Category: Latest Packers News

Packers must improve on special teams to be true contender

The Packers need big improvements on special teams over the final 6 games of the 2019 season.

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Special teams: That one phase of football we all forget about when everything’s clicking, but as soon as the tides turn and mistakes are made, it sticks out like a sore thumb.

It’s no secret the Green Bay Packers have struggled on special teams this season. After struggling under coordinator Ron Zook the last several years, the Packers cut ties this past offseason and brought in Shawn Mennenga, a former assistant with the Cleveland Browns who spent the 2018 season in the NCAA at Vanderbilt.

So far, it’s been tough sledding for Green Bay’s rookie special teams coordinator. In addition to failing the eye test, the Packers rank very poorly in some key metrics.

According to Pro Football Focus, Green Bay is currently ranked the NFL’s second-worst special teams unit through 11 weeks. Only the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been worse by PFF’s standards.

One of the biggest disappointments this season has been the team’s inability to find a consistent kick/punt returner.

After trading away the reliable Trevor Davis to the Oakland Raiders after Week 2, Green Bay elected to give rookie undrafted free agent Darrius Shepherd a chance as their primary return man. The team also claimed Tremon Smith off waivers after the trade.

Shepherd has since been waived and re-signed to the team’s practice squad, while Smith continues to be the focal point on returns. Smith makes up for nearly half (191) of Green Bay’s total kick return yardage.

But even Smith, who was electric as a rookie for the Kansas City Chiefs last season (26.8 yards per kick return), can only do so much with what’s provided around him.

The Packers currently rank 17th in the NFL in kick return yards (395) and 32nd in punt return yards (-8). On the contrary, Green Bay has given up the eighth-most kick return yards (523) and 12th-most punt return yards (148).

The Packers have mostly relied on inexperienced youth on kick coverage and kick returns, which is a big reason for their downfall. Players like Ty Summers, Josh Jackson and Chandon Sullivan have all been staples on special teams this season. All three will need to step up their game going forward, particularly on kick coverage.

But things aren’t all bad. One of the few bright spots on special teams has been second-year punter J.K. Scott. After struggling to find consistency as a rookie, Scott has found his form in 2019. He’s currently averaging 45.8 yards per punt, with a net average of 41.9 yards. Scott is currently PFF’s No. 2 rated punter.

Meanwhile, veteran kicker Mason Crosby has quietly had one of his best seasons to date. Crosby has converted 13-of-14 field goals and has made all 29 of his extra point attempts.

All in all, the Packers special teams unit as a whole has plenty to improve on. While there’s been a few instances of hope, the team will need to find their groove on special teams if they’re to be a true contender going forward.

5 important Packers to watch over final 6 games of 2019

Keep an eye on these five important Packers players over the final six games of the 2019 season.

Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

The Green Bay Packers are 8-2 coming out of the bye week and beginning preparations for Sunday night’s showdown with the San Francisco 49ers, which will start a crucial six-game stretch to finish the 2019 season

Here are five important players to watch over the final six games:

DL Kenny Clark

Clark doesn’t have flashy stats in 2019, but he went into the bye week with a dominant individual performance against the Carolina Panthers in which he produced a career-high 10 pressures. Don’t be surprised if Clark resumes his status as an every-game difference-maker over the final six games. He had a week off to rest his lingering injuries, and defensive coordinator Mike Pettine had a week to figure out ways to get him more one-on-one opportunities. All the coaches agree: Clark is still playing a high level. In most cases, playing at a high level over an extended period of time eventually manifests itself in the box score. Clark is primed for a big finish to 2019.

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Packers, even at 8-2, still searching for complete game from all 3 phases

The Packers are looking for a complete game from the offense, defense and special teams.

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Coaches are designed to want more, to chase perfection. So even though his team is 8-2 coming out of the bye week, Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur believes his team is capable of so much more.

Specifically, LaFleur doesn’t think the Packers have put together a complete game so far in 2019.

“I don’t think we’ve gotten to a point where all three phases have really put it together for all four quarters,” LaFleur said Wednesday. “There have been glimpses in each phase.”

A look at “expected points added” from each phase during the team’s first 10 games validates LaFleur’s opinion. The Packers still haven’t finished a game with positive expected points added on offense, defense and special teams.

And there have been flashes from all three. It just hasn’t all come together at once. Every team strives for consistency, and the Packers haven’t found it in any one phase.

“I think there’s a lot of room for improvement in all three phases. I think more than anything, just playing consistent football,” LaFleur said.

The lack of a complete game doesn’t just fall on the special teams, either. The Packers only have two games where both the offense and defense provided positive expected points added.

