Players of interest breakdown thread

[bobblehead]

So I won't bother with Jordan Love or Jaire Alexander here, but some guys are entering crossroad seasons, and some rookies will have a learning curve that is worthy of discussion.

I'm going to start with Darnell Savage who I saw as a bust candidate last year and he didn't (or did) disappoint.

GB is making a mistake with Savage similar to the mistake they made with Hyde. Savage has a skill set that should work as a slot CB. He isn't a good safety. He needs to be utilized in a way where his quickness is an asset, and his lack of discipline/instincts aren't as much of a liability.

This leads me directly to Rasul Douglas who is instinctive and should be moved to safety. He is a fine boundary CB, but he would be a better safety. He is a good tackler and has a nose for the ball. GB should be swapping these 2 guys right now instead of week 7 which is when I am predicting as the week both will be switched. One might be moved before then, but I'm guessing that by week 8 both will be playing the proper positions.

I'll let everyone explain that I'm wrong before moving on to another player.

[run pMc]

I don't hate Rasul at safety. I do hate him in the slot like they had him last year to start the season.
Agree Savage is more of a slot guy or better closer to the LOS, the trouble is he's on the smaller side for a safety and his tackling was bad last year. He was a much better fit for what Pettine ran, he's a bit of a mismatch with Barry's split safety zone coverages.

So... I don't really disagree with your take.

Player of interest I'll start with is Josh Myers. He has to show improvement this year or he's on the bench. Supposedly he can play G but IDK if I've seen it in a preseason game or heard him play there in practice. If he's not the C I don't see how he's in their starting 5. A R2 pick for a backup center would be a poor return on investment, and picking him before Humphrey makes it look worse.

Sticking with OL, my 2nd player of interest -- simply because of draft status and last year -- is Sean Rhyan. I barely saw this dude play, what can he do? Is he any good? Did a year in an NFL program get him to be stronger, smarter, and learn to be a pro? He's got physical talent but I wonder if he's got something between the ears... or if the switch from T to G was too much for him. If he turns into a player he pushes Jake Hanson or Royce Newman farther down the bench and breaks that R3 curse. He could also flame out and be a wasted pick if he comes back unable to play to his draft status (and get the "Amari treatment").

I have several others I'll be curious about, mostly rookies and year 2 players. Myers and Rhyan were the first to come to mind.

[texaspackerbacker]

Good Idea for a thread.

I too think Douglas would be excellent at Safety. The way I look at it, though, either it is prime in the staff's mind already, or else they know something that isn't obvious to us in here about why that wouldn't work. The guy has seemed to be open to whatever helps the team the most. I WISH they'd scrap Barry's primarily zone pass coverage, although I guess that's not likely.

I'm a big Myers fan. He might have been down a little last season, but he still was/is damn good, and he is the kind of Center I prefer - big and strong even if not as mobile as some smaller guys at the position. Tom was a pleasant surprise to me last season. I still see him more as a "6th man" than starter, though. Rhyan, on the other hand is the complete opposite. I had real high hopes for him, but he apparently showed nothing. I still have a little bit of hope that he will get better this season, but really not much. Hanson seemed like pure crap. Newman, though, wasn't all bad and still might be useful.

I used to like Savage, and I still think with better coaching he could be good. I like him better as a deep Safety, though. I remember one game in particular where he and Amos roamed around and were good in two deep. Douglas might be good that way too. In case anybody hasn't heard, I think Casey Hayward is still available as a FA.

Engabare is the "player of interest" I will contribute. I have hopes for a breakout season for him. Walker also, although that wouldn't be as big news considering his status as a fairly high first round pick.

[red]

aaron jones might just put up massive numbers this year (even by his standards), with a QB who doesn't audible into a pass on 75% of running downs

does that count or is that kind of a no brainer?

stokes has to show something. he flashed his rookie year, then looked blah last year. i'd say he hasn't lived up to his draft status yet

safety could be a huge problem. maybe ford can hold down the fort, but i have no confidence in savage or anyone else we currently have. i also like the idea of trying douglas back there

[Joemailman]

I'm kind of interested to see what Sean Rhyan can do. He's a Packers 3rd round pick and I like pulling for the underdog. Really though, he played at a high level against good college competition, and he's an athletic guy. I'm thinking he can't be as useless as he looked last year. He was taking some snaps today at backup Center. Anything would be better than Jake Hanson.

[Fritz]

What disappointed me - and maybe it was just a seniority thing - was that since Bakh and Jenkins were out, the team trotted out the amazing Royce Newman at left guard with the "first team." Again, it may be just a nod to seniority, but my mom could probably beat out Royce Newman, so I'm curious to see how this camp plays out for Sean "I didn't play at all last year but got suspended anyway" Rhyan.

