Where does your franchise stand heading into 2021? Adam Harmful objects the desk by providing a Assert of the Franchise stumble on at all 32 groups, zeroing in on the major figures to stumble on and surroundings the stakes for the season to return.
Participants of the Packers organization, Packer Backers all over the realm and those that undergo in thoughts Don Majkowski?:
There are a host of of us that whinge that Superstar Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens used to be roughly a rip-off because it used to be in overall the identical predicament as Superstar Wars Episode IV: A Novel Hope. I indicate, there are some similarities, however there is ample nuances in both that primarily dwelling them aside. And primarily, I if truth be told enjoyed the heck out of every film. Nearly equally.
I lift this up for the reason that end of the Aaron Rodgers era in Inexperienced Bay is starting to primarily feel admire a rip-off of the tip of ?Brett Favre?’s time in Titletown. But no: Once again, whereas it feels similar, there are some variations. And as a Bears fan, I’m playing this reboot as worthy because the long-established, if now now not more. Let’s talk 2021.
Let’s steal a brief stumble on abet on the highs and lows of the 2020 season.
The highs:
- Aaron Rodgers, spurred on by the sequence of Jordan Love (develop now now not act admire that wasn’t a part), successful the league MVP award. I completely called that, too, on NFL Fantasy Live. No one does petty admire Aaron Rodgers. Improbable season. I know I used to be hyped on Miles Sanders in fantasy perfect one year, too, however I hope you listened to me about Rodgers.
- Aaron Jones having a extremely factual prepare-up season to his breakout 2019 campaign. He did occupy touchdown regression (called it), however changed into in a one other solid efficiency. He’s also re-signed for the following four years! So as that’s sizable news for the Packers.
- Securing the No. 1 seed in the NFC. No one is going to Lambeau in the playoffs and successful there! Correct? Oh …
The lows:
- Losing the NFC Championship Sport at dwelling to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The giant play came with honest over two minutes final in law, when the Packers had the ball inner Tampa’s 10-yard line, trailing by eight aspects. But in want to going for the touchdown (and two-pointer) to tie the game, coach Matt LaFleur took the three aspects. And Inexperienced Bay by no means bought the ball abet. The play that did now now not scuttle over properly with the starting quarterback. And used to be even referenced all by his stint because the customer host of Jeopardy! Which he used to be if truth be told moderately factual at.
Head coach: Matt LaFleur. I’ve bought to be trusty with you: I’m roughly anxious at how properly LaFleur has done as coach of the Packers. He’s received 26 video games in his first two seasons. Relief-to-abet journeys to the NFC title game. And for sure, we are in a position to debate whether it used to be the dapper switch to head for that leisurely discipline arrangement in opposition to the Bucs. But it be foremost to give credit rating where credit rating is due. He changed into being a chum of Sean McVay into an offensive coordinator’s gig with the Tennessee Titans. I child. But in Nashville, he did now not even instruct Derrick Henry admire Arthur Smith did. And yet, he restful grew to turn out to be head coach of idea to be one of primarily the most storied groups in soccer. His 26 wins are primarily the most of any Packers coach by two seasons.
I know some naysayers will give your total credit rating to ?Aaron Rodgers?. I’m now now not idea to be one of those of us. Mike McCarthy did now not reach 13 wins in any of his perfect seven seasons with the franchise.
Quarterback: Aaron Rodgers? I made a humorous story perfect one year by list ?Jordan Love? in this diagram. A tongue-in-cheek needling to Packers fans. But now I roughly primarily feel execrable about that. Fabricate of admire if you happen to might maybe moreover be golf alongside with your pals and your pal locations one 3 toes from the pin on a Par 3, and also you comment, “Good par.” Subsequent part , dude’s putt lips out and he does obtain a par. And whereas you salvage your total part hilarious, it be foremost to primarily feel a chunk of bit execrable that you just jinxed him. That’s where we stand with Rodgers trusty now.
Rodgers is believed to be one of primarily the most straightforward quarterbacks to ever enact it. At age 37, he’s restful taking part in at an MVP stage, as evidenced by, , being the reigning MVP. But this fresh reveal has to be unnerving to Packers fans who occupy lived by this with Brett Favre. Seriously, how might maybe moreover this occupy took role again? Group president Designate Murphy used to be roughly a beginner all by the Favre part, so any miscues on his end were understandable. And hello: Rodgers taking over worked out moderately properly for the Pack. But how does Murphy enable it to acquire admire this with No. 12, fresh off what might maybe moreover be idea of his easiest particular particular person season yet? I’m now now not announcing that it is doubtless you’ll moreover simply occupy gotten to let your quarterback develop all of the personnel decisions, however throw him a bone. Should always that it is doubtless you’ll moreover simply occupy gotten an all-time QB, protect him tickled. Because if you happen to develop now now not occupy an all-time QB — undergo in thoughts, I’m a Bears fan — lifestyles is a chunk harder.
