Packer 2021 Team Discussion 2.0

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Whitney Mercilus practiced today? Isn't he out for the season?

 

Apparently this is legit. If he's able to play, they kept that about as quiet as possible.

 

Getting Mercilus and Z back for the playoffs would make for a silly good rotation for pass rush situations.

 

Whoa this is big. Mercilus + Z>>>>Galeai + Garvin

 

I want to keep expectations somewhat tempered, but the news of all these reinforcements coming back for the playoffs is making that difficult. How crazy is it that this team is as healthy as it's been all season as they enter the playoffs, while the biggest NFC contenders have all been knocked down by huge injuries? Right now Jenkins and Tonyan are the only major contributors this team will be missing as it enters the playoff bracket. Granted those are big pieces, but it pales in comparison to what other contenders are dealing with.

 

Shaping up to be potentially be an exciting January (and February).

[homer]

I do think it's unfair to expect everyone to be in game shape. I'll be happy with 10 - 15 snaps for each of those guys in the 1st playoff game. The "help" will really come if the Packers can make it a few weeks into the playoffs.

[OldHeidelberg]

I do think it's unfair to expect everyone to be in game shape. I'll be happy with 10 - 15 snaps for each of those guys in the 1st playoff game. The "help" will really come if the Packers can make it a few weeks into the playoffs.

 

I would hope for a lot more from Bakh and Jaire but I agree, the further they get the more impact we will see from these guys.

 

I assumed Mercilus had surgery and went home, the Packers must share nothing with the local beat writers. I knew there was a reason I stopped subscribing to the online MJS coverage, I am not that cheap the coverage just started to suck over the years.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

I do think it's unfair to expect everyone to be in game shape. I'll be happy with 10 - 15 snaps for each of those guys in the 1st playoff game. The "help" will really come if the Packers can make it a few weeks into the playoffs.

 

I would hope for a lot more from Bakh and Jaire but I agree, the further they get the more impact we will see from these guys.

 

I assumed Mercilus had surgery and went home, the Packers must share nothing with the local beat writers. I knew there was a reason I stopped subscribing to the online MJS coverage, I am not that cheap the coverage just started to suck over the years.

 

The MJS and the GB Press-Gazette used to compete with each other. But now that they are owned by the came conglomerate, it's all the same information.

[Joseph Zarr]

Oh man, I just heard the Mercilus news. All these returns has me unreasonably excited for our chances. Settle down, Muchacho!

[homer]

hahaha this gave me goosebumps

[Joseph Zarr]

All of these returns are extremely important and obviously welcomed with widespread open arms. BUT, I honestly think the biggest return nobody appears to be talking about is David Moore off the COVID list and back on the roster. The kick and punt return game has been such a disaster all season long but Moore is a clear clear upgrade who not only catches the ball cleanly from all types of kicks and angles BUT actually is a threat to give us 10-20 yards of meaningful field position. I, for one, am excited to see him in a Playoff atmosphere. Moreso, I'm just excited we won't have Amari or Malik back there looking to cough it up or straigh it up. Now, in the very least, I can just pray Mason doesn't have to decide a game. That's all the ST worry I can handle. Edited January 13, 2022 by RoCoBrewfan
watch the cuss filter please

[CheezWizHed]

All of these returns are extremely important and obviously welcomed with widespread open arms. BUT, I honestly think the biggest return nobody appears to be talking about is David Moore off the COVID list and back on the roster. The kick and punt return game has been such a disaster all season long but Moore is a clear clear upgrade who not only catches the ball cleanly from all types of kicks and angles BUT actually is a threat to give us 10-20 yards of meaningful field position. I, for one, am excited to see him in a Playoff atmosphere. Moreso, I'm just excited we won't have Amari or Malik back there looking to cough it up or straigh f*** it up. Now, in the very least, I can just pray Mason doesn't have to decide a game. That's all the ST worry I can handle.

 

You had me at "catches the ball cleanly".

[PeaveyFury]

I do think it's unfair to expect everyone to be in game shape. I'll be happy with 10 - 15 snaps for each of those guys in the 1st playoff game. The "help" will really come if the Packers can make it a few weeks into the playoffs.

 

For guys like Z and Whitney, that may be all they need. 10-15 pass rush snaps as fresh legs that also help keep Gary/Preston fresher. We've shown the LB corps can hold up fine as-is, so fresh pass rush legs are just a huge luxury.

