Top Ten Things I'll Be Watching At Packers Family Night
Sure, we all want to see Jordan Love and how he's progressing, but there's a lot more than just one guy to pay attention to. Here's 10 more things to watch.
By BruceIrons
There is so much to be excited about and so many great storylines to follow at Packers Family Night this year. Here are the 10 things I will be paying the most attention to:
Route Drills - The Packers have drafted 6 wide receivers in the last 2 drafts. Christian Watson, last year's 2nd round pick, has the longest NFL career of all the receivers on the team. Not only will it be exciting to watch all these young receivers show their stuff, but it will be a great competition to see who will mesh with Jordan Love and win snaps.
Musgrave and Kraft - Wide receiver isn't the only place where young players will be battling for pass-catching snaps. Tight end is up in the air and rookie Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft were highly-rated tight end prospects who were both selected on Day 2. It'll be interesting to see how they compete and how they can work together in multi-tight end sets.
Sophomores - There's a lot of exciting rookies to watch (especially Lukas Van Ness), but guys who make big second year jumps are usually able to have a much bigger impact than rookies. Devonte Wyatt was pretty quiet for a 1st round pick last year, but has impressed in camp. Kingsley Enagbare had a surprising rookie season, but can he take it to the next level? Rasheed Walker and Samori Toure may be darkhorses to claw their way to a starting job, but they play positions where depth is critical and they could be called upon... if they make the jump.
Anders Carlson - I was skeptical when the Packers took a kicker in the 6th round, especially when the two kickers who had draftable grades were long gone. Carlson has had a pretty inconsistent camp, which isn't surprising, considering he had an inconsistent college career. Family Night isn't high stakes, but it'll be as dramatic a situation as he's faced in his professional career. Maybe he rises to the occassion and gets on track... or maybe he kicks himself out of a job before the preseason even starts.
Center Battle - Incumbent starter Josh Myers has been shaky with his exchanges. Jake Hanson hasn't really capitalized on the chances the Packers have given him. Zach Tom has been getting some snaps at center and the Packers recently signed Cole Schneider and claimed James Empey to compete at center. That's pretty much a battle royale as far as center competitions are concerned.
Carrington Valentine - The Cinderella story of training camp so far. The 7th round cornerback has average size, but elite athleticism. If his mental game keeps up, he could be a steal - on Saturday, we'll get our best look yet.
Line Drills - In addition to the center battle, the right guard and right tackle positions are still up for grabs. Zach Tom, Yosh Nijman, and Jon Runyan are the leading candidates to land starting jobs, but Sean Rhyan also looks to be in better shape than last year and Royce Newman still appears to have the coaching staff's confidence. How they fare on Saturday night could set the tone for who gets the starting roles to kick off preseason.
Christian Watson - I'll just be watching him because he's such a freak athlete and so fun to watch. Like Julius Peppers, he's a guys whose physical gifts are so unique, he's just fun to watch.
Rehab - I'm really interested to see how Rashan Gary and Eric Stokes look as they return from major injuries. Will they still be favoring their injuries or are they starting to get confidence in their bodies back?
The Skies - It's Family Night and the Packers have a new starting quarterback. So maybe Aaron Rodgers will keep tradition alive and take a private jet to come to Family Night and watch Jordan Love... probably not, but I'll keep an eye out just in case.
Bruce Irons has played, coached, and studied football for decades. Best-selling author of books such as A Fan's Guide To Understanding The NFL Draft, A Fan's Guide To Understanding The NFL Salary Cap, and A Fan's Guide To NFL Free Agency Hits And Misses, Bruce contributes to CheeseHeadTV and PackersForTheWin.com.
Follow Bruce Irons on Twitter at @BruceIronsNFL.
Comments (63)
NitschkeFromTheGrave
August 04, 2023 at 06:59 am
So many people as well as sports writers have bought into the hype and "feel-good" tweets and posts. I'm sorry fellas but while I hope I'm wrong, the truth is... "Love is NOT the guy". We are in for a long season if not several....
NickPerry
August 04, 2023 at 07:32 am
We (The Fans) HAVE to give Love time. The more I've thought about it, the MORE I've come to the realization is we have to give Love time to mesh with what's basically two WRs who have played less than a full season each and a bunch of rookies.
