ESPN La Crosse 105.5

One player at each Packers offensive position group to watch during Week 2 of OTAs

By: Paul Bretl 5/28/24

This will be the second week of Organized Team Activities (OTAs) for the Green Bay Packers, with Wednesday’s practice open to the media.

Last week’s practice that we were able to view was moving at a slower pace during team drills. Matt LaFleur mentioned afterward that this was intentional, with the focus being on teaching, and as the players get more practices under their belts, the pace will pick up.

“I think it’s gonna happen organically,” said LaFleur on when things will speed up. “We kinda approached the offseason last year in a similar fashion. That first week was more jog-through and then we started to pick up the tempo as we went.

“I obviously wanna be mindful and make sure we’re doing things the right way around here, but I think learning how to practice is part of the process. You got a lot of new guys in there and they gotta learn and we’ll pick up the speed as we progress later throughout OTAs.”

Also of note, there are two groups on opposite ends of the field that are going through 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills at the same time. One group is made up primarily of expected starters. On the other side of the field are the backups. Working with the ‘starters’ initially were only returning players. The rookies were with the second group.

So when the Packers were in their new base 4-3 defense, it was Eric Wilson next to Quay Walker and Isaiah McDuffie. Lining up next to Xavier McKinney was Anthony Johnson, while Rasheed Walker started at left tackle and Andre Dillard at right tackle with Zach Tom sidelined.

Eventually, we saw Jordan Morgan taking snaps at both right and left tackle. With Josh Jacobs out, Marshawn Lloyd was the second running back behind AJ Dillon, and Edgerrin Cooper saw snaps at linebacker with this group. This, of course, doesn’t mean Anthony Johnson will be starting come Week 1, but it goes to show that starting snaps won’t be handed out either. The rookies have to first show they can handle the new responsibilities being thrown at them.

“They’ve been great,” said LaFleur of the rookies. “I think that’s one thing, personally, that I have so much appreciation for Gutey and his staff for the type of people that they bring in the building.

“You can never be around enough high-character people that love the game of football, that are willing to put in the work and are very coachable. It makes it a lot easier to come to work each and every day. It gives you more excitement to come in here to try to build something special together.”

So, in preparation for this week’s practices, one of which the media can view, here is one player from each position group on offense that I’ll be keeping my eyes on.

Quarterback: Sean Clifford

Naturally, with the Packers adding quarterback Michael Pratt in the draft, that can lead to speculation around what that means for Sean Clifford. However, by all accounts, the Packers remain very high on Clifford, and as I wrote about recently, the addition of Pratt is more so about getting back to an organizational philosophy around developing quarterbacks than feeling the need to find an upgrade for Clifford.

Clifford is now entering his second season in LaFleur’s offense, which should give him a big advantage over Pratt. Quarterbacks coach Tom Clements also mentioned how well Clifford progressed last season and that he expects a big jump in Year 2.

“Sean, he definitely did grow,” said Clements. He’s like a game-type gamer. A little bit of Matt Flynn in him. Once the season started, and he was running the scout team, and he started to become more familiar with our offense and then running opposing team’s offenses, you usually have a lot of similar plays, and he ran the scout team very well, ran the huddle well, he’s a good leader, and he started to make plays throughout the year.”

Running back: AJ Dillon

We know that Josh Jacobs will be the Packers’ top running back and has the ability to handle a full workload. Based on what offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich had to say, it does sound like Marshawn Lloyd is going to see his fair share of snaps this season as well. So my big question at this position is, what kind of role – if any – can AJ Dillon carve out? We know he brings reliability to the position, but he has to show more burst after averaging just 3.4 yards per rush last season. I’ve also pontificated on Dillon being used similarly to an H-back, so watching where he’s lining up and what he’s being asked to do will be on my radar.

“I think he’s definitely capable of that,” said running backs coach Ben Sirmans when asked if Dillon can play H-back. “I still remember a play we have called 18 Zoro where he helps the tight end blocking off the edge and roll up to the next level.

“He did a great job with that and so many other things that we had him leading to even if he was blocking for a wide receiver so he can do some of those things and with him doing that, obviously it’ll make our offense a lot more diverse because you saw how he is catching the ball out of the backfield, especially the last half of the season, he can make things happen. Having him being that diverse is going to help this offense.”

Wide Receiver: Christian Watson

Going through individual drills last week, the speed and burst of a fully healthy Christian Watson was on display. From the sounds of it, with the help of UW-Madison, the Packers got to the bottom of Watson’s lingering hamstring injury issues were. But as LaFleur mentioned afterward, while they feel good about where things are at, only time will tell if they’ve truly solved this problem. When Watson is a full go, defenses are forced to defend this Packers’ offense differently. Watson’s presence not only brings big play potential for himself to capitalize on, but he also opens up opportunities for others with his gravity.

“Time will tell,” said LaFleur about Watson. “Certainly you’ve got to get through the entire offseason, into training camp. There’s a lot of volume in training camp, so we get through that, then we’ll feel pretty good about it. Both he and Stokes look like they’re probably in the best shape I’ve seen either one of them.”

Tight end: Henry Pearson

With Tucker Kraft sidelined with a pec injury, that resulted in more opportunities for Henry Pearson. Pearson signed as a UDFA following the 2023 draft and spent most of the year on the practice squad. He is listed as a fullback, just as Deguara was, and could be the top candidate to take those H-back snaps this season with his ability to move around the formation and impact the game as a blocker and pass catcher. A big opportunity awaits Pearson with the additional reps he’s going to get.

