–AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! THE PACKERS ARE WORLD CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!

–With that out of the [...]]]> We’ll have much more on this tomorrow — the Packers’ 13th world championship hasn’t sunk in yet for me, as it probably hasn’t for most of you — but in the meantime, here are some quick thoughts on the 31-25 Super Bowl win over the Steelers:

–AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! THE PACKERS ARE WORLD CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!

–With that out of the way, think for a second about everything this team overcame: 15 players on IR, two must-win games against playoff hopefuls to get in the playoffs, three road playoff games against the three highest seeds in the NFC and a Super Bowl matchup with a team that had won two in the last six years. In the end, isn’t it almost fitting that they had to win it without Woodson and Driver? In the end, there’s almost nothing else that could have been thrown at this team. They dealt with it all, and they conquered. Couldn’t be prouder to be a fan of this team.

–It’s probably because of recency bias, but at the moment, this is sweeter than ‘96. This team was expected to win it all, until it was ravaged with injuries. To overcome everything they did, and to win it in Jerry World — against the Steelers, with Favre watching at home — well, it just doesn’t get much better.

–Aaron Rodgers: What can you say? To win a Super Bowl MVP, with a three-touchdown, interception-free day, and to put together two drives with the game hanging in the balance…quite simply, it’s something Brett Favre never was asked to do in 1996, and couldn’t do in the Super Bowl in 1997. He’s the same age as Favre was when he won his championship, and unlike Favre, Rodgers isn’t playing with an aging defense. Holy cow.

–I don’t think too many of us would have faulted Ted Thompson if he’d taken the Lombardi Trophy, grabbed the microphone from Terry Bradshaw and yelled, ‘Does anybody have any questions about that Favre trade now?’ But he didn’t do it, and I don’t think he ever will. Thompson will get plenty of accolades for building this team, and he deserves all of them. This team was built in his image, and after weathering every test it could have possibly faced, it proved Thompson as one of the game’s best GMs.

–Lastly: You cheer for a team that dealt with more injuries than any squad in the league, and never complained about them. You cheer for a team that spotted its archrival a Hall of Fame QB, and still won a Super Bowl before said rival. You cheer for a team that’s poised to be the dominant team in the NFC for a long time, and you cheer for a team that proved, once again, there’s value in conducting business with class and professionalism.

And you cheer for a team that has a NFL-record 13 world championships.

Enjoy it, Packers Nation. We did it, and it couldn’t be any sweeter.

–Gene Bosling

All of us who have watched the Packers this year know how close this team was to being, say, 13-3 or 14-2. They got themselves flagged out of the first Chicago game. They lost to the Redskins after Mason Crosby’s field goal went off the [...]]]> That’s the question posed by a Wall Street Journal story today.

All of us who have watched the Packers this year know how close this team was to being, say, 13-3 or 14-2. They got themselves flagged out of the first Chicago game. They lost to the Redskins after Mason Crosby’s field goal went off the uprights, and lost to the Dolphins in part because of a bizarre penalty on Robert Francois. They could have beat the Falcons if not for Erik Wilhelm’s penalty or Aaron Rodgers’ fumble, and Greg Jennings’ dropped touchdown turned into a back-breaking interception against the Lions. And, of course, there were a number of plays that could have helped them beat the Patriots, not the least of which was the interception Charles Woodson dropped.

Drops, doinks and dumb mistakes alone cost the Packers just about every game they lost this season. Plenty of other things could have happened, of course, but if a half-dozen plays had gone differently, this team could have been the No. 1 seed without a problem. In fact, it’s not impossible they could have been undefeated.

Their point differential is the second-best in football, and since the Giants game, they’ve been winning with few mistakes — or in a few cases, winning in spite of those mistakes. It’s hard to say if this is the best six-loss team in history, but at the very least, it should be clear the Packers are much better than their 10-6 record should indicate.

Now just imagine if they hadn’t lost a dozen players to injury.

–Gene Bosling

“I love you B.J. Raji!”

I want to yell it from the mountain tops and maybe [...]]]> Love is strong word and shouldn’t be tossed around lightly. You should say it when you truly mean it and it takes a real man to come to terms with his feelings. That is why I have no problem saying this.

