The Hype Club
By Alex on Jun 30, 2010 with 21 Comments
Good ol’ Jersey Al doesn’t like the fact that everyone is hyping up the Green Bay Packers chances at a Super Bowl run in 2010. I say quit being old and bitter and enjoy it. It’s about time.
To begin, I would like to hear a rational reason as to why the Packers shouldn’t be the favorites this year? The similarities to the 1996 season are certainly there, and factoring in last years performance coupled with another year of experience, there is no reason this team shouldn’t be on the top of the odds pile. In fact, minus a clear cut Reggie White on the line, the cards look pretty much the same. A downgrade here and an upgrade there I suppose, but the pieces are most certainly in place.
As a blogger I am happy as hell. I remember the off season after 4-16 and there is no need to remind everyone exactly how not cool that was. What’s the true harm in predicting success? You can make the argument that we are setting ourselves up for a portentously colossal let down, but as Packer fans that is nothing we are not used to. It gives the team some swagger, some confidence and electrifies the fan base. Three keys to a season’s success that no one can argue with.
But, according to Al:
Although you are much wiser, certainly much older, and used a lot of big words today, I respectfully disagree. There is nothing wrong with being excited for your team, having a team that’s excited for itself and having a fan base that is semi-united for the first time in God knows how long.
You only get so many chances as a fan to have this kind of hope and energy going into a season. I say hype it up while you can. You never know what tomorrow brings.
Late addition: In a rare coincidence, Aaron Nagler agrees with me. Jot that down.
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Amen. Is this a good time to start talking about how the Packers are going undefeated this year?
Bitter? I may be older than you, Young’un (yet not AARP material yet), but not bitter. Mostly just sick of these stupid and uncreative articles I get tweeted all day. It’s funny that I spurred both you and Nagler to take umbrage almost simultaneously…
“It’s funny that I spurred both you and Nagler to take umbrage almost simultaneously…”
I think we are both enjoying the quiet this year.
word… I’ve really enjoyed the hype so far, i just hope that it’s well placed. I will say this, both our offense and defense are in a position to be the best in the league, the only other time that has happened….
you guessed it, ’96 Packers, and what did they do…?
Here’s to hope and hype, both are fine but neither feel good when they’re dashed.
My preference would always be to not draw overt attention to my team. Lay low in the weeds and surprise the rest of the league…
Alex,”having a team that’s excited for itself and having a fan base that is semi-united for the first time in God knows how long” ,where were we all in 2007?
What’s that coming from your head?Over-confidence,did you know more teams and players get killed by over-confidence every year.
MR.Miyagi said”you walk down middle of road(over confidence) you get squished” sooner or later.
I said confidence, not over confidence. Nothing wrong with feeling like you know what’s up. That never killed anyone.
As far as 2007 – the only uniting was in weeks 9 through the playoffs. After the NFC championship game there was discourse all over.
Over-confidence(not from Websters),a euphoric state of fantasy aquired by a false sense of reality to be, Walking with your eyes closed and “feeling like you know what’s up” in front of you!
This excitement is really exciting!
My thinking goes like this:
2008: Favre debacle. Team received unprecedented distraction throughout the season. It didn’t go well. But they learned something.
2009: Preseason. Hype machine at full force. It didn’t go well. They adjusted it.
2009: AZ last game: they thought they were clearly better. It didn’t go well in the first quarter against them in the playoffs. They adjusted, but too late.
2010: Every interview indicates that they have a huge chip on their shoulder. Ended the year talking about how it was their fault for not having homefield advantage.
I believe, after everything they’ve been through, they won’t let the hype go to their heads. So where’s the harm? It’s good for the fans. It’s good for the franchise.
Walk left side -safe, walk right side -safe, walk down middle with chip on shoulder-squished just like a grape. The chip seems to be flawed as it is representing HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE.So am I to assume that they feel they can’t and won’t win without it. We all know if you don’t win on the road,you don’t win anything,and if you can’t dominate at home ,why unpack your bags.
Homefield advantage represents playing strong from early on.
They identified 2 big problems last year: not living up to their identity (not making turnovers and forcing them) and starting slow. Yes, there are the “minor” problems, the drops, the RZ defense, the preparation of the backup players, the ST play. But those 2 are the focus of the team.
Plus, we all know that if that game is in Lambeau, the refs wouldn’t have screwed up so much.
Sorry but the turnover ratio was outstanding in our favor last year and is not a problem.If you said realizing a poor ability to ground out the 3rd and short ok,.Starting slow is and was the OL problem coupled with a first year learning of the 3-4 defense. As for the REFS ,in Lambeau or not,teams earn the more suspicious calls to go their way as the team and certain leader emerges and becomes recognized as a true ELITE(BRADY,MANNING,BREES,RIVERS) player and dominant team(PATS,COLTS,VIKES,SAINTS). You can expect more calls to come in a more favorable pattern for us this year.
Yes, the turnover ratio was outstanding. That was our team identity. So what happens in the AZ game? We turn the ball over 3 times, right from the start, and we only manage to get one turnover (fumble forced by Woodson). That’s what I meant.
And as far as field advantage, it’s a pretty real thing. Ask Ed Hochuli.
And those aren’t my explanations. Those are what MM and the players said, right after the AZ game.
My gut tells me; we will win it all. As he said last year and will say next year.
Frankly, I’m enjoying the hell out of this off-season so far, mainly because it echoes my feelings. There have been very few seasons I have had this confidence. The first game we lose will hurt doubly bad but losing will not become a habit with this team. They are BELIEVERS!!
I love all you guys. And I love my Greeeeeeen Baaaaaay PACKERS!!! Super Bowl XLV, here we come!
I don’t mind the hype either. It’s fun. There was plenty of hype heading into the 1996 season, and that one turned out okay. As always, the games will be won or lost on the field.
Sorry Alex going with Al on this as another older guy is telling you that this statement is pure truth ” My preference would always be to not draw overt attention to my team. Lay low in the weeds and surprise the rest of the league…”
I think that over hype can kill a team early and all this “best team” stuff needs to stop. Hard work and focus in the off season and that Eye of the tiger attitude win championships not fluff articles that for the most part lack substance and creativity.
If I remember correctly, before both the 96 and 97 seasons Sports Illustrated picked the Packers to go to the Super Bowl. Didn’t turn out so bad.