I'm also curious as to whether Quay Walker, who did not participate, will be more disciplined and improved this year. He definitely flashed last year but was a little out-of-control.

[bobblehead]

I'm going to move from D backfield thru O backfield, so next up for me is Rudy Ford. I think By midseason Rudy will be starting at safety opposite Douglas. He is the most willing tackler of the entire defensive backfield, runs a 4.4 and seems to have the most desire. Guys like that find a way to succeed. He was hit and miss on defense last year, but flashed potential and for a guy who went undrafted he didn't look overwhelmed. We have a lot of pedestrian safeties accumulated, but I think Ford has a little Nick Collins in him. A guy who has flashed the potential but failed to put it all together. I like my safeties to be built like a slight RB and Ford fits the mold. Owens would be the wildcard in all this. He has also gone from UDFA to starter in his short career, but he is more like a stopgap guy. Like if no one else emerges at all he may be serviceable. I rewatched a few texans games from last year (its painful) and he never stands out. Then again I didn't see him trailing in coverage as if he was late to his assignment either. You can field a good defense with him, but he would have to be the weakest link.

Ford is my bet to be the best safety on the team by seasons end and a guy we all are happy to have.

[Joemailman]

Eric Stokes is a guy worth watching to see if the looks like the 2021 rookie or the 2022 disappointment. Don't know when we'll see him as he just recently started running again after suffering a torn meniscus and lisfranc injury on the same play last year. His head seems to be in a good place though.

Then his second season began and, instead of building on the success of his rookie year, Stokes regressed. He was riding the high of a good introduction to the NFL, overconfident by his own admission, and it showed on the field. Stokes allowed four catches of at least 20 yards and two touchdowns in nine games, often appearing lost as he wandered the secondary. He missed seven tackles in 33 chances, the worst tackle rate in the Packers secondary.

“I absolutely hate looking at that film,” Stokes said. “But it’s just something I’ve got to do. I’ve just got to learn from it. It’s pretty much just the smallest details that you miss, it’s the small, little stuff that you take for granted, small, little stuff like simple, little things. Like getting ready. Just getting lined up and being ready.

“One thing that (former defensive backs coach Jerry Gray) taught me before he left was just having your gun ready, especially as a corner. You’ve always got to be ready because the ball can easily find you, no matter what, no matter when, whatever. The ball easily finds you.”

The ball kept finding Stokes last season over and over again. When a cornerback struggles, there is nowhere to hide. Not when New York Jets receiver Corey Davis beat him for 41 yards down the right sideline. Not when Stokes covered the wrong receiver in Washington, allowing a wide-open touchdown to Antonio Gibson. Not when his holding penalty nullified a Rasul Douglas scoop-and-score fumble recovery later in the same game.

It was one calamity after another.

“Just trying to be Superman,” Stokes said. “Just trying to do everything and all that stuff, when that’s not required. The only thing that’s required from me is guard the man in front of me. Bump everything else. The thing in front of me is the only thing I need to worry about. Not the bigger picture, not anything. Just stopping the man in front of me.”

[smuggler]

His injuries were pretty bad. If we even get a capable player after those injuries, we should count it as a big win. 2021 Stokes no longer exists.

[bobblehead]

His injuries were pretty bad. If we even get a capable player after those injuries, we should count it as a big win. 2021 Stokes no longer exists.

You are right, but I think you are overstating it. 2021 Stokes won't exist this year. He won't be fully recovered this season for sure. However, how well he recovers by next season only time will tell.

[bobblehead]

Moving up into the front 7 and there is all kinds of reasons to be optimistic and pessimistic.

Quay Walker is my #1 guy to watch for obvious reasons. Honestly I think they are going to use him to get after the QB this year. I just get the feel they are looking at Micah Parsons as the blueprint for career arc. Walker has all kinds of talent. He got comfortable last year for the last 5 weeks or so. As far as the stupid temper things, guys tend to learn. Suh almost ended up bagging groceries, but he got his head right eventually. Walker literally has the skill to cover, tackle, sack. There aren't that many guys in the NFL like that. I hope it clicks for him because the sky is the limit. Of course if he is truly too stupid to learn how to handle himself or pick up responsibilities then he could be a monster disappointment.

I don't think anyone will shock us at the OLB position. Enagbare proved he belongs last year and I don't expect that to change. I think Hollins is a nice 3rd down specialist option. Gary just needs to recover. Predicting the final roster seems easy at OLB. Van Ness, Gary, Preston, Enagbare, Hollins. I don't really see it playing out any other way.

