Areas of Strength, Weakness Becoming Clearer as Season Approaches
Injuries and depth unite areas of strength, weakness with the season fast approaching. Are the Packers walking a fine line?
By dnicholson
The road to success for the Green Bay Packers in 2017 is taking shape. With only Thursday’s preseason finale remaining—a home tilt against the Rams—the style of this season’s squad is based around more weapons for quarterback Aaron Rodgers and increased versatility for Dom Capers’ defense.
Even with limited snaps, it's not hard to envision difference-making effect Martellus Bennett could make this season. Bennett is a giant human and versatile enough to be all encompassing as a downfield target, a danger after contact and likely the team’s best blocking tight end in years. Add in Lance Kendricks and Richard Rodgers and the tight ends are as deep as they’ve ever been during the Rodgers/Mike McCarthy era.
Wide receiver is another area where quality and numbers paint a positive picture. The battle is fierce for the final few roster spots, and there’s a high likelihood of multiple receivers being signed to the practice squad. Barring injury, Jordy Nelson, Davante Adams and Randall Cobb will dominate the snaps. However the bottom of the depth chart shakes out, the Packers will have plenty of cushion. Even with a pair of receivers landing on the practice squad, the Packers could keep as many as seven receivers.
On defense, the bright spots so far include a loaded group of safeties and what looks like an improved defensive line. Safeties Kentrell Brice and Marwin Evans aren’t going anywhere, making simply too many plays through camp and preseason to be on the chopping block. Second-round pick Josh Jones, the most athletic and the biggest of the group, is in good company as we haven’t even mentioned stalwarts Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Morgan Burnett. It’s expected that the Packers will employ more three-safety Nitro packages.
With a mostly versatile set of corners to work with also, Capers should have more pieces to move around—which may be needed to help generate a pass rush. This year’s group, on paper, should be better suited to perform—compared to last season—when there isn’t a rush. The versatility of the defensive backfield is the biggest reason for confidence.
But the preseason has also helped illuminate some areas of weakness. The team’s first unit has done a respectable job generating a rush, but key reserves like Kyler Fackrell and Jayrone Elliott have been mostly quiet. Veteran outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks, released by the 49ers over the weekend, was in Green Bay Monday and will visit with the team Tuesday.
One can say, as Ted Thompson and others in the front office always do, that the team is always looking at ways they can improve the team. But signings are rare and adding Brooks would be a tacit admission that the position as a whole isn’t where it needs to be. It may also indicate the importance the team places on being able to move around Clay Matthews rather than deploy him strictly as an edge rusher.
Injuries are always the ultimate wild card, and as evidence so far suggests, this could be a trying season for the Pack should they absorb any more injuries along the offensive line. Three exhibition games and a Bryan Bulaga injury sandwiched in between point to thin depth behind the starting five. If like last season at cornerback the injury bug bites in a tight pattern, then hampered might be Rodgers’ ability to as effectively or as often create masterpieces eight to 10 seconds into a play. If the unit stabilizes and remains healthy after Bulaga’s return then it stands a good chance to be a strength of the team.
That’s a fine line for a Super Bowl contender to walk.
This year’s team, if successful, will likely rest its cap on versatility—from having too many players on offense to stop and enough moving pieces on defense to respond to whatever opponents throw at them.
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Comments (14)
cheesehead1
August 28, 2017 at 04:45 pm
Season is just around the corner, here's hoping for reasonably good health and a much improved D. Hopefully, Biegel is ready to show us something soon.
MITM
August 28, 2017 at 04:50 pm
Well one area of weakness just got weaker. Apparently Clay Matthews was also injured in the Broncos game. No idea what it is it is a mystery for now but Mccarthy referenced Clay and Nick getting hurt at his presser. Great.
Handsback
August 28, 2017 at 05:27 pm
It's funny that Green Bay's Dline and Safeties are strengths of the defense. CBs aren't bad but those OLBs are indeed a weak area. A few years ago, this was exactly opposite of what exist now.