Rodgers, who did now not listing to the team’s compulsory minicamp perfect week, has brazenly expressed his discontent with the Packers and route of the organization. He’s done a bustle because the host of Jeopardy! He’d moderately expend time with Bryson DeChambeau, of all of us.
So, I develop now now not know. The Bears fan in me would really like to stumble on Rodgers sit down out the season. The Bears fan in me has also been burned by Rodgers exhibiting up on the most effective minute and torching us. So I might maybe moreover be a chunk biased here.
Projected 2021 MVP: David Bakhtiari?, left tackle. I listed Bakhtiari perfect one year in this diagram, and again, I make an apology for how trusty I used to be. Bakhtiari used to be primarily the most distinguished player on the Packers perfect season — after Rodgers, for sure. Bakhtiari suffered a season-ending knee effort in prepare on the tip of December, a trend which clearly had a giant impact on the Packers’ offensive line. Rather a range of Inexperienced Bay fans will repeat you it used to be the one part conserving the Pack from the Big Bowl. His return is wanted to this team. No subject who the quarterback is.
2021 breakout megastar: A.J. Dillon?, operating abet. I indicate, the Packers drafted ?Jordan Love? after they did now not want a quarterback perfect one year. And 2nd-round steal Dillon also gave the impression admire a luxurious to a team with Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams?. He’s bigger than that. Dillon performed thoroughly down the stretch for the Packers perfect season. And he’s anticipated to occupy a bigger role now, with Williams in Detroit. Truly, if you happen to might maybe moreover be a ZERO RB fantasy enthusiast, Dillon ought to be for your short list. And for sure, let’s focus on his quads.
Novel face to know: ?DeAndre Hopkins?, wide receiver! Sorry, sorry, sorry. The Packers occupy obtained DeAndre Thompkins, a used Penn Assert receiver who went undrafted abet in 2019. That makes draw more sense. I indicate, I might maybe moreover realize Packers fans trying to head all in on Julio Jones for occasion. Which would occupy made a host of sense. In particular if the attach used to be honest a 2nd-round steal and swap. I realize every idea to be this form of moves would maybe also be wage cap killers at some point soon. But wouldn’t that it is doubtless you’ll moreover simply occupy gotten traded one season of wage cap hell for a giant gamble to occupy Davante Adams and Julio on the identical team? In particular since Adams can turn out to be a free agent next one year. You furthermore mght want to take into yarn how thrilling it might seemingly occupy been for Adams. I indicate, honest stumble on at A.J. Brown‘s response to the news. But that’s more of the draw in which fans contemplate — maybe why we develop now now not bustle entrance areas of work. But damn, that will maybe moreover occupy been a provoking combo.
You ought to also know: Blake Bortles?, quarterback. He’s clearly a camp body and now now not intended to play at fascinated with the Packers. So end trying to promote this in a, “Howdy, he performed sizable with Nathaniel Hackett in Jacksonville.” Because that’s dumb. That’s admire when I took my kids to the native Family Fun Heart and tried to repeat them it used to be Disneyland. No one used to be procuring for it.
The 2021 roadmap
The aggressive urgency index is: LOWER THAN IT SHOULD BE. Gaze, I would hang to claim there is a high stage of urgency for the Packers. But I develop now now not scrutinize it. Should always you overview the Packers to a team admire the Bucs, who are doing no subject they can to surround ?Tom Brady? with expertise, it be very illuminating. Even the Giants were searching for Daniel Jones by drafting a receiver in the first round. However the Packers are a team that likes to hit 3 wood off the tee, protect it on the green and scuttle about it that draw. Which is okay. You’ll obtain a host of high-5 finishes that draw. But every so continuously that it is doubtless you’ll moreover simply occupy gotten to head for it. And the Packers have not proven they’re bright to enact that.
Three key dates:
- Week 1 at Saints. I indicate, what used to be once ?Aaron Rodgers? vs. Drew Brees might maybe moreover find yourself being ?Jordan Love? vs. Jameis Winston?. I develop now now not know. But it be going to be spirited to stumble on who is the starting quarterback for the Packers in Week 1. (Hint: It will be Rodgers.)
- Week 3 at 49ers. Let’s now now not ignore what the 49ers did to the Packers two years ago. San Francisco embarrassed Inexperienced Bay both in the unheard of season and NFC Championship Sport. Now the 49ers are abet at full energy and willing to head.
- Week 6 at Bears. The Bears fans occupy been chirping so a lot. I ought to know. But going into Soldier Field and handing it to Chicago (and seemingly first-round steal Justin Fields) would be acceptable. And barely anticipated.
Will the Packers be ready to …
Rep some readability to the Rodgers reveal sooner than coaching camp? I restful mediate Rodgers finally ends up because the starting quarterback. But I will realize the frustration from the fans — and even maybe the gamers, too. It is admire a bickering couple at a brunch that is roughly ruining it for your total group. Effectively, now now not me. I’m sipping champagne and playing the expose. Presumably the relaxation of the group is, too, because we would like Rodgers to travel the NFC North. But a team coming off abet-to-abet Championship Sunday appearances needs to set up this out, a draw or the opposite. If Rodgers is staying? Big, end going on SportsCenter and being passive aggressive. And if now now not? Switch on and initiate the Love era. (Howdy, that if truth be told has a nice ring to it — the Love era!)