The TE room isn't any better in experience since Degura is a H-Back and Davis, if he even makes it, is a blocking TE and ST player. That leaves two more rookies in Musgrave and Kraft that Love is working with.
IMO whatever happens for the first half of the regular season is going to be rough. Now I still think they can win games early even if Love hasn't really lit it up yet. The schedule, a great running game, and the defense can go a long ways in helping accomplish that while Love and his WRs and TEs work through the kinks.
And there WILL be kinks. Love very well may not be the guy. But IMO he CAN be a guy just like say Eli Manning or joe Flacco and be more than good enough to have himself a nice LONG career, and even win a SB or two.
I mean common dude, Brad Johnson and Trent Dilfer won SBs...TRENT DILFER dude!!!
It's going to be okay NitschkeFromTheGrave... It's going to be the MOST exciting season in years! Plus, there's NO DRAMA!
dobber
August 04, 2023 at 08:41 am
"We (The Fans) HAVE to give Love time. The more I've thought about it, the MORE I've come to the realization is we have to give Love time to mesh with what's basically two WRs who have played less than a full season each and a bunch of rookies."
A full season should be more than enough to be able to judge what they have in 10. He carried the bulk of practice snaps in the last two camps and through a significant chunk of last season...and did so with the top of the depth chart at WR and the guy who will probably be his #3 pass-catcher (A Jones). His ramp-up time should be short, and his ability to read the field and make progressions should be clear regardless of his rapport with Wicks or Reed.
Barring significant injury, they'll know from game action just what they have in Love before the season is out.
Coldworld
August 04, 2023 at 10:11 am
We will also know a lot more about the reality of our Head Coach and his appointees as well as other players. This will be a season of discovery on many levels. Rightly or wrongly we need it.
jannesbjornson
August 04, 2023 at 01:15 pm
Shanahan got it done with his third stringer last year. The onus is indeed on LaFleur. His guy and he ran the tutorial the past three seasons.
NickPerry
August 04, 2023 at 04:34 pm
Two Thumbs Up for that. I was just speaking with someone on the way to my office this morning and said the same thing about MLF. We WILL find out if he can coach or not because COACHING is exactly what's needed.
I think MLF has some faults but I also have a feeling he's learned A LOT the last few years. I think he has a much better perspective on what he wants to do and what he should NEVER do again and that's give too much control to a player.
MLF...You're the HC of the GBP...Go out and be the best you can be and hopefully it's more than enough.
SicSemperTyrannis
August 05, 2023 at 12:08 am
We hope that's all true but so much besides JL10 has to go right for that to happen. O line; I think that's mostly up to coaches developing and evaluating the talent on the roster and they're focused on getting the 5 best on the field. Nowhere near a given that they succeed. Coaching in game, and there are questions there.
If all that goes well, JL shouldn't have to look to WRs very often early in the season. Including #44 & 49 there are multiple options to run over and through opposing defenses, not just #28. Again, if done right? That's situational football, not exactly our greatest strength in recent seasons. If all that's done right JL10 doesn't need to be a superstar, all he needs to do is be a game manager most of the time. He needs to not try threading needles as though he were AR12. Sticking to high probability plays hopefully proves to be MLF's tendency, but it's still up to JL10 to process everything happening on the field and make good decisions. Yes he could stink up the place and prove he's horrible. I don't think he'll do that OR the opposite extreme of demonstrating superstardom. There's a huge range in the middle that very much does NOT tell us "just what they have in Love."
Who said last year "we've seen everything we need to know what we've got in JL?" Was that the same guy who said we're not idiots? Boneheaded statements keep piling up ...
Players usually take three years to peak. I doubt JL10 breaks that mold, AR12 didn't. Did #4? How early in his career did TB12 distinguish himself as "the guy?"
stockholder
August 04, 2023 at 07:37 am
Good for you- Speak your mind.
If Love is the guy -great.
But let's not throw away who maybe better.
HarryHodag
August 04, 2023 at 07:53 am
Like who?
dblbogey
August 04, 2023 at 08:21 am
David Whitehurst is still alive.
dobber
August 04, 2023 at 08:42 am
He barely had a pulse in the 70s....
Coldworld
August 04, 2023 at 10:17 am
Until his bicep tear, Favre was better than Rodgers by some way in 2008. Arguably maybe even in 2009. Rodgers was still the best QB for the Packers in those years.
