Key takeaways from Packers first training camp practice

By Paul Bretl: 7/22/2024

The Green Bay Packers wrapped up their first training practice on Monday in front of what is a full crowd of Packers fans at Ray Nitschke Field. It was a shorter practice, just shy of 90 minutes, but here are my key takeaways from it.

– Of course, the big news is that Jordan Love won’t be practicing until a new deal gets reached. From Love’s perspective, it’s easy to see why he’s not participating because an injury could drastically alter these negotiations. And while Brian Gutekunst and Matt LaFleur both want Love on the practice field, they understand why he isn’t. Love was at practice and has been in the team meetings, he just won’t be participating.

“Yeah, I think so,” said Gutekunst when asked if a deal could get done soon. “Again, you never know. We’re working really hard to get that done. I think it’s really important for us. At the same time, the thing that I have confidence in is we both want the same thing. We want Jordan here for a long time, give him that stability for him, and it gives us some stability for our group as well. Russ is doing a great job with David Mulugheta and their team. You’ve got two people who are very experienced with this, so I’m optimistic. These are big deals. It takes time. They’re not as easy as some people may think.”

– Without Love, the Packers have only two active quarterbacks, Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt. The fact that the Packers haven’t brought in a third quarterback to handle some of the workload is perhaps a sign that a deal with Love is close to being done. Clifford handled the reps with the first team offense and Pratt with the second and third team offenses during the red zone drills.

“That’s a great question,” said LaFleur when asked how long they can go with two quarterbacks. “Obviously we’re hopeful we’ll get something done here in the next–sooner than later. But that’s something that we’re gonna have to just adjust on the fly.”

– Players not participating due to an injury included Jayden Reed (toe), Caleb Jones (hamstring), Corey Ballentine (hamstring), Donovan Jennings (knee), Tucker Kraft (pectoral) and Marshawn Lloyd (hip), although it’s important to note with Lloyd that he was not placed on the NFI or PUP lists, so presumably he won’t miss much time. Reed mentioned that he “jammed” his foot up a little bit while at his youth football camp but that the injury is “nothing to worry about.”

– Along the offensive line, Zach Tom was activated off the PUP list, but will be eased back in. He went through individual drills but did not participate in team drills.

“Zach is going to come off PUP this morning. He’ll be out there today,” said Gutekunst. “He’ll be a little limited as we get going here but he is doing great. So Zach will be out there. Tucker is going to be a little bit longer but they’re both doing very well, probably ahead of the curve. I don’t think it’s anything we’re concerned about right now.”

– One starting offensive line configuration we saw was Rasheed Walker at left tackle, followed by Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Sean Rhyan, and Andre Dillard. During one of the red zone periods, we saw Rhyan at left guard, Jenkins at center, and Jordan Morgan at right guard. We briefly saw Jenkins at center during offseason programs, but today he played there a decent amount.

– The starting linebacker configuration remained the same with Eric Wilson, Quay Walker, and Isaiah McDuffie on the field when in base–with Edgerrin Cooper being rotated in for Wilson–along with Walker and McDuffie the initial starters when in nickel. Javon Bullard was starting next to Xavier McKinney at safety, while Eric Stokes was opposite of Jaire Alexander.

– I didn’t get the chance to watch Pratt during the red zone drill. I did watch Clifford, however, and three quick takeaways were: the pass rush looked really good, with Lukas Van Ness, Colby Wooden, Kingsley Enagbare, and Rashan Gary all making some noise. Clifford delivered two beautiful tight window throws in the end zone. And Dontayvion Wicks had a pair of really nice catches.

– The only kicker who kicked today was James Tuner. On six attempts, Turner would make four of them, missing right from 43 yards and 46 yards. Brian Gutekunst said they would carry three kickers as long as they have to, but one of the challenges will be getting all three consistent reps.

“As long as it takes,” said Gutekunst on carrying three kickers. “That’s an exceptionally important part of what we’re doing here. We have right now, at least we have the roster flexibility to carry three kickers. So until somebody wins that job we’ll keep churning it and moving down that road until somebody wins it.”

Packers 2024 Training Camp Roster Preview: Special Teams Unit

By: Paul Bretl 7/21/2024

With Green Bay Packers training camp on the horizon, I’ll be doing a position-by-position preview. Next up is the special teams unit.

If you missed any of the previous position previews, you can find them below:

Quarterbacks
Running backs
Tight ends
Wide receivers
Offensive line
Defensive tackle
Defensive end
Linebacker
Cornerback
Safety

Roster: Anders Carlson, Greg Joseph, James Turner, Daniel Whelan, Matt Orzech, Peter Bowden

Anders Carlson embracing the competition at kicker: The competition at kicker for the Green Bay Packers is already well underway even though training camp hasn’t started, and second-year player Anders Carlson is making sure to embrace it.

“I think it’s something you embrace,” said Carlson after Tuesday’s practice. “I think when you’re in the NFL, you’re going to compete. Whether you see people in your building or not, it’s a competitive business. So, no, it’s all about staying in your own lane and being a good teammate and just trying to be the best.”

Last season, it was the Packers who embraced the unpredictability that can come with relying solely on a rookie kicker, in what ended up being a roller coaster ride of a year for Carlson.

Carlson would miss either a field goal attempt or an extra point in 10 of the Packers’ final 12 games, including a crucial kick in the final minutes of Green Bay’s eventual playoff loss to San Francisco. Carlson’s six missed extra points were the most in football, and from Week 5 on, there were only three games where he didn’t miss an attempt.

The silver lining, I suppose, from Carlson’s rookie season was his resiliency and ability to bounce back–something Rich Bisaccia has spoken highly of since the Packers drafted him. Despite the inconsistencies, Carlson would never miss back-to-back kicks.

“When I dissected my season,” said Carlson, “most of my field-goal misses were just left when the wind was blowing right to left. I don’t know the specific number, but four out of five or five out of the six were just left, and that’s including that long one from Detroit. But still, like I said, if it’s one miss, it’s something you can correct and focus on.”

As Carlson looks to be the Packers’ kicker in 2024 and bounce-back this season, he isn’t in uncharted waters, and neither is Bisaccia.

Carlson’s brother, Daniel Carlson, had a rocky start to his NFL career as well. In D. Carlson’s first two seasons, he would make only 36 of his 47 field goal attempts and was released as a rookie by the Minnesota Vikings in 2018.

D. Carlson would latch on with the Raiders when Bisaccia was the special teams coordinator, and since 2020, has been one of the more reliable kickers in football.

“Obviously his first year was a little rocky, too,” said Anders of his brother. “When we were off the field, we talked about it a good bit. But, really, we love getting on the field and competing. I think that makes us better. It’s kind of the same thing here, competing every day.”

From Day 1 of last offseason, Bisaccia, Matt LaFleur, and Brian Gutekunst all knew that there would be growing pains for Carlson–it was something that was brought up routinely throughout the season. Hindsight being 20/20, the Packers probably would take a different approach at kicker if they knew how good the team was going to be by the end of last season.

Instead, the Packers chose patience as Carlson navigated the steep learning curve of being a rookie kicker in the NFL. However, for a team that has Super Bowl aspirations in 2024, there is no more patience. Carlson either has to perform, or someone else will be doing the job.

Greg Joseph is only focusing on what Greg Joseph does: Joseph has been in the NFL since 2018 after going undrafted out of Florida Atlantic. He has been in training camp competitions before and has attempted far more game-winners than Carlson and Podlesny. In 2022 alone, Joseph made five game-winning field goals, including a 61-yarder against the New York Giants.

“That was a fun one, for sure,” said Joseph of the 2022 season. “Just taking in, cherishing every team win, every moment, every opportunity you get like that, they’re all fun and all fond memories I’ll hold forever.”

Joseph has spent the last three seasons with the Vikings. Over his career, he has made 83 percent of his field goal attempts and has been extremely reliable on kicks under 40 yards, missing only one of his 65 attempts.

From 40-plus yards, however, Joseph is only 38-of-50, including 16-for-28 from over 50 yards. Playing in Cleveland in 2018, Joseph does have experience kicking in the elements, but he is just 3-for-7 in his career at Lambeau Field.

“We’re just trying to get him to be a little bit better, right?,” said Rich Bisaccia. “He’s been an indoor kicker now for a while, so being here is a little bit interesting. In our conversation with him, he hasn’t played well here, the two years I’ve been here. We blocked one, he missed one.

“So him playing in these conditions is a little bit different for him, as well. He’s got a tremendous leg. He’s got a great mindset. So, it’s been a good competition to this point. We expect it to stay that way for as long as Brian keeps three.”

If Joseph is going to be the Packers’ kicker this season, he’ll have to outperform Carlson and James Turner over the summer. However, Joseph isn’t all that concerned with how each of them is performing. Instead, his sole focus is on himself and controlling what Greg Joseph does.

“That’s where I really learned to focus on me,” said Joseph on his past experiences with kicking competitions. “Some guys might thrive off watching other people kick. I thrive in being in my own world because that’s where I really learn it’s me vs. me and focus on what I do and to get better on what I do each and every day, because that’s the only thing I can control.

“I don’t control what they do or anything outside of what Greg Joseph does kicking-wise.”

Who is James Turner? The Packers claimed Turner off waivers in late June after he had been released by Detroit. Turner went undrafted this past April out of Michigan, where he was 65-for-80 (81.3%) on field goals during his career. From 20-39 yards, Turner was excellent, making 44 of his 45 kicks. From 40-49 yards he was 17-for-25 and 4-of-10 from 50-plus yards.

The Packers decision to bring in Turner, who is the third kicker on the roster, goes to show the team’s willingness to create as much competition as possible. In the past, Rich Bisaccia has noted that getting three kickers regular attempts in training camp can be challenging, but the Packers know this is a position they have to get right given their Super Bowl aspirations.

As a workaround for having three kickers during offseason programs, LaFleur would have two kickers participate in each practice with the third sitting out, and the trio would rotate, with someone new sitting out each practice. The Packers did this to ensure that each kicker got enough reps on a given day. But by the end of offseason programs, LaFleur had all three of them kicking on the same day to get more of an apples-to-apples comparison, with all of them kicking in the same conditions.

“We’re appreciative of certainly Brian getting it to the point where it’s at right now, having a three-man competition,” said Rich Bisaccia during OTAs. “We’ll see how long we can keep that going.”

Matt LaFleur has said that this kicker competition won’t truly begin to take shape until there are more “high-pressure, game-like” situations. Of course, there are only so many of those opportunities that naturally occur during training camp with there being only so many two-minute drill situations and only three preseason games.

However, to help create more high-pressure situations, at the end of two practices, each kicker had to make their attempt with the music blaring and their teammates huddled closely around them, throwing water and yelling.

“Just make it as difficult as possible on the kickers,” said LaFleur during OTAs. “We wanna put ’em in situations that are pretty uncomfortable. I would say that’s a pretty uncomfortable. Nowhere in ball are you gonna have an entire team lined up around you, but just to try to amp up that level of pressure and it was good to see that last one go through the uprights.”

Daniel Whelan has looked excellent: Punter is the only position on the roster where there won’t be some form of competition, with Whelan the only one on the 91-man team. Considering how he looked during OTAs and minicamp, it’s easy to see why that’s the case–he’s looked great. Whelan was routinely booming punts that soared high with tremendous hangtime and went far.

Punter was another position last season where the Packers relied on a rookie, but unlike with the other positions on the field, we don’t often think about the growing pains that can come for a punter as they acclimate to the NFL level.

“Obviously, he’s improved,” said Bisaccia last December. “He’s played well to this point. I think the big factor for us early was his basic football awareness. What to do in different situations. Where am I on the field? What’s the wind doing? Am I doubled to one side, singled to the other? Is it double-double or whatever those things are? I think he’s concentrated on his drop, trying to get a little more hang.”

Whelan finished his rookie season ranked 25th in yards per attempt, 25th in number of punts inside the 20-yard line, 15th in touchbacks, sixth in fair catches, and third in hangtime.

“I still think he’s figuring out what he can hit and where” added Bisaccia. “Figuring out where his strength is and trying not to get touchbacks. Trying to get it down inside the 10 and learning how is fliers are playing on the outside and who can make plays at that position. There’s a lot of growth at that position and he’s certainly on the up hill of the trajectory.”

Packers like Matt Orzech but keep your eyes on rookie Peter Bowden: The Packers brought in undrafted rookie Peter Bowden to perhaps create some competition at long-snapper, but the team still seems to be bullish on Orzech, specifically his experience in big games.

Orzech has started 67 games during his NFL career, which includes winning a Super Bowl with the Rams in 2021. Before landing with the Packers in 2023, Orzech spent two years with the Rams, with kicker Matt Gay making 90 of his 92 extra point attempts during that span and 68 out of his 74 field goals. In 2022, Rams’ punter Riley Dixon was PFF’s third-highest graded punter with Orzech snapping to him.

“I think Matt’s really good,” said Bisaccia. “I thought he had a good year and he’s also improved. He’s gotten stronger. He’s played in a lot of big games. He’s won a Super Bowl. So hopefully he’ll be a guy that can set the example of what that’s supposed to look like, as well.”

However, while PFF grades aren’t the be-all-end-all by any means, for what it’s worth, only three long-snappers had a worst special teams grade last season than Orzech.

Bowden was Dane Brugler’s No. 1 long-snapper in this year’s draft class and comes to the NFL with 358 career snaps on special teams. In 2022, Bowden was a semifinalist for the Patrick Mannelly Award and a finalist in 2023. He has good size at 6-3 – 239 pounds and is a solid athlete with a RAS of 6.72.

During OTAs and minicamp, Bowden and Orzech were rotating snaps at long-snapper.

“We’ve done a lot of work on him,” said Bisaccia. “We like Peter and I thought he did pretty good. He’s got good size, he’s athletic, he can move his feet. He’s working on the velocity of his snap. But I do think he’s going to have a chance and have an opportunity in the future to compete and play in the league.

