Author: Ticket King Wisconsin

The Green Bay Packers had about as well documented of a 7-9 season of any team who finished a year with that record in recent memory. The broken collarbone of Aaron Rodgers, which exposed the flaws in this organization, and the performance of backup quarterback Brett Hundley, all led to the franchise making massive changes up and down the organization. Here is the rundown of the major personnel changes for 2018.

Brian Gutekunst/General Manager– The highest profile change came first when Mark Murphy relieved longtime general manager Ted Thompson of his duties and replaced him with the Packers best scout, Brian Gutekunst. He has been with the Packers for 20 years as a scout, and then became director of player personnel for the last two years. Most people wanted Eliot Wolf, the prodigal son of Ron Wolf as the new general manager. However, if you look at the whole scope of this, Gutekunst is the better choice. He is 10 years older than Wolf, and unlike Wolf, he has both played and coached football, which he did for his alma mater, Wisconsin-La Crosse. From what we hear, Gutekunst is going to be more aggressive than his predecessor.

John Wojciechowski/Director of Player Personnel– Replacing Gutekunst in his old position is John Wojciechowski, who begins his sixth season with this Packers. Prior to joining the Packers, he spent time with the Cowboys, Jaguars, and Steelers organizations.

Joe Philbin/Offensive Coordinator- Perhaps the favorite hire of them all was Joe Philbin who returns to the Packers after spending three seasons as the Dolphins head coach and two seasons after that with the Colts. Philbin didn’t work out as a head coach so do not expect him to leave so soon this time. This is a great hire. When Philbin was here this offense, and team in general, was at its best.

Frank Cignetti Jr./Quarterbacks Coach– Brett Hundley was Alex Van Pelt’s project, so obviously Van Pelt should have, and did, take the blame for Hundley’s play. Replacing Van Pelt is Frank Cignetti Jr., who comes to the Packers with nearly 30 years of coaching experience, most of it with quarterbacks. He has been all over the place in both college and the NFL, having a proven track record at both levels. This is not a sexy hire, but a great one nevertheless.

Jim Hostler/Pass Game Coordinator– The Packers created new titles on both sides of the ball for run and pass game coordinators. This was to give extra focus on each area of the game on both sides of the ball. Hostler will work with wide receivers coach David Raih as well as Philbin to keep the passing game in sync. Hostler has nearly 30 years of coaching experience, most with tight ends and wide receivers.

Mike Pettine/Defensive Coordinator– Most of the coaching changes came on defense, most notably with the play caller. Pettine comes to the Packers having formerly served as the Browns head coach for two seasons and spent last season with the Seahawks. Pettine has never been in charge of an NFL defense that finished lower than ninth, a stat that should comfort Packers fans for the moment.

Patrick Graham/Run Game Coordinator/Inside Linebackers– Graham comes to the Packers after serving for the last two seasons as the Giants defensive line coach, and before that he spent five seasons in New England mostly as the linebackers coach. The Packers want their inside linebackers to get more aggressive, which is what Graham teaches.

Joe Philbin spent most of the 2000’s as a Packers assistant coach, rising to become their offensive coordinator in 2007. About those aforementioned exciting game plans and unstoppable offenses, he put those together, including that immortal 2011 offense. There is more to the story. Along with then quarterbacks coach Tom Clements, Philbin trained Aaron Rodgers. He also trained Matt Flynn. So clearly, he has a track record of training quarterbacks. Following that 2011 season, he left to become the head coach of the Miami Dolphins. That really didn’t work out. Some coaches are great in lower level, or very specific coaching roles. Others just don’t have what it takes to be a head coach. This was the case for Philbin, and he was fired after three seasons in Miami. After Philbin left, the Packers offense became stale and predictable, leaning on Aaron Rodgers to bail them out. So after serving as an assistant coach with the Colts the last two seasons, McCarthy brought Philbin home late last week. I don’t think I could possibly like this decision anymore than I do. Joe Philbin brings out the best in Mike McCarthy, and maybe likewise. When he was in Green Bay, Philbin had the type of relationship with both Thompson and McCarthy that allowed him to be frank, when it came to certain players. As stated at the top of the piece, both Edgar Bennett and Alex Van Pelt were fired. That is mainly because Brett Hundley was their project, and we can all agree that the results were pretty much a disaster. I believe the Brett Hundley story would have gone differently had Philbin been here the whole time. Either Hundley would have been more prepared, and the Packers would have picked up the extra win or two needed to get to the playoffs, or the following would have happened instead.

