By CHRIS HAVEL
Green Bay’s chain of succession at team president, GM, coach and QB nothing short of phenomenal
Which teams are the greatest sports dynasties of all-time?
Certainly, any list has to include John Wooden’s UCLA Bruins teams that captured 10 of 12 NCAA men’s basketball titles from 1964-75. They also won 88 straight games and went unbeaten four times while winning five titles in seven years.
Baseball’s “Big Red Machine” of the 1970s appeared in four of six World Series, winning three of them. Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls, Bill Russell’s and then Larry Bird’s Boston Celtics, the New England Patriots under Bill Belichick are among those generally included in the conversation.
There’s also Vince Lombardi’s Packers, to be sure.
The topic of sports dynasties came to mind the other night while watching the Oklahoma City Thunder unceremoniously dispatch the San Antonio Spurs from the NBA’s Western Conference semifinals.
The Spurs went out with a whimper, not a bang. It was as if Tim Duncan miraculously grew old before our eyes. In fact, that’s exactly what he did during a two-decade span.

The Packers’ Dynasty

That got me thinking about the Packers. Green Bay is closing in on a quarter-century of sustained excellence.
The term “dynasty” suggests multiple championships during a multi-year reign of terror. However, it can also apply to franchises that have been able to rank among a league’s finest on an annual, almost permanent basis.
Who has been better than the Packers since the early 1990s? The Cowboys and 49ers produced true dynasties during short spans, and the Saints and Seahawks have had their moments.
But year in, year out, it’s been the Packers at or near the top. The successful passing of the baton has been a major reason.
Aside from the hiccup also known as Mike Sherman’s dual role as Packers’ head coach-GM the transitions in key areas have been amazingly if not miraculously smooth. Currently, the Packers’ top four decision-makers are among the finest quartet in the team’s history.
Team president/CEO Mark Murphy has been a godsend. He has thrived in his role as the Packers’ leading force.
It had to be an unviable task replacing Bob Harlan, a man who was instrumental in restoring the Packers’ place among the NFL’s elite franchises. It was daunting because Harlan had presided over such an amazing Packers’ renaissance, but it also was exciting because Murphy inherited a franchise with plenty of room to grow.
In retrospect, the Packers’ selection process produced Murphy, the right man at the right time, and it’s been full speed ahead.
The GM position is on another remarkable run. Ron Wolf ran the show and restored the Packers’ pride. He earned a rightful place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame for his exceptional career – the highlight of which was the Packers.
Sherman took his turn, but quickly was replaced by Ted Thompson, a scout at heart who learned to become a GM.
The Wolf-Thompson tandem is the No. 1 reason for the Packers’ sustained success since the early 1990s. Their painstaking efforts to discover the best football players set the tone from the scouting department to the coaching staff.
It was always about football, all the time.
Mike Holmgren was Wolf’s man from the start, although the San Francisco 49ers’ offensive coordinator was quickly becoming a hot candidate around the NFL.
In the interview, he had Wolf at hello. Mike McCarthy was Thompson’s guy, too, except he was much more the unknown commodity than Holmgren.
Nevertheless, Thompson knew what he wanted: A no-nonsense football guy whose decency, common sense, football instincts and passion for the game would be the cornerstones.
McCarthy took it from there.
He learned to coach the entire squad while staying true to his greatest gift: Teaching and guiding the quarterback position.
He presided over the Brett Favre-to-Aaron Rodgers transition. Difficult as it was everything eventually worked out. Favre has since returned home to Green Bay as a legend, and Rodgers was able to help the Packers win Super Bowl XLV in 2010.
The Packers’ quarterback transition is among the NFL’s rarest success stories. Favre is a first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer. Rodgers has the potential to do likewise.

When will it end?

So here’s the billion-dollar question: When will it end? Does it have to? Is it only a matter of time before the Packers go through a rebuilding phase?
Not necessarily.
Ron Wolf believed that free agency and the salary cap wouldn’t mean the end to dynasties. He thought there would be a way to sustain excellence, but because he hadn’t grown up in that era he admitted to not knowing exactly how it would be done.
He was steadfast in his belief that it was possible, however. Wolf, it turns out, was correct. The Patriots, Packers and Steelers are proof.
This raises another question…

Are the Packers in position to keep it going?