What matters is not how good Love is this season, but what he appears he will be in future ones. You didn’t come to terms with that in 2008 and we listened to it till mid 2010, long after it was painfully obvious.
Packers0808
August 04, 2023 at 10:51 am
Get off the Rodgers love wagon. The guy was done in GB and didn't want to be here. Why don't you just pack up and move east to NY to keep your love affair intact. It has gotten really old.
HarryHodag
August 04, 2023 at 07:53 am
Perhaps you can suggest someone who IS the guy?
Love doesn't have to be Favre or Rodgers. He just needs to be Don Majkowski. A guy who can throw a pass and can run some.
All declarations at this point amounts to pure speculation. Even if he bombs in the pre-season , it doesn't matter. When the Packers play the Bears we'll see what we have AT THAT POINT. At the end of season one of Love's tenure we'll have some idea. By the end of year two THEN we'll have a clearer idea. At the end of Aaron Rodgers first year it was still iffy whether he was going to pan out.
Never forget 17th round draft pick Bart Starr and look where he ended up.
dobber
August 04, 2023 at 08:44 am
"Love doesn't have to be Favre or Rodgers. He just needs to be Don Majkowski. A guy who can throw a pass and can run some."
Run the offense, make good decisions, take care of the football, and take what the defense gives him...that's the goal for 2023.
Coldworld
August 04, 2023 at 10:26 am
Love is going to try things Rodgers wouldn’t. He will play within the system but he won’t play without risk. Maybe not to Favre levels, but the ride will be wilder because of the change in temperament. That starts with the middle of the field. That likely means more interceptions on its own.
Personally, I preferred Rodgers and our O before that realization shaped his play. So buckle up and be prepared for lows as well as highs. The thing we all have to do is look at this over a large sample and see if the highs get closer and the lows further apart.
I think the idea that Love lacks physical talent has been put to bed. Now it’s the mental acuity that remains to be tested. That takes time and adjustment to the NFL. It did even for Rodgers, who struggled when behind in games early on. We saw how he learned, but not in 2008.
SicSemperTyrannis
August 05, 2023 at 12:15 am
Dobber, very much agreed!
Coaches using all our weapons and rising to the challenge of situational football would be really good to see, too. Determining whether it's QB or coach success or failure in specific moments may not be so easy to suss out, depending what happens ...
dblbogey
August 04, 2023 at 08:19 am
Are you clairvoyant?
dobber
August 04, 2023 at 08:52 am
...well, he's Nitschke from the Grave, so he's probably got SOME supernatural insight.
Packers0808
August 04, 2023 at 10:52 am
Goes both ways are you?
Fubar
August 04, 2023 at 08:52 am
thats not fair. you got to give the guy the chance to fail. If he does Gutt will be shown the door too. Which I think will happen, he is a moron at best.
Packers0808
August 04, 2023 at 10:54 am
So you replace him with all your football and drafting abilities.
greengold
August 04, 2023 at 11:01 am
Trolls 'gonna troll.
Packers0808
August 04, 2023 at 11:54 pm
Yes they do!
SicSemperTyrannis
August 05, 2023 at 12:17 am
GG, I wanna ask him what the weather's like in Minnedishu
mnbadger
August 04, 2023 at 02:23 pm
I understand the fear of relying on a view through rose colored glasses, but that comment is brutal.
Are you Ray's spinster, anti-social aunt from the grave?
Certainly not THE Ray Nitschke - he'd knock the teeth out of anybody that bad-mouthed his qb1 like that, no matter how poorly he played.
Remember:
1. Family
2. your god of choice
3. the Green Bay Packers!
GPG!
jeremyjjbrown
August 04, 2023 at 09:37 pm
You have no idea. Nobody does yet.
SicSemperTyrannis
August 05, 2023 at 12:22 am
JJ,
thank you for stating the painfully obvious!
Week 1 in Chicago will give us some insight. It'll only be clear if JL10 is extreme in either direction, good or bad. Most likely it won't be that clear. AR12 went 6-10 his first season as starter, I'd take that no matter what JL10's stat line looks like. He's not anybody else and shouldn't try to be.
