prime. With the loss of Nelson this weakness could show itself more. I think Rodgers and Quarless have a ceiling which puts them a little below average among starting TEs in the NFL. You would definitely like to see the Packers improve the position, but it looks like they will have to rely more on the RBs catching the ball out of the backfield = more screen passes.

WR- Even though the Packers had the best depth in the NFL at WR- losing your #1 brings cause for concern. I might have more faith in the #3 and #4 WRs (before the Nelson injury) then most fans. I really think Adams and Montgomery will step up and along with Cobb will form a dynamic trio. I look for Adams to surpass the 1k yard mark along with Cobb and Montgomery to be top 5 in yards for rookie WRs. Janis and White are interesting prospects and will round out the top 5.

Defense:

ILB - They have to do much better against the run - I think Barrington and Ryan (Palmer/Bradford are 23 year olds who have showed flashes) are going to be an improvement over what they had last year.

OLB/Pass rush - If Ryan can step up and be just decent enough to plug the whole at ILB - then Mathews should remain at OLB because they really need his pass rush opposite Peppers. I don't think he will ever be the player he once was, but if he can be about 85%+ then that could be enough. I have been impressed with what I have seen from Elliott.

(NT) I have to admit to not following the latest on Raji, Guion, Pennel, etc - I don't think we have a better then average player that will stand out, but in this defense if they can just cause some disruption and plug the whole it should be fine.

(DE) In Daniels you have one side figured out. Jones needs to stay healthy and play like the player the Packers thought he could be when they drafted him in the first round. Boyd and Gaston are OK. You don't need Reggie White or Bruce Smith in this defense, but you need some improvement opposite Daniels.

Overall the interior of the D-LIne has to do a better job against the run.

(**)D-Backfield - It looks like they have turned a weakness into a possible strength. I stress the word "possible" because we have yet to see Rollins, Randall, and Gunter in a regular season game. All three of these players have showed something in practice and the preseason games. It's very early, but I am extremely enthusiastic and bullish on these three.

[HKPackFan]

Pretty good list. I just want to emphasize I haven't been impressed with anything in the ILB department so far. I've seen some bad runs against us, guys whiffing and grabbing air Brad Jones style, and at least 1 bad play with TE embarrassing the LB.

The whole LB core right now doesn't have me excited. It could be because there's so much turn over of guys being swapped in and out right now, it's hard to properly judge, so MAYBE my eyes are being OVERLY critical. I'm not sure Palmer is more than just a guy. Maybe it's not fair to judge him with only 1 arm. I have high hopes for Barrington, but sometimes he seems a step late. He's been pretty good overall, not really complaining much about him, my hope is he turns into a desmond bishop type when bishop peaked, but he has a ways to go. A lot of these guys show "promise" but not sure if anyone of them has "ARRIVED" yet. It's hard to tell.

Also Peppers was limited (which is a good thing) and Clay has been out, so your top two LBs haven't played much. Perry not playing, I think Neal did play a bit and he was good...

I'm not COMPLAINING, as it IS a good idea to test out all these LBs and get them game reps. Maybe coz some of the ones that are going to be cut have been so bad it's spoiling how I feel about the group OVERALL. I just feel our LB depth is kinda...meh...at the moment...A bunch of guys...but no one is exciting me yet.

Outside i'm happy with: Peppers, Clay, Neal, Perry, Elliott, Mulamba. Hubbard might be OK but he's hurt.Rasco..meh...Vaughters...meh...

Inside: Sam B -I hope becomes Bishop, Palmer -I hope he gets better right now he's OK at best, Jake Ryan- I think will be good at some point, Bradford...meh....Josh Francis...meh...Joe Thomas...Meh.....Dantzler...meh....Kinda weak inside overall unless Jake Ryan can quickly move up the learning curve. Maybe midseason Jake takes over next to Sam. Or maybe with Clay continuing his role inside it minimizes the crappyness of the lack of talent at this position. I just worry about Clay being able to survive a 16 game season plus playoffs.

Two more preseason games, so I hope a couple of the guys inside turn it on soon.

[LUKE23]

My three biggest concerns as of today are:

1. Pass rush. Given our lack of talent at ILB, I see Clay playing there at least 80% of his snaps. Perry cannot be trusted to be a consistent rushing threat if he's even on the field, which is debatable. Can Peppers still bring another productive year at age 36? I also think we are moving to more of a run stuffing DL. I'm doubtful on us getting consistent pressure rushing the QB based on our current personnel.

2. Offensive tackle depth. I love Tretter as a backup interior lineman, but if either Bulaga or Bakhtiari go down, there is nobody I strongly trust to protect AR. I think an injury to either of those guys could derail our offense.

