After rethinking about Monday night’s game against the Rams, here are three things worth discussing:
1) Cornerback Keisean Nixon has been a revelation on returns since fully taking over those duties four weeks ago. That’s the good news. The bad news is that it took half a season before the people in charge figured out that the former Raider was better than Amari Rodgers, who was released earlier this month. It’s convenient to absolve Rich Bisaccia and blame the front office, but then you remember that the longtime special teams coordinator had Nixon in Las Vegas and didn’t use him there, either. Regardless of who’s to blame for sticking with Rodgers for so long, at least the change was made in time for the Packers to find their returner of the future. The 25-year-old Nixon is averaging 25.4 yards on 28 kicks and 15.3 yards on six punts. He combines speed and strength with just the right amount of fearlessness. Nixon becomes a free agent next March, and along with Elgton Jenkins, he’s vaulted himself to the top of the list of players who need to be re-signed.
2) The Packers released Sammy Watkins hours before Monday night’s game against the Rams. The move came as no surprise, considering how little the veteran wide receiver had been playing in recent weeks. Since returning from a hamstring injury, the ex-Bill, Ram, Chief, and Raven averaged fewer than 15 snaps in the past four games. With rookie Romeo Doubs now fully healed from the ankle he sprained in early November, there was no longer any need for a 29-year-old who doesn’t contribute on special teams. As I’ve been opining for months, Brian Gutekunst didn’t make a mistake in signing Watkins as a free agent in the spring. His mistake was thinking that was enough. It should’ve been clear to a general manager being paid millions of dollars that heading into a Super Bowl or bust season with Watkins, Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, and a couple of raw rookies wasn’t going to provide the offense with enough firepower to contend with even above average defenses. After trading All-Pro Davante Adams to Las Vegas in February, Gutekunst had six months to secure a replacement. And while he wasn’t going to find a player as good, he had to do better than Watkins.
3) Green Bay came thisclose to not having any players selected for this year’s Pro Bowl, which hasn’t happened since 2005 (You can argue that Jaire Alexander received the honor more on reputation than merit). And it’s not like others were snubbed. Aside from now-injured outside linebacker Rashan Gary and possibly running back Aaron Jones, it’s difficult to name another player who’s improved from 2021. Conversely, it’s easy to think of players who’ve regressed. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, guards Elgton Jenkins and Royce Newman, nose tackle Kenny Clark, defensive lineman Dean Lowry, outside linebacker Preston Smith, inside linebacker De’Vondre Campbell, cornerbacks Jaire Alexander, Rasul Douglas, and Eric Stokes, and strong safety Adrian Amos come to mind immediately. In some cases, age and/or injuries might be a somewhat valid excuse, but that certainly doesn’t apply to the entire list. Coach Matt LaFleur needs to take a hard look at all of his assistants at the conclusion of the season and not just embattled defensive coordinator Joe Barry. There’s a disconnect. Players on both sides of the ball either aren’t being properly instructed, or they aren’t listening.
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It’s crazy how few good returners the Packers have had since Desmond Howard in 1996. It’s only been a handful of games, but it seems like Nixon might be the real deal. I wonder how many more games the Packers might’ve won if he were the returner all season.
The staff that thought Amari Rodgers {who did nothing but fumble LAST YEAR AS WELL} was a better option than Nixon is the same staff that thought:
Royce Newman/Jake Hanson should start.
Sammy Watkins was enough of an offseason addition at WR.
Think Dillon and Aaron Jones have equal ability therefore share equal snaps.
That signed Savage after he stunk.
That allowed Mo Drayton to cost them a SB trip.
That allows Joe Berry’s defense to get ridiculed on national TV by former players.
I’m beginning to see a pattern here.
If your DC gives a 12 yard coverage cushion to Van Jefferson how far off will he have our CB’s against Tyreek Hill and Waddle ? Maybe we can stick Jaire up in the skybox and have Rasul cover the beer stand in Section D.
Enagbare is not a track guy/workout warrior playing football. He’s a football player. The kind of guy Ron Wolf would have drafted.
I’m getting real McCarthy vibes with Lafleur constantly having his nose stuck in that play sheet.
The Rams rolled coverage to Watson, he’s already getting serious respect around the league.
Witnesses claim Jalen Ramsey had a hold of Watson’s shirt tail after the game as Christian was walking to his car in the players lot.
If Quay can consistently read/react and hit the hole like he did a few times last night, watch out.
Cobb took some shots over the middle and hung on to the ball. Those hits sure don’t get any easier after age 30 and in 10 degree weather.
Think Packers fans are overrating the Dolphins…Pack has played two road games against teams where they had a very small chance of winning (Buffalo and Philadelphia), but Miami is not close to being on the level of those teams. Tua has struggled against good pass defenses, which is what the Packers have – the run defense has held the team back, but Miami doesn’t have an explosive back to punish them. On defense, Miami has been giving up tons of yards as well, so I think if Packers don’t turn the ball over (massive key), they will win the game. Line opened at 6 last night and has been bet down to 4.5 already, so professional bettors seem to agree…Go Pack Go!
Maybe, but I was impressed by how the Dolphins played in Buffalo. They’re not a great team, but they’re talented and well coached. The Packers will have to play by far their best game of the season on Sunday.
Please no Raheem Mostert sequel