Prior to the 2015 NFL Draft, the Packers were looking to grab and develop their next “great” backup quarterback. This is a franchise with a long list of solid bench warmers – Ty Detmer, Mark Brunell, Aaron Brooks, Matt Hasselbeck, Doug Pederson, and Matt Flynn. When Brett Hundley fell to into their lap in round five, it looked like a steal, and he was next in line. After all, he looks the part of a great NFL quarterback. 6’3”, 230 pounds, big strong hands perfect for gripping a football, a big arm, and natural athleticism that most people dream about. He definitely has “a five million dollar body, and a million dollar arm,” as I have said in the past. However, he showed us this season that he’s lacking in areas that will probably never change for the better. There are basic concepts that any NFL quarterback needs to understand on day one that he clearly does not. We can forget all about those lucrative trade rumors surrounding Hundley at the start of the season. Those are long gone. He will probably latch on with another team for a stint in training camp after his time in Green Bay, but he will fade out of the league in a couple of years.

If Philbin were running the offense the entire time, I don’t think Hundley would have ever been a Green Bay Packer. Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy were so excited with the prospect of grabbing what they thought was raw talent, one that had the makings of a great back up to Rodgers, and possible starter for another team. They trusted Bennett and Van Pelt, when the pair gave Thompson the green light to pick him up.  

The general manager and the head coach don’t get to focus on minute details like their assistants do. I firmly believe that Joe Philbin and Tom Clements would have caught those deficiencies in their pre-draft film sessions and interviews, and then told Thompson and McCarthy to pass on Hundley.  So yes, the bringing back of Joe Philbin fixes half the problem. And no, they should not bring back Tom Clements. He doesn’t have the energy or desire to coach anymore, but I trust Philbin to tell McCarthy who he wants as his quarterbacks coach.

Now for the other half of the problem. That defense. Yeah. That defense has been mocked, laughed at, made fun of, and ridiculed by non-Packers fans over the last four seasons. Finally, and mercifully, Mike McCarthy made the change, firing Dom Capers. McCarthy called on Mike Pettine, who comes off the Rex Ryan tree of knowledge. Ryan invented the modern NFL defensive style, and this change needed to happen. Dom Capers runs what is called the 3-4 zone stunt blitz defense. The basic concept is to sit back, play zone coverage, and stunt blitz on the line of scrimmage, to both stop the run game, and pressure the quarterback. When the West Coast Offense was first created by Bill Walsh in the 80’s, defenses had no answer. The original concept of the West Coast offense is run the ball, throw it vertical to the wide receivers, and throw the halfback screen. Dick Lebeau and Dom Capers invented the 3-4 zone stunt blitz in Pittsburgh as the answer. When played right, the 3-4 zone stunt blitz is the ultimate kryptonite to the original West Coast offense. It cuts off the vertical routes, forces a change in the running game, and when the quarterback is forced to hang onto the ball for an extra half a second, it helps provide needed pressure, and throws off timing.

There’s just one problem. Nobody plays the original version of the West Coast offense anymore. Mike McCarthy should know this. When the Packers hired him in January of 2006, he sat in the room with Joe Philbin and he took the original concept of the West Coast offense, and invented the exciting modern offensive football that we all enjoy watching today. In this day and age, quarterbacks are too intelligent, too precise, and too quick with their releases for the zone blitz. Yes, quarterback throwing motions and releases are much quicker these days. They coach young quarterbacks to use as little arm movement as possible, don’t wind up, snap the wrist as much as possible, get the ball out with blazing speed. When the Packers had the great 2010 defense that led them to the Super Bowl, there were still teams running the older version of the West Coast to hide it. However, as teams switched to the modern style invented by McCarthy, Capers’ system was shown to be past its prime. To be honest, Capers should have been fired following that debacle in San Francisco in the divisional playoff round in 2013. But they hung onto him for another five years. Fan could be angry about it, but what’s done is done. Let us instead focus on what’s next.

So what does Mike Pettine bring to the Green Bay Packers? He’s learned that an aggressive defense is the way to go these days. Pettine has never coordinated an NFL defense than finished lower than ninth in the league. This is a great hire. During the early stages of the hunt for new coaches, the Packers scared us. In the end, I think that they made the right choices for their GM, and both of their coordinators. Because of these decisions, we will see a much different Mike McCarthy in 2018, hopefully the “real Mike McCarthy.” 

