The Green Bay Packers have finished in the top 10 in points scored for six consecutive seasons and earned trips to the postseason in each of the last four years, but the offense will look a little different in 2013. With some big-name players no longer suiting up for Green Bay, the team's offense may be in a bit of a transition period that would mean a step back for many.
Aaron Rodgers remains confident in Packers’ offense
While the Packers moved on from the duo of Greg Jennings and Donald Driver, there isn’t much reason to brace for a drop-off.
Rich Schultz
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers doesn't think so, though, as the former-NFL MVP told ESPN Wisconsin on Monday that he's confident in the players on the team, singling out Jordy Nelson and James Jones as players at the top of their game.
I love ‘em. I love our weapons. We have a lot of guys who can do a lot of different things for you. We have two of the top outside receivers in the league in Jordy and James.
Who has left?
Greg Jennings: The two-time Pro Bowl receiver finished with over 900 yards receiving in five consecutive seasons for the Packers before the 2012 season. While Jennings left to join the division-rival Minnesota Vikings on a five-year, $45-million deal, his departure is eased some by the fact that he had a career-worst season in 2012 as he struggled with injuries for the majority of the year.
Donald Driver: A seventh-round selection of the Packers in the 1999 NFL Draft, Driver elected to call it a career and retire after 14 seasons with the team. Driver finished his career with seven 1,000-yard seasons and three trips to the Pro Bowl. Like Jennings, though, his departure isn't too significant after finishing with just eight receptions for 77 yards in his final season with the team.
Tom Crabtree: Although his production rose in each of his first three seasons in the NFL, Crabtree elected to play his fourth season in a different uniform, signing a two-year, $1.6-million deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While he caught just eight passes for the Packers in 2012, he was a solid red zone target, finishing the year with three touchdowns and 203 yards receiving.
Who is left?
James Jones: With six seasons of play under his belt, Jones has steadily improved as a receiver, but it wasn’t until the 2012 season that he got an opportunity as a full-time starter on the outside. He took advantage with 64 receptions and led the NFL with 14 touchdown grabs.
Jordy Nelson: The 2008 second-round pick slowly worked his way into the lineup before his huge 1,263-yard, 15-touchdown season in 2011. While he missed a few games due to injury in 2012, he still finished with 745 yards receiving and seven touchdowns.
Randall Cobb: As a rookie, Cobb got the NFL excited with a long receiving touchdown and a much longer kickoff return in the league’s opening game of 2011, before tailing off for the remainder of the year. In 2012, though, he managed to finish with a team-leading 80 receptions for 954 yards and eight touchdowns in the slot, more than doubling his production in every major receiving category.
Jermichael Finley: When healthy, Finley has been a very consistent target in the passing game for Rodgers. For the third time in four seasons, Finley finished with over 50 receptions and 650 yards in 2012, although he managed just two touchdown catches. With Crabtree’s departure, many red zone looks could instead go to Finley once again.
Rookie running backs: The Packers are getting each of their top four receivers from 2012 back in 2013, so they elected to pass on the addition of more pass catchers. Instead they focused on helping their 20th-ranked rushing offense by selecting both Eddie Lacy and Johnathan Franklin in the 2013 NFL Draft. The young running backs should only help Rodgers and the pass game by keeping defenses honest.
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