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By CBS SPORTS
By William Brinson
Jordan Love contract extension: The Green Bay Packers are on the most unprecedented QB run in NFL history
The Green Bay Packers just bet — and it’s a good bet — they will have the longest stretch of security at the most important position in NFL history. By giving Jordan Love a four-year, $220 million extension to be their quarterback of the future, the Packers guaranteed three-and-a-half decades of stability at the most difficult position to secure in professional sports.
It’s wild for a publicly owned franchise. It’s even wilder when you consider how we got here. The Packers traded for Brett Favre after the Atlanta Falcons fell out of favor with their second-round pick, started him in 1992 and never looked back. Until Favre got old and they ticked him off by drafting Aaron Rodgers. Favre would end up with the Jets, Rodgers would start and it was clear he was the guy.
Yada, yada, yada, they ticked off Rodgers by trading up for Love, Rodgers would end up with the Jets and Love would start … and it was clear he was the guy.
We all mocked the Love pick. Find someone who didn’t and you’ll find a liar. Rodgers was probably near the back end of his career at the time, but he got so mad about the trade up to take a quarterback, with Green Bay eschewing help for its current quarterback, that he launched into a second renaissance and won multiple spite MVPs.
To Rodgers credit, he at least mentored Love more than Favre mentored him. And he wasn’t wrong with that personnel evaluation. Love has the look of a true future franchise quarterback.
Packers fans worried about the ups and downs. As they should have. At Utah State he was a boom-or-bust quarterback, a player who could grab a roster and drag them into a win against anyone when he completely locked in. He also could make some completely inexplicable throws in his college career.
All quarterback evaluations are difficult, but Love was a really tough one. He fell in the draft (like Rodgers, like Favre) until the Packers jumped up and grabbed him.
Throw him in the fire as a first-year quarterback and he probably doesn’t end up here. But maybe Rodgers and Favre don’t either. Love is now entrenched with everything you want if you’re a would-be franchise quarterback.
He has the system in place with Matt LaFleur, a top five NFL coach and play-caller, who has proven his worth across multiple quarterbacks. He handled a Hall of Famer and he’s developed a young stud behind him. That’s bona fide.
Green Bay is essentially a feeder school for quarterback talent at this point. Ron Wolf started it, Ted Thompson kept it going and now Brian Gutekunst is the latest in line to sign a superstar quarterback to a monster contract.
Remember when Colts fans were called lucky for being gifted Peyton Manning to Andrew Luck? Peyton was 16 years old when this Packers quarterback dynasty started. Enjoy it while it lasts, Packers fans, unless it never ends.
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By ZONE COVERAGE
By Luke Sims
Green Bay’s Skill Players Give Them A Long-Term Edge In the NFC North
Brett Farve, Aaron Rodgers, and Jordan Love have blessed the Green Bay Packers with premier quarterback play over the past 30 years. However, teams are more than just their quarterback, and the Packers have been doing a tremendous job of building outside of their franchise cornerstone. Still, dynamics have shifted dramatically in the NFC North.
The Chicago Bears drafted Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze, signed running back D’Andre Swift, and traded for Keenan Allen. On paper, the Bears look like a much more dangerous team. Adding Odunze and Allen to a wide receiver core that already includes D.J. Moore is a scary thought for opposing defensive coordinators. Chicago’s future outlook has improved from last offseason, but we don’t know if their rookies are NBA-ready.
The Minnesota Vikings drafted J.J. McCarthy and signed Sam Darnold as a bridge quarterback. They traded a haul to move up and snag a premier edge rusher in Dallas Turner to replace Danielle Hunter. The Vikings also signed old friend Aaron Jones, and the team has a good young group of wideouts, with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison leading the way. Ultimately, McCarthy will have to become a franchise quarterback for this group to win.
The Detroit Lions are enjoying success for the first time in many years. They have a premier wideout and running back in Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jamyr Gibbs, with a solid quarterback in Jared Goff. The team has a strong offensive line and a good coaching staff. The defense has some impact players, and Detroit also used the draft to improve the secondary.
The Packers signed Josh Jacobs and drafted Marshawn Lloyd to create a new running-back duo. They have four young wideouts who have unique strengths. The Packers have young leaders at every level of the defense. Love looks like he’s ready to establish himself as an elite quarterback, and the Packers just invested in the future of their offensive line through the draft with first-rounder Jordan Morgan and two other picks along the offensive line.
Goff may be a better player than Love right now, but Love could become more of an impact player than Goff as early as next year. The Packers also know what they have in Love, while there is a lot of uncertainty regarding Williams and McCarthy’s long-term development.
No other team in the NFC North has the depth and skill the Packers have at wideout. While Amon-Ra St. Brown, Justin Jefferson, and Moore may be better than any of Green Bay’s wide receivers, the Packers’ depth and skill at wideout is much deeper than their competition’s high-end talent.
Defensive coordinators can scheme to shut down premier wide receivers like Jefferson. Still, it’s hard to find a way to shut down four receivers – Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, and Dontayvion Wicks – simultaneously.
The Packers also have a deadly combination of speed and power with Lloyd and Jacobs. While the Lions have a solid pair of running backs, David Montgomery has a lot of mileage on his body. Chicago also signed Swift, but he’s on his third team in three years. The Vikings are lucky to have Jones, but he may not have many prime years left.
