Regarding the difficulty of success on either side of the ball: on offense, it takes SEVERAL players executing well, whereas on defense, sometimes just ONE guy can wreck the shop. Mostly true? Or untrue?
Definitely some truth to that. The one guy who can wreck shop on defense may still need his teammates to do their jobs reasonably well, and offensive players can compensate on the fly for a missed assignment here or there. But on balance, a single defensive player winning his one-on-one has a greater chance for impact than a sole offensive player doing so.
Justin from Thousand Oaks, CA
Just to reinforce the importance of the team playing better at the end of the season vs the beginning, two scores to keep in mind from Week 1 last year: Las Vegas over New England, 20-13, and 49ers over Seattle, 17-13.
And it’s also worth pointing out the Packers’ last two defensive coordinator debuts: 38-3 L vs. Saints (at Jacksonville) in 2021 and 34-29 L vs. Eagles (at Brazil) in 2024. Both of those teams had three losses heading into December.
What is your “unpopular” or “bold” differing prediction about a player or a group (O-line, TEs, DBs, LBs etc.,) that others either inside or outside the organization (your choice on the route to take this) have either been too quiet about or even oversold in terms of on-the-field play this year?
I’ll repeat what I’ve said several times in this space and on “Unscripted” about the offensive line. I understand the angst and skepticism. I do. But (1) I think Jordan Morgan can be an upgrade at left tackle over Walker, (2) having someone take ownership at right guard should be better than the musical chairs at that spot for the last handful of years, and (3) Sean Rhyan has a chance to grow at a center position where last year’s experiment with the since departed Pro Bowl guard didn’t work out. The unit has to prove it over time, but I think it can be considerably better than last year’s group.
Mike mentioned having to wait and see how Trey Smack and Brandon Cisse respond to adversity as rookies. How much will locker room culture and coaching style affect their resilience?
It matters, and I think the Packers have a solid culture in that regard. But it still mostly comes down to the individuals and how they go about being pros.
Jeffery from Monticello, WI
Hi guys, Chris McClellan looked like a man among boys in college, hope he can continue to master his craft and get there in the NFL as well. With his potential how long do you believe it will take for him to shine so to speak?
Let’s see how many snaps he gets and for which situations he rotates in. That’ll tell us how the coaches feel he can best help the defense.
Sorry if this has already been answered. But it seems an advantage in Week 1 that Gannon knows Kyler so well. Or is everyone such a pro that this connection doesn’t mean much in the end?
As Wes said, they know a lot about one another, so it cuts both ways. But there’s also a ton of variation. Murray is running a different offense, and Gannon is calling a defense with different players.
There’s a good chance we’ll need Jonnu Smith, Mark Redman and Kaleb Johnson to contribute sooner rather than later. All three have mentioned some familiarity with our offense. How much of a factor is that when deciding what players to bring in late in the preseason?
I think it’s viewed as a bonus. The personnel department’s goal is to find talented players who fit the culture, because the rest can be taught over time. If that timeline is sped up due to prior knowledge, all the better, but it isn’t the deciding factor. (And thanks for your other note, too, Amy. All good.)
I know Tucker Kraft, the Packers, and fans want to get his contract completed this week. If not completed by Week 1, has either side stated they will not negotiate until after the end of the season?
Hi Mike, I put a dent in the cooler last night reading all the Inboxes, articles, and analyzing the 53 and practice rosters. I also was able to listen to the last two “Unscripteds” driving back to Montana. I think you and Wes nailed the state of the team and the roster construction. I see it this way. From top to bottom, we have savvy veterans, hungry rookies, and ascending middle-year players. Hats off to Gutey. I think this is the best roster in the Jordan Love era. Do you agree?