“And again, we’ve had a bunch that have come through our training camps two years in a row and now they’re playing on another team, or one year and playing on another team. so that’s another position, there’s not a lot of them out there, especially now with the size that they can compete and protect those ‘A’ gaps. So, we’re excited about him being around Matt.”

Packers 2024 Training Camp Roster Preview: Safety

By: Paul Bretl 7/20/2024

With Green Bay Packers training camp on the horizon, I’ll be doing a position-by-position preview. Next up is the safety position.

If you missed any of the previous position previews, you can find them below:

Quarterbacks
Running backs
Tight ends
Wide receivers
Offensive line
Defensive tackle
Defensive end
Linebacker
Cornerback

Roster: Zayne Anderson, Javon Bullard, Tyler Coyle, Anthony Johnson, Xavier McKinney, Kitan Oladapo, Benny Sapp, Evan Williams

Movement and versatility at the safety position: Whenever GM Brian Gutekunst was asked to describe what he wanted at the safety position this offseason, the one word that continued to pop up was “interchangeable.” 

Free agent signee Xavier McKinney filled a variety or roles during his time with the New York Giants—playing deep, in the box, and in the slot. Third-round pick Javon Bullard spent ample time in the slot and as the deep safety at Georgia, while the Packers believe that fourth-round pick Evan Williams can fill a similar role as Bullard with his movement skills.

During the third OTA practice, in particular, we saw the interchangeability that this trio possesses on display. From play-to-play, McKinney, Bullard, and Williams all filled different roles on the back end of the defense. This included slot and free safety snaps for Bullard, with McKinney and Williams both lining up deep and in the box.

There were also several instances where all three were on the field together, and there was a good amount of post-snap movement as well, with the safeties changing their positioning once the ball was snapped. 

“I like to say this is the best group that I’ve been apart of since I’ve been in the league and that’s from me to whoever the last person is,” said McKinney about the safety room. It don’t matter. I think everybody’s done a great job. 

“I think the talent level in our room is out of this roof. And it’s just going to be fun to play with these guys because everybody is smart. So we all working off of each other and we’re able to build off of each other and compete with each other and make each other better.” 

Adding this level of versatility among multiple players to the safety position generates a layer of unpredictability to the Packers’ defense. Pre-snap, opposing offenses won’t be able to necessarily get a beat on what responsibility each player has or where they might end up as the play unfolds based solely upon who is on the field or where each safety is initially lined up. 

From a game-planning perspective, this feature also opens up the playbook for Jeff Hafely, who has the flexibility to change things up from week-to-week depending on the opponent and what the Packers want to take away. 

McKinney is a perfect fit for what Jeff Hafley wants in a safety: When Hafley was meeting with reporters for the first time during his introductory press conference, he described what he wanted in his perfect safety. As McKinney would quickly point out, there is no perfect football player, but he does seemingly check every box that Hafley detailed.

“I don’t think any player’s perfect,” said McKinney, “but I will tell you that I’m striving for that. Every day I go out at practice, it’s going to be everything that I’ve got, 100 percent, and same way for the games.”

The traits that Hafley mentioned when discussing the safety position included the need to eliminate explosive plays–an area this Packers’ defense struggled last season. However, in 2023, McKinney would surrender just 8.7 yards per catch, the seventh-lowest rate among all safeties.

Hafley noted that he is looking for a safety who plays with his “hair on fire” in the run game, as he described it. Once again, McKinney was among the best at his position group last season, ranking sixth in tackles against the run.

Having a reliable tackler is a must at the safety position, and is an area where McKinney has excelled. Last season, McKinney missed just 5.7 percent of his 122 total tackle attempts–the lowest among all safeties.

“I think it’s just how I prepare,” said McKinney about his ability as a tackle. “I practice hard. When you practice hard you usually play pretty hard. I critique myself a whole bunch. I get better at the small things. I try to perfect my craft. That’s always how I’ve been.

“Obviously, like I don’t go into it like I’m not trying to miss a certain amount of tackles. I just go out there and play and see where the ball lands. That’s kinda just how it is. I’m going to try to improve that number from what it was last year because I think even that six or seven (missed tackles) is too much for a safety. We’re going to get that number down for sure.”

Another area that Hafley emphasized was the need for ball production at this position. Over McKinney’s four year career, he has recorded nine interceptions and, in the last two seasons, he’s totaled seven pass breakups.

Lastly, Hafley discussed the importance of communication at safety. Pre-snap, it is the job of the safety to make sure everyone on the back-end is aligned and on the same page when it comes to their responsibilities so that coverage breakdowns and big plays don’t ensue.

“I think ever since high school days and even before,” said McKinney about being a leader, “I’ve always kinda been in that position to lead vocally and with my play, so I think just being here is going to elevate it a lot more.

“Having the guys and the talent around me to be able to help me and improve, but the leadership is still going to be the same. It’s going to be better than what it has already been in the past. I’m just trying to continue to keep growing and keep being a better player, a better teammate and that’s really what the goal is for me.”

Javon Bullard and Evan Williams bring aggressive play-style to secondary: If the word “interchangeable” was a key theme at the safety position this offseason for the Packers, then “run and hit” was the other. It’s not only a scheme change defensively that the Packers are undertaking, but Jeff Hafley is helping to bring a different mentality to that side of the ball as well, and the additions of Bullard and Williams will be key in helping that play-style flourish.

Having already detailed the importance of versatility at this position, the other important element needed at safety is an aggressive, flying around the field type of mentality. Bullard’s college coach Kirby Smart would call him a “little stick of dynamite. Measuring in at 5-10 – 198 pounds, Bullard plays like a bigger safety, while still having the versatility to be moved around and the superb coverage skills.

“He’s 200 pounds and he shows up with the intention of making the physical tackle,” assistant director of college scouting Pat Moore said. “So, he plays with high energy. Volatile’s not the word, but he’s aggressive and physical and plays football in a physical and aggressive, energetic manner.”

Although Williams didn’t have the same number of opportunities in the slot as Bullard did, the Packers believe that’s a role he can handle with his movement skills. But in addition to his coverage abilities, which since 2021 generated three turnovers and seven pass breakups, Williams proved to be a sound tackler, willing run defender, and an effective blitzer over his college career.

“The thing that we liked about all of them is they have a very very aggressive play style,” said Packers VP of Player Personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan about the rookie safeties. “They’ll get off the spot and come get it. That’s something that was attractive to us. So yeah, we’re glad to add them to the room. They’re the right kind of guys to put in the locker room. This game’s very important to them, it means something. Just glad to add them to the equation.”

Oladapo will have to play catchup after missing offseason programs with an injury: Oladapo was also not on the practice field for OTAs or minicamp after sustaining a toe injury while participating in the on-field drills during the NFL Combine.

“I was like, really?” said Oladapo during rookie minicamp. “It was the third drill. I did the vertical, the 40 and but I just wanted to put on a good show for all the teams there. It was devastating but you’ve got to get through it. I did power through it and did my Pro Day and figured out it was more than just turf toe.”

Oladapo was place on the non-football injury list on Wednesday, and although he didn’t specify a target date for when he’d be available but he did mention that sometime in August is when we could see him on the practice field.

With Xavier McKinney, Javon Bullard, and Evan Williams also at safety, Oladapo may end up being a core special teams player as a rookie for the Packers, while defensively, he fills more of the traditional safety role, as GM Brian Gutekunst put it, able to play both the “free and strong safety role,” along with being someone who can line up as a “big nickel Sam linebacker.”

The added challenge for Oladapo this offseason, along with being injured, is having to take in a new defensive scheme and the language that goes with it, without being able to apply what he’s learning in the meeting rooms on the practice field.

“As we can move him around more,” said defensive backs coach Ryan Downard, “the walk throughs are going to become vital because these guys, you teach them what you can but until you go out and do it and walk through it, that’s to me where the real learning takes place.

“You can sit in a classroom and learn something but until you either have to teach it back or you take them out there physically let them walk through it, that’s I think where the growth takes place.”

Is Anthony Johnson the fourth safety? As OTAs and minicamp went on, we saw Bullard and Williams taking more snaps with the starting defense. However, as the two rookies got acclimated to the new playbook and going through an NFL practice, it was Johnson who saw his share of starting snaps next to McKinney.

Now, this doesn’t mean that Johnson will be the Week 1 starter, but it does go to show a level of comfortability that the coaches have with Johnson defensively, allowing them to bring Bullard and Williams along as they see fit, rather than throwing both immediately into the starting lineup.

“He’s done a nice job,” said Matt LaFleur. “He’s trying to take his game to the next level. Certainly, it’s definitely a different scheme so there’s a lot of new learning. It’s far from perfect but you attack it the right way with the right mentality, you’re going to get the most growth. That’s what we’re seeing from him.

“He’s done a great job and he’s embraced the competition, because that is going to be a great competition there with the number of young guys that we got coming in. There’s a couple vets there, too that are going to push him.”

Due to injuries at the safety position last season, Johnson saw some starting opportunities at the safety position as a rookie, playing 334 defensive snaps. On seven targets, Johnson allowed five completions for 60 yards, but had an interception and a pass breakup, along with a passer rating when targeted of just 57.7. Johnson also emerged as a core special teams contributor.

As of now, I would put him as the fourth safety on this depth chart and someone who will be on the initial 53-man roster.

Zayne Anderson or Benny Sapp better be really good on special teams: Of the five safeties mentioned, it’s possible that these are the players who make up the safety room on the Packers’ 53-man roster. If Anderson or Sapp are going to make a roster push, they’ll have to stand out on special teams.

After missing the first part of the season with injury, Anderson would play 152 special teams snaps from Week 9 on, and did so across a few different units. Sapp would spend most of the year on the practice squad, but was elevated from the practice squad on a few occasions before being signed to the active roster. Over the final five games, Sapp played 40 special teams snaps.

“I think I’ve taken a lot of steps this year in terms of the playbook and being where I’m supposed to be,” said Anderson. “And with special teams, that’s my gig. I love special teams, I love it and I’m really going to embrace that and hopefully be one of the better guys in the league.”

With the players that the Packers have at the top of the depth chart, special teams play will be the main factor in determining if either of these players makes the team. And when it comes to special teams play, Anderson and Sapp aren’t only competing against each other, but with other position groups, such as cornerback , linebacker, and tight end–other special teams heavy positions.

During the LaFleur era, we haven’t seen the Packers roster six safeties on the initial 53-man but over the course of the season, they do tend to go heavy at this position. An example of this came during the 2022 season when the Packers had 5.47 safeties on average active on their game-day rosters and an average of 5.71 safeties on their 53-man plus elevated players lists each week.

When it comes to roster construction, going with an additional player at one position means going light elsewhere, which is why I say that either Anderson or Sapp will have to be really good on teams.

Packers 2024 Training Camp Roster Preview: Cornerbacks

By: Paul Bretl 7/19/2024

With Green Bay Packers training camp on the horizon, I’ll be doing a position-by-position preview. Next up is the cornerback position.

If you missed any of the previous position previews, you can find them below:

Quarterbacks
Running backs
Tight ends
Wide receivers
Offensive line
Defensive tackle
Defensive end
Linebacker

Roster: Jaire Alexander, Corey Ballentine, Zyon Gilbert, Germon Green, Kalen King, Keisean Nixon, Robert Rochell, Eric Stokes, Carrington Valentine

Matt LaFleur “really confident” in cornerback depth: From the outside looking in, the cornerback position for the Green Bay Packers could be one with some question marks coming into the upcoming season. However, internally, that isn’t how the Packers view things. In fact, Matt LaFleur really likes the depth of this unit.

“We’re going to play our best players,” said LaFleur during minicamp, “but like I said I think yesterday, I feel really, really confident with the group that we have and there’s going to be some unforeseen things that happen but luckily we’ve got a lot of depth, in particular at that position.”

This confidence in the cornerback position isn’t new, either. GM Brian Gutekunst’s approach to the draft, not taking a cornerback until the seventh round even when there was the opportunity to do so early on, told us that the Packers were bullish about this group.

The way that the offseason has unfolded has only added to that confidence. Jaire Alexander has parlayed his strong finish to the 2023 season into a highly productive offseason, where he’s been present throughout the offseason programs, providing leadership off the field and competitive fire on it.

In addition to that, Eric Stokes is healthy, Carrington Valentine appears poised for a jump in his second NFL season and bulked up during the offseason. The Packers really like Keisean Nixon’s fit in Jeff Hafley’s defense at the nickel, and Corey Ballentine is a backup option who showcased last season that he can be relied upon when needed.

Packers’ cornerbacks have to make more plays on the ball in 2024: Last season, the Packers’ defense ranked in the bottom half of the league in yards per pass attempt allowed and recorded the second-fewest interceptions with just seven.

While at the end of the day, it’s up to the players to make plays, it’s also the responsibility of the coaching staff to put the players in positions to do so.  An important contributing factor to what hopefully becomes improved play this season will be Hafley’s defense.

The heavier use of press-man coverage suits the skill sets of this Packers’ cornerback room quite well, while Hafley’s vision-based approach for the back end should result in more opportunities to make plays on the football.

A number of Hafley’s former players and now many of his current ones on the Packers have praised him for his ability as a teacher to simplify the game plan, allowing the defenders to react rather than overthinking, and putting them in positions to be successful, where their individual strengths can shine, which should results in more opportunities for the Packers’ cornerbacks to make plays on the football.

“I love Jeff,” said Carrington Valentine. “He pushes us. He tells us the whys, the ins and outs. We’re just not going out there lining up. We’re understanding of why we’re doing stuff and I’m learning a lot.”

Jaire Alexander “super motivated” coming into new year: After a 2023 season where Jaire Alexander dealt with injuries along with a team-imposed suspension, he is attacking 2024 a bit differently. This doesn’t mean the offseason was a complete reboot for Alexander in terms of how he goes about things, but changes were made.