Teams are lucky to have one tight end who can impact the passing game, and the Packers have two. Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave showed off their tremendous potential last season. Musgrave and Kraft are in great positions within Green Bay’s offense to succeed because the team features two tight end sets more than most. The Bears, Lions, and Vikings all have one solid tight end — so, half as many as the Packers.
Green Bay has these players on team-friendly contracts for the foreseeable future. The Packers have done a fantastic job preparing for young, skilled, and inexpensive playmakers at every offensive position.
By loading up on depth at each skill position to complement their franchise quarterback, the Packers have set themselves up to win the NFC North now and in the future.
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By YARDBARKER
By Kenneth Teape
Green Bay Packers Earn Major Praise For This Offseason Move
Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst was aggressive this offseason addressing needs on the roster. After a surprisingly successful 2023, he wanted to make sure the positive momentum kept building.
In free agency, the Green Bay Packers made two major additions; running back Josh Jacobs and safety Xavier McKinney. Running back wasn’t a pressing need, but the team got younger swapping Aaron Jones out for Jacobs.
Safety has been a pressing issue for years. McKinney, along with Javon Bullard, Evan Williams and Kitan Oladapo, will help change that.
Either of those free agency splashes could have been picked as the best move of the offseason for the Green Bay Packers. Alas, Trevor Sikkema of PFF opted to go in a different direction.
Instead of picking a player, he picked a coach. Sikkema believes the best move that the Green Bay Packers made was hiring Jeff Hafley to take over as defensive coordinator.
“The addition of safety Xavier McKinney was a consideration here, but Green Bay switching things up at defensive coordinator with Jeff Hafley seems like their most significant move.
The Packers will be moving to a 4-3 base defense instead of the 3-4 they’ve run for the past decade. Hafley, a former defensive backs coach, likely needed a top-notch safety to make his scheme go, and Green Bay got one in McKinney. The Packers didn’t post a team run-defense grade above 62.5 in the Joe Barry era,” Sikkema wrote.
After four seasons of being the head coach at Boston College, Hafley is returning to the NFL. During his stops with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers, he worked with defensive backs.
This is the first solo defensive coordinator job that Hafley has had in his coaching career. At Ohio State in 2019, he was the co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach.
As Sikkema noted, changing to a 4-3 base from a 3-4 base is a major change. But, it is one that the players on the roster are excited about, along with the philosophy change Hafley is bringing along with him.
In the last few seasons under Joe Barry, the team’s performance defensively has fallen short of expectations. Hafley has the pieces to push this unit into the top half of the NFL, he just has to have his plan executed.
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By AtoZ SPORTS
WENDELL FERREIRA
How Jaire Alexander can get even better under Jeff Hafley’s system
Nobody on the Green Bay Packers‘ roster has had higher highs than cornerback Jaire Alexander. But for multiple reasons, there is still a bittersweet feeling about his past four years. Two of them (2021 and 2023) have been affected by a sequence of injuries, and while he was an All-Pro in 2020 and 2022, there was a sense that Alexander was misused by defensive coordinator Joe Barry.
Great at challenging wide receivers at the line of scrimmage, Jaire was frequently asked to play off. And so many other times, it was easy for opposing offensive coordinators to avoid Alexander moving receivers around. The most obvious example was in 2022, when Justin Jefferson had a killer game against the Packers early in the season (169 yards, two touchdowns), while Alexander was covering depth pieces. They changed the approach in the second Minnesota Vikings game, and Jefferson barely appeared (58 yards).
“I want a defense that’s going to be confident and that’s not going to be nervous about making mistakes,” Hafley said earlier this offseason. “Play style is important to me, and how fast we play and physical and attacking the ball and all that stuff. But the only way to do that is they’ve got to know what they’re doing. Our philosophy is get really good at what we do and do it over and over again so we’re playing 100 miles an hour.”
Jaire Alexander himself is excited with what’s ahead. After a late-season one-game suspension in 2023, he has had a better team-oriented approach. And his relationship with Hafley is in a good place.
“He’s been great since Day 1,” Alexander said of Hafley. “Preaches aggression, getting after everything. He’s a cool guy. I feel like I have so much more to put out there and display consistently, and I’m just ready to attack that. I’m super motivated. That’s why I’m here.”
Experience
Football pundits frequently talk about how running back careers are short. But cornerbacks follow a similar trend, and they regularly start to regress in year 7. That’s exactly the timeline of his career Jaire Alexander is approaching. However, the All-Pro player wants to use his advantage to make a different kind of impact.
“Just going into Year 7, at this point, I’m trying not to make it as much about myself and just do what’s best for the team,” he added.
And the results of this approach are clear.
“Ja’s been outstanding,” head coach Matt LaFleur said. “He’s been here every day, shows up, great attitude, eager to learn, is out there competing with the guys, talking trash, which I love because I love just amping up that level of competition in a fun way. I think he’s been a great teammate and been a great leader for us.”
The Packers decided not to invest heavily in the cornerback position, indicating a strong belief in what Alexander can still do. Playing freely and aggressively, Alexander can go back to his best days, and Green Bay needs that version to be what they want to be on defense.
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Green Bay’s Scheme Change Will Unlock Some Long Awaited Aggression
The Green Bay Packers fired defensive coordinator Joe Barry in the offseason and hired Boston College head coach Jeff Hafley. His new scheme will open many possibilities for Green Bay’s defense.
