Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy has declared that the 2015 team won’t use “remember Seattle” as its battle cry. I’m, of course, referring to the horrific collapse late in the 2014 NFC Championship game that saw a Packers team that was in control and poised to make yet another Super Bowl appearance, only to squander it away in the most dramatic fashion. McCarthy wants this year’s team to focus on itself and establish their own identity.
The process began on Monday, when players began gathering in Green Bay to begin offseason workouts. It’s the first step to putting this season’s team together and also to moving on from a tough end to last season. The draft is just over a week away and soon, teams will begin organized team activities (OTA’s). While the regular season is still just under five months away, each happening at Lambeau Field brings another glimpse into another NFL season. And despite last season’s ending, most Packers fans can’t wait to dive into 2015.
Mike Daniels and Randall Cobb both spoke to media and talked about how good it feels to be back around their teammates and also how eerie it can get in the facility with a much smaller crowd of guys around than can be found during the regular season. Among the veterans on the team, there appears to be a focused sense that they can accomplish something bigger and special this season.
The 2015 regular season schedule came out Tuesday afternoon and the Packers slate is now known. With five primetime games and three games within a 12-day period, the Pack has their work cut out for them, but they are returning most of their offensive unit from last year and will look to continue to boost their defense in the draft.
With a few younger players likely to be expected to contribute right away this season, these offseason gatherings become very important and vital to the development and success of Green Bay’s rookies. Fortunately, it’s nothing new to McCarthy and his coaching staff, who perennially have a new batch of younger players joining the roster.
Bovada in Las Vegas gives the Packers the second-best odds to win the Super Bowl in 2015, behind the Seattle Seahawks. As of right now, the Packers have a lot to look forward to this year and the work has just begun.
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Jason Perone is an independent sports blogger writing about the Packers on AllGreenBayPackers.com
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It’s a good thing this team stays constantly young. Most of the guys are not even on the team anymore that won the super bowl in 2010. A loss like the one in Seattle could have a carry over like the Brewers are experiencing but since most of these guys never got to a super bowl they should all be hungry and have the desire to get better and to get back to the ultimate game.
If this was a veteran team filled with 5 to 10 year vets than I could see them struggle this season as you just can’t erase a loss like that. That was my number one concern right after that game was how will these guys be able to bounce back this season mentally after blowing it. I guess getting rid of Bostick and Slocum were a huge part in the healing process. I do give them credit for making those moves. They had no choice.
Ted
TT is always late to the show. He should’ve canned Slocum years ago.
I do agree with you on that one Big T. The legendary R.C. Slocum must have pulled some strings with Mike McCarthy earlier in his career so he returned the favor with his son Shawn. It was that or as some say Shawn had nude pictures of MM with some other woman. There is no other explanation.
Ted