“It’s a little bit of both,” said Alexander. “I feel like I have so much more to put out there and display consistently, and I’m just ready to attack that.”

Injuries limited Alexander to only nine games last season, including the playoffs. He was also suspended for the Packers Week 17 game against Minnesota for going on the field the week prior during the coin toss when he wasn’t one of the elected captains.

Matt LaFleur discussed how difficult the decision to suspend Alexander was, but added that it provided a good learning opportunity for both sides. And upon Alexander’s return in Week 18, his play improved as well.

In the six games prior to the suspension, Alexander allowed 24 completions on 31 targets at almost 13.0 yards per catch with five pass breakups. However, in the three games following the suspension, two of which were playoff games, Alexander held pass-catchers to four receptions on eight targets at 6.8 yards per catch with an interception and a pass breakup.

“Man, I’m super motivated,” said Alexander about coming off last season. “I feel like every offseason is always a fresh start to do better and get better. That’s why I’m here.”

One of those changes that were made this offseason was Alexander choosing to participate in voluntary OTAs. Both Matt LaFleur and passing game coordinator Derrick Ansley have commented on how present Alexander has been, the leadership he has displayed, and the energy he’s brought to the building.

“I think that, like I said, just going into Year 7,” said Alexander, “at this point, I’m trying not to make it as much about myself and just do what’s best for the team.”

As new defenisve coordinator attempts to turn this Packers defense around, a big part of that will be helping Alexander return to his All-Pro caliber level of play. As just described, Hafley’s vision-based, more man-heavy defensive approach should help put Alexander and the other Packers’ cornerbacks in better positions to make plays on the football. Hafley has also been praised by former players – including Richard Sherman – for his ability as a teacher and to build game-plans that allow the defenders to play fast and physical, another aspect that can contribute to improved play from this unit as a whole.

“I like Jeff,” said Alexander. “He’s been great since Day 1. Preaches aggression, getting after everything. He’s a cool guy.

“You see it across the board,” Alexander added, “we’ve got a bunch of athletes on the field who like to make plays and can make plays. I think this is going to work really well.”

Fully healthy, Eric Stokes with something to prove: If the offseason is an indication of what’s in store, then a bounce-back season could be on the horizon.

“I think he’s as good as I’ve ever seen him,” said Matt LaFleur after Wednesday’s practice. “Both mentally and on the field. I want to temper the expectations with that, but I really mean that. He’s out there competing each and every day. He looks fully healthy. He’s doing a great job of challenging our wide receivers. He’s always in great faith.

“I think you see that personality is back. That’s tough on players when they’re going through an offseason not having opportunity to really build upon their bodies when you’re just focusing on rehabbing and getting healthy. He’s had a chance to really develop his body. He looks in great shape. I think the play says the same.”

Over the last two years, Stokes has played only 587 defensive snaps. His 2022 season was limited to just nine games after he suffered a season-ending foot injury. Then, in 2023, he played just 110 defensive snaps as he recovered from the foot injury early on while also dealing with various hamstring injuries throughout the year.

Along with wide receiver Christian Watson, the Packers sent Stokes to UW-Madison as well, to get to the root of his soft tissue issues. To summarize, with Stokes’ foot not at full strength, that put a heavier workload on his calf and hamstring, which contributed to the soft tissue injuries. So this offseason, the focus for Stokes has been on strengthening his foot and the areas around it.

“Yeah, so when we went down to Madison,” said Stokes at his locker, “just showed me everything to where like everything was equaling up for my foot to where like my foot wasn’t as strong as it needed to be, so that’s why it put more pressure on my hamstring, my calf and all that stuff, so it just showed me a lot of different little things and then I went back home, back where I train at in Atlanta.

“Basically we just trained hard and so like every day we doing calf raises, we doing hamstrings and stuff, we just attacking my legs and all that stuff day in and day out and now I come back, I feel even better. I feel like I’m faster than I was before, so it’s a lot of great new things.”

Stokes has an infectious aura about him. He’s easy to gravitate towards with his happy-go-lucky mindset and a laugh that can be heard throughout the locker room.

However, in dealing with the initial foot injury and then the setbacks that followed over the last season and a half, Stokes’ positivity was put to the test.

“Oh, it definitely took me time,” said Stokes on maintaining his positivity. “Definitely took me time. I would 110% agree with that. It took me time because of course from the start, I was mad. I was frustrated, everything just going wrong … but at the end of the day, it’s a bigger picture with everything. Like I know it was a lesson I had to go through for every little thing that I went through. Now it’s time to show.”

Of course, step No. 1 for Stokes is staying healthy and available. But after a stellar rookie season, prior to his Week 9 injury in 2022, he did find himself in a sophomore slump, which contributes to some of the unknowns around what to expect when he returns.

Through eight-plus games that season, Stokes allowed 21 completions on 25 targets at 13.1 yards per catch with no pass breakups or interceptions.

Part of the equation in getting Stokes back to his 2021 form will include Jeff Hafley as the defensive coordinator. Stokes mentioned that there are a lot of similarities between what Hafley is asking him to do and what he was asked to do while at Georgia, which includes more press man coverage.

“I’ll always feel like I got something to prove,” added Stokes, “especially coming off two injuries, the two seasons I’ve had previous. I feel like I got something to prove. I just can’t wait to come out Week 1 and show everybody.”

Valentine bulks up, ready for cornerback competition: As a seventh-round rookie in 2023, injuries forced the Packers to rely heavily on Valentine, who rose to the occasion. Valentine played 846 snaps, allowing a completion rate of 56 percent on 72 targets, with five pass breakups and a passer rating of 80.2 when targeted.

That momentum that Valentine was able to build over the course of his first season has been carried over into the offseason, where all signs point to him make that Year 2 leap that many successful NFL players make.

“I think it’s been outstanding,” said LaFleur. “That’s a guy that stands out, quite frankly, in my mind, in terms of just we challenged him to put on some weight after the regular season. He came back and he definitely looks bigger and he is bigger and he’s stronger and the guy loves football. He loves to compete and I’m excited for him. I think he’s got a really bright future.”

The Packers challenged Valentine to bulk up during the offseason, and it was a challenge that Valentine fully embraced. Valentine focused heavily over these past several months on his diet and hitting the weight room hard. During the first OTA practice that was open to the media, Valentine’s physical growth was noticeable, going from playing in the 180s last season to now hovering around the 200 pound mark.

“When I take on blocks, people feel lighter,” Valentine said. “I can be more aggressive. I naturally play aggressive anyway so it just went hand-in-hand with my game. It kind of worked out.”

Valentine will be competing this summer with Stokes for the starting cornerback role opposite of Alexander. In the early going of offseason programs it has been Stokes getting those starting reps ahead of Valentine, but as we all know, a lot can change once training camp arrives and the pads come on. As LaFleur said, they’re going to let those two compete and the best player is going to play.

“I mean, I’m ready for it,” said Valentine. “I’ve never been handed anything in my life. I didn’t want it handed to me now. I’m just going to keep going, keep grinding and wherever the chips may lie.”

Packers like Nixon’s fit in Hafley’s defense: With Nixon’s size, his willingness to help out in the run game, and his comfortability in man coverage, LaFleur likes his fit in Jeff Hafley’s defense as the nickel cornerback. 

“He’s a big guy for the position; he’s 200 pounds or whatever,” LaFleur said. “His willingness to fit in the run fits, whether it’s an A-gap or B-gap, stick his nose in there and then also his ability to play man coverage.

“Certainly, there’s going to be some elements to our scheme that are going to be different. He’s going to have to learn the new scheme. He’s played in this style of system before with the Raiders when Gus Bradley was there. So, he’s familiar with some of the things that are going to be asked (of) him. But that was a big get for us to get him back, in my opinion.”

After never playing more than 290 snaps in a single season, Nixon was the Packers’ staring slot cornerback in 2023, playing nearly 1,000 defensive snaps. Among all cornerbacks, he ranked 11th in PFF’s run stop rate metric, illustrating that willingness to help in the run game LaFleur described.

In coverage, however, Nixon will have to improve, allowing a completion rate of 78 percent, although he did hold pass-catchers to under 10.0 yards per catch. Nixon would force one interception and five pass breakups as well. Out of the 27 eligible defensive backs, Nixon ranked 19th in yards surrendered per coverage snap, 20th in snaps per target, along with surrendering the second-most total yards from the slot, according to PFF.

With the additions of Javon Bullard and Evan Williams at safety, Nixon could have some added competition when it comes to playing time. An emphasis for GM Brian Gutekunst this offseason when addressing safety was finding players who were “interchangeable,” and able to play both safety roles and line up in the nickel. Bullard was a primary slot defender for Georgia in 2022, while the Packers believe Williams has the movement skills to fill that role as well.

Don’t forget about Ballentine on your roster predictions: I wouldn’t classify Ballentine as a roster lock, but I do believe he is somewhat close to that category. When not starting on defense last season, Ballentine has been a key special teams contributor for the Packers. This spring, he was often working out in the slot, providing the Packers with a backup nickel option at cornerback, something they otherwise wouldn’t have with a room full of boundary options. In coverage last season, Ballentine allowed a completion rate of 59 percent on 54 targets and just over 12 yards per catch. He also had one interception and four pass breakups with a passer rating of 80.2.

“I like to play a little mind game, in a sense,” said Ballentine of his play-style. “I don’t like to put all my eggs in on basket. So sometimes I play aggressive. Sometimes I play a little more passive depending on the situation. I try to be very aware of the situation, the sticks, the call, I still want to play within the call.

“So I don’t want to freelance it and do my own thing all the time. But I try to be conscious of everything when I see something pre-snap and I alert it and can break on it and play fast and play free and not think about it, then that’s when I feel like I play best.”

Special teams contributions will be key to determining any final roster spots: Between Alexander, Nixon, Stokes, and Valentine, we know that four roster spots are accounted for. That number goes to five if we include Ballentine. Typically, it’ll be just five or six cornerbacks that the Packers roster on their initial 53-man, which means just one or two spots are available.

Along with linebacker, tight end, and safety, cornerback can be one of those core special teams positions. Of course, there is a prerequisite defensively that has to be met, but special teams play will be a key factor for Robert Rochell and Kalen King when it comes to making the team. Rochell was a key special teams player during the second half of last season, seeing regular snaps across four different phases.

King was the Packers’ seventh-round pick this past April, and as a draft pick with upside, that does give him an advantage when it comes to making the team. But being taken at that stage of the draft doesn’t guarantee him a roster spot either.

King was an All-American in 2022 after putting together a very impressive season at Penn State. In fact, this time a year ago, many thought that he could be a first-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft. Instead, King took a step back this season, allowing a completion rate of 61 percent and forcing only one pass breakup. He would also run a 4.6-second 40-yard dash.

When asked, Gutekunst didn’t have any specific reason as to why his play fell off. King is an experienced player and is still just 21 years old. Given those factors, along with his play at Penn State in 2022, this pick is a swing at hitting on King’s potential. 

“I mean, I feel like the way I approach the game is always the same,” said King about his play in 2023. “I put in the work and I know what I’m capable of. Just because I got picked towards the end of the seventh round this year doesn’t mean that’s the player I am. That’s just where I was slotted to be. Going to go into the NFL, my career really starts now.

“Anything before this point, I feel like doesn’t matter anymore. With me having this opportunity with the Green Bay Packers, I feel like nothing happened last year. Everything is happening exactly how it’s supposed to. To answer your question, I feel like everything happens for a reason and I feel like I’m in the right place now.”

Zyon Gilbert and Germon Green: The Packers signed Gilbert to the practice squad in late October last season. Gilbert went undrafted in 2022 out of Florida Atlantic. He spent that first season with the New York Giants, playing 73 defensive snaps, most of which came as a nickel defender. Gilbert would also play 27 special teams snaps as well.

Green was signed back in April after going undrafted in 2023 out of Michigan. He would spend time on the Giants practice squad last season. In 2022 with Michigan, Green allowed a completion rate of 53 percent at 13.3 yards per catch with three pass breakups. He also played 247 special teams snaps in his college career.

Packers 2024 Training Camp Roster Preview: Linebackers

By: Paul Bretl 7/18/2024

With Green Bay Packers training camp on the horizon, I’ll be doing a position-by-position preview. Next up is the linebacker position.

If you missed any of the previous position previews, you can find them below:

Quarterbacks
Running backs
Tight ends
Wide receivers
Offensive line
Defensive tackle
Defensive end

Roster: Edgerrin Cooper, Ralen Goforth, Ty’Ron Hopper, Isaiah McDuffie, Quay Walker, Kristian Welch, Eric Wilson, Christian Young

Building relationships with the players is important to new LB coach Anthony Campanile: Campanile is highly regarded in NFL circles. He interviewed for both the Miami and New York Giants defensive coordinator openings in January, and is potential future head coaching candidate.

Campanile has been the Dolphins’ linebackers coach since 2020, coaching under two different head coaches and defensive coordinators. Prior to that, he was the linebackers coach at Michigan in 2019 and the Boston College co-defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach in 2018.

This past season, the Miami defense ranked seventh in yards per rush attempt allowed at just 3.8. As a group, the Dolphins defense gave up only 5.1 yards per play, the ninth-lowest average in football.

Linebacker David Long Jr. ranked sixth among his position group in 2023 in total pressures and first in PFF’s run defense grade. Jerome Baker recorded two interceptions, tied for seventh among linebackers, and held pass catchers to 7.9 yards per catch, the eighth-lowest mark among linebackers.

Many fans around the NFL got a glimpse of Campanile and his intensity when he made a passionate speech to the defense on HBO’s Hard Knocks this past season.

“I think the one thing that maybe, certainly, is in that clip that I am talking about is you are at your best when you’re doing things for people you love,” said Campanile. “That is what I do believe. I mean, you hear me saying that on that clip, I’m sure. And I think the guys who are around me every day, the players there were around me quite awhile, they’d probably be able to attest to the type of person I am and what I really do believe.