“I love you B.J. Raji!”

I want to yell it from the mountain tops and maybe when I done writing this him and I can get an apartment together. Now, I have a very loving girlfriend and wouldn’t think about jeopardizing our relationship for any other person in the world. But then again if Raji has a couple sacks and maybe a key fumble recovery on Sunday….

My crush on Raji started in April 2009 leading up to the draft. At the time, the two players I really wanted the Packers to get in draft was Brian Orkapo or Raji. As the days got closer, I start to fall for the big man and whenTed Thompson drafted him with the 9th overall pick the expected infatuation ensued. (By the way, nice work again Teddy in 2009 landing two future All-Pros in the first round.)

Raji-fever was rabid amongst friends, including one OBOD’s favorite readers Dave from Milwaukee, during our draft-weekend extravaganza. The beers were flowing and the wings were piping hot and we all couldn’t stop yelling “RAJI!” over and over all weekend. On an organized pub-crawl Saturday night, I think we scared some Minneapolis patrons with our “RAJI!” antics. Chris and I still use this phrase on a very frequent basis in social situations. (Getting off topic a bit again, but thank you Goodell for ruining this draft-weekend tradition for us. 18-game season, concussions, lockout, whatever happens next, this draft weekend change upsets me the most about your tenure, Roger.)

So the folklore of Raji was born that weekend. Throughout last season his shine faded a little bit due to injuries and lack of playing time. However, I knew his potential and the big factor he could play in 2010 after Johnny Jolly got too much of his purple drank on.

What transpired this season out of Raji exceeded my high expectations of him. I expected a good season out of him while showing a lot of promise to the future. What I didn’t really expect was the Pro-Bowl level of play he has provided and becoming the the team’s best defensive lineman. Talk all you want about Aaron Rodgers or Tramon Williams not getting the call to go to Hawaii, my biggest grievance with the Pro Bowl selections is Raji.

I wrote it right after the Bears game, Raji is the team’s defensive MVP this season, not Clay Matthews. Granted the defense would be a mess without either, but in a year where Howard Green and Jarius Wynn have gotten key playing time along the defensive line, it is Raji who has held that line together. It is unheard of a nose tackle playing 60+ snaps a game, which he has done. As the season has gone on, he has simply gotten better every week and is playing at his peak right now. When is the last time a big lineman like Raji has done that? It is usually the opposite as the big men tend to break down and become a tad slower towards the end of the year.

Raji is truly the lynchpin of the defense right now. Matthews, Williams, Woodson and Collins all have had great seasons, but it is the Bearclaw who stands out in my mind. Defensive lineman tend to go unnoticed in a 3-4 scheme, so the very fact Raji warrants this kind of coverage makes me love him even more. Against New England, he looked gassed and needed a blow. He headed to the sideline, but turned around for one more play. He sacked Brady the next snap. How can you not love that?

You can go to just about any Packers, Eagles, or NFL site right now to get an extensive breakdown on how to stop Michael Vick on Sunday. To make it simple it starts with the big fella, the Bearclaw. If he can get initial pressure it will open everything else up, including any exotic blitzes Dom Capers is drawing up.

So, I am not breaking any new ground and all of you have probably noticed Raji’s play this year. This is more of an homage, maybe even a love letter to the man who I think doesn’t get enough attention. Maybe I am going soft, but I think I finally found my sensitive side.

Ok, time to put that aside for now, it’s playoff time.

RAJI!

-Adam Somers

But, frankly, Scarlett, I don’t give a damn. I’m writing one, anyways.

The Green Bay Packers, as always, give us plenty to be thankful for. But what, in particular? Well, let’s get to some things now.

I’m thankful for Dom Capers. The job [...]]]> Yeah, yeah, I know – everyone writes posts like these around this time of year.

But, frankly, Scarlett, I don’t give a damn. I’m writing one, anyways.

The Green Bay Packers, as always, give us plenty to be thankful for. But what, in particular? Well, let’s get to some things now.