3. Overall ILB play/middle of the field defense. Our ILB are terrible in coverage, IMO. Combine that with rookies getting a lot of PT in the secondary, and it could be a weakness.

[ReasonablySober]

A potential injury to Rodgers. That's it. If Rodgers stays healthy, the Packers can win the Super Bowl.

[RRyder823]

A potential injury to Rodgers. That's it. If Rodgers stays healthy, the Packers can win the Super Bowl.

That's pretty much it.

Maybe if Clay misses the year that could be almost as damning to the D but even then if Rodgers is healthy we have a chance in every game

[SpursNBucks]

A potential injury to Rodgers. That's it. If Rodgers stays healthy, the Packers can win the Super Bowl.

I guess if that is the only problem that you see that can put a monkey wrench in the Packers plans to go all the way then maybe NFL is not your game. First of all for Rodgers to be healthy you need to protect his blind side. Bakhtiari is OK at best, but his health is in question - Barclay was #1 backup at both tackles and looks awful. Your best option after him is an un-drafted rookie free agent. They sucked against the run, and didn't do a whole lot to improve that in the off-season. Can Peppers continue to bring it? Clay's health is always an issue since he went off roids.

They are a good team - the question is can they get past the hump.

[ReasonablySober]

A potential injury to Rodgers. That's it. If Rodgers stays healthy, the Packers can win the Super Bowl.

I guess if that is the only problem that you see that can put a monkey wrench in the Packers plans to go all the way then maybe NFL is not your game. First of all for Rodgers to be healthy you need to protect his blind side. Bakhtiari is OK at best, but his health is in question - Barclay was #1 backup at both tackles and looks awful. Your best option after him is an un-drafted rookie free agent. They sucked against the run, and didn't do a whole lot to improve that in the off-season. Can Peppers continue to bring it? Clay's health is always an issue since he went off roids.

They are a good team - the question is can they get past the hump.

If the Packers make one of twelve plays to end the NFC Championship they're in the Super Bowl, playing against a team they already beat in the regular season.

Stop overthinking this. The Packers are an elite team, with or without their starting left tackle.

The year they went 15-1 they started Marshall **** Newhouse at LT and gave up 4.7 YPC on the ground.

If the entire receiving core goes down, the offensive line loses four guys and half the defense misses time because ACLs or whatever, sure, worry.

But the only thing that matters is Rodgers.

[RRyder823]

A potential injury to Rodgers. That's it. If Rodgers stays healthy, the Packers can win the Super Bowl.

I guess if that is the only problem that you see that can put a monkey wrench in the Packers plans to go all the way then maybe NFL is not your game. First of all for Rodgers to be healthy you need to protect his blind side. Bakhtiari is OK at best, but his health is in question - Barclay was #1 backup at both tackles and looks awful. Your best option after him is an un-drafted rookie free agent. They sucked against the run, and didn't do a whole lot to improve that in the off-season. Can Peppers continue to bring it? Clay's health is always an issue since he went off roids.

They are a good team - the question is can they get past the hump.

Spurs you do realize Barclay is not the #1 backup at LT right and what you've seen them trying is just mixing and matching in the preseason to see what he's got? I know you said "was" and then bring up an undrafted rookie so I'll bring up what the actuall depth chart at LT looks like.

Starter: Bakhtiari
#1 backup: Bulaga (with Barclay at RT so theres that I guess but if he fails horribly back there too then they insert Tretter)
#2 Tretter
#3 Barclay

So yeah I'm not going to overly concern myself with the #4 LT. Pretty much every team is going to be in trouble that far down. RT may be a concern with him as the primary backup but like I said then you slide Tretter out.

And by the end of the season they did not suck against the run. Maybe not great but they were actually pretty good after Mathews switch. Your last two points are fair

[SpursNBucks]

A potential injury to Rodgers. That's it. If Rodgers stays healthy, the Packers can win the Super Bowl.

I guess if that is the only problem that you see that can put a monkey wrench in the Packers plans to go all the way then maybe NFL is not your game. First of all for Rodgers to be healthy you need to protect his blind side. Bakhtiari is OK at best, but his health is in question - Barclay was #1 backup at both tackles and looks awful. Your best option after him is an un-drafted rookie free agent. They sucked against the run, and didn't do a whole lot to improve that in the off-season. Can Peppers continue to bring it? Clay's health is always an issue since he went off roids.

They are a good team - the question is can they get past the hump.

Spurs you do realize Barclay is not the #1 backup at LT right and what you've seen them trying is just mixing and matching in the preseason to see what he's got? I know you said "was" and then bring up an undrafted rookie so I'll bring up what the actuall depth chart at LT looks like.

