How the NFC North now shapes up.

[Vrill]

People I count on to make the most impact this year:

Jordy Nelson
Jared Cook
Blake Martinez
Clay Matthews (outside)

Really hope Janis gets a bigger role in first team.

Davante Adams and Richard Rodgers needs to improve vastly.

Who'll be playing NT? Clark?

I think Richard Rodgers has hit his ceiling honestly. What you see is what you get with him. A slow TE with great hands.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

I think Richard Rodgers has hit his ceiling honestly. What you see is what you get with him. A slow TE with great hands.

If he learns how to block, I'm fine with RR playing the #2 TE. He has proven to be good in the Red Zone and having a guy like Cook and of course Jordy back, could help RR's game as well. Hard to get open when you aren't that speedy and the defense is crowding the line of scrimmage.

 

[Mondio]

and if this is in fact RR's ceiling, what's wrong with it? I know, I know, 9 yards per catch or 8 isn't very good. But in a year where even our 14 YPC guy was down to 10, I'm not going to make too much of it. TE screens and 2 yard drag patterns aren't playing to his strength by any means, but if you told me I'd have a TE with 50+ catches and 8 TD's a year, I'd think he's a pretty good starter, as a #2? somebody call a doctor because this thing is lasting longer than 4 hours.

Now if your expectation is 80 catches and 12 TD's then you're going to find that difficult. You'll find it especially difficult when you have multi million dollar contracts already tied up in 2 premier pass catchers on the team.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

2015 was hopefully just an anomoly year for the current Packer offense and as such is probably not a very accurate measuring stick to fully grade players based on their individual performances. If nothing else though, its a good cautionary tale as to what can happen when injuries to key players and frustration set in.

 

[Vrill]

If we do struggle in 2016 once again even with Jordy, Cook and a re-worked Lacy, what does that tell us? Defenses have caught on to MM's system and it might be time to change? I'm not saying this will happen, but you never know I guess.

 

[Vrill]

and if this is in fact RR's ceiling, what's wrong with it? I know, I know, 9 yards per catch or 8 isn't very good. But in a year where even our 14 YPC guy was down to 10, I'm not going to make too much of it. TE screens and 2 yard drag patterns aren't playing to his strength by any means, but if you told me I'd have a TE with 50+ catches and 8 TD's a year, I'd think he's a pretty good starter, as a #2? somebody call a doctor because this thing is lasting longer than 4 hours.

Now if your expectation is 80 catches and 12 TD's then you're going to find that difficult. You'll find it especially difficult when you have multi million dollar contracts already tied up in 2 premier pass catchers on the team.

There is nothing wrong with RR at all. He is a good player. I think he'd make a lot of teams rosters in this league as matter of fact. Hes just one of those steady TE's that will never strike fear into any defense is all. But he can still make some plays here and there regardless of his shortcomings because he has sure-hands. His best plays will almost always be in the red zone too.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

and if this is in fact RR's ceiling, what's wrong with it? I know, I know, 9 yards per catch or 8 isn't very good. But in a year where even our 14 YPC guy was down to 10, I'm not going to make too much of it. TE screens and 2 yard drag patterns aren't playing to his strength by any means, but if you told me I'd have a TE with 50+ catches and 8 TD's a year, I'd think he's a pretty good starter, as a #2? somebody call a doctor because this thing is lasting longer than 4 hours.

50 catches and 8 TDs is absolutely fine for a tight end in the Packers offense. The stat line doesn't reflect Rodgers' inability to stretch a defense though which would have been extremely important last season.

He's more than adequate as a #2 TE and red zone target but I'm glad Thompson signed Cook this offseason.

 

[RepStar15]

The Vikings defense has potential to be a top 5 defense in the league next year. With AD getting older, Teddy Bridgewater (still not at) top tier level and consistently inadequate recievers, I am not scared. I think our defense will out play them in both games this year.

The Lions...are the lions. No CJ will be a huge impact for that offense, I mean he still accounted for almost half of all production out of the lions receiving corps and about a third of production for their entire offense.

The Bears actually scare me the most. John Fox is an amazing coach. If he is succeeding in teaching Jay Cutler composer, their offense could be productive. That defense could give us trouble. But at the end of the day, the Bears head to head against a *hopefully* healthy Packer football team, will be a wash.

My expectations (like this time last year) for the Packers is high. This year, it may be even higher. I have seen what our rookie defenseman can do in Jake Ryan, Quinten Rollins and Demarious Randall. This time last year I was very worried about losing Tramon Williams and the ability to stop the run. Our special teams have made tremendous improvements. Ty Montgomery has (possibly) given us a threat returner we have lacked since Desmond Howard. Though this time last year I never thought our offense would be so pathetic, but that's how football goes. People get hurt.

Today, there is not a single position I am actually worried about. We have an athletic TE in Jared Cook, Eddie Lacy no longer has the body of a DT, Jordy Nelson is back, Ty Montgomery is back, Trevor Davis can emerge, Jeff Janis has proved he is worthy of suiting up, Clay Matthews is still a beast, Ha-Ha may be my favorite player on the team, and we have good old #12. I have HIGH expectations this year. We almost made it to the NFC Championship game with an offense only Packers fans could name more than 2 players starting. If we can maintain our health, this is the year we face the Patriots in the Super Bowl. Which also means this is the year my boyfriend and I break up for 2-4 weeks.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

The Bears actually scare me the most. John Fox is an amazing coach. If he is succeeding in teaching Jay Cutler composer, their offense could be productive. That defense could give us trouble. But at the end of the day, the Bears head to head against a *hopefully* healthy Packer football team, will be a wash.

