And this is hardly a one-man team anyway. The offensive line has been together for a number of years and is among the best in the game, and that is evident in the effectiveness of the running game. And that running game features one of the more explosive runners in the game today in Ahman Green. Defensively, the Packers seemed to turn things around last year with the addition of Grady Jackson at tackle, and they filled another hole in the off-season by persuading Mark Roman to leave the Cincinnati Bengals to play free safety.
So with a good nucleus and a few patches to the roster, the Packers feel they are ready to give Favre another shot at the ultimate prize. The question is, does the savvy veteran still have it in him?
Quarterback
Favre will turn 34-years old this year, but he is far from done, as he proved by leading the league with 32 touchdown passes in 2003. He is still among the best clutch quarterbacks in the game today, and possibly the toughest of all time having played in 208 consecutive games. Ideally, the coaching staff would like to see him cut back on the 21 interceptions he threw last season, but they don‘t want the 14-year veteran to lose the aggressive gunslinger mentality that has been so successful throughout his career.
Backing up Favre, which usually involves spending most of the time standing on the sidelines, is former No. 1 overall draft pick Tim Couch, who was signed after being released by the Cleveland Browns. Couch failed to live up to expectations in Cleveland, but he is still young, and with some good coaching the Packers believe he can still live up to that potential and successfully succeed Favre as the starting quarterback should Favre decide to hang up the spikes within the next couple years. Craig Nall and 12-year veteran Doug Pederson will battle it out for the No. 3 spot.
Running Backs
The Packers have one of the top backs in the league in Green, who is coming off a season in which he racked up 2,250 total yards and 20 touchdowns. He has great vision and is explosive through the hole, with the ability to bounce it to the outside. He is also very adept at catching the ball out of the backfield, which allows him to stay on the field on third downs. The only knock on Green is that he has a tendency to put the ball on the ground, fumbling seven times and losing five in 2003.
Backing him up is power runner Najeh Davenport, who is tough between the tackles and has the strength to consistently gain yards after contact. Tony Fisher is the No. 3 back, who fit’s the role of the classic third-down back. He is shifty and quick, and he has good receiving abilities. The problem is, Green doesn’t have to come off the field on third downs, so Fisher will be used mainly to keep Green fresh.
Ten-Year veteran William Henderson is penciled in as the starter at fullback, and he is a great run blocker, but he could be challenged by Nick Luchey, who came over from the Bengals last year. Luchey could also be used in an H-back role.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
The Packers top-three receivers are solid but unspectacular, however, with Favre at quarterback, a team doesn’t need a superstar at wideout to have a successful passing game. Robert Ferguson and Donald Driver will start. Driver wasn’t the same player after injuring his neck early in the ’03 season, but at his best, he is a dependable receiver who can catch the ball over the middle. Ferguson is a physical receiver with good speed, but he has yet to put it all together and become a consistent force in this offense.
No. 3 receiver Javon Walker has the potential to be a big-play receiver. He has great speed and leaping ability, but needs to become more disciplined in his route running. He came on strong near the end of the season last year, and could be poised for a break-out year. With a solid camp, the Packers could consider putting him at the No. 2 and moving Driver to the slot. The Packers appear to lack depth behind Walker with Antonio Chatman and Carl Ford, who are likely to be the No. 4 and 5 receivers.