I’m thankful for Dom Capers. The job he’s done with what has resembled a JV squad, at times, has been nothing short of astounding. Hopefully, you take the smart approach and avoid any calls regarding head coaching jobs at season’s end. Titletown is where you need to be. And, don’t worry, Dom – the Brinks truck full of extra cheddar should be arriving at your place shortly.

I’m thankful for Mike McCarthy. It’s nice to know we have a strong-willed coach – one whom the players both like and respect – on our side. And kudos for remembering that you can line up and run the football more than just sparringly. Keep on keepin’ them honest, coach.

I’m thankful for Ted Thompson. Period.

I’m thankful for Aaron Rodgers finally hitting his stride. It’s good to see football become fun again for QB12.

I’m thankful for Brandon Jackson’s do-it-all abilities.

I’m thankful for John Kuhn. Okay, so he’s not the greatest player around. But he allows me to yell “KUUUHHHN!” whenever he touches the ball. Gotta love that.

I’m thankful for Chad Clifton proving the doubters wrong. There’s a great deal left in a man I believe to be held together by chicken wire and duct tape.

I’m thankful for Daryn Colledge not being, well, Daryn Colledge this season. Always nice when I don’t have to scream “COLLEDGE!” at the television in fits of rage.

I’m thankful for Greg Jennings regaining his elite status, James Jones being more “Good James” than “Bad James” and Donald Driver for being everything a Packer should be.

I’m thankful for Lambeau Field. See you in 11 days, baby!

I’m thankful for B.J. Raji cashing in on the promise we all knew he had and anchoring the defense. And, yes, I have to say that or else he might eat me.

I’m thankful for me upsetting Desmond Bishop on Twitter over the summer. And you should be thankful for that, too.

I’m thankful for A.J. Hawk turning in his best season yet as a pro. Something tells me this is no longer No. 50’s last year in Green Bay.

I’m thankful for Clay Matthews being an unstoppable, unblockable, long-hair waiving, anger-filled, high-motored – ouch. Matthews just sacked me. The guy is relentless!

I’m thankful for Charles Woodson shaking off his early season slump. And for making a difference in so many areas, some that can’t be seen on a stat sheet.

I’m thankful for Tramon Williams’ emergence. Don’t worry, Big Play Tra – that new deal is en route.

I’m thankful for Charlie Peprah ignoring people like me when they say things like “Charlie Peprah, frankly, does nothing for me.”

(Okay, here’s the part where I get sappy. Deal with it!)

I’m thankful for my cohorts here at OBOD, Adam Somers and Gene Bosling. Fellas, this wouldn’t be 1/1,000th as much fun without you. You are two of the best writers I know, but it’s much more than that. You really are two of the best friends a guy could ask for. Your friendship is something I will always hold in the highest regard.

I’m thankful for our buddies in the Packers blogosphere. You know who you are. We’ll never forget how you welcomed us into this weird, wonderful little universe back in early 2009. And to the newcomers, we’re always more than happy to pay it forward.

I’m thankful for you, the readers. To paraphrase a line from Jay-Z, you could have been anywhere in the world, but for a brief portion of your day, you decide to come check us out. Believe me, we take that very seriously. And we’ll never be able to thank you enough for simply caring about our work. You keep reading them – we’ll keep writing them.

Lastly, I’m thankful for all my friends and family. I love you all dearly. I won’t get to see any of you Thursday, but we’ll see each other at Christmas.

We at OBOD wish you nothing but the happiest and safest Thanksgiving possible. And, yeah, thanks again!

-Chris Lempesis

I think it is, “It’s better to get rid of a guy a year too soon than a year too late.”

That is how I feel about Al Harris. I know this the third-day take on Harris’ release, but life has gotten in the way of commenting on it earlier. Yesterday, Chris [...]]]> What is the old cliche?

I think it is, “It’s better to get rid of a guy a year too soon than a year too late.”

That is how I feel about Al Harris. I know this the third-day take on Harris’ release, but life has gotten in the way of commenting on it earlier. Yesterday, Chris did a great job of paying homage to one of the great Packers of this decade. Now since Harris has taken his talents to South Beach and not to another NFC North locale, I really hope he has a great season for the Dolphins, I truly do. There cannot be enough good things said about Harris’ time in green and gold.

