The season is approaching. The editorial staff of DNA of Sports invites you to take stock of the strengths and weaknesses of the 32 franchises. Today, the Green Bay Packers 2023. You can find all the presentations by clicking on this link.
The psychodrama has finally found a way out. Aaron Rodgers is no longer a Green Bay player and the franchise is turning a new page with Jordan Love in charge of the offense.
After a disappointing 2022 financial year, the team is changing cycle, and for this, a deep rejuvenation has been carried out. Enough to bounce back immediately or will this season be above all a transition?
Last season: 8 wins-9 losses, 3rd in NFC North
Movements in the off-season
Notable arrivals: Tarvarius Moore (S), Jonathan Owens (S), Matthew Orzech (LS)
Re-signings: Keisean Nixon (CB/KR), Dalin Leavitt (S/ST), Justin Collins (Edge), Eric Wilson (LB), Johnathan Ford (S)
Draft: Lukas Van Ness (EDGE), Luke Musgrave (TE), Jayden Reed (WR), Tucker Kraft (TE), Colby Wooden (DL), Sean Clifford (QB), Dontayvion Wicks (WR), Karl Brooks (DL) , Anders Carlson (K), Carrington Valentine (CB), Lew Nichols III (RB), Anthony Johnson Jr (S)
Notable losses: Aaron Rodgers (QB), Allen Lazard (WR), Randall Cobb (WR), Adrian Amos (S), Jarran Reed (DL), Dean Lowry (DL), Robert Tonyan (TE), Marcedes Lewis (TE) , Krys Barnes (LB), Mason Crosby (K),
The umpteenth spring soap opera Aaron Rodgers has finally found a final outcome. The quadruple MVP, after having made his franchise and the supporters wait for many more months, decided to change air and join the Jets. An operation which was not carried out without difficulty, but which was finally concluded a few days before the draft. With him, Rodgers takes his lieutenants Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb, but also Adrian Amos. At the end of the cycle, the franchise also said goodbye to other executives from recent seasons. The two tight ends Tonyan and Lewis join rival Chicago. Renewal also to be expected on the defensive line where Reed and Lowry have left to make way for promising young players Wyatt, Slaton and Van Ness.
With the franchise retaining a very large chunk of its former quarterback’s salary in its payroll for 2023, the room for maneuver has been more than tight. What little resources have mostly gone to bringing back finally successful special teams craftsmen after being among the worst in the league in previous seasons. All Pro returner Keisean Nixon and Dalin Leavitt will remain Rich Bisaccia’s basemen. External arrivals were limited to trying to reinforce the completely depopulated safety post. Jonathan Owens and Tarvarius Moore will compete for the job with Johnathan Ford returning after an interesting 2022 season.
This lack of means therefore pushed the team to use the draft to make up for most of the losses of free agency, in particular at the tight end positions doubled in the 2nd and 3rd rounds, but also with two defensive linemen and three receivers. Young people who should almost all have playing time from the first weeks of the season.
The strong points)
Still as valuable as ever, Aaron Jones is an essential offensive weapon in the attacking system. On the run or on reception, he has a string of prowess with more than 5,700 yards gained over the past four seasons. Perfectly supported, and completed by AJ Dillon with the more powerful profile, they form between them one of the most effective and intimidating duos of NFL. With the departure of Rodgers and the advent of a young quarterback, their role will be predominant this season. As long as Matt LaFleur doesn’t forget his running game.
Beyond this duo, the Packers are full of talented players on almost every line. On the offensive line, David Bakhtiari, back in shape after almost 2 seasons marred by injuries, remains one of the very best in his position. At his side Elgton Jenkins double Pro Bowler is also a reference. THE front seven defensive is not outdone with Clark, Gary, Smith or Campbell. Difficult to speak of a workforce of the bottom of the table. Finally the backfield defensive led by Jaire Alexander is a guarantee in the aerial field. In the top 10 for three seasons, the team conceded less than 200 yards per game through the air in 2022.
The weak spots)
The balance sheet is not everything. Matt LaFleur is one example. While the Packers head coach’s results are flattering, his true level and influence on the team’s performance is still subject to debate season after season. His inability to react during the match is an illustration of this. If his team starts badly, the game is already over. Examples in recent seasons abound. Too often in reaction and not enough in action, he seemed more than ever overwhelmed and a spectator last season. “I have to be better”, “we have to be better”, “we have to run more”, etc. The truisms and the cliches were chained in press conference over the defeats. Now without MVP quarterback to carry the team (and choose the games), the coach will be expected at the turn. Presented as a major player in the selection of Jordan Love, LaFleur must now prove his ability to draw an attack for his new holder and above all to advance his player. The management of his staff is also a real question mark. Remained immobile when his special teams sank or his defense took on water, he will have to reassure on his skills as a leader and strong man on the pitch now that he is rid of his charismatic and cumbersome former quarterback.
