Season Review

Kaepernick Disaster

Another Season, another heartbreaking playoff loss for the Packers.

Colin Kaepernick brought back memories of the playoff loss years ago for the Packers when they played Michael Vick at Lambeau in 2003. The Packers' inability to stop Kaepernick made for a long night and humiliating loss. But nonetheless, there are negatives and positives to take away from this game/season.

Positives:

• Better Draft Pick- With Ted Thompson running things, the better draft position, the more likely we find a stud. 
• Young Team - Aaron Rodgers is only 29, which leaves him at least 5 more years of prime football, and the defense will be returning at least three second year starters. Nick Perry can't be overlooked as a difference maker. 
• Improvement - Jennings is likely to be gone, which doesn't necessarily help the Packers, but if Finley comes back, he is only going to be 26 next year, with Cobb still improving as well. Dujan Harris and Don Barclay, EDS, and Marshall Newhouse likely to all improve as young players.
• Adjustments - Colin Kaepernick exposed the Packers longtime weakness, the ability to be a dynamic defense. The Packers' inability to defend the run is well recognized, and Dom Capers and other D coordinators have something to adjust to this offseason. RGIII, Kaepernick, Cam Newton, Russell Wilson, and other running quarterbacks won't be as effective as they were this year, and people shouldn't overreact to the sudden perceived philosophical change in the NFL.

Negatives:

• Lack of $$$ - Aaron Rodgers, Clay Matthews, Jermichael Finley, and Greg Jennings all are due a ton of money in Free Agency this year or next. The likelihood of keeping them all is slim to none, and it's difficult to say how Rodgers can perform without Jennings or Finley. 
• Defense - Even though the first six picks in last year's draft were spent on defense, they were still the reason that the Packers lost tonight, and significant improvements need to be made if the Packers are to compete with the 49ers next year. 
• Physicality? - While Charles Woodson and Clay Matthews aren't soft by any means, why isn't the rest of the defense as tough as them? If Woodson is gone next year, the Pack is going to need someone to take over the leadership role and instill some toughness into the defense. The pass defense is impressive with a promising future, but the defense as a whole doesn't seem to have the swagger that Rodgers and Co. have on offense. 
• Offensive Line/Running Game - Dujuan Harris seems to be a good answer to this question, but Rodgers was still sacked the most times in the league this year (51 times). If the Packers don't get an RB and effective offensive lineman in the draft or free agency this year, there should be some concerns. 

Season Conclusion:

• The Packers were able to go 12-6 with the defense not playing to it's potential, and getting robbed of a home playoff game courtesy of the replacement refs. Aaron Rodgers had another MVP caliber season, and improvement on the defense provides Packer fans with some hope for next year. 
• Ending the year in the final eight is encouraging and gives hope for next year, but a lot needs to be fixed on both sides, and McCarthy could also be more fluid with his personnel decisions. Jeremy Ross returning the first punt was clearly a game changing mistake in the first half, and responsibility needs to be assumed for that. 
• With the 26th pick in next year's draft, and a decent amount of cap room, Ted Thompson will be busy this offseason, and it could be make or break for his career and this franchise. Paying players the right amount of money and making the right pick will be determining factors for the future of the Green Bay Packers. 

The Bears Still Suck.