It's no secret that the Green Bay Packers seemed to actively address two traits in their NFL draft selections in 2017—specifically, at defensive back—that have been missing from the roster in recent years: speed and length.
The question now is whether those traits, which second-round cornerback selection Kevin King displays in spades, can win out for a starting role on Green Bay's defense in 2017.
While it's hard not to be intrigued by the thought of what one-time league MVP and seven-time Pro Bowler Peterson could do in the Green Bay Packers offense, which finished 20th in the league in rushing in 2016, there's not likely to be a financial scenario that makes the move worth it for Green Bay.
For a general manager who doesn't make a splash in free agency all that often, the Packers' Ted Thompson sure has been in the news lately, linked to rumors that this year he'll do just that.
In 2010, the Packers defense got them into the Super Bowl. In virtually every season since, it's killed them in the playoffs. Aaron Rodgers and this offense deserve another ring, and as the window continues to close, perhaps it's time to make a drastic change to ensure they get one.
The Packers boasted one of the league's top run defenses in the beginning of the 2016 NFL season, when they held their first four opponents to 50 or fewer yards gained on the ground. And now, as they prepare to face the Dallas Cowboys and Ezekiel Elliott, the unit will need to once again return to dominant form if Green Bay is to have any hope of defeating the Cowboys to move onto the NFC Championship Game.
On Sunday night against the Detroit Lions, however, the unit suffered a series of additional blows. Quinten Rollins left the game strapped to a board to go to the hospital after a scary-looking hit to his head/neck; per Mike McCarthy, he avoided serious injury but there's no word on whether he'll be able to go on Sunday against the Giants. Both Damarious Randall and Makinton Dorleant left the game with knee injuries, Randall is considered day-to-day, while Dorleant said initial tests showed no major structural damage.
It's been a rough road for the Packers secondary, which has been hampered by injuries all season. The team has needed leaders and playmakers to step up from within its ranks in its postseason push, and a key weapon who could be instrumental in the playoffs became clear in Week 17: defensive back Micah Hyde.
The Packers have been searching for their No. 1 running back all season after starter Eddie Lacy went on injured reserve, even going so far as to sign not one but two free agents in their pursuit of a balanced offense.
But the player who will prove to be the Packers' lead rusher has been on the roster since training camp. He was just playing a different position.
The 6-6 Green Bay Packers have gotten themselves into a situation in which every game has become a must-win. Two games back from the Detroit Lions and tied, record-wise, with the Minnesota Vikings but not currently holding the tiebreaker against them, Green Bay now has to beat the Seahawks, Bears, Vikings, and Lions to stay in the hunt for the playoffs.
Needless to say, it's imperative that every player turns it up to 11 over this final stretch and taps into his deepest reserve of aggression. The Packers have to want this more than anyone else. And, as far as the secondary goes, that's exactly what cornerback LaDarius Gunter has been doing.
One of the most frustrating aspects of watching the Green Bay Packers flounder during the 2016 season is the fact that it doesn't always seem like it has to be this way.
I've been on the record for a long time as saying that despite the Packers' recent struggles under head coach Mike McCarthy, it would be reactionary and foolish to sever ties with him at this point in his tenure.
After all, we're talking about a coach that has led his team to the playoffs eight times in 10 seasons, including a Super Bowl win and two additional trips to the conference championship game.
This is the same coach who arrived in Green Bay a season after Aaron Rodgers was drafted and dramatically adjusted his mechanics in his offseason quarterback school. A passer who used to hold the ball up by his ear and struggled to throw deep at Cal has now thrown some of the prettiest deep balls the league has seen, largely thanks to McCarthy's tutelage.
So maybe Mike McCarthy should be the team's quarterbacks coach.
The Green Bay Packers failed in multiple phases of the game against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 9, including on special teams and on the final defensive series.
But the most worrisome aspect of the Packers' play on Sunday was their complete and utter failure to both convert on third down on offense and to defend third down on defense.
After cutting running back Knile Davis on Monday, the Packers have an open roster spot. The best way to use it would be to activate Corey Linsley from the PUP list.
The Packers defense is taking on the No. 1 wide receiver in football in Week 8 in Altanta's Julio Jones, and their best option for coverage on him looks like an undrafted free agent who is third on the depth chart: LaDarius Gunter.
It had to happen eventually. The Green Bay Packers' No. 1 run defense will finally take on the league's No. 1 rushing offense when the Packers host the Dallas Cowboys at Lambeau on Sunday.
By 6:30 p.m. Lambeau time that night, one of those teams may not be ranked first in its respective category any longer.
One of the most promising trends to emerge from the young 2016 season has been how stout the Packers have been against the run.
No one would have predicted it a few months ago, but through the first quarter of the season, it hasn't been the St. Louis Rams or the New York Jets but the Green Bay Packers who have boasted the NFL's strongest defensive front.
But do you realize just how good the Packers have been in run defense so far this season—or how consistent?
Aaron recalls that Manning was at Packers camp last summer to talk to Love about a project with Omaha Productions, which makes him ask...what are they working on?
Aaron is back from New Orleans and may just be getting a little excited about the Packers defensive line after listening to new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley's latest press conference.
Packers rookie minicamp has come and gone. Next up is the start of organized team activities on May 20th as the coaching staff builds another team from the ground up.
