When you have one of the two best quarterbacks in the game, odds are your offense is already off to a great start. The Green Bay Packers have Aaron Rodgers and as long as he remains under center, this team will thrive behind their quarterback.
Two years ago, Green Bay’s offense was strong behind a prolific aerial attack that helped it finish fifth in points and 13th in total yards. These numbers were largely helped by the Packers elite passing game, which made up for a running attack that finished 20th in yards and 25th in touchdowns. The struggles of the running game were the result of two main factors—an offensive line that struggled to protect their quarterback or open up running lanes, in addition to insufficient talent at running back.
Despite having a running game that defenses didn’t have to account for along with an offensive line that gave up 51 sacks, Green Bay still managed to finish the season with a top-10 offense. The Packers immediately found an upgrade at running by drafting Eddie Lacy and saw improvements along the offensive line with remarkable improvement by left guard Josh Sitton and rookie David Bakhtiari surprising at left tackle. If it weren’t for injuries to Rodgers, Randall Cobb and Bryan Bulaga, this offense would have been outstanding last season.
Green Bay is still very healthy entering the third week of the preseason. The outstanding core of Rodgers, Lacy, Cobb and Jordy Nelson looked great last week against the St. Louis Rams. Lacy looked stronger than his rookie season, a season where he earned Offensive Rookie of the Year honors after rushing for 1,178 yards and 11 touchdowns. Cobb showed off his outstanding speed and hands working in the slot, slipping past corners and making big plays. There were plenty of offensive performances to look at, but the offensive line should be focused on even more.
Rodgers has been the Packers’ starting quarterback since 2008 and this could easily be the best offensive line in front of him since his first start. Green Bay has an All-Pro guard in Josh Sitton, while Lang really broke through in 2013 as a very good guard. The Packers will also get back Bulaga, who missed all of last season with a torn ACL, but was very reliable at right tackle before the knee injury.
The big question is at center and finding out exactly who will start there against the Seattle Seahawks. J.C. Tretter has shined early on in the preseason, especially with his run blocking and the job now appears to be his alone. Green Bay certainly doesn’t have a great offensive line but this is absolutely an above-average group who will help this offense thrive.
Behind a strong offensive line, this offense can reach greater heights than we’ve seen from them before. Opening up running lanes for Lacy to rumble for first downs, while allowing Rodgers time to look down the field and progress through his reads. Defenses will already be gearing up to stop the passing game, leaving easy fronts four Lay to break through. Once Lacy gets hot, the Packers can really sell the play action and open up more big plays.
Now that Rodgers has time to throw, this will give him time to spread the ball around to Nelson, Cobb, Jarrett Boykin and Richard Rodgers. Boykin emerged as a reliable third receiver last year and was a big reason why the Packers let James Jones leave in the offseason. Boykin will line up on the outside opposite of Nelson, with Cobb finding holes across the middle out of the slot. Defenses can try and take away two of the wide receivers, but that will still leave another receiver open. While the tight end position remains unsettled, rookie Richard Rodgers has started the first two preseason games. He may not be a great athlete but he has impressive size and more than enough athleticism to get open.
All of these parts together create a beautiful product, but it doesn’t stop here. Last week against the Rams, HC Mike McCarthy brought out a newer wrinkle in his play calling. Green Bay instantly started running with their no-huddle, hurry up offense and it worked to perfection. Green Bay ran on to the field with Rodgers, Lacy, Jordy, Cobb, Boykin and Richard Rodgers—12 plays and five minutes later, Rodgers connected with Cobb for a three-yard touchdown.
It was already hard enough to stop this offense—they now have a top-10 running back who an gash your defensive line, an elite quarterback to pick apart your secondary and an offensive line that has greatly improved. Now they are focusing more on the no-huddle—preventing defenses from making substitutions and tiring them down easily. A tired defense against Rodgers and Lacy is the worst nightmare for defensive coordinators, now it’s becoming a reality.
Putting all of this together, you have the makings of an offense that can surpass anything they’ve done before. While they certainly won’t surpass the numbers we saw from the Denver Broncos last season, this is a group that can stack up against any defense out there and win the fight. Their biggest test will come on opening night when they take on the Seahawks.
This is a perfect matchup of elite offense versus an elite defense. Of course the saying has always been defense wins championships, which was proven last year when the Seahawks wiped out the Broncos in the Super Bowl. Seattle finished last season first versus the pass, first in interceptions and seventh against the run. Seattle’s secondary versus the Packers’ wide receivers, Rodgers and his offensive line against the Seahawks’ front seven.
The NFL opener might be the best we have seen in several years. It will serve as the beginning to a fantastic season and a chance for the Packers to prove they are legitimate Super Bowl contenders once again this season. Even if they lose, this offense can carry the Packers to the Super Bowl, the pressure will just be on the defense to play well enough to help get them there.