“Henry’s a guy, he always busts his butt,” said LaFleur during rookie minicamp. “I think there’s a great opportunity for everybody here, quite frankly. And that’s one of the things that we talked to the team about. It doesn’t matter, first-rounder, UDFA, if you’re a tryout guy, you;re here for a reason. You got an opportunity and it’s really on them to go out there and showcase what they can do and you got two days to leave a pretty good impression.”

Offensive Line: Jordan Morgan

It’s easy to see Morgan’s athleticism with how quickly he can move his feet, but I’m also quite curious to see where he is lining up and with what unit he’s working with. As already mentioned, last week we saw him taking snaps at both right and left tackle. Morgan spent his career at Arizona playing left tackle, but the Packers like his versatility, which will also allow him to play guard if needed. When Stenavich spoke with the media recently, he was non-committal regarding where Morgan would line up. That not only depends on Morgan but also on how everyone around him is performing as the Packers search for the “best five.” Along with making the leap from college to the NFL, as the Packers move Morgan around, there will be an additional learning curve with each new position they ask him to play. Not to be forgotten about at left tackle is Rasheed Walker, who is “a lot more confident” heading into Year 3.

“It’s a little bit extra,” said Morgan on playing different positions. “A little more studying and extra film work and extra on-field stuff. It helps a lot. It’s easy to pick up, just like I said, flip it. It makes it easier.”

Packers new defense brings change for Kenny Clark and more disruption opportunities

By: Paul Bretl 5/24/24

Green Bay Packers’ defensive tackle Kenny Clark has spent his entire career, including his time at UCLA, playing in a 3-4 defense. So, as Clark enters his ninth NFL season, change is in store for him, but it’s something he’s looking forward to.

“I think it’s going to be really good,” said Clark on transitioning to a 4-3 scheme. “It’s one of things where all my career I’ve been kind of been playing this way, but in more of a controlled way.

“And I think now this is giving us a chance to shut all that other stuff off, no technique really and just use your ability and just go up the field and be disruptive. I just think with my get-off and how I am, I think it’s going to suit me well.”

Naturally, under new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, much of the attention from the outside has been focused on the secondary and the change in play style on the back end. However, the Packers’ defensive front is going to be asked to do some different things as well.

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.

Defensive line coach Jason Rebrovich calls this an “attack front,” where it’s all about “TFLs and sacks.”

“It’s been awesome,” said Clark. “I’ve been able to watch Seattle, the 49ers, I watched a lot of Buffalo with Kyle Williams. So, if you play with the right mentality and you’re getting off the ball and playing with the right effort level, this defense is just made for that.

“You’ve got guys like Michael Bennett, he was like 270. He was a great player. I’ve got a lot of respect for Michael Bennett. He was in at the 3-tech, he’s at the 4i (inside shoulder of the tackle), he’s at the nose and he was able to disrupt and make all those plays just with his mentality and how he plays the game. And I think it just suits us well, it suits me well and how I like to play the game.”

In addition to the more aggressive and proactive play style that Hafley’s defense asks of the front, it also means that Clark won’t be lining up at defensive end anymore, “just 3-tech and nose…but primarily 3-tech,” said Clark at his locker.

Even in what is, relatively speaking, a more passive front under Barry, Clark remained highly productive. He set a career-high in sacks last season with 7.5, while his 66 pressures were the sixth-most among all interior defensive linemen. However, under Hafley, where the defensive tackle’s job is to get into the backfield as quickly as possible, the opportunity is there for Clark to be even more disruptive.

“Every offseason I would go out and train with guys,” Clark said. “I’m a big fan of the game, so I trained with DeForest Buckner and (Arik) Armstead and all those guys, and they played a 4-3 their whole career.

“So I would check up with them and see what it’s like playing in that. I always wondered what it was like, but now that I’m in it, I see how they made so many TFLs and all those plays they were always making. It all makes sense. They were really just cutting it loose that whole time.”

With the need for a relentless pursuit of the ball carrier a staple of what the defenisve front’s responsibilities are going to be, that increases the importance of having depth within the position group because of the constant effort and energy being exerted–meaning that players will be rotated heavily.

To help with this, Clark also said that he wants to get lighter. He played last season at 305 but might try getting to the 297 range, adding that he hasn’t been under 300 pounds since high school.

“Individual group has been crazy,” he added. “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.”

Improved play from the defense as a whole starts with more consistency up front. This is a group that ranked 23rd in average yards per carry allowed last season and gave up 200-plus rushing yards in four games. The pass rush also ran very hot and cold.

The quickest way to blow up any offensive play is with immediate pressure up the middle. That not only becomes an emphasis for the defensive front but the focal point of what Clark and his teammates are going to be asked to do.

“I was able to make some plays,” said Clark, “but now I’m going to make more. I’ve got to make more.”

Packers LT Rasheed Walker ‘a lot more confident’ heading into Year 3

By: Paul Bretl 5/24/24

The Green Bay Packers drafted left tackle Jordan Morgan in the first round, providing competition for Rasheed Walker. However, after playing 974 snaps last season, Walker is confident in his ability to prepare and perform on the field.

