Green Bay Packers: Dare We Say it, Hit the Panic Alarm?
By Joe Wedra
Early in the season, we love to play “hit the panic alarm, or shrug it off” with plenty of NFL teams. It’s an NFL preseason analysis tradition, and it’s been ongoing for years. Of all teams this year, many are spotlighting the Green Bay Packers as potential candidates for panic alarm front runners heading into 2015.
Why?
The story can be told merely in the headlines.
Letroy Guion’s suspension upheld, to serve 3-game ban. – NFL.com
Packers announce Jordy Nelson will miss the season. – ProFootballTalk
Green Bay Packers offensive line hobbled in training camp. – FOX Sports
We could hold back worries and attempt to put a positive spin on the recent headlines, but there’s no denying that the preseason has been brutal to Green Bay and they’d like a major re-do.
On defense, questions already loom up front. The front office did little to improve a defensive front that was 23rd in the NFL against the run sans B.J. Raji in 2014. What they did do is add Guion from the Vikings, a move that is already containing questionable results.
With Datone Jones suspended for the first game of the year, the 3-4 DE spot will have to make do with youngsters lining up next to Raji.
“It’s just three games, why panic?”
Good point. The defense may be improved after the third week, barring injury, and hopefully hits a stride and gets on its feet as much as possible. The problem with that statement is ignoring the first three opponents.
- at Chicago — Week 1
- vs. Seahawks — Week 2
- vs. Chiefs — Week 3
Not quite a cake walk to begin the year. Both Seattle and Kansas City will be faced in 8:30 games, a daunting task for a unit that is going to be sending out young players by the bunches trying to get off to a hot start.
After that, they’ll head back on the road to San Francisco before coming back home to play two more games against teams who can beat them with their improved offenses, St. Louis and San Diego.
Maybe it’s a preseason overreaction that you shouldn’t buy.
Perhaps there’s legitimacy in worrying about the Pack just a bit to start the season.
Nothing is set in stone, nothing can be guaranteed.
That’s the beauty of the NFL.