On October 15^th against the Vikings, Packers “All-World” quarterback Aaron Rodgers broke his collarbone, and would not return until December 17^th against the Panthers, losing that game. The Rodgers injury exposed the flaws within this organization, as the Packers finished below .500 for the just the third time since 1991. This injury brought about an off-season of change that was long overdue. Ted Thompson was reassigned to finish out his contract, and will retire at the end of next season. Longtime defensive coordinator Dom Capers, offensive coordinator Edgar Bennett, quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt, defensive line coach Mike Trgovac, and inside linebackers coach Scott McCurley were all fired or did not have their contracts renewed. The Packers organization is also hoping that most of the rest of their remaining assistants leave to pursue other opportunities. They have already hired a new GM, Brian Guteknust, and settled on a defensive coordinator, Mike Pettine. To make sense of all of this, we called upon our insightful in-house analyst T.J. Bryce to give us his opinion.  

For some of you that have been lucky enough to have experienced it, you might want to think back at the time when you had ridden on Disney’s Space Mountain, the fast-paced indoor roller coaster attraction at the Magic Kingdom. It is a fast-paced, thrilling fun ride, in the dark, so you don’t see what’s ahead of you. All you feel is the very real sensation of going up and down.

Actually, every Packers fan in the world has been on that ride since week one back in September. We finally got off the ride, two nights ago at about 8:30 p.m. U.S. Central time, when the Packers announced Mike Pettine would be their new defensive coordinator. Before proverbial “ride” started, the first five weeks of the season went as expected. After their thrilling comeback in Dallas, 2017 had the makings of a very special season. But the very next week that broken collarbone changed not only the Packers season, but the landscape for most of the league. In the days following the news Aaron Rodgers would likely miss the remainder of the season, the roller coaster ride took a sharp turn. For about a month, it stayed like that. But then strange things started to happen. The Wild Card contenders in the NFC started to lose. The Packers pulled off minor miracles two weeks in a row, in overtime, against the Buccaneers and the Browns. The Browns overtime win was perhaps less than a miracle, but more a product of quite possibly the dumbest decision an NFL quarterback has made in recent memory. That’s when DeShone Kizer decided to launch the ball straight up in the air on third down, on his team’s one and only overtime possession.

The stage was set, and the roller coaster ride took another sharp exciting turn. Aaron Rodgers “Sat Up,” just as The Undertaker has in many a match over his near 30-year career in the WWE. Rodgers came off injured reserve and started in Carolina. Three interceptions later, the roller coaster ride took a nosedive. The very next night, Buccaneers kicker Patrick Murray’s kick went wide right against Atlanta, and the Packers missed the playoffs for the first time since the second Bush administration. The following day, Rodgers went back onto injured reserve (with a few barks from other teams regarding protocol,) and the hapless Packers lost their last two games, finishing below .500 for just the third time in recent memory. Those last two games were “auto pilot” games for most of the players, and it showed.

After the Packers embarrassed themselves in Detroit in week 17, fans were all geared up for change. It really didn’t happen at first, and the roller coaster ride took another noise dive. Ted Thompson showed no indication of pushing Mike McCarthy make any changes, and McCarthy took “forever” to decide to finally fire Dom Capers. The way they went about it, is what I believe to be the last straw for the “higher ups” in the organization. For a good 36 hours after the Lions game was over, they were acting as if it was no big deal, nothing happened, the ship was not sinking, and everything’s fine. They fired Capers, and then basically said they would replace him when they got around to it, possibly with an assistant.

That is when Mark Murphy said “Enough is enough.” and the roller coaster ride took an exciting turn for the better. Murphy marched into Thompson’s office Monday night and told him he was being relieved of his GM duties, effective immediately. This kicked McCarthy into gear, and in the following days he fired most of his coaching staff, including both coordinators, and many of his assistants. But then the roller coaster ride took another turn for the worse. Murphy seemed determined to name the Packers cap manager and contract negotiator Russ Ball the new general manager, because of their past relationship, and because Thompson told him too. Of course Thompson would want Ball to get the nod. If things took a turn for the better, he could still take the credit. The fan base wanted Eliot Wolf, the prodigal son of Ron Wolf, the man who brought the Packers out of the basement and into prosperity in the 90’s. None of this mattered, because Brian Guteknust “wowed” in his interview, and the Packers chose their best scout as their next GM. Crisis avoided. Having their cap manager as their GM would have been an EPIC mistake. Your GM should be your best scout, not a financial guy. At first, I wanted Wolf, but then I realized, Guteknust is 10 years older than Wolf, and unlike Wolf, he has played and coached football before becoming a scout. From what we understand, he is going to be more aggressive than his predecessor in player acquisition, not just (in my opinion) over-relying on draft choices. That is the change they needed. With that settled, the attention turned back to the coaching staff.

