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Observations and takeaways from Packers final minicamp practice

By: Paul Bretl 6/12/24

The Green Bay Packers wrapped up offseason programs on Wednesday with their final minicamp practice. The next time the Packers take the practice field will be on July 22nd when training camp begins.

As always, here are my observations and takeaways from what I saw on the practice field:

Joining Xavier McKinney, Jaire Alexander, and Keisean Nixon as absent from practice was Josh Jacobs. Just like the three defensive backs, Jacobs’ absence was excused by Matt LaFleur after he was present for all of OTAs.

Who was starting on the offensive line? Today’s initial offensive line configuration consisted of Rasheed Walker at left tackle, followed by Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Sean Rhyan, and Andre Dillard. A few plays later, we saw Jordan Morgan take over at right guard for Rhyan. The second unit was made up of Caleb Jones and left tackle, with Royce Newman, Jacob Monk, Rhyan, and Morgan following him.

An important thing to remember this time of the year when talking about the offensive line is that the pads aren’t on. Matt LaFleur would say after practice that they won’t truly know who their best five linemen will be until training camp unfolds and they see how each player performs in pads. LaFleur added that at that time, Morgan will be asked to focus in on one or two positions rather than four. Now, having said that, it was a rough showing for Andre Dillard today.

What about the linebackers? The linebacker configuration remained the same. In base, it was Quay Walker in the middle, with Isaiah McDuffie to his left and Eric Wilson to his right. In nickel, it was Walker lining up next to McDuffie initially and then Edgerrin Cooper. At safety, Javon Bullard and Evan Williams took the starting reps. Previously, we’ve seen Anthony Johnson in that mix. The versatility of those two is extremely fun to watch–they are being lined up all over the field.

It was a really impressive day for Brenton Cox. In my opinion he has separated himself in the early going from Keshawn Banks and Arron Mosby for that fifth defensive end role. There were two pass rush reps today where his physicality was on display as he popped the tackle in the chest driving them backwards.

Jordan Love and the starting wide receivers are playing extremely well. I mentioned this in yesterday’s takeaways, but you can see the comfort Love has as he navigates the pocket and finds the soft spots in the defense. The starting offense moved the ball quite well today.

Overall, it was another sound day for all three kickers. By my count, each of them would go 6-for-7 on the day. Practice once again ended with the team huddled around each kicker, yelling and throw water as they attempted a field goal. Jack Podlesny would miss from 51 yards while Greg Joseph and Anders Carlson would make. Then all three made from 54 yards. LaFleur said it is still “to be determined” if the Packers will carry three kickers into training camp. Also of note, the difference in power between Carlson and the other two is quite noticeable.

Two minute drill: The scenario was the offense starting at their own 25 yard line, down two points with 1:18 left on the clock and two timeouts. Love finished the drive 3-of-6 but had a few length completions in the 15 to 20-yard range that helped move the ball into field goal range, which was made by all three kickers. The other two offenses led by Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt would stall out before getting to midfield. The pass rush on both the second and third defenses were causing some havoc.

During the special teams drills, we saw the kick return team working on returning squibbed kicks, something we may see a lot of with the new kickoff rules. There was also a majority of the team taking part in special teams drills today, which tells us that there may be a number of roles up for grabs on a unit that finished 29th last season in Rick Gosselin’s annual rankings.

I’ll again mention Deslin Alexandre’s name as an under the radar player to watch heading into training camp. In a loaded defensive end room, making the final roster will be extremely tough, but he again flashed today, specifically when using his speed to get after the quarterback.

Packers RB Marshawn Lloyd focusing on pass-catching prior to training camp

By: Paul Bretl 6/12/24

Coming out of the offseason programs, Green Bay Packers rookie running back Marshawn Lloyd has one area of his game in particular that he is going to focus on before the team reconvenes for training camp: pass catching.

“Pass catching,” said Lloyd at his locker on Tuesday when asked what he will focus on. “Just being able to be available as a pass catcher. Being able to use my abilities to make people miss and be used in space. I feel like that’s something I’m gonna work on this whole offseason. It’s been pretty good.”

The pass-catching component at the running back position is an important factor in Matt LaFleur’s offense, and that not only means having reliable hands, but being able to move around the formation, handling different routes, and the ability to find and operate in space.

When the running back is able to impact the passing game, that can open up the playbook for LaFleur, helping to create one-on-one opportunities and matchup problems for both the running back and also his teammates to exploit.

“I feel like they’ve been using me pretty good and in different ways,” Lloyd said. “I’m super excited about the season. I’m just going to keep pushing throughout this whole break and just getting better and better each day.”

Lloyd wasn’t involved all that heavily in the passing game during his time in college–although as we saw with AJ Dillon, just because the opportunities weren’t there doesn’t mean there isn’t the ability. Over Lloyd’s final two seasons, he was targeted 43 times, including only 18 times in 2023. For some context, those 18 targets ranked 117th among running backs last season.

However, with those opportunities, Lloyd was incredibly efficient. He would catch 13 of those passes and averaged a whopping 17.8 yards per catch–an amount that turns your head if you’re talking about receivers, let alone a running back. Lloyd led all running backs in yards per catch in 2023 and average YAC per reception.

