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Green Bay Packers Flashback Sunday: If Only They Had a Defense
If only they had a defense.
That is the puzzle that will sadly never be solved regarding the 1983 Green Bay Packers.
By the end of the 1983 season, goo gobs of points would be scored, records would be shattered, and the team would finish a mediocre 8-8 and out of the playoffs despite scoring 429 points.
If only they had a defense.
Long before Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers appeared on the scene, the Packers had a very, very good quarterback in Lynn Dickey. He was the definition of a gunslinger, and in the wild and crazy season of 1983, he did not hold back one bit.
Throwing for a then team record 4,458 yards and 32 touchdowns in 1983, Dickey benefited from having arguably the best receiving corp in team history. Wide receivers James Lofton and John Jefferson combined for over 2,100 yards and 15 touchdowns. Tight end Paul Coffman chipped in with over 800 yards and 14 touchdowns. Running back Gerry Ellis added another 600 yards out of the backfield just to make matters worse for opposing defenses.
Dickey might have also thrown 29 interceptions during this season, but let’s not discuss that.
It was an exciting offense to watch, scoring points at a record pace throughout the season. Optimism was high among the green and gold faithful, and rightfully so.
Sadly, as good as their offense was, their defense was the polar opposite.
Flashback Friday: The Run Begins
It was the day after Christmas, and Packers fans woke up with a sense of nerves around them. After shockingly losing in Detroit with quarterback Aaron Rodgers sustaining a concussion, and dropping a game in New England the week prior the Packers were left scrambling. A season that began with Super Bowl aspirations appeared to be on the brink of missing the playoffs altogether.
Luckily for the Packers Desean Jackson returned a punt for a touchdown to defeat the New York Giants in stunning fashion, allowing them to control their own destiny. The Packers needed two wins at home to reach the postseason. Standing in their way before the season finale against the Chicago Bears was the New York Giants led by Eli Manning. The last time the Giants visited Lambeau Field prior to this matchup the lasting impression is not pleasant. The Packers were playing at home with a chance to go the the Super Bowl. Instead of a coronation, the Giants dominated the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, and Brett Favre threw an interception in overtime allowing the Giants to advance and eventually become Super Bowl champions.
The game also marked the return of quarterback Aaron Rodgers who had missed the game in New England after sustaining his second concussion of the season in Detroit. Rodgers return was marked with a challenge from head coach Mike McCarthy.
Mark Murphy’s Actions Need to Speak Louder Than Words Regarding Brett Favre
To borrow one of Mike McCarthy’s quotes from the Summer of 08, Packers President is in a tough spot.
He currently holds the distinction of being in charge of the team during the most tumultuous off season in Packers’ history. The divorce between Brett Favre, arguably the most popular player in team history, and the Packers divided fans then, and continues to do so.
The decision to part ways with Favre was in hindsight the correct move for the team. Aaron Rodgers has proven to be equal if not better as a signal caller. A Lombardi Trophy and an MVP trophy are among the hardware Rodgers has already acquired, with many years still to come to add to his already impressive resume.
Regardless of the success the team has on the field, Murphy is still haunted by the spectre of Favre, and his absence from the Packers family. Which is why number 4 is a fairly consistent topic of conversation from Murphy.
Murphy has said for several years the Packers intend to retire Favre’s jersey at some point, even if Favre has said he doesn’t need to have his jersey retired.
He has mentioned the possibility of Favre joining the Packers Tailgate Tour someday.
Murphy has even flat out said “We want to have Favre back in the family.”
Comments like this from the Packers President may seem like sacrelige to some of the faithful, but it makes total sense. Because it is the right thing for the franchise.
Green Bay Packers Flashback Sunday: One Devine Season
Not much went well for the Packers following the departure of Vince Lombardi.
After five titles in nine seasons, the team from Titletown tumbled into the lower tier of the NFL. The Lombardi Era team had grown old, and could not recapture the glory of earlier years.
A 6-7-1 season in 1968 followed by an average 8-6 campaign in 1969 did little to inspire much confidence in a return to power. Following another disappointing 6-8 record in 1970, Lombardi’s handpicked successor Phil Bengston was fired, and the hopes of the franchise were turned over to former Missouri coach Dan Devine.
