Pack Attack!!!

Before the preseason started, I was mildly optimistic about this season for the Pack. I knew we'd have a pretty good defense and an OK defense, and probably end the season 8-8 or 9-7, maybe squeaking into the playoffs. Now I'm not one to put too much stock in preseason games, but Green Bay has looked fairly impressive so far. A couple injuries are worrisome, but nothing that will cripple their season (as long as Donald Driver isn't out for the season).
The defense is going to surprise some people. I think they'll have a top-5 defensive corps this season, and if the Pack does well this is where it will start. The D-line is not incredible, but Aaron Kampman is excellent and the interior guys should clog the middle fairly well. The linebackers should dominate, A.J. Hawk had a great rookie season and Nick Barnett is an absolute beast. I always knew Barnett was good (and vastly underrated), but he has helped shut down Maurice-Drew and Taylor tonight against the Jags.
The secondary should make opposing teams a little less likely to pass as well. Al Harris and Charles Woodson is a fearsome duo at the corners and Nick Collins should continue to grow into a great safety. I'm not a big Marquand Manuel fan at the other safety position, so I hope the awesomely named Atari Bigby continues to impress and overtakes Manuel.
The offense is where I start to get concerned. The O-line is set and should improve markedly over last season now that a few guys have some experience. However, the lack of a running game could be what holds Green Bay back this season. Brandon Jackson has looked OK this preseason and should be good in a few years, but I'm not sure about him being a starter yet. Vernand Morency looked above average in a few games last year, but who knows when he'll come back from injury (kind of ironic since that's the reason we let Ahman Green go, that and his awful fumble-itis).
If Favre can control his Rex Grossman-like urges to just huck the ball two miles in the air, I think the pass game should be fine. James Jones appears to be the best draft pick we made, as he has looked mighty good so far, Driver (if healthy) will give Favre 90 catches and Greg Jennings gives them a great deep threat. But if teams begin focusing on the pass because we can't run the ball, we're in deep trouble.
So a cautious optimism comes over me as the season quickly approaches. The highly-criticized Green Bay draft isn't looking so bad now, is it naysayers? Anyway, I cannot wait for the NFL to really begin so my Sundays will be booked solid rooting for the Packers and my various fantasy football players. Hopefully the Badgers will be on TV enough that my Saturdays will be booked solid as well.