It’s that time of the year when I get to offer this bit of unsolicited advice to football fans – if you sit in front of the TV and watch the NFL Combine for hours a day, you might want to re-examine your life. Anyway, here are a few Packers-related thoughts that ran through my mind recently:
1) The recent signing of Dominik Eberle was overshadowed by Aaron Rodgers’ appearance on the Pat McAfee show and a couple of contract restructurings, but the German-born kicker might turn out to be more than just another February transaction. If given a real opportunity, the former Utah State star could be the player to finally make Mason Crosby and his bloated contract expendable. Ebele doesn’t have great leg strength, but it’s above average, and he was accurate in college. He also showed the ability to handle inclement weather. If he can improve his kickoffs, he’ll find a job next season. The fact that new special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia worked with Eberle in Vegas could make that job in Green Bay.
Eberle’s first field goal attempt in the NFL came in Week 16 against the Chargers and was from 51 yards; he made it with plenty of room to spare.
2) People need to stop insisting that Rodgers is as good as ever in his late 30s. It’s just not true. His numbers might be as impressive now as they were 10 years ago, but that’s not the same as how he’s actually playing. While still an elite quarterback, the 4-time MVP isn’t as accurate as he was in his prime. He also doesn’t handle pressure as well. Rushes that didn’t faze him or he easily escaped from at 28 tended to rattle him or ensnare him at 38. And a player who used to be nearly unbeatable in the cold has lost two straight postseason games to warm-weather teams at Lambeau. This isn’t meant to disparage Rodgers. It’s just meant to be a reality check. He might be holding off Father Time, but he hasn’t stopped him.
3) It was surprising to see how infrequently the Packers had players in motion at the snap last season. While that’s a trademark of the Kyle Shanahan offense, coach and play caller Matt LaFleur hasn’t really incorporated it in Green Bay. He had players in motion at the snap more often in 2020, but 15% of the time was only 12th-most in the league and well below Shanahan and the 49ers (42%) that same season. It’s doubtful LaFleur will ever reach that percentage, but you should expect the number to get into the mid-20s once Rodgers moves on and the Packers can finally say goodbye to the remnants of the offense Mike McCarthy ran for 12 1/2 years – the one Rodgers is still clinging to at the end of his career.
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