I have been calling for McCarthy to be fired since the middle of the 2015 season. After the decisions he has made this off season, and the way the rest of the coaching market has unfolded, I’m not so sure anymore. My two (realistic) choices to replace him were Jim Harbaugh and Jon Gruden. I thought either one would just jump at the chance to coach the Green Bay Packers and a healthy Aaron Rodgers in 2018. I was wrong. Jim Harbaugh said he was not ready to return to the NFL, and the Raiders threw stupid money at Jon Gruden. The raiders spent 100 million dollars for a coach. Let that sink in. There is no way in their right mind the Packers should even consider trying to match that. Aside from those two, there really aren’t any coaches out there who would be considered to be an upgrade for this upcoming season, especially after the decisions McCarthy made in the hiring department.

As I’ve told a few select people recently, we have the tale of two Mike McCarthy’s. The Mike McCarthy of the last few years has been a lifeless, emotionless, predictable coach. I want the real Mike McCarthy back. The original Mike McCarthy. Mike McCarthy, is a brilliant, innovative, unpredictable genius, with exciting but balanced game plans, running an unstoppable offense, and a man who knows exactly what button to push, at what time, with each player. When the real Mike McCarthy walked the Packers sideline, all of those traits were apparent. You know who made it all go? A man named Joe Philbin. We’ll stop right here, and return to this subject next week.  

We have just one game left in the college football season, and it is an all-SEC National Championship between Alabama and Georgia. The Las Vegas books give the edge to Alabama, although that could flip here in the final 24 hours. Right now, they are giving Alabama a four-point edge. Putting the betting side, let’s get into some real analysis.

The Georgia Bulldogs are definitely not supposed to be here. They beat a heavily favored Oklahoma Team on New Year’s Day, led by their Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield, in a wild game. The Bulldogs are led by a good defense, and on the other side of the ball with an elite running back. The leader of that backfield is Nick Chubb, who ran for 1,320 yards and 15 touchdowns this season. Behind him is Sony Michel, who ran 1,129 yards and 16 touchdowns. They also have a third running back, a freshman named D’Andre Swift who ran for 603 yards and three touchdowns this season. The real story with this team is their quarterback, Jacob Fromm. Just a true freshman, Fromm is considered a future number one overall draft choice, and was supposed to redshirt this season. Due to injuries, he got the job, and has had a marvelous season. Fromm threw for 2,383 yards, 23 touchdowns, and five interceptions. He took the job, never looked back, and solidified that future number one draft choice even more. The countdown is on to 2020, when he will be draft eligible.

On the flip side, you have the flagship program in college football, the powerhouse Alabama Crimson Tide. Unlike the Bulldogs, they were supposed to be here all season, and until getting taken out to the woodshed and whacked by Auburn on Thanksgiving weekend, they were the number one team all season. Due to a crazy last couple of weeks, The Tide snuck into the playoffs as the fourth team, and beat Clemson last week to advance. As previously stated, they are the favorites heading into tonight. They are led by their elite defense, and sophomore quarterback Jalen Hurts, who has lost just twice so far in his career. Damien Harris led the way with 983 yards and 11 touchdowns this season on the ground. Hurts added 808 yards and 8 touchdowns. Final Score: 31-20 Alabama

It’s that time of year again! The Milwaukee Brewers have announced their 2018 promotional games and giveaways. On April 22, all fans will receive an Eric Thames bobble-head. For Sunday May 6, the first 20,000 fans will receive a Brewers lightweight hoodie. May 25, the first 20,000 fans will receive a Brewers hat.

