Six Guys the Packers Can’t Afford to Lose

Written by Mike Davidsen Tuesday, 31 August 2010 07:39

Something that Packers fans tend to forget as we bask in this preseason hype is how quickly the season can go down the toilet, with just an injury or two. Here are six players that I believe the Packers would have a difficult time playing without in 2010. Some players that just missed this list are B.J. Raji, Jermichael Finley and Greg Jennings.

6. Chad Clifton

After seeing last year the kind of damage that can occur when Clifton isn’t in the lineup, I’m inclined to put Chad higher up on this list. However, the Packers now have rookie Bryan Bulaga, who may not have Clifton’s experience under his belt, but has made big strides in Green Bay so far. At the same time, Clifton plays the offensive line’s most important position at left tackle and is key to keeping Aaron Rodgers off the ground.

5.Ryan Grant

As much as we’d like to think that Brandon Jackson could carry load if Grant got injured, we know in the back of our minds that it’s a scary thought. While it appears that Jackson has improved this preseason, my best bet is that Jackson would only be slightly better than he was in 2007 if thrown into the starting role. Grant’s one-cut running style works well with the Packers’ zone blocking scheme – a skill that the Packers’ other backs don’t match.

4. Nick Collins

A big reason why I take Nick Collins over Chad Clifton and Ryan Grant here is because of the scary lack of depth behind him at free safety. When Collins sits, the Packers get their choice between Will Blackmon (who’s playing a new position) and Derrick Martin, who normally plays the strong side. Both options are not ideal for the Packers, who saw this situation like this play out last year when Atari Bigby missed playing time. Collins’ ball hawking abilities are a vital part of the Packers’ turnover-heavy defense.

3. Clay Matthews

This preseason has been a good indicator of how stagnant the Packers’ pass rush can be without their premier pass rusher, Clay Matthews. Like it or not, Matthews is and will be the Packers’ main source of pressure on quarterbacks. The team knows that they don’t have much behind Matthews, having experimented with several names while he’s been injured. If Matthews were to go down during the regular season, a major weakness for the team becomes a terrifying hole.

2. Charles Woodson

The combination of Charles Woodson and Tramon Williams as the Packers’ starting cornerbacks doesn’t worry me nearly as much as the combination of Al Harris and Tramon Williams. Al Harris brings top-tier coverage abilities – just not the unparalleled athleticism and versatility that Woodson does. Woodson is a key component of the Dom Capers defense, nabbing the defensive player of the year award last season. When you lose Woodson, you lose a player with 28 interceptions over the past four seasons and valuable leadership on defense.

1. Aaron Rodgers

The value of Aaron Rodgers to the Packers can be summed up in one sentence: if he goes down for extended period of time (eight weeks or more), the Packers’ playoff hopes get much dimmer. As I’ve explained in an earlier post, Matt Flynn or a veteran quarterback may be able to hold the team up for a short period of time, but likely don’t have what it takes to get the Packers to the playoffs over eight plus games. Rodgers is the clear-cut centerpiece of the offense and the team’s unquestioned leader.

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