Packers will rely this season on defense

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By CHRIS JENKINS / AP Sports Writer
Monday, September 3, 2007 11:04 PM CDT

GREEN BAY — Yes, Brett Favre is back for his 17th NFL season.

But if the Green Bay Packers are to improve on last year’s 8-8 record and make a surprise return to the playoffs, it will likely be because Favre and the offense have taken a back seat to an underrated, deep defense.

The Packers have one of the top cornerback tandems in the league, Al Harris and Charles Woodson. Nobody snickers when their defensive linemen talk about possibly being the best in the NFL. And that’s great news for a good linebacking trio of Nick Barnett, A.J. Hawk and Brady Poppinga.

“I think the strength will really be our defensive line, and then we’ve got some of the best linebackers in the game, guys that can run and guys that like to be physical,’’ Woodson said. “So I just think all around, the defense is going to be pretty special this year.’’

Last year, the Packers’ defense gave up too many big plays. In response, the Packers are likely to replace the weakest link in last year’s secondary, strong safety Marquand Manuel, with a more athletic second-year player, Atari Bigby.

Now they’re talking about making more big plays.

“We’ve got to keep points off the board in order to win games,’’ Woodson said. “But I think our thing this year is to put points on the board as a defensive unit. We’ve got the guys back there that can do it.’’

And at times, the defense just might have to score for the Packers to win.

Green Bay has plenty of question marks on offense, but the potential on defense gives coach Mike McCarthy optimism heading into the Sept. 9 opener against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lambeau Field.

“The only thing you have to compare it to is last year, so we are clearly further ahead,’’ McCarthy said. “I think our defense is clearly the catalyst of our football team.’’

The Packers lost veteran running back Ahman Green through free agency. His projected replacement, Vernand Morency, has been sidelined since hurting his knee in the first practice of training camp. Brandon Jackson, a second-round pick out of Nebraska, has made progress in camp, but missed the final preseason game because of a concussion.

Both are expected back for the opener, but have missed out on establishing chemistry with the offensive line.

The Packers also are thin at tight end and apparently plan to start a rookie fullback, Korey Hall, who was playing middle linebacker at Boise State at this time last year.

“We’ll just have to throw it more,’’ Favre joked. “I think we’ll be fine.’’

McCarthy came into last season insisting that he was committed to the running game, even when it struggled. But McCarthy’s play-calling reflected the reality that the Packers’ offensive line was taking time to learn the new zone-blocking scheme.

Favre attempted a career-high 613 passes last season, throwing 40-plus passes in seven games. Favre completed a career-low 56 percent but did limit his mistakes, throwing only 18 interceptions a year after throwing a career-worst 29 in 2005.

After a full year of running the zone blocking scheme, the offensive line should be better. But if McCarthy has to keep calling passing plays, he will.

“I’m very comfortable with the ability of our offense to play whatever way we need to play to score points,’’ McCarthy said.

Assuming Donald Driver’s sprained foot heals in time for the opener, the Packers will have the foundation of an improved passing game. No. 2 receiver Greg Jennings showed potential as a rookie last year before being hobbled by injuries. And No. 3 receiver James Jones, a rookie, catches just about everything thrown his way, although he has caused Favre fits with his route-running in the preseason.

With Jones and Jackson likely to play significant roles, Favre acknowledges he’ll have to be more patient this season. Favre admits he’s getting impatient late in his career, and it has shown on the field at times in the preseason.

“I think my experience and my success here and in this game serves me well, but at times, it can work against me if I allow it to,’’ Favre said.

After again flirting with retirement in the offseason, Favre is back to continue his quarterback-record streak of 237 straight starts — 257, including playoffs.

He’s poised to set several records, needing two wins (John Elway, 148), seven touchdown passes (Dan Marino, 420), 136 passing attempts (Marino, 8,358) and 3,862 yards passing (Marino, 61,361) to capture several major records.

He also is on the verge of setting a more dubious milestone, needing five interceptions for the career record (George Blanda, 277).

But Favre has always maintained he cares far more about winning than records. And winning with his young supporting cast this year will require more patience than in the past.

“I have to enjoy the game (and) understand that some of these guys will make mistakes,’’ Favre said. “I know there’s a correct way and I know there’s an incorrect way, but it’s kind of fuzzy in between. I don’t want to be a coach on the field, because it’s hard enough to play, and I don’t want to show frustration, but there’s only 16 games. And one play can determine not only a game, but it could determine a season.

“Unlike baseball and basketball, where you can be in a slump for a 10-game stretch and come out of it and you’re fine, you can’t do that in football. That’s where I’m coming from.’’