Up next are a few interesting and unique items fans might want to get in line for. First, on May 27, all fans will receive a “Travis Shaw Mayor of Ding Dong City” bobble-head. Next on June 17 the first 20,000 fans will receive a “Mini Replica Bullpen Car.” On June 24, all fans will receive a Gauntlet bobble-head. For the game on July 2, the first 10,000 fans age 21 or over will get a wall flag.

On July 8, all fans will receive a Robin Yount replica jersey from the 1970’s, so don’t miss out on that one. After that we have two more unique items. First a “Ryan Braun Starting Lineup” figurine on July 22. Two weeks later, on August 5, maybe the most unique, bizarre, and fun item of the season. All fans will receive a “Bob Uecker Talking Bottle Opener.” In September all kids will get a puzzle cube on the 9^th. To finish out the promotions First 10,000 fans will get a hat on the 15^th, and on the 16^th the first 20,000 fans will get a Crew neck sweatshirt. There are plenty of chances for fans to get out to the ballpark in 2018. We hope to see you there!

Longtime great country music signer Kenny Chesney is coming to Miller Park on April 28, 2018. This tour stop is part of the “Trip Around The Sun” in 2018, which is scheduled to begin April 21 in Tampa, Florida. The Miller Park show will then be the second stop on his tour. Following the Miller Park concert, Chesney will head for Minneapolis on May 5, before heading south for shows in Texas. On May 17^th he will be in Woodlands at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. Two days later he will be at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. The tour will finish with back-to-back performances at Gillette Stadium on Boston on the 24^th and 25^thof August. Opening for Chesney on this tour will be the likes of Thomas Rhett, Old Dominion, and Brandon Lay.

Since his career began back in 1994, Chesney has recorded 20 albums, 14 of which have been certified Gold. His most recent Album, Cosmic Halleluiah, released in March of 2016, topped out at number one on the country charts and sold 235,000 copies. The interesting aspect of Chesney’s career is that unlike many musicians in his position who burst onto the scene, his career started out like many struggling artists. His first two albums failed to make it onto any notable lists, and it wasn’t until his fifth album that he cracked the top five on the country music charts. As the decade turned to the 2000’s, his career went from average to incredible. His last nine albums have topped out at number one on the country charts.

On “Conference Championship Saturday,” the Wisconsin Badgers dream season came to a halt. They entered the Big Ten title game unbeaten, taking on Ohio State, a team that already had two losses on the year. After an injury scare the week before, Buckeye quarterback and NFL draft prospect J.T. Barrett was deemed fit to play, and he certainly did. He wasn’t great, but he did just enough. The Buckeyes got a big night from running back J.K. Dobbins, to the tune of 17 carries for 174 yards with a long of 77. The same question that always haunts the Badgers is the same question that took them out of the college football playoff in this game- They pad their record against inferior opponents, and every time (or almost every time,) they play a good team, they wind up losing. That was the case again this time. The Badgers then missed out on the college football playoff, and will play in the Orange Bowl on December 30 against Miami. The question that faces the Badgers is the same question that they always face when they step outside of conference to play a team in Florida, the SEC, or a California-based PAC-12 team. Do they have enough speed as a team to keep up with their opponent?  

Final Score: 34-27 Miami.

Let’s take a look at the other Big Ten bowl games.

Pinstripe Bowl – Iowa vs. Boston College

Another year, and another solid season for the Hawkeyes, who finished 7-5. Boston College, after an abysmal 2016 campaign, came back from the dead this season, finishing 7-5. It should be a low scoring, but solid game.

Final Score: 20-16 Iowa.

Holiday Bowl, – Michigan State vs. Washington State

Man, these Holiday Bowl matchups are always so much fun, and this edition will be no different. In this one we have the powerhouse Washington State offense vs the mighty Spartan defense. Who budges first? 

Final Score: 27-24 Michigan State

Music City Bowl – Northwestern vs. Kentucky

Of all of the Big Ten bowl games, this one should be one of the least interesting. This is one of Pat Fitzgerald’s best Northwestern teams ever, and it features a quarterback draft prospect named Clayton Thorson who has come flying out of nowhere to a potential first round projection.

Final Score: 34-17 Northwestern

Cotton Bowl, USC vs. Ohio State

This game is going to be a classic. The top overall prospect on the board, USC quarterback Sam Darnold goes up against Ohio State. J.T. Barrett isn’t too shabby in his own right, and this game will give him an opportunity build his own draft stock.

