Cory's Corner: Best Packers roster since 2007

When footballs start flying around during Tuesday’s first practice of 2016, it will instantly set in.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy has a huge weight on his shoulders because this is the best roster on paper to start a season since 2007.

Yes, better than the Super Bowl-winning season in 2010 and better than the 15-1 regular season of 2011.

This team has the best quarterback in the game, which automatically puts them in the Super Bowl conversation. The offensive line depth is impressive, the pass catchers have gotten much better with the acquisition of tight end Jared Cook and even Eddie Lacy has plenty of reasons to run strong because he’s in a contract year.

And there’s no drop-off defensively either. The Packers have the No. 2 secondary in the NFC behind Arizona. That unit will raise eyebrows all season thanks to the sparkplug efforts of second-year cornerback Damarious Randall.

Clay Matthews is moving back to the outside, for now, and so is Datone Jones. The question is if Kenny Clark can be the space eater at nose tackle the Packers need him to be.

In addition to personnel questions, there are also philosophical questions that McCarthy must wrestle with. How much will he trust an offense to get two-point conversions and put a stamp on drives? With a dynamic tight end now in the fold, it stands to reason that McCarthy will elect to do that more.

Also, it comes down to discipline this season. How much will McCarthy dance around another potential Lacy weight carousel? Will he allow Rodgers to criticize the offense and play-calling as much as he did last year? And if so, will Rodgers be given more autonomy to shape an offense in his image?

And with all that pressure comes expectations. After a heart-wrenching loss to Arizona in the NFC Divisional Playoffs, the Packers could conceivably open the season 0-2 by starting at Jacksonville and at Minnesota. Both teams are on the upswing and should be taken seriously.

This is McCarthy’s 11th Packers training camp. His 2007 team lost a frigid NFC Championship Game at Lambeau Field and there’s no way he wants to waste all this talent again. 

 

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Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn

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Comments (21)

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TKWorldWide's picture

July 26, 2016 at 06:48 am

GB has a good team on paper, and fewer question marks than many other teams.Cohesion, health, and luck will all play a part. They always do.
Hold on for the ride. It's going to be a fun season!

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Chad Lundberg's picture

July 26, 2016 at 07:44 pm

For the first time in a long time, I actually enjoyed a Cory's Corner segment.

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chugwater's picture

July 26, 2016 at 06:54 am

The D line is the group I'm most worried about especially with the early suspensions. Let's hope the big boys are stout up front.

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TKWorldWide's picture

July 26, 2016 at 07:05 am

Hey don't worry. It doesn't help.

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chugwater's picture

July 26, 2016 at 07:39 am

Ha! That's how I'm wired. That said, I also have perspective. Every team has holes. There is no perfect roster.

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Bearmeat's picture

July 26, 2016 at 07:01 am

Since 2007? Really Corey? Look, I'm excited about this season too, but 2007's roster was nowhere near as talented as Every GB roster since 2013 has been - nor was it as talented as the 2009-2010 rosters.

2007 was a magical ride that ended predictably. That team WAY overachieved, and it showed in the thud that was 2008. Although to be fair "The-Summer-Of-Favre" had something to do with that too.

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chugwater's picture

July 26, 2016 at 07:53 am

Out of curiosity, which team roster would you say is is better: 2010 or 2016?

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Bearmeat's picture

July 26, 2016 at 08:03 am

Right now? 2016. But Raji, Bishop, Peprah, Clifton and Starks stepped up in a big way in the latter half of 2010.

Think of it this way: Those guys on 2016's roster: Clark, Martinez, Gunter, Cook, Adams. If all those guys step up - who wins the super bowl? Us. And probably a better team than 2010.

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ray nichkee's picture

July 26, 2016 at 08:07 am

I think we need to wait and see how the season unfolds but I'd say 2010 O and 2016 D is better on paper.

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Bearmeat's picture

July 26, 2016 at 08:39 am

That's funny (and awesome)... I think the exact opposite on paper. 2010 D and 2016 O.

Shows how good each team was/is. :)

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chugwater's picture

July 26, 2016 at 10:38 am

I'd say 2016 D is better. The secondary is solid from both years. Jenkins is gone, but Daniels is a worthy substitute. Clark for Raji is the big unknown. CM3 is common to both, but Peppers vs Zombo is not close at all. Both ILB corps are average.