Sunday night would be an ideal time for the Packers’ first complete game. A trip to San Francisco to play the 9-1 49ers figures to provide the biggest test of the year for LaFleur’s team, and it could be a season-defining game for a team with aspirations of obtaining homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.

Beating good teams on the road almost always requires positive contributions  from all three phases. Can the Packers be efficient on offense against the NFL’s No. 2 scoring defense? Can Mike Pettine’s defense control the 49ers’ versatile and creative offense? And will the Packers special teams find its footing and avoid crippling mistakes?

The answers to those questions may determine whether or not the Packers come back from San Francisco with the top seed in the NFC on Sunday night.

Preston Smith, Za’Darius Smith both rank in top 10 of pass rush win rate

Packers OLBs Preston and Za’Darius Smith are both in the top 10 of pass rush win rate this season.

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The Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys are the only two teams in the NFL with two edge rushers in the top 10 of pass rush win rate, according to ESPN.

Preston Smith ranks fourth in the NFL at 27 percent, while Za’Darius Smith is eighth at 25 percent.

ESPN’s data measures how often pass rushers beat their block in under 2.5 seconds. It’s one way to determine who is winning their one-on-one matchups in the passing game the most often, even if the win doesn’t produce a volume statistic such as a sack or a quarterback hit.

The Dallas Cowboys also have two in the top 10: Robert Quinn (third, 29 percent) and Demarcus Lawrence (fifth, 26 percent).

However, the Packers are the only team with two players within the top 10 in the NFL in number of sacks. Preston is fourth with 10, while Za’Darius is tied for seventh with 8.5.

They’re also the only team with two players in the top 10 of quarterback hits: Za’Darius is tied for fifth with 20, while Preston is tied for seventh with 18.

There is also this graph to consider:

It shows pass rush win rate and double team rate, illustrating which pass rushers are both winning matchups and drawing extra attention. Za’Darius is in the upper right quadrant, painting him as the rare pass rusher who is both productive and drawing more double teams. He’s grouped in with rushers such as Lawrence, Quinn, Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney. The extra attention for Za’Darius has had a trickle-down effect for Preston, who isn’t getting double teamed as often but who is winning more one-on-one matchups. He’s in the upper left quadrant.

The Packers signed both Smiths during free agency in March.

Packers want to fix pre-snap penalty problem

The Green Bay Packers have a pre-snap penalty problem, and coach Matt LaFleur wants to fix it coming out of the bye week. 

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The Green Bay Packers have a pre-snap penalty problem, and coach Matt LaFleur wants to fix it coming out of the bye week.

Speaking about areas of improvement identified during the team’s self-scouting exercises this past week, LaFleur pointed to third down – and how all the pre-snap penalties have handcuffed the offense at times.

“A lot of it has been self-inflicted,” LaFleur said Monday. “Too many penalties, just pre-snap penalties, discipline penalties that we’ve got to clean up in order for us to be the team we want to be.”

The Packers have 16 false starts penalties and a league-high nine delay of game infractions. Of those 25 penalties, 14 have come at home – an unacceptable number for a team with a veteran quarterback and veteran offensive line.

All five of the Packers’ starting offensive linemen have at least one false start. Left tackle David Bakhtiari has a team-high four false starts and 10 penalties overall. Only Laremy Tunsil (11) has more total accepted penalties this season.

The Packers’ 16 false starts overall rank as the sixth-most in the NFL.

NFL leaders in false starts, delay of games in 2019:

Packers 25
Texans 22
Buccaneers 21
Titans 20
Rams 20
Bills 19
Browns 19
Lions 19

LaFleur and quarterback Aaron Rodgers shoulder the majority of the blame for delay of game penalties. LaFleur mentioned issues in substitution that need resolving and also took blame for not getting every playcall in to Rodgers in a timely fashion.

The Packers have nine delay of game penalties. No other team has more than six. Of the 32 NFL teams, 81 percent have three or fewer delay of game penalties in 2019.

The Packers’ desire to fix the pre-snap penalty problem will be tested Sunday night. Can they get plays in on time on the road and stay focused before the snap? Levi’s Stadium isn’t one of the NFL’s loudest environments, but the 49ers do present a major challenge for the Packers offense, especially along the defensive line.

LaFleur’s main goal is to eliminate the discipline penalties and keep the Packers offense ahead of the sticks, which – in theory – would help the Packers convert more third downs. The offense currently ranks 19th in the NFL on third down, and they’ll be tested by the NFL’s second-ranked third-down defense on Sunday night.

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49ers will likely be without edge rusher Dee Ford against Packers

Ford could miss Sunday’s showdown with the Packers with a hamstring injury.

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The Green Bay Packers might benefit from an injury to one of the San Francisco 49ers’ most disruptive defensive players on Sunday night in Santa Clara.