Packfangirl
August 05, 2023 at 04:04 pm
IDK if we'll know Love is the guy by the end of this season. There are so many young rookies on O still learning. How will we know if the error is on Love or the receiver/intended target? Rodgers was always so harsh on young receivers for not being perfect. Jordan has 3 more years in the system than the rookies and 2 more than the most experienced receivers on the team... It's likely that could cause miscues and miscommunications.
Wait & see might take a couple of seasons... I'm really glad that our offence just might not be as predictable as we were in the past. I'm sure looking forward to the ups and even the downs...well, maybe not so much the downs! If this team gels, the talent can go a long way... I'm really looking forward to not being disappointed by the outcome of games, but just sitting back and watching football. GPG!!
RCPackerFan
August 04, 2023 at 07:35 am
Route Drills -
While the Packers have drafted 6 WR's the last 2 drafts they also brought in a pair of UDFA's that are in the mix as well. LaFleur was talking to Tom Pelissero and he mentioned that Bo Melton as a guy they are really excited about. He is a guy to keep an eye on.
But I am really looking forward to seeing how Watson, Doubs and Toure look compared to year 1. And looking forward to seeing these rookies. Reed is an extremely exciting player. He is different then the 2nd year WR's. Wicks I'm also looking forward to seeing because he is a guy that I think could fit perfectly in this offense. Missing most of the first week of camp, we havne't heard a lot about him yet. So I'm looking forward to see what he can do.
Musgrave and Kraft -
Definitely excited to see this pair of rookie TE's. Musgrave is exciting with his speed alone. Kraft is a guy I'm looking forward to seeing in live action. I feel like he is a guy that will flourish with contact. I'm really excited to see them!
Sophomores -
The sophomores I believe will set the tone for this season. Last years rookie class was one of the best ones we have seen in GB in a long time. Perhaps it will go down as one of the best. As of right now we are looking at 5 of the picks being starters. Walker, Wyatt, Watson, Doubs, Tom. That alone is a fantastic draft. They should be getting key contributions from Enagbare and Toure at the least. There are a couple of other players that could be factors as well. Tyler Goodson is a perfect example. It sounds like he has been having a fantastic camp. Bo Melton as I mentioned above is one that LaFleur said they are high on. Caleb Jones and/or Rasheed Walker could be a backup OT.
This class of sophomores I believe will be a big reason for our success this year!
Anders Carlson -
I'm looking forward to seeing him kick. From what I have seen he has missed every kick to the right. A few of them have been bad snaps, But i have also seen some videos of his leg strength. Yesterday I saw a video of him making a 53 yard FG and it hit the net about halfway up the goal posts. I guess he had a 61 yarder that was extremely impressive as well. Definitely looking forward to seeing him kick.
Center Battle -
While its easy to blame the OC for snap exchanges, I think its fair to ask if its the QB or the OC. How many snap issues did he have with Rodgers? Not many off the top of my head. So while its easy to blame the OC, perhaps its just Love and Myers needing to get the reps.
Carrington Valentine -
I was happy when they took Valentine in the 7th round. I felt at the time he could be a steal. And from what we have seen in camp so far he looks like he could be one.
Line Drills -
Right now we know who 3 of our starters are. Bakhtiari, Jenkins, Runyan. That leaves 2 spots that are unsettled. But you can read between the lines and figure out that the most likely starters are Myers at OC and Tom at RT. Tom has gotten the most reps at RT with the ones. I am looking forward to seeing Rhyan. It sounds like he has been looking better this year. Which is a good thing.
mrtundra
August 04, 2023 at 07:58 am
How many OC problems did the Packers have when Jenkins or Tom played Center? Don't blame Love for the issues we have with Center! Mainly, the Center has to snap the ball and then block the gaps on either side of him to prevent any bull rush, up the middle. That is not on Love. That is on Myers. Wondering if Sean Rhyan sees time at Center, this camp? Or if Jenkins shifts to C and Rhyan fills the LG spot?
RCPackerFan
August 04, 2023 at 08:58 am
Its funny how on this site if anyone questions anything with Love people get all bent out of shape over it.
I'm not at practice to see what is going on. All I can go on is what is being put out on the line. So I think its a fair question to ask if the exchange between the C and the QB is on the QB or the C.
I'm not saying its Love. I'm not saying its Myers. I'm literally asking the question and putting out there that maybe, just maybe its the 2 of them need to get on the same page more.