“As a coach, I think that’s our job, to be invested emotionally in the guys to try to get them better. That’s our job. These guys have all got hopes and dreams and everybody on the team trying to work in the same direction to achieve those, it’s our job to make sure we’re keeping that in perspective to get the best out of everybody and put the best product on the field.”

Packers have a group of LBs that can blitz the QB: One of the differences we will see under new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley is more blitzing from the linebacker position. Now, this doesn’t mean that the Packers are going to be like the Chiefs or Giants from last season–two of the most blitz-heavy defenses in football–but given what we’ve seen during OTAs and minicamp, it does look like there will be more of it.

When Hafley was at Boston College, his defense in 2023 ranked ninth out of the 14 ACC teams in blitz rate on passing plays. Instead, on early downs, he relied more heavily on the defensive front to create the disruption. But on third downs, Boston College would rank second in the conference on third-down blitz rate, which included six man pressures as well.

The Packers have a very athletic linebacker room, and a group very capable of getting after the quarterback. Out of 73 eligible linebackers last season, Walker ranked 21st in pressures and McDuffie was 15th in pass-rush win rate. Cooper was extremely disruptive in getting after the quarterback, totaling eight sacks, 27 pressures, along with 17 tackles for loss. Hopper, meanwhile, had 212 pass rush snaps over his final two years at Missouri.

“If a guy’s got a good explosive first step,” said Campanile about pressuring the quarterback, “to me, just in general, the get-off is probably the biggest part of pass rush for anybody, and I’ve been fortunate enough to be around some guys who’ve done a great job with that and some other guys who’ve done a great job coaching that.

“To me, it’s really those first four steps of the rush, not that first step—the relentlessness to get to the point of attack and get to the junction point with the tackle and doing a good job reading the snap of the ball and then obviously reading the set of the offensive lineman. So there’s a lot that goes into it, but he’s got really a good foundation to start there.”

Putting Walker in a position to make plays: Based on what we saw during practices this offseason, Walker is going to be the Packers’ Mike linebacker when they are in their base 4-3 defense and the signal caller in this Hafley defense. In his first two seasons, we’ve seen Walker’s playmaking ability but the next step for him is the consistency in which those splash plays happen.

As Hafley said during his introductory press conference, he wants to make sure that Walker is routinely in a position to make plays. The new system should certainly help with that, with the emphasis being on running and hitting, which is what Walker was asked to do while at Georgia.

Hafley creates digestible gameplans for his defenders to go out and execute on, however, don’t mistake digestible for simple. This is a defense that will use post-snap movement to help disguise coverages and blitz from different parts of the field to cause some chaos. The gameplans are digestible because there is a deep understanding by all 11 players about what they’re being asked to do–and why. 

Good coaches – and teachers – are always mindful of what their players can learn in the allotted timeframe that they have to implement what they’re working on. Hafley can dial up the perfect defensive play call based on the situation, but if it’s not executed properly, it doesn’t matter how good the play looked on paper.

When players are confident in their fundamentals and technique and have a clear understanding of not only their role but the roles of their teammates, the gameplan can look ‘simplified’ because the end result is fast and physical play. Rather than overthinking, players are reacting and letting their natural abilities take over. As Packers’ running back coach Ben Sirmans has said, “when you think, you stink.”

Of course, any successful gameplan is going to fully utilize the strengths of each player. However, that’s just part of the equation. Putting defenders in a position to make plays on Sundays doesn’t solely revolve around where the players are asked to line up or what they’re asked to do. It begins with acute attention to the finer details and how the gameplan is taught and communicated so everyone understands the why behind it all.

“Pretty much everything, to be honest with you,” said Quay Walker when asked what stands out about Hafley’s defense. “It’s a lot of stuff that I did in college that I think translates very well for a lot of us. I think it fits what we do.

“I think not only that — I think Haf doing a great job so far of putting us in the right position. Whatever the case may be, I just think his attention to details and everything like that and how we are so far, but everything stands out about the defense because it’s similar to what I’ve done before. Not only that, but a lot of guys, as well, so I love it so far.”

Isaiah McDuffie will have a role this year, the question is how big? Due to injuries to both Walker and De’Vondre Campbell last season, McDuffie would play nearly 50 percent of the Packers’ defensive snaps. He proved to be a very sound tackler, missing only six of his 92 attempts, and was at his best against the run, flowing sideline-to-sideline and filling gaps.

“I would say so, for sure,” said McDuffie when asked if he liked what he put on tape last year. “I would say there were some things I was proud of. Going into this season, I’m holding my head high and I’m ready to continue on that path.”

In the early going of offseason programs, McDuffie has been a regular lining up next to Quay Walker. When the Packers have been in their base 4-3 defense, it has been Walker as the middle linebacker, with McDuffie and Eric Wilson alongside of him. When Cooper has been worked in, he has taken Wilson’s place.

Then, when the Packers are in nickel with only two linebackers on the field, which is the alignment that the majority of their defensive snaps are going to be played in, McDuffie has been the primary linebacker next to Walker. While depth charts in May and June may not mean a ton, as of now, McDuffie appears to be LB2.

The fact that McDuffie is seeing the starting snaps over Cooper at this stage of the offseason shouldn’t be all that surprising, given his experience not only in the NFL but also, McDuffie’s final season at Boston College was with Jeff Hafley as his head coach.

“I think any time you kind of have a headstart with knowing the guy it helps,” McDuffie said about his relationship with Hafley. “Football’s a small world, so the more people you know and relationships you build, it’s always a positive.”

A critical stretch for Edgerrin Cooper: The weeks leading up to training camp are the last time for everyone involved to recharge their batteries before the grueling NFL season begins, but for the Packers’ rookies, particularly linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, this is a “critical” five-week stretch, as Matt LaFleur put it.

“I think he’s another guy that he’s going to have to build on what he’s already put out there,” said LaFleur during minicamp. “I think these five weeks are going to be absolutely critical for him in terms of not only the mental, but the physical and making sure he’s taking care of his body.”

From the time the college football season ends to the time that the incoming rookies arrive at the team facility, there is little break for them. Many participate in Collegiate All-Star games, then they make their way to Indianapolis for the NFL Combine, and there are Pro Days as well, not to mention the constant travel that comes with meeting with various teams as part of the pre-draft process.

Prospects are, of course, still training during those months, but the focus is on completing drills like the 40-yard dash, vertical jump, 3-cone, and other athletic testing events. However, there’s being in shape, and then there’s being in football shape.

“I think a lot of these guys after the draft process they’re not in the best physical condition because like Coop took a visit here,” LaFleur said. “I don’t know how many visits he had, but it’s a different style of training.

“You’re getting ready for the Combine, you’re trying to go run your fastest 40, the Underwear Olympics, if you will, and it’s different when you start playing ball. So I think this is a critical time for, in particular his case he’s got to keep building on the foundation that he’s laid and we expect him to come back even better and have a better knowledge base on what is required of him.”

Along with the physical side of things, the other part of the equation for Cooper is the mental side–specifically the playbook. As is the case for any incoming rookie, there is an adjustment to a new scheme and the speed of the NFL game.

This jump from college to the NFL is different for every player, but the linebacker position can come with a steep learning curve, given that these players are responsible for defending both the run and the pass and need to know where their teammates are going so they’re aware of any potential spacing that will need to be filled.

As LaFleur said, Cooper has laid the foundation during OTAs and minicamp. Cooper would add that the final week of OTAs and the two minicamp practices are when things started to slow down for him. But in order to build off of what he’s done and to pick up where he’s left off when training camp arrives, as the defense goes through installs a second, third, and fourth time, he’ll need to keep his nose in the playbook during the off time to maximize those reps.

“You know, just going over your rules and even drawing stuff up and writing down what each guy got, and putting the puzzles together,” said Cooper when asked what staying in the playbook looks like. “Just quizzing yourself. The thing is going from there and then going back to your notes. It’s just all putting it all in your head so it’s all second nature.”

Eric Wilson provides quality depth at the position: The Packers re-signing Wilson earlier this offseason likely flew under the radar to a degree, especially with the team bringing in Xavier McKinney and Josh Jacobs. However, this was a quality depth addition.

Wilson is an experienced player, having played nearly 2,300 snaps in his career, including 144 last season, utilized primarily in obvious passing situations. As Cooper gets acclimated to the new defense and NFL level, Wilson has been sharing reps with him as the Will linebacker during offseason programs when the Packers are in their base defense. In addition to what Wilson can add defensively, he’s been a core special teams contributor as well, leading the team in snaps in 2023.

“He’s a really solid defender, and he’s really good on (special) teams,” Matt LaFleur said when the team added Wilson in 2022. “We’re lucky to pick up a guy like that. He’s got a lot of versatility. He can run really well and he’s physical.”

Where does Hopper fit? If we were to build out the linebacker depth chart now, Walker, McDuffie, Cooper, and Wilson appear to be the clear top four options at linebacker for the Packers. That isn’t to say things can’t change for Hopper when the pads come on and the real evaluating takes place, but his biggest impact as a rookie could end up coming special teams.

Two reasons that the Packers drafted Hopper are the physicality and range he brings to the defensive side of the football. These are also two elements that should make him a valuable member on special teams. Of the Packers top five players in special teams snaps last season, three of them played linebacker. This is a key position when it comes to contributions in that phase of the game.

“I would say range,” said Hopper when asked what type of player he is. “I feel like I can do many different things. Mizzou put me in those positions to basically highlight different aspects of my game. So yeah, I’d basically just say range. Like I was saying earlier, I can play the run very well. I can also play the pass and being an off-the-ball blitzer and things like that, so I’d say range.”

Skill set-wise defensively, Hopper is likely a Will linebacker, who will operate in space. However, at both the safety and linebacker positions this offseason, Gutekunst was focused on versatility, getting players at both position groups who are “interchangeable,” and able to fill different roles. We will find out in training camp how much the Packers are going to put on Hopper’s plate.

“Well first of all, like we’ve talked about a lot, this is a 4-2-5 league,” said Gutekunst. “So I just think if those guys are interchangeable and they can do everything we’re asking those guys to do, it just gives you flexibility. I think if a player is limited in some form or fashion, then that can be a problem and to me, really, speed is the game.

“They gotta be able to run and I think the two guys we selected today — obviously you guys know Quay can run. We’ve gotten faster. Isaiah can run, so I really like that group and where we’re headed with that right now.”

Don’t forget about Kristian Welch when putting your roster predictions together: With the defense spending most of it’s time lined up in nickel, GM Brian Gutekunst doesn’t believe that switching to a 4-3 scheme will be a massive shift for the linebacker position. However, earlier this offseason, what he did mention is that being a 4-3 defense could require the Packers to be “a little more heavy there” on the 53-man and practice squad this upcoming season. So don’t be surprised if this is a position where the Packers go heavy and keep six.

Welch finished last season fourth on the team in special teams snaps, playing regularly across four different phases. He was also third on the team in tackles, and out of 187 eligible players league-wide, Welch ranked 39th in special teams grade from PFF.

Christian Young and Ralen Goforth: Young briefly spent time on the Packers practice squad last season but was eventually released. The team re-signed him back in April. Young went undrafted in 2023 out of Arizona, where he played safety, with most of his snaps coming in the box. He’s another player where you can see the speed he adds to the position. Between the 2021 and 2022 seasons, Young allowed 39 completions on 59 targets at 11.6 yards per catch with five pass breakups. He was a sound tackler and played 413 career special teams snaps.

Goforth signed with the Packers as a UDFA after this past April’s draft. He played five college seasons, with his final year coming at Washington. Goforth fits the mold of what the Packers were looking for at the linebacker position this year with some of the buzzwords from NFL Draft Bible’s profile of him being “hard-hitting” and “blitzing ability.” Goforth played nearly 500 special teams snaps in college.

Packers place four players on PUP and one on NFI list

Green Bay Packers rookies, quarterbacks, and injured players reported on Wednesday for training camp, which begins on Monday with the first practice.

Of this group of players, five would have an injury designation. According to Aaron Wilson, Zach Tom, Tucker Kraft, Alex McGough, and Donovan Jennings were placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list and Kitan Oladapo was placed on the non-football injury (NFI) list.

Players who are on PUP have football related injuries. They still count towards the 90-man roster and can participate in team activities, but are unable to practice. Players on the NFI list sustained an injury away from football, or in Oladapo’s case, his injury happened during the pre-draft process. Once a player on either PUP or NFI is healthy, they can be activated and begin participating.

Both Tom and Kraft would miss OTAs and minicamp practices dealing with torn pectorals, both of which were sustained earlier in the offseason while lifting waits.

“Just a regular lift,” said Kraft. “It was my last rep of the day on bench. Nothing crazy, not heavy weight. The weight was all tracking linearly. We were speed-benching and it just popped right off the bone. It sucks.”

Although both players are beginning training camp on PUP, Matt LaFleur said there is “no long-term concern” with either Tom or Kraft.

When Luke Musgrave got injured last season, Kraft stepped into a larger role on the fly and his development really took off. Kraft finished the season catching 36 his 48 targets for 379 yards with three scores, and he was particularly effective after the catch with the ball in his hands, ranking fifth among all tight ends in average YAC.

As the season progressed, Kraft began to find his groove as a blocker as well, ranking 24th out of 77 eligible tight ends in PFF’s run-blocking grade from Week 13 and on.

Having a tight end who can impact both the run and passing games adds a layer of unpredictability to the offense. Pre-snap, defenses can’t decipher as easily whether a run or pass is coming simply based on where the tight ends are lined up. Opponents are then forced to respect both the run and the pass on any given play, thus having to defend the entire field, which creates better spacing. 

“I’m just ready to take off in this league and establish myself as a football player, really. That’s where my frustration lies,” Kraft said.