[Fear The Chorizo]

I do think it's unfair to expect everyone to be in game shape. I'll be happy with 10 - 15 snaps for each of those guys in the 1st playoff game. The "help" will really come if the Packers can make it a few weeks into the playoffs.

 

For guys like Z and Whitney, that may be all they need. 10-15 pass rush snaps as fresh legs that also help keep Gary/Preston fresher. We've shown the LB corps can hold up fine as-is, so fresh pass rush legs are just a huge luxury.

 

I'd add that bringing this type of veteran talent back to serve as primary depth drastically limits holes on the defensive roster that opponents cant scheme to try and exploit - particularly upfront. Having players like Z. Smith and Mercilus take snaps on the field while still getting into game shape is a better option than giving them to other backup OLBs who might be in better game shape but simply aren't as talented as guys who still flash pro bowl ability in limited action.

 

Having Gary and P. Smith playing well and taking the majority of snaps with the potential for these other two guys to spell them is significant.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

The number of guys coming back at the end of the year makes you wonder why load management isn't more of a thing in the NFL. You don't have as many games so you can't afford to lose many, if any. But with how brutal the sport is and how much worse the scheduling has gotten, it doesn't sound that crazy to give Kenny Clark or something 2 weeks off a year.

[Fear The Chorizo]

The number of guys coming back at the end of the year makes you wonder why load management isn't more of a thing in the NFL. You don't have as many games so you can't afford to lose many, if any. But with how brutal the sport is and how much worse the scheduling has gotten, it doesn't sound that crazy to give Kenny Clark or something 2 weeks off a year.

 

It's tough, because of the contact even the most rested players can blow a knee out at any moment - i feel like in basketball the extra wear and tear and fatigue related to their insane travel schedule plays more of a role with preventable injuries. Plus next to nobody cares about the NBA regular season aside from Christmas day. With the NFL salary cap structure, it's really difficult to sit a star making 10-15% of your team payroll for a couple weeks in the middle of a season when each game honestly means so much for playoff positioning, and instead give all those snaps to a practice squad player barely holding onto a NFL roster spot.

 

To me the closest thing some NFL teams do now is splitting carries between running backs and going with a heavy front 7 defensive rotation for snaps. With roster limitations, teams can't get too nuts with giving healthy starters games off with certain position groupings, too. Say you give a starting lineman a week off, then you get an in-game injury and poor performance by their backup and 3rd string lineman options, and you're stuck playing the rest of the game hoping your starting QB doesn't get killed with your best player at that position watching from the sideline in a sweatshirt.

 

The other general load management improvement the NFL could do as a whole is add a 2nd bye week to the schedule.

[homer]

Regular season games matter more in the NFL than other sports too simply because there aren't as many of them.

 

They are starting to give veterans days off during the week.

[tmwiese55]

On that topic is kind of why I was really surprised the players didn't negotiate an extra bye week in return for that extra game that was added. I thought it would be a win win for everyone involved. Extra game is more money for all involved, players get an extra week off (maybe an expert could figure a way to time the extra week off in a way to reduce the short rest Thurs games), more money for all gained by an extra week of prime time games to sell. Obviusly just a guess but from a pure football standpoint I think players might prefer 17 games spread over 19 weeks over 16 games in 17 like before. Only issue is SB getting pushed back another week so it's getting to late Feb at that point, but in the grand scheme what's one more week.

[FVBrewerFan]

On that topic is kind of why I was really surprised the players didn't negotiate an extra bye week in return for that extra game that was added. I thought it would be a win win for everyone involved. Extra game is more money for all involved, players get an extra week off (maybe an expert could figure a way to time the extra week off in a way to reduce the short rest Thurs games), more money for all gained by an extra week of prime time games to sell. Obviusly just a guess but from a pure football standpoint I think players might prefer 17 games spread over 19 weeks over 16 games in 17 like before. Only issue is SB getting pushed back another week so it's getting to late Feb at that point, but in the grand scheme what's one more week.

 

I think the plan is to go with an 18 game season with 2 bye weeks and 2 pre-season games. If that happens, the SB wouldn't need to be pushed back. What does need to happen is an expanded roster and/or practice squad with the team having more control in protecting the PS players.

[nodakfan17]

You had me at "catches the ball cleanly".

I thought I was the genius who had the Packers’ special teams woes figured out when I suggested: ‘They should just put Randall Cobb back there to fair catch it every time.’ Then he fumbled on his one and only return attempt.