“He definitely can be a weapon out of the backfield,” said Matt LaFleur. “I love all the measurables. He’s a 220-pound back that runs 4.4 and can run routes out of the backfield. I think he could be a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses.”

When discussing Lloyd’s game, whether it be GM Brian Gutekunst or LaFleur, both have mentioned the speed that he brings to the Packers’ offense. That aspect of Lloyd’s skill set shows up in the aforementioned passing game numbers with his ability to work in space, but we also saw it on full display on the practice field on Tuesday.

During one particular play in 11-on-11s, there wasn’t a ton of room for Lloyd to operate as he ran between the tackles. But utilizing jump cuts and cutting on a dime, we saw his elusiveness and ability to change direction, followed by that burst of his as he turned upfield and pulled away from defenders.

Offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich has said that he wants Lloyd on the field as much as possible this season. As LaFleur said, he brings a different element to that running back room, which we saw in the described play above.

However, as is the case for any rookie, there is a learning curve that Lloyd is navigating. This includes learning a new playbook, acclimating to the speed of the NFL game, along with being able to handle the additional responsibilities that come with playing running back for the Packers, specifically pass catching and pass blocking.

But helping Lloyd through this transition is an experienced running back room. Lloyd mentioned at his locker that both Josh Jacobs and AJ Dillon have been very supportive and incredibly helpful, giving him advice and answering his questions.

“Oh it’s been amazing,” said Lloyd, “because like you said, AJ knows everything. He knows the whole playbook, he helps me and Josh. So if we need something, we’ll go to AJ.

“AJ’s just so supportive. He’s a massive human being. He helps us throughout everything. If I do something good on the field, he’ll let me know I do something good. If something was like ehh, he’ll let me know. It’s good to have AJ. A guy like AJ to be able to help me throughout this whole time.”

With offseason programs wrapping up on Wednesday, LaFleur said that the Packers have gone through all of their installs at this point. When Lloyd and the other rookies arrive back for training camp, that will be the second and third time that they are able to go through those installs, which will be beneficial and an opportunity to showcase the growth that has taken place.

Observations and takeaways from Packers first minicamp practice

By: Paul Bretl 6/11/24

The Green Bay Packers held the first of their two minicamp practices on Tuesday. Here are my key observations and takeaways from what I saw on the practice field.

Minicamp is mandatory but Xavier McKinney, Jaire Alexander, and Keisean Nixon were excused by Matt LaFleur. All three players have previously exceeded their threshold for offseason participation to qualify for their workout bonuses. Throughout offseason programs, LaFleur has raved about all three players.

Where was Jordan Morgan today? The Packers continued to rotated Morgan heavily as they search for where he fits best along the offensive line. Today, Morgan played both tackle spots as well as at right guard with the starters.

We saw a few different offensive line combinations blocking for Jordan Love. Initially, it was Andre Dillard at left tackle, followed by Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Sean Rhyan, and Morgan. Another combination we saw included Walker at left tackle, Morgan at right guard and Dillard at right tackle. The third configuration was Walker, Jenkins, Myers, Rhyan, and Morgan.

It felt like the Packers were taking a long look at Dillard. We saw him playing both tackle positions and on the field with both the starters and the backups.

Marshawn Llloyd really showcased his ability to change directions. He was very elusive with defenders nearby. With that said, AJ Dillon was still taking snaps ahead of him. Offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich said that he wants to get Lloyd involved this season, but how or if Dillon factors in remains to be seen.

We are going to see a lot more blitzing this season under Jeff Hafley. On Tuesday’s practice, we saw Edgerrin Cooper, Ty’Ron Hopper, and Eric Wilson all being asked to blitz fairly regularly. Cooper’s explosiveness is on full display on these plays, as well as on toss plays with his ability to move sideline-to-sideline and shoot the gaps.

Overall it was a really good day from the Packers’ defensive front. Colby Wooden and Kenneth Odumegwu were two of the standouts, as were Preston Smith and Rashan Gary. The defensive front also had two tipped passes as well.

Position notes on defense: As has been the case, Quay Walker was again the middle linebacker with Isaiah McDuffie to his left and Eric Wilson to his right. In nickel, it was McDuffie and Walker with Cooper eventually worked in. Cooper also took Wilson’s spot in base during the second time through the rotation. Without McKinney, Javon Bullard and Anthony Johnson started at safety with Evan Williams quickly being worked in. Johnson has been consistently taking the initial starting reps next to McKinney throughout OTAs. Corey Ballentine was also taking slot snaps with Nixon not practicing.

I was again impressed with Michael Pratt’s command and quick decision-making. During a red zone drill inside the 10 yard line, he had two quick and well placed completions that led to a score. Matt LaFleur has liked what he’s seen from Pratt but also noted the growth and understanding of the offense that still has to take place.

There is a noticeable difference when Love and the starting offense are on the field versus the second and third team offenses. For the most part, the second and third team defenses are winning their reps, but Love is very much in control right now and you can see the comfort in which he’s playing with by how he’s navigating the pocket and knowing where the opportunities are to take advantage of. Now, this doesn’t mean that the starting defense isn’t getting some wins, they did today during the two-minute drill. But Love and his receivers look quite good.