“I was really excited about this offseason – to have the whole offseason – to get running off the football again, get my second step down, my landmark. What I want to establish this year is I want to be the best Y in the outside zone – running the ball at the tight end. That’s my individual goal for the season. That just opens up so many avenues.”

Once healthy, Tom has big goals for this upcoming year after putting together an impressive 2023 season at right tackle. Tom would surrender just two sacks along with 37 pressures. Out of 50 eligible tackles, Tom ranked 13th in pass-blocking efficiency. 

Making Tom’s performance even more impressive was the competition he went up against. Of the NFL’s top 10 edge rushers in terms of total pressures, Tom faced six of them, including Nick Bosa, Aidan Hutchinson, Micah Parsons, and Maxx Crosby, all of whom finished in the top-four of that pressure category.

“However many sacks I gave up is too many,” Tom said. “This was really my first year starting and I was able to go up against some of those premier guys. Learned a lot. Now, this year, come back even better. I’ve got big goals in mind for this year.”

Oladapo was also not on the practice field for OTAs or minicamp after sustaining a toe injury while participating in the on-field drills during the NFL Combine.

“I was like, really?” said Oladapo during rookie minicamp. “It was the third drill. I did the vertical, the 40 and but I just wanted to put on a good show for all the teams there. It was devastating but you’ve got to get through it. I did power through it and did my Pro Day and figured out it was more than just turf toe.”

Oladapo didn’t specify a target date for when he’d be available but he did mention that sometime in August is when we could see him on the practice field.

With Xavier McKinney, Javon Bullard, and Evan Williams also at safety, Oladapo may end up being a core special teams player as a rookie for the Packers, while defensively, he fills more of the traditional safety role, as GM Brian Gutekunst put it, able to play both the “free and strong safety role,” along with being someone who can line up as a “big nickel Sam linebacker.”

The added challenge for Oladapo this offseason, along with being injured, is having to take in a new defensive scheme and the language that goes with it, without being able to apply what he’s learning in the meeting rooms on the practice field.

“As we can move him around more,” said defensive backs coach Ryan Downard, “the walk throughs are going to become vital because these guys, you teach them what you can but until you go out and do it and walk through it, that’s to me where the real learning takes place.

“You can sit in a classroom and learn something but until you either have to teach it back or you take them out there physically let them walk through it, that’s I think where the growth takes place.”

Former quarterback and now wide receiver Alex McGough was dealing with a hamstring injury at one point during OTAs. As of now, we don’t know if that is why he is currently on the PUP list, but regardless, the already daunting task of making a position change at what is a very talented position group only becomes more difficult the more time that is missed.

“Obviously, it’s just completely different from what I’m used to,” said McGough on playing receiver. “But it’s good. Everybody’s helping me out, teaching me little things here and there. Watching the vets – not that we really have any vets – but watching the guys who have done it their whole life. And it’s been good.

“Obviously, there’s so much that I need to learn and so much that goes into it that I didn’t even know about. Kind of just doing what I thought was the right thing. There are all these intricate details that you don’t know about until you get in a room and you get taught them. It’s been helping a lot.”

Jennings went undrafted this past April out of South Florida and signed with the Packers. he is exactly what they typically look for in a lineman, a good athlete who spent his college career at tackle and will play guard at the NFL level. It is unknown what injury Jennings is working through or when it took place.

Packers 2024 Training Camp Preview: Defensive End

By: Paul Bretl 7/17/2024

With Green Bay Packers training camp on the horizon, I’ll be doing a position-by-position preview. Next up is the defensive end position.

If you missed any of the previous position previews, you can find them below:

Quarterbacks
Running backs
Tight ends
Wide receivers
Offensive line
Defensive tackle

Roster: Deslin Alexandre, Keshawn Banks, Brenton Cox, Kingsley Enagbare, Rashan Gary, Arron Mosby, Kenneth Odumegwu, Lukas Van Ness, Preston Smith

On a young team, Preston Smith’s veteran leadership provides important element: Entering his 10th NFL season, Preston Smith has quickly become the veteran on this Green Bay Packers football team, which for the second year in a row, could be the youngest in the NFL. In fact, at soon-to-be 32 years old, Smith is the only player on the 91-man roster who is over 30.

“It’s always the goal of mine to make Year 10 and now that I’m here,” said Smith during minicamp, “it’s always a goal to just keep on chopping. Keep on chopping at the wood and making sure that I keep on doing what it takes to stay here and I keep on doing what it takes to reach my own personal goals and to make sure that — because I’m so close to a lot of ’em — and I got so many opportunities and I still feel like I got so much ball left in me.

“I feel like I got a lot of gas left in the tank and I still have an opportunity to make big plays and play for a long time in this league.”

During his tenure with the Packers, which is now going on Year 6, Smith’s experience, along with the example he sets day-in and day-out, has put him in a leadership role, one that he very much embraces. Following the Packers’ playoff loss to San Francisco, it was Smith, while the team was still in the 49ers’ locker room, that set the tone for the upcoming months, describing what a “championship offseason” looked like.

As he does, Smith led by example. He was a regular member of the Packers’ voluntary offseason programs, which began back in mid-April, and is something that certainly isn’t required for a player going on his 10th NFL season.

“Man, any guy in this locker room will tell you Preston is Preston,” said Rashan Gary. “Preston is the heartbeat, man. He’s going on 10 years. I’ve been with him my whole six years. Everybody feeds off him. When Preston talks, everybody be quiet and listen because when 10 years talk, he’s coming from experience and understanding. That’s what P brings, man, just a leader through in and through outs.”

“Big things” ahead for Rashan Gary: The big difference for Green Bay Packers defensive end Rashan Gary this offseason compared to last isn’t that he’s adjusting to a new defensive scheme under Jeff Hafley. It’s that he’s fully healthy and able to work on his game rather than having to rehab.

“Man, it’s a blessing,” said Rashan Gary at his locker following the Packers’ second minicamp practice. “I remember when I first got back here, and I was talking to the training staff. I’m like, ‘I miss this. I actually miss this.’ Just having the offseason to do what I need to do, I worked on parts of my game I really didn’t have time to work on last year. It’s very important and very crucial for me, so now I’m just enjoying it and thankful to God.”

Gary suffered that ACL injury during Week 9 of the 2022 season. To the surprise of many, he was available for the Packers’ Week 1 matchup against Chicago to open up the 2023 season, roughly just 10 months removed from when the injury occurred.

Easing Gary back in, he was used in a rotational capacity for the first five games of the season, averaging just 21 snaps per contest during that span. However, Gary made the most of those opportunities, totaling eight pressures and leading the NFL with a pass rush win rate of a whopping 33.3 percent, meaning that every three snaps, he was beating the offensive lineman he was lined up against.

Realistically, there was no way that pace would be maintained over the course of a season, especially as Gary’s workload returned to normal capacity. Gary finished the season with 66 pressures, which ranked 20th among edge rushers, and he was 21st in pass-rush win rate.

Oftentimes, when players are working their way back from injuries, they’re almost playing catch up to a degree throughout the offseason and even into the season–trying to work their way back to where they were rather than having the opportunity to focus on specific aspects of their game in an effort to get ahead.

A year ago, Gary was working through the former, just trying to get healthy. Now, he is living in the latter, with a full offseason to continue perfecting his craft.

“I think that’ll be great for him because he’s coming in with the right mindset,” said Preston Smith about Gary. “He’s been doing a lot of great things and of course you see what he did last season. I think this season is to realize what he needed to work on last year and to fix coming off injury.

“This year, having a chance to be healthy through a whole offseason and to get ready for the season, I think it’s gonna be big for him. I’m expecting a lot of big things out of him.”

Fully healthy, Enagbare’s continued ascension is important to DE rotation: After what was thought to be an ACL injury that Kingsley Enagbare sustained in the Green Bay Packers’ playoff win against Dallas, to the surprise of many, Enagbare was on the practice field during OTAs and minicamp.

“It was great news,” said Enagbare. “I’m on my 10 feet walking.”

During the draft, Matt LaFleur confirmed that Enagbare never had surgery on his knee and that, internally, they were optimistic about where he was at in the rehab process. Still, I’m not sure anyone outside of the building expected to see Enagbare on the practice field at this stage of the offseason, and we still don’t know exactly what the knee injury was.

For roughly half of the offseason, Enagbare was limited in what he could and couldn’t do as he went through his rehab. But for the second half, he was able to return to form.

“I was pretty limited for probably like half of it,” said Enagbare, “but the other half, I was back running, pressing, basically where I am now.”

And now? As we saw during practice with Enagbare participating in both individual and team drills, he’s a full-go.

“100% 100%,” said Enagbare when asked how he was feeling.

During the second half of the 2023 season, Enagbare’s production really began to take off. Of the 27 pressures he recorded last season, 18 of them came in Week 12 and beyond. During that span, Enagbare ranked 28th in PFF’s pass-rush win-rate metric out of 128 eligible edge rushers. He would rank 36th in run-stop rate as well.

In addition to his contributions on defense, Enagbare would also play the eighth-most special teams snaps on the Packers, routinely playing across three different units.

“He’s been outstanding,” said LaFleur about Enagbare. “You talk about a guy who comes to work with the right mentality each and every day, he’s the epitome of that. And I think we’ve seen the growth.

“We saw it last year, the growth from Year 1 to Year 2, and I think we’re still seeing that growth as he develops his body and continues to learn the game. And certainly we’re asking these guys to do a little bit different things from a front standpoint but he’s somebody that’s certainly capable of it. He just brings an edge to your defense.”

A Year 2 leap incoming for Lukas Van Ness? The potential recipe for a Year 2 jump from Van Ness is twofold for the Packers’ defensive end. For starters, the second season is where most players see the biggest developmental jump as there is the added comfortability that comes with the experience gained in the first year, along with having a full offseason to devote to their craft, rather than prepping for the draft.

“Biggest jump in my opinion in my years and time of being in the NFL is from your rookie to sophomore year,” said defensive line coach Jason Rebrovich.

“Every guy that you see that luckily I’ve been around, I say I, we, us, organization, coaches, from Year 1 to Year 2 that is when that light, that is when it clicks. Because at this level as you guys have heard me say, it’s knowing about you’re matchup. It’s knowing about protections. It’s knowing about the scheme. You’ve got to know where the fit is.”

In addition to that element, Jeff Hafley’s new defensive scheme should fit Van Ness’ skill set quite well. The defensive ends will have their hands in the dirt more often now, which is how Van Ness spent his time at Iowa. This defensive scheme also has an emphasis on attacking, or in short, get off the ball and get into the backfield.

Over the second half of last season, we started to see growth for Van Ness taking place. From Week 12 on, he had 15 pressures and five sacks during those nine games, compared to seven pressures–with five coming in one game–through Week 11. Out of 113 eligible edge rushers, Van Ness ranked 34th in PFF’s pass rush productivity metric after Week 12.

“I’m excited about Lukas,” said Matt LaFleur, “and I think a lot of times you see a lot of those guys that are pass-rushers take a huge jump from Year 1 to Year 2. So he’s a guy that’s put in a ton of work. I think his body looks great. I think it’s unfortunate that he broke his thumb, but he’s getting more time out there, and we’re, he’s somebody that we’re certainly excited about.”

Brenton Cox impressed during minicamp: When it comes to evaluating the play of offensive and defensive lines, we won’t truly get a pulse on where these units stand until training camp arrives and the pads come on. But with that said, Packers’ second-year defensive end Brenton Cox impressed during minicamp.

During the second minicamp practice in particular, there were two pass-rush reps from Cox in 11-on-11 drills that stood. One came against Andre Dillard and the other against Jordan Morgan. On both reps, Cox won with power, popping both tackles in the chest, knocking them off-balanced, and then beating them around the edge to get to the quarterback.

“One thing that he could always do is he can rush the passer,” said Matt LaFleur after practice, “and I think, again, we don’t have pads on, so it will really show itself as we get into training camp. But I think, that’s why he made such a great impression on us a year ago. Certainly the scheme’s a little bit different, and we’re just letting him pin his ears back and go and he’s embraced that.”

As an undrafted rookie in 2023 out of Florida, Cox’s ability to get after the quarterback earned him a roster spot last season. As the fifth-man in the edge rusher rotation, his playing time was limited, appearing in only three games defensively, totaling five snaps.

Similarly to Van Ness, Cox should benefit from being in his second NFL season along with playing in Hafley’s attacking defensive front.

“With B, it’s his confidence, having more reps,” said Rashan Gary. “He’s the type of guy you need to put him in there so he can feel more comfortable. The more comfortable he feels, the more splashy plays he has. Just his hungry and being more comfortable. Understanding he has a group of guys that just want to see him win. It don’t matter.”

An under-the-radar name to watch–Deslin Alexandre: Everyone loves the under-the-radar player to watch for during this time of the year. So, one name I’ll put out there is defensive end Deslin Alexandre, who over the course of the OTA and minicamp practices open to the media, was able to put together some nice pass rush reps, winning with speed. During one OTA practice in particular, from my vantage point, it looked like he had a pair of “sacks,” one with the second defense and one with the third unit.

Now, I’ll add the caveat that I don’t expect him to push for a roster spot, but if he’s able to carry over his play from offseason programs, you may hear his name a bit more this summer and Alexandre could push for the practice squad.

The Packers signed Alexandre to a futures contract back in January. He went undrafted in 2023 out of Pittsburgh and initially signed with the New York Jets. He was released by the Jets following training camp and spent some time on the Chicago Bears practice squad.

Alexandre is a good athlete, posting a RAS of 8.41 during the pre-draft process. He played 1,767 snaps over five seasons at Pitt, almost all of which came lined up as a traditional edge rusher. His 2022 season was his most productive, recording 27 pressures and seven sacks. By PFF’s metrics, Alexandre was a reliable tackler throughout his career and solid against the run.

