Packers 2023 Discussion Thread

[Fear The Chorizo]

6 hours ago, homer said:

I'm a little worried Penix drops to them in the draft. I really like him and I don't want to hate him.

Oh there will be plenty of seemingly good fits at qb where MN sits in the draft if they want to pick one.  And they should really want to pick one.  

 

I'll take solace knowing all those qbs going off early will allow the Packers to find a franchise LT with their 1st pick before loading up on more defense to bolster Saleh's defense after Rodgers fires him for no good reason;)

[BrewerFan]

2 hours ago, Fear The Chorizo said:

Oh there will be plenty of seemingly good fits at qb where MN sits in the draft if they want to pick one.  And they should really want to pick one.  

 

I'll take solace knowing all those qbs going off early will allow the Packers to find a franchise LT with their 1st pick before loading up on more defense to bolster Saleh's defense after Rodgers fires him for no good reason;)

McCarthy from Michigan looks like he could be a really nice NFL QB, but Minnesota needs to tear it down and rebuild. Use Jefferson to pick up 2 1sts and start from there. I'd keep the OTs in place, but otherwise, gut it.

I'm hoping the Packers actually trade up in this draft. If they find a Safety in FA, they have relatively few needs outside the OL. I don't think it'll happen, but if Alt is there at 8-10? It'd be worth it.

"Saleh's defense." Man, that'd be incredible. Maybe Arod will want his buddy Getsy back with Hackett running the show! Hell, lets just do them a favor. We'll swap 1sts and they get Bakh(and he'll play another 4 healthy years in NY on the turf). 

[young guns]

Now that we have made the playoffs, I'm curious if anyone thinks there is some sort of miracle run that could save Joe Barry's job.  Like win the super bowl with good defense every game.  Honestly I hope not, but I don't see how he even made it to this season.

[HarryDoyle]

23 minutes ago, young guns said:

Now that we have made the playoffs, I'm curious if anyone thinks there is some sort of miracle run that could save Joe Barry's job.  Like win the super bowl with good defense every game.  Honestly I hope not, but I don't see how he even made it to this season.

[HarryDoyle]

The bad news coming from this win is Rodgers won't be coming to Lambeau next season. That honor will go to the loser of tonight's Bills-Dolphins game.

[Fear The Chorizo]

33 minutes ago, young guns said:

Now that we have made the playoffs, I'm curious if anyone thinks there is some sort of miracle run that could save Joe Barry's job.  Like win the super bowl with good defense every game.  Honestly I hope not, but I don't see how he even made it to this season.

Honestly, if the Packers win the super bowl and we spend more time complaining about Barry being the d coordinator because of it, we've got serious Fandom issues.

I don't expect either to happen, but would take Barry reupping his contract if it meant a Lombardi trophy in Love's 1st year as a starter - just to see all the "well yeah, but Gute shouldn't have moved up in round 1 3-4drafts ago to pick Love!"  crowd explode

[Joseph Zarr]

There were A LOT of non-believers of J-Love in this Forum. Quite a few. I felt the signs were always there but he needed to put it together and we needed to give him time. Well, let's just be real:

 

What we witnessed in 2023 is historic on every level. J-Love broke records and tied records held by absurdly few NFL QB's historically. He did it as a first year starter with essentially an entire offense of rookies at the skill positions and a very injured or inconsistent running game that was absent near the entire season. He is legend. I hope y'all appreciate what we just witnessed. We haven't seen a GB QB perform on the most important stage in some time. Some time. Incredible. I am grateful.

[Fear The Chorizo]

Gute had himself one helluva draft in 2023.

 

And 2022.

 

2021, not so much

2020 was meh, besides getting that 1st round pick 1,000% right.

 

[Joseph Zarr]

2 minutes ago, Fear The Chorizo said:

Gute had himself one helluva draft in 2023.

He has been on ONE for at least two years. Let us not forget he also made the highly unpopular choice of drafting Love when he did. Lottttta people need to reckon with their absurd opinions of Gute. 

How about the Starting RT and LT drafted where they were in 2022? How about Rhyan at RG in the 5th? How about he has 7 draft picks in the first 4 rounds in 2024!?! We are so blessed right now.

[BrewerFan]

2 hours ago, Joseph Zarr said:

He has been on ONE for at least two years. Let us not forget he also made the highly unpopular choice of drafting Love when he did. Lottttta people need to reckon with their absurd opinions of Gute. 

How about the Starting RT and LT drafted where they were in 2022? How about Rhyan at RG in the 5th? How about he has 7 draft picks in the first 4 rounds in 2024!?! We are so blessed right now.

He's been exceptional. Tom was a GREAT pick. Not sure if Walker should be the future LT(actually I am, but I think he's still a great pick). Rhyan was a 3rd, but...we're in a great spot and we've got a lot of draft capital as you say. 

[BrewerFan]

3 hours ago, Fear The Chorizo said:

Gute had himself one helluva draft in 2023.

 

And 2022.

 

2021, not so much

2020 was meh, besides getting that 1st round pick 1,000% right.