“I feel elite,” said Walker after Tuesday’s OTA practice. “Names and labels don’t really dictate how I move. I see man just as man is. I’m in a good spot. I’m never really worried about who I’m going against. It’s am I prepared? What do I have to do to prepare? That’s where I keep my focus on.”

With David Bakhtiari’s season ending after the first game, Walker was thrust into the starting left tackle role. As should have been expected, there were ups and downs as Walker navigated starting for the first time.

He finished the 2023 season, allowing six sacks and 36 pressures. Out of 50 eligible tackles, Walker ranked 35th in PFF’s pass-blocking efficiency metric and 41st in run-blocking grade.

When either Matt LaFleur or Adam Stenavich have been asked about Walker’s play, they both noted the athleticism and flashes he showcased, along with the need for more consistency over the course of a game, “playing 70 plays at a high level,” as LaFleur put it.

While Walker’s overall numbers show up and down play, like many of the Packers’ young players on offense last season, he began to find his footing during the second half of the season. During Week 9, the Packers introduced an in-game rotation at left tackle with Walker and Yosh Nijman that lasted six games before Walker asserted himself as the full-time starter.

Over Green Bay’s final six games, including the two playoff games, Walker gave up just one sack and nine pressures. He ranked 10th in pass-blocking efficiency and 29th in run-blocking grade.

“That you just have to be locked in every play,” said Walker on what he learned from last season. “It’s all really about preparation and confidence. As long as you prepare the right way, go into a game confident, and have a short-term memory while playing, you’ll put yourself in a good position.

“That’s how I go about it: staying focused, being consistent with my preparation and ignore the good plays and ignore the bad plays. Just be good every play.”

During Tuesday’s OTA practice that was open to the media, Walker was the Packers’ starting left tackle. Morgan would see snaps at both tackle positions during that practice.

A theme of the offseason, when GM Brian Gutekunst spoke with the media, was the importance of creating competition within each position group to help elevate the entire unit’s play. Competition along the offensive line certainly isn’t anything new to the Packers, nor is it for Walker, who has been competing for a roster spot or playing time since he was selected in the seventh-round of the 2022 NFL draft.

Morgan may be a first-round pick, but Walker has experience and now confidence that should make him the front-runner for the Packers’ starting left tackle.

“I would say I’m a lot more confident than when I first started,” said Walker. “More decisive, being able to play faster.”

Zach Tom’s ‘big goals’ for 2024 on hold due to pec injury

By: Paul Bretl 5/22/24

Zach Tom has big goals entering his third NFL season, but that will have to be put on hold as he deals with a pec injury that will keep him sidelined for the time being.

Tuesday’s OTA practice was the first open to the media. As the team went through warmups, Tom was off to the side without his helmet, riding the stationary bike. We would learn afterward that he suffered a torn pec in mid-April while lifting.

“It’s good,” said Tom of his injury. “I had surgery about a month ago. I was in the sling for a little bit. Now, we’re working our way back into it, doing some exercises. They said it was about an eight- to 12-week recovery from the date of surgery, so, hopefully, I should be back at least by mid-August.”

Depending on Tom’s recovery timeline, if he is on the shorter end of things, he could be ready to go by the start of training camp, as he mentions. However, if he is on the longer end of that 8-12-week timeframe, it could be mid or late August before he’s back on the practice field.

Tom is taking things “day-by-day,” adding that pec injuries are not something you want to rush back from. Along with rehab, he’s focused on making sure he stays in shape so he can hit the ground running when is able to return to the field.

“Well, obviously, I can’t use the injured arm so I can work out the other one,” said Tom. “They’ve got some things in there that helps me be able to work this out without using a bunch of weight. So, I’ve been doing all of that. Just rolling with the punches, trying to get back as soon as I can but also being careful because, obviously, you don’t want to make it worse.”

Last season was Tom’s first full year as a starter. According to PFF, he would surrender just two sacks along with 37 pressures. Out of 50 eligible tackles, Tom ranked 13th in pass-blocking efficiency.

Making Tom’s performance even more impressive was the competition he went up against. Of the NFL’s top 10 edge rushers in terms of total pressures, Tom faced six of them, including Nick Bosa, Aidan Hutchinson, Micah Parsons, and Maxx Crosby, all of whom finished in the top-four of that pressure category.

Despite Tom’s high level of play last season, he’s only focused on improving in 2024:

“However many sacks I gave up is too many,” Tom said. “This was really my first year starting and I was able to go up against some of those premier guys. Learned a lot. Now, this year, come back even better. I’ve got big goals in mind for this year.”

When Tom is back on the practice field, we will likely see him at right tackle, but his versatility gives the Packers options in where they line him up as they search for their best five offensive linemen.

If the Packers feel comfortable with Rashee Walker or Jordan Morgan playing on the right side, that could give them the flexibility to to have Tom compete at center with Josh Myers, where Green Bay reportedly things very highly of Tom and his abilities.

On the flip side, there is also something to be said for letting a young player stick to one position where he can continue to develop, especially with right tackle being one of the more important positions in football.

“He did a great job,” said LaFleur of Tom’s play last season. “But I think it’s still, he provides so much flexibility ’cause he’s been able to, I mean he’s played multiple positions and so, that really affords you the best opportunity to get the best five out there, wherever it may fall.

“So, we know what he can do obviously at right tackle. We’ve got a large sample size and we feel really good about that. And again, it’ll sort itself out eventually down the road.”