Final Score: 31-28 USC

Fiesta Bowl  – Washington vs. Penn State

This is going to be another classic. Washington quarterback Jake Browning, another in this loaded quarterback draft class, gets one more chance to improve his draft stock against Penn State, who features the best running back in the country, Saquon Barkley, who is currently projected to go second in the draft behind USC’s Sam Darnold.

Final Score: 30-24 Washington

Outback Bowl, Michigan vs. South Carolina

Simply put, these two teams are going to beat each other into an oblivion in this game, and points will be at a premium.

Final Score: 16-13 Michigan

It’s December here in Wisconsin, and for sports fans, that means Badgers football is coming down the stretch, Badgers basketball is in full swing, the young and talented Milwaukee Bucks are off to a solid start. And of course, there are the Milwaukee Admirals, considered to be one of the better minor league sports teams in the country, known for its fan experience and atmosphere. Let’s have a little “water cooler” talk on all of them.

The Wisconsin Badgers football team is having another fine season. To this point they are 12-0, unbeaten, and headed for a showdown with the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Big 10 Championship game this weekend. If the Badgers win, they will be in the college football playoffs. If not, they still have an outside chance, but a very slim one. It all comes down to what the committee thinks. The Badgers, as usual, are led by a strong running game. Running back Jonathan Taylor is third in the country with 1,806 rushing yards at the moment. They also have yet another great defense, which has only let Northwestern (with quarterback Clayton Thorson who is considered as a possible top-two round draft choice next May,) score over 20 points on them this season. They will need both Taylor and that stout defense to come out on top Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Badgers basketball team, which has been one of the best in the country the last few years, is not expected to have as good of a season as their last few. They currently sit at 3-4, and have lost to those four games to ranked teams. Their three wins came against South Carolina State, Yale, and Milwaukee. Still, they have plenty of time to prove the doubters wrong.

The Milwaukee Bucks are off to a 10-9 start this season. There have been some ups, some downs, and currently holding the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, although it’s very early. They need to find a way to squeeze out a few more points per game. They currently stand with the fourth lowest scoring offense in the Eastern Conference, at 102.9 points per game. This number puts them as the worst of the current playoff contenders. They can’t ask anything more of the likes of Giannis or Khris Middleton. Maybe someone off that bench, such as Thon Maker or John Henson, can give them a few more points per game.

If you are looking for an outing with some family or friends, but you are on a budget, the Milwaukee Admirals might be just the ticket for you. The team is off to a good start this season. They currently sit at 11-8, good for second place in the AHL’s Central Division. The Admirals haven’t scored a ton of goals, but they haven’t given up a ton either. They are currently tied for the AHL’s seventh-best defense, with just 53 goals allowed. Their roster currently features some promising young talent, such as 20-year-old Russian Yakov Trenin, 20-year-old winger Anthony Richard, and 21-year-old defensemen Jack Dougherty.

Tonight the Packers return from a welcome bye week and host the Lions at Lambeau Field. This will be the second start for quarterback Brett Hundley, who took over for an injured Aaron Rodgers three weeks ago in Minnesota. Depending on how the Packers play, Hundley could be the quarterback for the rest of the season. Here is our preview.

Brett Hundley– In his first career start against the Saints, Hundley showed flashes of his natural talent, especially when Mike McCarthy was creative in his play calling. He also looked a bit lost, and repeatedly failed to see open receivers in that first start. Having Aaron Rodgers in the building from this point forward will be a boost to the entire team, but especially Hundley. Hundley needs to play better, with consistency, for the entire game.

Mike McCarthy- McCarthy also needs to be much better tonight. McCarthy’s play calling was great in the first half. He mixed it up, he got creative, and the Packers ran the ball. Hundley benefited from the fact that the Packers consistently moved the ball down the field the entire first half. But in the second half, McCarthy reverted back to his “base 22” offensive scheme. It’s a conservative style of play calling that he is known to ask for at times. It’s basically meant to clear the way for Rodgers to see the field and respond based on the defense. However this is Brett Hundley, not Aaron Rodgers. He needs to ditch base 22 for the rest of the season.  

Aaron Jones– The first month of the season, Jones was sitting on the bench. Now he is a fantasy football superstar. Jones needs to keep running with the same authority he has the last few games. The Packers may have found their long-term solution at running back.

