Category: Latest Packers News

Packers could lose personnel exec if Browns hire Mike McCarthy

Packers personnel exec Jon-Eric Sullivan could top Mike McCarthy’s list of potential GMs if he gets the job in Cleveland.

The Cleveland Browns hiring former Packers coach Mike McCarthy could have ripple effects in Green Bay.

According to Dan Graziano of ESPN, if the Browns pick McCarthy as their new coach, he could push for current Packers co-director of player personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan as the team’s new general manager.

Rob Demovsky of ESPN reported the same.

Sullivan, a former football operations intern in Green Bay, is one of the highest-ranking and most trusted members of Brian Gutekunst’s front office.

Brought to Green Bay by Mike Sherman in 2003, Sullivan previously served as a regional scout and director of college scouting under Ted Thompson before earning a promotion from Gutekunst in 2018.

Sullivan, who worked with McCarthy in Green Bay from 2006-18, currently runs the player personnel department with co-director John Wojciechowski.

McCarthy officially interviewed with the Browns on Thursday. He was the first interview of the team’s head-coaching search.

The Browns fired coach Freddie Kitchens and general manager John Dorsey after one tumultuous season. McCarthy, who was out of the league in 2019 after being fired by the Packers in Dec. 2018, figures to be a leading candidate in Cleveland.

Long-time Packers S LeRoy Butler selected as Hall of Fame finalist

LeRoy Butler was selected as a Hall of Fame finalist for the first time.

Long-time Green Bay Packers safety LeRoy Butler has taken another important step towards enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Butler, a three-time semi-finalist, is now a first-time finalist. He joined 14 other modern-era finalists for the Hall of Fame class of 2020.

Butler played 12 seasons for the Packers (1990-2001). He intercepted 38 passes, tallied 20.5 sacks, made four All-Pro teams and appeared in two Super Bowls, winning Super Bowl XXXI. He was later named as a member of the 1990s All-Decade team.

The Hall’s Selection Committee will meet the Saturday before the Super Bowl to determine the five new members of the Hall of Fame. Enshrinement requires an 80 percent positive vote from the voters.

Here is the full list of finalists:

S LeRoy Butler
S Steve Atwater
OT Tony Boselli
WR Isaac Bruce
G Alan Faneca
WR Torry Holt
G Steve Hutchinson
RB Edgerrin James
S John Lynch
LB Sam Mills
S Troy Polamalu
DE Richard Seymour
LB Zach Thomas
WR Reggie Wayne
DT Bryant Young

Butler has been eligible for the Hall of Fame for 14 seasons.

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Aaron Rodgers points to timing as reason for inconsistency in Packers passing game

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers didn’t split hairs when discussing the team’s passing offense on Thursday.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers explained how a lack of timing has been a major reason for the offense’s inconsistencies and the importance of self-scouting for improving the team’s passing offense during the week off.

Rodgers, who threw 28 incomplete passes during last Sunday’s win over the Detroit Lions, didn’t split hairs about what’s hurting the offense as the start of the playoffs near.

“I think the timing has been off a lot of the year,” Rodgers said at his locker. “I don’t know if that’s going to get fixed. It’s not going to get fixed the next two days.”

The Packers are off this week while waiting on an opponent for next Sunday’s NFC Divisional Round game at Lambeau Field. Rodgers said it’s a “good week” to self-scout the passing game and find out what has worked and what hasn’t in terms of timing and adjust accordingly.

“It’s just a matter of finding those concepts where the timing has been good because there’s been a number of concepts where we’ve looked good,” Rodgers said. “The ball has been coming out on time, I’ve been feeling good about the rhythm, and guys are getting open on time. But there’s too many concepts that we’ve really tried to hit and keep hitting and make it work and we just aren’t on the same page timing-wise. And that’s why this has been a good week to just self-scout.”

The lack of timing and precision in the Packers’ passing offense hit an apex Sunday. The Packers eventually got rolling and came from behind to beat the Lions, but Rodgers completed only six of his first 18 passes and set a career-high with 28 incompletions – many of which were off-target throws or plays where the quarterback and receiver weren’t on the same page.