For the time being, without Tom on the practice field, the Packers have the ability to get other tackles starting reps on the right side. During Tuesday’s practice, we saw Andre Dillard and Jordan Morgan lined up at right tackle with the starters. With the second-team offense, it was Luke Tenuta.

Tom’s focus right now is on getting fully healthy and back on the practice field. But once he checks that box, his sights will be set on knocking out some big goals this season.

“Obviously, one goal is to not give up any sacks,” Tom said. “The All-Pro and Pro Bowl and all that, a lot of that is a popularity contest. I’m not really into that so, those would be nice, but I hold myself to a high standard already, so I don’t really care about those awards. I do, but I don’t really think those are the be-all, end-all of whether you played well or not. I hold myself to a high standard. I’ve just got to go out there and do it.”

Packers DT Colby Wooden puts on weight to better suit role in 2024

By: Paul Bretl 5/22/24

Tuesday was the first Packers’ OTA practice that was open to the media, and as the players were going through their stretching period, it was clear that defensive tackle Coby Wooden had put on some weight during the offseason.

“I think a lot of our guys do (look different), quite frankly,” said Matt LaFleur after practice, “but he certainly is one of ’em. He has put on a few lbs. I think that’ll do him well, especially with some of the things we’re gonna ask him to do. But he’s looked great up to this point.”

When the Packers drafted Wooden in April of 2023, he was undersized for a defensive tackle. During the pre-draft process, he was listed at 273 pounds. Wooden said during the Packers’ virtual draft party that he played his rookie season at 278 pounds and got up to 290 pounds this offseason.

In order to put on that additional 12 pounds, Wooden’s focus this offseason was on strength training and yoga.

“Really it was just getting in the weight room,” said Wooden after Tuesday’s practice. “Mixing that with yoga. You still want to be flexible, versatile. All I did was weight room and yoga. Conditioning.”

For the first two games of last season, Wooden was the fourth member of the Packers’ defensive tackle rotation, playing 36 snaps each week. However, the quick emergence of Karl Brooks bumped Wooden back to the fifth spot in the rotation.

From Weeks 3 through the NFC Divisional playoff round, Wooden averaged just over 13 snaps per game. He totaled 12 pressures and one sack.

With Wooden packing on some extra pounds, he won’t be making the move to defensive end in Jeff Hafley’s 4-3 defense. Instead, he will stay at defensive tackle.

Understandably so, much of the attention in this new Packers defense is on the secondary. But in terms of responsibilities, there is going to be a fairly big shift for the defensive front going from a two-gap front to a one-gap.

As defensive line coach Jason Rebrovich recently said, this is an attacking front where it’s all about TFLs and sacks. Rather than reading what the offensive line and backfield are doing, this year, the front will play with a much more proactive approach.

“I would say last year we were more reading,” said Wooden. “This year we’re asked to just not think and go, which that plays into our favor.

“We would get stuck on, you know, play-action, they would hold us and because we’re reading we can’t get to a pass rush and so this year, we’re not reading we’re just going. Full stop running on the way to the quarterback.”

This play-style should will be more “simplified” for the defensive front, as former Packer Mike Daniels put it. That then hopefully leads to more disruption. For Wooden, while there is change as the Packers transition to Hafley’s system, he’s played in a similar style defense previously and feels comfortable.

“Coming into Auburn,” added Wooden, “I was actually doing this. So I’m familiar with the system. I have two years in it.”

Last season, like the years before it, the Green Bay run defense struggled, ranking 23rd in yards per rush allowed, along with surrendering four games of 200-plus rushing yards. From a pass rush perspective, the Packers ran very hot and cold. In 2024, more consistency is needed.

Success for the Packers’ defense as a whole begins with the defensive front. The best way to slow any offensive play is with quick pressure up the middle. When the defensive tackles are playing well, every other position group benefits.

Observations and takeaways from Packers first OTA practice

By: Paul Bretl 5/21/24

Organized Team Activities (OTAs) are underway for the Green Bay Packers. This is the first opportunity this offseason where the Packers’ incoming rookies, new free agent additions, and returning players will be in the building and on the practice field together.

Over the next three weeks of OTAs, one practice each week will be open to the media. The first of those practices took place on Tuesday. Here are my observations and takeaways from what I saw:

– Robert Rochell was not in attendance—he had a personal matter to tend to. Tucker Kraft did not participate and had his arm in a sling. Matt LaFleur says he will be back by training camp or shortly after it begins. He is dealing with a pec injury.

– Also not participating were Kitan Oladapo, Keshawn Banks, and Zach Tom. Like Kraft, Tom is also working through a pec injury but should be ready for training camp. Josh Jacobs participated during stretch but not individual or team drills. LaFleur says he is working through a hamstring injury but expects him back soon.

– LaFleur says they’ve had almost 100 percent attendance this offseason.

– Kingsley Enagbare was a full participant in today’s practice. He left the Dallas game with an ACL injury. The thought was that it was a tear, but following the draft, GM Brian Gutekunst said that wasn’t the case. Enagbare’s availability is a big boost for the Packers’ defensive end depth, which has some question marks without him.

– Both Colby Wooden and Carrington Valentine look bigger this offseason and in a good way. LaFleur said Wooden put on a few pounds, which will help him with what they will be asking him to do this season.

– The Packers were running through their new kick return drills. Last week, Rich Bisaccia said they are still in the early stages of figuring out what works best. A key part for the coverage unit will be having the best tacklers on the field.