Defense- The Packers defense has been playing better the last few weeks, and getting healthier at the same time. If this team is going to survive, and give themselves a chance for Rodgers to return to the lineup in December, they need all hands on deck. The defense needs to keep up its recent performance.

How the Packers win: The Packers have a shot at a win because this Lions defense is bad, and badly banged up at the moment. Aaron Jones would need to run for over 150 yards, and Brett Hundley needs to take care of the football, all game long. Mike McCarthy will improve his play calling and the Packers will win.

How the Packers could lose: This is a team that is designed to be led to victory by great quarterback play. You can’t just switch a team’s playing style mid-season and expect it to work flawlessly. This team is not used to the Hundle

The Green Bay Packers were 4-1 entering the NFC North showdown in Minnesota against the Vikings. With the way the rest of the NFC is, or was playing at that moment, the Packers appeared to be taking control of the NFC as they got healthier. And then one play changed everything.

When Aaron Rodgers broke his collarbone, the football world was stunned. The anger vented by many Packers fans in the following moments was understandable. Rodgers himself had expressed his frustration regarding the matter. Every “expert” on the planet was quick to pronounce the Packers season as “over” which could be true, depending on how Brett Hundley plays. The general consensus right now is that this is the worst thing in the world that has ever happened to the Packers. However, now that the dust has settled, our in-house analyst T.J. Bryce doesn’t see it that way. The following is his take on the Packers’ future.

Pain. Anger. Rage. Resentment. Frustration. Sadness. Sorrow. Depression. These are some of the many emotions that were flying around in the moments following the devastating diagnosis that Aaron Rodgers had a broken collarbone, and would in all likelihood miss the rest of the season. As my emotions began to settle down in the coming days, I was able to fully process what had happened. Then I examined the full scope of the situation, and it hit me, this is not going to be the worst thing to happen to the Packers in the long haul. In fact, in its own unique way, it may be a good thing.

At this point, let me clear up some possible confusion. How can Aaron Rodgers breaking his collarbone not be the worst thing to happen to the Packers? And for that matter, how can it be a good thing?

Aaron Rodgers has said he would like to play until he is 40, just like Peyton Manning did, just like Tom Brady has. I have always questioned that. Playing until you are 40 is more about your style of play than it is about your skill to begin with. Both Brady and Manning have been able to do this because of their style of play. Neither one of them relied on natural athletic ability like Rodgers does to be successful. Neither one of them has taken the pounding that Rodgers has. In fact, Peyton Manning was the master of the “self sack,” meaning that if he realized a sack was inevitable, he would take a slide and once he does the play is over, he can’t be touched, rather than take an unnecessary hit. In comparison, Rodgers could have six pass rushers coming at him and he would still be thinking “How can in the world can I get out of this and still make a play?”

For 10 years we have raved about Aaron Rodgers’ skill set, and his great ability to make miraculous escapes and still make plays. His ability to combine incredible arm strength with lethal precision. How well he takes care of the football, despite putting up absurd numbers. At the same time, for as great as this is, it also comes with a price, and this style of play exposes him to many a potential injury. Let’s face it, because after all, it’s pretty much a fact, Aaron Rodgers is not exactly the most durable quarterback ever. This is now his third major injury, his second broken collarbone, he has had two concussions, and has a history of hamstring issues. Oh yeah, he is going to be 34-years-old in December and is not getting any younger.

What am I getting at? It is time for the Packers to face reality. As I stated before, I have never believed for a moment Rodgers would play until he is 40. All of these injuries have probably taken a year off of his career. This latest collarbone injury, because of its severity and the fact that it is on his throwing shoulder, probably took another year off of his career. So where does that leave us? I say he’s got just three to four years left on his career. The math lines up perfectly.

It’s time for the Packers to pick Aaron Rodgers successor. We’ve been down this road before with this franchise. Don’t pretend like you don’t know what I’m talking about. We all remember the Favre retirement debacle and it still gives fans headaches to this day, just thinking about it. But that was then, and this is now. To be honest, I think we have all learned from that experience. This time around, it should be far more formal, more civilized, and much more peaceful for everybody involved. Also, think about this. Like a shining light from the sky, the Packers now get to pick Aaron Rodgers successor, with the deepest quarterback draft class in history at their disposal.

