Since becoming the starter in 2008, all Rodgers has done is win a Super Bowl, win a League MVP, set league records for best passer rating in a single season, and made us all but forget who his predecessor was.

The stats over the last four years border on ridiculous, and speak for themselves:

YEAR   CMP     ATT      YDS        TD       INT       RAT

2008     341      536       4,038     28        13        93.8

2009     350      541       4,434     30        7         103.2

2010     312      475       3,922     28        11        101.2

2011     343      502       4,643     45        6          122.5

His personal expectation level is set exceptionally high, as evidenced by his comments in a recent interview at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, in which he calls himself “obsessively competitive.” Driven by a desire to do nothing but win, this has translated into a drive which can be seen as anything less than winning is unacceptable.

Fans love this obsession. We know that the Packers are in excellent hands at quarterback for years to come. And with Rodgers set at QB, and as long as Ted Thompson continues to draft to continuously replenish the roster, and Mike McCarthy continues to push the right buttons of the players, this team should be Super Bowl contenders for years to come.

But what would happen if Aaron Rodgers had a seemingly mortal year statistically? How would fans react after seeing their QB set the world on fire for the past four seasons?

Looking at the average of Rodgers’ stats since 2008, he has set a bar which could be very difficult to continue:

4,259 passing yards

33 TDs

9 ints

Those are very lofty statistics that most quarterbacks would struggle to have in one season, let alone the average of four.

So what would happen if Rodgers saw a decrease in statistical success? For nothing more than discussion sake, let’s look at a 10% decrease in his what I will term “positive stats”, using the previous four seasons as the baseline:

4,259 passing yards – 10% = 3,833 passing yards

33 TDs -10% =30 TDs

More than respectable numbers. However, if a 10% increase in interceptions was factored in, again just for the sake of discussion, the result would be 10 interceptions per year.

3,833 passing yards. 30 TDs. 10 Ints. I don’t think there is a single fan who would not take these  numbers from the reigning MVP. But would we feel the same if the rest of the offense was not able to pick up the so-called slack from Rodgers decrease in statistical success? What if it led to one or two fewer wins a season?

My point is that it is possible that Packer fans have set the bar too high for Rodgers, based on his previous success. Anything less that MVP numbers could be seen as a down year for him, and those who are quick to point out flaws in his game could have a field day, especially if the result was the Packers missing the playoffs. Every quarterback has a down year at some point in their career.

While number crunching can be an entertaining hobby, and stats continue to litter our brain for quick reference, it is not as important to me as it may be for others.  The success of a team comes from the sum of its part, not just its statistical machine of a quarterback. And as such, I don’t expect Rodgers to continue to put up the numbers he has since 2008. Not that he cannot do it-I’m just not expecting it. That way, if he did have a (gasp) sub par year but the team continued to win, I won’t feel that torment of realizing that Rodgers is what we all are: mortal.

By now, even the naysayers have begun to admit that the 2011 version of the green and gold are having a historically superior season. Sitting at 12-0, they have their foot on the gas and have begun to realize that going undefeated in the regular season is a real possibility.

But just how good of a season are the Packers having statistically? In particular, how do some of the individual statistics this year compare to other “great” Packers seasons?

This morning, I decided to dig deep into the Packers storied history and try to find some answers to these questions. The answers varied from somewhat commonly known answers to some truly

Among some of the highlights that were found were:

• The Packers will tie their team record for most regular season victories in a season of 13-and there are still 4 games left to play. I knew this was the case, but when I thought about how good the 1996, 1997, and 2007 teams were (all of them had won 13 games) it is amazing to think this years team is going to surpass that by a substantial margin one would imagine.
• Tim Masthay is .04 off the pace for setting the highest gross punt average in Packers regular season history (45.04 vs 45.0) It seems like just yesterday we were talking about the Derrick Frost disaster at this position, and now have a player challenging all time franchise greatness for a season.
• Jermichael Finley 215 yards from breaking Paul Coffman’s record for most receiving yards for a Packers TE in a season-with 4 games to play. While Finley may not be having the off the charts dominating season many expected, it has been anything but a bust. While some may say that he is overrated, others may say that he is underperforming. Whatever your view is, a tight end with 600 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns twelve weeks into the season is nothing to complain about.
• Randall Cobb has the highest kickoff return average for the Packers since 2003 with 27.6 yards per return. Even this number is misleading. If you take away the 31.6 yard average Najeh Davenport had in 2003 on 16 returns, Cobb has the highest kickoff return average for the Packers since 1971. Think about that-40 years since the kickoff return was considered a weapon for the Packers. And now they have a legitimate threat at the position for years to come.
• Randall Cobb’s 11.9 yards per punt return the highest for the Packers since Desmond Howard averaged 15.1 in 1996. Anytime your name is mentioned with Desmond Howard and the season for the ages he had in 1996, you know it is something special. As was the case with kickoff returns, Cobb has turned the return game into a weapon for the Packers for the next decade.
• Aaron Rodgers is just 615 yards from breaking Lynn Dickey’s  team record for passing yards in a season-with 4 games to play. If you never saw Lynn Dickey play, you missed out. The high flying offense the Packers incorporated in the early 1980′s was scary. Consider that Dickey’s record of 4,458 yards was set in 1983. His record has stood the test of time for the last 28 years, surviving the entire Favre era and the beginning of Rodgers reign in Green Bay. There is a reason that Dickey had to throw so much-his defense was non existent that season, giving up 439 points. They had to throw to keep up with their opponents. Rodgers on the other hand is doing it with pinpoint accuracy, rather than just pass attempts. Competing 70.6% of his passes compared to Dickey’s 59,7% in 1983, 37 touchdowns already compared to Dickey’s 32, and you begin to understand just how good of a season Rodgers is having. One final stat to consider: Dickey threw 29 interceptions that year-Rodgers has thrown a total of five. When the chapter closes on the 2011 season, Aaron Rodgers will have had the greatest season a quarterback has ever had in the 92 year history of the Green Bay Packers. And there are still four games left to play.

