Author: samholman

In the wake of the 2023 schedule release, the Packers enter the season with more questions than they have had in over a decade. Aaron Rodgers is traded to the Jets, and Green Bay is replacing him with first-round QB Jordan Love. Love is a relative unknown – other than a promising few drives against the Eagles, most of his 2022 action came in garbage time. Without Rodgers, Green Bay has presumably taken a step back, though they still have plenty of talent at other positions. The Packers may not be competing for a Super Bowl in 2023, but that…

Amongst a young, volatile Packers team, one of the most concerning aspects is the run defense. For years, the Packers run defense has proved porous. Besides Kenny Clark, no interior defensive lineman has emerged to be a consistent run-stuffing presence. That problem is exacerbated in Joe Barry’s defensive scheme, which prioritizes pass defense over stopping the run. With Barry returning as defensive coordinator in 2023, improvements will have to come from the defensive personnel rather than a scheme change. One player who could be key to such an improvement is seventh-round nose tackle Jonathan Ford. The Importance of Nose Tackles…

At first glance, Colby Wooden looks like a dubious fit within the defensive scheme run by the Green Bay Packers. The Packers defense tends to prioritize pass defense in how its personnel is deployed, playing with light boxes and asking its trench players to control multiple gaps. Wooden, who measured in at around 280 pounds during his last college season – and less than 275 pounds at the NFL Combine – is not the type of large, stout, gap-eating lineman that seems necessary to run a light-box defense. However, does that mean he can’t fit within the Fangio/Staley-style scheme that…

As Packers fans know all too well, the issues with the 2022 defense were numerous. The front seven struggled incessantly against the run game. The secondary miscommunicated and broke down in coverage. Once Rashan Gary went down, Green Bay’s remaining pass-rushers struggled to apply pressure. One of many failures was that of Green Bay’s “Penny” package, a nickel personnel group that removes one of the inside linebackers, rather than taking out a defensive lineman, in order to put in a nickel DB. In theory, the Penny package can be incredibly useful. Maintaining a five man front can create more one-on-ones…

The 2022 season proved to be a bit of a rollercoaster for first-round linebacker Quay Walker. Early on in the year, he seemed to struggle identifying plays and playing fast – particularly in the run game. Later on in the season, he appeared to start putting things together. He started operating with more confidence and greater play recognition, especially as a pass defender. Unfortunately, that improvement was overshadowed by several ejections in the latter half of the season. As Green Bay fans look toward the 2023 season, they’ll be hoping for improvement from Walker in multiple facets of the game.…

With the draft and the bulk of free agency completed, NFL teams are looking forward to the start of training camp and preseason. However, for Packers fans, one of the biggest questions on the roster remains. What is Green Bay going to do at safety? Adrian Amos has not been re-signed, and Darnell Savage is presumably going to spend most of his time at slot corner. Green Bay signed Tarvarius Moore and drafted Anthony Johnson Jr. over the offseason, but both players are question marks as starters. Rudy Ford, who flashed when he got on the field in 2022, could…

As the Packers look to upgrade their defensive line, one free-agent option could be DT Shelby Harris. Seattle recently released Harris in a cap-saving move after his first year with the team. The eight-year veteran proved a valuable contributor for the Seahawks after arriving as part of the Russell Wilson trade package. In 2022, he recorded 44 tackles, five TFLs, two sacks, and four PBUs over 15 games. Experienced and versatile, Harris could be a valuable addition to the Green Bay defense. Run Defense Harris is a high-quality run defender. He consistently plays with outstanding pad level, extension, and block…

As fans have become increasingly interested in the NFL Draft over the past few years, one of the online tools that has gained popularity is RAS (Relative Athletic Score). Developed by Kent Lee Platte, RAS is a way to measure how athletic a prospect is compared to others of the same position. It is a fun, intuitive way to compare prospects and gain an overview of their athletic profile. For Packers fans, RAS has become particularly valuable – Green Bay frequently covets highly athletic prospects, so RAS has become one indicator of who they may prefer to draft. There is…

As Green Bay looks to fill out their roster for 2023, they have a significant hole at defensive tackle following the loss of Dean Lowry and Jarran Reed. However, they also have numerous other needs to address. Tight end, wide receiver, and edge rusher are all positions they could look to bolster. Given their other roster needs, it is possible that they could wait to add a defensive tackle or two until the later parts of the NFL Draft. If they do take this route, here are a few defensive lineman who could be available on Day 3 of the…

With star edge rusher Rashan Gary likely to miss time at the beginning of the 2023 season, the Green Bay Packers could look to make some additions to their group of outside linebackers. Kingsley Enagbare stood out as a rookie, but there is little quality depth behind him and Preston Smith. There are several EDGE rusher options that could be available on the free agent market. One such player could be Samson Ebukam, a six-year veteran who has played for the Rams and 49ers. Ebukam put together a solid year in 2022, racking up 36 tackles, 5 sacks, 7 TFLs,…