There were a few surprises in the final cuts and today’s moves, but all-in-all it is time to get ready for the almighty Minnesota Vikings. Keeping running back Kregg Lumpkin over Noah Herron and Vernand Morency was a mild surprise, but it just goes to show the Packers will keep talent over experience if the battle is close. I guess the same can be said in a way for punter Jon Ryan. Of all people, other than kicker Mason Crosby, Ryan never appeared in danger of losing his job. Today, however, he did lose his job. The Packers cut Ryan and signed Derrick Frost, who was cut by Washington. Wow.
Lumpkin certainly earned his spot, but Frost? Well, I guess he earned his spot on the Packers by punting for Washington the last four years. Still, it was somewhat surprising to see Ryan go. Just goes to show no position is safe.
Now we focus on the Vikings. The Minnesota Vikings, the Packers’ biggest rival right now, are the national media’s pick to win the division if not the Super Bowl this year. Apparently Adrian Peterson is the next coming of Barry Sanders. At least I compare him to Barry Sanders right now. A great back on a losing team. A great back that doesn’t have a quarterback. Can Peterson be a work horse and carry the load while a young quarterback like Tarvaris Jackson grows up? I don’t see it
Do the Packers have trouble stopping the run? Yes they do, so at this point it looks like advantage Minnesota. Can the Packers run the ball on the Vikings? They did last year, at least in Green Bay when Ryan Grant ripped them for 119 yards, including a 30-yard TD. Do the Packers even need to run the ball? The Vikings may be the number one against the run but only because nobody bothers to run against them. Why run when you can pass for free?
This is going to be a huge a game for both teams. Talk about jumping in full steam ahead. As far as must win games on opening day goes, this is one for both teams. If the Vikings win, the Packers should have kept Brett Favre, if the Packers win, the Vikings should have gotten a quarterback in the offseason. It’s going to be a fun week.
By the way, I doubt new punter Frost gets the number he had in Washington in Green Bay. Even with Favre taking more pot-shots at general manager Ted Thompson over the weekend, I doubt Thompson would sink to the level of Favre. Even if he could.
Are the Vikings for real do you think? Let me know.
More to come…