Packers 2020 team discussion

[HiAndTight]

I don't follow the Packers too closely but from what I've seen they look like a serious Super Bowl contender. Are Packers fans too jaded to bring this up at this point? If so, I will. This team is going to be in the Super Bowl this year. The Seahawks are the only team that could potentially challenge that and without home field advantage I doubt they will.

 

Here's why I'm still nervous (and I hope someone can tell me why I'm wrong):

 

Last year the 49ers had a very successful game plan to not only win, but to completely dominate GB. Essentially, they ran it down our throats at will.

 

Did the Packers improve from last season? Absolutely! Even without any WRs, this might be the best offense in the league. That being said, one of the most effective ways to neutralize a prolific offense is to control time of possession by running the ball. If we have not improved at stopping the run our other improvements on the offensive end can be limited.

 

I don't think anyone can. If they sign Harrison and if he plays like he has...that might eliminate that area of weakness, but I don't think we can fix the run D in house. There is still a trade deadline as well.

[wildcat83]

 

I don't think anyone can. If they sign Harrison and if he plays like he has...that might eliminate that area of weakness, but I don't think we can fix the run D in house. There is still a trade deadline as well.

 

 

Harrison signed with Seattle yesterday.

[LouisEly]

I love the Offense, but the defense has me concerned.

Through four games the Packers are 12th in the league in yards/game allowed, 18th in passing yards allowed, 9th in rushing yards allowed, and 18th in points/game allowed. For reference, the difference between the Packers being 18th in points/game allowed and 8th in points/game allowed is a field goal per game (3 ppg).

 

Also for reference, the Packers lead the league in points per game scored. If they averaged a field goal less per game, they would be 2nd in the league in scoring. If they averaged a touchdown per game less in scoring, they would be tied for third in the league in scoring.

 

The hurry-up offense is tough to stop.

[CheezWizHed]

I love the Offense, but the defense has me concerned.

Through four games the Packers are 12th in the league in yards/game allowed, 18th in passing yards allowed, 9th in rushing yards allowed, and 18th in points/game allowed. For reference, the difference between the Packers being 18th in points/game allowed and 8th in points/game allowed is a field goal per game (3 ppg).

 

Also for reference, the Packers lead the league in points per game scored. If they averaged a field goal less per game, they would be 2nd in the league in scoring. If they averaged a touchdown per game less in scoring, they would be tied for third in the league in scoring.

 

The hurry-up offense is tough to stop.

 

And like last year, their defense is propped up because teams fall behind and run the ball very little (the best defense is a good offense). Atlanta was very MM-esque in abandoning the run very, very early even as the game was quasi-close. We are built to stop the pass, this is clear and the most important aspect of defense.

 

If our run defense was simply average in rush/attempt (where we are 23rd and look much worse given the teams we've played), I'd feel 110% better because it only takes one team like 49ers, Titans, Ravens, or Chiefs to just run the ball down our throats and nullify our offense.

[nodakfan17]

Reggie Begelton cleared waivers and is back on the practice squad.

[homer]

Titans/Bills moved to Tuesday evening.

[HiAndTight]

 

I don't think anyone can. If they sign Harrison and if he plays like he has...that might eliminate that area of weakness, but I don't think we can fix the run D in house. There is still a trade deadline as well.

 

 

Harrison signed with Seattle yesterday.

 

 

To the practice squad. Obviously they have some plan in mind and I suspect they didn't want to have to release Anthony Rush(6'4 350)...and he'd have been the most likely to go, but that move just doesn't make sense to me.

 

I guess the Packers just didn't make a serious offer or he thinks Seattle's a better team. I think the Packers are better with or without Harrison and he'd make a bigger impact in GB, but...whatever. We can still sign him, but it seems obvious we're not going to.

 

Still...I'll hold out hope that whenever he works himself back in shape and Seattle has to make a roster move, they dump one of their big DT's and then we can pick them up and plug them into our DL.

[HiAndTight]

I love the Offense, but the defense has me concerned.

Through four games the Packers are 12th in the league in yards/game allowed, 18th in passing yards allowed, 9th in rushing yards allowed, and 18th in points/game allowed. For reference, the difference between the Packers being 18th in points/game allowed and 8th in points/game allowed is a field goal per game (3 ppg).

 

Also for reference, the Packers lead the league in points per game scored. If they averaged a field goal less per game, they would be 2nd in the league in scoring. If they averaged a touchdown per game less in scoring, they would be tied for third in the league in scoring.

 

The hurry-up offense is tough to stop.

 

And like last year, their defense is propped up because teams fall behind and run the ball very little (the best defense is a good offense). Atlanta was very MM-esque in abandoning the run very, very early even as the game was quasi-close. We are built to stop the pass, this is clear and the most important aspect of defense.

