The Packers are back from their bye week after a much-needed week of rest. They return back to the field this Sunday to take on the Chicago Bears. As things stand, the Packers should look to getting back to full strength as they look to make a run as the playoffs approach. Right now, they are in a really good spot right now as they are 9-3 first place in the NFC North and have the number two seed in the NFC conference.
Before anything else, though, there are some things that should happen for the Packers as they are back from their bye week. Here are a few things to expect from the Packers moving forward.
Royce Newman Has to Step Up For the Packers as He is the Starter For the Rest of the Season
Royce Newman has struggled a lot this season and has had some rough games. At the same time, he is a rookie who is starting due to injuries on the offensive line.
Considering the circumstances he is facing, including facing some elite defensive tackles this season, he has done well. Not to mention, before the bye week, Newman was facing arguably the best defensive player in the NFL in Aaron Donald and held his own.
However, he is now the starter at right guard for the rest of the season because of Elgton Jenkins tearing his ACL. This means he indeed needs to be better as the Packers look to make another run at the Super Bowl. Definitely opposing defenses will try to attack him as he is right now the weak link on the offensive line.
Newman certainly needs to step up the second half of the season.
Keep Committing to the Run Game
The Packers have a good run game this year. It starts with the two-headed monster they have at running back with Aaron Jones and AJ Dillion. These two create a one-two punch in the Packers backfield.
Post-bye week, the Packers offense and Matt Lafleur definitely need to decisively commit to it as it is a big streghth for them this season. So far, the games that the Packers have lost this year they did not commit to the running game. Even if it is not working have to stay with it as it can wear out defenses. Not to mention with Aaron Rodgers toe injury they got to run the ball more take the pressure off him.
If the Packers want to go far this year they have to commit to the run game.
Packers Need to Get Josiah Deguara Involved in the Passing Game
The Packers drafted Josiah Deguara knowing he can be a versatile piece in this offense.
In the future, they need to start using him more as he can be another weapon for this offense. Deguara has been mostly used as a blocker mostly due to the offensive line injuries. However, with Robert Tonyan gone for the year with a ACL tear he needs to be more involved with the passing game. He has been open on numerous occasions but Aaron Rodgers has failed to connect with him.
With the next remaining games it is important that the Packers get Deguara more involved in the passing game.
Equanimeous St. Brown Should Get More Chances in the Packers Offense
This player for the Packers does not have a big role on offense but he should as we head towards the end of the season. That player is Equanimeous St. Brown who has been pretty good as of late.
He was cut by the Packers in training camp then brought back on the practice squad and now earning more snaps as of late. St. Brown has been making plays when given the opportunity the last couple of weeks. He has been making key catches helping moving the chains for the Packers offense. His snap count should certainly go up especially with the bad play of Allan Lazard this year. Not to mention St. Brown is just as good a run blocker like Lazard is.
As the season is coming to a close the Packers increase Equanimieous St. Brown’s role as he deserves more snaps on offense.
Josh Myers and David Bakhtiari Hopefully Both Are Coming Back Soon For the Packers
David Bakhtiari and Josh Myers are still recovering from injuries and have yet to return. David is still recovering from a torn ACL last year and Myers is recovering from knee surgery.
Guys like Lucas Patrick and Yosh Ninjman have done well in their place. However, with the postseason approaching the Packers need hope both David and Myers return soon. The Packers offensive will be close to dominant when both of them come back. The big worry is that they need to come back before the playoffs to knock off rust as both have missed a lot of action this season.
The Packers are doing the right being cautious with them but hopefully Josh Myers and David Bakhtiari return soon.
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