– I mentioned this during rookie minicamp, but the stretching that the Packers go through before practice is different. The period is longer and looks like it involves more dynamic drills.

– Christian Watson was looking very quick out there. In both 7-on-7 and team drills, he made a few plays today. LaFleur said this is the best shape that he has seen both Watson and Eric Stokes in.

– Daniel Whelan had a really impressive day. Big punts with great hang time.

– The 11-on-11 team drills aren’t being run at quite full speed. Instead, the focus is on teaching and making sure everyone is positioned in the right spots.

-In nickel, the Packers starting linebackers were Isaiah McDuffie and Quay Walker–although we saw Edgerrin Cooper rotated in as well. Walker appeared to be the one making the defensive play calls and getting everyone positioned pre-snap.

– Eric Stokes got the start across from Jaire Alexander over Carrington Valentine.

– The Packers had two sets of 7-on-7 and 11-on-11s taking place, with several of the rookies on the opposite side from the starters. With that group, Javon Bullard was the deep safety and Evan Williams the free safety. We also saw Corey Ballentine getting some snaps as the nickel cornerback.

– With Bullard and Williams on one side of the field, Anthony Johnson was lining up next to Xavier McKinney. Johnson was playing with that fast and physical mentality we’ve heard so much about this offseason.

– On the initial starting line it was Rasheed Walker at left tackle, followed by Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Sean Rhyan, and Andre Dillard with the rookies on the other part of the field. Jordan Morgan saw snaps at both right and left tackle, with Jenkins playing center with the second team offense. The offensive line was rotated very heavily as expected.

– Another offensive line combination featured Caleb Jones at left tackle, Donovan Jennings at left guard, Jacob Monk at center, Kadeem Telfort at right guard, and Luke Tenuta at right tackle.

– Without Kraft, Henry Pearson got some good looks today. He will have the opportunity to carve out a role as the H-back with Josiah Deguara in Jacksonville.

– We’ve heard on a few occasions this offseason that Devonte Wyatt is really going to benefit from Jeff Hafley’s penetrating, one-gap defensive scheme and we saw that on a run play where Wyatt was almost instantly in the backfield.

– As he should in 7-on-7 and not full-speed 11-on-11 drills, Jordan Love looked the part. He had great rhythm, went through his progressions and was accurate. He attacked the middle of the field and connected on a deep ball to Samori Toure. LaFleur said the purpose of the 7-on-7 drills is to focus on footwork and progressions.

– As was the case during minicamp, we saw a lot of single high looks from the Packers’ defense, which is going to be a staple under Hafley.

– Anders Carlson and Greg Joseph each had six field goal attempts. Admittedly, it was difficult to get an accurate count on who made what, but I will say that Carlson packed more power on a windy day.

What to watch for on offense during Packers’ OTAs

By: Paul Bretl 5/20/24

Offseason Team Activities (OTAs) have already been underway for several weeks now for the Packers, but Monday marks the first time the entire team, both veterans and incoming rookies, will be in the meeting rooms and on the practice field together.

Full-team OTAs will run for the next three weeks, with one practice available to the media each week. As is always the case in mid-May, anything we see this time of the year should be taken with a grain of salt. However, as I take in these practices, there will still be four key things on the offensive side of the ball that I’ll be looking for.

Josh Jacobs and Marshawn Lloyd in the passing game

When Matt LaFleur has spoken this offseason, on a few occasions he’s alluded to the potential that both Josh Jacobs and Marshawn Lloyd can bring to the passing game. Jacobs has plenty of passing game experience from his time with the Raiders, totaling 249 targets over his five-year career. During his first meeting with LaFleur after being signed, Jacobs mentioned that he still believes there are more opportunities out there for him as a pass-catcher. He brings a good foundational route-running ability to the position, helping to open up the playbook for LaFleur, who can ask Jacobs to do different things.

“I was talking to coach about that actually yesterday,” said Jacobs during his introductory press conference back in March, “and I was telling him I felt like I want to catch it a little bit more. I feel like I didn’t get to show that as much as I would have liked. So that definitely something in the conversations we had.”

Lloyd, meanwhile, didn’t have a ton of pass-catching opportunities in college, but he was very effective with them, averaging a whopping 17.8 yards per catch last season. Both LaFleur and Adam Stenavich have said he brings a different element to the running back position with his explosiveness and ability to make defenders miss. There will likely be a learning curve for Lloyd as a pass-catcher, particularly in the route-running aspect, but right away, designed touches for him in space could lead to some really big plays.

“He definitely can be a weapon out of the backfield,” said LaFleur of Lloyd. “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.”

You can read more here, but to a lesser extent, I’ll be curious to see where AJ Dillon is being lined up. Could he be a potential replacement for Josiah Deguara as the H-back?

Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Luke Musgrave, and Tucker Kraft in Year 2

For most successful NFL players, Year 2 comes with a major developmental leap. Rather than spending the offseason going through the pre-draft process and learning the offense, these four players have had the opportunity to rest following the end of the season and be very diligent in what specific aspects of their game they are trying to improve. From the coaching standpoint, LaFleur and Co. know the skill sets of each of these players and where they fit best into the offense, allowing them to dive deeper into the playbook. These four, and the Packers’ offense as a whole, should be lightyears ahead of where they were this time last year.