 

It's just wild. We went...~8 weeks of actual season play without KNOWING we had our QB of the future...

The Bears have gone since, what, World War 2😂

 

But even as a guy who had confidence in Love...I did not think he'd explode the way he did this second half. And he still made some errors and didn't have his big-play threat in Watson...didn't have a run game most of the year...he's just gotten it done. Over and over and over! 

Absolutely incredible!

-Barry still needs to be fired
-Packers still do need to improve that OL despite the improved play(I suspect that will be exposed a bit in the playoffs).
 

But they can go after a tackle and move up if they want, they can sit back and pick the BPA, use a pick on a guy like Bucky Irvin or Malachi Corley, Troy Franklin, Jahiem Bell, whoever...just luxury picks to really make this offense dangerous.

AND while they're not going to have a ton of cap space available this year(should be ~40M by the time they're done restructuring and cutting the more obvious candidates)...after 2024, they'll be completely clear of the "cap hell," they were in after their spending spree came one year before covid causing the cap to be what, 30+M less than expected.

He turned this team from an aging team trying to make one last run, ie, the "Last Dance," crew...to the YOUNGEST offense since the NFL merger, an offense that really should only improve with experience. Now we're in the playoffs with all the bloated deals off the books or coming off the books.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the Packers aggressive in Free Agency and the draft, but whatever we do, I suspect the doubt that people have had regarding Gutey...they've been dispelled!

[MrTPlush]

4 hours ago, HarryDoyle said:

The bad news coming from this win is Rodgers won't be coming to Lambeau next season. That honor will go to the loser of tonight's Bills-Dolphins game.

Not sure that is bad news. I think it would be nice if he never played the Packers and had to cheer against them so to speak. Regardless of one’s feelings towards him, he has been pretty passionate about the team/city even after leaving. 

[OldSchoolSnapper]

12 hours ago, Fear The Chorizo said:

that 1st round pick 1,000% right.

 

Several in this thread should be munching on crow for the remainder of the year.

[Fear The Chorizo]

I'm pumped about Love's development this season, where no matter what happens in the postseason this will be an offseason where the Packers don't have to center their offseason plans about what to do at QB (besides most likely gear up for what Love's next extension looks like once the new league year begins)....

I don't like the matchup with Dallas, primarily because I think their offense could really make hay against a Packer defense and GB's youth on offense will get exposed a bit on the road in a playoff game against a talented defense.  Dallas is one of those teams that doesn't need to blitz to generate pressure, and can play coverage on the back end with some ballhawks in the secondary (even with Diggs out) - some of those back foot throws Love has excelled with throwing receivers into open space on blitzes just aren't going to be there.  That being said, the Packers do have a puncher's chance in this game because I think they can get into a shootout and win, and I also think Dallas has proven capable of laying postseason eggs in prior years.

Too early to really start sorting things out...but the sheer number of young pass catchers currently on the roster really shapes up to have trade fodder in the next season or two - there's always a reason to draft at least one receiver or TE most drafts and the Packers could easily deal a couple of these young guys to strengthen the roster elsewhere or add draft capital instead of having to just cut guys down the road.

[homer]

The three leading receivers last night were all rookies....and one of them was a practice squad dude who absolutely should be playing every week. This offense is going to be Greatest Show on Turf levels if they can get everyone on the field at the same time.

[young guns]

The one great thing about making the playoffs is I have no expectations regarding how well they will do.  I haven't felt this way since the last time they went to Dallas for a playoff game...

[homer]

On 7/20/2023 at 10:25 AM, homer said:

To me, a reasonable expectation is he matches Rodgers' performance from last year with more rushing yards (even though I don't think he's gonna be a "runner"):

26 TD, 12 INT 64.6 Comp% 3700 yards

I was only off on Comp % by . 4 :)

[Matt Breen]

I'd say the regular season went pretty well. I didn't think we'd be terrible - but not great either. I figured it would take half the year for the team to come together (Love get some reps, and all the young receivers). So making the playoffs was a realistic, but iffy, option. But we did it, which is great, and the team seems to be clicking. 

Playoffs is a new season! I think we can beat anyone, but it'll require lots of good things to happen. Crossed fingers.

[Matt Breen]

On 12/31/2023 at 5:13 PM, LouisEly said:

Right now the Packers are at ~$233M in allocated cap for 2024 with a projected salary cap of ~$242M.  Bakhtiari release would clear $21M of cap space.  Releasing Clark wouldn't do anything because of the void years on his contract pulling those years forward, resulting in a net savings of only $3M. 

Bakh is the only significant cap saver from a release standpoint; a Clark extension could create space.  Releasing Campbell would only save ~$2.7M, releasing Preston Smith would only save ~$2.5M, and trading Alexander prior to 6/1 would result in a negative cap hit of ~$3M.

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/green-bay-packers/yearly/cap/

I don't see the Packers making many big free agent moves next year due to this. It would be nice, but it's just not realistic. Like you say, outside of Bakhtiari, most moves are not going to free up a ton of space. No doubt we will do some of those things - but nothing super big. I see draft (five picks in the first three rounds!), and then a few smaller, targeted FAs. 