“I don’t think there are enough superlatives to describe Deslin and his achievements while at the University of Pittsburgh,” Pitt head football coach Pat Narduzzi said. “His impact as a student, athlete and community leader is so inspiring. He represents the absolute best of what it means to be a Pitt Panther. Deslin has given Pitt so many reasons to be proud and I know he will make the Witten family proud as the recipient of this outstanding award.”

An attacking defensive front: Under new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafely, one of the more noticeable differences in his system compared to Joe Barry’s will take place along the defensive front, where the defenders will be responsible for attacking one-gap rather than trying to defend two of them.

In Barry’s two-gap defense, as the name suggests, each member of the defensive line was responsible for two gaps, tasked with reading the movements of the offensive line and the backfield, then determining which gap was the most vulnerable and trying to fill it. Interior defenders are more so space eaters in this style of defense, helping to create opportunities for the edge rushers and linebackers to make the plays.

In Hafley’s defense, however, with the defensive line responsible for only one gap, there should be a much more proactive play style instead of reactive, with the front asked to get north and south quickly, penetrating their way into the backfield, rather than reacting to what the offense is doing.

“Finally, I’m out here rushing more,” said Smith, “and I get to get after the quarterback a whole lot more. I just love the system.

“It’s definitely fine detailing in his system,” added Smith. “Everybody has a role and everybody has a responsibility. Nobody gets a pass in no way or shape or form. Everybody has a responsibility in each call and anything. You kind of know the responsibility in the run game and the pass for everybody.”

Mixing and matching: Between the defensive tackle and defensive end positions, nine different players were relied upon regularly each week last season. While the depth of the receiver room on this Packers’ team is what garners a lot of the attention – and understandably so – Matt LaFleur is quite fond of the depth in the defensive trenches as well.

“I think much similar to the receiving group, we feel really good about our front,” said LaFleur. “When you’ve got RG and Preston and J.J. and then inside you’ve got Kenny Clark, Heavy D, Karl Brooks, Colby Wooden, I mean, there’s a lot of players there. T.J. Slaton. Like, we feel really good about the collective unit and I think each one of those guys is going to get more 1-on-1 opportunities along the way because it’s hard to zero in on just one guy.”

With depth comes a wide variety of skill sets. From a game-planning perspective, there is a layer of unpredictability that the Packers’ front can have, allowing for Hafley to mix-and-match his rotations from week-to-week depending upon the opponent. This can even be taken a step further if there is going to be movement between the defensive end and defensive tackle position groups. 

There is also the ability to maximize those individual skill sets by putting each player in specific situations where they can thrive rather than having blanket rotations that are utilized regardless of the situation.

Quick Hits:

Mosby and Banks are two other names to know: Again, if Cox continues to impress there probably isn’t a roster spot open at defensive end. But two names to know are Arron Mosby and Keshawn Banks, both of whom were on the practice squad last season. Mosby went undrafted in 2022, and played 33 special teams snaps with the Panthers that year. Banks, meanwhile, I thought really impressed during last year’s training camp, and if not for a crowded edge rusher room at that time, I believe he could have been in consideration for a roster spot. Banks was elevated from the practice squad for the playoff game against San Francisco and played nine special teams snaps.

Kenneth Odumegwu continues to develop and is doing so quickly: A native of Nigeria, Odumegwu was a part of the Packers’ practice squad last season on a roster exemption as part of the NFL’s International Pathway Program. He came to the NFL with almost no football experience, but his development over the last year has the attention his position group.

“Outside of football, me and Kenneth hang out a lot,” said Smith. “I beat him at FIFA a lot. Just to see a guy progress from not knowing nothing about football from last year to this year progressing so far and picking up on the game so easily, guys work a long time just to get to where he’s at. Just to have that experience and be playing at the level he’s playing at, it’s really exciting to see Kenneth out there doing a lot of good things and making a lot of good plays.”

Just like the other second year players at the defensive end position for the Packers, Odumegwu’s growth and potential will be worth watching as training camp takes place. Odumegwu will be vying for a roster spot, but if he doesn’t make it, the Packers can again keep him on the practice squad with an exemption.

“It’s incredible,” said Enagbare of Odumegwu. “Going from a guy who came from Nigeria, pretty much his only two years of playing football, to see him where he is now entering Year Two for him, this past year of OTAs, you could just see the growth in his mentality and understanding of the game.”

Packers 2024 Training Camp Preview: Defensive Tackle

By: Paul Bretl 7/16/2024

With Green Bay Packers training camp on the horizon, I’ll be doing a position-by-position preview. Next up is the defensive tackle position.

If you missed any of the previous position previews, you can find them below:

Quarterbacks
Running backs
Tight ends
Wide receivers
Offensive line

Roster: Karl Brooks, Kenny Clark, James Ester, Jonathan Ford, TJ Slaton, Colby Wooden, Devonte Wyatt, Spencer Waege

An attacking defensive front: Under new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafely, one of the more noticeable differences in his system compared to Joe Barry’s will take place along the defensive front, where the defenders will be responsible for attacking one-gap rather than trying to defend two of them.

In Barry’s two-gap defense, as the name suggests, each member of the defensive line was responsible for two gaps, tasked with reading the movements of the offensive line and the backfield, then determining which gap was the most vulnerable and trying to fill it. Interior defenders are more so space eaters in this style of defense, helping to create opportunities for the edge rushers and linebackers to make the plays.

In Hafley’s defense, however, with the defensive line responsible for only one gap, there should be a much more proactive play style instead of reactive, with the front asked to get north and south quickly, penetrating their way into the backfield, rather than reacting to what the offense is doing.

Former Packers defensive lineman Mike Daniels said that the role of the defensive line in this system is “simplified” as it allows them to “cut it loose.” Kenny Clark said that it should allow the front to be “way more disruptive.”

“It’s an attack front, guys,” said defensive line coach Jason Rebrovich. “If you put the tape on with San Fran, Houston, the Jets, things like that, been very fortunate in my background being in Buffalo and in Jacksonville and that’s really what we did back then, so been fortunate to be around it. 

“But it is, it’s about TFLs and sacks. We’re going to look to create havoc in the backfield. Every down, we’re looking to penetrate and make something big happen. Offensive linemen, not moving so fast laterally, they’re going to have to stay on the line of scrimmage a little bit longer with the movements and the ability for us to get in the backfield.”

Mixing and matching: Between the defensive tackle and defensive end positions, nine different players were relied upon regularly each week last season. While the depth of the receiver room on this Packers’ team is what garners a lot of the attention – and understandably so – Matt LaFleur is quite fond of the depth in the defensive trenches as well.

“I think much similar to the receiving group, we feel really good about our front,” said LaFleur. “When you’ve got RG and Preston and J.J. and then inside you’ve got Kenny Clark, Heavy D, Karl Brooks, Colby Wooden, I mean, there’s a lot of players there. T.J. Slaton. Like, we feel really good about the collective unit and I think each one of those guys is going to get more 1-on-1 opportunities along the way because it’s hard to zero in on just one guy.”

With depth comes a wide variety of skill sets. From a game-planning perspective, there is a layer of unpredictability that the Packers’ front can have, allowing for Hafley to mix-and-match his rotations from week-to-week depending upon the opponent. This can even be taken a step further if there is going to be movement between the defensive end and defensive tackle position groups. 

There is also the ability to maximize those individual skill sets by putting each player in specific situations where they can thrive rather than having blanket rotations that are utilized regardless of the situation.

A big year for Devonte Wyatt? This system should benefit the entire defensive front, but one player whose name keeps getting brought up as someone who will thrive playing this way is Devonte Wyatt, as this one-gap defense fits his skill set and play style to a tee. 

Last season, Wyatt’s 48 pressures were the fourth-most on the team and the 20th-most in the NFL among his position group. He also ranked 12th in pass rush win rate, but a new level of play for Wyatt under Hafley could be unlocked. 

“Devonte Wyatt, I think he’s going to thrive in this defense,” said Vice President of Player Personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan. “Where you can kind of just pin your ears back, get off the ball. That’s what he was at Georgia — quick, work edges, penetrate, disrupt. I think there’s a bunch of guys who are going to benefit from what we’re doing.”

New defense brings change for Kenny Clark and more opportunities: Kenny Clark has spent his entire career, including his time at UCLA, playing in a 3-4 defense. So, as Clark enters his ninth NFL season, change is in store for him, but it’s something he’s looking forward to.

“I think it’s going to be really good,” said Clark on transitioning to a 4-3 scheme. “It’s one of things where all my career I’ve been kind of been playing this way, but in more of a controlled way. 

“And I think now this is giving us a chance to shut all that other stuff off, no technique really and just use your ability and just go up the field and be disruptive. I just think with my get-off and how I am, I think it’s going to suit me well.”

In addition to the more aggressive and proactive play style that Hafley’s defense asks of the front, it also means that Clark won’t be lining up at defensive end anymore, “just 3-tech and nose…but primarily 3-tech,” said Clark. 

Even in what is, relatively speaking, a more passive front under Barry, Clark remained highly productive. He set a career-high in sacks last season with 7.5, while his 66 pressures were the sixth-most among all interior defensive linemen. However, under Hafley, where the defensive tackle’s job is to get into the backfield as quickly as possible, the opportunity is there for Clark to be even more disruptive.

“Every offseason I would go out and train with guys,” Clark said. “I’m a big fan of the game, so I trained with DeForest Buckner and (Arik) Armstead and all those guys, and they played a 4-3 their whole career. 

“So I would check up with them and see what it’s like playing in that. I always wondered what it was like, but now that I’m in it, I see how they made so many TFLs and all those plays they were always making. It all makes sense. They were really just cutting it loose that whole time.”

Colby Wooden bulks up to better suit his role in 2024: When the Packers drafted Wooden in April of 2023, he was undersized for a defensive tackle. During the pre-draft process, he was listed at 273 pounds. Wooden said during the Packers’ virtual draft party that he played his rookie season at 278 pounds and got up to around 290 pounds this offseason.

In order to put on that additional 12 pounds, Wooden’s focus this offseason was on strength training and yoga.

“Really it was just getting in the weight room,” said Wooden after Tuesday’s practice. “Mixing that with yoga. You still want to be flexible, versatile. All I did was weight room and yoga. Conditioning.”

For the first two games of last season, Wooden was the fourth member of the Packers’ defensive tackle rotation, playing 36 snaps each week. However, the quick emergence of Karl Brooks bumped Wooden back to the fifth spot in the rotation. 

From Weeks 3 through the NFC Divisional playoff round, Wooden averaged just over 13 snaps per game. He totaled 12 pressures and one sack. With Wooden packing on some extra pounds, he won’t be making the move to defensive end in Jeff Hafley’s 4-3 defense. Instead, he will stay at defensive tackle.

“Coming into Auburn,” added Wooden, “I was actually doing this. So I’m familiar with the system. I have two years in it.”

TJ Slaton’s fit in this defense: Listed at 6-5 – 330 pounds, Slaton had an obvious fit in Joe Barry’s 3-4 defense as the nose tackle–someone who took on double-teams and ate up space, helping others to make plays. But as is the case for the other members of the defensive front, that reactive approach will no longer be what’s required. Slaton is going to be asked to get into the backfield.

“It’s not as much as we perceive it to be,” said Rebrovich on shifting from a 3-4 to a 4-3 defense. “There’s a lot of 11 personnel in today’s NFL, so it’s a lot of four-man front. There is going to be some subtle changes in how we align on some certain things but it’s not going to be a huge blow up one system, put another system in. It’s more of a mindset, a mentality. That’s been the biggest change.”

Assisting Slaton with this transition is an impressive athletic skill set given his size. Coming out of Florida, he posted a Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 7.96, which included a 5.09-second 40 and a broad jump of 9-01.

“I will tell you this,” added Reborvich, “TJ Slaton might be the biggest man-athlete that I’ve ever seen in my life. If you put a basket right here, my man can two step jump and dunk that basketball. So the athletic part, the athleticism, the 3-4, the nose, is he athletic enough? There’s no question TJ Slaton is athletic enough to play in this scheme and system.”

Last season, Slaton saw his pass rush opportunities more than double from his first two seasons with the Packers. He went from having just 134 pass rush snaps in 2022, according to PFF, to 303 in 2023. Slaton also played 466 snaps from the B-gap, compared to only 171 the year prior. And with that, he took advantage of those opportunities, recording a career-high in pressures with 16. His previous high was just six.

In addition to his pass rush production, Slaton recorded the fourth-most run-stops of any defensive tackle last season and the fifth-most tackles in the run game. Run defense may still be his calling card, but Slaton showcased last year that he can move around and be disruptive getting after the quarterback as well.

“I think he can play nose,” said Hafley. “You put him in a ‘0’ in a 3-4, you put him in a shade or you put him inside leverage on a guard and he’s still right around that A gap. There’s things we can do with him, we can tighten him up and get him in a 3-4 spacing.

“They’re going to go and they’re going to get off the ball,” Hafley added. “Before we break every meeting and I dismiss them and I talk to the back end, I tell them to go get after the quarterback, and that’s what they’re going to do. And then you get a big guy like that, against the run, I mean, that nose has to be, he has to be a guy that makes it really hard to run the football. He’s got the size and he’s got the body to do that. now we’ve got to coach him up and make sure we get the most out of him. But he’s done a nice job so far.”

Year 2 jump incoming for Brooks: As far as sixth-round picks go, the Packers really couldn’t have asked for more from Karl Brooks last season.

Snap count-wise, Brooks finished as the fourth-member of the defensive line rotation, ahead of Colby Wooden. Production-wise, he totaled 30 pressures and four sacks, and like many players on this Packers’ team, Brooks began to put things together during the second half of the season.

From Week 11 through the divisional round of the playoffs, Brooks ranked 15th among all interior defenders in total pressures, as well as 15th in PFF’s pass-rush win rate metric. Of Brooks’ 440 total snaps, 309 came as a pass rusher, with him spending time in the B-gap and lined up over the tackle. In Hafley’s defense, Brooks–who played his share of snaps at edge rusher while at Bowling Green–could be someone who is moved around relatively often.