According to the San Jose Mercury News, the 49ers are concerned edge rusher Dee Ford could miss multiple games, including Sunday’s night visit from the Packers, with a hamstring injury suffered during a win against the Arizona Cardinals.

Ford, who was dealt from the Kansas City Chiefs to the 49ers in March, has 6.5 sacks, six tackles for losses, six quarterback hits and two forced fumbles in 10 games this season.

A devastating speed rusher when healthy, Ford had 13.0 sacks, 29 quarterback hits and seven forced fumbles during a Pro Bowl season for the Chiefs in 2018.

Ford was injured during a sack of Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray on Sunday.

The 49ers are deep and talented along the defensive front. Nick Bosa, DeForest Buckner, Arik Armstead and Soloman Thomas are all first-round picks. Together, the four have 22 sacks and 38 quarterback hits in 2019.

If Ford can’t go Sunday, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers will have one fewer pass-rusher to worry about in primetime at Levi’s Stadium.

The 49ers will provide the first injury report of the week on Wednesday.

Kenny Clark: Packers will have ‘hands full on defense’ vs. 49ers

The Packers defense know they have a big challenge ahead in the 49ers.

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Green Bay Packers defensive lineman Kenny Clark understands the challenge awaiting the team’s defense on Sunday night in San Francisco.

The NFC-leading 49ers are second in the NFL in points per game and total rushing yards and third in rushing touchdowns after 11 weeks, presenting big challenges for a Packers defense that allowed the most yards and second-most yards per play between Weeks 4-10.

“They run the ball really well. That’s the No. 1 focus,” Clark said Monday. “They have three really good backs. They use their fullback really well too. We’re going to have our hands full on defense.”

The 49ers offense is based around the versatile abilities of running backs Matt Breida, Tevin Coleman and Raheem Mosert, who have combined for 1,299 rushing yards and 1,652 total yards. Kyle Shanahan’s attack also features Pro Bowl fullback Kyle Juszczyk, Pro Bowl tight end George Kittle, veteran receiver Emmanuel Sanders and rookie playmaker Deebo Samuel.

The personnel and Shanahan’s creative scheme make for a tough combination  for any defense.

“We definitely have a challenge ahead of us, and we have to be up for it,” Clark said.

The injury report could be important. Breida, Kittle and left tackle Joe Staley all missed the 49ers’ win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

However, efficiency numbers indicate the 49ers might not be as strong on offense as the volume statistics suggest. Shanahan’s team ranks 15th in yards per play, 12th in yards per passing attempt and 14th in yards per rushing attempt, and they’re 23rd in turnover percentage.

Stopping the run will likely be a deciding factor for the Packers. Clark mentioned it as a focus of the defense, and for good reason: Mike Pettine’s group needs to force the game into Jimmy Garoppolo’s hands and hope the pass-rush can take advantage of a shaky 49ers offensive line.

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Packers at full strength health-wise coming out of bye

All 53 players were available for practice on Monday, the first day back from the Packers’ bye week.

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The Green Bay Packers returned to work after a week off with a roster at full strength, at least participation-wise.

According to Mike Spofford of the team’s official site, the Packers had all 53 players on the active roster available for practice on Monday.

It’s Nov. 18. The Packers have played 10 games and are preparing for Week 12. Coach Matt LaFleur understands how fortunate he is to have a full roster this deep into a season.

“I think it’s great,” LaFleur said Monday. “I think it speaks to the support we have around this organization, in terms of helping keep our guys healthy. It speaks to our players, taking care of their bodies. And with anything like that, there’s some luck that’s involved there too. We’re in pretty good shape right now.”

The Packers have six players on injured reserve, but there isn’t an irreplaceable player on the list. Starting left guard Lane Taylor began the season on injured reserve, but rookie Elgton Jenkins has likely upgraded the position.  Raven Greene’s absence left a hole at dime linebacker, and Equanimeous St. Brown was likely headed for a role in the receiving group, but both would have been role players.

Before Week 10, the Packers listed only two players – cornerback Jaire Alexander and safety Adrian Amos – as questionable, and both played. And while linebacker Ty Summers and kick returner Tremon Smith both exited the win over the Panthers with head injuries, both players were available for practice Monday.

The time off in Week 11 off likely gave several dinged-up players and all the veteran players a chance to get closer to 100 percent and recharge the batteries after a tough, 10-game open to the season.

Now, the Packers will go into the stretch run of the season – beginning Sunday night in San Francisco – with a healthy, rested roster.

“It’s great,” defensive lineman Kenny Clark said Monday. “We’re healthy right now. Everyone is moving good, feeling good, energized. Just ready to go. We’re gonna need everybody to make this last push.”