Rodgers made it clear: The Packers aren’t going to suddenly get on the same page between now and next Sunday, but there’s a chance to improve the efficiency to start the postseason by finding the plays and concepts that worked during the first 16 games and dumping those that haven’t worked.

The bye week was important for the Packers for so many reasons, but it could have another positive effect if the offense can get better over by the bye week by identifying the good stuff and shelving the rest.

Packers DB Raven Greene returns to practice, could be ready for playoffs

Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Raven Greene could potentially be ready to return and play in the postseason.

Green Bay Packers defensive back Raven Greene returned to practice on Thursday and could be available for Mike Pettine’s defense when the Packers begin the postseason on Sunday, Jan. 12.

Coach Matt LaFleur said Greene, who was designated for return from injured reserve, could “potentially” be back for the NFC Divisional Round, based on evaluations from the training staff over the next week and a half.

The Packers lost Greene, Pettine’s go-to hybrid safety, to an injured ankle in Week 2. They will use their second return designation on the versatile safety after previously using one on rookie tight end Jace Sternberger.

While not a starter, Greene played 70 snaps during the first two weeks as a dime linebacker and backup safety for the Packers. He and veteran Ibraheim Campbell could give Pettine several different options in the role during the postseason, and Greene has vast experience on special teams.

In Week 1, Greene played 55 defensive snaps and produced six tackles and a pass breakup as the Packers held the Chicago Bears to just three points.

Top 5 reasons to be optimistic about Packers’ chances in the postseason

The Packers need to win two games to get to the Super Bowl. Can it be done? Here are the reasons for optimism.

There are legitimate reasons to question the Green Bay Packers’ legitimacy as a Super Bowl contender, but for as important as the last 16 games are for judging a playoff football team, a brand new season is about to start, and the Packers are just two wins away from going to Miami.

The Packers won 13 games and got themselves into the dance. Now, as the No. 2 seed, they’re in a prime position to make a Super Bowl run.

Here are five reasons for optimism as the Packers enter the postseason:

1. Defense is on a roll

Over the last five weeks of 2019, Mike Pettine’s defense gave up the second-fewest points, fourth-fewest yards per play, third-fewest first downs, fifth-lowest third-down conversion percentage and the lowest opposing passer rating and completion percentage in the NFL. They intercepted a league-high eight passes and had the seventh-most takeaways.

The competition must be considered: The Packers played three rookie quarterbacks (Daniel Jones, Dwayne Haskins and David Blough) and four teams (Redskins, Bears, Giants, Lions) ranked in the bottom half of the NFL in points scored.

Still, the Packers defense is entering the postseason playing its best football of the season. Za’Darius Smith and Kenny Clark terrorized quarterbacks over the final month, the run defense finally solidified and the secondary converted turnover opportunities.

The Packers can beat anyone in the NFC playoff field if the defense continues to dominate the line of scrimmage, pressure quarterbacks at a high rate and take the football away. Remember: The Packers were 12-0 when creating a turnover in 2019. The competition is about to rise significantly, but the Packers defense looks better prepared for the fight, especially if Smith and Clark keep playing at a high level.

2. Aaron Jones, Davante Adams and the offensive line

The Packers have been maddeningly inconsistent on offense, but any group with a pair of difference-making skill players and a talented and healthy offensive line can go a long way in the postseason. The Packers have the major ingredients: Jones is a playmaking star, Adams can beat anyone for a big play, and arguably no team left in the field has a better pass-blocking offensive line.

Another factor: Jones has been healthy for all 16 games, Adams missed only four games and the five starters along the offensive line were together for 14 straight games to end the season. Especially up front, cohesion is crucial.

Now, coach Matt LaFleur has two weeks to figure out the best and most efficient ways to get Jones and Adams the football. If Jones and Adams can create explosive plays and the offensive line keeps Aaron Rodgers protected, the Packers can get hot in the playoffs.

One thing to consider: David Bakhtiari is back to playing at an All-Pro level. His ability to take away edge rushers will be huge in the postseason.

Jones, however, would appear to be the biggest X-factor. His ability to change games as a runner and receiver is rare, and the Packers are drastically different when he’s on the field. Don’t be surprised if the entire Packers’ gameplan is centered around No. 33 in the postseason.