If you believe in Mark Murphy – and you should – then you have to trust in the Packers’ hiring process. The GM position is a bit different.
Russ Ball, who works closely with Thompson, has the resume and reputation to be a strong choice as the next GM.
Eliot Wolf, 33, is another strong consideration. In many ways, Wolf might be the perfect choice to succeed Thompson when the day comes. Eliot has the unique perspective of having seen the NFL through his father’s eyes, while also growing up in the time of free agency and the salary cap.
It would behoove the Packers to strongly consider him as the team’s next GM for a lot of reasons. His familiarity with the organization is unparalleled. He has contributed to the Packers’ draft preparations during the past 23 NFL drafts.
Clearly, the Packers have options, and that’s a good thing.

Who will replace McCarthy?

McCarthy’s successor is tough to guess. Surely Thompson has a working list, at least in his mind, of what coaches he believes could be the man in Green Bay.
It could be someone currently on McCarthy’s staff, but trying to speculate would be pointless. The quarterback chain-of-succession also is interesting.

Rodgers’ successor?

Packers’ fans hope Aaron Rodgers plays forever. They felt much the same about Favre. Their brain told them nobody plays forever, and that Favre’s day was eventually going to come.
But their hearts ruled and they lived in denial.
Rodgers’ best days, in my opinion, are still ahead of him. I firmly believe he and McCarthy will put together one more serious run of success during the next four seasons.
However, the fact remains that Rodgers won’t play until he’s 50.
Brett Hundley, the No. 2 quarterback, flashed promise last year. He went from awful to awful good in a single training camp. The more he played in the preseason the better he got.
By September, other NFL teams actually were taking note.
Hundley’s upside is exciting. By trading up to acquire him a year ago, the Packers finally answered my prayers: They drafted a QB with talent that McCarthy and his staff can mold.
No more Seneca Wallace thank you.
So long as the Packers continue to make sure that they have at least one true developmental “starting-caliber talent” QB on the roster, they’re at least displaying due diligence and good sense.

Time will tell

So how long can the Packers’ sustain this tremendous run?
It’s impossible to predict, but enough of the pieces and/or processes appear to be in place to give winning a lengthy ride.
Chris Havel is a national best-selling author and his latest book is Lombardi: An Illustrated Life. Havel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4-6 p.m. CDT on WDUZ FM 107.5 The Fan, or on AM-1400, as well as Fan Internet Radio (www.thefan1075.com).
Havel also hosts Event USA’s MVP Parties the evening before home games. Also check out our new Podcast: Between the Lines for more Packers insights. New episodes every Wednesday.

By CHRIS HAVEL
Meantime, let’s examine the 2016 depth chart: Offense
Mike McCarthy was pleased to confirm what the Green Bay Packers already suspected: That the 2016 rookies – drafted and undrafted alike – bring terrific potential to make an immediate impact.
The Packers’ entire rookie draft class, from Kenny Clark to Kyle Murphy, should be able to solidify roles and quickly contribute.
The undrafted players, or “tryout” players, typically account for about one-third of every NFL roster. From linebacker Beniquez Brown to punter Peter Mortell, they also have an opportunity to win a spot on the team’s 53-man roster.
With that and the Packers’ recent rookie orientation weekend as the overview, let’s examine the Packers’ depth chart.
This week: First, the offense.

Quarterback:

Aaron Rodgers is one of a handful of truly elite NFL quarterbacks. He is still ascending to the zenith of his career, which is to say, his best seasons are still ahead of him. Rodgers remains healthy and 100 percent committed to leading Green Bay to another Super Bowl title.
If there’s anything to gripe about, it’s that Rodgers occasionally sacrifices rhythm and tempo in pursuit of the perfect pre-snap matchup. To watch him scan the defense while the play clock ticks has become at times a painstaking ritual. Imagine what the offensive linemen feel like.
Brett Hundley, the second-round QB out of UCLA, flashed great potential during the 2015 preseason. His increased workload should accelerate his growth and development this offseason. Of all the players I’m curious to see this season, Hundley and his growth curve rank at or near the top.
Joe Callahan put up tremendous numbers in Division III and will have a chance to be a “camp arm” and perhaps more.

