Green Bay Packers: Is talent there to turn the season around?
By Joe Kipp
It’s do or die time for the 2018 Green Bay Packers. Is this roster talented enough to save their season?
The NFL season’s midpoint has came and went, as the Green Bay Packers also see their season possibly exiting with it. At 3-4-1, the Packers enter the crux of their 2018 schedule, with every game being more important than the next.
In a crowded division that includes the Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions — all of which have a realistic shot of winning the NFC North — Green Bay cannot afford to lose more than two of their remaining games.
Even so, a record of 9-6-1 may not be enough to claim the division crown, which would be the cost of finishing 6-2. A team with 10 wins or more is most likely to claim the North this year, which would mean the Packers need to finish the season a perfect 8-0 or 7-1.
But how realistic is that? Based on the performance up to this point, it’s almost foolish to think a team of Green Bay’s caliber could string together a huge winning streak to sneak into the playoffs. Looking at the Packers’ final eight games, it becomes even more unlikely.
Here’s Green Bay’s remaining 2018 schedule:
- Week 10: vs. Dolphins
- Week 11: at Seahawks
- Week 12: at Vikings
- Week 13: vs. Cardinals
- Week 14: vs. Falcons
- Week 15: at Bears
- Week 16: at Jets
- Week 17: vs. Lions
Even longtime veteran Randall Cobb had something to say about the team’s performance so far, telling ESPN’s Rob Demovsky that this season just “feels different.” and not in a good way. “It doesn’t feel good. It’s not fun. But we’ve got to figure something out,” Cobb stated.
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Cobb’s statement begs the question as to whether he (and other players) believes that Green Bay can turn around their season. The Packers are clearly lacking confidence, headlined by the discouraging play of their signal caller, Aaron Rodgers.
Simply put, Rodgers hasn’t been his usual self this season. He’s missing throws and reads that he’d routinely make in the past. His body language shows that he’s not on the same page with his receivers. And his ability to make throws from the pocket has been sub-par, as teams are forcing Rodgers to stay put, as to not allow him to get out of the tackle box and extend plays.
Then there’s the disparaging play of edge rushers Clay Matthews and Nick Perry — especially Perry, whose been about as productive as a fourth-stringer. The lack of a pass rush has forced defensive coordinator Mike Pettine to manufacture pressure through exotic blitzes. Perry has a mere three QB hits and 1.5 sacks this season.
And who could forget that Green Bay traded away its best safety in Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, while a week later releasing safety Jermaine Whitehead following an ejection, a position they already lack formidable talent at. Clearly general manager Brian Gutekunst didn’t see the value in keeping either on the roster.
The perceived lack of talent currently on the Packers roster can be backtracked all the way to 2015, which was the official beginning of the end of the Ted Thompson era. Thompson’s 2015-2017 draft classes have been anything but impressive, save for Kenny Clark, Aaron Jones and (arguably) Blake Martinez and Kevin King.
Only one of those players is an unquestioned Pro Bowl-caliber player (Clark), while Martinez is a solid starter himself. King has suffered an injury-riddled career thus far, while Jones has struggled to earn time on the field until recently. Then there’s the lowly 2015 draft class, which only boasts one player currently still with the Packers; Jake Ryan, whose on injured reserve.
There’s no question the 2015 and 2016 draft classes set back Green Bay’s progress, with 2017 not far behind. Coupled with Thompson’s disdain for acquiring free agents, the Packers are left with a C-plus to B-minus roster in 2018.
It’s not all doom and gloom for the future, though. After Gutekunst took over as GM in 2018, the Packers wasted no time wheeling and dealing in free agency. He signed tight end Jimmy Graham and defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson, both of whom were marquee free agents.
Then Gutekunst drafted what appears to be some very promising talent in the 2018 draft. Jaire Alexander looks to be an up-and-coming lockdown corner. There’s an argument to be made that Marquez Valdes-Scantling is the second-best receiver on the roster. Equanimeous St. Brown appears to be the team’s future No. 3 receiver. Oren Burks is a speedy linebacker the Packers have lacked over the middle for years. And Josh Jackson is a rising young cornerback, as well.
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Needless to say, there’s plenty of reasons to be excited for Green Bay’s future. As for this year’s version of the Packers…well, not so much.
Already below .500, Green Bay’s playoff chances are disappearing right before our eyes. That said, we’ve seen the Packers turn around their season before, a la “R-E-L-A-X” and “Run the Table.” But it’s hard to argue against analytics. A playoff berth is unlikely, but opposing teams have learned to never count out an Aaron Rodgers-led squad.