Hafley has a long history of coaching stout defenses in the NFL and college. In his scheme, the Packers will go from a 3-4 defensive front to a 4-3. That means outside linebackers like Rashan Gary and Preston Smith will go from stand-up guys to rushing with their hands in the dirt.
This change will also benefit some of Green Bay’s interior players. Karl Brooks and Colby Wooden were versatile players in college and can play every position along the defensive line.
Za’Darius Smith would often rush from the interior. That allowed the Packers to have their best five rushers on the field, with Preston Smith and Gary on the outside and Kenny Clark manning another interior spot.
The Packers could create a similar situation next year. Lukas Van Ness and Gary have experience in college playing as a traditional defensive end in a 4-3 scheme. Having solid pass rushers like Devonte Wyatt and Clark hold down the interior and Van Ness and Gary on the outside should stymie opposing offenses.
Additionally, with the switch to the 4-3, it’ll be easier for Hafley to blitz his linebackers in unique ways. Quay Walker and Edgerrin Cooper were fast playmakers in college who excelled at blitzing from the middle. Cooper and Walker will have ample opportunity to flash their elite blitzing ability in Hafley’s system.
His defense will be much more aggressive than his predecessor’s.
“We’re going to attack,” said Hafley in a sit-down with Larry McCarren. “I told the players that I want to lead the NFL in effort, and I want to lead the NFL in how hard we play, and I want to lead the NFL in taking the ball away.
“I want people to see the confidence that our players are playing within themselves and their teammates. And showing how much they care about each other and this team by how hard they play and how hard they run to the ball and the effort that they give.”
That means we will see more unique combinations of pressure. The Packers want to take the ball away more, and the new defensive line setup allows them to do that.
“We prioritize it,” Hafley said regarding generating more takeaways. “And it’s not just talk, it’s every day in meetings, showing them how we are going to do it and teaching them how we are going to do it. And then it has to show up in practice and then it has to show up in the game. That is priority No. 1, we have to take the ball away.”
The additions of Xavier McKinney and multiple draft picks in the secondary will help the defensive line. Coverage sacks are challenging to track, but they often cause a ton of pressure. If the QB can’t find an open receiver, it makes him hold the ball longer than he’d like. The longer the QB has the ball in his hands, the more likely that Green Bay’s defensive front can get home for the sack and possibly force a turnover.
That aggression may lead to more big plays, but it will also lead to more turnovers, and the Packers have added more playmakers and are putting them in positions to succeed.
Having Gary and Van Ness in their more natural positions and setting up Wyatt and Clark with premier pass-rushing opportunities gives Green Bay’s defensive line an advantage over last season. In addition, having two linebackers who excel at blitzing and a coordinator not afraid to dial them up will be a lot of fun for Packers fans — but not so much for opposing offenses.
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Could Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft become the best set of tight ends in Packers history?
Musgrave and Kraft just might rival Mark Chmura and Keith Jackson for best ever.
It could be debated with good arguments all day as to who is, or was, the greatest tight end in Green Bay Packers history.
To me, and it’s just one opinion, it would be Paul Coffman who was part of had coach Bart Starr’s point-a-minute offense in the early ’80s and averaged 50 catches a season from 1979-85 with the exception of the strike-shortened 1982 season.
Now the next question: Who are the best set of tight ends in Packers history? You might not have to go back so far for that answer. It might be staring you in the face presently.
Sure it’s early and all we have to go by is a rookie season in which one of the two missed almost half of it. But it certainly appears that Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft, both selected in the what might be the NFL’s greatest tight end draft class ever, could easily become the best duo of tight ends in Packers history.
Right now, and it’s probably not even close, the best would be the combination of Mark Chmura and Keith Jackson. That duo helped the Packers get to the NFC Championship Game in 1995 and win a Super Bowl in 1996. But the two only played 25 games together over those two seasons. If you remember, Jackson, after being traded to the Packers from the Miami Dolphins, balked and did not report to the team until after the seventh game of the season.
That NFC Championship ’95 season saw Chmura catch 54 passes for 679 yards, while Jackson, after finally arriving, caught 13 for 142. During the Super Bowl season Jackson showed why the Packers traded for him with a Pro Bowl season that produced just 40 catches, but for 505 yards and 10 touchdowns. Chmura, more of the blocking tight end at this point, caught 28 passes for 370 yards.
And that was it. After winning the Super Bowl, Jackson, after nine years and at just 31 years old, decided to retire.
So for now even though it did not last very long the Jackson/Chmura duo has to be the best. But it might not be for much longer.
In their rookie season Musgrave, the second round pick out of Oregon State, and Kraft, the third round pick out of South Dakota State, showed enough to make you think general manager Brian Gutekunst didn’t just end his third-round jinx but doubled up at a position that was of great need before the draft.
Musgrave, who missed all or parts of six games, caught 34 passes for 352 yards. Kraft, who dressed for all 17 games and started seven, caught 31 passes for 355 yards. Sixty-five catches for 707 yards is pretty darn good, especially for a pair of rookies.
And it should only get better.
Maybe good enough to be the best set of tight ends in Packers history.
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Welp, OTAs and mandatory minicamp have concluded. We now collectively hold our breath and dive head first into the void aka “The Dead Zone”.