O is marginally better in 2016 too. RB has definitely improved. Replace Jennings for Cobb. Cook is a level below Finley, but much closer than any other TE had we not signed him. (Plus Finley ended up being a non factor in 2010 anyway.)

Edge: 2016

(One could argue this is the best roster since the late 90s. I like our chances boys.)

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Bearmeat's picture

July 26, 2016 at 10:59 am

Yeah. But where's the CWood? HHCD is very good, but he's not in that box yet. Ditto Collins. Burnett is solid. Good even. But not an all pro.

2016's secondary is going to be excellent. 2010's was all world.
2016's front 7 is going to rush the passer better than 2010's did. But can it stop the run like 2010 did? YTBD.

2016's offense will be better. No question in my mind. :)

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ray nichkee's picture

July 26, 2016 at 04:54 pm

Bearmeat, I definately considered woodson and collins but in 2016 I think the sum of all positions may be better. No one can argue the depth of the 2010 D.

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RCPackerFan's picture

July 26, 2016 at 07:54 am

I really, really like this team right now. The biggest thing is they need to stay healthy.

IMO, the offense has the potential to be as good if not better then the 2011 offense. The WR's are very talented just not as experienced. But the difference is they have a bigger threat at RB.

They may not put up the numbers they did in 2011, but I think overall it could be a better more balanced offense. The key is to stay healthy and for the young WR's to take a step.

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Mario Willis's picture

July 26, 2016 at 08:09 am

Excited that football looms closer.

Our expectations and the reality that the division has caught up and coaches are locked in to beat the Packers.

Lacy's contract year will make a huge difference.

Sam Shield has become the elder statesman of the Secondary. Looking for our University of Miami connection to lead these YOUNG men into battle. If we can stop teams from dropping 20+ points a game we are looking at a Superbowl Season.

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Since'61's picture

July 26, 2016 at 08:54 am

This is a good roster as long as they remain healthy. Let's see how they get through the pre-season injury wise. The offense should be better than the 2007 or the 2010 offense but I don't think that the defense is better than 2007 or 2010, at least not yet. This team has 3 major keys for this season, 1. Stay healthy 2. Offense needs to return 2014 or better level of play and 3. Defense needs to continue to evolve, especially in big spots. If those 3 things happen we are looking at playing in February. For me the pre-season is only about the injury reports or hopefully the lack of injury reports. Thanks, Since '61

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Spock's picture

July 26, 2016 at 09:41 am

For me, I think the D has the potential to be special if the depth holds up for the early games and the new guys on D are as good as anticipated. The offense could be too (if) Ty comes back soon. I really think his injury (on top of Jordy's of course) was what sunk the offense. Until Ty went down the Pack was still chugging along on offense. Fingers crossed he can come back soon, and be able to cut like before. I think that Rodger's performance (insert Cow's assertion that he's done) was just an outlier and with a chip on his shoulder over reviews of 2015 he will have another MVP year.

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Cheesejam's picture

July 26, 2016 at 07:18 pm

Def agree Montgomery's injury changed the dynamic of the offense. Very concerned about Jordy. Problems with his other knee now? I've heard that is usually the case coming off an acl injury. Encouraged by the news about Davis though. He might surprise this year.

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EdsLaces's picture

July 26, 2016 at 09:57 am

I really hope we come out swinging against Jacksonville. It's gonna take time for our offense to start clicking again and i think our defense will have to step up big in order for us to start the season 1-0.

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Cheesejam's picture

July 26, 2016 at 07:15 pm

So if McCarthy doesn't get it done this year then what? Imo this year is make or break for him. There are no more coaches to fire and no more excuses to make. It's Superbowl or bust.

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mrj007's picture

July 27, 2016 at 03:18 pm

Too many question marks at this point. but I think a lot of this discussion assumes several things fall into place. Hopefully these 10 things happen (in order of priority):
1) Team remains healthy
2) Clark becomes a "blue" player on D-Line
3) Lacy plays like he used to
4) Nelson's impact on WR group actually has the desired effect (IE a dimension of speed)
5) Cook and Rodgers provide added dimension in passing gm over the middle
6) Barrington/Ryan/and/or rookie ILBs have an impact and improve this position
7) Team converts 3rd and 1 more than 60% of the time by virtue of improved O-Line play
8) D Jones and CM3 moves to the OLB pay off by improving the pass rush
9) D-Backs don't take a step backwards and create more turn-overs
10) Improved tackling and minimal penalties

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