How They Changed, Part III: Ravens, Steelers and Bucs make gains

Green Bay's "third quarter" of the season features potentially stiff tests from Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay. 

Part three of this series takes a look at how the Packers' "third quarter" opponents in 2017 have changed since last season. 
 

Week 10 – Chicago Bears

Green Bay gets their second crack at Chicago in Week 10, this time on the road. Read about the Bears’ offseason moves here
 

Week 11 – Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore’s long-vaunted defense was elite against the run in 2016 but inconsistent against the pass. Despite tying for a league-high 18 interceptions, the Ravens saw reason to invest more in their defensive backfield. In free agency the team added ex-Cowboys slot corner Brandon Carr and former Cardinal safety Tony Jefferson. They’ve got options now, with corner Jimmy Smith and safety Lardarius Webb in the group to go with starting safety Eric Weddle. The Ravens added first-round pick Marlon Humphrey, the long, gifted corner from Alabama who will enjoy a technique tune-up.
 
The Ravens’ run-stop prowess should continue with the team’s re-signing of interior lineman Brandon Williams on a five-year deal. Nose tackle Michael Pierce took a huge step forward in 2016. Baltimore added even more beef to their d-line with third-round pick Chris Wormley of Michigan. 
 
Terrell Suggs is a year older and Elvis Dumervil departed in free agency, so Baltimore restocked pass rushers with second-round pick Tyus Bowser of Houston and third-round pick Tim Williams of Alabama. Bowser has untapped potential, with the speed and short-area burst that often warrant a first-round pick, and he’s still learning the game. Williams is a pure pass-rush specialist—and great value where the Ravens got him. 
 
On offense, Joe Flacco gets a pair of rookie lineman—versatile guard Nico Siragusa and tackle Jermaine Eluemunor—to go with speedy receiving back Danny Woodhead. 
 

Week 12 – Pittsburgh Steelers

The league’s most productive receiver, Antonio Brown, got a deserving big-money extension. The league’s best all-purpose running back, Le’Veon Bell, got the franchise tag and will pull in a steep $12.1 million in 2017. Pittsburgh added Knile Davis in free agency and let 34-year-old DeAngelo Williams walk. Also gone are linebackers Lawrence Timmons (Miami) and Jarvis Jones (Arizona), as well as inconsistent wideout Markus Wheaton (Chicago). Backup QB Landry Jones and TE David Johnson both re-signed. 
 
Pittsburgh flirted with Davon House and Jayrone Elliott before both veteran players opted for Green Bay. 
 
First-round pick T.J. Watt is an ideal personnel and cultural fit at outside linebacker, in a group that includes the ageless James Harrison (who comes cheap considering his 7.5 sacks—and the 2.5 more he added in the playoffs). Their defensive backfield added instinctive but oft-injured corner Cameron Sutton of Tennessee.
 
On offense, JuJu Smith-Schuster gives the Steelers a big-bodied possession receiver who should complement the all-purpose Brown and deep-threat Martavis Bryant. The hometown kid, running back James Conner, is a physical, workhorse-style back. Tennessee quarterback Josh Dobbs could develop into the Steelers future starter. 
 

Week 13 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

Jameis Winston will have plenty of weapons at his disposal next season. Speedster DeSean Jackson joins a receiving corps led by Mike Evans. Then the Bucs went and drafted Alabama’s O.J. Howard and Penn State’s Chris Godwin. Howard is a difference maker and will help Tampa Bay as a receiver and blocker, forming a nice combo with fourth-year tight end Cameron Brate, who hauled in eight touchdowns last season. 
 
Tampa’s other splash in free agency came in signing defensive tackle Chris Baker. The team also added ex-Cowboy safety J.J. Wilcox, who played well in 2016 mostly as a reserve. The secondary gets another boost with rookie safety Justin Evans, who is likely best near the line of scrimmage and can lay the wood. 
 
The addition of Nick Folk provides protection from Roberto Aguayo, whose rookie campaign in 2016 was awful. Defensive lineman Willie Gholston and running back Jacquizz Rodgers also re-signed. If Doug Martin is ineffective or injured, the Bucs have another option with versatile rookie running back Jeremy McNichols of Boise State. 
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Comments (12)

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

June 02, 2017 at 12:10 pm

Nice write up.