Running back:

Here, less is more.
Eddie Lacy, fresh off his P90X-ploits, is being counted on to reassert himself as one of the NFC’s toughest, most productive running backs. If the recent photos of Lacy don’t lie, it appears he has transformed fat into muscle, and has amped up a conditioning routine that let plenty to be desired – especially conditioning.
James Starks is a 30-year-old back whose best days are behind him. He had fumble problems last season, and he’s never been one of the most sure-handed receivers out of the backfield.
Still, the Packers see value in Starks and elected to draft elsewhere. The guess here is that No. 3 back John Crockett will get every chance to unseat Starks. And I believe he will.
Last year, McCarthy relied on Ty Montgomery and then Randall Cobb to line up in the backfield. In some ways, that role replaced what often is called the “third down” running back.
It will be interesting to see if GM Ted Thompson and McCarthy elect to sign a traditional “third down back” or save that roster spot to keep a sixth or seventh receiver.
Montgomery, Cobb and perhaps rookie Trevor Davis all have been or could be used in that role. The downsides to using a receiver, rather than a ball carrier, that way is suspect blitz pick-up and no true threat to hand off to and run between the tackles.

Fullback:

John Kuhn currently isn’t on the roster, so it could be the end or an era, so to speak. The deafening chant of “KUHHHH-n!” was always a fan favorite.
Now, it’s on to The Big Ripkowski, as in Aaron Ripkowski, who is bigger, stronger and younger than Kuhn. It’ll be interesting to see how great a role in the offense Ripkowski is given.
Some of that depends on his performance, but another key factor is McCarthy’s willingness to run behind a lead fullback, and to hand off or throw to the fullback as opposed to that traditional “third down back.”Ripkowski wouldn’t bring breakaway speed, but he would be excellent in blitz pickup and his ability to break the first tackle could make him effective as a receiver in the flat.

Receiver:

This position is loaded if everyone is healthy. Otherwise, frankly and until further notice, it is suspect.
Jordy Nelson’s healthy return from a season-ending ACL injury is critical. If he’s OK, the Packers’ offense is A-OK.
If not there is the distasteful prospect of a repeat of 2015. On the bright side, Nelson’s return is on track, and second-year receiver Ty Montgomery also is making progress. Nelson and Montgomery are expected to be available for the start of the season, although Montgomery’s rehab could push the envelope.
Either way, Cobb can’t be worse than he was a year ago. He appeared to press too much as the No. 1 receiver. Even James Jones’ presence wasn’t enough to get Cobb comfortable. Plus, he was nagged by injuries throughout.
Look for Cobb to have a big season, even if it takes Nelson a while to regain top form.
Speaking of rough 2015 seaons, there’s DaVante Adams, who unfortunately made drops part of his in-game routine. Adams may not be as good as he looked as a rookie, but there’s no way he’s as bad as he was last year. Adams also should rebound and benefit from Nelson’s presence.
Jeff Janis played exceptionally well at Arizona in the playoffs. He already is a special teams’ fixture.
Jared Abbrederis merely needs to stay healthy to win a roster spot. He has wiggle in his hips to get open in the slot, and he’s got good hands (his first attempt of every game aside).
Davis, the rookie, could handle the return duties until Montgomery returns. He also possesses legit 4.4-second speed which means he can stretch defenses, something sorely lacking a year ago.

Tight end:

Jared Cook’s signing in free agency transformed the position from unacceptable to plenty good enough overnight. Cook, who has the speed and size to attack the middle of an NFL defense, should become one of Rodgers’ favored weapons.
It should allow Richard Rodgers to focus on what he does best: come up big in the red zone and in sub-packages as the second tight end. Rodgers isn’t explosive enough to make NFL defenses fear him. Perhaps he will continue to make strides physically, but for now he’ll be a nice complement to Cook.