Coldworld
August 04, 2023 at 02:23 pm
I think questioning is fine. I think the total lack of an open mind about what Love may be is as pointless as it is tedious and impossible to know, even if that does transpire.
I thought Andy Herman said it well. A good coach and roster can win with, not because of, a QB. His view is that is where we are with Love at this point. Love won’t win it in his own for us or lose it for us over a season. The difference is the coaching and those around him. With the youth on O that may be an issue initially, but by the second half we will know what we have it haven’t got in a number of areas and how much better that might be next year.
That’s the point, we don’t know, we can’t. So continual “he’s a failure already” posts get old. Particularly from posters who were not over the last change till half way through 2010 and were as incessant about telling us how Rodgers was a pretender all that time.
Enjoy the ride, however bumpy, it’s happening. There is no going back. I will say that I’m enjoying the potential and camp. I do like the potential assembled on this roster. Let’s hope LaFleur can bring that out to the full. I’m enjoying the battles now taking shape. This could be fun at many positions this year.
Embrace it! Even LaFleur may prove me wrong as a long time doubter. I’m excited to see if he can. It’s just as much a necessary answer to our future prospects as who is our QB. And those answers will be starting to take shape from now on, inevitably. If I can give LaFleur a chance, surely we should all try to do the same with Love. It is likely to take a season of ups and downs (not just his).
Coldworld
August 04, 2023 at 02:38 pm
I think he’s had issues with not just Love on exchanges. That’s not that unusual early on though. If it happens in games then I will worry about it. Right now I hope Myers or Tom or whomever is just better at C than we were last year.
SicSemperTyrannis
August 05, 2023 at 12:40 am
RC,
Bo Melton, Jayden Reed, and Jonathan Owens are all players to watch. These are among the unexpected that I think will at least flash greatness, and could establish it if given the chance. On our O line I get the impression that Nijman is better at his position than Myers is at his, and that's independent of whatever might be happening with snaps gone wrong. This raises the interesting question of if Zack Tom plays C, what does Myers do? Is Runyan truly our best RG?
Mt Caleb is emerging as a force! Even if he doesn't start this year, he's a tremendous asset and we have significant depth in the position group. Family night and preseason games will hopefully give us some looks at that ...
stockholder
August 04, 2023 at 07:45 am
Anders Carlson-
jannesbjornson
August 04, 2023 at 01:33 pm
He's Their guy, but no Camp competition? Wolf wasted a three pick on Conway in '97, but brought Longwell in as a free agent from the 49rs cuts to seal the deal for a good long time. I hope we do not see another guy retained who cannot deliver in crunch time. Maybe Crosby is on speed dial, but he sold his home in Packerland.
jont
August 05, 2023 at 12:05 pm
He writes a guy's name and nothing else and gets 3 down votes.
At some point, stockholder's down votes stopped being about him and his comments.
HarryHodag
August 04, 2023 at 07:58 am
I stopped attending Family Night as it really is nothing more than a glorified practice. I was almost always in the nose bleed seats and watched most of it from the video screens. As a football purist there was a bit too much hype and not enough football. If it was some hard knocking offense vs. defense, that's another thing. But they rightly avoid too much contact.
Packers0808
August 04, 2023 at 10:56 am
Yup 100%. Just a night of good feeling for fans who normally can't afford the price of tickets during the season.
Coldworld
August 04, 2023 at 06:13 pm
When it was a true scrimmage it was a different event.
TxFred
August 04, 2023 at 08:18 am
I will be watching the sophomore "class". First year wide eyed, deer in headlight looks, the speed of the game blowing by them. Now is the to sink or swim. Interesting to see who make the "jump". Would like to see they all make. A few won't. It's bidness, so they'll be moving on. GPG!!!
dblbogey
August 04, 2023 at 08:28 am
"and Royce Newman still appears to have the coaching staff's confidence."
Can anybody explain why? He's terrible, always has been. And then Jake Hanson? I worry about our interior line depth. Nagler keeps saying OL is our strength but I only see 5 capable offensive lineman, and that's with Tom at center and Yosh at RT (LT is his best position) and Myers on the bench. But my biggest fear is if Love gets injured. We've got nothing behind him.
dobber
August 04, 2023 at 08:47 am
"Can anybody explain why? He's terrible..."