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dobber's picture

June 02, 2017 at 01:49 pm

"The addition of Nick Foles provides protection from Roberto Aguayo, whose rookie campaign in 2016 was awful. "

That Nick Foles is a mulit-purpose threat...he throws, kicks and protects people from Roberto Aguayo! ;)

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dnicholson's picture

June 02, 2017 at 02:14 pm

Haha, my bad. Nick Foles probably would have been an upgrade on Aguayo, too.

Meant to say Nick Folk. That's corrected.

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MITM's picture

June 02, 2017 at 02:36 pm

Really would have liked to grab Bowser or Williams. The Ravens get both. What else is new. The Ravens and Steelers are constantly, constantly spending high picks on outside and inside linebackers. Although Williams went much later than expected, character concerns i guess ho hum.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

June 02, 2017 at 05:38 pm

I wasn't willing to use pick 61 on Williams. I was looking at Willis and Rivers there even though Williams has first round talent. Drafting Williams high is a risk and it is a judgment that only someone who has interviewed him and his coaches, and investigated his previous actions can make. At pick 93, I'd have taken the chance - really any time in the 3rd round, but we draft late in each round.

I can't blame TT for passing on Williams in rounds one and two.

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NickPerry's picture

June 03, 2017 at 05:42 am

I really liked Willis too TGR, I really thought when the Packers were picking at 61 he was going to be the pick. I had read something about the Packers liked him so much it seemed as though a scout from them was living there (something like that).
Josh Jones has me pretty excited about the possibilities he'll bring to the defense but I'm still concerned about where the sacks will come from. You almost wonder if they'll try using more D-Linemen to get pressure on passing downs with the limited options at OLB. What do you think?

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ShanghaiKid's picture

June 03, 2017 at 02:27 pm

@Nick I think they'll use more 3 down lineman Nickel looks, which is probably why they signed Francois from WAS and left OLB unaddressed for the most part. Lowry is a good 5 tech, a rotation of Clark, Lowry, Francois, Daniels, and some of the undrafted guys from last year should be sufficient enough to apply pressure, especially if the secondary takes the expected step.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

June 04, 2017 at 03:58 am

Hi Nick. RJF does have a bit of juice, but I don't think he is the answer. In 442 snaps, RJF had 1.5 sacks and 6 pressures. That is a pressure every 58.9 snaps. Daniels produced one hurry every 27.7 snaps, which is very good for a 3 tech. For comparison, Guion in 2014, the year he had 3.5 sacks, produced one hurry every 73 snaps (not so bad considering Raji was out for the year, so these snaps came at NT), and in 2015, one hurry every 55 snaps. I'd be thinking RJF will provide about what or maybe a little bit better that what Guion did in terms of pressure.

RJF was a 7th round pick in 2009. He is a pretty well known quantity. Washington wouldn't pay him $3M, and we paid him $2M. If teams thought he was a DL who can apply pressure, he'd get paid better. RJF is pretty stout against the run and is a solid back-up or rotational player. I am thinking Lowry beats him out though.

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NickPerry's picture

June 05, 2017 at 05:55 am

I was thinking about Lowry but also Montravius Adams too. He needs time to develop but he's pretty darn quick & strong. Might be able to push the pocket on passing downs.

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NickPerry's picture

June 03, 2017 at 05:50 am

Tampa Bay getting both Howard and Chris Godwin (Loved Godwin for GB) in the draft really boosted the receiving group they have down there now. Combine those 2 with Mike Evans and Jackson and they've got a hell of a receiving group being put together down there. Wouldn't surprise me a bit if Tampa Bay sneaks into the playoffs his year, or at least is in the race until late in December. If Carolina bounces back the NFC South is no longer the cakewalk it used to be.

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BigBadBucsFan78Draft's picture

June 03, 2017 at 02:38 pm

Green Bay is unbeatable.
God himself could not sidetrack the Packers season.

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PatrickGB's picture

June 03, 2017 at 01:54 pm

Again, good thoughts. Too often we forget how teams rise and fall from one season to the next. And last year is not this year. The only constant is QB play. We have the best. This year we need the best from our defense and then we will do fine against those teams mentioned.

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