Zayne Anderson was the player of the day, coming away with three interceptions, all of which were off of Sean Clifford. I will call two of those interceptions being in the right place at the right time with one going off the receiver’s hands and another coming at the end of the two-minute drill with Sean Clifford heaving the ball towards the middle of the field as time expired.

Packers TE Tyler Davis on right path as he works his way back from injury

By: Paul Bretl 6/11/24

During the last three weeks of team OTAs, Green Bay Packers tight end Tyler Davis was, as he has been for roughly the last nine months now, off to the side while practice took place. However, while he still isn’t back on the field quite yet, Davis is feeling good and on the right path.

“I’m feeling good,” said Davis at his locker last Tuesday. “Getting there. It’s just a process. Taking it day by day, trying to do the best I can each day. Everything is moving in the right direction, so excited about it.”

Davis is still rehabbing from an ACL injury that he suffered last preseason, ending his 2023 season before it could even get started. The process of coming back from an ACL injury is long and can be mundane, to put it mildly.

At times, the mental aspect of the recovery can be challenging, just as the physical component of it is. Every day is a challenge but different than the normal grind that football players are accustomed to. In navigating this new hurdle, Davis attacked his rehab with the same competitive spirit he brings to the field.

“I think that’s the thing about it,” said Davis, “it’s a challenge every day. But as I looked at it, I feel like competitors look at things as like an enjoyable challenge. Something you can go out, and whether it’s the game or rehab or what not, just attacking it the same way that I did playing. So definitely just put your mind in a different place and attack it the same way you did football. It’s been good to sharpen my mind that way.”

While attacking the physical aspect of his rehab, Davis stayed engaged mentally by constantly being in the team facility. While he wasn’t able to be on the practice field with his teammates and fellow tight ends, as one of the veterans of that position group, Davis was still involved in meetings and able to answer questions or provide guidance when needed.

“It was awesome,” said Davis on seeing the growth of the rookie tight ends. “Obviously, because I kind of got to start with them in OTAs after they got drafted and whatnot. Seeing where they came from and then being able to help during the year, and seeing where they finished at was awesome to see.

“Very proud of those guys for how far they came because they really came a long way. It’s a credit to those guys and how much work they put it. I tried to help out the best I could from afar. Like you said, I tried to stay engaged. I love football so wasn’t really hard for me because I love the game, I love helping, I love leading. So it was cool being able to see those guys excel in their first year.”

In a tight end room that features Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave, along with an offseason for the Packers that saw them add Xavier McKinney and Josh Jacobs in free agency, their decision to re-sign Davis is likely a move that flew under the radar. However, in the ultimate team game, this is one of those back end of the roster additions that could prove valuable with Davis’ ability to impact the game in a variety of ways.

On offense, Davis certainly won’t be the focal point at tight end, but during the 2022 season, he was most often used as a blocker. His presence could provide added competition for Ben Sims, who primarily filled a blocking role last season. Perhaps, with Davis’ athleticism and versatility, the Packers have him fill the H-back role that is now vacant with Josiah Deguara in Jacksonville.

What, if any, role Davis has on offense is still to be determined, but his calling card is on special teams, where he has filled a do-it-all role in the past. Following Davis’ season-ending injury last August, Rich Bisaccia said that losing Davis was like losing his right hand because of all the roles he’s able to fill while doing so at a high level.

In 2022, Davis played 344 special teams snaps – the most on the team – and did so across five of the six special teams phases. He was also third on the team in tackles.

“It’s always interesting,” said Davis about his role on special teams, “but that’s why I love, that’s why I love this game, the preparation is the key and I love preparing. I know it might sound like a lot to a lot of people but to me it’s what I love to do, so it’s not anything too crazy for myself. I love my roles. I love to be on everything. I love the variety I can play with and just really looking forward to getting back to that.”

While dealing with the restrictions of the injury, Davis had to alter his offseason plan–striking a balance between rehabbing and not pushing himself too far while still trying to improve his game and hit his benchmarks.

Although it can be a difficult balance to reach, what happened was that it forced Davis to slow down and take a step back, something that he believed was a positive for him. This allowed Davis to circle back to some facets of his game that he hadn’t been able to work on during other offseasons, along with starting over, to a degree, with other aspects and being more detailed in his approach.

“I’ve looked at it in a positive way,” said Davis about rehabbing during the offseason. “It’s like, you know when you have an injury like this you kind of restart, so you start from ground zero.

“So some of the stuff you wanted to work on previously, you get to restart, go through at it at a slower pace to try to learn it a little bit better and take it a little bit slower with the restraints of the injury. I’ve looked at it as a positive thing for me to be able to fine-tune some things that I’ve previously wanted to work on.”

Just a year ago, the tight end position was one littered with question marks for the Packers. But today, it’s become a crowded room, with ascending talents in Musgrave and Kraft, an up-and-comer in Sims, along with Henry Pearson, who can also fill the move tight end role in the offense.

However, not to be forgotten about as he works his way back from injury is Davis. Both on and off the field, Davis has shown that he can make an impact on this Packers team while doing so in a variety of ways–and there is very much value in having that type of player on the roster.

“Tyler’s a stud,” said tight end coach John Dunn. “He is as dedicated of an individual as they come. There’s not enough good words I can say about Tyler, just him really being one of the veterans in the room, just the guidance.”