Starter: Bakhtiari
#1 backup: Bulaga (with Barclay at RT so theres that I guess but if he fails horribly back there too then they insert Tretter)
#2 Tretter
#3 Barclay

So yeah I'm not going to overly concern myself with the #4 LT. Pretty much every team is going to be in trouble that far down. RT may be a concern with him as the primary backup but like I said then you slide Tretter out.

And by the end of the season they did not suck against the run. Maybe not great but they were actually pretty good after Mathews switch. Your last two points are fair

Before the poor performance this preseason Barclay has been thought of as the #1 backup at both tackles (RT) his preferred position. Every site you go to lists depth charts differently - figuring that out right now is what the preseason is about. If they move Bulaga to LT then Barclay was scheduled to be the starting RT. Tretter?

Tretter was drafted as a C/G, not a OT, before this blew up with Barclay he started mini camp as a C.
Injury history since drafted - first two years had knee/leg injuries - didn't make it through preseason.
Zero regular season game experience D-linemen against starting .

I don't know what your talking about the #4 LT? These are the top backups. If this doesn't give you some concern I don't know what to tell you.

They did OK- against the run near the end? Against Dallas they gave up 145 yards (5.2/carry). Against Seattle they gave up 194 (5.5/carry). Last regular season game they gave up 111 (4.8/carry).

Sure they looked good against the worst team in the NFL (Bucs- #29th rushing offense-week 16), and the Bills #25th rush off-week 15, but gave up a whopping 179 yards (6.0/carry) against the Falcons the 24th ranked rush offense (week 14) . If you take away Clay from his strength then you have a void there (or at least a drop-off). Rush defense has not looked good, a concern.

Reasonably Sober - If your comfortable with Barclay and Tretter as your top listed backups - I don't know what to tell you. ROdgers wont be around long if they have to start. The starting LT is a marginal starter as is, and he has been hurt. Rodgers not only make the WRs look good, but the OT look better then they are with his quick release, feel in the pocket, and ability to scramble. That said he has taken some brutal shots last couple of years- miss the days of Clifton and Tauscher.

[neiLz]

My Biggest Concern : Toughness.

[chonestown]

My Biggest Concern : Toughness.

^^^^^^^^
This guy gets it.

[FAH1223]

The ILB position once again is a weakness. It's better than last year because of no Hawk/Jones but we still can't cover the middle of the field unless #52 is playing exclusively there and we want him to rush the passer from different angles.

Our options are limited but we should try Sean Richardson as the dime ILB as has been mentioned here and other places.

The backup LT position is also the big problem that's looming if Bakhtiari can't go. I really don't want Bulaga at LT because he tore his knee up there after making the switch.. I want him comfortable and at his best - that is at RT.

The WR core is an issue with Cobb hurt... I don't have any faith in Montgomery and Janis running the correct routes. #12 is going to have a lot of heated moments as I think he throws more INTs because these WRs won't be able to get open.

Also, the lack of offensive creativity will hold the team back. Clements should center the offense on the running game and balancing it out but I fear he will be like MM and fall in love with passing the rock too much.

Dom Capers also can't be trusted but then again.. aside from the secondary and a couple guys on the front 7, he doesn't have much to work with at LB and DL. That's TT's fault for having horrible drafts on the DL and LB corps.

Health, like 2013, is the biggest concern.

[HKPackFan]

The ILB position once again is a weakness. It's better than last year because of no Hawk/Jones but we still can't cover the middle of the field unless #52 is playing exclusively there and we want him to rush the passer from different angles.

Our options are limited but we should try Sean Richardson as the dime ILB as has been mentioned here and other places.

The backup LT position is also the big problem that's looming if Bakhtiari can't go. I really don't want Bulaga at LT because he tore his knee up there after making the switch.. I want him comfortable and at his best - that is at RT.

The WR core is an issue with Cobb hurt... I don't have any faith in Montgomery and Janis running the correct routes. #12 is going to have a lot of heated moments as I think he throws more INTs because these WRs won't be able to get open.

Also, the lack of offensive creativity will hold the team back. Clements should center the offense on the running game and balancing it out but I fear he will be like MM and fall in love with passing the rock too much.

Dom Capers also can't be trusted but then again.. aside from the secondary and a couple guys on the front 7, he doesn't have much to work with at LB and DL. That's TT's fault for having horrible drafts on the DL and LB corps.

Health, like 2013, is the biggest concern.

I've been a fan of trying sean Richardson as the dime ILB but his play Saturday scared me. He showed some garbage out there that's given me second thoughts.