However, that is all on a personal, human level of things. There is always a business level to professional athletes that many times supersedes that personal attachment. That is exactly what has happened to Harris.

From all accounts, it seems that fans have been split on the surprising decision to cut Harris. I never really gave much thought to the idea of cutting him because I thought he would be activated or put on IR. However, when the news broke it all made sense. While a little disappointed because Harris was one of my favorite players, it was a smart business decision.

Immediately, I thought this is exactly a move Belicheck and the Patriots would make. Not a bad franchise to model after.

Just a quick look at the particulars and you saw a 36-year-old cornerback coming off a destructive knee injury that hasn’t played football in a year.  Let’s also not forget that Harris struggled at times adapting to the 3-4 before his injury and it can even be said that Tramon Williams was already outplaying him last year.

We also only heard reports from Harris about his health, never from the Packers. If Harris was truly healthy before the season started, which he claimed, the team would have put him on the active roster for a couple reasons: 1) Williams had yet reached the level he is playing at now and 2) an unproven Sam Shields was the nickel back. Unfortunately for Harris, Williams is playing at a Pro Bowl level and Shields is emerging more and more every week.

Depth at the position is still a big concern because one injury to Charles Woodson, Williams or Shields and you are looking at Brandon Underwood, Pat Lee or Jarrett Bush getting significant playing time. However, while Harris said he didn’t expect to start with Williams playing at such a high level, he would still have to fight off Shields for playing time. Even for a great character guy like Harris, being a third or fourth option at the position would be tough to grasp. The guy was a starter when he got hurt and deep down still wanted to be a starter. Any veteran with his resume would want the same if they said it or not. If one of the three go down, I trust Dom Capers to do his magic like he has with all of the other injuries.

He would also take valuable snaps from the developing Shields, who played a big factor in Harris’ release. Like the Patriots, Ted Thompson kept his eye on the future. I remember seeing a negative tweet when Harris was released that Thompson can’t ever think about the NOW because he always is thinking about the FUTURE. I don’t look at that as negative, but rather as a positive trait. Teams and GM’s who are always mindful of the future and make tough decisions with veterans at times always keep their teams in the mix. You don’t have to look further than the Patriots to see how the successful the model is. Shields is the future and the defense is playing a high level right now, so why make a change to fit in Harris?

The Packers are competing for a championship right now and bringing back Harris would have not changed that, but the team didn’t really need him. They are not desperate like some organizations, like the Vikings, whose window of opportunity is closing fast.  It is because of tough decisions like this one that keeps the window open much longer for teams like the Packers and Patriots.

Sure, Thompson can be frustrating at times and comparing him to Belicheck may be going too far, but he has a young, injury-riddled roster competing right now. There is also no reason not to believe that they will be competing at this level for a while either.

It is tough to see a guy we all liked in Harris go, but by keeping an eye on the future the Packers are winning right now and will keep on winning once Harris hangs it up for good. That is what we should all want as fans.

-Adam Somers

Al Harris was a Green Bay Packer no more.

The team officially released Harris, ending the 36-year old cornerback’s eight-year tenure with the club. The team had until Tuesday to decide if it wanted to active Harris, coming off reconstructive knee surgery, from the PUP [...]]]> What was first reported early Monday morning became official later Monday morning.

Al Harris was a Green Bay Packer no more.

The team officially released Harris, ending the 36-year old cornerback’s eight-year tenure with the club. The team had until Tuesday to decide if it wanted to active Harris, coming off reconstructive knee surgery, from the PUP list. He will now be placed on waivers.

A multitude of factors likely went into Harris’ release. The strong play of undrafted rookie Sam Shields, as well as Harris’ age, salary and the serious injury he suffered roughly a year ago against San Francisco are chief among them. While this is pure speculation on my part, it’s also entirely possible Harris was not comfortable with being relegated to a No. 3 or (possibly) No. 4 corner role.

But, enough about that. Let’s talk about Harris’ seven seasons with the team. It was a run that began under somewhat dubious circumstances.