A player’s second NFL season is oftentimes when we see the biggest developmental leap for them. There is the comfortability of playing at the NFL level along with having a full offseason to work on their craft rather than preparing for the draft. Also contributing to a potential leap for Brooks will be this attacking play-style the defensive front will be asked to play with.

“Biggest jump in my opinion in my years and time of being in the NFL is from your rookie to sophomore year,” said Rebrovich. “Every guy that you see that luckily I’ve been around, I say I, we, us, organization, coaches, from Year 1 to Year 2 that is when that light, that is when it clicks. 

“At this level as you guys have heard me say, it’s knowing about you’re matchup. It’s knowing about protections. It’s knowing about the scheme. You’ve got to know where the fit is. You’re not looking over at the sideline and looking at a card to tell you where you’re alignment is like college football is right now. And it’s different and these guys have got to take the time to learn it.”

Jonathan Ford, Spencer Waege, and James Ester: This is a position group that is already well established, which means Ford and Ester will be fighting for a spot on the practice squad. Ford was on the practice squad last season, and at 6-5 – 338 pounds, he brings a run-stuffing presence in the middle, but in this new defense he’ll have to showcase that he can get off the ball and after the quarterback as well.

Ester would sign with the Packers as a UDFA following this year’s draft. He was a team captain at Northern Illinois and is listed at 289 pounds. He’s an experienced player with over 2,000 snaps in five college seasons, and is someone whose production continued to improve each year. Ester produced a career-high 24 pressures and four sacks in 2023, and for what it’s worth, graded out well against the run by PFF’s metrics.

Waege was claimed off waivers by the Packers in May after he was released by San Francisco. Waege went undrafted in 2023 out of North Dakota State and measures in at 6-5 – 295 pounds, posting an impressive RAS of 9.58 during the pre-draft process. Waege would spend the bulk of his snaps in college lined up as an edge rusher and recorded 42 pressures and 12 sacks in 2022, ranking 18th in pressures at the FCS level and 78th in PFF’s run defense grade.

Packers 2024 Training Camp Roster Preview: Offensive Line

By: Paul Bretl 7/15/2024

With Green Bay Packers training camp on the horizon, I’ll be doing a position-by-position preview. Next up is the offensive line.

If you missed any of the previous position previews, you can find them below:

Quarterbacks
Running backs
Tight ends
Wide receivers

Roster: Jacob Monk, Josh Myers, Sean Rhyan, Lecitus Smith, Elgton Jenkins, Donovan Jennings, Royce Newman, Zach Tom, Andre Dillard, Travis Glover, Caleb Jones, Kadeem Telfort, Luke Tenuta, Rasheed Walker, Jordan Morgan

‘Best five’ on OL won’t take shape until the pads come on: If the hope was to come out of these OTA and minicamp practices with an idea of what the Packers’ starting offensive line is going to look like this summer, well, you’re going to be disappointed. The constant movement and lack of pads made that a very tall task. 

“No, I don’t think so,” said Matt LaFleur when asked if there is clarity around what the starting line will look like. “I mean there’s been some good work that’s been put in. I think it’s really important to work on the fundamentals, but the fact of the matter is we’re not in pads.

“And I don’t think you’ll really, truly know until we get out there, we get pads on. I thought for the most part our guys up front did a pretty decent job taking care of one another.” 

During Wednesday’s practice alone, there were two different starting offensive line configurations utilized. The first consisted of Rasheed Walker at left tackle, followed by Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Sean Rhyan, and Andre Dillard. Jordan Morgan would then end up taking Rhyan’s place at right guard for some reps.  

Throughout the five OTA and minicamp practices that have been open to the media, in addition to the configurations described above, we’ve seen Morgan at both tackle spots and left guard, along with Dillard at left tackle as well, all of which has resulted in a number of different starting combinations utilized in a very short amount of practice time.

“I think it (the starting offensive line) will kind of unfold when we get into camp and especially when we get into the preseason games,” added LaFleur. “We’ve got two opportunities to practice against somebody else, so I think it will unfold for us in training camp.” 

What we know so far is that Walker has been taking the bulk of the left tackle reps. Myers has been the center, Rhyan has played mostly right guard and Jenkins left guard with Zach Tom sidelined with a pec injury.

The wildcard in all of this seems to be where Morgan will end up. Once that is decided, it seems like the starting offensive line unit will begin to take shape. 

Josh Myers sole focus is on the center position: Versatility is a hallmark element of the Green Bay Packers offensive line, providing them with seemingly endless combinations when it comes to constructing the starting five. However, for Josh Myers, his sole focus is on playing center.

“We need depth, so we’re going to cross-train them all,” said offensive line coach Luke Butkus. “Obviously, Josh Myers is our center but as far as everybody else, we’re going to cross-train them and put the best five out there. It’s competition so it’s making everybody better.”

Myers has battled up and down play throughout his career with the Packers, which is why, particularly over the last year, his role as the starting center has been brought into question, at least from those outside of the organization.

As last season progressed, much like the rest of the offense, Myers’ play improved. In five of the Packers final six games of the season, Myers allowed just three combined pressures and one sack. In the previous 13 games, he allowed four sacks and 19 pressures.

In total, Myers ranked 19th out of 38 centers in pass-blocking efficiency and 33rd in PFF’s run-blocking grade.

“Just to continue to grow, just like our expectations for everybody,” said Butkus. “Every day, get better. That’s where Josh excelled last year. He did get better as the year went on and he had command of this offense and took charge, was a little bit more vocal toward the end in commanding this offense. So, what do we need from him? Just to get better every single day. Keep improving.”

Although Myers’ play on the field is going to garner most of the attention – and understandably so – as offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich has pointed out, and what can go unnoticed, is the leadership role that Myers took on last season within the offensive line room. 

Also, not to be forgotten about, is Myers’ rapport with Jordan Love, along with his ability pre-snap to identify blitzes and communicate protection responsibilities so that everyone is on the same page. Of course, at the end of the day, a player has to perform on the field, but at the center position, all of these other elements matter as well.

Musical chairs for Jordan Morgan: As already mentioned, with Morgan playing every position except for center this spring, once the Packers determine where he will be playing, the starting offensive line configuration will begin to take shape, and for Morgan, who has had a lot thrown at him already, he’ll finally be able to focus on one–or maybe two–positions.

it’s not only Morgan who is learning as an incoming rookie, but the Packers’ coaching staff is also trying to learn where he fits best in conjunction with the other four members of the offensive line unit. Remember, as the Packers search for the “best five,” it’s not necessarily about where Morgan is best but what combination makes the unit as a whole the most cohesive. When it comes to offensive line play, the sum of the parts are greater than any one individual. 

In part, the Packers are moving Morgan around because they believe in the value of cross-training linemen in case injuries strike. But also, in order to properly evaluate where Morgan fits best amongst the group, the Packers need a large enough sample size of him playing each position. 

This is why, throughout the practices, he has been playing musical chairs along the offensive line, which has put a heavy workload on Morgan’s shoulders. Not only is he adjusting to the speed of the NFL game and learning a new playbook, but he’s being asked to play both sides of the line and both guard positions after spending all his time in college at just left tackle. 

“Yeah I think certainly he’s got a long way to go in terms of just mentally,” said LaFleur on Tuesday. “Physically, he has all the tools that you look for and we’re gonna keep pushing him and he’s gotta understand that and I think for rookies, it’s just everybody has a different learning curve in terms of how fast they can acclimate themselves to just how we play at this level, but I think he’s approaching it the right way and we’re gonna continue to push him.” 

Once the Packers get into training camp, the pads come on, and they get a better idea of what that starting offensive line lineup will look like, LaFleur said Morgan will start to get regular reps at one position rather than continuing to juggle a bevy of different roles. 

Admittedly, the Packers have put a lot on Morgan’s plate. But as we’ve seen throughout the years with other draft picks, this isn’t something the Packers do to every incoming rookie. There are a few examples of other early round picks who didn’t start right away while trying to fill just one or maybe two roles. Only the players that they believe can shoulder the workload are asked to do so. 

“There’s nothing he can’t do,” said LaFleur. “For him, it’s just about putting it all together mentally. I think there’s been a lot put on his plate, and I think at times his head is spinning. But you’ve just got to keep chopping and grinding and working through it. There’s gonna be mistakes. I think a big part of this is just being resilient throughout that process and making sure that you don’t lose confidence because certainly he has all the skills to be as good as he wants to be.”

Rasheed Walker is confident: The Green Bay Packers drafted left tackle Jordan Morgan in the first round, providing competition for Rasheed Walker. However, after playing 974 snaps last season, Walker is confident in his ability to prepare and perform on the field.

“I feel elite,” said Walker after Tuesday’s OTA practice. “Names and labels don’t really dictate how I move. I see man just as man is. I’m in a good spot. I’m never really worried about who I’m going against. It’s am I prepared? What do I have to do to prepare? That’s where I keep my focus on.”

With David Bakhtiari’s season ending after the first game, Walker was thrust into the starting left tackle role. As should have been expected, there were ups and downs as Walker navigated starting for the first time. He finished the 2023 season, allowing six sacks and 36 pressures. Out of 50 eligible tackles, Walker ranked 35th in PFF’s pass-blocking efficiency metric and 41st in run-blocking grade.

When either Matt LaFleur or Adam Stenavich have been asked about Walker’s play, they both noted the athleticism and flashes he showcased, along with the need for more consistency over the course of a game, “playing 70 plays at a high level,” as LaFleur put it. 

While Walker’s overall numbers show up and down play, like many of the Packers’ young players on offense last season, he began to find his footing during the second half of the season. During Week 9, the Packers introduced an in-game rotation at left tackle with Walker and Yosh Nijman that lasted six games before Walker asserted himself as the full-time starter.

Over Green Bay’s final six games, including the two playoff games, Walker gave up just one sack and nine pressures. He ranked 10th in pass-blocking efficiency and 29th in run-blocking grade.

“That you just have to be locked in every play,” said Walker on what he learned from last season. “It’s all really about preparation and confidence. As long as you prepare the right way, go into a game confident, and have a short-term memory while playing, you’ll put yourself in a good position. 

“That’s how I go about it: staying focused, being consistent with my preparation and ignore the good plays and ignore the bad plays. Just be good every play.”

While still early, through offseason programs, Walker took the majority of the starting snaps at left tackle, and LaFleur has been impressed with how he’s approached the offseason.

“He’s come in with the right mindset,” said LaFleur. “Sheed didn’t say anything after the draft. He just came in and got to work and that’s what we’re looking for and I think he’s been a guy that’s been totally locked in and dialed in and it’s amazing to see just the growth, the maturation from when he was a rookie to now. I think it’s night and day.”

Big goals for Zach Tom: Due to a pec injury, Tom didn’t participate in offseason programs, but the injury is not long-term and we could potentially see him on the field at the start of training camp or not long after.

Last season was Tom’s first full year as a starter. According to PFF, he would surrender just two sacks along with 37 pressures. Out of 50 eligible tackles, Tom ranked 13th in pass-blocking efficiency. 

Making Tom’s performance even more impressive was the competition he went up against. Of the NFL’s top 10 edge rushers in terms of total pressures, Tom faced six of them, including Nick Bosa, Aidan Hutchinson, Micah Parsons, and Maxx Crosby, all of whom finished in the top-four of that pressure category.

Despite Tom’s high level of play last season, he’s only focused on improving in 2024:

“However many sacks I gave up is too many,” Tom said. “This was really my first year starting and I was able to go up against some of those premier guys. Learned a lot. Now, this year, come back even better. I’ve got big goals in mind for this year.”

Whether the Packers plan to move Tom around the offensive line remains to be seen, but my guess is that he will begin at right tackle, given his high level of play there last season and the importance of that position.

Sean Rhyan’s experience from 2023 will be valuable: Sean Rhyan made the most of his opportunities during the second half of last season and is now the front-runner to be the Packers’ starting right guard in 2024.

What started out as Rhyan playing a series or two blossomed into him and Runyan splitting snaps nearly 50-50 in Week 15 against Tampa Bay, and that carried over into the playoffs.

“He really grew a lot from Year 1 to Year 2,” said GM Brian Gutekunst, “and really proud of not only his work ethic and the shape he got himself in, but then when his opportunities were presented, his ability to capitalize on that. I think there’s a lot of really good football in front of him. His best football should be in front of him.”

Where Rhyan was at his best was as a run-blocker. With his size and strength, he brought a different element to the Packers’ offensive line as a bit of a mauler. Rather than opening up a running lane by being in an advantageous position, Rhyan generates push and moves the defender across from him.

However, where Rhyan has to become more consistent if he’s going to be an everyday starter in the NFL is in pass protection. Rhyan had just 128 pass-blocking attempts last season but still allowed eight pressures. According to PFF, out of 84 eligible guards, he ranked 52nd in pass-blocking efficiency.

As the Packers search for their ‘best five’ along the offensive line, don’t overlook Rhyan at the right guard spot. This is a starting job that will have to be earned, but the experience he gained in 2023 will play a key role in helping him retain that role.

“It was great to see Sean grow,” said Luke Butkus. “Sean works at it. He loves football. He wants to go out and play, he wants to get a chance. When he had his chance last year, he improved. He is a big, strong kid, man. When you hold those bags for our players when you’re holding the bag for Sean Rhyan, you feel it.”

Quick Hits:

– If the Packers are going to experiment with the center position and try to find someone to compete with Myers for that starting role, I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s Elgton Jenkins over Tom. The reason being, that position is likely easier to fill than the right tackle position would be. For Morgan, after spending his college career at left tackle, the transition to left guard compared to right guard or right tackle would likely be the smoothest for him.

– It’s now or never for Luke Tenuta and Caleb Jones. The Packers have invested two years of development into both of these players, but with three draft picks used on the offensive line this past April, roster spots are tight. Neither player will be competing for playing time, but having developmental upside is likely no longer good enough to make the 53-man. Tenuta and Jones will have to show that they can be relied upon off the bench if needed.

