PPP: Quarterbacks

In 2007, the Green Bay Packers quarterback play exceeded all expectations. Coming into the season, Brett Favre was thought to be on the downside of his career, but proved the pundits wrong, while Aaron Rodgers showed that he could play. Ingle Martin's dismal preseason doomed his hopes of making the roster while Craig Nall came back on board due to Rodgers' injury.

Let's take a look at each quarterback's stats:

Brett Favre
Comp: 356
Att: 535
Yds: 4155
Comp%: 66.3
TD: 28
INT: 15
Long: 82t
Sack: 15
Rating: 95.7

Best game (tough decision): Week 3 vs. San Diego
Comp: 28
Att: 45
Yds: 369
TDs: 3
INT: 0
Comp%: 62.2
Rating: 110.3

Favre had a remarkable year in 2007. No one expected him to have this type of year at the age he had it at. He owns most of the passing record books now and helped the Packers to their first NFC Championship Game appearance since the 1997 season. Favre missed most of the Dallas game with shoulder and elbow injuries but returned the next week, keeping his starts streak intact. The Packers finished 13-3.

Aaron Rodgers
Comp: 20
Att: 28
Yds: 218
Comp%: 71.4
TD: 1
INT: 0
Long: 43
Sack: 3
Rating: 106.0

Best game (easy decision): Week 13 @ Dallas
Comp: 16
Att: 26
Yds: 201
TDs: 1
INT: 0
Comp%: 69.2
Rating: 104.8

Rodgers finally got his first taste of big game action Week 13 at Dallas in front of a national, DirecTV-subscribing audience. Rodgers relieved Favre early in the game and did his best to keep the Packers in the game, pulling them to within three before the Cowboys pulled away. Rodgers, as Favre's heir apparent, has seen much scrutiny in his short career. He showed he could play against Dallas, however, but there are questions about his health, as he pulled his hamstring the next week in practice, causing him to miss most of the rest of the season, and he broke his foot in 2006, ending his campaign early. Rodgers is the future of the Packers.

Craig Nall
Comp: 7
Att: 15
Yds: 88
Comp%: 46.7
TD: 1
INT: 0
Long: 32t
Sack: 1
Rating: 87.6

Best game (easy decision): Week 17 vs. Detroit
Comp: 7
Att: 15
Yds: 88
TDs: 1
INT: 0
Comp%: 46.7
Rating: 87.6

Nall was re-signed by the Packers after Rodgers' hamstring injury. Nall was a Packers backup from 2002-2005. He is not expected to return next season, as he continues his search for a starting job.

2007 Grade: A

2008 Outlook
The outlook for 2008 looks very good for the Packers quarterbacks. Favre is still solid and adjusted well to be being a game manager with Ryan Grant's emergence. His willingness to tutor Rodgers will continue to be a help. Some regression can be expected with Favre's age, while Rodgers showed in 2007 that he could play. I would expect to see more of Rodgers in the second and third quarters of games, and earlier in garbage time. Favre has to retire eventually (I think), but he will be able to produce solidly in 2008. He will not be able to perform at the 2007 level, but I would say somewhere in the neighborhood of 3500 yards and 20 TDs. And Rodgers is waiting in the wings for him, if needed.

2008 Projected Grade: B+

Draft Needs
I personally do not think there are any. I have enough faith in Rodgers that the Packers do not need to draft him. However, I have seen mock drafts with the Packers picking Kentucky quarterback Andre Woodson in the second round. Personally, I think that is too early for the Packers to pick a quarterback. I can see the Packers taking a risk on a small-school quarterback such as Josh Johnson from San Diego or Ricky Santos from New Hampshire, much like they did with Ingle Martin out of Furman a few years back. But if the need is not there, why address it?