Alas, the Green Bay Packers won’t be back at Lambeau until training camp begins on July 22nd. With new looks in every phase of play and leadership, the Packers are heading into this season with a lot of hype and anticipation.
Here’s 5 reasons why you should be head over heels for this team in 2024!
1. The Name is the Headline, and the Headline is the Name
Without a doubt, the hype starts and stops with QB1. The Green Bay Packers have seemingly struck green and gold three times in a row now. While I’ve always been a strong believer in Jordan, even I didn’t think the “rebuild” would be little more than a mid season slump last year. If Jordan wasn’t cooking, the offseason hype would not be nearly as high. Even with their blockbuster free agency acquisitions and coaching staff overhaul.
Jordan Love is that guy, and I am glad to see the NFL community at large giving him his flowers. It’s been awesome watching him come out of his shell as well the past few months during media appearances and interviews.
Jordan looks confident and has really come into his own as the new face of the franchise. We’ll see if he’s able to build on last year’s success.
Keep in mind that he finished 2023 with a pretty stellar performance. Jordan touted a passer rating of 96.1 totalling 4,159 yards, 32 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.
I’ll leave it to the man himself to talk about where the team is at heading into 2024.
2. Bye Bye Barry, Hello Hafley
While the offense is certainly stacked this year, the defense is no second fiddle. There are so many reasons to be excited, not the least of which is new Defensive Coordinator, Jeff Hafley.
I don’t think I’m alone in saying that this guy won me over hook, line, and sinker with that introduction presser. Packer Nation has long considered Lambeau Field to be the center of the universe when it comes to football. Hearing Hafley say he came to what he considers mecca for football captured the hearts of cheesheads everywhere.
“This is like the mecca of the football world to me & probably to most people who grew up loving football.”
Welcome to Green Bay, Jeff Hafley!
I don’t know if I’m more excited to see Hafley’s 4-3 scheme or to NOT see Joe Barry’s weak ass zone coverage. I can’t wait to see a more physical and aggressive Packers secondary lining up in more man to man coverage. Rather than in the opposing endzone down after down.
More importantly, Hafley certainly seems to have his players attention and respect.
Every interview I’ve seen where team members are asked about their new DC, be it Jaire, Stokes, Preston, and more, they all talk about how much they love him. He’s described as competitive, intense, fun, and an overall pleasure to work with. He also seems to be able to compliment Matt LaFleur’s offensive mind well.
Matt was a big reason why Jeff came to Green Bay, and it’s great to hear that he will challenge him to make sure that the defense fires on all cylinders. Check out the recent comments Keisan had talking with Kay Adams.
Time will tell if Hafley is the missing link between this talented squad and the heights we’ve been waiting to see them climb to.
3. The Green Bay Packers Nailed It In The Draft AND Free Agency!
Whirlwind Free Agency
Green Bay Packers fans have taken part in an annual ritual for some time now of shouting at the sky while lamenting all the moves the organization could have made furing free agency.
This year however, Gutey went ahead and said, “Hold my beer.”
Xavier McKinney
With team after team unloading top tier talent at the Safety position this year, it couldn’t have been a better time for the Packers to bring an elite player to a room that desperately needed a lifeline. I naturally just felt like I knew better than to get my hopes up too high.
Suffice it to say, I was floored by the news that the Green Bay Packers were picking up Safety Xavier McKinney.
Most fans viewed Mckinney to be the best available free agent Safety on the market. He was also the darling of Packers Twitter while everyone waited and hoped Gutey might snag a free agent.
Mckinney has already been lauded by his teammates for his leadership and what he brings to the field. He also seems to be gelling with my favorite player, Jaire Alexander. I can’t wait to watch these two humble some quarterbacks this season.
Josh Jacobs
Yes, we lost Aaron Jones. Those 30 seconds where we thought it would be a lights out tandem were pretty rad though.
Like many of you I was shocked losing the man that Gutey himself touted as the “heart and soul of the team.”
I felt like both Starsky AND Hutch…
That being said, I think Aaron’s departure has overshadowed the gain that the Packers lineup got by bringing 2022 NFL Rushing Leader, Josh Jacobs into the building.
While that accolade in and of itself is amazing, it’s made even more so when given the context of who his contemporaries were.
Jacobs is explosive and a true three down back in the league. He also has a lot of talent out of the backfield in the passing game. He and AJ Dillon will be an amazing powerhouse backfield alongside Marshawn Lloyd who has been turning heads in mini camp. Check out Jacobs’ comments during his first media presser after joining the organization.
The 2024 Green Bay Packers Draft Class
Remember the 10,000 mock drafts that were done this year?
Most showcased Cooper DeJean, Graham Barton, and several others. However, in the end, Gutey gave us another rock solid draft starting with Offensive Tackle, Jordan Morgan. While I was definitely someone who couldn’t believe we passed up DeJean while on the board, I am not at all mad about adding depth to an essential position like left tackle.
#keepjordansafe2024
Round 2 had me just about crying tears of joy as I watched my other two draft crushes Edgerrin Coooper and Javon Bullard get the call to play on the squad.
Edgerrin Cooper
Edgerrin Cooper is such an amazing fit for the Green Bay Packers linebacker room. He’s a freak athlete and explosive with an amazing football IQ. In fact LaFleur even made mention of a play they were certain would stump him in practice only to watch him diagnose and break it up immediately. It’s awesome seeing the high potential he has. Take a look at him putting in work at mini camp this week.