Former Packers Coach Dan Devine
Things did not start well for Devine during his tenure, as he suffered a broken leg on the sidelines during his first game as Head Coach in 1971. It did not improve much from there, as the Packers went through another painful season, ending up a less than stellar 4-8-2, and leaving the fans wanting a return to glory.
And for one season, they did. Kind of.
The 10-4 record of the 1972 Packers came out of nowhere. Finishing in first place for the first time since the Lombardi Packers, the green and gold faithful were able to enjoy the postseason for the first time since Super Bowl II. Although their exit was a quick 16-3 loss to the Redskins, the success of the regular season brought renewed hope that another dynasty was in the making.
Unfortunately, this could not be further from the truth.
It is time: for Favre’s Return
Five years ago, the unthinkable happened. The Green Bay Packers traded the face of their franchise. Unceremoniously, Brett Favre moved on to play for the New York Jets, and eventually the Minnesota Vikings. His move to the Vikings caused a divide among the fan base. He went from the most beloved, to the most reviled. It was one of the most controversial moves in NFL history, and still resonates with fans today.
Many have called him a traitor. There was animosity between Favre, and the front office, signs at Lambeau once read “Judas betrayed only one, you betrayed us all”. Favre often talked about playing against Green Bay hoping to “stick it” to General Manager Ted Thompson. Packer fans called defeating the Vikings twice in 2010 revenge because of how everything changed. It has never been directly quoted, but there had to be some extra satisfaction for Thompson as well.
Time has passed, wounds have healed and it is time to move on, and make things right again.
Recent history would suggest to you that the Packers always had some sort of conflict with Favre, that he was a player who caused trouble. In recent history it is easy to come to that conclusion. Favre was consistently in the news for all the wrong reasons. Flip-flopping on retirement, negotiating for players in the media and the previously documented desire for revenge against the franchise for which he was best known.
Mike McCarthy Has Shown His Hand-Will Dom Capers Fold (Again)?
The Packers have developed a reputation professional football teams want to avoid.
They have been categorized as being soft.
Since their most recent playoff failure, the Packers have been scrutinized up and down for not being physical enough to compete with the elite teams of the NFL. That their style of play is not capable of winning another Super Bowl, because they lack the ability to punch their opponents in the mouth
Their offense is too dome like, focusing on a down the field passing attack, with little help coming from a substandard running game.
Their defense relying too much on the big play to keep them in games. Giving up goo gobs of yards has become the norm for the Packers defense, only occasionally showing the capability of stopping some of the better offenses in the league.
Being called soft a mere two years after winning the Super Bowl with nearly the entire roster in tact must have echoed very loudly in the halls at 1265 Lombardi Avenue leading up to the NFL Draft. And a definite shift in approach seems to be on the horizon.
The drafting of bruising running back Eddie Lacy gives the Packers they have not had since the Ryan Grant era-a running back capable of carrying the ball 20-25 games. This will take substantial pressure off the passing game, giving the Packers a two dimensional threat, both through the air and on the ground.
Green Bay Packers Flashback Sunday: The 1989 Cardiac Pack
There was a time when success eluded the Green Bay Packers.
After the Vince Lombardi era ended, a new era began for the Packers. An era of high hopes and unfulfilled promise. One of few highlights, and numerous disappointments.
It seems like ancient history now, because of nearly 20 years of uninterrupted highs by the Packers. But from 1968 through 1988, a successful season was far too often seen as a .500 record for the season.
Two playoff appearances (1972 and the strike shortened 1982 season) were the high points during this twenty year period, a far cry from the 5 championships of the Lombardi era.
Not even former Lombardi heroes Bart Starr or Forrest Gregg could rekindle the success of the 1960′s during their tenures as Packers head coach.
It was truly a low point in the history of this proud franchise.
And then, seemingly out of nowhere, the 1989 season happened.
Coming off a 4-12 season in 1988, not much was expected from this team. They had Sterling Sharpe on offense, but not much else. They had sack master Tim Harris on defense, but not much else.
It looked like it was going to be a repeat of far too many seasons. But things were going to be different this season.