Nobody is touting him as the LT post Bakhtiari...he's not in the conversation for a starting spot. Newman is just fine as a 7th or 8th OL. There are a lot of teams out there with a Royce Newman type at the top of their depth chart somewhere on their OL.
SicSemperTyrannis
August 05, 2023 at 12:49 am
Dobber, do we have nobody else better than Newman and Hanson? #63, 72, 75, 77 & 78 all seem likely candidates for that. Does #70 (Newman) really merit pushing them all aside? What's his best position?
Coldworld
August 05, 2023 at 04:51 pm
Newman is probably best as a G. He’s got really good burst to get up field in the run game and dies so well, but his lateral ability is poor. That was why I was baffled by them trying him at T. There were other candidates as well as Tom whom I’d have bet on having a better chance just on attributes. He wasn’t a vet at T. I think that made him worse at G too.
Newman was the best rated G in the league in his rookie preseason. He has the tools. His problem is that he doesn’t seem to be able to diagnose stunts or overloads. It’s mental not physical in my view. That light could go on at some point. If it does he might actually be pretty good. However, there’s no guarantee it ever will.
jannesbjornson
August 04, 2023 at 01:42 pm
Rhyan should be moving up the depth charts. The entire right flank is open for competition, Stenovich claims. Wallace was always a solid guy for Penn State. Let's see how it all shakes out after Summer Session. The Film does not support some of these leftovers. Love must be protected, or he will fail like any QB put under duress.
He cannot be injured. There's no replacement.
Leatherhead
August 04, 2023 at 05:14 pm
He started a lot of games for us as a rookie and did OK. Last year, it didn't really look like he'd gotten any better, but he was serviceable as long as he wasn't lined up next to Hanson. When those two were next to each other, we had a weak point.
:He's under contract. He's cheap. He's experienced. He knows the playbook and the system. And most importantly, we don't really have 5 interior linemen better than him.
Your assessment of Myers is off target, IMO. In fact, you kind of seem like you're not real optimistic about the team. That's too bad. I'd be forced to agree with Nagler on this point. Bakhtiari/Nijman gives us a great situation at LT. Add Jenkins at LG and we're looking at one of the best left sides in the league. Myers at Center, Tom at RT, and Runyan at RG. That's a good group of veteran linemen. IF we can just keep them healthy enough to practice and play for 5 months.
SicSemperTyrannis
August 05, 2023 at 01:00 am
You don't think Nijman is better than Myers? Yes it's an odd comparison, but if Zach Tom replaces one of them as starter, I'm thinking we're better with Nijman on the field. That would mean Tom Runyan Nijman. Unless someone then beats Runyan for RG, and I don't think that should be considered until C is settled. It would also be interesting to know current weight and strength of Myers and Tom; leg press, squat, bench and inclined bench. Not just max lift but total volume of work before failure. I hope these were all knowns to the coaching staff weeks or months ago. It's a little late in the season to be trying to determine that.
Mt Caleb as Bakh's backup does not seem like a weak spot to me, and I'd rather see that risk this season than next.
Leatherhead
August 05, 2023 at 11:39 am
I think Nijman is a tackle, a left tackle, and a pretty good one. He's playing behind one of the best LTs in the league, and LT is a priority position. He has played RT, and has taken reps in camp there, but we've got Tom playing there, and if Tom can do that job (and I think he can), then both of our tackle spots are secure-ish.
I know this is a hugely unpopular opinion here, but I think the angst over Myers is 90% nonsense. It's like "Oh My God!!!. He had a bad rep in training camp!!! We have to replace him because he's no good!!!"
He was an immediate starter, which is rare for a Packer rookie. He was holding his own pretty well when a bad leg injury ended his season. Last year, he was on the field for more plays than any other player on the offense. He was coming back from that injury, physically and psychologically, while a rotating cast of characters were on his left and right. At Left Guard, I believe we had Runyan, Tom, and Jenkins while the RG had Newman, Hanson, and Runyan.
This is all to point out that the Packers coaching staff is aware of all this and prefers Myers at center. We'll need a backup, and if it's Tom, then you can maybe swing Nijman over to RT if needed.
I love your enthusiasm about Mt. Caleb, but if Bakhtiari gets hurt in mid-game, I'd feel a helluva lot better if his backside was protected by people who've done it successfully before. I do think that the decision to keep Bakhtiari instead of trading him this past offseason was to give Jones and Walker another year to develop.