But we shall see. 

[Samurai Bucky]

Peeps -- I am torn.  I recently said that Joe Barry has to be fired.  Then, there are two good defensive efforts.  Yes, the Vikings and Bears aren't on the same level as a Bills, Dolphins, or 9'ers offense, but the defense did show up.

What am I missing? 

Hello everybody:  My name is Samurai Bucky and I am a waffler...

[Fear The Chorizo]

33 minutes ago, Samurai Bucky said:

Peeps -- I am torn.  I recently said that Joe Barry has to be fired.  Then, there are two good defensive efforts.  Yes, the Vikings and Bears aren't on the same level as a Bills, Dolphins, or 9'ers offense, but the defense did show up.

What am I missing? 

Hello everybody:  My name is Samurai Bucky and I am a waffler...

The Vikings didn't have an NFL-caliber quarterback or bellcow running back plus their star TE just went down with an ACL the week before the GB game, and the Bears' offensive line is persistently among the league's worst....3 weeks ago the Panthers hung 30 on this defense in a must-win road game for the Packers and then proceeded to be shut out their final 2 games.

I don't know if Barry needs to be "fired" since his contract his up - but he shouldn't be retained as defensive coordinator because I think there are numerous better options than sticking with what hasn't worked for multiple seasons.  There are some things schematically with his defense that seem to be way too predictable at times, and good teams are able to pick on a weakness at will with what appears to be next to zero in-game adjustments from Barry's defense to try and negate what the opponent is doing....particularly in the run game against really questionable personnel groupings in the front 7 with certain formations and in the passing game in the middle of the field.  

Injuries have definitely thinned the defensive personnel for the Packers - but injuries happen to everyone in the NFL - the amount of draft capital invested on that side of the ball should mean there's plenty of talent and depth to field a solid defense if development and coaching are up to snuff, even when factoring in the expected busts here and there.  

[RobDeer 45]

Question for all of you:

 

How would you rank the future of all our 1st and 2nd year pass catchers (TEs included)?  What a fun group to watch.  I have no idea who ends up being the cream that rises but I'd love to hear your thoughts.

[Fear The Chorizo]

Not sure he'd be open to taking a coordinator position after multiple head coaching gigs and documented health issues (he may be more than content to just enjoy the rest of his life off the sidelines, and deservedly so).....but recently fired Ron Rivera is a guy that I'd be excited to see get an interview this offseason in GB to run the defense.  He's pretty much a 4-3 guy so that'd be different....but honestly both Gary and Van Ness have the size to be DEs - and the thought of Quay Walker as a Will flying around the field has me thinking that type of front 7 transition wouldn't be impossible in 1 offseason with their current core personnel.

[mrn1ceguy]

17 minutes ago, RobDeer 45 said:

Question for all of you:

 

How would you rank the future of all our 1st and 2nd year pass catchers (TEs included)?  What a fun group to watch.  I have no idea who ends up being the cream that rises but I'd love to hear your thoughts.

I'm not one to rate people because there are stat folks much better at it than me.  But from a familiarity point of view, the whole wide receiver room has reminded me of past Green Bay greats the past few months in terms of play style and (hopefully) production:

Christian Watson - Javon Walker
Romeo Dobbs - James Jones
Malik Heath - Allen Lazaard
Dontayvion Wicks - Donald Driver
Jayden Reed - Greg Jennings
Bo Melton - blank, I got nothing yet but man these have been a good couple games.

 

So if they all keep reminding us of those past greats, they are certainly going to be a fun group.
 

[BrewerFan]

3 hours ago, reillymcshane said:

I don't see the Packers making many big free agent moves next year due to this. It would be nice, but it's just not realistic. Like you say, outside of Bakhtiari, most moves are not going to free up a ton of space. No doubt we will do some of those things - but nothing super big. I see draft (five picks in the first three rounds!), and then a few smaller, targeted FAs. 

But we shall see. 

Well, he's not accounting for the carry over...so the Packers are ~32M under the cap just by cutting Bakh.

They'll likely be close to 40M under with a couple of other roster moves. Jones will very likely be asked to take a pay-cut. I'd guess he'll go from 11M base to 6M. But they can get to 40M fairly easily...but the BIG thing is the following year, all the bad deals are off the cap. 

That, the fact that they can easily manipulate the first year of a deal for a guy like Baker and make the cap hit the first year low, they should easily be able to sign anyone they really want this year. Add to that safeties are generally not among the highest paid positions and if they want to, they won't have much trouble.

I think @CheezWizHedsuggested WAY earlier this year when they added void years to Nijman's deal...which I thought to be odd at the time as it'd mean they wouldn't get a supplemental pick for him, that he thought it was because they planned to be active in the FA market. I think that makes even more sense given how the season has gone on.

Baker, Winfield...Dugger, a Safety like that, then you can always add a guy in the draft. 

Or maybe you go another route and you sign Connor Williams, a REALLY good Center from Miami. That's what I've been advocating for, but Josh Myers has really played...pretty damn well as of late.