3. Finding ways to win (and not lose)

Winning close games is often a matter of luck, but there’s something to knowing how to win and how not to lose in big moments late in games. The Packers have found ways to escape with victories, and there’s a confidence that develops – both on offense and defense – when a team can consistently get it done and win close games.

How does a team win close games? Making big plays in crunch time and avoiding crippling late-game mistakes. Will the “luck” run out in the postseason, or will all the close-game experiences give the Packers an edge in a critical moment?

4. Special teams?

The Packers’ special teams aren’t considered one of the NFL’s best, but they do have potential game-changing players for the postseason. Kicker Mason Crosby has made 62 of 65 kicks during the 2019 season and will have a distinct advantage over any other kicker at Lambeau Field, while new returner Tyler Ervin has sparked the return game to life. Over the final four games, Ervin ranked fourth in the NFL in punt return yards, and he was one of only six returners to average over 25 kick return yards with at least five kick returns. The winning margin is often so small in the postseason. One big kick or one big return could make all the difference.

5. Aaron Rodgers getting hot

It wouldn’t be unreasonable to say the Packers passing game is close. In so many ways, it is. The design of the offense is keeping everyone involved and creating big-play opportunities. The execution has been off at times, and that’s a big problem this late into a season, but if the Packers can take a step and get everyone – including the quarterback – on the same page, this offense has huge potential. In fact, arguably no offense has more room for growth entering the postseason, and that makes the Packers especially dangerous.

Rodgers is still hugely talented and can make every single throw at any moment, but he needs to play a lot better and a lot more consistently than he did to finish the season. Whether or not LaFleur can get Rodgers going will likely determine if the Packers are one-and-done or capable of making a deep run.

Elgton Jenkins, Darnell Savage make PFF’s 2019 All-Rookie Team

The Packers put two rookies on PFF’s All-Rookie Team for 2019.

Two of the Green Bay Packers’ top three picks in the 2019 NFL draft were named to Pro Football Focus’ All-Rookie team.

Guard Elgton Jenkins, the 44th overall pick, and safety Darnell Savage, the 21st overall pick, both made the team at their respective positions.

Jenkins, who took over as a starter in Week 3, graded out at PFF as both the NFL’s top rookie guard and a top-10 left guard in the NFL. He didn’t allow a sack despite playing 571 pass-blocking snaps. His career is just beginning, but Jenkins looks like a long-term starter and potential Pro Bowl player.

Savage missed three games with an ankle injury and was up and down at times, but his playmaking ability and speed in coverage shined through. He finished his rookie season with two interceptions, two forced fumbles and five pass breakups. He gave up a passer rating of 71.1 into his coverage and finished with a top-30 coverage grade among NFL safeties.

The Packers went into the offseason with clear needs at both guard and safety. Jenkins and Savage, along with veterans Billy Turner and Adrian Amos, helped solve issues at both positions.

While outside linebacker Rashan Gary didn’t make the All-Rookie team and was quiet for much of his first season, he flashed disruptive ability late in the year and could be an important part of the edge-rushing rotation for the Packers as they enter the postseason. While Jenkins and Savage were immediately thrust into starting roles, Gary has been afforded time to develop behind veterans Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith.

This stat demonstrates Aaron Jones’ incredible value to Packers offense

The MVP of the Packers offense is almost certainly RB Aaron Jones. This stat shows why.

The 2019 season has revealed Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones to be a legitimate star. He went over 1,000 rushing yards, produced over 1,500 total yards and scored 19 touchdowns, including a league-high 16 rushing touchdowns.

Of course, a player who gains a lot of yards and scores a lot of touchdowns is valuable. But just how valuable is Aaron Jones to the Packers offense?

Let Bill Barnwell of ESPN help explain. He’s hit the jackpot for demonstrating Jones’ value.

According to Barnwell, the Packers are third in the NFL in expected points added per play with Jones on the field, and 29th when he’s replaced by backup Jamaal Williams. And Jones helps Aaron Rodgers in a big way, too. When Jones is on the field, Rodgers’ QBR is 67.7. When he’s not, it plummets to 28.7.

In simple terms: Rodgers and the Packers offense are nearing elite status with Jones as the running back, but they devolve into one of the worst offenses when he’s not.