“Oh it’s night and day,” said Adam Stenavich. “Night and day because like last year, going into the draft, we had maybe three receivers on the roster. We had two tight ends on the roster, so it was just one of those things where you didn’t really know what direction you could go yet because you didn’t really know who was gonna be on your team and what skillset they had and even going into camp and going into the season, it was the same deal like, how much can you put on these guys plates and allow them to go out and execute?”

Offensive line configurations

My guess right now is that the starting offensive line during the first team drill is Rasheed Walker, Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Sean Rhyan, and Zach Tom. However, the potential combinations that the Packers could utilize as they search for their ‘best five’ seems endless. From the sounds of it, Jordan Morgan will start at left tackle, where he played his entire college career, competing with Walker. The Packers could also have Morgan compete at right guard with Rhyan or have Morgan or Walker line up at right tackle and move Tom inside. Fifth-round pick Jacob Monk could compete at center or right guard as well.

While there will be a lot of movement and experimenting this summer, Myers’ sole focus will be on playing the center position. There won’t be any cross-training for him. Myers finished out the 2023 season strong, and the Packers like the leadership ability he brings to that room, along with the rapport he’s built with Jordan Love and his ability pre-snap to get everyone on the same page from a protection standpoint. With that said, more consistent play is needed, and the Packers have a few different players – most notably Monk and Tom – who could potentially push Myers.

“Just to continue to grow, just like our expectations for everybody,” said OL coach Luke Butkus of Myers. “Every day, get better. That’s where Josh excelled last year. He did get better as the year went on and he had command of this offense and took charge, was a little bit more vocal toward the end in commanding this offense. So, what do we need from him? Just to get better every single day. Keep improving.”

Jordan Love countering the counters

Admittedly, I won’t glean many answers to this question during OTAs but in Love’s second year as a starter, countering the counters will go a long way in him continuing to ascend as a quarterback. Defenses have now had a full offseason to game plan for Love and the Packers offense. They’ve dissected the tape and figured out what he does well, where he struggles, and they will draw up game plans to take away the former while trying to put Love in the latter more often. It’s not only important that Love knows how to respond to these looks, but that he does so more quickly in Year 2.

“You might anticipate a defense maybe bringing a little more pressure,” said QB coach Tom Clements. “Disguising a little bit more. Making it more difficult to see where to go. So that’s from a quarterback standpoint, if that happens you have to have a lot of film study and be able to react. I mean that was one of Aaron’s best attributes is the he could process information very quickly and usually make the right decision and get the ball where it had to go. That’s something that we’ll have to see how defenses approach it, but that’s something you’ve got to be ready for.”

Kicker competition

The Packers have three kickers on the roster currently, and the competition for that starting spot is already well underway. Along with Anders Carlson, the Packers signed Jack Podlesny shortly after the season ended. Podlesny kicked at Georgia, went undrafted in 2023, and struggled to stick with a team last season. Greg Joseph was signed during free agency. He’s spent the last few seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, where he made 82.2 percent of his field goal attempts the last three seasons, including going 32-for-49 from 40-plus yards. For what it’s worth, Joseph has struggled at Lambeau Field the last few seasons.

While the Packers gave Carlson the opportunity to go through growing pains last season, that won’t be the case in 2024. He will have to earn the starting job, and from the sounds of it, the Packers will continue to explore outside options at kicker if neither of these three are taking control of the starting job.

“I don’t know the answer to that. It might be those three. It might be three other ones,” said Rich Bisaccia. “I don’t know. It might be six. We’re appreciative of certainly Brian getting it to the point where it’s at right now, having a three-man competition. We’ll see how long we can keep that going.

“Maybe the anticipation of even having, you know, there’s some things going on in a bunch of different leagues, right, that everyone’s about, so we’re going to keep investigating to try to end up with the best player we possibly can.”

What to watch for on defense during Packers OTAs

By: Paul Bretl 5/20/24

Full-team OTAs will run for the next three weeks, with one practice available to the media each week. As is always the case in mid-May, anything we see this time of the year should be taken with a grain of salt. However, as I take in these practices, there will still be four key things on the defenisve side of the ball that I’ll be looking for.

Versatility at safety

The buzzword we’ve heard GM Brian Gutekunst use this offseason when discussing the safety position is “interchangeable.” As Gutekunst has said, he wants the two safety spots and the nickel cornerback to be able to rotate, which will keep opposing offenses off-balanced, not knowing who will be where or what responsibilities each player will have.

Xavier McKinney has shown in his career that he can fill a variety of roles, and in drafting Javon Bullard and Evan Williams, the Packers believe both those players can as well. We saw a glimpse of this during rookie minicamp, with Bullard playing both deep and in the slot, along with Williams playing deep and in the box. In addition to where each of these players line up, I’ll also be watching who is lining up next to McKinney and what the situation is.

“Speaking to that,” said defensive backs coach Ryan Downard about the versatility at safety, “like Seattle, for example, they had a guy, Earl, who was traditionally in the post, and Kam 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.”

Speed at linebacker

Fast and physical. That’s what the Packers were looking to add at linebacker, and we, again, caught glimpses of that during rookie minicamp. Both Ty’Ron Hopper and Edgerrin Cooper showcased their speed in the run game, flowing to the sideline to fill running lanes, and both made plays in coverage as well. As Hafley pointed out when speaking with the media recently, in today’s NFL, teams need linebackers who can operate in space, with the ability to erase both the run and passing games. On paper, the Packers have that between Cooper, Hopper, and Quay Walker.

