After wild offseason, Pack eager to play

Familiar faces will lead the way
By: 
Morgan Rode
Sports Editor

One of the strangest NFL offseasons has come to an end, and now it’s finally time to play some football.

The Green Bay Packers, who will travel to take on the Minnesota Vikings in week one, head into the 2020 season coming off their best season in a few years. But they seem to have more questions to answer than reasons for optimism.

Green Bay racked up 13 wins in the regular season last season — the most since the team went 15-1 in 2011. The Pack then defended their home turf and knocked off the Seattle Seahawks in the divisional playoff round before getting obliterated by the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Conference Championship Game.

The season-ending loss seemed to highlight some areas of need for the team, but the organization didn’t seem to think so.

Instead of drafting some help on defense — which surrendered 285 rushing yards to the 49ers — or some new pass-catchers on offense — after Davante Adams was the team’s only player to record over 500 receiving yards during the regular season — the Pack pulled one of the most surprising moves of the draft.

The move to trade up to draft quarterback Jordan Love left football fans across the world puzzled, and green and gold nation questioning the direction of the franchise.

While the team made a similar move near the end of Brett Favre’s tenure in drafting Aaron Rodgers and had it work out, fans were not pleased that the team decided to think about its future when it was just a game away from the Super Bowl.

The team’s first-round selection was just the start of things, as the team went on to take a running back and tight end in the second and third rounds, respectively.

Some defensive picks were made in rounds five through seven, when teams are typically drafting to build up depth instead of finding week one starters. The team also didn’t address its wide receiver depth, instead drafting players that could play any of the other 10 offensive positions.

After a big offseason prior to the 2019 season, the organization’s offseason this go around was rather quiet.

The team replaced long-time middle linebacker Blake Martinez with Christian Kirksey and signed former Wisconsin Badger Rick Wagner to replace Bryan Bulaga on the offensive line. The team did sign one receiver, Devin Funchess, but he opted out because of the COVID-19 situation, citing family health concerns.

Aside from Kirksey in the middle of the defense and Wagner potentially on the offensive line, a lot of the same players fans watched last season will again be leading the charge for the Pack in 2020.

Even so, the offense — which is headlined by Rodgers, Adams and running back Aaron Jones — believes it will improve in its second year under coach Matt LaFleur.

“I feel a lot more comfortable this year than last year,” said Rodgers during a virtual press conference on Sept. 2. “A lot of it’s just footwork, just being able to progress through my reads quicker. I think it’s allowed me to play on time and be a little more accurate.”

Rodgers went on to discuss how some personal decisions have helped him enjoy life more than in past years, which he believes has also led to stronger play from himself as the team geared up for the season.

He also went back over tape from the past few seasons and compared them to some of his stronger years. He found some things that he’s since incorporated into his play on the practice field and believes it will translate to the games this season.

Adams will again be Rodgers go-to target this season, with the likes of receivers Allen Lazard and Marquez Valdes-Scantling looking to serve as other reliable options in the passing game. Receivers Equanimeous St. Brown and Malik Taylor also made the roster out of camp, and shifty running back Tyler Ervin should also get some looks as a pass-catcher.

Rodgers likes the group of receivers the team rosters, singling out Valdes-Scantling for his play in practice this year. MVS got off to a hot start in 2019 before an injury hampered his play the rest of the season.

Jones is the big name out of the backfield after a 19-touchdown season last year, but Jamaal Williams and rookie AJ Dillon are also in the mix. Having three guys to tote the ball will not only keep all three fresh, but it also could help open up more play-action passes — something LaFleur liked to call in his rookie campaign.

The team will carry four tight ends into its first game against the Vikings, although rookie Josiah Deguara may primarily serve as the team’s fullback as it didn’t have one on the active roster.

The Pack’s offensive line has some unanswered questions at the moment with injuries to Billy Turner and Wagner. The two injuries leave the right guard and tackle positions open as a tough Vikings defense looms.

On the defensive side of the ball, Kirksey and Oren Burks are expected to start at middle linebacker after an injury to rookie Kamal Martin, who showed some promise in practice.

The Smith Brothers, Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith, are back at outside linebacker and ready to terrorize opposing quarterbacks after combining for 25 1/2 sacks last season. The Packers defense could take another step forward under coordinator Mike Pettine if second-year pass rusher Rashan Gary improves.

Green Bay’s secondary will again start Jaire Alexander and Kevin King at cornerback and Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage at safety. The group played well in 2019, helping the Smiths to several sacks after strong coverage.

Tyler Lancaster, Dean Lowry and the recently paid Kenny Clark will serve as defensive linemen and look to shore up the run defense.

The defense will try and replicate its most recent trip to Minnesota, when it held the Vikings to 139 total yards and seven first downs, a showing that left Vikings fans stunned and quiet and solidified a NFC North title for the Packers.

While the Packers won’t need to silence any real fans this year, as U.S. Bank Stadium won’t be hosting any because of COVID concerns, picking up a big road win over their division foes could prove big in the team’s attempt to repeat as division champs.

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