Saturday, August 29, 2009

Fun in the Sun


If Friday night's game at Arizona was any indicator, this could shape up to be a fun year to watch the Green Bay Packers. Both offensively and defensively the Packers consistently came up with big plays; exciting big plays.

The Packer running game is now functional enough that Aaron Rodgers could spend some time baking the Cardinal's defense down-field, cooking up plenty of impressive passes to the many talented Packer receivers.

Green Bay might have the best bunch of receivers in the NFL. Donald Driver, Greg Jennings and James Jones all pose a high degree of threat, and if Rogers keeps getting the kind of protection the offensive line has provided thus far, things could really heat up this year.

And if this was not excitement enough for fans of the team, some idiot in Arizona's new stadium made the mistake of letting Charles Woodson in the building. Woodson, unleashed by the new defensive coordinator, and possibly next governor of Wisconsin, Dom Capers, violated the Cards' offense so much it is surprising that Maricopa County's Sheriff Joe Arpaio didn't put him in a pair of pink boxers, the mandatory attire of those incarcerated in Sheriff Joe's jail.

Woodson got so close so often to Arizona's dangerous veteran quarterback, Kurt Warner, there are some rumors now that they are engaged. Green Bay's most dangerous cornerback was absolutely deadly to Warner and the host's offense- disrupting timing, forcing fumbles, intereceptions, and behaving much like a cat in a bird cage.

And if Woodson isn't part killer-cat, then it's only because no one has checked his DNA, because he is already playing like the league MVP and making a strong case that he should be inducted into the Hall of Fame by Friday.

Some will say that pre-season doesn't mean anything. That is Baloney. It means a great deal to the players, the coaches and the team. When a team can go out in a pre-season game and execute its offensive strategy, and thus its will, against the other team's starting unit, that says something to the players themselves.

When a team can also play solid defense and force a whole basket-full of turnovers and capitalize on them, this means something big to the team. It builds confidence, courage and optimism, all of which are contagious.

The only thing missing from the Packers menu last night was the field goal game. It is noteworthy, however, to bear in mind that both of Crosby's missed field goals were held by someone other than his regular holder, Matt Flynn. Perhaps they threw someone in there on short notice who hadn't practiced much with Crosby. Who knows.

But if Aaron Rodgers and the offense keeps lighting things up, and if people keep letting Charles Woodson in the building with the defense, then we may not even need a kicker.

And it sure could be a fun year.

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