What to know and watch for during Packers’ minicamp

By: Paul Bretl 6/10/24

Offseason programs will conclude this week for the Green Bay Packers and are capped off with a minicamp, which will take place on June 11th and 12th.

Offseason programs began for the Packers back on April 15th, with OTAs taking place over the last three weeks. Up until this point, everything has been voluntary for the players, but minicamp is considered mandatory. Throughout OTAs, the Packers have had near-perfect attendance.

During minicamp, there still won’t be pads nor live tackling, but the players get their first taste of training camp with the intensity kicked up a few notches compared to OTAs.

Once these two days conclude, the team will break before they reconvene on July 22nd for their first training camp practice and, eventually, the preseason. Here are a few things I’ll be watching for over the next few days:

Do we see Jordan Morgan at right guard? The Packers have been moving Morgan around the offensive line during OTAs, but where we haven’t seen him is at right guard with the starters. Instead, Sean Rhyan has been taking those snaps. As the Packers search for their ‘best five’ on the offensive line, it feels like right guard is Morgan’s best chance right now at starting if he can push Rhyan for playing time. With Zach Tom nursing a pec injury, there hasn’t been any indication that he won’t be at right tackle and Rasheed Walker has been the go-to option at left tackle.

Javon Bullard and Evan Williams getting more involved on defense: Through the three OTA practices that were open to the media, we saw Javon Bullard and Evan Williams’ roles with the starting defense continue to progress–going from playing just with the backups during the first practice, to see snaps with Xavier McKinney during the third practice. As I wrote about following last week’s practice, we saw the versatility of this position group on display, with McKinney, Bullard, and Williams constantly being moved around the formation. We also saw all three of them on the field together and a lot of late post-snap movement to cause some confusion.

The rotation of the defensive front: Matt LaFleur really likes the depth that the Packers have at defensive tackle and defensive end. That element, coupled with Jeff Hafley’s attack one-gap defense, could result in a very heavy rotation up front this season. This potential hockey-like line rotation will help keep everyone fresh, providing no breaks for the offensive line, and also allow Hafley to get creative by mixing-and-matching his rotations based on the opponent, and putting each defender in a position where their skill set can be maximized.

AJ Dillon: Back in Green Bay on a one-year deal with very little non-guaranteed dollars, I wouldn’t Dillon consider a roster lock. However, in the early going, as Marshawn Lloyd gets up to speed and Josh Jacobs works his way back from a hamstring injury, Dillon has seen his share of snaps in OTAs with the starting offense. Dillon provides a reliable, well-rounded skill set to the Packers offense, which very much provides value. But where he needs to improve is in his playmaking, after averaging just 3.4 yards per carry last season, with only eight rushes of 10-plus yards. Dillon says he is in the best shape of his life, as he put it, looking a bit slimmer while still maintaining his muscle mass, hopefully giving him more juice with the ball in his hands.

How the linebacker rotation continues to evolve: It’s early, but the linebacker rotation is starting to take some shape. When the Packers have been in their base 4-3 defense, Quay Walker has been the middle linebacker with Isaiah McDuffie to his left and Eric Wilson to his right. When the Packers are in nickel, we’ve seen both McDuffie and Edgerrin Cooper lining up next to Walker. Also of note, particularly during the two-minute periods, we’ve seen more blitzing from the linebacker position. I’m curious to see how – or if – this rotation and the roles potentially change as Cooper gets more experience in the system.

Eric Stokes and Christian Watson: LaFleur has said that both players look the best physically that he has ever seen them. Both Stokes and Watson spent time this offseason at UW-Madison, trying to get to the root of their hamstring issues from last season. Stokes, Watson, and the Packers all feel good about where they are at and the path they are on, but as LaFleur said, only time will tell. Stokes has been getting the starting snaps opposite of Jaire Alexander through OTAs, while Watson’s burst of the offensive side of the ball is clear as day. Getting the most out of the offensive and defensive units for the Packers includes Stokes and Watson being high-impact players this season.

Opportunity for Henry Pearson: With Tucker Kraft sidelined with a pec injury and Tyler Davis still working his way back from an ACL injury, Pearson has been the Packers’ third tight end during OTAs, giving him an opportunity to showcase what he can do with the starting offense at times. Pearson can fill that do-it-all move tight end role and be a key special teams contributor if he’s able to make the final roster.

Offense vs. defense: Typically, in the early part of the year and even into training camp, it is the defense that has the advantage over the offense. However, the Packers’ offense has continuity, while the defensive side of the ball does not. LaFleur and Adam Stenavich have both said there is a night-and-day difference in the offense this offseason compared to last. The defense, meanwhile, is implementing a new system and has introduced several new players to the middle of it. When we do see some competitive 11-on-11 situations, I would expect the offense to be the one finding more success, especailly with how this unit finished last season.

Competition at kicker: LaFleur said in the early going of the offseason that each of the Packers’ three kickers have had their moments. There’s been good, and there’s been not-so-good for each of them. During the most recent practice that was open to the media, Anders Carlson, Greg Joseph, and Jack Podlesny all had sound days, with Carlson and Joseph going 6-for-7 on field goals and Podlesny 5-for-7. With so much time between where we are now and when the 53-man roster has to be put together, it’s going to be very difficult for someone to separate themselves from the group over a good day or two during minicamp. This competition is a marathon, not a sprint, with day-to-day consistency likely being the key factor in determining who will win this job.