Offensive line:

Stay healthy. If that happens this group should become as good as McCarthy believed it would be a year ago.
Left tackle David Bakhtiari battled through injuries and wasn’t nearly as good as he was in 2014. He needs to play better. It’s possible his successor, second-round pick Jason Spriggs of Indiana, is already on the roster.
The guards will be fine. Josh Sitton and T.J. Lang are the leaders up front, and along with center Corey Linsley form a much better than average interior.
Bryan Bulaga just needs to be in the lineup. He has had so many injuries it’s almost impossible to remember them all. The good news is that J.C. Tretter emerged in the playoff game at Washington as a bona fide NFL tackle.
Kyle Murphy, the sixth-round pick from Stanford, should contend to win a starting job in 2017.

Defensive Depth Chart

We’ll examine the defense in another article.
Until then check out our new Podcast: Between the Lines for more Packers insights. New episodes every Wednesday.
Chris Havel is a national best-selling author and his latest book is Lombardi: An Illustrated Life. Havel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4-6 p.m. CDT on WDUZ FM 107.5 The Fan, or on AM-1400, as well as Fan Internet Radio (www.thefan1075.com). Havel also hosts Event USA’s MVP Parties the evening before home games.

By CHRIS HAVEL
GM Ted Thompson finds welcome additions to team’s defensive front 7
Ted Thompson’s talent haul in the 2016 NFL Draft has terrific potential to upgrade the Packers’ defense, solidify the offensive line depth and to perhaps fill a few gaps.
Talk about working for the (draft) weekend. After an entire college football calendar’s worth of watching, analyzing, reporting and repeating the Packers’ scouts sat back and watched as Thompson plucked the fruits of their labor.
It’s crazy that after an intense 12-month stretch of incalculable contemplation, the Packers’ 2016 class is forged in three days. In many ways it’s like being proclaimed “an overnight sensation” after pulling a year-long stint at hard labor.
Obviously, not every draft class is a sensation, overnight or otherwise. Even more obvious, however, is the reality that NFL teams and their fans don’t want to hear about it. It’s like being innocent until proven guilty. Today, every draft pick is an all-pro, and every undrafted free agent is the next Willie Wood.
Each prospect’s NFL potential isn’t unrealized. Not yet. Not by a long shot. It’s merely untapped. So let the tapping begin.

Kenny Clark

The Packers’ top pick, UCLA’s Kenny Clark at No. 27, was a strong selection to kick off the weekend. As sure as anyone can be in this inexact science called the NFL Draft, Clark appears to be a pick that’s smart, safe and blends immediate help with a considerable upside.
So what’s not to like? Clark, at 6-3 ½ and 314 pounds, is just a pup.
He’s only 20 years old and most definitely still growing in his No. 97 jersey.
What’s significant is Clark’s room for growth that’s wrapped around an already NFL-sized body that can play now. Now that’s impressive.
What’s more he’s been a leader at UCLA who has managed to avoid anything negative off the field. He hasn’t been seen in a bad light on social media for a reason. If there’s nothing to post – fingers crossed – there’s nothing to explain, nothing to be remorseful for, nothing to regret. Clark should contribute 20-plus snaps immediately. If training camp goes as expected he’ll be competing for and quite probably winning the starting job at nose tackle.

Jason Spriggs

In the second round, Thompson traded up to acquire University of Indiana offensive lineman Jason Spriggs. Clearly, Thompson believes Spriggs is versatile enough to play both guard and tackle, which he did for the Hoosiers.
Spriggs, at 6-6, 301, has room to gain size and strength. He also has the feet to play tackle. He allowed just two sacks in 689 snaps at left tackle as a junior. He surrendered only two sacks in 475 pass plays at right guard as a senior.
Spriggs, who wears No. 78, is similar to Clark in that he is ready to play while also bringing the real potential to develop into something special. The Packers may have landed a starting-caliber left tackle – a necessity for every NFL team – in the second round.
Meantime, Spriggs will provide depth along the interior line. Thompson surely factored in the upcoming expiring contracts of David Bakhtiari, Josh Sitton and T.J. Lang into the mix.

