Davante Adams is the key for the Green Bay Packers

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The pro football season kicks off on Thursday when the defending Super Bowl champion Patriots host the high flying passing offense of Steelers. The Pats have Tom Brady back as they take on Pitt.
The NFC has won four of the last six Super Bowls (it could have been 5 of 6 if the Seahawks had called a run on second down), but the AFC has won 11 of the last 18. Here is a look at some of the best of the NFL.
Packers: In an age of passing the football the Packers are deadly, 8th in passing with 266.3 yds pg behind 31-year old QB Aaron Rodgers (38 TDs, 5 INTs) and his 4,381 yards. They actually have a great ground attack, too, ranked 11th in rushing behind RB Eddie Lacy, tops in the NFL with 30.4 points per game last fall. Speedy WR Randall Cobb is a great assett, but the loss of star WR Jordy Nelson in preseason was a shocker. This offense will be still be explosive, but will they take a step back?
At least the young defense keeps getting better, 10th against the pass, 23rd against the run. They welcome back NT B.J. Raji from an injury and will continue to move LB Clay Matthews inside, a trick that improved the run defense late last season. A pair of top draft picks add depth to the secondary, so this Packers team looks armed and dangerous for 2015. Think they’ve worked on defending the on-side kick?
Broncos: Last round up for 39-year old Peyton Manning? This team was second in the NFL in points (30.1 ppg) after Green Bay, as Manning slid a bit to 39 TDs, 15 INTs, 4,727 yards. They finished 4th in passing (291 yards per game), 15th in rushing and return 27-year old WR Demaryius Thomas (1,619 yards), WR Emmanuel Sanders (1,404 yards) and pick up TE Owen Daniels.
However, changes are in store with Gary Kubiak taking over. He brings in zone-blocking, something he learned from Mike Shanahan when the two were in Denver, plus the GM insists on becoming more balanced. They’ve added rookie depth on the offensive line, but had a tough summer blow with the loss of T Ryan Clady, already done for the year. The defense has star power, too. Denver was 10-7 over the total last year, part of a sizzling 29-16-1 over the total run, 33-19-2 over since Peyton got here.
NY Giants: A bounce back year for the Giants? Despite a 6-10 campaign QB Eli Manning actually had a strong season with 30 TDs, 14 INTs. The Giants dealt with a ton of injuries. They have been using high draft picks on the offensive line the last few years and appear to have that fixed, as Manning was sacked 28 times. To improve the run game they took rookie guard Ereck Flowers 9th overall (Miami, FL).
Manning has exceptional targets with Victor Cruz, Odell Beckham (1,305 yards) and Reuben Randall (938). The defense was good at getting after the passer (47 sacks) but at a cost of ignoring the run, something new DC Steve Spagnuolo will focus on. He was defensive coordinator in 2007 when they won the title. The secondary was hit hardest by injuries and adds second-rounder safety Landon Collins (Alabama).
Seahawks: It’s amazing how one wacky play can change everything. Instead of Tom Brady losing 3 straight Super Bowls he’s now got 4, in company with Bradshaw and Montana. And the Seahawks should have been celebrating all summer, coming to camp being asked about their chances of winning 3 straight titles, last accomplished by Vince Lombardi’s Packers.
Instead, Malcolm Butler’s interception unleashed floodgates of shock and disharmony in Seattle. Russell Wilson and Mike Bennett not content with contract offers, a LB saying he’s leaving after this season, and the coaching staff/play-calling under fire. Despite these distractions, the Seahawks still have the most talented roster in the NFL. The defense is loaded, ranked No. 1 the last two years, while the run-first offense (most of the time, that is) retained RB Marshawn Lynch (1,306 yards), who hinted at retirement. The Super Bowl ending was shocking, but a return trip to the NFC title game for this group would not be.
Patriots: And speaking of tumultuous offseasons…The defending champs lost their two starting CBs and will be without 38-year old QB Tom Brady (33 TDs, 9 INTs) the first four games. However, in a weak AFC this team still will be a force. The passing attack is loaded with TE Rob Gronkowski (1,124), Julian Edleman, Brandon LaFell and Danny Amendola.
The offensive line gets even better with Florida State guard Tre Jackson and the defensive line adds first-round pick NT Malcolm Brown, a nice surprise expected to go higher. That leaves only the secondary for Bill Belichick to focus on, which lost star power and a lot of depth. Don’t underestimate this group, as Trent Dilfer did last September when the Chiefs bombed them 41-14 (“The Patriots aren’t good anymore.”)
Written by Jim Feist for VegasTopDogs.com
What does Eddie Lacy do to help the Packers heading into 2013 season? He will most certainly improve their offense in numerous fashions.
The Pack have had more than their share of woeful running seasons recently. In 2012 the Packers scored 27 ppg, went 11-5 and were an absolute wreck running the rock.
They ran the ball 433 times on the season, 16th in the league last year, scored only 9 rushing TDs (25th in the league), and 2 which were by Rodgers, an insignificant and miserable 3.9 YPC. Their leading rusher was 24 year old Alex Green who carried the ball for only 464 yds and a diminutive 3.4 YPC, with, naturally, 0 TDs. Whom also never broke 70 YDs in a game. Not to knock on Mr Green, but let’s put it as one, he’s certainly not the back the Pack are looking for. He also barely carried the ball, 20+ in a game, only 3 times last season.
In steps Eddie Lacy, out of the SEC and Alabama. A power back, at 235 lbs of might, his last season in Bama was outstanding, pounding the ball for 1322 yds, a tremendous 6.5 avg. and 17 TDs.
His coming in Wisconsin will largely improve Rodgers obviously as well. Defenses cannot just keep firing away their front 7 to rush Rodgers every play now. This will keep defense much more sincere. Currently and for the last several seasons Rodgers has not had a back to hit out of the backfield either, don’t get me wrong Lacy isn’t a chief dual threat back like the Forte’s and the Darren Sproles of the league. But with Green catching only 18 out of the backfield last year, for a paltry 10 ypg, I think this will also get better.
When the Pack won the superbowl, in 2010, they still didn’t have a monster back carrying them. They were led by modest Brandon Jackson and his 703 yds, scoring only 3 TDs, and an even worse 3.7 avg, but he did have 43 receptions, he was good out of the backfield. But I think Lacy has the ability to be a 40+ catch back, and be productive.
Lacy is not a characteristic receiving back, but, as stated, he is a punisher. He is a brute who can gradually break down a defense throughout the game. But the Pack need to stay patient with the running attack, and will they be able to, because as long as they do, this will help them as a whole. The key to me is going to be a tandem of the defense having to manage Lacy, and then being forced to deal with Jermichael Finley. Lacy will be plugging along and I expect a big workload for him in 2013 for the Pack. He can haul the pile forward and get the grimy yards that most back aren’t fond of. He’s hard to bring down, as a solid mass.
The only flaw I have with Lacy, is he can be inclined to be hit or miss, when on, he’s amazing and can demolish teams. But in the same way, when off, he can get bottled. He has had those games where he has disappeared. At any rate, he is still better than what they have now to work with now.
He has a nose for the endzone, in ‘Bama, 9 of the 14 games he scored, including 5 games with 2+ TDs. He’s a lot to deal with on the field. If they can get this whole thing clicking, the Pack will make a serious run at a Superbowl in 2013.
Regardless, it looks like Rodgers won’t have to be in the shotgun on 3rd and 1 any longer. It appears the Pack may have found their man; we can call him “The Big Cheese.”
Written by TonyK of VegasTopDogs.com