It was fun to dive into the Packers statistical history to try and fully understand just how good of a season they are having. While some are having a sensational start to a career, others are having career defining seasons, and doing so in the midst of an undefeated season. The focus is on the bigger picture for the team, but sometimes the individual stats are just as much fun to watch.

My name is Globalpack.  I can’t break down film and I am not going to spend hours watching the combine, so I can’t really give you a great opinion article.  However, I can learn the rules, research the past and use Excel.  So please enjoy a comprehensive statistical look at the draft picks of Ted Thompson.

I read a very interesting analysis of the 2004 draft.  As you may recall, that was the last draft Mike Sherman was ever at the helm for.  If you are lucky, you don’t remember how ugly it was.  It got me wondering, what exactly has Ted Thompson done while he has been at the helm with the five drafts that he has been in charge of.

Ted Thompson has made fifty one draft picks in five drafts.  This is the most picks of any team over that period.  Tennessee is second with forty nine.  The average team has made forty picks.  Minnesota and the Jets are tied for last with thirty one.  Eighteen of the picks were in the top half (5/8/5) and thirty three were in the bottom half (8/8/9/8).  Twenty eight have been on offense (10 top half/18 bottom half), twenty two have been on defense (8/14) and one was a special teams player (Mason Crosby).

Of these fifty one draft picks, thirty one of these players are still on the roster, nineteen have been cut/not tendered and one was traded.  Twelve are starters[1] and three are pro-bowlers.[2] Only three of eleven remain from the 2005 draft.[3] Six of the twelve remain from the 2006 draft.[4] Eight of eleven remain from the 2007 class.[5] Fifteen of seventeen remain from the 2008 and 2009 class.[6]

As you are all aware, Ted Thompson loves him some wide receivers.  Ted has drafted eight wide receivers.  That is part of a three way tie for second with linebackers and defensive backs.  These groups are only behind offensive lineman (10), however as will be discussed below, not all that glitters is gold.  Ted has focused on wide receivers more in the top half of the draft (4),[7] than any other position.[8]

Many fans criticize Ted Thompson for not having the LT of the future on the roster.  At least it has been for a lack of trying.  Ted has given barely any attention to offensive linemen during the top half of the draft.[9] Ted has expended the same number of top half draft picks on quarterbacks as he has offensive linemen.[10] Additionally, Ted has only used one first or second round draft pick on an offensive lineman, a distinction that the O-line only shares with running backs (Jackson).   Tight end is the only position group with no first or second round draft picks used on it.

On the other end of the spectrum, Ted has used four of his five first round draft picks on linebackers and defensive linemen.[11] Along the same note, the only two times Ted has traded up was to select a linebacker.[12]

However, I’m sure that at some level you all knew this information.  So, I’ll try and leave you with some information that you didn’t know.  Ted Thompson does not have success in the fifth round.  Of Ted’s eight fifth round picks, only two are still on the team.[13] That means a measly 25% of fifth rounders still contribute.[14] Additionally, it is the only round that doesn’t have a starter.  Even 38% of seventh rounders are still on the roster and have starter representation.[15] In contrast, Ted has outshined with his sixth round picks.  Six of nine are still on the roster and two start.[16]

As you can tell, there was no real opinion to this piece.  Like, Joe Friday, just the facts.  Hopefully, you’ve enjoyed my dry recitation of data.

[1] For the purposes of this post, the starters are: Clifton, Colledge, Wells, Sitton, Tauscher, Finley, Jennings, Driver, Jones, Rodgers, Grant, Jenkins, Pickett, Jolly, Matthews, Hawk, Barnett, Jones, Harris, Bigby, Collins and Woodson.

[2] Matthews, Rodgers and Collins.

[3] Rodgers, Collins, Poppinga.

[4] Hawk, Colledge, Jennings, Spitz, Blackmon and Jolly.

[5] Harrell, Jackson, James Jones, Barbre, Hall, Bishop and Crosby.

[6] Brohm (2008) and Merideth (2009) are current Buffalo Bills.

[7] Terrence Murphy (2005), Gregg Jennings (2006), James Jones (2007) and Jordy Nelson (2008).

[8] Linebackers and defensive backs are tied for second with three each.

[9] Colledge (2^nd Rounder) and Spitz (3^rd Rounder).

[10] Rodgers (2005 1^st Round) and Brohm (2008 2^nd Round).

[11] Hawk (2006), Harrell (2007), Raji (2009) and Matthews (2009).

[12] Thompson (2008) and Matthews (2009).

[13] Breno Giacomini and Quinn Johnson.

[14] Two fifth rounders never even made the squad once.  David Clowney (2007) and James Merideth (2009).

[15] Eight picks, remaining are Matt Flynn, Brett Swain and Brad Jones.

[16] Johnny Jolly, Korey Hall, Desmond Bishop, Mason Crosby, Jarius Wynn and Brandon Underwood.