Kyler Fackrell

With the 88^th overall selection, the Packers chose outside linebacker Kyler Fackrell of Utah State. Fackrell (6-5, 245) led the nation with five fumble recovers. He also led the Aggies with 15 tackles for loss, 12 quarterback hurries and four sacks.
Several of his best games came against the top competition. For instance, against Boise State he had 11 tackles, 2 ½ for loss, two fumble recoveries, two QB hurries and a forced fumble.Fackrell, 24, needs to add weight and strength, which should come with being exposed to the Packers’ strength and conditioning program.
Meantime, Fackrell (No. 51) should vie for time on the special teams’ units.

Blake Martinez

Blake Martinez (6-2, 237), an inside linebacker from Stanford, was chosen with the 131^st pick overall. Martinez, who will wear No. 50, led the Pac-12 with 10.1 tackles per game as a senior. He also had 75 solo tackles. A sure run stopper, Martinez is a rugged player who relishes contact and defends the run well.
He was available in the fourth round because of perceived limitations in pass coverage. The Packers didn’t stress over it because they needed an inside linebacker who can stuff the run. Martinez fits that bill.

Dean Lowry

The Packers then selected Dean Lowry, a 6-6, 296-pound defensive end from Northwestern.
Lowry, who will wear No. 94, ranked second among Wildcats with 13 ½ tackles for loss. He was a consensus all-second team Big Ten honoree.

Trevor Davis

Trevor Davis, 6-1, 188, was taken with the 163^rd pick in round five. The Cal receiver had seven touchdown receptions among his 64 catches during his career. A cynic could suggest those are awful low numbers for a fifth-round receiver.
On the contrary, seven of 64 is a pretty good TD-to-catch ratio. In addition, Davis is considered to be among the top kick-punt return men in the nation. If Ty Montgomery is slow to return from his ankle injury, Davis offers depth in the return game.

Kyle Murphy

Kyle Murphy, 6-6, 305, was chosen with the 200^th pick overall in the sixth round.
Murphy started all 14 games at left tackle for Stanford in 2015 and finished as a Phil Steele third-team All America player. He was first-team Pac-12 and figures to be a starting-caliber tackle of the future.
Chris Havel is a national best-selling author and his latest book is Lombardi: An Illustrated Life. Havel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4-6 p.m. CDT on WDUZ FM 107.5 The Fan, or on AM-1400, as well as Fan Internet Radio (www.thefan1075.com). Havel also hosts Event USA’s MVP Parties the evening before home games.

Between the Lines Podcast Coming Soon!

Introducing Event USA’s new exclusive, weekly podcast: “Between the Lines” with Super Bowl Champ Sean Jones and Chris Havel!
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By CHRIS HAVEL
Prospects strong for Packers’ GM Ted Thompson to mine gold for defensive front 7
Few would describe a team with the 27^th pick in the NFL draft as being in the catbird seat.
Then again, it’s not always where you pick. It’s what you do with the pick that counts.
Packers GM Ted Thompson is accustomed to selecting late in the first round. There’s nothing new there. When you crank out playoff teams on an annual basis it goes with the territory.
What puts Green Bay on solid footing in this year’s draft is a seemingly unusual number of quality defensive linemen that will be available when the Packers are on the clock.
Clemson’s Kevin Dodd, Oklahoma State’s Emmanuel Ogbah, UCLA’s Kenny Clark and Baylor’s Andrew Billings are just a few among an intriguing array of defensive linemen.
There is little debate as to the Packers’ greatest need: Help along the defensive front seven, especially at defensive tackle. B.J. Raji’s retirement, Mike Pennel’s four-game suspension and Josh Boyd’s comeback off a serious injury leaves the depth non-existent.
Furthermore, Pennel, Letroy Guion and Datone Jones all are subject to the NFL’s substance abuse testing and therefore face lengthy suspensions if they mess up.
I doubt even the great Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis could be a man-eater behind a defensive line that is so devoid depth and top-notch talent. Mike Daniels, Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers are the rocks. Inside linebacker Sam Barrington’s return is a blessing and Jake Ryan’s continued improvement in his second year is a positive.
Beyond that, edge rushers Nick Perry and Jayrone Elliott are about it.
The question is what’s Thompson’s game plan going in?