 

If our run defense was simply average in rush/attempt (where we are 23rd and look much worse given the teams we've played), I'd feel 110% better because it only takes one team like 49ers, Titans, Ravens, or Chiefs to just run the ball down our throats and nullify our offense.

 

Agreed. Those are mis-leading stats. Detroit just ran it right down our throats. I would think with this team looking as good as it looks, the Packers would be self aware enough to see that they're pretty bad against a good running team and go out and make a trade.

 

I've seen Quinnen Williams may get traded. Wonder what you'd have to give up assuming that's true? He'd be a near perfect fit for the Packers as a 3 tech...he's explosive and very-very good vs the run. I think I'd be willing to deal a 1st rounder at this point for a 3 down DL who's just 22 years old. And it seems like the Jets will trade anyone on their roster.

[homer]

Kamal Martin and Eq St. Brown both returned to practice today.

 

CB Kevin King and RB Tyler Ervin did not practice. PS C Jake Hanson did not practice.

 

Davante Adams, Kenny Clark, Rashan Gary and Marcedes Lewis all practiced (DNP vs. Falcons).

[LouisEly]

Continuing the discussion on who to extend and who not to extend, who is gone, etc., from the NFL thread...

 

Bakh, IMO, is the clear #1 priority. But it gets a lot more complicated after that because not only do you have Jones and Linsley, but Adams is a FA after 2021. They need to figure out how to keep him first.

 

2022 is going to be the problem year, as they'll have Rodgers, Clark, Bakh, and likely Adams under big contracts and it will be hard to part with Z if he keeps producing like this even though he'll be due $20M. They'll be able to jettison Turner ($5.8M), Lowry ($5.8M), P. Smith ($12.5M), and Amos ($7.9M), and Kirksey ($8M) and Wagner ($6M) will be gone. That's $46M, But they also have to replace those guys on the roster.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if Preston Smith is gone sooner rather than later; if he's dropping back into coverage a lot then he isn't worth $16M/year. They might be able to trade him, as the $8M cap hit is half of his $16M salary, and he might look good to another team on a 2/$24M non-guaranteed deal.

[nodakfan17]

The fact that we’re in this ‘jam’ (having so many quality players to re-sign) is really a credit to Ted Thompson (who drafted Bakhtiari, Linsley, Jones, and Williams). It was time for TT to get the gold watch treatment and I wish he’d stepped aside a few years earlier, but he’s become way too much of a punching bag for Packer fans. He built a Super Bowl champion through the draft and I’ll always revere him for it.

[pacopete4]

I think it comes with the job. McCarthy gets smacked around by fans too. It's a big reason I've been turned off with our fan base in the last few years. Spoiled rotten with success over the past three decades and it has ruined winning two Super Bowls and how we view people that helped our organization earn them.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

The Seahawks are the only team that could potentially challenge that and without home field advantage I doubt they will.

 

IMO, it's just presumptuous to think this away. I don't expect Green Bay to go 16-0, and the two teams don't play each other. Home Field throughout is not guaranteed, and given the expanded playoff field, also carries with it the lone first round bye. I do think this is a very good Packers team, especially since Rodgers has the pinpoint accuracy back on his deep throws, and the offense has enough wrinkles to it to put pressure on the linebackers and safeties, even when the top WRs have been hurt.

 

I'm more worried about beating Tom Brady after the bye than anything else.

 

That and the Packers haven't exactly been taking out top teams. Three of their wins are against a combined 2-12. 5-14 overall. They have been pummeling most of them though which is a good sign. Tampa will be a decent test.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

The Seahawks are the only team that could potentially challenge that and without home field advantage I doubt they will.

 

IMO, it's just presumptuous to think this away. I don't expect Green Bay to go 16-0, and the two teams don't play each other. Home Field throughout is not guaranteed, and given the expanded playoff field, also carries with it the lone first round bye. I do think this is a very good Packers team, especially since Rodgers has the pinpoint accuracy back on his deep throws, and the offense has enough wrinkles to it to put pressure on the linebackers and safeties, even when the top WRs have been hurt.

 

I'm more worried about beating Tom Brady after the bye than anything else.

 

That and the Packers haven't exactly been taking out top teams. Three of their wins are against a combined 2-12. 5-14 overall. They have been pummeling most of them though which is a good sign. Tampa will be a decent test.

 

The Saints were a great win. The Vikings and the Falcons were widely considered playoff contenders coming into the season, and both have a lot of talent. You couldn't have foresaw both teams being train wrecks due to, largely, inept coaching.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

That doesn't change that none of those teams are good this year and that is who the Packers have beaten. I don't know what their forecast coming into the season has to do with it. The Falcons stink and Minnesota does too. The Saints were a good win and they were pushed pretty tough by them. I'm not sure I agree on the others anyway. Atlanta was a 7-9 team that many thought was in decline and should've canned Quinn last year. I'm indifferent as to MN. Probably saw them as an 8-8 team going into the season.