Packers DL depth and new play style could result in hockey-like rotations

By: Paul Bretl 6/7/24

The Green Bay Packers’ depth along their defensive front, coupled with the attacking play style that this unit is asked to play with under Jeff Hafley, could result in a hockey-like rotation during games in an effort to keep everyone fresh.

Between the defensive tackle and defensive end positions, nine different players were relied upon regularly each week last season. While the depth of the receiver room on this Packers’ team is what garners a lot of the attention – and understandably so – Matt LaFleur is quite fond of the depth in the defensive trenches as well.

“I think much similar to the receiving group, we feel really good about our front,” said LaFleur after Tuesday’s practice. “When you’ve got RG and Preston and J.J. and then inside you’ve got Kenny Clark, Heavy D, Karl Brooks, Colby Wooden, I mean, there’s a lot of players there. T.J. Slaton. Like, we feel really good about the collective unit and I think each one of those guys is going to get more 1-on-1 opportunities along the way because it’s hard to zero in on just one guy.”

The need to heavily rotate players up front is twofold for the Packers. On the one hand, when there is quality depth, naturally, you want to get each of those players snaps. However, given the more aggressive play style of this group, which means more energy being exerted, a constant rotation – like line changes in hockey – is required to maximize the impact of each player.

In Joe Barry’s two-gap defense, as the name suggests, each member of the defensive line was responsible for two gaps, tasked with reading the movements of the offensive line and the backfield, then determining which gap was the most vulnerable and trying to fill it. Interior defenders are more so space eaters in this style of defense, helping to create opportunities for the edge rushers and linebackers to make the plays.

In Hafley’s defense, however, with the defensive line responsible for only one gap, there should be a much more proactive play style instead of reactive, with the front asked to get north and south quickly, penetrating their way into the backfield, rather than reacting to what the offense is doing. The job is to get north and south as quickly as possible.

“Individual group has been crazy,” said Kenny Clark during OTAs. “When we do drills and stuff I’m like, ‘Damn.’ We’ve got like a big group of defensive linemen now, so it’s going to be a lot different. But with this system, you’ve got to play like that. You can’t be out there like six snaps in a row and exert that much energy and make an impact on this defense.

“With this defense, you’ve got to be able to go and really get off the ball and give that energy and that effort every single play. So, we’ll definitely be rotating a lot this season.”

With depth comes a wide variety of skill sets. From a game-planning perspective, there is a layer of unpredictability that the Packers’ front can have, allowing for Hafley to mix-and-match his rotations from week-to-week depending upon the opponent. This can even be taken a step further if there is going to be movement between the defensive end and defensive tackle position groups.

There is also the ability to maximize those individual skill sets by putting each player in specific situations where they can thrive rather than having blanket rotations that are utilized regardless of the situation.

Collectively, this is a position group that the Packers need more consistency from this season. The Green Bay pass rush was very hot and cold last season, while they ranked 23rd in yards per carry, which includes a league-high four games where they allowed 200-plus rushing yards.

Improvement for the Packers’ defense as a whole starts up front. Slowing the run means putting the offense in predictable passing situations, and we all know how valuable quarterback pressures are in today’s game.

Although many are fixated on the new-look Packers’ secondary with the addition of Hafley as the defensive coordinator, what the defensive front is asked to do and potentially the way they are rotated could end up being quite the contrast from what we’ve seen in recent years.

“Anytime you’re trying to create things in the backfield, you’ve got to have the whole group swarm to make the play,” said defensive line coach Jason Rebrovich. “Can’t just be one guy making the tackle.

“So, you’ve got to make sure when you are creating a new line of scrimmage, when you are working to get in the backfield, there’s other guys that are going to converge. You can’t just sit there and watch one guy try and work to make one play.”

Greg Joseph’s experience in big moments could be advantage in Packers’ kicker competition

By: Paul Bretl 6/6/24

The three-way battle between Anders Carlson, Greg Joseph, and Jack Podlesny for the Packers’ starting kicking job is well underway, and through OTAs, it’s been a tight competition, with each player having his day.

“Like I mentioned before,” said Matt LaFleur after Tuesday’s practice, “it’s just the consistency day in and day out and I think all those guys have had their own moments where they’ve kind of won the day and it’s a tight battle.”

At kicker, there is no backup. One of these players will be playing in Brazil come Week 1, and the other two will likely be at home. Every practice, there is pressure to perform, and from an experience standpoint, Joseph has the edge over his counterparts.

Joseph has been in the NFL since 2018 after going undrafted out of Florida Atlantic. He has been in training camp competitions before and has attempted far more game-winners than Carlson and Podlesny. In 2022 alone, Joseph made five game-winning field goals, including a 61-yarder against the New York Giants.

“That was a fun one, for sure,” said Joseph of the 2022 season. “Just taking in, cherishing every team win, every moment, every opportunity you get like that, they’re all fun and all fond memories I’ll hold forever.”

