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The Young and the Favreless: ’08 Packers even younger

On opening day in 2006, the Green Bay Packers were the youngest team in the NFL. Average age = 25.57.

And boy did they mature in 2007. Average age = 25.72, which again made them the youngest NFL squad.

It doesn’t take a mathematician, then, to predict that the Pack will again field the youngest team heading into ’08, considering the losses of Brett Favre (38), Rob Davis (39), Bubba Franks (30) and Koren Robinson (28) – all of whom will be replaced by much younger players.

Who’s the oldest now? Out of the nearly 80 guys currently on the roster, Green Bay has only six players 30 years of age or older. Donald Driver and Al Harris are the eldest at 33, Charles Woodson and Chad Clifton are both 31, and Mark Tauscher and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila are both 30.

Besides Vernand Morency, who is 28 years old entering his fourth NFL season, the rest of the Packers offense is 27 or younger. Most of the offense, in fact, is somewhere between 22 and 25. What about quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers, Brian Brohm and Matt Flynn? 24, 22 and 22, respectively.

Defensively, Aaron Kampman, Ryan Pickett and Brady Poppinga are 28. Everyone else under the tutelage of defensive coordinator Bob Sanders is 27 or younger.

General manager Ted Thompson has been firm in his strategy of building a winning team through the draft, which naturally results in younger players. It’s amazing how successful Thompson has been so far. Kudos definitely go to drafting young players with the ability and willingness to learn as well as to a Mike McCarthy-led system that provides valuable structure and support for the young guys.

Legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden said, “Young people need models, not critics.” Favre and Davis were those models the past two seasons. Now it’s time for others to step up and lead. A winning system is already in place.

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 15th, 2008 at 9:41 am and is filed under Aaron Rodgers, Brett Favre, Offseason. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.