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    5 ways the Packers can return to 13-win regular season

    Mitchell SkurzewskiBy Updated:No Comments6 Mins Read
    Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones
    Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones (33) finds running room during the third quarter of their game Sunday, October 3, 2021 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Green Bay Packers beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-17. Packers04 17

    The Green Bay Packers enjoyed three straight 13-win seasons, but things took a turn this season. The Packers missed the playoffs by going 8-9 this year despite having a win-and-in home game in Week 18. It didn’t seem possible early in the season at 4-8, but the Packers still controlled their own destiny in Week 18. However, in a recent familiar script Aaron Rodgers and the Packers lost at home to end their season.

    Better QB play

    Let’s be real. Aaron Rodgers wasn’t good last year. He was banged up with a broken thumb and injured ribs. But the Rodgers was 25th in QBR at 39.6. The Packers finished 8-9 and you’re looking for better QB play from your $50 million dollar quarterback. You’re looking for a $50 million quarterback to win you a couple games with his greatness. If Rodgers did that, Green Bay was playoff bound. First a decision has to be made on if Rodgers returns. If so, they need better QB play from him like his back-to-back MVP season in 2020 and 2021.

    Following back-to-back seasons as NFL MVP, Aaron Rodgers had arguably his worst season since becoming the Packers starting quarterback in 2008. His 91.1 passer rating was his worst in his 15 years as Brett Favre’s successor. He also had he second worst marks in yards per pass attempt and interceptions (12), his 3,695 yards were the third-fewest of his career and 26 touchdowns tied for fourth-fewest in Rodgers’ career.

     

    If the decision is to move on, the Packers should be able to depend on Jordan Love to produce at at least near the level Rodgers did in 2022. With improvements around the quarterback the Packers likely could make the playoffs regardless of who is QBing in 2023.

    More dynamic weapons to go with young WRs

    Allen Lazard led the Packers with 60 catches for 788 yards and he added six touchdowns. Lazard is a solid receiver, but the Packers need to surround their quarterback with more dynamic options. Tha Packers added talent to the room in the 2022 Draft in Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs.
    Watson showed No. 1 wide receiver potential the second half of the season. Watson scored eight touchdowns between Week 10-18, tied for fourth in the NFL. Doubs showed nice things before his injury derailed his rookie season.
    With limited salary cap room, it is likely the dynamic playmaking options may have to come from the NFL Draft.
    Green Bay owns the No. 15 pick in the draft and the Packers have to look at taking a wide receiver if they go offense. The Packers also need to take a tight end early in the draft. Bob Tonyan just doesn’t have the explosiveness after his torn ACL. Love Big Dog, but Mercedes Lewis is basically an offensive tackle at this point. While things look somewhat bleak on the outside now with Randall Cobb and Lazard likely playing elsewhere next year, Green Bay could reload the position in the draft and make a free agent acquisition. With the flashes from Watson and solid play from Doubs, adding more dynamic pieces and a pass-catching tight end would help the Packer offense regardless who is under center.
    https://twitter.com/wendellfp/status/1626192727309180928?s=20

    Health of pivotal pieces

    USATSI 19752221 168400517 lowres
    Jan 8, 2023; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers offensive tackle David Bakhtiari (69) provides pass protection while covering Detroit Lions linebacker Romeo Okwara (95) during the second quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via USA TODAY NETWORK
    David Bakhtiari has had a battle overcoming the ACL injury suffered in Dec. 2020. It cost him the 2021-22 season, and caused him to miss time this year as well. But, when Bakhtiari is on the field he is still elite. The left tackle surrendered just one sack in 11 games this season.
    Rashan Gary is a must on the field for the Packers. The relentless rush end suffered a torn ACL in Detroit this year and will likely miss some of 2023 season. The Packers will need him if they want the defense to regain its top form.
    Eric Stokes also missed much of the year. The second year Georgia product was outstanding as a rookie.
    It’s the NFL there are going to be injuries, but Green Bay hopes it doesn’t affect their elite group in 2023.

    Better balance defensively

    It sounds like Joe Barry is returning next year as defensive coordinator. Yes, there were some injuries like to Eric Stokes and then Gary later. But the Packers need to be more aggressive defensively next year to go with the zone concepts that worked well late in the season.
    This is a defense that is dependent on turnovers and before Week 14 the Packers had forced just eight turnovers all year. A 3rd and 2 with the Packers’ season on the line, Jaire Alexander played 8 yards off-coverage and the Lions had an easy pitch-and-catch for the season-ending first down vs. Green Bay.
    I am not calling for all-out blitzes but there has to be more times to get after the quarterback and force opponent mistakes earlier in the game. Utilizing the zone concepts late in the year and blitzing less helped the Packers defense, but you can do that with the lead. The Packers simply didn’t play complimentary football too often in 2022. By mixing in zones and playing zone the Packers can take advantage of their ballhawking cornerbacks of Jaire Alexander and Rasul Douglas.

    Give Aaron Jones more touches

    Aaron Jones’ touches or lack thereof have been a topic of discussion for a few years now. Despite averaging over 5 yards per carry again in 2022, Jones had just 213 carries this season. He played in every game. That is an average of just 12.5 carries per game. Jones ran for a career-high 1,121 yards but had just two touchdowns rushing. He added 395 receiving yards and five touchdowns. With Aaron Rodgers approaching 40 years of age, I’d think Jones should get at least three more carries per game. If it’s Love, he deserves the ball as well to keep a young quarterback comfortable. I think I speak for all of Packer Nation when I say, I hope Aaron Jones is back and I hope he is utilized much more in the run game. He’s the Packers’ best offensive player. He needs more than 12.5 carries per game.

    Final word

    In conclusion while the Packers missed the postseason this year, the margin for error in the NFL is extremely small. With some added explosive playmakers in the passing game, more consistency from the defense and better QB play and the Green Bay Packers can easily find themselves back in the postseason next year, regardless of who is under center.

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    Mitchell is a sports journalist who graduated from University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point with a bachelor's degree in communications. He worked in newspapers for over a decade, including at USA TODAY-Wisconsin. Mitchell won a Wisconsin Newspaper Award for Best Feature and has many top-3 finishes.

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