If Aaron Rodgers and most of the Packers’ roster remains healthy Ray Nitschke Jersey , there’s no reason to expect a repeat of last season’s struggles."6-9-1 with Aaron Rodgers starting 16 games is a shocking development. The Green Bay Packers’ record — in conjunction with a terrible performance at home in December — were ultimately what got Mike McCarthy fired with four games to go last season. The fact remains that the Packers underachieved, and even if you give Aaron Rodgers the benefit of the doubt that he was significantly hampered all season long, it’s difficult to absorb that final line at the end of the year.With all the changes that have gone on in Green Bay this offseason, however, hope springs anew in Titletown. A new head coach and a revamped offense, big-name free agent signings on defense, and (hopefully) an exciting draft class should put the Packers squarely in position to compete again in 2019.Today, we find that this optimism is not limited just to those of us who follow the Packers. At least one national writer sees the Packers as the non-playoff team that is best-positioned to make a run at a championship in 2019.Of course, health is and will always be a critical factor. Rodgers needs to stay healthy. His receivers and offensive line do as well. And so do most of the key players on the defense. But if this roster adds some top-end talent in the NFL Draft and manages to stay largely intact throughout the season, there’s no reason to think that the Packers can’t be right in the thick of the NFC playoff picture come December.Linsleys organizing benefit for father of Corey’s bike kid | Packers.comThis type of event underlines just how close the Packers and their players are to the community. It's a special bond between team and city, and we wish the best for the Kohlbeck family.Aaron Jones Dave Robinson Jersey , Jamaal Williams both crack top-12 in RB success rate in 2018 | Packers WireWilliams' 3.7 YPC average lagged well behind Jones' league-leading 5.5, but both players did a really good job in 2018 of getting the yardage necessary to move the chains or at least keep the Packers ahead of the sticks.Five non-playoff teams that could jump to Super Bowl contention | SI.comSurprise, surprise: the Packers are on this list. They're at the top of the list, actually, with the Steelers, Browns, Raiders, and Jets behind them.Jordy Nelson: Would be hard to say no if Rodgers called - NFL.comRodgers doesn't make the personnel decisions in Green Bay (which is almost certainly a good thing), so the situation here is unlikely. But at least now Brian Gutekunst knows that if an emergency strikes in training camp, an old friend might be willing to come help out.Complete NFL Draft Grades for all 31* hats - SBNation.comPersonally, I'm not a fan of the Packers' draft hat for this year Reggie White Jersey , as New Era decided to go with some local flair and incorporate city and state flag designs into the hats. Still, there are some others that are far, far, far worse.Homes Closer To Breweries Have Higher Property Value Than Those Not Within Walking Distance, Study Finds – CBS PhillyMakes sense to me. I'd love to live within walking distance of a good brewpub! McCarthy doesn’t seem to understand how and why his coaching philosophy stopped working."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections The APC PodcastPackers Film RoomFantasy Football AdviceCDTShareTweetShareShareMike McCarthy’s definition of complacency seems to differ from the Packers’Steven Bisig-USA TODAY SportsThis week, ESPN’s Rob Demovsky conducted the first in-depth interview with former Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy since the team fired him, and it provides a fascinating window into his philosophy as a coach (and in life). It also illustrates how complacency and accountability can mean different things to different people. McCarthy comes across as an honorable man who believes in doing things a certain way. He objects strongly to the process of his own firing because of how it happened more than the fact that it did happen — because when he let people go, he would go about it in a certain way. That way generally involved treating players as family, being upfront and respectable, and yes, when they did mess up Jaire Alexander Jersey , holding them accountable. It is also pretty clear that McCarthy’s code and routine were the cause of some disconnect between McCarthy and the front office:McCarthy took offense to charges of complacency and lack of accountability, and from his perspective I can see why. The internal structure and relationships he built within his team did seem to be solid, and fostered an air of mutual respect. McCarthy ran a close-knit, tight ship. The issue is that the Packers are not a family. The Packers are a cold, heartless business focused on results. I found this quote particularly intriguing:McCarthy famously focused on execution on the football field. His entire coaching strategy was based on creating routine and a process around executing his plays as well as they could be executed. While there is nothing wrong with executing at a high level, the current NFL requires that coaches not just accept change, but embrace it. Criticisms of McCarthy focused on his lack of innovation. The Packers’ offense grew stale, and while the league reacted to an ever-changing landscape, he stayed the same. That lack of innovation is its own form of complacency, and the lack of insight in this interview is revealing. No one accused McCarthy of a poor work ethic or lack of discipline, and the way he takes offense is interesting because he doesn’t seem to understand why his team struggled or why he was fired. McCarthy was fired because his scheme failed to stay ahead of the curve strategically Josh Jackson Jersey , and executing on a poor strategy doesn’t win you anything.The flavor of the day in the NFL is the innovative young mind, but that’s a fairly superficial oversimplification. Andy Reid is still getting it done, as is Bill Belichick, and neither are exactly babies. The biggest successes in the league do a different kind of homework than McCarthy, and until he realizes that, he won’t be effective in his next role either.