The 2007 Green Bay Packers are rolling. They are off to their best start since 1962 and play Dallas this week for possession of the NFC lead. They may have the best record in 45 years, but the best Packers team since then was the Super Bowl Champion in 1996.
We're so used to ruling out this same Packers team after a 4-8 start last year. But since then they have won 14 of 15 games. Position-wise this is how they stack up to the 96 team:
QB:
(Brett Favre = Brett Favre)OK...so I'm starting easy. At quarterback we have Brett Favre who, in 1996 was the QB as well. After William Henderson's retirement last season, Favre is the only remaining player from the Super Bowl team on the 07 Packers. There is no doubt Favre was in his prime back in the mid-90s, winning 3 straight MVP awards and leading his team to 2 straight Super Bowls. But there's something about Favre this year. If Tom Brady wasn't playing better than anyone ever has right now, Favre would be front runner for MVP.
RB:
(Ryan Grant = Dorsey Levens)
One pleasant surprise for the Packers and their fans this year was the emergence of Ryan Grant. He's posted 467 yards in 5 starts including 3 100-yard games. In fact, many coaches and players are noticing a striking resemblance to that of Dorsey Levens, including Brett Favre. I guess I had no choice really to match the two up. If Brett Favre says it, it has to be true! Levens appears to be the far superior back. But the way Grant is running the ball, it is tough to say he won't be the future running back on the team.
(Brandon Jackson = Edgar Bennett)Brandon Jackson has to be one of the biggest disappointments for the Packers this season. Drafted in the second round, he was supposed to compete with Vernand Morency (possibly the biggest disappointment) for the starting running back job. With Morency out all preseason, Jackson should have taken the job and ran with it (no pun intended). Nevertheless he has seen a few carries in the last few games. He's a rookie so he hopes to get better. However, he won't get to be as good as Edgar Bennett this year. But at least he has him for a coach.
FB:
(Korey Hall = William Henderson)
This is not a fair match up for William Henderson. Henderson was one of the best fullbacks the Packers ever had, so naturally, Korey Hall won't replace him. And he hasn't. A converted linebacker, Hall hasn't touched the ball once this year on the ground, though he does have 8 receptions. He is likely the main reason the running game never took off in the beginning of the season. Even so, he seems to be getting a little more comfortable since the Packers have posted 3 straight 100-yard rushing games (4 of the last 5).
WR:
(Donald Driver = Robert Brooks)
That about says it. Don't make me compare these two. Each is as good as the other. Robert Brooks does have a pretty sweet CD about Jumping in the Stands... so he gets the nod.
(Greg Jennings = Antonio Freeman)Another very accurate comparison. Freeman was very very good, and Jennings is very very close to being there. The biggest thing they have in common is both having caught significant Brett Favre TD passes. Ironically, both against the same team. Freeman's came on a Monday night, while Jennings caught #421.
(James Jones = Don Beebe)Don Beebe was awesome. How could you not love him? He was on the Bills when they couldn't buy a Super Bowl win and came to the Packers hoping for one and we actually got him a ring! James Jones is a rookie, but also plays that crucial 3rd receiver role just as well as Beebe did. Great hands, great speed (in fact, Beebe is considered one of the fastest football players ever). Receivers are obviously a huge role in why the 07 Packers are doing so well.
(Koren Robinson = Desmond Howard)Yeah right. Robinson is mainly used as a receiver whereas Howard was only used as a kick returner. And the best one there was. Robinson could never match that. But he can match him in jersey number. And he sometimes returns kicks. And the pictures are freakishly similar. So I kept the comparison in.
Up Next: Part 2 - TE, DT, DE, and LB
No comments:
Post a Comment