Cutler has to get used to another offensive coordinator this season once again and there's no reason to trust him being efficient going forward.

Their defense will be improved but I don't see them challenging the Packers for the division.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Bear fans can finally breath a heavy sigh of relief in regards to Cutler after this season. No longer will they have to suffer with the 2014 contract that Phil Emery and the Bears inexcusably signed Cutler to. Although releasing him at the end of 2016 would still cost them $2M, its a far cry from doing the same this year and being hit with $19M in dead cap. Unless some how Cutler can completely turn around his career, the only way I see him as a Bear next year, is by agreeing to a pay cut and a restructuring of that horrid contract. Thanks again Phil Emery!

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/chicago-bears/jay-cutler/

 

[Raptorman]

The Vikings defense has potential to be a top 5 defense in the league next year. With AD getting older, Teddy Bridgewater (still not at) top tier level and consistently inadequate recievers, I am not scared. I think our defense will out play them in both games this year.

I'll take that as a challenge. Inadequate. Compared to who? The Packers WR's? Let do that.

              Trgts   Rcpt.  Percent   Yards.    YPA     YPR      TD's
Vikings WR.     239    148    61.9%     1916     8.02    12.9       6
Packers WR.     369    205    55.6%     2528     6.85    12.3      17

I have to admit, the Packer got em on the TD's for the year. But if Teddy tosses more balls this year, but then you didn't have Jordy this past year.

 

[ExpatPacker]

I'll take that as a challenge. Inadequate. Compared to who? The Packers WR's? Let do that.

              Trgts   Rcpt.  Percent   Yards.    YPA     YPR      TD's
Vikings WR.     239    148    61.9%     1916     8.02    12.9       6
Packers WR.     369    205    55.6%     2528     6.85    12.3      17

I have to admit, the Packer got em on the TD's for the year. But if Teddy tosses more balls this year, but then you didn't have Jordy this past year.

Plus the fact that the Vikings did draft Laquon Treadwell. That's a huge upgrade at WR for the Queens over the disappointing Cordarelle Patterson.

 

[Packerlifer]

Lest we forget: Three games, three plays that cost the Packers a 5th straight division title in 2015:

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[Raptorman]

Lest we forget: Three games, three plays that cost the Packers a 5th straight division title in 2015:

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What if? The Vikings were 2 plays away from being 13-3. Big deal. It's the plays you played and the games you won that count, not the what ifs.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

I'll take that as a challenge. Inadequate. Compared to who? The Packers WR's? Let do that.

I have to admit, the Packer got em on the TD's for the year. But if Teddy tosses more balls this year, but then you didn't have Jordy this past year.

The Vikings offense is not build around Bridgewater throwing the ball more often and would take a step backwards doing so. There's no doubt the Packers passing offense struggled without Nelson in 2015 but I expect them to bounce back this season.

Plus the fact that the Vikings did draft Laquon Treadwell. That's a huge upgrade at WR for the Queens over the disappointing Cordarelle Patterson.

Treadwell is hugely overrated.

 

[TeamTundra]

Plus the fact that the Vikings did draft Laquon Treadwell. That's a huge upgrade at WR for the Queens over the disappointing Cordarelle Patterson.

You should be comparing Treadwell versus Mike Wallace, the player he's replacing. Patterson is
pretty much just a kick returner.

 

[Raptorman]

The Vikings offense is not build around Bridgewater throwing the ball more often and would take a step backwards doing so. There's no doubt the Packers passing offense struggled without Nelson in 2015 but I expect them to bounce back this season.



Treadwell is hugely overrated.

Time will tell on this.

 

[RepStar15]

I do not think the Vikings are built to have a WR emerge at all. I think Cordelle Patterson and Mike Wallace would have been more productive in another system. They can utilize their TE well, but their offensive scheme is reliant on the running backs. Dump passes and check downs. Bridgewater is not deciplined enough to be a QB you have to worry about the deep pass. Crowd the inside and he is in trouble. Not to say he will not ever get to that level, but he is no where near it now. Treadwell's productivity was due to the fact he had (in my opinion) the best collegiate quarterback in the game. Chad Kelly is elusive, smart, mobile and has an arm. Teddy Bridgewater has a shiny new target, but that does not mean Treadwell will fix the Vikings passing/receiving struggles.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

I do not think the Vikings are built to have a WR emerge at all. I think Cordelle Patterson and Mike Wallace would have been more productive in another system. They can utilize their TE well, but their offensive scheme is reliant on the running backs. Dump passes and check downs. Bridgewater is not deciplined enough to be a QB you have to worry about the deep pass. Crowd the inside and he is in trouble. Not to say he will not ever get to that level, but he is no where near it now. Treadwell's productivity was due to the fact he had (in my opinion) the best collegiate quarterback in the game. Chad Kelly is elusive, smart, mobile and has an arm. Teddy Bridgewater has a shiny new target, but that does not mean Treadwell will fix the Vikings passing/receiving struggles.

The reason I think Treadwell will struggle is that he has a hard time getting any separation and is inconsistent at best winning contested balls. With Bridgewater being inaccurate throwing intermediate to deep balls I don't believe Treadwell will have a lot of success with the Vikings.