Ted Thompson: a shrewd poker player

It’s most likely that Thompson, a shrewd poker player if ever there was one, will sit tight and select the top player on his board along the defensive front seven.
Whether it’s an edge rusher like Boise State’s Kamalei Correa, an inside linebacker such as Alabama’s Reggie Ragland or the Packers’ preference among a strong group of defensive linemen remains to be seen.
A top-flight pass rusher such as Correa would be difficult to pass up. In fact, if Correa is there I believe Thompson will draft him. Perhaps a freakishly gifted athlete such as Ohio State linebacker Darron Lee might be tempting, but I suspect he’ll be long gone by the 27^th pick.
The notion of trading up might be intriguing to some, but given this draft’s depth at positions of need for Green Bay, it’s more likely Thompson will trade down than move up.
Also, it’s impossible to guess who the Packers will select without knowing who is already off the board.
However, Thompson’s draft habits aren’t a secret. He prefers to reward his talented, hard-working scouts by staying true to the board. In others words, he trusts the pre-draft process, and he’s an advocate of “the more, the merrier” when it comes to picks.
Why go to all the trouble of crossing T’s and dotting I’s if the GM is going to play a hunch. It’s why I believe Thompson will go with the best player on his board who lines up in the front seven. Strong cases could be made for several players.
At defensive end, Clemson’s Dodd (6-5, 274) is interesting because of his great work ethic, maturity and production. The trouble is Dodd is viewed as a one-year wonder by some scouts. It’s true he burst onto the scene last year after a non-descript college career. But that doesn’t mean he’s a flash-in-the-pan. It could be he finally was given an opportunity and seized it.
I prefer Oklahoma State’s Ogbah (6-4, 275) to Dodd because of his speed (a 4.62 40-yard dash), his athleticism (a 35 ½-inch vertical jump and his potential to be a top-notch pass rusher.
The knock on Ogbah is his “motor” and the perception that he doesn’t play hard all the time. Those are potential red flags, but Thompson and his scouts are paid to decipher fact from fiction.
At defensive tackle, UCLA’s Clark (6-2 ½, 312) likely could step in and contribute quality snaps immediately. He is a true run stuffer whose game is fairly polished at this stage.
Billings (6-0 ½, 311) is a pure 3-4 nose tackle. He’s powerful, stocky and strong at the point of attack. He isn’t pretty, given his blocky build, but he is productive. His presence would go a long way to providing stability up front.
Mississippi State’s Chris Jones (6-5 ½, 311) is a freak athlete. He was clocked in the 40-yard dash at 5.01 seconds and possesses a quick first step. Scouts are concerned with his occasional lack of hustle. Some suggest he’s a boom or bust.
Thompson typically plays it safe. So what’s going to happen Thursday night?
I have a sneaking suspicion that Thompson will sit tight and take the best available player in the defensive front seven. If a team comes calling to work a trade – and Thompson is certain he can still get a defensive player to his liking – he’ll move down.
Armed with more picks in the second and third rounds, he could have his choice among defensive players who could bring immediate help.
One scout told me he’d rather have two high second-round picks in this draft rather than one pick from 10 to 20 in the first round.
I agree.
The only other possible scenario I see would play out if a top-notch wide receiver somehow slipped to 27^th.
Now that would make for an interesting draft-day debate
Chris Havel is a national best-selling author and his latest book is Lombardi: An Illustrated Life. Havel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4-6 p.m. CDT on WDUZ FM 107.5 The Fan, or on AM-1400, as well as Fan Internet Radio (www.thefan1075.com). Havel also hosts Event USA’s MVP Parties the evening before home games.