I look forward to seeing how this plays out.
Bearmeat
August 28, 2017 at 05:29 pm
QB, WR, TE, starting OL, DL, ILB, S, CB look like they could threaten the best teams in the NFL. OLB (both starters and especially backups) and the entire backup OL look awful. Like, they could tank what otherwise is a very strong team awful.
Hope for no injuries at those spots and perhaps some veteran help at these positions. Ted - hedge your bets. Please. ARod won't be around forever and we want a title NOW.
badaxed
August 28, 2017 at 06:09 pm
History does often repeat itself. Matthews and Perry hurt. new season. same story line
rdent
August 28, 2017 at 07:08 pm
Early yet and cutdown is coming but it already looks like TT has once again left a position on the team shorthanded, last year it was RB,though injuries during the season were to blame there and there wasn't much out there for help at that point, this year OLB and oh not to mention O-Line, hard job being a GM, always trying to plug holes and have depth at all the positions but I think snatching up Brooks (for the right price) would be a good move.
jeremyjjbrown
August 28, 2017 at 06:49 pm
I'm really concerned about the OLBs. You have a defense built around OLBs and 4 out of the top 5 OLBs can not stay healthy through the preseason.
Since'61
August 29, 2017 at 08:12 am
QB, RB, WR and TE are strengths on offense. After the starters the OL is an area for concern. With Barclay and Lucas Patrick hurt I'm not sure who will backup Linsley. Neither Spriggs or Murphy look ready to play yet, at least not consistently. Beyond this we don't know if the Packers will keep more than 9 OLs or who that would be. It's difficult for me to assess where the defense is at based off of preseason games and the opponents that we've faced. The starting D has looked pretty solid but we have not played against a good offensive team or against any elite starting QBs. The DL looks improved but it's difficult to be sure based on preseason. ILBs look OK but I'm concerned about Joe Thomas. OLBs look like a weakness and an area to be concerned about if Perry and CM3 aren't ready for the season. For me CBs will be a question mark until week 2 against Atlanta and the answer may not be positive. Safety is the only position of strength that I feel confident about on defense at this point. The combination of experience and athleticism gives us a very solid group at safety. Special teams should be improved in the punt return game. Speculation and hype end in less than 2 weeks. then we will see what reality brings. Thanks, Since '61
Ferrari Driver
August 28, 2017 at 10:36 pm
Rather than going with traditional numbers at each of the positions such as 9 offensive line men, etc. Thompson may consider keeping 7 wide receivers, and 7 offensive linemen and so forth with the roster at the 53 cut down and then try to pick up some players who can be better backup than what the team has now.
If he kept 7 wide receivers at the 53 cut down, he may have a better chance of having one clear waivers than if he released one or more prior to the 53 cut down.
I'm really disappointed in the play of every backup offensive lineman and the same could be said for the outside linebackers.
dobber
August 29, 2017 at 02:56 pm
I think you need to build the roster as if you're planning to play with those guys and then make changes as guys come available. It's gonna be a free-for-all at cutdown time...
porupack
August 29, 2017 at 07:51 am
So if you have a deep position group such as WR, is it better to keep more than normal,
or better to keep more than normal of a weak position group, such as OL?
I kind of think you keep more OL, OLB and RB since you have less confidence in the first replacements.
Tough as it might be to cut some talent out of your strongest groups, that would be my rationale as strategist.
egbertsouse
August 29, 2017 at 09:01 am
This is how bad the O-line has gotten: Packer fans. Including me, are looking forward to Barclay's return.
Gianich
August 29, 2017 at 06:17 pm
Right, who would've thought? Donny Big Time better heal up
Cartwright
August 30, 2017 at 12:01 am
Once we get Barclay back our back up situation should stabilize. It's at outside linebacker that's got me worried. We need veteran help there. A key pick up here is all we made need. I read Brooks is looking for a condo in Green Bay. He could be the acquisition that gets us over the top. Your only as strong as your weakest link.
Go Pack