[Bretsky]

Our last 3 1st round picks

Van Ness
Walker and Wyatt
Stokes

[red]

i'll bring up josh myers again

a recent article i read brought him back to my attention

there was a clear can't miss, once in a decade center in the 2021 draft. we passed on him to take myers who most thought was a distant second best c in the draft. creed humphrey was draft one spot later

myer is rated as below average for centers in the league. humphrey is the best in the nfl

a classic example of gutey getting too cute and fucking up a pick

[bobblehead]

So DL has no one I'm really keying in on. Like everyone I want Wyatt to show his late season surge is real, but I almost expect that to happen. The rookies are developmental and won't be on the field a ton this year. They are both tweener guys who played a decent amount of edge in college I think. Part of the deep edge class, but are too bulky to play it in the pros. I guess Ford is the guy I will sort of watch to see if he makes a 2nd year jump.

[Joemailman]

Wyatt is certainly a guy I'll be watching. Packers run defense did improve last 3 games quite a bit with Wyatt replacing Lowry. Went from about 148 rushing yards per game to 96. Wyatt is about the same size as Jarran Reed and 20 pounds heavier than Lowry. He should be stout enough while providing more disruptiveness. The development of him and Walker will be huge key for this defense.

[run pMc]

If Wyatt can hold up better against double teams, stay on his feet and in his gap it will be a positive. He struggled with that last year.
Not sure what two Day 3 rookie DL will get you, but I think they improved the DL pass rushing. I think there's a real possibility they have gotten worse at run defense -- unless TJ Slaton and Wyatt show improvement and consistency.

The defense gave up 5.0 ypc last year on average. You allow that and it doesn't matter who you have playing at corner or rushing the passer, it's just the other team running the ball down the field.

One caveat to this is the ILB and safeties - if they play their run fits better and improve their tackling that will help the run defense. DL has to hold up better at the POA though. Wyatt will play an important role and hopefully makes a jump. There have not been many Packer Year 2 jumps lately.

[Fritz]

So DL has no one I'm really keying in on. Like everyone I want Wyatt to show his late season surge is real, but I almost expect that to happen. The rookies are developmental and won't be on the field a ton this year. They are both tweener guys who played a decent amount of edge in college I think. Part of the deep edge class, but are too bulky to play it in the pros. I guess Ford is the guy I will sort of watch to see if he makes a 2nd year jump.

Given that Ford wasn't even activated last year, I don't think, for him a second year jump will be just being on the game day roster.

[bobblehead]

Given that Ford wasn't even activated last year, I don't think, for him a second year jump will be just being on the game day roster.

Like I said. Not a real exciting position group. Clark has to earn his money. Wyatt merely has to play as he did late in the season. I can't say any other players make me expect a lot. They all need to be serviceable in rotation while wyatt and Clark need to be good.....and that is all I expect or hope of them.

[Fritz]

Like I said. Not a real exciting position group. Clark has to earn his money. Wyatt merely has to play as he did late in the season. I can't say any other players make me expect a lot. They all need to be serviceable in rotation while wyatt and Clark need to be good.....and that is all I expect or hope of them.

That's true. I had hopes for TJ Slaton (or is it "Slayton," or is that Chris?), but I noticed, when I focused on him during games, he seemed to get pushed around a lot. He makes splash plays but is not consistent, especially in what should be his calling card - stopping the run.

Wyatt really needs to play well for this defense to live up to any kind of the expectations you'd have for a defense that has a zillion first-round picks on it.

[bobblehead]

Where to start with the offense. I'll start at the OL. I don't have any one guy I'm watching too intently as this is a great and talented group. What I will watch most is Yosh Nijman probably. He is sort of the key to a lot of things that could happen. If he takes that final step (and I hear LVN ate his lunch several times in shorts) a lot of options open up. The biggest one would be trading Bak since he is effectively in a contract year (40M hit next year). If Yosh looks good enough to be a starting T long term we have options. A healthy Jenkins can play LT. Yosh can play LT. A stronger Tom can play LT. The rest can fill in multiple ways.

There is constant chatter around trading Bak and I think its the right move long term, but if you can't trust Yosh to be more than he has been (adequate) then you can't trade Bak. Yosh has improved every year. The only thing missing now is a nasty streak. Steel sharpens steel. I would put him heads up with LVN every day over and over. Clifton vs. Kampman was an epic camp battle that made both players better. If Yosh can take that last step to being very good then Bak for a 2nd is viable.

I know people dump on Meyers and clearly Humphries has been better, but a healthy Meyers is decent at center. He reach blocks very well for a big man. He can man the C until we can do better. I could see a world where Tom plays center, but its certainly not the best scenario.