I believe that the Packers preferred starting offensive line is Bakhtiari, Jenkins, Myers, Runyan, and Tom. Nijman will be used to keep Bakhtiari fresh over the next 5 months. We can survive one injury on the line by doing some shuffling, but the second injury is going to put us in a bad spot unless Newman/Rhyan/Walker/Jones can step up and play like a starter in the NFL.
greengold
August 05, 2023 at 12:59 pm
"Oh My God!!!. He had a bad rep in training camp!!! We have to replace him because he's no good!!!"
Really? How many times have I shared his comparative grades through 2 seasons (6 games 2021, 17games 2022)???
How many times does AJ Dillon need to hit a wall of defenders at the LOS because Myers struggles to run block well?
Myers had 2 blown snaps that botched to the turf BEFORE he was blown off his feet airborne, backwards by TJ Slaton. Myers then had 2 more botched snaps the following day on 2nd team reps with Clifford. Myers was spun into the ground by Wyatt on that day... But, what is it?
Are we overreacting? Or, are you unwilling to acknowledge the reporting of what has actually been occurring?
Your statement above mischaracterizes any well intentioned perspective/discourse on what actually happened. No?
It's the furthest thing from what you've stated. Every player has a bad rep every now and then. Do you really think we, your friends here, can't discern the difference based on what was reported? C'mon, man.
We'll see what happens. I don't have anything against Myers. But, I can distinguish the difference in PFF NFL Draft grades in the mid 60's for Myers and high 90s for Tom at Center.
(Frankly, Myers draft profile grades from Ohio St. were SO INFERIOR that it makes me wonder if Aaron Rodgers, and his new found role he usurped as GM soothsayer, didn't force the decision, with Murphy's backing). THAT'S HOW BAD the Myers pick looks. But, Myers snaps right handed...
Adding further, our own GM feels Center is Tom's best position. There's a whole lot of factors involved pointing to Tom winning the starting Center job for 2023. It's early. We'll see in all the preseason action moving forward.
--
As for Bakhtiari, I've been under the impression for months that Bakhtiari will be moving on from the Packers in 2023. Nothing has changed there for me. It's my own opinion. However, Aaron Rodgers just cleared the way on the Jets cap ($32M?) for a deal to be made to bring Bakhtiari into the Jets fold. If you might follow, you'd know or agree that becomes a huge possibility with their starting LT, Duane Brown, still out with an injured shoulder is slotted as a hopeful return. Mekhi Becton has yet to return from a completely destroyed knee, and is a stretch to make any kind of impact after not having played in 2 years.
My guess is the Packers are in a waiting game to move Bakhtiari along, waiting for the right suitor suddenly in need of a starting LT to come along and offer a better deal than what the NYJ have probably already offered behind the scenes.
The Packers don't necessarily want the Jets to improve as it would weaken the "conditional R2 pick" from the AR trade - UNLESS those conditions were to be removed and the pick made their full rights R1... PLUS!!! Most season ending injuries to LT's happen between now, preseason, and Week 4 of the regular season, and the Packers know this. Additionally, they have until October 31st trade deadline to decide.
***Rashan Gary's extension will wipe out 2024 cap savings in trading Bakhtiari -next- year. PLUS we may wish to extend Love??? With what? PLUS, Bakhtiari would have to stay 100% healthy and play at peak performance to attract a trade partner at the astronomical 2024 asking price. Does that seem realistic to anyone here? That is what makes me think the Packers might feel they have no choice but to move him this year.
Keeping Bakhtiari in GB for the remainder of his career would require an extension with MAX VOID years attached. Do we really want to do that more? Again?
For these reasons I am pretty much looking at Caleb Jones and Yosh Nijman as our starters on either side - whichever they determine the best alignment to be, with Elgton, Tom and Rhyan maybe taking over as the middle trio.
Runyan is definitely a possibility to remain at RG as a starter, and to get an extension, if his play improves, but his PFF grading has been as bad or worse than that of Myers for the entire 3 years in the run blocking category. Both are average pass blockers, and neither has eclipsed the grade of 77, Runyan's all-time high last season.
Sean Rhyan entered the NFL with an overall grade of 83.3. His run blocking grade was 86.1. Pass blocking 76.7.