LaFleur and the Packers will release their first injury report of Week 12 on Wednesday. It might still have a bunch of names, but as of Monday, no player appears to be in danger of missing the primetime showdown with the 49ers.

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Packers coach Matt LaFleur outlines areas of improvement coming out bye

Packers coach Matt LaFleur wants fewer big plays allowed on defense, fewer self-inflicted mistakes on offense and more consistency from the special teams.

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Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur wants fewer big plays allowed on defense, fewer self-inflicted mistakes on offense and more consistency from the special teams as his team comes out of the bye and prepares for the final six games of the 2019 season.

The Packers spent the off week executing a “self scout” exercise, and LaFleur  and his staff found areas of necessary improvement.

“There’s a lot of things that are pretty obvious in terms of what we need to clean up from a defensive perspective of giving up the big plays,” LaFleur said Monday.

The Packers allowed 38 passing plays of at least 20 yards and nine running plays of at least 15 yards through the first 10 games. All the big plays have added up against Mike Pettine’s defense.

Between Weeks 4-10, the Packers gave up the most total yards in the NFL (2,862) and the second-most yards per play (6.5). Only a strong red-zone defense and a consistent pass rush kept the Packers from completely dissolving on defense over the last two months.

The team won’t survive long in January without improvement from Pettine’s defense.

On offense, LaFleur wants better early-down execution and a reduction of the penalties and discipline errors that have often stalled drives.

“From an offensive perspective of staying ahead of the sticks and not having the negative yardage plays,” LaFleur said. “When you look at us, offensively, third down and long, we’ve had too many of them. We’ve been pretty solid when it’s 3rd-and-7 or less, those 3rd-and-manageable situations. It’s tough sledding in this league when you’re at 3rd-and-8 or more. It’s tough. A lot of it has been self-inflicted. Too many penalties, just pre-snap penalties, discipline penalties that we’ve got to clean up in order for us to be the team we want to be.”

The Packers have 16 false start penalties, the sixth-most in the NFL this season. Of those 16, 10 have come at home.

The Packers also have 24 runs or completions resulting in negative yardage this season.

Tacking on an extra yards has made moving the sticks on third down more difficult, according to LaFleur. The Packers are only converting 37.2 percent of third down opportunities, which ranks 19th in the NFL.

The Packers’ special teams have struggled throughout the season, especially in terms of returning kicks and punts and covering kickoffs. While Mason Crosby and JK Scott have been solid, just about everything else has been a problem.

“On special teams, we have to put a consistent product out there,” LaFleur said. “It’s been inconsistent. There’s been some really good moments and then there’s been some really bad ones. Consistency, really all across the board.”

The Packers are 8-2 and coming out of the bye week with clear and obvious areas of improvement. Can LaFleur’s team find answers over the final six weeks and cement their status as a Super Bowl contender, or will problem areas developed over the first 10 games prove to be fatal flaws?

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Lesson learned: Packers planning to leave for San Francisco on Saturday

After going to Los Angeles on Friday and getting beat, the Packers will wait a day and leave for San Francisco on Saturday.

Lessons learned during a disastrous trip to Los Angeles to start November led Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur to a course correction for this week’s trip to San Francisco.

Unlike their last visit to the West Coast, when LaFleur’s team left for Los Angeles on Friday and then got walloped by the Chargers, the Packers will wait a day and leave for San Francisco on Saturday.

LaFleur said he talked with a host of people, including the team’s medical staff, strength and conditioning coordinator Chris Gizzi, head athletic trainer Bryan “Flea” Engel and director of performance nutrition Adam Korzan, to better understand the logistics of a football team traveling to the West Coast.

“What I came to find out was that the two-hour time difference really doesn’t affect our guys a whole bunch,” LaFleur said Monday. “It’s harder on teams going from the West Coast to East Coast. Coupled with how I felt the Chargers trip went, I felt this was the best route to go for our football team.”

LaFleur said the NFL’s decision to flex the game to Sunday night did not affect the team’s travel plans. The intention was always to leave for San Francisco on Saturday.

Changes were required after the team’s last trip to the West Coast.

In early November, the Packers left for Los Angeles on Friday, had a walkthrough on Saturday and then played the team’s most lethargic and disappointing game of the season in a 26-11 loss to the Chargers. The Packers slept through the first half, had too many self-inflicted errors and never really got into the flow of the game, and both LaFleur and quarterback Aaron Rodgers weren’t happy with the focus and energy level of the team.

The Packers will hope another day in Green Bay and one fewer day out west will lead to a more energized and sharp performance against the 49ers, who are 9-1 and in possession of the top seed in the NFC entering Week 12.

The Packers and 49ers are scheduled for a 7:20 p.m. CT kickoff from Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on Sunday night.

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