“Obviously, a lot of speed, right,” said Gutekunst after Day 2 of the draft about Cooper, Hopper, and Javon Bullard. “They bring a lot of speed. These guys are really good football players. They run and hit.

“Cooper,” added Gutekunst, “the speed that he brings to the table at the linebacker position is rare. So I think we got a lot faster, which I wanted to do this weekend.”

My guess this early in the offseason is that we see Isaiah McDuffie lined up next to Walker as Cooper continues to learn the system and adjust to the NFL, but from the sounds of it, that starting linebacker spot next to Walker is wide open this summer. Most of the Packers’ defensive snaps are going to come in nickel with just two linebackers on the field, but when in their base 4-3 defense, another unknown right now is who the middle linebacker will be. We saw Hopper fill that role during rookie camp, but I would again anticipate McDuffie starting there, at least for the time being.

An attacking interior defensive line

I went into greater detail here, but in short, one of the big changes under Hafley will be along the defensive front, where the defenders are responsible for only one gap instead of two. This should result in a more proactive, attacking front rather than a read-and-react approach. As defensive line coach Jason Rebrovich said, it’s all about tackles for loss and sacks. A name that keeps getting brought up this offseason is Devonte Wyatt, as someone who should thrive in this style of defense.

“It’s an attack front, guys,” said defensive line coach Jason Rebrovich. “If you put the tape on with San Fran, Houston, the Jets, things like that, been very fortunate in my background being in Buffalo and in Jacksonville and that’s really what we did back then, so been fortunate to be around it.

“But it is, it’s about TFLs and sacks. We’re going to look to create havoc in the backfield. Every down, we’re looking to penetrate and make something big happen. Offensive linemen, not moving so fast laterally, they’re going to have to stay on the line of scrimmage a little bit longer with the movements and the ability for us to get in the backfield.”

Carrington Valentine and Eric Stokes

The cornerback position comes with some question marks heading into OTAs and, eventually, training camp. One of those unknowns is around who will be starting opposite of Jaire Alexander: Carrington Valentine or Eric Stokes. Valentine is coming off a rookie season where he allowed a completion rate of 55 percent with five pass breakups. A Year 2 jump from Valentine would go a long way in providing stability to this unit, but that’s never a given either. Stokes’ 2023 season, meanwhile, was limited as he dealt with injuries.

“I feel pretty good about it right now because we’re running around in shorts and everybody’s healthy,” said GM Brian Gutekunst after the draft. “So, you know, I understand the question. If it would have fallen right, we would have addressed that probably. But it just didn’t. it was kind of one of those years with that position. But right now, I really like our group and I like the way they look. We’ve got a long way to get to September with everybody healthy, but I like the way it looks right now.”

This is a Packers’ secondary that recorded just seven interceptions last season–the second-fewest in football. Hafley’s ability as a teacher, with his coaching background rooted in the secondary, along with his ability to create simplified game plans, will be important factors in getting more ball production out of this unit. Hafley has shared his love of press-man coverage, and while we will see more of that than we did under Joe Barry, zone is still going to be a big part of his defense.

As LaFleur mentioned during Hafley’s introductory press conference, a more “vision-based” approach with eyes on the quarterback is going to hopefully help generate more turnovers. My guess is that Stokes gets the “start” next to Alexander, but nothing is set in stone this time of the year. Also of note, I do wonder if we see Bullard getting slot snaps over Keisean Nixon.

Among big offseason additions, Packers retain several key special teams contributors

By: Paul Bretl 5/16/24

Naturally, the big offseason additions will grab all the headlines, but in football, the ultimate team game, those back-end of the roster additions can carry weight as well, especially on special teams.

In addition to bringing in Xavier McKinney and Josh Jacobs during free agency, the Green Bay Packers were also able to retain several key special teams contributors.

Tyler Davis would miss all of the 2023 season after suffering an ACL injury during the preseason. At that time, special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia said losing Davis was like losing his right hand, given all the roles he filled in that phase of the game.

During the 2022 season, Davis led the Packers in special teams snaps with 344, playing across five different phases. He was also third on the team in tackles. Davis was one of those under-the-radar re-signings this offseason that could end up making an impact this season.

“We’re just excited, not only for Tyler but organizationally, to get him back,” said Bisaccia when meeting with reporters. “What he brings spirit-wise, what he brings energy-wise, his ability to play multiple positions for us in the kicking game. I know they’re excited about getting him back on offense as well.”

Along with Davis, the Packers would re-sign linebackers Eric Wilson and Kristian Welch. Wilson led the team in special teams snaps with 345, while Welch had the fourth-most. Wilson finished second on the team in tackles and Welch third.

Cornerback Robert Rochell is also returning. Rochell played 141 special teams snaps from Week 9 on and had the sixth-best special teams grade from PFF on the Packers. With a healthy cornerback room, Bisaccia should get Corey Ballentine – another offseason re-signing – back as a special teams contributor as well.

“So we are excited to get those guys back,” said Bisaccia. “We kind of fought through this last year. Those guys were on the street and it seems like we’re the only ones that seem to want them.

“But, I’m real excited that they’re back and they do a really good job of getting in supreme physical condition and setting the example for everybody else of what it’s supposed to look like. And they understand the importance of their job and their role.”

