Midseason Rookie Report Card
After a rookie class that barely contributed in 2020, the Packers needed more from the nine players who were drafted in April. They’ve got just that, and it’s a big reason why a team battered by injuries has still been able to post the league’s second-best record at midseason. The following is an analysis of […]
Read More
Scouting Report: Whitney Mercilus
The Packers signed Whitney Mercilus to a 1-year deal on Wednesday, less than 24 hours after the veteran outside linebacker was released by the rebuilding Houston Texans. The 31-year-old has 57 sacks in 134 games (102 starts), including three this season. With Pro Bowler Za’Darius Smith on injured reserve and Preston Smith dealing with an […]
Read More
Thursday Thoughts: Run Defense
If you told me 10 days ago that an NFL head coach would be fired because he sent racist, misogynistic, and homophobic emails, the Raiders’ Jon Gruden would’ve been one of my top three guesses. And as the news broke late Monday night, I could only imagine how badly Jags’ owner Shahid Khan is praying […]
Read More
No Downside To Smith Signing
In one of the team’s biggest in-season acquisitions in 25 years, the Packers signed Jaylon Smith on Thursday. The former Pro Bowl inside linebacker was surprisingly released by the Dallas Cowboys earlier in the week. Smith was with Matt LaFleur at Notre Dame in 2014, and it’s a pretty safe bet the coach put in […]
Read More
Packers Add Veteran Corner
The Packers signed Rasul Douglas off the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad earlier today. Adding a veteran corner was a necessity with All-Pro Jaire Alexander expected to miss at least a few games due to a right shoulder injury suffered last Sunday against the Steelers. So what are the Packers getting in the 26-year-old Douglas, who […]
Read More
Thursday Thoughts: 2021 Draft
A lot will be made this week of former general manager Ted Thompson passing on T.J. Watt in the 2017 draft, but I never had a problem with trading down. I had a problem with selecting Kevin King and Vince Biegel instead of Dalvin Cook and Carl Lawson. Anyway, here are three more Packers-related thoughts […]
Read More
Defense Still Lacks Talent
Since taking over as GM in 2018, Brian Gutekunst used premium draft picks on three corners, one inside linebacker, one outside linebacker, and one safety and spent nearly $200M on defensive free agents. But after watching a lot of football the past few weeks, I came to a realization – the Packers just aren’t as […]
Read More
Za’Darius Smith Placed On IR
The Packers placed outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith on IR and signed La’Darius Hamilton off Tampa Bay’s practice squad to replace him on the 53-man roster. Aside from their position and the sound of their first names, there’s nothing similar about the two players. Smith is an All-Pro with 26 sacks the past two seasons; Hamilton, […]
Read More
Thursday Thoughts: Round 3
The last time I went into a season feeling good about Green Bay’s defense, Barack Obama was in his first term as president, Esperanza Spalding was named Best New Artist at the Grammys, and The King’s Speech won an Oscar for Best Picture. Yep, it’s been a while. Here are three more Packers-related thoughts that […]
Read More
Thursday Thoughts: Jace’s Fate
Green Bay has 13 players from SEC schools on their 53-man roster, but none are from Alabama. Last week’s release of punter JK Scott made that a reality for the first time in years. Here are three more Packers-related thoughts that ran through my mind in recent days: 1) It’ll be interesting to see what […]
Read More