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The Packers held OTA's (Organized Team Activities) this week. OTA's are the first phase of team practices, and begin the long haul towards training camp and the start of the 2014 season. They also offer the first look of the 2014 Packers team, complete with rookies, vets, and free agent acquisitions.
Click Here for a few highlights from OTA's
Now, for some of my own thoughts about on this early glimpse of the 2014 Green Bay Packers.
1. The Packers are "primed" on defense. All most people remember about the 2013 Packer defense was how it fell apart at crunch time against the 49ers. The offense had just tied the game at 20 with 5:06 remaining; they never got another chance. The 49ers were able to run out all 5:06 and set up a walk-off field goal.
Most people don't remember, however, that the Packers defense started off the season hot! Sure, they weren't #1 in the NFL, but they were holding their own and playing tough. When Aaron Rodgers went down against the Bears, the air all got let out of the balloon. The defense seemed to lose its confidence. The injuries didn't help either, as the Packers were forced to play without key play makers like Clay Matthews and Casey Hayward for an extended period of time.
With the defense getting healthy again, and with new talent in the likes of Julius Peppers, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Letroy Guion, and Khyrie Thornton, the defense looks poised for a resurrection in 2014.
2. Expect heavy competition at wide receiver/tight end in training camp. After losing James Jones and (potentially) Jermichael Finley in free agency, most expected wide receiver and tight end to be addressed in the NFL Draft. They were indeed, as the Packers drafted three wide receivers in May's draft -- Davante Adams (2nd round), Jared Abbrederis (5th round), and Jeff Janis (7th round), and a tight end (Richard Rodgers, 3rd round). In addition, the Packers signed undrafted tight end Colt Lyerla, a very talented, but troubled prospect. All in all, Green Bay got a pretty good haul of pass catchers for Aaron Rodgers this offseason.
At wide receiver, the Packers are obviously bringing back Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, and Jarrett Boykin (who showed some remarkable promise in his first year of significant action). They come into training camp also returning Myles White, who played sparingly for the Packers last season, Chris Harper, a mid-season waiver acquisition, and Kevin Dorsey, who is coming off a season-ending injury. Also back with the Pack is Alex Gillette, who impressed in training camp last year, but was cut and signed to the practice squad. All together, with Adams, Abbrederis, and Janis added to that mix, it appears likely that Green Bay will carry 6 receivers into the 2014 season. Abbrederis, White, and Adams are expected to compete for the 4th receiver role; Janis will be competing with White, Harper, Dorsey, and Gillette to make the team.
At tight end, the Packers now have Andrew Quarless, Brandon Bostick, Ryan Taylor, and Jake Stoneburner returning. When you throw in Rodgers and Lyerla, it's tough to say who will end up making the final roster. I believe that the Packers will keep at least 4 tight ends this year, which means that two out of that group will most likely end up on the waiver wire or the practice squad. Beyond Rodgers, Quarless is the only lock to make the team, and is presumably the starter for 2014 after being re-signed this offseason. Taylor is a special teams ace, but has yet to make any significant contributions offensively. Bostick is a freakishly gifted athlete who reminds me of a young Jermichael Finley, but he needs to continue polishing his skills, and will miss time in camp due to an injury which ended his 2013 campaign. The former Ohio State Buckeye, Stoneburner, is a solid overall player, and contributor on special teams, but is probably the most likely to be released. Colt Lyerla is perhaps the most intriguing player among the second tier of tight ends. He had 2nd round talent, but character issues led to him being undrafted. If Lyerla can stay out of trouble and apply himself in training camp, he could very well end up not only making the final roster, but seeing significant playing time as a rookie. Rodgers is a lock for the final roster as a 3rd round pick. He definitely passes the eye test, and is big and athletic enough to be a solid starter in this league eventually. It remains to be seen if he will push Quarless for playing time.
3. Don't forget DuJuan. In 2012, DuJuan Harris came out of nowhere to breathe some life into the Packers' horrid running game. He was explosive, he was fast, he was decisive, and he played like his hair was on fire. In 2013, the Packers drafted Eddie Lacy, and it was expected that Lacy and Harris would split carries as a thunder and lightning combo. Then Harris got injured and was out for the season. Eddie Lacy went on to receive OROY honors, and now Harris is just an afterthought in the minds of most fans. But don't forget about this guy. I have a feeling he is going to have a big training camp and will create an interesting situation in the Packers backfield, which returns Lacy, Starks, Franklin, and Harris at halfback, and Kuhn at fullback.
4. The "Elephant" in the room. Last year, Dom Capers invented a new position. Sort of. He moved Mike Neal from defensive end to linebacker and named his position an "Elephant." They used Neal to generate pass rush, but also to set the edge in the running game, serving as an anchor to contain opponents running backs and keep them from bouncing it outside. After the Packers experienced some injuries at linebacker, they experimented with Datone Jones playing an elephant type role to make up for the injury deficit. This offseason, Capers has a new toy to play with in Julius Peppers, and if any man every was an elephant at linebacker, it's Peppers, who stands 6-7, 287 pounds. Capers has said specifically that they will use Peppers as an elephant this season. So expect an innovative approach to how the Packers use Peppers this season in their 3-4 defense.