Javon Bullard
I was a fan of Javon Bullard’s pretty early on in draft season. He’s physical and versatile offering a lot of flexibility in the new 4-3 scheme. A big reason most folks were high on Cooper DeJean was his ability to play both Safety and Nickel. Trust me when I say that Javon brings that same capability and I have no doubt that during training camp he will win out and line up next to Xavier to anchor the secondary.
Take a look at this great video put out by Basaraski Productions on the impact Bullard has on the game.
Letting The Board Fall Where It May
There is no drop off as you look through the remaining draft picks which are littered with players that seemingly fell to Gutey by the grace of the football gods.
Last week I put out an article on one of them in Evan Williams, another Safety who is poised to break away from the pack.
There’s also Running back MarShawn Lloyd who is looking explosive while seemingly perma pissed at the world by the look of intensity on his face. I am here for it!
I think Jacob Monk and or Travis Glover will get a shot at starting on the offensive line after moving to the interior and competing for a guard position.
Meanwhile, there’s Cornerback Kalen King who many considered to have fallen a lot further than he should have in the draft.
Kitan Oladapo, another fan favorite this year, also fell to the Packers. We’ll see if he can get up to speed with the rest of the competition at camp after healing from an injury to his big toe. Ty’ron Hopper will look to add depth to the linebacker room, while Michael Pratt seems to be making waves and giving people vibes that there may be three quarterbacks on the 53.
Take a look at this clip from Cheeshead TV’s Mark Oldacres explaining why he believes the Packers will keep Love, Pratt, and Clifford all on the 53.
4. Offensive Weapons For Days
The Green Bay Packers will almost certainly be a trial by committee style of offense this season. We have spent years as fans watching a succession of WR1’s. The most recent being the GOAT Tae Adams. Now Jordan will have the luxury of a full arsenal at his disposal. Any and all of the Packers wide receivers, tight ends, and running backs are capable of stepping up and breaking off a big play at any given time.
The Packers are looking stacked in 2024 with weapons for Jordan. I released an article a couple weeks back diving into more detail on the options Matt LaFleur has in his offense this season. Go ahead and click below to take a look at the amazing opportunities the Packers offense will have in 2024.
In the end, most importantly, I believe the biggest reason to be excited is the vibe at 1265 Lombardi. You can look at the near perfect OTA attendance and the countless social media posts between teammates which point to a tight knit unit.
I’m a firm believer that the work you do off the field translates to the work you do on the field. In this respect, the Packers are setting up a strong foundation to stand on come September.
You have returning players like Watson, Doubs, and others that continue to build chemistry with their up and coming quarterback. Meanwhile, the defense is seemingly dialed in and ready to attack under the leadership of Jeff Hafley. We will see if the new 4-3 scheme will finally bring about the elite defense these guys have shown the capability of being.
The Youth Movement Is In Full Force And Everyone Is Bought In
While there will always be some rookie mistakes and bumps in the road, the youth movement in Green Bay has fostered an “all in, and in it together” mindset that permeates through all phases of play.
There’s also a good number of pre-existing and long standing relationships. Be it the numerous Georgia Bulldogs that have reunited, or the connection of Jordan Love and AJ Dillon who lived together ahead of the 2020 draft even taking place.
There’s also a strong connection between Keisan Nixon and former teammate Josh Jacobs.
Both players have stated that they came to Green Bay in part due to Special Teams Coach, Rich Basaccia, who coached them both while playing for the Raiders.
Here’s a little snippet of Josh and and Keisan hanging out during Keisan’s recent appearance on the Up & Adams Show with Kay Adams.
Gone are the days of rookies coming into a veteran filled room trying to learn from the likes of Davante Adams, Marcedes Lewis, and of course Aaron Rodgers. Gone are the days of having to earn 12’s respect while not really seeing him oustide of the building.
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By FAN RECAP
Packers Bet on Teamwork Over Star Power With Unique Receiver Strategy
In a surprising twist that set them apart from the rest of the NFL, last year’s Green Bay Packers showcased a receiver corps unlike any other in recent memory. The entire lineup was remarkably green, composed solely of players who had entered the league in either 2022 or 2023. This meant that every wideout rotating on the field was navigating through their first or second year of professional football.
Leading this youthful ensemble was Christian Watson, a second-round pick from 2022, who, at 24 years old, was the veteran presence among the group. Despite being pegged as the Packers’ primary receiver heading into the season, injuries sidelined Watson for several games and hindered his performance in others. The outcome was a shift towards a more collective offensive strategy, with no single receiver consistently dominating the targets.
Romeo Doubs and Jayden Reed emerged as key figures in this setup. Doubs recorded the highest number of targets, while Reed topped the charts with 64 catches for 793 yards. Yet, even these leading stats were modest in the grand panorama of the league, ranking them 38th and 35th among NFL receivers in their respective categories.
The Packers’ unique approach to distributing the ball was underscored by the fact that only on two occasions did a Green Bay receiver see targets on at least 30% of the team’s passes in a game. This was a stark contrast to the frequency at which their opponents relied on a primary wide receiver, a strategy employed against the Packers in nearly every late-season game.
