A post today at PocketDoppler.com is suggesting that the slew of injuries enduring by the Green Bay Packers this season might not be an altogether bad thing:
A Violent Femme’s View – What Might Have Been | PocketDoppler.com
While I don't entirely disagree, I do feel the need to note that losing Ryan Grant and Jermichael Finley was, in no way, a "blessing in disguise" as suggested by one commentator. In the same way, Packers fans have lived through the growing pains of a rookie tackle playing out of position at RT. Perhaps had Colledge gone down instead of Tauscher, that would have been a "blessing." As it was, I think they would have gotten more consistency out of the vet on the right side. My guess is that their offensive inconsistency can be traced to not having these three players.
On defense, having Bishop at ILB has been a plus, but I am not sure that Zombo or Walden were upgrades over Jones. Due to the injuries, they are dangerously thin at LB right now. Peprah v. Burnett is probably a push. The pass rush has been OK, but losing Neal didn't help it get better; the short time he was in there it was clear he brought something extra.
So, yes, the reserves have stepped up. But they were reserves for a reason. I am not saying their would have been 13-3 with a healthy team, but I do think the Packers would have locked up a playoff spot sooner and, with it, a higher seed.
".....they were reserves for a reason."
ReplyDeleteFor some reason, this seems to be a difficult concept for some fans to grasp. They seem to think that because the Packers have managed to remain in games and make the playoffs, that the team wasn't diminished in any way. Yet at the same time, many are loathe to give the coaching/personnel staff any credit. It's an interesting dichotomy.