A not-so-under-the-radar re-signing was the Packers being able to bring Keisean Nixon back–a now two-time All-Pro return man who should benefit greatly from the new kickoff rules that are expected to drastically increase the number of return opportunities. In each of the last two years, Nixon has led the NFL in kick return yards and finished top-three in average yards per return.

It’s Nixon’s fearlessness that has helped generate so many big returns. But on the flip side, there is a balance that has to be struck between being overly aggressive and making the right decision based on game and situation. Perhaps the new rules will take some of that decision-making out of the equation, and give Nixon more chances to simply go make plays.

“You have to take the bad with the good, I guess,” said Bisaccia, “but there’s a point where the decision making process has to click for you and you make the right decision for your team, right? It’s not, I don’t have to prove myself every single play. I think he’s hopefully got to the point where he’s proven that he can be an accomplished return player.

“Now make the decision that fits exactly what we’re trying to do in each individual game. so, he’s just the kind of guy that thinks he can score every time he touches it. And you don’t want to take that away from him, but you want to get him to where he can make the right decision for all of us involved.”

While the Packers have several foundational players returning on their special teams unit, this is a group that has to also perform better in 2024.

During Bisaccia’s first season as coordinator for the Packers, he took Green Bay from being ranked 32nd in Rick Gosselin’s annual special teams rankings during the 2021 season to 22nd in 2022. However, last year, the Packers fell to 29th, with inconsistent play, missed tackles, missed field goals, and the second-most special teams penalties all creating issues.

In addition to the continuity that the Packers have in this phase of the game going into 2024, a few of their draft picks, including Ty’Ron Hopper, Evan Williams, and Kitan Oladapo could play important roles in helping this unit bounce back this season.

“We drafted a lot of young guys that play the linebacker position, can play the safety position,” said Bisaccia. “We have skill players that we think can be viable candidates early in the kicking game. So hopefully they’ll get themselves in good enough shape to keep up with those guys that you’ve mentioned (Wilson and Welch) and then they’ll set the example of what it’s supposed to look like.”

These special teams specific moves that GM Brian Gutekunst made this offseason is a somewhat new approach for the Packers that began when Bisaccia took over as coordinator. Prior to that, special teams were more of an afterthought, with contributions on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball being prioritized in the roster construction, and we saw the results of that decision making on the field. As the old saying goes, you get what you emphasize.

This is a Packers team with sky-high expectations in 2024. A young and ascending offense coupled with what is hopefully an improved defense is a recipe for success, but when it comes to being one of those final few teams still playing at the end of the season, it takes contributions from all three phases. The Packers’ special teams unit doesn’t have to be elite, but it has to be better than 29th.

“I think it’s important, obviously the way in which Brian views all of this and the conversations that we have,” added Bisaccia. “And then the part that Matt plays in what we’re trying to do, how we’re trying to set field position here for offense and for defense.”

Packers ‘attack front’ under Jeff Hafley should result in more disruption

By: Paul Bretl 5/15/24

Under new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafely, one of the more noticeable differences in his system compared to Joe Barry’s will take place along the defensive front, where the defenders will be responsible for attacking one-gap rather than trying to defend two of them.

In 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.

Former Packers defensive lineman Mike Daniels said that the role of the defensive line in this system is “simplified” as it allows them to “cut it loose.” Kenny Clark said that it should allow the front to be “way more disruptive.”

As already alluded to, this system should benefit the entire defensive front, but one player whose name keeps getting brought up as someone who will thrive playing this way is Devonte Wyatt, as this one-gap defense fits his skill set and play style to a tee.

Last season, Wyatt’s 48 pressures were the fourth-most on the team and the 20th-most in the NFL among his position group. He also ranked 12th in pass rush win rate, but a new level of play for Wyatt under Hafley could be unlocked.

“The thing about Devonte Wyatt he’s quick, fast, and athletic,” Rebrovich said. “So you’re going to have to develop things around him to use those attributes. So what a great opportunity for him and us.

“That’s the mindset that we’re working to develop is creating those TFLs, that mindset of getting into the backfievery one he executes everyone of those. He checks all the boxes. So we’re definitely looking for a great outcome for that young man for this upcoming season.”

If the Packers defense as a whole is going to improve in 2024, it starts with more consistent play upfront. In 2023, the Packers’ pass rush ran very hot and cold, recording seven games where they pressured the quarterback on 45 percent of more of his dropbacks, which is an excellent rate. However, on the flip side, there were also seven games where Green Bay pressured the opposing quarterback on fewer than 30 percent of his dropbacks, which is the opposite of excellent.

Then as we all know, the run game continued to provide this unit with issues, with the Packers ranking 23rd in yards per carry allowed, along with giving up a league-high four games of 200-plus rushing yards.

Success for any defense starts up front. The best way to slow any offensive play is with a quick push up the middle. Slowing the run puts the offense in obvious passing situations, giving the defense the advantage in coverage and allowing the front to pin its ears back, while pressure leads to mistakes that can hopefully be capitalized on.

Ultimately, it’s up to the players on the field to execute and make plays, but Hafley’s defense should create more opportunities for the Packers’ defensive line to be in positions to make that happen.

“Anytime you’re trying to create things in the backfield, you’ve got to have the whole group swarm to make the play,” added 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.

“We’re the first line of defense. The rest of the guys are going to sit back there and do what they need to do. We are going to work to get our forces in first. If that force goes in and is able to create that great opportunity for us defensively, then let’s go to the next play.”