As the 2024 season approaches, the Packers are doubling down on their strategy, retaining the young squad that includes Watson, Doubs, Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Bo Melton, Malik Heath, and Samori Toure. Despite the apparent lack of a standout “No. 1” receiver, the team remains unperturbed.
Head coach Matt LaFleur, speaking to The Athletic, expressed satisfaction with the group’s collective performance. He highlighted their ability to share the responsibility, with different players stepping up as game leaders throughout the season. This egalitarian approach, while challenging in terms of distributing playing time, is viewed as a positive dilemma by the coaching staff.
Jordan Love, the Packers’ quarterback, echoed this sentiment, stressing the importance of letting the game dictate the receiver selection. This strategy of not locking into a single target aligns with Love’s preference for playing through his progressions to find the open man, ensuring a dynamic and flexible offensive scheme.
As the 2024 season looms, there’s potential for any of these burgeoning talents to rise above their peers. Each possesses unique abilities that could prove invaluable as the season progresses.
In the constantly evolving landscape of the NFL, where the passing game reigns supreme, having an abundance of options at wide receiver is a luxury, not a liability. The Packers’ novel approach could very well redefine the conventional wisdom surrounding the building of a receiver corps in today’s game.
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“If we were drafting #NFL players, I think you and I would agree that we’d take Patrick Mahomes no. 1, but I’m taking Jordan Love no. 2… Who would you take before Jordan Love in terms of youth, ability and I think his future limitless.” –@RealTannenbaum loves (Jordan) Love
Love could have a good 10-15 years left in Green Bay at least after his outstanding finish to 2023.
He ended the season finishing in the top 10 among quarterbacks in terms of passing yards (4,159), passing touchdowns (32), QBR (62.1), and completions (372).
He arguably should have been a Pro-Bowler.
The title window in Green Bay is wide open because of what Love demonstrated in his first year as the starter.
Like Rodgers before him, Love has gained the knowledge and shown the promise early of becoming the next great quarterback in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Looking towards 2024, he and head coach Matt LaFleur will look to take advantage of the team’s divisional round appearance in 2023.
After beating good teams in the Kansas City Chiefs, Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys, and Los Angeles Rams last year, the Packers appear ready to compete.
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Five NFL teams poised to make major Leap in 2024; Packers set for playoff run
A couple of these teams fared rather well in 2023, but can go a lot further this season.
The NFL offseason has reached the point where minicamps are in full swing as teams begin to prepare for the grind of the 2024 season. Free agency and the NF Draft are in the rearview mirror as teams begin to incorporate new plays and perfect the playbook with the start of the regular season just over three months away.
Teams are seeking to beat the Kansas City Chiefs as they vie for a three-peat. The defending Super Bowl champions are looking to become the first team to win three straight championships since the 1965-1967 Green Bay Packers.
As for the teams on the rise? The Houston Texans went from winning 11 combined games between 2020 and 2022 to winning 11 games in 2023 (including playoffs). Meanwhile, the Green Bay Packers ended up winning a playoff game without Aaron Rodgers.
Which teams are poised for a big season after free agency and the draft? These teams could be poised to win their respective division or make a Super Bowl run of their own in 2024?
The initial list, with a different group of teams (Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Rams, Cincinnati Bengals), was made right after the Super Bowl, but underwent a few changes. Here’s a look at five teams poised to make a major leap as the NFL begins OTA workouts and, soon, mandatory minicamps.
Green Bay Packers
2023 regular season: 9-8 | Playoffs: Lost in divisional round
The emergence of Jordan Love certainly vaults the Packers as an NFC contender, even if they might be in one of the toughest divisions in football next season. Love threw for 23 touchdowns to just three interceptions in his final seven games (including playoffs) as the Packers were the first No. 7 seed to beat a No. 2 seed in the wild card round. Didn’t hurt Green Bay was the youngest team to win a playoff game (25 years, 214 days).
The Packers did retool their secondary in free agency, highlighted by the offseason signing of safety Xavier McKinney and selecting safety Javon Bullard in the second round. They also added linebacker Edgerrin Cooper to compete an adjustment of the back seven, a unit that still has Jaire Alexander at cornerback.
Green Bay had 302 catches for 3,642 yards and 31 touchdowns from first- or second-year players, the most in a season in NFL history. Love has plenty of young pass catchers to grow with, starting with Jayden Reed. The Packers also have Christian Watson, Dontayvion Wicks, Romeo Doubs, Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft. This offense went from 15th in points per possession to ninth, thanks to Love and Co. — this was with a banged-up offensive line for the majority of the year. Green Bay added Jordan Morgan to that offensive line and moved on from David Bakhtiari. Jon Runyan also left in free agency.
The NFC North will be tough, but the Packers’ ceiling is high. If Love takes another step forward, Green Bay is a Super Bowl contender.
Atlanta Falcons
2023 regular season: 7-10 | Playoffs: Missed
The Falcons were a quarterback away from becoming a significant player in the NFC South. They decided to add two quarterbacks to the fray, signing Kirk Cousinsto a four-year contract and drafting Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8 in the draft.
While the Cousins-Penix dynamic could be a problem, Falcons quarterbacks were just 28th in completion percentage, 28th in passing yards and 27th in passing touchdowns over the past two seasons. That will improve with Cousins, who was fifth in completion percentage (70%), second in pass yards (2,331) and tied for first in passing touchdowns (18) through the first eight weeks last season (Achilles injury in Week 9).