By CHRIS HAVEL
Early Four Straight at home plus a bye in between could help Packers take control early
Say hello to the Green Bay Packers’ 2016 NFL schedule.
It is chock full of oddities, irregularities and head scratchers.
Fortunately for the Packers it also is replete with opportunity.
For instance, their opponents’ collective winning percentage of .457 ranked dead last a year ago. What the schedule offers in the way of strange, it more than makes up for in potential W’s.
After two straight road games to open, the schedule features four straight home games, sandwiched around a Week 4 bye (one before the bye and three straight after it).
That is prime time for Packers fans to sit outside, soak in the atmosphere and root for their team. Day or night, nothing says NFL football like September and October in Green Bay.
As an aside, the Week 4 bye can’t come too early for a team that played a five-game preseason schedule. The early bye should give McCarthy and his staff a chance to enable their players to rest, regroup and return refreshed to take charge in October.
The schedule also is highlighted by three December home games, and it concludes on New Year’s Day at Detroit, where the Packers should be popping the cork on champagne to celebrate a first-round bye and return as NFC North champions.
The December games are when McCarthy’s teams tend to peak. That and the cold weather should forge a home-field advantage that turns up the heat on J.J. Watt’s Houston Texans (Dec. 4), Seattle’s recently reassembled “Legion of Boom” (Dec. 11) and the currently but inevitably formerly NFC North champion Minnesota Vikings (Dec. 24).
The stretch affords a chance for a strong stretch run. The Texans are only one great player away from having no great players. The Seahawks are looking to their past to solve problems of the present. That’s never good.
Bringing back the “Legion of Boom” may work out for them, but if they haven’t noticed lately – and I hate to break the news to Seattle coach Pete Carroll – it’s the offense that has been the weak link and requires an upgrade.
Then it’ll be the Vikings coming to Lambeau Field on Christmas Eve day. The scheduled Saturday noon kickoff figures to be among the most anticipated starts of any game.
Here are several of the schedule’s quirks, curiosities and advantages:

QUIRKY:

This is the first time in 92 years that the Packers kick off the season with back-to-back road games.
They open against the perpetually, allegedly and often erroneously “new-and-improved” Jacksonville Jaguars Sept. 11. The heat, humidity and the Two Allens – Jacksonville receivers Hurd and Robinson – pose considerable challenges.
That said, there is absolutely zero chance Green Bay’s head coach, Mike McCarthy, and his team takes anyone lightly, not even the Jags, in the season opener.
It doesn’t hurt that the Packers will be flying to Florida straight off a hot training camp and five preseason games. If they aren’t ready and well-hydrated then they’ll never be.

OPPORTUNITY:

The Packers’ Week 2 game is a dandy.
The Packers travel to Minnesota in hopes of ruining the Vikings’ grand opening of U.S. Bank Stadium. The Sept. 18 game will be a nationally televised Sunday night affair featuring Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth and a whole lot of hopefully disappointed Vikings fans.
The Packers saw their celebration of Brett Favre’s induction into the Packer Hall of Fame, and Ron Wolf’s in commemoration of his Pro Football Hall of Fame induction, diluted by bad losses to the Bears and Lions.  Also the new improved Lambeau Field twelve years ago opened with a loss to the Northmen from Minnesota.
Revenge is a dish best served in prime time on national TV.
Eat up, Vikings.

CHALLENGE:

The Packers play three straight road games in November. They are at Tennessee (Nov. 13), at Washington (Nov. 20) and at Philadelphia (Nov. 28).
Remember the Titans? They’re the team that was constantly on the clock in rounds one through eight. While Tennessee may own the draft, the Packers should own the Titans.
Clearly, the Packers should be better with Jordy Nelson’s return, etc., than the Green Bay team that went to Washington and romped the Redskins in last season’s NFC wild-card round.
Then they travel to Philadelphia for a night game, a team that should be better under first-year head coach Doug Pederson. Then again, it’s never easy for any first-year coach, and the Packers should get out of there unscathed.

VERDICT:

I see 13-3, a first-round bye and a divisional playoff game at Lambeau Field. Beyond that, anything’s possible.
If the Packers don’t get to Super Bowl 51 in Houston I am certain of this: It won’t be because of their schedule.
Chris Havel is a national best-selling author and his latest book is Lombardi: An Illustrated Life. Havel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4-6 p.m. CDT on WDUZ FM 107.5 The Fan, or on AM-1400, as well as Fan Internet Radio (www.thefan1075.com). Havel also hosts Event USA’s MVP Parties the evening before home games.

