Go For It On Fourth Fan Preview 2018: The Green Bay Packers

Go For It On Fourth Fan Preview 2018: The Green Bay Packers

For my half of the Go For It On Fourth preview for the 2018 NFL season, I decided to ask fans of every team questions about how they think their team will do this season. Instead of asking just one fan per team, I decided to get as many fans as I could involved. For some teams, that was several. For some teams, that was just one fan. But we very much appreciate everyone who got involved in our Preview for the 2018 Season!

Representing the Green Bay Packers

Matt, Stevens Point, Wisconsin, @Mshadows17
Charlie, Dudley, West Midlands @2405BakerStreet

First off, sum up last season for us.

Matt: You know that Chris Farley Saturday Night Live GIF where he looks all excited at first and that excitement slowly fades to shock/disgust? That sums it up perfectly. Packers were rolling, we were excited... then Anthony Barr happened. The season fell apart because the team lives and dies by Aaron Rodgers, and we missed the playoffs for the first time this decade.

Charlie: Last season, sadly, is one for the footnotes. Half a season without your franchise quarterback, especially one that many experts within the game consider the greatest to ever throw a ball, is always difficult and this was grossly evident for the Pack last Fall. The late comeback in Dallas hinted at possible home field advantage come playoff time but the following week Rodgers was knocked out of the game and Green Bay went 3-8 from there on out.

How was your offseason?

Matt: I think we did pretty well in Gute's first offseason. The tight end core has been revamped for the second year in a row with the additions of Jimmy Graham and Marcedes Lewis. It can't be too much worse than the Martellus Bennett signing last year (can it?), so I am excited for that. Mo Wilkerson is an interesting addition to a D-Line that is already very good. There are a few tough losses (Jordy to the Raiders, Burnett to the Steelers), but I think the good has easily outweighed the bad. And we brought back Tramon Williams, one of my all-time favorite Packers. He may be in the twilight of his career, but he will be a fantastic mentor to a very young secondary and he proved last year that he was still very good in his own right. Speaking of which...

Charlie: Big, BIG changes this Spring. New GM, New DC, New (but old) OC and an actual attempt to delve in to the worlds of free agency and trading up in the draft. All risks, but with an extra first rounder next year, Green Bay hold the cards if a deal for Khalil Mack is happening (all rumours at the time of writing).

Key additions from free agency and the Draft?

Matt: We used our first two picks on intriguing cornerbacks in Jaire Alexander and Josh Jackson (both were much needed, and Jackson could be a big steal in the 2nd). Also of note, we spent 3 picks on wide receivers whose names are straight out of Key and Peele (J'Mon Moore, Marquez Valdez-Scantling and Equanimeous St. Brown). MVS has already shown some very good glimpses, and we also have a local product in Jake Kumerow who has a very good chance to make the roster, as well, as a UDFA. There was a lot to like about the draft. Probably could have used an outside linebacker in the earlier rounds, as we are still thin there, but Gute got the guys he wanted, as well as an extra first rounder next year, so now the guys just need to pan out.

Charlie: As much as it was sad to see Jordy Nelson moved on, Jimmy Graham should prove to be at least on par production-wise, even if he doesn’t have that telepathic link with Rodgers. Don’t sleep on the acquisition of Marcedes Lewis, either. They should be nearly unstoppable within the red zone, even more so if they can somehow find a running back, which for me is a major hole on the team. The draft was utilised to bolster the secondary and to find someone to come in as WR3, early signs seem positive on both fronts. Holes at O-line depth and edge rusher still give me sleepless nights.

What's your hopes for this coming season?

Matt: Aaron Rodgers plays a full 16 games and gets the Packers back in the playoffs. It's that simple. Then hopefully the defense can do enough to help facilitate a long playoff run.

Charlie: It may potentially be unrealistic, now that Minnesota are a genuine contender within the division as well as the NFC being terrifyingly competitive, but a title has to be the aspiration for this Packers squad. Whilst they have Rodgers, who at times has suffered levels of work you could equate to a Sisyphus or a Marino, they have a chance if they can keep the other team under 22-24 points.

What's your thoughts on your starting quarterback?

Matt: There is no team that lives and dies more by one player than the Packers. That player, obviously, is Aaron Rodgers. The Packers won as many games without Rodgers in 9 games in 2018 as the Patriots did without Tom Brady for 4 games in 2016 (both won 3). It is for this reason (as well as many others) that I will probably go to my grave saying that Rodgers is the best QB of this generation, even with Brady having 5 rings. Brady will end his career more decorated, but from a pure all-around skill standpoint, I'll take Rodgers every day of the week. There is no other QB I'd want in the NFL. I hope he gets a well-deserved extension soon.

Charlie: I’m content with our starting quarterback.

And your thoughts on your head coach?

Matt: The Eagles won the Super Bowl with a backup QB. The Packers fell apart at the seams. I think a lot of that falls on McCarthy. Rodgers hides a lot of his flaws. Without Rodgers to hide them, McCarthy becomes a very average coach (at best). With Capers fired (finally!) and Thompson stepping down, this is a very important year for him, and he needs to prove he can take this team to the next level (and keep them there).

Charlie: Our head coach is fine, provide he has his quarterback. His two spells without him have been more than worthy of meriting some time on the hot seat.

A player that will be key for you this season?

Matt: I am going to go a little off the wall here and say Nick Perry. The defensive line is great, but they need another person in the linebacking corps to take some pressure off a secondary which, for the most part, is very young. Having him play up to his first-round status would be huge for both the secondary and Mike Pettine (who I am very happy we got).