[OldHeidelberg]

Packers with 3 first team all pros, Rodgers, Adams, and Campbell.

 

The votes for QB?

 

Rodgers 34

Brady 16

 

Same voters voted for MVP

[PinaMadness]

I know Campbell had a breakout season but I certainly wasn't expecting him to be first team All Pro.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Packers with 3 first team all pros, Rodgers, Adams, and Campbell.

 

The votes for QB?

 

Rodgers 34

Brady 16

 

Same voters voted for MVP

 

For reference, Rodgers garnered 46 votes last season, to Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes' two apiece.

 

Rodgers won last year's MVP award going away (44 votes, to 4 for Allen and 2 for Mahomes). The voting will likely be closer this year, but it is still very much Rodgers' award to lose.

Edited January 14, 2022 by Ron Robinson's Beard

[OldHeidelberg]

 

For reference, Rodgers garnered 46 votes last season, to Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes' two apiece.

 

Rodgers won last year's MVP award going away. The voting will likely be closer this year, but it is still very much Rodgers' award to lose.

 

[sarcasm]I wonder how Hub voted last year.[/sarcasm]

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Packers with 3 first team all pros, Rodgers, Adams, and Campbell.

 

The votes for QB?

 

Rodgers 34

Brady 16

 

Same voters voted for MVP

 

For reference, Rodgers garnered 46 votes last season, to Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes' two apiece.

 

Rodgers won last year's MVP award going away (44 votes, to 4 for Allen and 2 for Mahomes). The voting will likely be closer this year, but it is still very much Rodgers' award to lose.

 

Can't be right. I've been told they're neck and neck. Don't they know Brady threw 6 more TDs and 5,000 yards?

[Joseph Zarr]

All of these returns are extremely important and obviously welcomed with widespread open arms. BUT, I honestly think the biggest return nobody appears to be talking about is David Moore off the COVID list and back on the roster. The kick and punt return game has been such a disaster all season long but Moore is a clear clear upgrade who not only catches the ball cleanly from all types of kicks and angles BUT actually is a threat to give us 10-20 yards of meaningful field position. I, for one, am excited to see him in a Playoff atmosphere. Moreso, I'm just excited we won't have Amari or Malik back there looking to cough it up or straigh f*** it up. Now, in the very least, I can just pray Mason doesn't have to decide a game. That's all the ST worry I can handle.

 

You had me at "catches the ball cleanly".

 

 

[TURBO]

Packers with 3 first team all pros, Rodgers, Adams, and Campbell.

 

The votes for QB?

 

Rodgers 34

Brady 16

 

Same voters voted for MVP

 

For reference, Rodgers garnered 46 votes last season, to Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes' two apiece.

 

Rodgers won last year's MVP award going away (44 votes, to 4 for Allen and 2 for Mahomes). The voting will likely be closer this year, but it is still very much Rodgers' award to lose.

 

Can't be right. I've been told they're neck and neck. Don't they know Brady threw 6 more TDs and 5,000 yards?

 

[nodakfan17]

If I had a vote, I’d probably give it to Brady.

 

He won a Super Bowl on a team that was 5-11 the year prior. He graded out as PFF’s best passer in 2021 on a 13-win team and lead the league in passing yards and TD passes. There is a strong objective argument for Brady, whereas last year, Rodgers was the clear #1.

 

I don’t think Aaron Rodgers should win 4 MVPs without winning 2 SBs (even though he probably will). He’s capped out at 3 just like Giannis was capped out at 2 until he broke through last year.

 

* and this is from a HUGE Packer fan

[DuWayne Steurer]

If I had a vote, I’d probably give it to Brady.

 

He won a Super Bowl on a team that was 5-11 the year prior. He graded out as PFF’s best passer in 2021 on a 13-win team and lead the league in passing yards and TD passes. There is a strong objective argument for Brady, whereas last year, Rodgers was the clear #1.

 

I don’t think Aaron Rodgers should win 4 MVPs without winning 2 SBs (even though he probably will). He’s capped out at 3 just like Giannis was capped out at 2 until he broke through last year.

 

* and this is from a HUGE Packer fan

 

To be fair, the Bucs went 7-9 the year before, and scored 458 points. 3rd in the league. They had a dreadful defense. They got Brady, and upgraded their defense all over the place. They went from 458 points to 492. A jump, but not a huge jump. THeir defense wernt from 449 points allowed to 355.

 

Brady made them better, but they went out and got a BUNCH of pieces. Not just Tom Brady.