Joseph has spent the last three seasons with the Vikings. Over his career, he has made 83 percent of his field goal attempts and has been extremely reliable on kicks under 40 yards, missing only one of his 65 attempts.

From 40-plus yards, however, Joseph is only 38-of-50, including 16-for-28 from over 50 yards. Playing in Cleveland in 2018, Joseph does have experience kicking in the elements, but he is just 3-for-7 in his career at Lambeau Field.

“We’re just trying to get him to be a little bit better, right?,” said Rich Bisaccia. “He’s been an indoor kicker now for a while, so being here is a little bit interesting. In our conversation with him, he hasn’t played well here, the two years I’ve been here. We blocked one, he missed one.

“So him playing in these conditions is a little bit different for him, as well. He’s got a tremendous leg. He’s got a great mindset. So, it’s been a good competition to this point. We expect it to stay that way for as long as Brian keeps three.”

Throughout much of OTAs, the Packers have had only two kickers participating in each practice, rotating who sits out. The reason behind this is to make sure each kicker gets enough reps when on the practice field.

Naturally, in the midst of a positional battle, it could be easy to watch how your counterparts are performing to keep tabs on where you stand in comparison. But Joseph remains fixated on his own performance and does his best not to closely follow how Carlson or Podlesny are performing.

“I have nothing bad to say about any of them. All good guys,” Joseph said. “The group all gets along great. We all learn from each other, push each other, etc.

“I just decide to stay in my own little world because that’s what I feel do best in a competition is just worrying about me. I don’t know how they’re doing; I only know how Greg Joseph is doing, and I’m going to keep it that way.”

Tuesday was just the second time all three kickers were a part of the same practice. As LaFleur said afterward, this provides a more “apples-to-apples” comparison, with each kicker dealing with the same conditions.

All three kickers had solid days. Podlesny would make 5-of-7 attempts, while Joseph and Carlson were each 6-for-7. In an effort to create a more hectic environment, practice would conclude with each kicker making a 53-yard attempt with their teammates huddled closley around them, yelling, splashing water, all while the music was blaring. Joseph and Podlesny would both miss to the left, but Carlson would make his before being swarmed by his teammates.

“Obviously, that doesn’t happen during a game so it’s not really game-like but, still, got to do better on each kick,” said Joseph. “Put together a good day before then; just didn’t see my eyes fully through on that one. Got to get better.”

Joseph is currently wearing the No. 2, just as Mason Crosby did for all those years. It wasn’t Joseph’s choice, it was the number handed to him when he arrived, but he did speak to Crosby about it, and got to go-ahead to wear it.

“We’ll see what happens when I make the team, jersey-wise,” Joseph said.

If Joseph is going to be the Packers’ kicker this season, he’ll have to outperform Carlson and Podlesny over the summer. However, Joseph isn’t all that concerned with how each of them is performing. Instead, his sole focus is on himself and controlling what Greg Joseph does.

“That’s where I really learned to focus on me,” said Joseph on his past experiences with kicking competitions. “Some guys might thrive off watching other people kick. I thrive in being in my own world because that’s where I really learn it’s me vs. me and focus on what I do and to get better on what I do each and every day, because that’s the only thing I can control.

“I don’t control what they do or anything outside of what Greg Joseph does kicking-wise.”

Motivated AJ Dillon ready to fill whatever role Packers need from him

By: Paul Bretl 6/5/24

As uncertainty surrounded AJ Dillon’s offseason with his future with the Packers up in the air as a pending free agent, Dillon focused on what he could control, and that was putting in the work.

Through the now three OTA practices that have been open to the media, Dillon appears to be a bit slimmer, while still maintaining his muscle mass, and as he put it, is in the best shape of his life.

“I think it was big getting him back,” said running backs coach Ben Sirmans. “I think when you look at the way we played towards the end of the season, I think that’s the guy that you’re going to get – a guy that’s going to play with that type of urgency, that type of attitude and besides that, I’m glad we have him back because he helps Josh out tremendously, especially in learning some of the different things we do within this offense.”

“But it’s been great having him back from that standpoint because now he’s taken hold of being one of the leaders. I said, now you’re one of the older guys on offense, so I think he’s taken hold of that in terms of his leadership and just the way he’s been working. This is as hard as I’ve seen him work in the offseason.”

With Dillon looking a bit leaner, that hopefully allows for more burst from him with the ball in his hands. Although he’s proven to be reliable in really every facet of the game, there has been a lack of playmaking ability when he has the ball.

By Dillon’s own admission, and Sirmans has agreed, there are times when Dillon is overthinking on the field, and rather than reacting to what’s happening and letting his natural abilities take over, he’s pressing, which can slow him down.

Last season, Dillon’s play did improve as the year went on. Through Dillon’s first seven games, he averaged 3.13 yards per rush with only one game where he averaged more than 4.0 yards per attempt. During his final eight games, he averaged 3.73 yards per carry with four games over 4.0 yards per rush.

But, when it was all said and done, he would still average only 3.4 yards per rush attempt. Dillon’s eight carries of 10-plus yards ranked 47th out of 58 eligible running backs. He also ranked 42nd in average yards after contact, which is supposed to be his calling card as a physical back.