Click Here for a few highlights from OTA's
Now, for some of my own thoughts about on this early glimpse of the 2014 Green Bay Packers.
1. The Packers are "primed" on defense. All most people remember about the 2013 Packer defense was how it fell apart at crunch time against the 49ers. The offense had just tied the game at 20 with 5:06 remaining; they never got another chance. The 49ers were able to run out all 5:06 and set up a walk-off field goal.
Most people don't remember, however, that the Packers defense started off the season hot! Sure, they weren't #1 in the NFL, but they were holding their own and playing tough. When Aaron Rodgers went down against the Bears, the air all got let out of the balloon. The defense seemed to lose its confidence. The injuries didn't help either, as the Packers were forced to play without key play makers like Clay Matthews and Casey Hayward for an extended period of time.
With the defense getting healthy again, and with new talent in the likes of Julius Peppers, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Letroy Guion, and Khyrie Thornton, the defense looks poised for a resurrection in 2014.
2. Expect heavy competition at wide receiver/tight end in training camp. After losing James Jones and (potentially) Jermichael Finley in free agency, most expected wide receiver and tight end to be addressed in the NFL Draft. They were indeed, as the Packers drafted three wide receivers in May's draft -- Davante Adams (2nd round), Jared Abbrederis (5th round), and Jeff Janis (7th round), and a tight end (Richard Rodgers, 3rd round). In addition, the Packers signed undrafted tight end Colt Lyerla, a very talented, but troubled prospect. All in all, Green Bay got a pretty good haul of pass catchers for Aaron Rodgers this offseason.
At wide receiver, the Packers are obviously bringing back Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, and Jarrett Boykin (who showed some remarkable promise in his first year of significant action). They come into training camp also returning Myles White, who played sparingly for the Packers last season, Chris Harper, a mid-season waiver acquisition, and Kevin Dorsey, who is coming off a season-ending injury. Also back with the Pack is Alex Gillette, who impressed in training camp last year, but was cut and signed to the practice squad. All together, with Adams, Abbrederis, and Janis added to that mix, it appears likely that Green Bay will carry 6 receivers into the 2014 season. Abbrederis, White, and Adams are expected to compete for the 4th receiver role; Janis will be competing with White, Harper, Dorsey, and Gillette to make the team.
At tight end, the Packers now have Andrew Quarless, Brandon Bostick, Ryan Taylor, and Jake Stoneburner returning. When you throw in Rodgers and Lyerla, it's tough to say who will end up making the final roster. I believe that the Packers will keep at least 4 tight ends this year, which means that two out of that group will most likely end up on the waiver wire or the practice squad. Beyond Rodgers, Quarless is the only lock to make the team, and is presumably the starter for 2014 after being re-signed this offseason. Taylor is a special teams ace, but has yet to make any significant contributions offensively. Bostick is a freakishly gifted athlete who reminds me of a young Jermichael Finley, but he needs to continue polishing his skills, and will miss time in camp due to an injury which ended his 2013 campaign. The former Ohio State Buckeye, Stoneburner, is a solid overall player, and contributor on special teams, but is probably the most likely to be released. Colt Lyerla is perhaps the most intriguing player among the second tier of tight ends. He had 2nd round talent, but character issues led to him being undrafted. If Lyerla can stay out of trouble and apply himself in training camp, he could very well end up not only making the final roster, but seeing significant playing time as a rookie. Rodgers is a lock for the final roster as a 3rd round pick. He definitely passes the eye test, and is big and athletic enough to be a solid starter in this league eventually. It remains to be seen if he will push Quarless for playing time.
3. Don't forget DuJuan. In 2012, DuJuan Harris came out of nowhere to breathe some life into the Packers' horrid running game. He was explosive, he was fast, he was decisive, and he played like his hair was on fire. In 2013, the Packers drafted Eddie Lacy, and it was expected that Lacy and Harris would split carries as a thunder and lightning combo. Then Harris got injured and was out for the season. Eddie Lacy went on to receive OROY honors, and now Harris is just an afterthought in the minds of most fans. But don't forget about this guy. I have a feeling he is going to have a big training camp and will create an interesting situation in the Packers backfield, which returns Lacy, Starks, Franklin, and Harris at halfback, and Kuhn at fullback.
4. The "Elephant" in the room. Last year, Dom Capers invented a new position. Sort of. He moved Mike Neal from defensive end to linebacker and named his position an "Elephant." They used Neal to generate pass rush, but also to set the edge in the running game, serving as an anchor to contain opponents running backs and keep them from bouncing it outside. After the Packers experienced some injuries at linebacker, they experimented with Datone Jones playing an elephant type role to make up for the injury deficit. This offseason, Capers has a new toy to play with in Julius Peppers, and if any man every was an elephant at linebacker, it's Peppers, who stands 6-7, 287 pounds. Capers has said specifically that they will use Peppers as an elephant this season. So expect an innovative approach to how the Packers use Peppers this season in their 3-4 defense.