[RRyder823]

I guess if that is the only problem that you see that can put a monkey wrench in the Packers plans to go all the way then maybe NFL is not your game. First of all for Rodgers to be healthy you need to protect his blind side. Bakhtiari is OK at best, but his health is in question - Barclay was #1 backup at both tackles and looks awful. Your best option after him is an un-drafted rookie free agent. They sucked against the run, and didn't do a whole lot to improve that in the off-season. Can Peppers continue to bring it? Clay's health is always an issue since he went off roids.

They are a good team - the question is can they get past the hump.

Spurs you do realize Barclay is not the #1 backup at LT right and what you've seen them trying is just mixing and matching in the preseason to see what he's got? I know you said "was" and then bring up an undrafted rookie so I'll bring up what the actuall depth chart at LT looks like.

Starter: Bakhtiari
#1 backup: Bulaga (with Barclay at RT so theres that I guess but if he fails horribly back there too then they insert Tretter)
#2 Tretter
#3 Barclay

So yeah I'm not going to overly concern myself with the #4 LT. Pretty much every team is going to be in trouble that far down. RT may be a concern with him as the primary backup but like I said then you slide Tretter out.

And by the end of the season they did not suck against the run. Maybe not great but they were actually pretty good after Mathews switch. Your last two points are fair

Before the poor performance this preseason Barclay has been thought of as the #1 backup at both tackles (RT) his preferred position. Every site you go to lists depth charts differently - figuring that out right now is what the preseason is about. If they move Bulaga to LT then Barclay was scheduled to be the starting RT. Tretter?

Tretter was drafted as a C/G, not a OT, before this blew up with Barclay he started mini camp as a C.
Injury history since drafted - first two years had knee/leg injuries - didn't make it through preseason.
Zero regular season game experience D-linemen against starting .

I don't know what your talking about the #4 LT? These are the top backups. If this doesn't give you some concern I don't know what to tell you.

They did OK- against the run near the end? Against Dallas they gave up 145 yards (5.2/carry). Against Seattle they gave up 194 (5.5/carry). Last regular season game they gave up 111 (4.8/carry).

Sure they looked good against the worst team in the NFL (Bucs- #29th rushing offense-week 16), and the Bills #25th rush off-week 15, but gave up a whopping 179 yards (6.0/carry) against the Falcons the 24th ranked rush offense (week 14) . If you take away Clay from his strength then you have a void there (or at least a drop-off). Rush defense has not looked good, a concern.

Reasonably Sober - If your comfortable with Barclay and Tretter as your top listed backups - I don't know what to tell you. ROdgers wont be around long if they have to start. The starting LT is a marginal starter as is, and he has been hurt. Rodgers not only make the WRs look good, but the OT look better then they are with his quick release, feel in the pocket, and ability to scramble. That said he has taken some brutal shots last couple of years- miss the days of Clifton and Tauscher.

As for Tretter yes he was drafted as a C and that's his primary position but he did play tackle for them last season. And yes he did get time against starters. How well you think he played when given the chance at tackle though is another topic of discussion.

And sorry I guess since I don't expect world beaters as backups at arguably the 2nd hardest position to fill on offense that is the reason I won't concern myself as much with it.

[El Duderino]

My only two concerns

1. Health

2. The defense all across the front seven

[zmanishere11]

My Biggest Concern : Toughness.

^^^^^^^^
This guy gets it.

For me, you can also lump Mike McCarthy into this.

I seriously doubt his competence, and think he's actually holding this team back

[chonestown]

My Biggest Concern : Toughness.

^^^^^^^^
This guy gets it.

For me, you can also lump Mike McCarthy into this.

I seriously doubt his competence, and think he's actually holding this team back

I just don't think he coaches with enough fire. This is football, not the damn Rotary Club.

If Ted would get his backside out of the film room, he'd realize this is the guy we need back in the organization.

http://www.turfshowtimes.com/2013/5/25/4365160/rams-chuck-cecil-hits-titans

Pittsburgh tough, my foot.

[HKPackFan]

I'm just hoping we don't have to add special teams to this list. This weekend was a new kind of awful I hadn't seen before.

[humanrefutation]

My only two concerns

1. Health

2. The defense all across the front seven

So, basically the same problem we've had for the last few years.

Health we can't control, but I'll be really disappointed if our front seven doesn't step up this year.

[paulpressey25]

Front seven.

If you look back the past 20-years, the years the Packers really did well where those seasons where the front 7 stepped up and was a force for much of the season.

We can't have another year where you put the pressure of the world on A-Rod to deliver a score each and every possession to win games.