Preparing the Packers for the 2020 Season.

[pbmax]

Had no idea Johnny Unitas played for the 85 Bears.

[texaspackerbacker]

Civil? I talk shit to him about his better than thou attitude. He brings race into it and not in a trash talk way like Red or anyone else does. Of course YOU would give him a break. Birds of a feather after all right? Both know-it-alls who think they're superior to others.

The good news is you can probably get a group rate to Thailand!

Yeah, I know what you mean, and it rubs me the wrong way too, but in this thread (and maybe otherwise occasionally hahahaha), he seemed to be trying to be a little bit Good and Normal. You gotta admit, he ain't as bad as sharpcheddar hahahahaha.

And hell no, you shouldn't compare me to him hahahahaha. I'm as easy going and tolerant and civil as a guy can be with maybe 3 or 4 exceptions in here who deserve whatever shit I give them.

[hoosier]

Hoosier meet radagast:

Nah, that ain't him, that's a northern Virginian from Arlington. Your guy's a rube from downstate.

[RashanGary]

Some good stuff touched upon in here. Radagast needs some compassion and maybe a new soul. Madtown needs a new job away from the dump. The rest of us need an off-season laugh, so it's working out!

[Cheesehead Craig]

Much of what you said is starting now. This is when the coaches get to spend a lot of time on self-review because hey're not busy preparing for he next opponent. On offense they'll be looking at which players fit into LaFleur's offense and which don't.

Yep. The coaching staff goes through their self scouting and they all start doing their due diligence for the draft. Pretty standard off-season stuff.

[Sparkey]

I don't agree with you in placing Martinez in the key personnel listing. If he is the best you can do at linebacker, then the same issues that we saw this year in the middle of the field defense will happen again. He has too many flaws that can not be covered up with a scheme as we saw in both 49er games, among the others.

[pbmax]

I don't agree with you in placing Martinez in the key personnel listing. If he is the best you can do at linebacker, then the same issues that we saw this year in the middle of the field defense will happen again. He has too many flaws that can not be covered up with a scheme as we saw in both 49er games, among the others.

I think he can play most downs. But if he is your best coverage 'backer, you have a problem.

If Pettine's system expects you to corral the run while you one gap your way to the QB, he still needs to develop playing downhill (though he was better this year).

At a minimum, he needs speedy relief.

[Bretsky]

BLAKE MARTINEZ; listened to a very interesting interview at end of year. Almost seemed like an exit interview. Clearly he wants to stay in Green Bay. He thanked everybody, and noted how much he loves Lambeau and the invironment ant the fans.

GOT ME THINKING...............HOW MUCH WOULD WE PAY THE GUY AND BE HAPPY ????????????

He's about the only ILB who makes a loot of tackles and plays. But I don't think GB can really pay him his value as measured in free agency.

I'd embrace signing him for 6MIL/Year. My gut tells me that's about what GB wants, and he's about to get 8 to 10, and he knows her his agent he's played his last game as a Packer.



P.S. ANYBODY think there could be a ray of hope Rashan Gary could play ILB ?

[texaspackerbacker]

BLAKE MARTINEZ; listened to a very interesting interview at end of year. Almost seemed like an exit interview. Clearly he wants to stay in Green Bay. He thanked everybody, and noted how much he loves Lambeau and the invironment ant the fans.

GOT ME THINKING...............HOW MUCH WOULD WE PAY THE GUY AND BE HAPPY ????????????

He's about the only ILB who makes a loot of tackles and plays. But I don't think GB can really pay him his value as measured in free agency.

I'd embrace signing him for 6MIL/Year. My gut tells me that's about what GB wants, and he's about to get 8 to 10, and he knows her his agent he's played his last game as a Packer.



P.S. ANYBODY think there could be a ray of hope Rashan Gary could play ILB ?

They should pay him $8 million. If it goes to $10 million or more, let him walk and sign somebody about as good.

Gary would make a good 4-3 DE. Zadarius would also be a good 4-3 DE, but he'd be decent as a 4-3 OLB too. Preston and Gary at DE, Clark and Reader (FA) at DT, Zadarius and Fackrell at OLB with Martinez at MLB in the 4-3 - my wish, even though it's unlikely to happen.

[Radagast]

As much as I appreciate the ILB/LB discussion, I rate it 2nd or 3rd on the priority list. GB needs WRs that can offer a deep threat and another that can work the middle of the field. Adams best at the sideline routes and some deep ones. If Gute can't manage a trade up in the next draft to take a WR, then he certainly will go after a FA or try a trade for one with another team. KC could spare one it's deep threat WRs.

As for the trash talk, most can't form a valad football opinion and can't debate against one. Also, not all realize what takes place with NFL teams at this time of the year. Vacations, sure, but most know that the better prepared a team is the better they do in the FA and Draft that will be here before we know it.