By CHRIS HAVEL
Packers’ GM Thompson tasked with filling gaping limitations in Green Bay’s 3-4 defense
The Packers’ opportunity to have a championship-caliber season is tremendous. One of the most critical steps to get there seems fairly obvious.
In order for Green Bay to reclaim the NFC North title and regain its place among the conference’s elite teams, the Packers’ “3-4” defense must add quality depth at inside and outside linebacker.
Of course, Aaron Rodgers and the offense needs to find its way, but with healthy returns by Jordy Nelson, Ty Montgomery and the offensive line, plus Eddie Lacy’s reconditioned body, the Packers’ offensive production should skyrocket. That means it’s up to the defense – and the linebackers in particular – to do their part of the heavy lifting.
So where does the help come from? The remaining free agent options resemble a bin of picked-over fruit. The price may be right, but the quality is minimal and the product is beyond ripe.
That leaves the draft and subsequent pool of undrafted players. Packers GM Ted Thompson subscribes to the “draft the best available player” philosophy, rather than the “best player that fills the greatest need” approach.
Frankly, I believe it but only to a point. I have to think Thompson would select a linebacker, rather than a receiver in this year’s draft, if everything else was equal.
My point is this: On draft day nothing is equal. You take the best player for your team – period.
The Packers’ decision to take Michigan’s Jake Ryan in the fourth round last draft made sense. Ryan was projected to play inside and outside linebacker. The Packers needed help at both. He also had a fair amount of college experience which suggested he could play sooner than later. The Packers needed help sooner and Ryan eventually cracked the starting lineup.
Clearly, Ryan was an improvement over the Packers’ other inside linebackers (Clay Matthews the exception), otherwise he wouldn’t have become a starter. But that doesn’t mean he is the solution as one of the two starters at inside linebacker.
What it means is the Packers’ inside linebackers were so average that a fourth-round draft pick managed to crack the lineup. Ryan even made a few plays along the way. If you pair Ryan and a high draft pick together inside the Packers should be significantly improved from a year ago.
This is even better: Select an inside linebacker in the first or second round, and add an edge pass rusher (outside linebacker) who may (preferably) have the ability to move inside in the second or third round.
Doubling down at linebacker makes sense on several levels:

• There is no arguing that the inside linebackers specifically, and the linebackers in general, have been a disappointment. They are the weak link in a “3-4” that demands at least “four” quality linebackers.
• If the high draft pick fails to emerge, Ryan and the other linebacker (second or third round) should be able to do the job.
• If both high picks develop it solves immediate and long-term problems. The inside linebackers get better, while Matthews and/or Julius Peppers’ replacement is already on the roster.

Obviously, the big names at linebacker in this year’s draft have been identified. Alabama’s Reggie Ragland is a fierce hitter with pass rush ability who is suited to play inside on early downs. Ohio State’s Darron Lee is a speedster (4.4 40-yard dash) who is in the mold of Arizona’s Deone Buchanon and would be used in the heart of the defense on sub-packages.
Myles Jack of UCLA is a phenomenal athlete and quite likely a top 10 pick. Notre Dame’s Jaylon Smith is coming off a major knee injury (ACL and MCL) and would be tempting beyond the second round.
Here are several other possibilities:

• USC’s Su’a Cravens (6-1, 226) ran a 4.69 40-yard dash with the ability to get stronger in the NFL. He would be intriguing for a defensive coordinator who could utilize his play-making talents at or near the line of scrimmage.
• Arizona’s Scooby Wright III is a six-foot, 239-pound thumper who plays faster than he times.
• *Blake Martinez of Stanford is another pure inside linebacker type who would compete for playing time immediately.

Chris Havel is a national best-selling author and his latest book is Lombardi: An Illustrated Life. Havel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4-6 p.m. CDT on WDUZ FM 107.5 The Fan, or on AM-1400, as well as Fan Internet Radio (www.thefan1075.com). Havel also hosts Event USA’s MVP Parties the evening before home games.