The Packers value Williams’ versatility and toughness as a backup, and the plan all along was to rotate the two throughout the year to help keep both healthy. It worked, especially for Jones, who played in all 16 games for the first time in his three-year NFL career.

Now, the Packers are 13-3 and preparing to play the highest remaining seed in the NFC Divisional Round on Jan. 12. The time for saving a player is long gone. And the Packers need the boost. Matt LaFleur’s offense has been great in flashes but altogether inconsistent, a potentially worrying identity for a team that will likely have to beat either the New Orleans Saints or San Francisco 49ers (or both) to get to the Super Bowl.

One potential solution is just more Aaron Jones. It’s probably not that simple – playing Jones every snap isn’t going to magically cure all the issues facing the Packers offense, and they were inconsistent with Jones carrying the load Sunday in Detroit – but more of No. 33 can’t hurt. In fact, the numbers strongly suggest that giving Jones more of the workload would help the overall efficiency of the offense and potentially make Rodgers a more consistently effective quarterback.

The Packers need to win two games to get to Miami. One will be at home. LaFleur and his staff have two weeks to self-scout and get everything humming before either the Saints, Philadelphia Eagles or Seattle Seahawks head for Green Bay. Trusting the numbers and shifting the usage of running backs could be the key for LaFleur and the Packers making a deep playoff run.

Studs and duds from Packers’ 23-20 win over Lions in Week 17

The studs and duds from the Packers’ 23-20 win over the Lions in the season finale.

The Green Bay Packers are the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoff field after coming from behind to beat the Detroit Lions in the season finale on Sunday at Ford Field.

Here are the studs and duds from the 23-20 win:

Studs

LT David Bakhtiari: The Packers left tackle is playing at an increasingly high level. The Lions simply didn’t have a player capable of threatening him off the edge in the passing game, so Bakhtiari dominated snap after snap. Aaron Rodgers was rarely bothered in the pocket and looked increasingly confident the edges would be blocked up. The play of Bakhtiari and right tackles Bryan Bulaga and Jared Veldheer made it easy for Rodgers and Matt LaFleur to keep dialing up passing plays. Bakhtiari will go into the postseason playing at an All-Pro level again.

RB Aaron Jones: He slashed and dashed and eventually wore down the Lions front over 25 carries. He just kept chipping away, gaining yards in bigger and bigger chunks, side-stepping tacklers and exploding through gaps with his patented vision and quickness. He all but put the game away on a 31-yard catch-and-run on the final drive. Getting him the ball in the passing game was a focus, and he probably should have caught 5-6 passes and scored a couple of touchdowns. Rodgers kept missing him or throwing it to him late. On one play, Jones burst upfield in the scramble drill and should have had an easy touchdown, but Rodgers overthrew it. Jones finished with 143 total yards, putting him over 1,000 rushing yards and 1,500 total yards in 2019.

WR Davante Adams: Three of his seven catches converted on third down, including a 20-yard touchdown on 3rd-and-10 with the Packers desperate for a score. He ran a picture-perfect post-corner route from the slot and was all alone in the end zone. It was a beauty. Later, he likely saved the game with a 3-yard catch against Darius Slay on 4th-and-1. He finished with 93 receiving yards and his fifth receiving touchdown of the season.

OLB Za’Darius Smith: He didn’t fill up the stat sheet, but as he’s done all year, his snaps were loaded with impact. Twice, he burst through the line as a rover and blew up running plays. It’s a way for Mike Pettine to get the best matchups for his dominant edge rusher. In the second half, Smith’s pressure ensured rookie David Blough would struggle throwing the football. He was particularly menacing on a few third downs late in the game. Every game in 2019, Smith showed up, played with maximum effort and impacted games. He’s a legitimate star.

LB Blake Martinez: He struggled again against the run, but his big plays as a rusher and in coverage helped turn the game in the second half. He beat the running back on the blitz for a sack, hurried Blough into an incompletion on third down, intercepted Blough on an errant pass over the middle and awarely took away a crosser on third down on the Lions’ last possession.

OL Lucas Patrick: It was a terrific two-day stretch for the backup Packers lineman. On Saturday, he signed a two-year extension. On Sunday, he came off the bench for an injured Corey Linsley and put up one hell of a fight against Pro Bowler Damon Harrison. Patrick isn’t big or all that athletic, but he’s such a competitor, and sometimes effort, physicality and willpower can overcome the measurables.