In 2003, Harris – a then-28-year old nickel back for the Philadelphia Eagles – was acquired, along with a fourth round pick, for Green Bay’s second round selection in that year’s draft. Secondary help is almost always needed, to be sure, but boy, that seemed like a steep price to pay for a relatively unproven player. At the time, the move looked like yet another gem courtesy of the king of such gems, then-general manager Mike “A punter in the third round? I’ll take it!” Sherman.

It did not take long to figure out that Sherman had, in fact, pulled off a steal of a trade. Almost instantly, Harris made a major impact for Green Bay’s defense. Never the fastest corner around, Harris made his name as a physical, nasty bump-and-run specialist. The numbers for opposing teams’ top wideouts began dropping rapidly. Hey, this cat with the dreads was pretty good. Harris picked off three passes, returning one for a score, in starting all 16 regular season games that year.

But it was week one of the postseason that year in which Harris delivered his signature moment.

Packers. Seahawks. Overtime. 27 all. Seattle facing a third-and-11 at their own 45. Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck went to his hot route, wideout Alex Bannister, after Green Bay unleashed an all-out blitz (i.e., the “thriller blitz”). Bannister was unaware he was supposed to cut his route short. Harris jumped the route, snagged the ball and housed it for the walk-off score, causing a then 23-year old Chris Lempesis to briefly think he’d broken his arm after tripping while running around the house screaming.

That alone gave Harris legendary status in my book. But he was just getting started. Over the six seasons that followed, Harris just continued to shutout top receivers week-in and week-out. At one point, Chad Ochocinco called him the toughest corner in the league to face. And, in case you have forgotten, Ocho doesn’t praise many corners.

His interception totals were never very high. He never recorded more than three in any of his seasons with the team and totaled just 11 after that first year. But, dig deeper – look at some of his passes defended totals. He had 20 in 2004, 17 in 2006. Those numbers are astounding. Charles Woodson made the sexy plays, but remember, until a year ago, Woody did so as the team’s de-facto No. 2 corner. Not a dig at Woodson at all – just saying.

It wasn’t all rosey for Harris, however. On more than one occasion, he was absolutely shredded in a big game. Plaxico Burress destroyed him throughout the NFC Championship Game in ‘08, as did Terrell Owens in a game at Dallas earlier that year. Brett Favre did the same to his former teammate in a Monday night contest at Minnesota early last season, as well.

But what I always admired most about Harris was his ability to bounce back, his “short-term memory”, as they like to say. Whether he’d just played his best game or his worst, Harris was always going to give you the same effort every week. In a league where guys are wrecked by singularly bad performances all the time, Harris never was.

After his career-threatening injury last year, Harris allowed us to follow him on his road to recovery. Through a series of internet videos, we were able to witness first-hand the struggles he went through on his journey to reach the field once again. Although the odds were ridiculously stacked against him, watching him work, you got the feeling he’d make it back. And when he ran out on to the field for that first time in green and gold, oh, what a moment it was going to be.

Sadly, it’s there that the realities of NFL life interjected. “It’s a business,” yada, yada, yada – you know the drill.

But for seven seasons, the tall, thin man with the wirey dreads was an absolute joy to watch. His time in Green Bay is done, but his playing days are not. Wherever he lands, I can only hope he brings those fans one-tenth the joy he brought us.

I have a feeling he will.

-Chris Lempesis

So, instead of simply griping about it, I’ve decided to go a different [...]]]> We all know the Green Bay Packers are a beat-up bunch. It’s something we at OBOD have tried to steer away from as much as possible because, well, we don’t like making excuses about our team. We’re just so un-Vikings fan-ish that way.

So, instead of simply griping about it, I’ve decided to go a different way. I’m going to rank the nine key players currently on the team’s injured reserve list (sadly, I left Josh Bell out). This is not a ranking of their skills, but rather their overall importance. For example, the No. 1 player listed is the player I’d most like to see healthy. I’ll also take some guesses on where each player’s future with the team stands.

Everyone good? Okay, here we go. As always, enjoy.