The defense was 15th in points allowed per possession (1.86) and seventh in yards allowed per possession (28.0) last season, now tasked with a new system under head coach Raheem Morris and Jimmy Lake. Can Morris succeed as a head coach after a rough tenure in Tampa Bay over a decade ago?
The Falcons are banking on the quarterback to win the NFC South. Can Cousins end the playoff drought? Keep in mind they held the lead in the final minute of four games last season — and lost all of them. This team is closer to the playoffs than many think.
Houston Texans
2023 regular season: 10-7 | Playoffs: Lost in divisional round
The Texans took the biggest leap in 2023, thanks to the emergence of C.J. Stroud and a remarkable turnaround spearheaded by first-year head coach DeMeco Ryans. Stroud had arguably the greatest rookie season for a quarterback in NFL history, transforming the Texans offense into a force to be reckoned with around the NFL (offense went from 31st in points per possession to 14th), accompanied with the emergence of Nico Collins and rookie Tank Dell.
Stroud gets his top two pass catchers back next season, along with Dalton Schultz (who signed an extension). They were also aggressive improving the unit. Joe Mixon was added at running back via trade and signed an extension, pairing with Dameon Pierce at the position. The Texans also added Stefon Diggs in an offseason trade with the Buffalo Bills, and will have Diggs as the No. 1 wideout with Collins, Dell and Noah Brown as the other targeted wideouts.
Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson Jr. now has a full year in the NFL under his belt and rising corner Derek Stingley Jr. will only get better on a defense that went from 25th in yards allowed per possession to 13th.
Houston also got better this offseason on that side of the ball. The Texans signed Danielle Hunter to complement Anderson on the pass rush, but lost Jonathan Greenard in the process. They countered by adding Denico Autry as well, adding more depth to that unit. Azeez Al-Shaair was brought in at linebacker to stabilize that position. Kamari Lassiter was added in the second round and could compete for a starting role at cornerback.
The Texans are on the verge of being a Super Bowl contender. They’ll have a tougher schedule, but Houston has proven it can compete with the best teams in the AFC.
New York Jets
2023 regular season: 7-10 | Playoffs: Missed
Of course the health of Aaron Rodgers is the key to the Jets’ season, but New York significantly invested in free agency on making this team better. Mike Williamswas added at wide receiver to pair with Garrett Wilson, while they drafted Malachi Corley in the third round to give Rodgers a presence as a WR3.
The Jets arguably have one of the best running back rooms in football with Breece Hall, Israel Abanikanda and rookie Braelon Allen. They also improved the offensive line by signing Tyron Smith and John Simpson in free agency and selecting Olu Fashanu in the first round. This unit also has Alijah Vera-Tucker holding down the fort at right guard.
he Jets appear loaded on paper, even more so than last year. If Rodgers is healthy, they are a threat in the AFC East (like it or not).
Cincinnati Bengals
2023 regular season: 9-8 | Playoffs: Missed
Sure the Bengals were a disappointment in 2023, but they also dealt with Joe Burrow injuries across the board, beginning with the star quarterback’s calf issue in training camp that affected his early-season performance to the wrist injury in November that ended his season. The Bengals finished last in the AFC North, yet finished over .500 with Jake Browning starting seven games.
When Burrow plays more than 10 games, the Bengals have reached (at least) the AFC Championship. There’s a reason for the organization to be optimistic with Burrow healthy, even if the Bengals are dealing with paying Tee Higgins (they placed the franchise tag on him) and have let Tyler Boyd walk (for now). They still have to sign Ja’Marr Chase to an extension, but they can wait a bit if they so choose.
incinnati didn’t have any eye-popping moves, but some good signings in free agency. Geno Stone was signed away from Baltimore and Vonn Bell was brought back after one year in Carolina. Mike Gesicki was brought in at tight end to tandem with Drew Sample, significantly improving the pass catchers at the position. Chase Brown should man running back, but will split the carries with free agent signing Zack Moss.
The Bengals are still trying to fix the offensive tackle position, adding Trent Brownin free agency and Amarius Mims in the first round of the draft. They also added Jermaine Burton in the third round as another outside wide receiver option.
There are questions with Cincinnati, but this team will have a shot at a Super Bowl if Joe Burrow can stay healthy. Cincinnati needs to keep Burrow on the field at all costs.
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Kudos to Amy for making sure that the tickets to the tailgate party were waiting for me at the reception desk!
Your personal phone call and text messages went above and beyond customer satisfaction! I can't wait for the 2024 season, rest assured that my go-to Packer's game supplier will be Event USA for a long time.
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-Jean-Pierre Mallette, Montréal, Canada
"Thank you so much Cathy, greatly appreciate your help.
As always, EventUSA has been awesome to deal with in booking the Lodge Kohler package for the Tampa Bay Game,
particularly for me traveling from Sydney, Australia, it takes the stress out of the booking process. "
-Kayle
"Good Morning, Nicole - Everything you did turned out great. The seats were great. Access to the air conditioned club lounge was great. Lots of Packers fans in the club lounge and overall at the stadium. The tailgate party at the fancy restaurant in the hotel was fabulous. The servers just kept on bringing out different sliders and desserts. Good thing that I got in a 30-minute run along the river in the morning. So, thank you! You may be speaking with me in November if I can work out getting up to Green Bay for a game. It's been too long since my last time.