Charlie: Outside of the obvious, the fitness of Mike Daniels is crucial, even with the acquisition of Muhammad Wilkerson (playing under Pettine, his D.C. during his best spell for the NYJ) and the emergence of Kenny Clark. Clay Matthews, solely living off of 2009-12. Waste of time. Next question.

What made you choose to support your team?

Matt: I was born into it. Born and raised in Wisconsin. I am big a fan of all other Wisconsin teams as a result, too.

Charlie: Five years ago, through a forum, I met a girl from Wisconsin (I won’t disclose her name for privacy reasons). We’ve been talking ever since, and I’m going over to meet her for the first time this September, as well as seeing the Packers play the Bears on the season’s first Sunday Night Football. She was part of her school’s colorguard troop and told me that she would be performing at the Packers’ game against New England (during the 2014 season). The game happened to be on SKY and they actually broadcast snippets of the field at halftime, I still have a photo of cameras catching her performing that day. I fell in love with the whole thing: Tall, Blonde, Beautiful. Clay Matthews was a force of nature. The Pack won the game, I’m hooked ever since.

For a first-time NFL fan, tell us some reasons why they should support your team?

Matt: Aaron Rodgers is a generational talent and this offense is always going to be good with him behind center. As far as history, we are in the smallest market in the NFL by far and are just about to start our 100th season. That fact on its own is really cool, as well.

Charlie: The Packers are steeped in history, with 13 titles throughout their history including four of those being Super Bowls, earning Green Bay the nickname “Titletown, USA”. They were the team of the 1960s, and arguably the 1930s, and can boast relative success nearly every year since the early 1990s. Gifted with great quarterbacking talent seemingly forever, they’ve often scored rucks of points and these are usually celebrated with their famous tradition of the “Lambeau Leap”, in which the scoring player will jump in to the crowd behind the end zone. It’s all reflective of the huge role that the team play in the community, even being the only fan-owned team in all of North American professional sports. And for weird lefties like me, the fact they’re publicly-owned is a real hook. They’re also regulars in the playoffs, reaching the postseason in 10 of the previous 12 seasons, with only New England able to beat that in the same time.

Compare your team to a European football club.

Matt: The most apt would probably be Manchester United. Rich history, started from humble beginnings, have won a lot of championships.

Charlie: For the Packers under coach Mike McCarthy, think Arsenal under Arsene Wenger. Perennially amongst the top sides with glorious attacking verve, but with defensive frailties that let them down against the very top sides late in the season.

What's the best-case scenario for you this season?

Matt: Going back to an earlier question, Rodgers stays healthy and plays like Aaron Rodgers and gets the Packers back in the playoffs, where they go on a nice playoff run and win a Super Bowl thanks to an improved defense under Mike Pettine and because Aaron Rodgers really needs a 2nd ring.

Charlie: With a now-fit Aaron Rodgers, the offence in place and if the defence can take the step up with long-time defensive dinosaur Dom Capers out of the door, there could be a new, shiny trophy in Titletown.

And what's the worst-case scenario?

Matt: Rodgers gets hurt, Pettine is actually Dom Capers in disguise, neither Kizer nor Hundley do anything productive in Rodgers absence, we pick in the top half come the NFL Draft.

Charlie: Provide it’s 16 games with Rodgers this season, the worst-case scenario is a nine win season. If he misses any significant period of time, sub-six-wins is a real possibility.

Is it time to start looking for the long-term successor for Aaron Rodgers?

Matt: I would say in 2 or 3 years. Rodgers wants to play until he is 40 (or so he says). He will be 35 this year. Rodgers developed 3 years under Favre. If Rodgers is playing until he is 40, the Packers have 3 more seasons to not have to worry about it, then they will have to take a QB with a high pick. Priority one is making Rodgers stays a Packer for life right now.

Charlie: Due to the success of quarterbacks in what was once called their Winter years (Brady and Manning both winning Super Bowls at 40 and 39, respectively) we no longer see a QB in his late 30s as old. Rodgers will turn 35 this season, and theoretically his replacement should’ve been dealt with years ago, but provide he stays healthy it’s hard to not imagine him playing 3-5 more years (hopefully in Green Bay if his contract can be agreed). A major step back in production though, and this next Spring could get very, very interesting.

Predict your record for this season, and how far (if at all) you will go in the postseason.

Matt: Looking at the schedule objectively, 12 or 13 wins is not out of the question considering Rodgers' collarbones and other major body parts stay intact, especially with an easier 3rd place division team schedule. Considering the ups and downs of the season, though, I think 11-5 is more than attainable, which should be more than enough for a playoff berth. Staying objective, there are still a lot of questions on defense, so I see them being a Divisional team, but they need a few pieces to step up if they want to go further for sure. With Rodgers, though, they can make it back to the big game.

Charlie: If you put a gun to my head, you’d be a sick freak, I’ve done nothing wrong. I’d also tell you 11-5 and provide that that is enough to get in to the postseason, they’d win any game at Lambeau and lose any game away.

Tell us who you think will be lifting the Lombardi Trophy in Atlanta on February 3rd next year?

Matt: If it's *not* us, then I can easily see the Rams taking it. They are going to be a force this year. Or the Patriots because no one in the AFC can ever keep them from getting there. It'll be Green Bay, though, in my totally unbiased opinion.

Charlie: I hate “trendy picks”, so I’m steering clear of the two up-and-coming teams on the west coast. I’m going Minnesota, it has to happen eventually.

Anything else you'd like to promote?

Matt: I don't have too much to personally promote, but my sister is a big supporter of animal charities, especially the Humane Society and Best Friends Animal Society, so I figure I will give them a shout on her behalf. As for me, if you liked my rundown, please feel free to follow me! @Mshadows17.