“I think both of those guys have had moments,” said LaFleur during minicamp. “But I think like we just talked about, time will tell.”

– Packers are taking a long look at Andre Dillard. Again, my guess right now is that Dillard isn’t going to be in the mix for a starting spot, but the Packers were taking a long look at him during offseason programs, having him regularly start at both tackle spots. The former first round pick has struggled in the NFL, which last season included allowing 12 sacks and 41 pressures in only 331 pass-blocking snaps, according to PFF. Dillard is an experienced player and an excellent athlete, the Packers are likely trying to gauge whether it’s worth taking a swing on that potential with a roster spot or if they should just move on. Dillard’s deal is non-guaranteed.

“He was a first-round draft pick for a reason,” said LaFleur. “You can see the size, the athleticism. I think he is perfect in terms of a scheme fit, something we’re always looking for. Athletically, he can do it all. I think it’s just about learning our system, how we do things, the fundamentals and the techniques that are associated with that position that we look for. We’re rotating a lot of guys around, so it’s not just, ‘Hey, you’re at left tackle.’ He’s been playing right tackle, we’re just trying to find the best fit for everybody and, you know, let the best man win.”

– What about Royce Newman? If I were to make a roster prediction now, I would leave Newman off of it. While the Packers value his versatility and experience, he is entering the final year of his deal and has a large enough body of work that the Packers should know what they have in him. Rostering a younger, higher upside player would seem to be the prudent move.

– There is a lot to like about Jacob Monk, both in terms of his play on the field and the leadership qualities he brings off of it. During OTAs and minicamp, he was the center with the second-team offense, but based on what we’ve seen so far–and as always, things can change–I don’t know that he will be in the mix for playing time this year. Instead, I see him being the first option off the bench at center and the Packers’ long-term option there.

– UDFA to watch: Donovan Jennings. The Packers signed Jennings following this year’s draft, which included a $10,000 signing bonus and $110,000 guaranteed, according to Spotrac. That in itself shows that landing Jennings was a priority for the Packers. On the field, he is exactly what they typically look for in a lineman, a good athlete who spent his college career at tackle and will play guard at the NFL level.

Packers 2024 Training Camp Preview: Wide Receivers

By: Paul Bretl 7/12/2024

With Green Bay Packers training camp less than two weeks away, I’ll be doing a position-by-position preview. Next up are the wide receivers.

If you missed any of the previous position previews, you can find them below:

Quarterbacks
Running backs
Tight ends

Roster: Romeo Doubs, Grant DuBose, Malik Heath, Julian Hicks, Alex McGough, Bo Melton, Jayden Reed, Dimitri Stanley, Samori Toure, Christian Watson, Dontayvion Wicks

Does having a No. 1 target matter? Are there situations where having a go-to option in the passing game is massive asset? Of course there are. But for the Packers, one of the strengths of this offense from late last season was that nearly regardless of the situation they faced, they ball could go to any one of the six receivers.

From the defensive perspective, this forces them to defend the entire field. They can’t just hone in on one or even two players. This leads to better spacing, and more room to operate, and more one-on-one matchups as well. Amplifying this element is Jordan Love’s willingness to spread the ball around. For the most part, he hasn’t focused in on one or two of his receivers, but instead goes where the read dictates based on how the defense is defending the play.

“I personally don’t think it matters,” said LaFleur when asked about having a No. 1 receiver. “I think if you just look at throughout the course of a season ago – and every season’s going to be a little bit different – but all those guys had their moments where they were the leading receiver in a game. I feel really good about the collective unit. The hardest part is we feel so good about them, it’s hard to get everybody the amount of touches that you’d like to get, but that’s a good problem to have.”

Now, with all that said, that doesn’t mean that this season someone won’t emerge as that go-to target for Love–the Packers certainly have several candidates. But even if someone doesn’t, that isn’t going to be a devastating blow to the offense by any means.

Christian Watson is fully healthy: Perhaps the biggest development this offseason at the receiver position is that the Packers feel they have a much better grasp on Watson’s hamstring issues. Watson–along with Eric Stokes–went to UW-Madison this offseason to go through additional testing to hopefully figure out why those hamstring injuries kept reoccurring.

The Packers and Watson have a plan in place now to make sure he stays on the field as much as possible. While, ultimately, time will tell, Watson entered the offseason in excellent shape.

“Time will tell,” said LaFleur about Watson. “Certainly you’ve got to get through the entire offseason, into training camp. There’s a lot of volume in training camp, so we get through that, then we’ll feel pretty good about it. Both he and Stokes look like they’re probably in the best shape I’ve seen either one of them.”

For this Packers’ offense to reach its full potential, having Watson on the field is a must. There is the obvious big play element that he adds, but his presence and gravity helps open up opportunities for others with the attention he draws. When Watson is on the field, defenses defend the Packers differently.

“He gives different looks for defenses with his speed, big play ability,” said Jayden Reed last season about Watson. “We get different looks. When he’s out there, you have to know he’s out there as a defense. 9 being out there, you have to be aware of that. No doubt that’ll help out the whole offense, executing and everything.”

Romeo Doubs has been “outstanding”: While Watson dealt with injuries last season and Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks got acclimated to the NFL level, it was Doubs who provided a steady presence at the receiver position. For one, he was consistently available, but he was also a reliable target for Love in some key situations.

Against the Los Angeles Chargers, Doubs caught the go-ahead touchdown in the final minutes. On a fourth-and-one in the second half against Kansas City, Doubs caught a 33 yard pass from Love that put the Packers at the 11 yard line. Then in Carolina, Doubs caught a 36 yard pass on third down, which then led to the go-ahead field goal. And then, of course, there was Doubs’ 151 yard performance in the playoffs against Dallas, followed by him putting up 83 yards against San Francisco.

In a receiver room loaded with talent, Doubs was first in targets, second in receptions, first in yards, and first in touchdowns. Doubs has now carried that late season momentum into the offseason, showcasing his work ethic as he always has and honing his craft.

“I think Rome’s had an outstanding spring,” said LaFleur. “I really do, and it’s evident by the work he puts in on a daily basis. He’s in there in the morning catching off the JUGS. He’s one of the last guys to leave the building. He’s very deliberate about the work he puts in and I think it’s shown.

“And you know, we challenged him on a couple things we thought he could really do a better job of with, and just continuing to stress the importance of opening up his stride and he’s embraced that. And I think you’ve seen that and I think he’s had a lot of great moments. Matter of fact, I can’t think of a bad day that he’s had out there. He just, he is definitely improving.”

Year 2 leaps for Reed and Wicks: Oftentimes the biggest developmental leap for a player comes between their first and second NFL seasons. There is the familiarity and continuity of knowing the system. They’re more comfortable with the NFL game, and instead of focusing on the draft, these players have a full offseason to devote to their games.

“Yeah, it makes it way better, just knowing the offense already coming in,” said Wicks. “Last year, I spent a lot of time writing down plays and studying plays, which makes you play slower. This year, now that I know the plays a little better, it’s easier to get out on the field and play faster and not think a lot.”

While it’s only OTAs and minicamp, where the pads aren’t even on, you can see that comfortability that Wicks and Reed have within the offense with how smoothly the passing game was operating at times. There weren’t necessarily many flashy plays, but they knew where and how to attack the defense, which created separation, and led to numerous 9-10 yard completions as the offense moved the ball down the field.

Wicks and Reed bring different elements to the Packers offense–Wicks with his route running ability and Reed with his explosiveness–but both were highly productive as rookies. Wicks would catch 41 passes for 605 yards with five scores. Reed caught 68 passes for 828 yards with eight touchdowns, and both were among the most efficient receivers in football during the second half of the season by PFF’s yards per route run metric.

This offseason, the two would not only workout together but they shared a home, helping one another and trying to bring out the best in each other.

“Just learning from each other,” said Wicks, “going through the things that we did this last year that we can change and get better at it. It was me helping him out with routes and giving him some stuff, and him helping me, too. It all worked out.”

Bo Melton brings more than speed: As LaFleur mentioned, Melton has an elite trait: his speed. Coming out of Rutgers in 2022, Melton ran a 4.34-second 40. However, while that’s important, it’s Melton’s well-rounded skill set and his mentality that helped him earn the opportunities that he got last season, and the ones he’ll continue to earn in 2024.

Melton isn’t only a downfield threat with his speed, but he has the versatility to line up both inside and out, along with LaFleur being able to draw up designed plays to get him the ball in space where his speed and YAC abilities can take over. From Week 15 on last year, Melton ranked 7th among all receivers in yards per route run.

However, in addition to what he can do with the ball in his hands, Melton was also able to impact the game by contributing on special teams and as a very good run-blocker.

“One thing that’s unique – and I think this is important for every position – is you always try to find what the guys can do, and what they do really well,” said LaFleur. “Bo’s got an elite trait. He can run. Certainly any time you can add value in other areas, whether it’s on we-fense or like for Bo, Bo’s one of our best run blockers as well.

“He’s not the biggest guy, but it’s the mentality that he has. He’s got that dog mentality, whether it’s run game, pass game, whatever it may be. He’s willing to do whatever it takes to get out there on the field, and I think he’s embraced that. He’s embraced his role and he’s excelled in it.”

Another competitive training camp for Malik Heath: If I were putting together an early roster prediction, I would have Malik Heath on it. However, I wouldn’t quite put him in the roster lock category either. And in a competitive receiver room, he’ll have to earn that roster spot again this summer.

“Oh, it’s going to be competitive,” Heath said of the upcoming battle in his position group. “We’ve got a lot of receivers, a lot of great DBs over there on the other side of the ball. It’s going to be fun.”

Along with Watson, Doubs, Reed, Wicks, and Melton making plays during offseason programs, Heath got in on the action too, with his share of receptions, including a touchdown catch from Love in an 11-on-11 team period. Heath would catch 15 of 24 passes during his rookie season, totaling 125 yards, and scoring one touchdown, which came at a crucial point in the final minutes of the Giants game.

“That was the best option we had for that play, but at the same time, I was very confident Malik was going to win that 1-on-1 matchup,” Love said. “Because he’s shown so many times he has that ability, that if you throw it up, he’s going to go up and make a play. He’s got aggressive hands and attacks the ball.”

Heath would also contribute on special teams and perhaps early on in his time with the Packers, was best known for the physicality he brings to the receiver position specifically as a blocker.

“Coming in as undrafted, I’m going to do anything I gotta do, you feel me, to make this team, to make plays for my team,” he said. “That’s just what it comes (down to), being a goon, being a dog. Gotta be that in this league, you know.”

Similarly to Reed and Wicks, with Heath in his second season, there is an added comfort within the offense. He also is down a few pounds this offseason from where he was playing at in 2023.

“Malik’s another guy that, certainly he had some really big moments for us last year,” said LaFleur, “making some tough catches, doing some dirty work, some key blocks. And I think physically he’s in a much better place. He’s a little bit lighter. Obviously he knows the offense a heck of a lot better, so it allows you to play faster and you can move him around a little bit more. So, we’re really excited to see him and what he can do once we get to the preseason and those game-like situations.”

Grant DuBose and Samori Toure: As I’ve already mentioned, in expecting Heath to make the initial roster, that likely leaves DuBose and Toure off of it. With such a crowded receiver room, I’m not sure that the team can justify rostering seven, which then takes away from another position.

With that said, I do think you’ll hear DuBose’s name a fair amount this summer. In his second offseason–and fully healthy this time–he looked more refined and was a favorite target of Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt with the second and third team offenses.

Toure would finish last season on IR. He caught eight passes on 18 targets for 78 yards. He would play only three special teams snaps, and when it comes to competing for any back-end roster spot, the ability to contribute to that phase of the game is crucial.

Alex McGough is now a receiver: McGough was the Packers’ practice squad quarterback last season, but is making the jump to playing wide receiver for this training camp. Even though he was a quarterback in 2023, the Packers had already begun utilizing him as a pass-catcher on the scout team during practices.

“He’s a really athletic guy,” said LaFleur, “and one thing that you guys probably, I know you didn’t see last year is, he spent a lot of time on the practice squad or on the scout team running receiver routes, and he did such a great job and we feel like he’s just such a talented athlete, why not give him a chance there? He’s a smart guy, works his tail off, I think he can definitely contribute on we-fense as well, so we felt like that might be his best chance here.”

In an already crowded receiver room, cracking the initial 53-man roster for any non-established player will be difficult and that difficulty becomes magnified when a position change is taking place as well. While McGough is a good athlete, there is a lot of “intricate details,” as he put it, that he is having to learn on the fly.

“Obviously, it’s just completely different from what I’m used to,” said McGough. “But it’s good. Everybody’s helping me out, teaching me little things here and there. Watching the vets – not that we really have any vets – but watching the guys who have done it their whole life. And it’s been good.

“Obviously, there’s so much that I need to learn and so much that goes into it that I didn’t even know about. Kind of just doing what I thought was the right thing. There are all these intricate details that you don’t know about until you get in a room and you get taught them. It’s been helping a lot.”

Julian Hicks and Dimitri Stanley: Both Hicks and Stanley are 2024 undrafted rookies who didn’t initially sign with the Packers following the draft, but joined the team following a tryout during rookie minicamp.

Coming out of Albany, Hicks stands 6-2 – 201 pounds and posted a RAS of 9.18. Over his career, he caught 52 percent of his 262 targets, averaging 12.3 yards per catch with 23 touchdowns. In 2023 specifically, Hicks averaged an impressive 16.4 yards per catch and ranked fifth at the FCS level in average depth of target.

Stanley played out Iowa State and is listed at 6-0 – 200 pounds. In six college seasons, Stanley caught 118 of his 182 targets at 11.7 yards per catch with five touchdowns. He also had 30 career punt return attempts, averaging 8.5 yards per return.

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