One of the best aspects of this weekend was interacting with so many people from Wisconsin and learning their personal stories of things Packers. And we even met a couple from St. Petersburg, Florida (my home county) and were able to tell them about the Varsity Club tavern and Packers bar in Clearwater where Mark Murphy's mother is in attendance -- very nice lady whose retirement home is in Clearwater, which borders my little city of Dunedin. Pre-COVID, I always went to the Varsity when the Packers games weren't televised locally -- lots of Wisconsin natives there, too + they serve brats and sauerkraut during Packers games. I'm glad that you are working for Event USA."
-- Martin Lawyer, Dunedin, Florida
"Dennis - I was blessed to join Amy and some of your customers at the Morton's tailgate as well as after the game. She does an amazing job for you. Every single customer I met praised Event USA for being able to arrange the hotel and tickets and fabulous tailgate party in such a quick time. Having been to some great tour tailgate parties in Jacksonville and Kansas City and old San Francisco, a lot can be said of the long-term benefit of having really great tailgate parties. Morton's was probably one of the best - amazing food, patio sitting on the riverfront, walk to stadium, open bar!!! It was first class fun!!!"
-Matt
"Hi Amy-
Just wanted to say thank you for making Jacksonville happen! We had a wonderful time and looking forward to more Packers games with Event USA in the future!
Even though the game was not what we expected- we are packers fans for life-lol!
Go pack go!!"
-Julie Mastrianni
"I want to thank Event USA and in particular Amy Flores for the Jacksonville trip. We have used you before and always were very pleased with the packages you have set up and your service.
My son who lives in Charleston, SC and myself who lives in Minnesota, decided we needed to do a guys trip and decided to go through your company to see the opener in New Orleans. I initially called and talked with Amy about some questions I had and booked our trip. After itinerary and info was emailed to us, it soon became apparent that the trip to New Orleans wouldn’t happen. In steps Amy, wondering if we would be interested in Dallas if the game was moved there and a package was set up. Then finally the move to Jacksonville and continued communication from Amy on our interest. It was getting late at that point and I was wondering if she would be able to pull off setting up a package in Jacksonville. She did it.
We went to Jacksonville and had a great time. The accommodations and the tail gate were fabulous. If only the Packer team we were hoping for had made the trip.
Thank you Event USA and in particular Amy Flores."
-Tom Sohrweide, White Bear Lake, MN
"Thank you for all your help. I had a great time at the Packer-Raider game opening day. I have already begun telling interested Packer fans in Sacramento about your service. The next time I come to Green Bay for a game, I’ll be sure to ask for your help. God bless you and God bless the Green Bay Packers."
-Frank Chavez, Sacramento
"I just wanted to say that I had such a great time. The whole weekend was so much fun. I enjoyed the Player Autograph Party and the tailgate party was just the best. After coming from a country that loves soccer, it was nice to mix with people who have the same interests as me. Thank you once again, Green Bay is one very special place."
-Beverley Moore, Lancaster
"My accommodations at the Best Western Midway were excellent. I was picked up at the airport and returned promptly. No problems at all. Your representative at the hotel on game day was very pleasant and helpful. The tailgate party was super, great food, great drinks and lots of fun. Obviously, Lambeau Field and the game itself was great. I will continue to use Event USA in the future, and I will definitely tell anyone who I come across to give you a call. One last thing, the hospitality I experienced in Green Bay was incredible. I have traveled to many places, and I don’t think there are more friendly people than the people of Green Bay. Thank you again and see you next year!"
-David Anastas, Worchester
"My wife and I booked the tour to Tampa. The trip was so well organized from start to finish. It started with the people in the office with their friendly help over the phone, to receiving the tickets in the mail, and meeting the tour guides with their upbeat personalities. Signs guided us in the airport and information was posted in our motel lobbies to keep us posted. Your people had everything in order. Talk about organization, you had it. Event USA made this a most memorable trip. Thanks for all involved."
-Dick Koerner, Neenah
"I wish to convey my sincere thanks and gratitude for providing my husband and I with, what he refers to as the greatest experience of my life, apart from my wedding day."
-Lara and Matt Appleton, Thornhill, Ontario
"Thanks for all your help, the great tickets and service, and the chance to help me make one of my son’s dreams come true, seeing the Packers playing at home in Lambeau Field."
-Sam Jones, Sedalia
"I just want to thank you for the wonderful job your staff did last weekend for the Packers vs. Lions game. This was our first time utilizing your program and we were not disappointed at all. In fact, we can’t wait to schedule and event for next season’s games. From my first experience with your staff placing my order until the very end at checkout of the hotel, everything was perfect. You truly out-do yourselves to please everyone. Thanks again for making our stay in Green Bay one of the best."
-Kim Ewing and Bruce DeMaine, Ann Arbor
"Thanks so much for the best weekend ever! You not only got us in all the Magazines, TV, WWW pages and even the big screen at Lambeau Field, but Disney World on the side? Nice job – You and your family are top notch – we were on the best tour for the Super Bowl! Seeing the Green Bay Packers win back the Lombardi Trophy was a life long dream of this Packer fan, and you all were so dedicated to the job of taking care of us that, like the Packers, we were a winning team! Keep me on your list."
-William D Lorge, Representative to the Wisconsin State Assembly
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