Rashan Gary was/is a bust and a waste of of a 1st round draft pick.

[Cheesehead Craig]

I think he can play most downs. But if he is your best coverage 'backer, you have a problem.

If Pettine's system expects you to corral the run while you one gap your way to the QB, he still needs to develop playing downhill (though he was better this year).

At a minimum, he needs speedy relief.

I'd think at a minimum, he needs a better ILB partner. It's been a revolving dumpster fire next to him.

[Deputy Nutz]

The Packers are built for a 3-4 defense. The Smith's are prototypical outside linebackers/Edge rushers in the NFL. you would be hindering their ability by asking them to play with their hand in the ground. Could they do it? Probably, but why sign them to a shit ton of money and then ask them to play a foreign position when they have excelled as outside edge rushers in a 3-4?

The base in the NFL doesn't really matter any more, as teams are constantly running personnel out on the field. to get 5 defensive backs on the field just about every team has a different packages of defensive linemen and linebackers to do it.

Packers need to improve the middle of their defense, learn from the mistakes in 2019 and continue to get better.

Rashan Gary is not an inside linebacker, he went from a 5 tech defensive end to an outside linebacker/Edge rusher. He would have no idea how to play inside linebacker.

[Bretsky]

I'm surprised you left off D Line among the weaknesses/needs. We also could use a top level Corner IMO.

Alexander is a top level CB

[Bretsky]

Many threads are available to discuss either players or coaches or schedules or etc. related to the 2020 Season. This thread any and all areas related to the Packers next season

1st: Maintaining key personal like the GM, the HC. the OC, and the DC will give the Packers a strong foundation to build on as the 2019/20 season is put to rest. Now is the time to evaluate the past season and make decisions about making GB a better team for the 2020 Regular Season.

2nd: Maintaining key player personal like Rodgers, Jones, Adams, Martinez, the "Smiths" and others must be solid before additional building can take place. When this is accomplished, the available assets will be in better focus.

3rd: Identifying vacancies and/or weaknesses with players/staff must be identified. Research may need to be accomplished before hiring say a DB coach or what it would require to trade with another team for a desired player. In other words "Homework" will need to be done. From what I've seen, being unprepared does not seem to be an issue.

4th: An evaluation of every play run in the 2019/20 season needs to be undertaken. It will identify the strengths/weaknesses of not just players, but also how say an OT with exceptional blocking skills might fit better with the LaFleur Offense. How a real deep threat WR could open the field more for other WRs and TEs. How a better ILB could help address other defensive problems.


Much goes on behind the scenes prior to the draft or the opening of the FA market. Just pointing a finger at one player or one coach and exclaiming that they are to blame for this or that is foolish. I'd agree that changes do and often need to take place, but rushing to judgement over a player /coach does not resolve a problem unless the root causes ore identified. What kind/type of player would work best for the "team" and why must be known.

IMO, GB's greatest weaknesses/needs are:

1. WR
2. ILB
3. ORT
4. TE

The order does not place one need over any other, but does list where I believe GB must and will focus greater attention. These needs may be addressed through the Draft or through FA, or through both.

GB had a great W/L record in 2019/20. The challenge now is to move forward and not backwards.

LOTS OF GOOD INFO

Captain Obvious Post, but Denver was trying to move down last year; we shouldn't have let Pittsuburg jump us. We had our ILB right in our wheelhouse........same colleget as the Baconator; he just produced

[texaspackerbacker]

Alexander is a top level CB

He wasn't able to adequately cover the top receivers of most teams this past season - he seemed to regress from the year before. And even if you assume he is top level, King is not even close to adequate as the second Corner. The only time the Packers had decent coverage is when they went all in for pass rush, and the Corners only had to cover for a really short time.

Corners usually are as good as they are ever gonna get as rookies (unlike D Line and a lot of other positions). Even with the various other needs, I wouldn't mind seeing us get another at least as good as Alexander.

As for trading up for a WR, no. There are just so many good ones this year that second or even third round should be good enough. Duvernay of Texas is the one I'd like to see us get.

I disagree that the Packers are built for a 3-4. The Smiths are basically playing like 4-3 DEs now without having any OLBs behind them. Who says nowadays that DEs need to play with their hand in the ground? After seeing Z. Smith in the Pro Bowl, though, I think I'd prefer him at OLB even in a 4-3. He'd have less resistance and more element of surprise rushing from there, and he certainly could do the traditional job of a OLB. Gary also is best suited IMO for 4-3 DE.

The idea of letting Martinez walk scares the hell out of me unless we have a deal in place for Littleton or somebody as good as either of those two. People whine about him making tackles a few yards downfield; Well, those tackles in a lot of cases wouldn't be made by lesser LBs. He does need more gap discipline and reading rather than guessing on run plays, though.