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McCarthy wants Packers' offense to get back to basics

Joe Robbins / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Ever since Aaron Rodgers took over the starting quarterback role in 2008, the Green Bay Packers have been able to prepare for upcoming seasons safe in the knowledge that an elite offense was all but guaranteed.

From 2008-2014, the Packers' offense put together an outstanding string of production, finishing as a top-10 unit in total offense in six of the seven seasons, with the only drop off coming in 2012, when they ranked 13th.

In 2015, however, Green Bay didn't look like themselves on the offensive side. They finished the season 23rd in total offense and 15th in points per game. Without injured wide receiver Jordy Nelson, Rodgers looked mortal for the first time and the offense became predictable and stagnant.

Head coach Mike McCarthy reclaimed play-calling duties toward the end of the regular season, and he believes the Packers must return to a simpler form of offense in order to recapture their previous success.

"The best plays are still the basic plays," McCarthy said, according to Jeffri Chadiha of NFL.com. "It's not the design of the play. It's what everybody can do with that design ... That's what we have to get back to - winning with the fundamentals, with players and not plays. When you get in tough times, offensively, we may have leaned a little more towards plays instead of focusing on developing players. That's a big part of my getting back in there full-time (calling plays). That's how I built this thing, and that's how it should be ran. We got away from that a little bit."

Health will likely also be a key factor in the Packers regaining their form. The offensive line was unable to to create any chemistry due to the fact that only guard Josh Sitton started every game, while the receiving corps was stretched thin all season due to injuries.

If the offensive line can stay healthy and protect Rodgers, and if Nelson is the same player he was before his ACL tear, the Packers should be in position to return as one of the NFL's premier offenses.

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