You thought the 1983 NFL draft was loaded with quarterbacks. You thought the 1998 draft was loaded as well. We haven’t seen anything like this, ever. Depending on which draft board you look at, there could are as many as 14 (count them,) quarterbacks worthy of being selected in the first two rounds. Who are these top draft picks? Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen, Josh Allen, Mason Rudolph, Lamar Jackson, Luke Falk, Baker Mayfield, Jake Browning, Ryan Finley, Jarrett Stidham, Quinton Flowers, J.T. Barrett, Riley Ferguson, and Clayton Thorson. That many QB’s up for grabs is absurd. This could change, depending on who declares himself eligible for the draft, and who doesn’t. It also comes down to which players continue to impress and who the scouts like/don’t like, but right now, this is how the next draft class looks. If the Packers contend with Hundley, okay. But I don’t see that happening. So, this is going to allow them to be in a high enough position to begin the draft that they can make sure they get the guy they want to replace Rodgers. The Packers are also expected to receive four compensation selections for the 2018 draft, and they also could trade Randall Cobb for a pair of draft choices. That would give them 13 selections at the start of the draft, which means if they wanted to go up to get the guy they want, they could do so with ease. They are not getting Sam Darnold from USC. He will go first overall. But every other quarterback is on the table. So which ones could fit?

Josh Rosen/UCLA– He is the second quarterback on most boards. He has great mechanics and a big arm. However, he is not a scrambler by any means. Think Joe Flacco here, with a much better attitude.

Lamar Jackson/Louisville- He may be the most electrifying player in college football, and Jackson has skills that most great quarterbacks dream of. A superb athlete to begin with, Jackson has an arm like few others, with the ability to make throws that nobody else can. However, there are serious questions about his size, and whether or not he is nothing more than the next Michael Vick, which in this era, may not translate to the NFL. He is considered a long-range prospect, which is in the Packers favor, and he could play while he develops.

Baker Mayfield/Oklahoma- This is a tough scrappy competitor who also happens to have some skill. Mayfield can do some of everything. His biggest knock is size and lack of arm strength.

Luke Falk/Washington State- A tall lengthy pocket passer much in the mold of the Manning brothers, Falk has put up big numbers at Washington State. With time, he should translate well to the NFL.

Josh Allen/Wyoming- Allen has everything one could want in a quarterback. Size, big arm, athletic ability. Some have even said he is Aaron Rodgers with three more inches and 10 more pounds. However, if you look at his current play level, he is considered to be a long-range prospect, much like Jackson, but unlike Jackson, sitting or playing could determine the difference between success or failure. (This is the guy I want the Packers to choose.)

Whether the Packers choose one of the quarterbacks listed above, or someone else such as Clayton Thorson, Mason Rudolph, Jake Browning, Riley Ferguson, or somebody else, or even if they decide to wait until the 2019 draft, they need to be careful as they select Rodger’s successor. They need to make sure they don’t go out of their way to go hunting for the next Aaron Rodgers, potentially missing out on a great quarterback in his own right, just because he doesn’t look or play like Aaron Rodgers. When they drafted Aaron Rodgers, they didn’t go hunting for the next Brett Favre. They went hunting for the guy that fit what they wanted for their next quarterback. For as great as Rodgers’s arm is, Rodgers is a mixture of arm strength, precision, and once athletic ability, but it’s not Brett Favre’s arm. Favre’s arm was once in a lifetime special. We will never see an arm that strong again in our lifetimes. What I am getting at is that Aaron Rodgers was a different quarterback than Brett Favre. Doesn’t mean Favre wasn’t special. Just means they are different. Perhaps their next quarterback is a classic, oversized, strong-armed drop back pocket passer, nothing like Aaron Rodgers.

Whoever they decided to get, they need to get him now, or in 2019 at the latest. They have a golden opportunity to follow the same protocol they followed from Favre to Rodgers. Get a guy, sit him down for three years, develop him properly, and then much like Rodgers, give a well seasoned player the keys to the car. When they gave Rodgers the keys to the car in his fourth season, he was nothing like the quarterback that put the Packers hat on the day he was drafted. They completely overhauled his mechanics. He was bigger, he was stronger, he added arm strength, his accuracy was much better, and his football I.Q. was finally up to speed. Because he was able to sit for three years, without worrying about having to play on Sundays, he was able to work on these things, which is why he is the great quarterback he is today.

The Packers need to get their next quarterback now, and they have a lot talent with various styles of play to choose from. Whoever they get, they need to make sure he’s the right one.”