Duds

QB Aaron Rodgers: It was a confounding performance from No. 12. On one hand, Rodgers delivered at least 5-6 throws that few others can make. At times, his accuracy can be other-worldly, but that fact makes his misses all the more bewildering. The Packers wanted to attack the league’s worst passing defense down the field, but Rodgers and the receivers weren’t up to the task. His accuracy wasn’t good enough, especially in the first half, but the entire operation looked disjointed – a potentially troubling sign in Week 17. Many of the misses weren’t off by much and could likely be explained by something other than just poor accuracy from the quarterback. Eventually, the Packers defense gave Rodgers enough opportunities to create the comeback. His 3rd-and-10 touchdown pass to Allen Lazard was a great throw under pressure.

WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling: A consistent connection with Rodgers never developed in 2019. Valdes-Scantling caught just two of seven targets on Sunday. He dropped an easy third-down catch, gained no separation on a vertical route on another third-down attempt and then was out of position on a deep ball in the second half. A quarterback and receiver on the same page would have probably created a big play on the final deep ball. It was there. The connection wasn’t.

DL Dean Lowry: The majority of the Lions’ big runs in the first half came when they got Lowry blocked at the point of attack and allowed a lineman to get to the second level and wall off Blake Martinez. Lowry had been playing really well coming into Sunday, but the consistent physicality just wasn’t there against the Lions. The Packers need strong play by the front three because Mike Pettine so often plays light behind them. Lowry couldn’t handle the combo blocks in the first half, leading to the Lions gashing the Packers for over 170 rushing yards.

Packers OLB Za’Darius Smith led NFL in total pressures in 2019

Packers OLB Za’Darius Smith had an NFL-high 93 pressures during the 2019 season.

No player had more total pressures during the 2019 NFL season than Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith.

According to Pro Football Focus, Smith led the NFL with 93 total pressures this season. He was also the only player to produce 90 or more pressures and finish with a pressure rate above 18 percent in 2019.

Smith finished sixth in the NFL with 13.5 sacks but was tied for the league lead with 37 quarterback hits, the most from a Packers player since the NFL started tracking the stat in 2006.

Smith became just the fourth player to tally at least 37 quarterback hits in a single season, joining J.J. Watt, Aaron Donald and Shaquil Barrett.

Next Gen Stats credited Smith with 84 disruptions, the most in the NFL, including the most hurries (60) and the second-most turnover-causing pressures.

ESPN Stats and Information credited Smith with 61 pressures, also the most in the NFL, per Rob Demovsky of ESPN.

Both Pro Football Focus and Next Gen Stats included Smith, a free-agent addition of the Packers this offseason, on their 2019 All-Pro teams.

Green Bay Packers 2020 opponents set

The Packers will play the NFC South and AFC South plus division winners from the NFC East and NFC West in 2020.

The Green Bay Packers will play seven games against 2019 playoff teams during the 2020 NFL season.

The team’s opponents are now set following the conclusion of the 2019 season.

The Packers are scheduled to play all four teams from the NFC South and all four teams from the AFC South next season, plus two other division winners from the NFC.

Here are the Packers’ 2020 opponents, with 2019 records in parentheses:

Home

Chicago Bears (8-8)
Detroit Lions (3-12-1)
Minnesota Vikings (10-6)*
Atlanta Falcons (7-9)
Carolina Panthers (5-11)
Jacksonville Jaguars (6-10)
Tennessee Titans (9-7)*
Philadelphia Eagles (9-7)*

Away

Chicago Bears (8-8)
Detroit Lions (3-12-1)
Minnesota Vikings (10-6)*
New Orleans Saints (13-3)*
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9)
Houston Texans (10-6)*
Indianapolis Colts (7-9)
San Francisco 49ers (13-3)*

The Packers won the NFC North in 2019, so they’ll play the division winner from the NFC East (Eagles) and NFC West (49ers) in 2020.

Under NFL scheduling rules, every team plays six games against division teams, four games against a division inside their own conference, four games against a division from the other conference and two games against teams from the same conference finishing in their same slot in the division.