 

Packers have exceeded expectations as they don't control who they play. We'll find out how they do when they play better teams. SF should be much healthier by the time they go there.

[pacopete4]

Why would anyone think ATL or MIN would be good this year is beyond me. They stink. They had lousy offseasons and didn't get any better. Couple that with poor coaching and you get what you have this season for them. Both franchises are in trouble moving forward.

 

New Orleans has been our only real test and that game could've went either way.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Why would anyone think ATL or MIN would be good this year is beyond me. They stink. They had lousy offseasons and didn't get any better. Couple that with poor coaching and you get what you have this season for them. Both franchises are in trouble moving forward.

 

New Orleans has been our only real test and that game could've went either way.

 

Trust me, as a Packer fan with a lot of Minnesota friends, I love that the Vikings are terrible. Maybe I bought into their hype for the team a little too hard. They have some terrific skill position talent. But Zimmer has always been terrible. He's just a jerk, and a bad coach to boot.

 

The Falcons are a tough team to get a read on. Really solid offensive firepower on paper with Jones, Ridley and Gage at WR, Hurst at TE and Gurley in the backfield. Matt Ryan has always been a solid QB, but appears to be in decline.

[homer]

Minnesota looked good against Seattle. That's as flummoxed as I've seen Wilson in quite some time.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Seattle has been cardiac arrest every week and most of their opponents have looked good, or competitive, against them. An OK team that uses the Herculean skills of one guy to look really good. The amount of close wins that team has eeked out for the last 2 years specifically is incredible.

 

The Seahawks right now remind me a lot of what the Packers were from 2012-2016. A good offense with a QB that will have them in contention every year if healthy and often needing everything he's got to win.

[PinaMadness]

The Bears schedule hasn't exactly been a murderer's row either and by all rights probably should've lost to Detroit and Atlanta. Also didn't look very impressive against the Giants, although Trubisky played that game, but Foles isn't that much of an improvement either.

[pacopete4]

Seattle's defense is nothing special at all. Russell Wilson probably will never be as appreciated as he should be. Guy has ice in his veins and has done it for a long time now. He's incredible to watch.

[homer]

The Bears are OK. Their defense is good enough to keep them at least close in almost every game. They get a turnover and they can beat you (ala Tampa Bay).

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Seattle's defense is nothing special at all. Russell Wilson probably will never be as appreciated as he should be. Guy has ice in his veins and has done it for a long time now. He's incredible to watch.

 

That's why they don't overly concern me. I like the Packers chances against that kind of one-man show, where I'm not really concerned about them being unable to score points. That offensive line is not good either. It's been better this year, but the talent is just not there on it, and I don't worry about us being unable to at least get to Wilson sometimes. We have a better balance. We can survive a few big plays from him.

[HiAndTight]

Why would anyone think ATL or MIN would be good this year is beyond me. They stink. They had lousy offseasons and didn't get any better. Couple that with poor coaching and you get what you have this season for them. Both franchises are in trouble moving forward.

 

New Orleans has been our only real test and that game could've went either way.

 

 

Why would anyone have thought Minnesota would have been bad?

 

They were 57-38 coming into the year under Zimmer. They lost some DB's, but drafted a bunch.

 

I think the idea that everyone knew Minnesota was a bad team is a little bit revisionist now. Most people thought they were the team that would compete with us for the division title.

 

And Atlanta...nobody ever knows what you're getting from them.

[pacopete4]

Why would anyone think ATL or MIN would be good this year is beyond me. They stink. They had lousy offseasons and didn't get any better. Couple that with poor coaching and you get what you have this season for them. Both franchises are in trouble moving forward.

 

New Orleans has been our only real test and that game could've went either way.

 

 

Why would anyone have thought Minnesota would have been bad?

 

They were 57-38 coming into the year under Zimmer. They lost some DB's, but drafted a bunch.

 

I think the idea that everyone knew Minnesota was a bad team is a little bit revisionist now. Most people thought they were the team that would compete with us for the division title.

 

And Atlanta...nobody ever knows what you're getting from them.

 

They basically lost their entire defensive backfield. You don’t just replace that all at once and not miss a beat. Their offensive line is absolute dog turds and haven’t done anything to shore that up. They traded one of their only offensive weapons worth much. They were destined to be lousy to mediocre this year. Looks like they’re choosing the lousy road. They aren’t good and have cap issues. The Packers should curb stomp them for years to come.