Pack-A-Day Podcast - Episode 2067 - Grading the Packers' Offseason (So Far)
On today's show, Andy is back to give out his overall grade for the Packers' offseason so far. Plus a recap of all the moves throughout the week and where the Packers' roster stands heading into the remainder of the offseason. Don't miss it!
By AndyHerman
On today's show, Andy is back to give out his overall grade for the Packers' offseason so far. Plus a recap of all the moves throughout the week and where the Packers' roster stands heading into the remainder of the offseason. Don't miss it!
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Andy is a graduate of UW-Oshkosh and owns & operates the Pack-A-Day Podcast. Andy has taken multiple courses in NFL scouting and is an Editor for Packer Report. Andy grew up in Green Bay and is a lifelong season ticket holder - follow him on Twitter @AndyHermanNFL!
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Comments (15)
GB@Germany
March 23, 2024 at 05:55 am
Fingers crossed for Christian Watson. Having him 100% would be big.
GregC
March 23, 2024 at 06:31 am
A couple weeks ago, Andy discussed Justin Simmons, who was considered to be one of the best free agent safeties available. Andy watched the tape from the past season and determined that Simmons was not nearly as good as he used to be. Looks like the rest of the league agrees. Nobody has even offered him a deal yet.
I share Andy's skepticism of the Keisan Nixon deal. I will go one step farther and say that I'm not even sure that he does us much good on special teams. There's no value in returning a kickoff from the end zone and taking it to the 25-yard-line. Nixon gets credit for all those yards, but it doesn't do the team any good.
Coldworld
March 23, 2024 at 08:26 am
Read the expected-to-be passed rule changes. That’s a game changer at returner. To me this signals strongly that the Packers believe that the Kickoff return will be revived.
https://www.nfl.com/news/new-kickoff-format-ban-on-hip-drop-tackle-among...
GregC
March 23, 2024 at 12:21 pm
It will be very different if it happens. I'm surprised they are considering it. Kickers would be incentivized to kick line drives that bounce into the end zone, and kick returners would be incentivized to field those line drives and return them, which may result in some long returns due to the lack of hang time.
Coldworld
March 24, 2024 at 10:56 am
I can see why they are going to do it. Though there appears to be a small camp who want to ditch the return altogether. It’s going to make the kickoff a potential event (good or bad) again and promote different tactics in doing so. Spectacle instead of a play most teams rendered largely a ritual in most weathers.
If it does pass, and it seems to me likely from all I read, it will be interesting to see how different teams approach it both kicking and returning. I’m glad we have a contingency plan in place for the genuine possibility of a significant change. We may have been worst at punting, but it’s a long time since we were good at returning either.
SicSemperTyrannis
March 24, 2024 at 01:58 pm
"Hip drop rule" includes language I haven't seen anyone address:
"and unweights himself by swiveling and dropping his hips and/or lower body, landing on and trapping the runner's leg(s) at or below the knee."
I've seen several severe injuries result from that. If you don't trap a leg, it's not illegal. Calling it "hip drop" is a misnomer.
WestWi_Packfan
March 23, 2024 at 10:33 am
I guess you forget how long our return game was horrible before Nixon, at least with him we've had a chance to break a return now and then. He is also good enough to play slot corner which makes him more valuable then just having a specialist who returns kicks alone. Not great but pretty good and stays healthy enough to be out there most of the time.
GregC
March 23, 2024 at 11:50 am
The punt returning was what was really horrible with Amari Rodgers, and Nixon didn't even do that last year, except occasionally. Jayden Reed was the punt returner. On kick returns, Nixon usually took it to about the 25, which is where it would be if he let it go into the end zone. It's a shame that stats are not kept about what yard line the offense starts on after kickoffs because that's the only number that matters. Instead, they measure how far the kick returner ran with the ball, which doesn't mean a whole lot.
If they go ahead with the rules changes, things will get more interesting. Last I heard, it sounded like it was probably not going to happen, but maybe the pendulum has swung back the other way.
SicSemperTyrannis
March 24, 2024 at 02:01 pm
Using #11 as a returner is a big risk that should be avoided. If he were treated as WR1 everything would improve.
LLCHESTY
March 24, 2024 at 02:22 pm
"It's a shame that stats are not kept about what yard line the offense starts on after kickoffs because that's the only number that matters."
They keep track of those numbers, you just have to look a little harder.
GregC
March 24, 2024 at 03:45 pm
I've looked and looked. If you can find it, please let me know where it is.
One thing I've learned is that there are lots of irrelevant stats out there. I think they are compiled by computers. I keep running into this site called statmuse, which is total nonsense.
golfpacker1
March 23, 2024 at 11:48 am
First mock draft of the weekend and I got 2 LBs I like a lot. Here goes:
25. Jackson Powers-Johnson-OC Oregon
41. Jordan Morgan-OT Arizona
Trade back- #58 & #255 to Detroit for #61, #164, #201
61. Junior Colson-LB Michigan
89. Calen Bullock-S USC
91. Bucky Irving-RB Oregon
126. Khyree Jackson-CB Oregon
164. Cedric Johnson-EDGE Ole Miss
169. Isaiah Davis-RB South Dakota State-Missed Guerendo but I like Davis too
201. Brennan Jackson-EDGE Washington State-Falcons took K Boyd-DT-UNI @ #197
202. DeCamerion Richardson-CB Mississippi State
219. Nathaniel Watson-LB Mississippi State
220. Frank Crum-OT Wyoming
245. Tyler Owens-S Texas Tech
LLCHESTY
March 23, 2024 at 01:33 pm
32.
Byron Murphy II
DT Texas
41.
Zach Frazier
OC West Virginia
68.
Junior Colson
LB Michigan
73.
Cole Bishop
S Utah
91.
Kiran Amegadjie
OT Yale
93.
Jarrian Jones
CB Florida State
113.
MarShawn Lloyd
RB USC
164.
Khristian Boyd
DT Nothern Iowa
165.
Zion Tupuola-Fetui
EDGE Washington
168.
Tykee Smith
S Georgia
173.
Edefuan Ulofoshio
LB Washington
239.
Tylan Grable
OT UCF
255.
Nick Gargiulo
OC South Carolina
2025 KC 3rd
LLCHESTY
March 23, 2024 at 01:39 pm
Garguilo is a center but definitely has the athleticism to play G. Played at Yale before a year at South Carolina and played some guard last year.
https://twitter.com/MathBomb/status/1769765708466987397?t=Zgms0t040ce5vg...
SicSemperTyrannis
March 24, 2024 at 02:53 pm
Andy, glad you came through surgery well and best wishes for your continued recovery!
An aspect nobody's covering is the Kyle Juscyk role: Dillon and Tyler Davis can both compete and contribute in that. With Jacobs as the clear RB1, I think Dillon offers a LOT more in that function. Would YOU want to get in his way in that role?!? Plus he had 1 drop last season; he worked on catching and clearly improved. Dillon brings versatility even if his depth at RB has little value. This role is theoretically key within MLF's offense, and we've never really seen it. An advantage here is neither has the league. Jacob also got real support from it and did well with it.
There's also the long term connection between Jacobs and #25 that makes having both of them on the same team a very good idea. #25 is the hungriest player on the team, and if Jacobs matches that intensity?!? This sort of thing can be contagious in the locker room, and this would be a great year for that ...
Royce Newman also needs to go. 4 O linemen gone, gotta draft 3. And they all need to be good. Hopefully the three huge OTs that haven't played a snap are developing into at least serviceable backups?