“I’ve got a bunch of motivation but it’s all internal,” said Dillon. “I’m in the best shape of my life. I feel good so I’m ready to do whatever it takes. I want to go win a Super Bowl. I’ve been here – this is Year 5 now. We’ve been close. That’s really it. I’m going to go out, work and I’m going to be a dog in whatever capacity on game day. That’s it. Motivation? I’ve got it. Discipline? I’ve got it. I’m here and trying to be great.”

Whoever ends up as the primary second running back behind Josh Jacobs, the Packers need more juice from that position this season. When defenses don’t fear the run game, it drastically changes how they defend the offense. Specifically, it makes moving the ball through the air more challenging and can take away play-action opportunities.

Dillon will be competing with Marshawn Lloyd for that playing time, and the Packers also have Emanuel Wilson as well. From the sounds of it, Lloyd is already going to be a factor in the offense, with offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich recently saying that he “would like to get him out there as much as possible.”

However, even if that’s the case, that doesn’t mean Dillon can’t carve out a role in some capacity, whether that be as a third-down back in to pass protect, a ball carrier in certain situations, or even as an H-back, a role that Sirmans believes Dillon could fill. For what it’s worth at this time of the year, throughout OTAs, Dillon has still seen his fair share of opportunities with the starting offense.

Dillon is back in Green Bay on a one-year deal that comes with only a $167,500 dead cap hit if the Packers were to release him–so he is far from a roster lock. But with that said, there is certainly value in the leadership he brings, his familiarity with the offense, and his reliability as a ball carrier, pass-catcher, and blocker.

A strong offseason can be a catalyst towards improved play during the regular season, and while it’s still early, Dillon appears to be on that path. Some added burst and decisiveness to his already well-rounded skill set could help him level up in 2024.

“I envision going out there and balling out every time I’m on the field,” added Dillon. “Whatever that is, that’s for the coaches to decide. Like I said, I’m putting myself in the best position possible, in great shape, working, trying to lead, trying to cross my T’s and dot my I’s.

“Whether that’s special teams, running back, receiver, tight end, fullback, kicker, quarterback, I’m down to do whatever. I’m happy to be here. Like I said, I’m just going to put my helmet on and go to work.”

Packers ‘interchangeable’ safeties were on display during third OTA practice

By: Paul Bretl 6/4/24

Whenever GM Brian Gutekunst was asked to describe what he wanted at the safety position this offseason, the one word that continued to pop up was “interchangeable.”

“It really helps your defense to be multiple and flexible so teams can’t get a bead on what you’re doing,” Gutekunst said back in February. “So, in a perfect world, quite frankly, between the two safeties and the nickel, those three guys almost need to be interchangeable completely.”

Free agent signee Xavier McKinney filled a variety or roles during his time with the New York Giants—playing deep, in the box, and in the slot. Third-round pick Javon Bullard spent ample time in the slot and as the deep safety at Georgia, while the Packers believe that fourth-round pick Evan Williams can fill a similar role as Bullard with his movement skills.

During Tuesday’s third OTA practice that was open to the media, we saw the interchangeability that this trio possesses on display. From play-to-play, McKinney, Bullard, and Williams all filled different roles on the back end of the defense. This included slot and free safety snaps for Bullard, with McKinney and Williams both lining up deep and in the box.

There were also several instances where all three were on the field together, and there was a good amount of post-snap movement as well, with the safeties changing their positioning once the ball was snapped.

“I like to say this is the best group that I’ve been apart of since I’ve been in the league and that’s from me to whoever the last person is,” said McKinney about the safety room. It don’t matter. I think everybody’s done a great job.

“I think the talent level in our room is out of this roof. And it’s just going to be fun to play with these guys because everybody is smart. So we all working off of each other and we’re able to build off of each other and compete with each other and make each other better.”

Adding this level of versatility among multiple players to the safety position generates a layer of unpredictability to the Packers’ defense. Pre-snap, opposing offenses won’t be able to necessarily get a beat on what responsibility each player has or where they might end up as the play unfolds based solely upon who is on the field or where each safety is initially lined up.

From a game-planning perspective, this feature also opens up the playbook for Jeff Hafely, who has the flexibility to change things up from week-to-week depending on the opponent and what the Packers want to take away.

Along with the versatility that this unit possesses, and the schematic advantages of that, there is also a fast and physical play-style that the Packers now have in their revamped safety room. This is a ball-hawking group that flies to the football and is more than willing to help in the run game.

“I think we could be really special,” said McKinney of the Packers’ defense. “I think he’s going to allow us to be really aggressive, a defense that can create a lot of turnovers, and just play with our instincts.

“I think that’s the biggest part is just letting everybody have a personality about themselves, doing it obviously within the defense. Obviously we’re building right now, but I know eventually we’ll get to the point where he’ll give us the keys and let us do our thing, and we’ll just go off of his call, but I think the sky’s the limit for us as a defense.”

Improved play from the Packers’ defense as a whole will have to include a greater playmaking presence on the back-end. Last season, the Packers generated the second-fewest interceptions, ranked 23rd in pass deflections, with opposing quarterbacks averaging the ninth-most yards per pass attempt against them.