1. Jermichael Finley, tight end (knee) - There is simply no bigger reason for the offensive struggles over the past month than the absence of No. 88. Granted, the offense wasn’t looking elite before Finley’s injury, but with him out, the field has definitely shrunk for the rest of Green Bay’s pass catchers. It’s clear the offense never had much of a plan B in the event of a Finley injury. And, most damning, Aaron Rodgers still seems lost much of the time minus his top read. Finley’s stats, projected over a full season: 84 catches, 1,204 yards, four touchdowns. He likely won’t get that fat new contract now, but should be hungrier than ever come next year.
2. Ryan Grant, running back (ankle) - It took all of about three seconds for us to downplay Grant’s importance upon hearing he was lost for the year. Eight games later, I’d like to take back much of what I said. That’s not meant to be a shot at Brandon Jackson or John Kuhn because, actually, those two have been pretty okay. But, either alone or combined, they do not bring the same threat Grant did. Grant, while certainly not an elite back, at least gave opponents something to think about when gameplanning for Green Bay’s offense. He was at least a threat to break the century mark every week. With him gone, Mike McCarthy has been allowed to fully explore the dark side of his “shotgun, five-wide” philosophy. Not a good thing. With such a big salary for next year (he could earn as much as $6 million in salary and various bonuses), you have to wonder if cheaper options won’t be explored by the team.
3. Mike Neal, defensive end (shoulder) - At first, you might snicker seeing Neal this high on the list. Don’t. Despite only playing two games before seeing his season end, Neal showed some flashes of serious potential. Stout and strong enough to play the run - and quick enough to get to the passer - Neal would have been a key cog on the d-line. His presence would have given Green Bay three dual-threat linemen (Neal, B.J. Raji and Cullen Jenkins). It also would have allowed Dom Capers to do a whole lot more mixing-and-matching, depending on the situation. In 2011: Neal, Raji, Jenkins (he’ll be re-signed, fear not), Ryan Pickett and Johnny Jolly (starting to think he’ll be back). Yes, please.
4. Nick Barnett, inside linebacker (wrist) – The emergence of Desmond Bishop and the improvement of A.J. Hawk knock Barnett a little further down the list than originally thought at the time of his injury. Still, you know those times Hawk goes too high on a tackle or gets caught out of position in coverage? Yeah, those are the times you wish Barnett was still around. And his leadership is still sort of missed, as well, though that void has been filled somewhat filled by committee (Charles Woodson, Clay Matthews, etc.). Hawk is likely gone after this season, so even with a salary approaching the $6 million range, Barnett should return.
5. Morgan Burnett, safety (knee) - Solid, if unspectacular, for the two games he played before getting hurt, it’s highly likely Burnett would just be taking his game up a notch about now. Remember, Burnett has “big-time playmaker” written all over him. Luckily, Charlie Peprah’s emergence and the impending return of Atari Bigby (could happen this week) have made up for Burnett’s loss. With Burnett solidly in the fold for the foreseeable future, it’s likely that either Bigby or Peprah will not be back come 2011.
6. Brad Jones, outside linebacker (shoulder) - Jones played his best game of the season, hands down, in the win over Minnesota. With the luck the Packers have had this year with injuries, it’s darkly fitting that his shoulder injury – problematic since camp – would flair up so bad he’d have to have surgery immediately afterwards. Jones did not provide much pressure opposite Matthews, definitely disappointing. He was good against the run, though, and his pass rushing looked to be improving before he got hurt. Finding a more proven pass rushing commodity to play opposite Matthews – thus keeping Jones in a more limited role – is definitely a possibility in the offseason.
7. Derrick Martin, safety (knee) - As we all know, Martin brings limited value as an actual safety. His true value came as Green Bay’s best special teams player. With the Packers giving up at least one big return in each of the past four games, you can see why he’s been missed. Coming off such a severe injury, his return to the team next season seems in doubt, especially when you consider Green Bay’s considerable depth at the position.
8. Justin Harrell, defensive end (knee) - Harrell would have been a key member of the rotation along the d-line as he turned in a very solid training camp. Of course, we all know what happened next, don’t we? Harrell, as always, was bitten by the injury bug, less than two quarters into the season. Harrell deserves a great deal of credit for continuing to work his way back from injury. Unfortunately, it’s just never going to happen for him in the NFL. The Packers have given him four years. They can give him no more.
9. Brady Poppinga (knee), outside linebacker – Buried on the depth chart to start the season, injuries forced Poppinga into a key role, only he didn’t last long in said role. He showed a bit more potential in the 3-4 than he did last season (example: his huge overtime sack of Donovan McNabb in the Washington game). But when you consider that he’s due over $2 million next season, it becomes clear Poppinga has probably played his last down for the Packers.