Rep one other sizable season from Robert Tonyan?? Tonyan signed his one-one year RFA at ease, including some ghost years to give Inexperienced Bay more cap room. In 2020, he grew to turn out to be the tight end that has alluded Rodgers all by his tenure with the Packers. Tonyan caught 52 passes (on 59 targets!) for 586 yards and 11 touchdowns. Now, touchdown regression feels inevitable. But Packers fans develop now now not care about us fantasy dorks — they honest want a man who can abet switch the chains (and obtain some touchdowns). Now it be time for him to uncover he’s the actual deal and develop that enormous contract next offseason.
Field an elite secondary? Jaire Alexander is believed to be one of primarily the most straightforward in the game. And Darnell Savage used to be idea to be one of my breakout picks for the Packers perfect season and he did now not disappoint. (Though I might maybe moreover enact without him taunting the Bears fans on Twitter. Don’t develop us put up Darnell Mooney highlights on you.) Inexperienced Bay has the objects to develop a sizable secondary. The very top key will almost definitely be first-round steal Eric Stokes. I beloved this steal. He has elite-stage bustle, having bustle a 4.29 40-yard mosey at Georgia’s professional day. The Georgia coaches recruited him from the song. He plays primarily properly, might maybe moreover simply now now not let guys obtain handed him and ought to abet push the Packers’ defensive backfield into that elite stage. I’m now now not definite he’ll beat out Kevin King in coaching camp. Though the Packers fans who watched ?Tom Brady? scuttle to work on King in the NFC Championship Sport will almost definitely be begging for it. But now now not now now not as a lot as, Stokes ought to pay immediate dividends in the slot.
One storyline …
… of us are overlooking: Amari Rodgers used to be if truth be told a nice runt steal. I’m a giant fan of Rodgers, if truth be told. He’s an ace returner and also might maybe moreover find yourself contributing in the slot. He feels admire a more in-depth model of Christian Kirk , and I might maybe moreover scrutinize him being a part for Inexperienced Bay this season. I know we ding the Packers for by no means going with a receiver in the first round, however I primarily feel admire they if truth be told bought a gem here.
… of us are also overlooking: How sizable the draft used to be for his or her offensive line depth. Josh Myers used to be primarily a solid steal for the Packers in the 2nd round and ought to find yourself being their center of the long term. Royce Newman used to be one other nice different and initiatives because the trusty tackle of the long term. Yet again, I despise to give the Packers credit rating, however they did a extremely nice job in this draft. Some might maybe moreover scrutinize Stokes as a reach. But selecting end to the tip of the first round affords you the liberty to steal a risk.
… of us are overthinking: Shall we embrace the Packers receivers are moderately lit. I indicate, Davante Adams is a high-5 receiver. No quiz. And ?Aaron Rodgers? received an MVP award with this fresh group of receivers. I realize the optics of by no means drafting a receiver high. Or cutting a man admire Jake Kumerow?, whom Rodgers beloved. Or failing to replace for Julio. I agree. But in equity, we enact want to gaze the guys on the roster at gift are moderately factual.
… of us are also overlooking: Adams wasn’t scared about his intentions if Rodgers is now now not abet.
“We now occupy established so a lot together. It might maybe swap so a lot. It would now not indicate I would be gone, however I would positively want to enact some extra thinking if my man wasn’t here.”
— @tae15adams on capability future in Inexperienced Bay if Aaron Rodgers would now not dwell a Packer: pic.twitter.com/nHHnPRpbiK
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) Can even simply 10, 2021
Adams is in the most effective one year of his contract. I indicate, it might maybe be a moot level because he might maybe moreover receive the franchise designate next offseason. But this can moreover turn out to be one other megastar reveal to computer screen. For sure, if Rodgers signs, there is a factual chance Adams returns and we all scuttle dwelling tickled. Effectively, you enact, Packers fans. It’d be tough for the relaxation of us.
For 2021 to be a success, the Packers MUST:
- Fetch the NFC North. And that’s moderately worthy it. Kidding. You would possibly maybe seemingly moreover simply occupy bought to …
- Fetch the Big Bowl. Worthwhile Big Bowls are now now not easy. And I know Brady has roughly put a warped sense on what it be hang to be a dynasty, however the Packers can’t protect letting these alternatives pass them by. Last one year gave the impression admire primarily the most straightforward chance (namely with the 49ers beset by injuries). However the window is restful initiating so long as Rodgers is the quarterback.
In closing
I primarily feel admire I protect writing the identical story yearly. The Packers occupy a nice roster. There’s about a drama regarding your quarterback. But I’m moderately confident Rodgers is going to return to the team and he’ll play thoroughly. The Packers will develop it to the playoffs. And after that, who is aware of. But we are going to potentially enact the Groundhog Day routine again next season.