At the end of the day, players have to make plays when the opportunity presents itself, but given the versatile safety room that Gutekunst has built coupled with Hafley’s defense, some of the heavy lifting is going to be done pre-snap, helping to keep the quarterback off-balanced and perhaps, to a degree, guessing.

“Speaking to that,” said defensive backs coach Ryan Downard about the versatility at safety, “like Seattle, for example, they had a guy, Earl (Thomas), who was traditionally in the post, and Kam (Chancellor) was in the box, but you go back and watch their point of attacks, Kam’s got some reps in the post, too. So they both could do both things.

“Again, I just think in terms of preparation, you can’t always say OK this guy’s always going to be the one that’s rolling down into the box and he’s rotating to the post if he’s showing depth. I just think there’s an advantage not only from a game-planning standpoint but then I just think the things you’re able to do with the players – like if you have a guy that can cover and tackle, that’s obviously better than a guy that can just cover or can just tackle. Might be a little greedy on my part, but that’s what we’re striving to get.”

Observations and Takeaways from Packers final OTA practice

By: Paul Bretl 6/4/24

The Green Bay Packers held their final OTA practice that was open to the media on Tuesday. Next week, mandatory minicamp will take place June 11-13, and then the team will break until they reconvene in mid-July for training camp.

As always, here are my takeaways and observations from the OTA practice:

Perfect attendance: All 91 players on the Packers roster were in attendance in some capacity. Zach Tom, Tyler Davis, Kitan Oladapo, and Tucker Kraft were still not practicing. For the first time, Jaire Alexander wasn’t practicing either. We have not received an update as to why. Alex McGough returned after dropping out of the first practice two weeks ago, but he again dropped out this week.

Lukas Van Ness was back on the practice field after missing last week with a “little bit” of a broken thumb. Afterward, Matt LaFleur said he was excited about Van Ness, and mentioned many pass rushers take a “huge jump” in their second NFL season. Playing with his hand in the dirt in Jeff Hafley’s 4-3 defense will be familiar to him, after spending most of his career at Iowa playing that way.

I can’t sit here with certainty and say that AJ Dillon is slimmer following the offseason, but from a distance he looks that way while still being quite strong. During a pass-catching drill, his burst as he turned up field was impressive.

The starting offensive line consisted of Rasheed Walker at left tackle, followed by Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Sean Rhyan, and Jordan Morgan. While things can still change, Walker appears to be the clear No. 1 option at left tackle through OTAs. Along with playing right tackle, Morgan played left guard as well.

GM Brian Gutekunst frequently used the word ‘interchangeable’ this offseason to describe the safety position. Well, we saw that on display today with Xavier McKinney, Javon Bullard, and Evan Williams being moved all over the field. There were also plenty of three-safety looks from the defense today as well. During the first practice, Bullard and Williams worked strictly with the second and third defenses. Last week, they saw time with that group and the starters. Today, they were with the starters.

The special teams units are featuring a fair number of offensive and defensive starters at this time. This was a unit that again ranked as one of the worst in football by Rick Gosselin’s annual rankings. Once again, Daniel Whelan was quite impressive. This time last year we could see the big leg, but as Rich Bisaccia talked about over the course of last season, he’s got a better understanding of where his teammates will be, the type of kick to make, the direction, and more.

We knew this watching last year’s offense, but there are what feels like limitless combinations at receiver that Matt LaFleur can utilize. One combination that featured Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks out wide and Bo Melton in the slot ended in a 75 yard touchdown pass to Melton who got behind Eric Stokes and Anthony Johnson. After practice, LaFleur spoke very highly of Melton, and what he bring to the offense, both as a pass catcher and run blocker.

The versatility and the athleticism that the Packers have built along the offensive line could result in more opportunities to get blockers in space. We saw that a bit today as the Packers were clearly working on toss plays. Speaking of which, on one of those toss plays, Edgerrin Cooper blew it up in the backfield. A terrific display of his speed and ability to diagnose.

The linebacker position: As of now, Quay Walker appears to be the favorite to be the Mike and wear the green dot. When the Packers are in base, Walker is in the Middle, with Eric Wilson to his left and Isaiah McDuffie to his right. When the Packers were in nickel, Cooper was quickly rotated in.

Overall, it was a sound performance from all three kickers. Jack Podlesney finished the day 5-for-7. Greg Joseph was 6-for-7, as was Anders Carlson. To finish practice, all three kickers attempted field goals from 53 yards with their teammates closely huddled around them and yelling while the music blared. Podlesney and Joseph would both miss left, but Carlson would make his.

Sean Clifford in the two-minute drill: Practice again ended with a two-minute period. The offense was at their own 25-yard line and had a 1:30 on the clock. The defense dominated this matchup, with Clifford struggling to find anywhere to go with the ball while the pass rush closed in. We also saw the defense mix some blitzes in as well. The drive went four-and-out.

Jordan Love in the two-minute drill: In the same scenario as Clifford, Love led the offense into field goal range, with Carlson and Joseph each making the 57-yarder, while Podlesney missed. Love was very poised and in control, taking what the defense gave him as he stacked up nine and 10-yard completions.

Michael Pratt in the two-minute drill: This was another victory for the defense. Pratt finished the drive 1-for-4 with a drop from Malik Heath over the middle, ending the series.