Now that Jordan Love is the Packers starting quarterback it seems the popular theme of the media is the Packers are rebuilding. Expect them to be near the bottom of the pack, if not thee bottom. I say hell no! This is not a team that needs a rebuild, this is a good team that needed an upgrade at quarterback.
January 8, 2023. Lambeau Field. Win and in for the Green Bay Packers. All they have to do is beat the Detroit Lions, who sport the league’s worst defense by a wide margin. 17-27, 205 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT. Those are the numbers of one Aaron Charles Rodgers on this day. He was simply horrible. Even worse than his dreadful performance in Detroit where he threw an interception by under-throwing David Bakhtiari on a two yard pass in the end zone.
Time and time again last year the Packers had chances to win and were let down by poor quarterback play. The first time Love throws a five yard completion on third and four will be the first time that will have happened in years. I certainly won’t miss those long, off target passes to set up the punting team. Maybe we even see a draw play on third down once in a while. Maybe even a quarterback draw dare I say. The possibilities are now endless.
Could the Packers have won the lottery once again? If you want to be a lottery winner you need to know everything you can about it. Like the Packers, you need to keep abreast of the latest industry developments, acquire an in-depth understanding of the game and gain a unique insight into the world’s most popular game.
Talent on both sides of the ball
This is not a team devoid of talent. They have one of the best running backs in the league in Aaron Jones. And with AJ Dillon have a solid running game to build an offense around Love with. They ended last season with a solid offensive line with Bakhtiari back to his high level of pre-injury play. At receiver they have one of the most exciting young receivers in the league in Christian Watson. The kid was putting up Randy Moss numbers for a while last year, and that was with Rodgers, he should really explode with Love at the helm.
Throw in Romeo Doubs and Samori Toure and the receiving room should be just fine. There are questions at tight end but I think Love might bring out the best of Josiah Deguara, who has the skills to be the downfield threat the Packers need there.
Defense was better down the stretch
On defense the Packers have arguably the best cornerback in the league in Jaire Alexander. Well, no argument if you ask him. They will get Eric Stokes back and still have Rasul Douglass. Some questions at safety but nothing that can’t be addressed between now and September.
The front seven is solid with Kenny Clark the anchor of the defensive line. The Packers did lose Jarran Reed and Dean Lowry in free agency but last year’s first round pick Devonte Wyatt was starting to come on at the end of last year. Speaking of first round picks, Quay Walker showed he belongs in this league and after some tough lessons learned should be a Pro Bowl caliber linebacker in the near future.
Preston Smith will be back and so will Rashon Gary when he recovers from his knee injury. Throw in a few pieces in the draft or low priced free agents and there is plenty of reasons to think this defense can play like they did the last five weeks of last year. And I think the defense was put in a lot of bad positions by a Packers offense that couldn’t move the ball consistency.
Not starting over
This is a good football team that should be contending for the division title at least in Love’s first season. I put my money where my mouth is and bet on them to win the North next year. I can’t wait to see Matt LaFleur’s offense again. It hasn’t been seen since 2019 before Rodgers ruined it. I expect them to be top ten again.
Of course, I could be dead wrong and Love will suck. But the Packers don’t think so, and neither do I. Lighting is about to strike thrice my friends.