Leatherhead
August 05, 2023 at 04:08 pm
"Really? How many times have I shared his comparative grades through 2 seasons (6 games 2021, 17games 2022)???""""
I don't think grades....determined by criteria which at some point, become subjective....are the whole story. You are basically saying that the Packers Personnel Department , including Gutekunst, blew this selection. Instead of getting Humphrey, a consensus #1 Center in the draft, we got a guy who's not even a decent starter.
It's also disparaging to the coaching staff, which keeps putting him on the field.
Here's what I think: He was off to a good start prior to the injury. Last year was kind of a recovery season. Lets remember he played well enough for the Packers to have a top rated Oline last year. During the offseason, the Packers didn't draft a center and didn't trade for one. Why do you think that was? I think The Plan is to use Myers at Center, and Tom at RT (which is why we didn't draft or trade for a RT) and/or backup C. Add Jenkins at LG and Runyan at RG and this is a pretty good group if it can stay together.
dobber
August 04, 2023 at 08:45 am
The training staff: the more time they spend on the sidelines, the better.
Packers0808
August 04, 2023 at 10:58 am
Never a more true statements pervades in football!
Fubar
August 04, 2023 at 02:25 pm
I hope no one does a Beluga and trips over the chalk line and injures his knee for an entire season and most of his career he had left.
mnbadger
August 04, 2023 at 02:25 pm
The Skies - . . . maybe Aaron Rodgers will keep tradition alive and take a private jet to come to Family Night and watch Jordan Love..."
We better scramble a few fighter "jets" and line up artillery support in the event he comes close to Lambeau for any reason other than as opposing team's qb.
Keep the poison out of the water.
All ahead full.
GPG!
greengold
August 04, 2023 at 03:06 pm
Mark Murphy's ABSENCE after being named as a defendant in a lawsuit in the Northwestern hazing scandal? wow.
Not a good look, Mark. STAY AWAY!!!
"ESPN is reporting that Murphy is part of a larger lawsuit that alleges incidents of hazing, sexual abuse and racial discrimination at Northwestern University's football program."
Murphy was AD at Northwestern during 4 of the 5 years (2004-2008) the lawsuit alleges hazing, sexual abuse, and racial discrimination, including "running" players in a perverse hazing ritual - across state lines, no less, in Kenosha.
That is sickening. The Packers Board of Directors must force him to take a leave of absence while they investigate this, for the good of the Green Bay Packers.
Just in time for Family Night.
Coldworld
August 04, 2023 at 06:22 pm
As you know, I’m not a fan of Murphy or his stewardship of the team. However, I won’t see a man hung solely on the basis of claims such as this. It could very well become as you describe. But until there’s more substance, he deserves not to be convicted. He was the man who hired (promoted) Fitzgerald, but he left fairly early in his tenure.
Just be grateful that Murphy was turned down by Fitzgerald when he offered him McCarthy’s job. Fitzgerald was who Murphy had in mind, Fitzgerald wanted to stay With Northwestern and declined. That would not have been a good look for the Packers.
greengold
August 04, 2023 at 09:21 pm
Due diligence is all I’ve asked for. Very simple, under circumstances that could prove injurious to the Packers if true. How do we not?
SicSemperTyrannis
August 05, 2023 at 01:05 am
Wow GG, that's the one Packers news item I skipped because I figured it was a nothing burger. We've got our own coach Karolyi?
greengold
August 05, 2023 at 01:27 pm
A PR nightmare if true.
If Mark Murphy knew all of this and purposefully withheld disclosing that information upon hire as the Green Bay Packers President & CEO in 2008...
This is nothing to mess around with, Board of Directors. Get on it.
Oppy
August 04, 2023 at 05:19 pm
It's not that I disagree with Bruce's take on Christian Watson per se, but for me personally, It's just that I find him more fun to watch than anything else.
SicSemperTyrannis
August 05, 2023 at 01:09 am
He also plays the part! He was revving up the fans at practice Tuesday. His connection with JL10 has been a thing of beauty at times. #28 was the only player to spend time talking to fans after practice Monday and Tuesday. Nice guy, and humorous.
Musgrave's connection with JL10 is often ugly, but as a relief valve it's been effective; hopefully that continues throughout the regular season :)