The seasons follow one another and the defense on the ground of Green Bay always seems so crumbly. Regardless of the coordinator or the starters, the talented squad continues to be holed up by opposing runners who often have their most prolific game against the Packers. Against the Eagles in week 12, it was downright the runner and the quarterback who achieved their best performance on the ground of their career with more than 140 yards each. The expected progress of rookies Devonte Wyatt (DL) and Quay Walker (LB) as well as the repositioning of Kenny Clark (DL) could provide the beginning of a solution. But if the first lines can progress, it seems not to be the case in the back of the field. Already very average last season, the safety position also lost its only certainty with the departure of Amos. Darnell Savage’s chronic irregularity and tendency to get trapped too often make the last bastion particularly vulnerable. The other players claiming playing time on the position being essentially special teams players, coordinator Joe Barry will have to perform improbable miracles or rely on the surprise outbreak of one of his players.
After 17 years, Mason Crosby is no longer the Packers’ kicker, a collateral victim of the rejuvenation of the workforce following the departure of Rodgers. Such stability is rare in this position, and the draft of Anders Carlson (brother of Daniel, kicker of the Raiders) to succeed him is anything but a guarantee of reliability. Far from being a reference in the NCAA, Carlson did nothing to reassure during the 1st game of the preseason by already missing two extra points. The veteran’s return by the start of the season isn’t completely ruled out, and surely wouldn’t be a bad thing.
X Factor: Jordan Love (QB)
Two quarterbacks in 30 years, two legends of the sport. It won’t be easy for Jordan Love to put on the costume. And yet, it will have to. After signing a one-year contract instead of having his 5th-year option waived, Love was only partially guaranteed his future in Wisconsin. Because this contract would allow the franchise to get rid of it at a lower cost at the end of the coming season.
After being hatched for 3 years behind a future Hall of Famer, and having been the trigger for the Rodgers saga despite himself, Love is inevitably under pressure. Pressure of his status as a 1st round pick on the one hand, and pressure of having finally (unofficially) been put in charge of the team after the 2022 season, precipitating the epilogue of his predecessor’s Green Bay career . If his progress over the seasons, on the samples seen, is a reason for hope, the young pitcher will have to quickly confirm with the sequence of matches. Well supported by one of the most attractive and complementary racing duo in the league and behind a more than honorable line, he will be in good conditions. Despite a squad of particularly young targets, he will have to quickly create the alchemies and make them productive. A promising minimum 2023 fiscal year will be key to his future at the Packers and save Green Bay from having to start from scratch in 2024.
Player to watch: Christian Watson (WR)
Drafted to be the successor to Davante Adams who left for Vegas, Christian Watson had a complicated start to the rookie season. A nasty drop in the opener and Rodgers’ lost confidence. But the young receiver hung on and bounced back. From mid-November and a hat-trick against the Cowboys, he became a staple of the team ending the season with a bang. With 523 yards and 6 touchdowns in the last 8 games, he raised hopes and expectations around his future.
Extremely fast, capable of stretching a defense to seek depth, he also showed that he had an interesting science of layouts although perfectible. With his status and his physique, he should be the preferential target of his quarterback. An association that all green and gold supporters hope will be as prolific as their glorious elders. The leader of a young squad of talented targets who have yet to prove everything.
2023 Green Bay Packers Schedule
@Bears, @Falcons, Saints, Lions, @Raiders, Bye, @Broncos, Vikings, Rams, @Steelers, Chargers, @Lions, Chiefs, @Giants, Buccaneers, @Panthers, @Vikings, Bears
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In summary
The transition may not be as obvious as one might think. The Packers maintain a strong and talented backbone. Of the playmakers on all lines, on both sides of the ball, the workforce is far from poor and can still shine on individual talent. But what about the most important position? The level of Jordan Love will be decisive in the short and medium term ambitions.
In an open division where nobody really seems above, Green Bay could stay in the race until the end. Provided that the staff reassures on its capacities to make progress the players and to adapt to the evolution of the season.
