Green Bay Packers Must Shed Stars and Scrubs Approach

The Green Bay Packers are still the team to beat in the NFC North, but unless they improve on defense, they’ll likely fall short of a title. A stars and scrubs approach won’t work.

We’re tackling each team in the league, traveling alphabetically to debate their biggest offseason issues. Dan Salem and Todd Salem debate in today’s NFL Sports Debate. Two brothers from New York yell, scream, and debate sports.

TODD:

From one NFC North team to another, we now come to the Green Bay Packers. We both figure a bounce-back season for Green Bay in 2016 is in order even though it wasn’t actually bad in 2015. Expectations are a pisser.

Jordy Nelson will be back (presumably) healthy for this season, which will help everyone from Aaron Rodgers to Randall Cobb to the running game. We on the outside didn’t realize how much that team relied on Nelson.

This roster remains a stars-and-scrubs blueprint on both sides of the ball. On offense, that will be enough if the offensive line stays healthy. Adding a piece or two there will be helpful. However, on defense, I’m not sure the stars are good enough anymore to carry the hypothetical scrubs.

Sam Shields is a good corner but suffered through injuries in 2015. Julius Peppers and B.J. Raji, the latter of which is a free agent anyway, are past their prime. Clay Matthews can play any linebacker spot at a Pro Bowl level, but where is the help?

Prior to the market opening, GB re-signed Mike Daniels and Letroy Guion, two nice pieces along the defensive line. Thus far in free agency, Green Bay was linked to running back Matt Forte which didn’t work out, but no one on the defensive side at all. It needs to bring back Casey Heyward or a viable replacement in the secondary. With the Giants signing Janoris Jenkins, one of those replacements is off the board.

The Packers are routinely stingy in free agency anyway. Assuming they at least find a cornerback and replace their lost linebacker depth, is using their late first-round pick on a potential defensive starter enough for you? There will be some pass rushing options when they select at 27. Last season, three of their first four picks were defensive players. Replicating that strategy may be helpful again this year.

This is a winnable division, but I feel this team needs one more valuable piece on defense. I just don’t know what it is.

Jul 30, 2014; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packer cornerback Casey Heyward catches a pass during training camp at Ray Nitschke Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /

DAN:

I really like the Packers heading into 2016, mainly because Aaron Rodgers is due for a monster year under center. This leaves defense as the primary offseason need, since there’s no way Green Bay wins the NFC without an upgrade. Its division may be winnable, but with the Panthers, Seahawks and Cardinals all trotting out top-tier defenses, Green Bay won’t be able to throw tons of points on the board and hope its enough.

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Although the Packers’ front office is known for its frugality in free agency, the organization loves to keep players in house and wearing its colors. This means cornerback Casey Heyward is their primary target. Stealing Jeremy Lane from the Seahawks or Alan Ball from the Bears would be sweet, since it hurts the competition at the same time as improving Green Bay’s unit, but Heward knows the system and is the highest rated CB currently available.

The crop of Linebackers in free agency isn’t particularly deep, but the safety position does offer some nice options for the Packers. That being said, drafting defense is enough for me, assuming the team can bring Heyward back. I love the set of defensive players entering this year’s draft and with so many teams needing offensive help, the Packers can definitely snatch a game changing player late in round one.

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The strength of the team will be its offense as long as Aaron Rodgers is still playing, but I don’t think a stars and scrubs makeup can win it all. Rodgers elevates any offensive ‘scrubs’ as long as the line protects him. But the same can not be said on defense. The draft is the likely answer, but with over $20 million in cap space the Packers would be wise to loosen their purse strings a bit.

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