Cheesehead
Well-known member
- Mar 19, 2019
- 2,854
- 0
Paul from Nortglenn, CO
At season's end I recall ML saying Gary needs to be more involved. Based on the DL remaining the same, could last year's 12th pick be this year's biggest contributor to run defense improvement?
If there's one thing I would rank as my top curiosity on defense heading into 2020, that's it.
Jason from Belvidere, IL
Not so much a question but an opinion or observation. After this draft and all things into consideration, this is starting to resemble a shift in comparison to the late '90s Broncos with J. Elway. How they shifted from a gunslinger mentality to a run-oriented offense behind T. Davis, and with no coincidence a Shanahan-style offense from which LaFleur is a product. If so, I am all in if the results resemble theirs!
You aren't the first reader to mention this. I think the game is too different a quarter-century later for the parallel to be entirely valid, but I find little fault in the logic that if an elite quarterback is asked to carry less of the burden as he gets older, the whole team is better off.
Dennis from Orono, MN
When are you going to list the free-agent class with a blurb about each as well as current signings?
It sounds like the official announcement is coming today. Stay tuned.
Adam from Toronto, Ontario
OK, I've taken a step back from the ledge and taken a deep breath. We really won't know if this draft was a success for 3-4 years. Looking back at last year we were 13-3 but weren't dominant in any facet on either side of the ball. Looks like this year we will try to hang our hat on running the ball and rushing the passer. What one player on each side of the ball needs to take a huge step for us to get to the big dance? For me it is Darnell Savage and Jace Sternberger.
Reasonable choices. You could also say Rashan Gary and Allen Lazard. Or Josh Jackson and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Or Oren Burks and Robert Tonyan. Any number of pairs of players could change the outlook for either side of the ball.
Justin from Los Angeles, CA
One criticism of the Jordan Love pick seems to be that it's a long-term investment that doesn't help Rodgers, but four of the past five Super Bowl winners have had their starting QB miss at least two games. Isn't there an argument to be made that, a la Peyton Manning in Denver in 2015, a backup that better keeps the team in the hunt could help Rodgers win another SB as much as any other position might?
Not in so many words, but I mentioned Monday that was definitely part of the calculation here, for next season and more likely beyond. If the Chiefs don't win one of the two games Mahomes missed last year, they don't get a first-round bye. To upgrade their backup QB situation, the Packers were going to have to spend either significant cap space or draft resources. I think in the final analysis, Gutekunst decided he would cover multiple bases with one investment – protect more against an injury to Rodgers and provide a potential future path forward.
Bob from Green Bay, WI
I know Love is a first-round draft pick and appears to have a lot of talent, but he also needs to show that the talent will translate to the NFL, which will take a couple years at least. Remember Tim Boyle beat out a pretty high pick in DeShone Kizer, so I'm sure Boyle isn't just going to concede the backup job. Love has to earn it in my opinion. This will be fun to watch.
Gutekunst and LaFleur said much the same thing. Especially with no on-field offseason program, it's not a given Love will earn the No. 2 job as a rookie. So yes, we'll just have to watch.
Keith from Truro, Nova Scotia
Hi guys, I was hoping that when Gute moved up in the first round that he was going to take Queen, a position that the Pack really could use. My question is if AR has at least four good years left and it takes a couple of years to develop a QB, would it been wiser to perhaps wait until next year to try and get a good QB at the draft? I just feel we needed to fill that defensive spot more than any other.
That's a legitimate argument, and I think it just goes back to what I continue to say – the decision amidst all the ramifications speaks to his evaluation of Love.
Mike from Los Angeles, CA
Subscribing to the theory that Raheem Mostert is still running on us somewhere in an alternate timeline, do you think the Packers' lack of defensive focus in this draft was somewhat of a message to Mike Pettine that he's received three first-rounders, a second-round CB, a third-round LB, Preston, Za'Darius, Amos, and Kirksey, and now it's up to him to make good on all of it?
That's fair.
Lane from Calgary, Alberta
Most aren't happy with the draft/WR situation but I think we need to slow down the Reggie Begelton hype and rely on in-house WRs to step up. My stepdad was president of the Calgary Stampeders in the early 2000s when we had another WR, Marc Boerigter, come through. For two years he had similar stats to Reggie, dominated his competition with the size and speed that screamed NFL. He played three years for the Chiefs with a total of 39 catches. A reminder that it will take the collective to make this unit better.
Also fair. Boerigter came to the Packers in 2006 when the offense wasn't exactly loaded at receiver (Driver, a rookie Jennings, and Robert Ferguson) and didn't make the team.
Scott from De Pere, WI
Last week I asked how many draft picks the Packers would ultimately make, and Spoff said nine. Is Spoff the next Carnac the Magnificent? What other predictions does Spoff have?
That was literally the only forecast of mine that proved correct. I said trading up in the first round was the least likely of all possibilities. I thought Gutekunst would continue to move around the board on Friday and Saturday. I practically guaranteed a big guy, offensive or defensive lineman, before Day 3. I could go on, but again, you get the point.