What do you think of my rankings? As always, comment baby, comment!

-Chris Lempesis

Were you worried about the offense? No, not at all. The group was deep, talented and just hitting its stride. Scoring 30 a week? Why not?

What you worried about was the defense. You worried about the pass rush, [...]]]> Think back, for a second, to late August. What were your worries regarding the 2010 Green Bay Packers?

Were you worried about the offense? No, not at all. The group was deep, talented and just hitting its stride. Scoring 30 a week? Why not?

What you worried about was the defense. You worried about the pass rush, the secondary depth, no Johnny Jolly. If someone were to tell you this team would be 5-3 at the midway point and rapidly on the verge of becoming a force in the NFC, you would have likely said it was because of a fast-improving defense.

How wrong you would be.

The story of the Packers’ emergence is one being written by the same group riddled with question marks just two months ago, a group devastated by injury, one largely comprised of rookies, no-names and nobodies. That unit led the way yet again Sunday in Green Bay’s 9-0 road win over the New York Jets.

The Packers’ defense came though with its best effort of the season – perhaps its best effort in years – in this one, recording their first road shutout since 1991 and the first shutout by any team in the 2010 season. It is a unit that continues to fight, claw and battle its way to wins.

Consider the following: No one – and I mean no one – thought Green Bay’s battered, tattered front seven could withstand the onslaught it was sure to face from New York’s top-notch running game, one powered by two good backs and an elite offensive line. Withstand the Packers did, holding New York’s duo of Shonn Greene and LaDainian Tomlinson to just 76 yards on 22 carries. Those two had success, on occasion, but more often than not, the holes they targeted were simply unavailable. 

That was due to the work of players like C.J. Wilson, Howard Green, A.J. Hawk and Desmond Bishop, players expected to contribute little, if anything, over the summer. Actually, you can say even less about Green since, you know, he was just signed last week.

By shutting down the run game, a door was opened for some “no-names” to step up and makes plays against the pass. Charlie Peprah’s name comes to mind here, carrying over his very strong showing from the Minnesota game. It’s becoming readily apparent why he was kept around so long, despite his various injury troubles. The guy can play, delivering both strong coverage and some seriously big hits.

Of course, Green Bay’s defense is not entirely composed of nobodies. Charles Woodson. Tramon Williams. Clay Matthews. These are names everyone knows. And names that certainly made big plays Sunday.

Woodson and Williams both came up with picks that altered the course of this game, Woodson’s pick a display of freakish athleticism and Williams’ a display of pure toughness and never-say-die grit.

And when you can combine the traits shown on those two interceptions in someone, you have a great player. What you have is Matthews. Despite being kept down most of the day by right tackle Damian Woody, Matthews kept on fighting. And fighting. And fighting, until finally he broke through for a crushing, drive-killing sack of Mark Sanchez late in the game.

Overseeing this group is a man turning in the best work of his illustrious career: Defensive coordinator Dom Capers.

Somehow, someway, Capers continues to get strong, hard-nosed performances out of this group. I am only half-kidding when I ask aloud if the 2010 NFL Coach of the Year award can be given to a coordinator. If so, here’s your winner, gang.

And Capers has just one more game to get through before honest-to-God reinforcements arrive in the form of Al Harris and Atari Bigby. One more game to get through before players like Ryan Pickett can get back near 100 percent. That has to excite you.

But, even without those guys, it’s becoming clear the players in place - this rag-tag group of oddly assembled parts - have begun rallying together, determined to prove that they can play, your opinion of them be damned.

The defense has already far exceeded any expectations placed on it back when the temperature gage was still high. If the offense can ever live up to theirs, oh what a team this could be.

-Chris Lempesis