Cory's Corner: There's No Stopping This Packers Offense
This Packers offense is perfect right now because it can beat teams in so many different ways.
The expectations for the Packers offense should be sky high.
They have a quarterback that is truly invested in the development of his wide receivers, tight ends and running backs. They have an offensive line that is versatile and can deal with just about any situation.
Most importantly, this team has a head coach that is willing to mold and evolve with the personnel that he has. One of the biggest flaws of former coach Mike McCarthy was that he tried to run his system no matter what personnel was. He was very resistant to change.
The thing that I am excited about with training camp 16 days away, is that the Packers can put up points in so many different ways. Jordan Love can sit in the pocket and mince a secondary to pieces. Seven pass catchers caught at least 30 passes last year, with Romeo Doubs (69) and Jayden Reed (68) catching at least 60.
Love can also move the chains with his feet. The next Packers great quarterback had eight runs for 10 yards or more last year. He also had 17 runs that accounted for first downs. That tells me that LaFleur trusts Love in big spots and he’s willing to give the 6-foot-4, 219-pound quarterback the keys to the offense when it matters most.
And speaking of the running game, Josh Jacobs has accounted for 73 runs of 10 yards or more in the last three years. He’s a legitimate home run threat that is coupled with the power of a battering ram by amassing 1,703 yards after contact in the last two years.
But this offense is also something that cannot be measured. Love’s improvisational skills. His ability to throw off weird arm angles continues to boggle my mind. The fact that he can continue to elude pressure and find the open receiver, which is what he continued to do in the playoff win vs. Dallas.
And let’s not forget about an offensive line that continues to be very good. Zach Tom might be Green Bay’s best blocker. As a rookie, he played 60 percent of his snaps at left tackle in 2022. He also played left guard, right guard and right tackle. Last year, he played 99 percent of his snaps at right tackle. He is literally a Zach of all trades and will be a key piece for Packers offensive line coach Luke Butkus. For the first time since he was drafted in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft, David Bakhtiari will not be a member of the Packers. The injuries have really taken their toll and it’s time for both Bakhtiari and the Packers to move on.
The sky's the limit for this offense. And the scary thing is, everyone in the NFC already knows it.
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Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn
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Comments (18)
PackEyedOptimist
July 06, 2024 at 06:38 am
“Nothing” …EXCEPT injuries.
Don’t jinx us with that “nothing” talk!
mrtundra
July 06, 2024 at 06:44 am
It's great to be pumped about our offensive capabilities. Let's hope the injury bug stays far away from this team, this season. The Packers can be special and I can see them making a deep run in the playoffs, when we get there, but until we get through camp, preseason and into the regular season, let's concentrate on staying healthy. Hopefully, Watson's hammy is fully healed and Stokes is ready to go. Also hoping that Kraft's and Tom's pectoral muscles are healed as is Musgrave's kidney. Then we can move on. If Jordan Love can continue playing like he did in the last half of last season, we will be fine. Many football fans, and even some on these pages, have doubts that Love is "The Guy," yet. Not me. GO PACK, GO!!!
HawkPacker
July 06, 2024 at 08:24 am
"Hopefully, Watson's hammy is fully healed"
Not only healed but hopefully what they learned at UW Madison, that hammy issue is behind him totally. Can you imagine a full time dose of Watson and what that could mean for the Packers? Note only his availability to make catches but it would make everyone else that much better.
greengold
July 06, 2024 at 09:32 am
Hawk, I can imagine Watson having 100% availability throughout a full season and the playoffs. It would be remarkable. Should that happen, it would be a testament to both Watson's dedication and the hiring of new Strength & Conditioning Coordinator, Justin Hill.
Rory P Scrotem
July 06, 2024 at 07:13 am
I find this article to be very offensive!
GPG
mnbadger
July 07, 2024 at 06:44 pm
Lambeau snowflake!
GPG!
Guam
July 06, 2024 at 07:21 am
The Packers have talent and depth at all of the skill positions (thank you Gute). I have a mild concern about the O-line. The Packers lost Bahk, Runyon and Nijman from last year's line (only Runyon was a starter); their starting LT has played one good half season in his NFL career (somewhat like Love); and their presumptive starting RG has never started an NFL game although he did play last season. Replacements are Morgan, Monk and Dillard - two rookies and a vet.
The potential is there, but there is inexperience and some uncertainty. I hope they can find their best five and jell quickly. The rest of the offense needs them to be at least adequate on day one.
greengold
July 06, 2024 at 09:13 am
I agree with you Guam at OL. I really do think we'll finally see the wholesale changes Brian Gutekunst has been hoping to make there, and that Matt LaFleur will actually put our best 5 players out there at each player's optimal position for success.
I'd like to see Morgan, Jenkins, Tom, Rhyan, Walker as our starting OL, but I'm open to true competition for each starting position winning out, no matter who the players might be, or how they were acquired.
There's a lot of proving to be done, but I have zero confidence in Josh Myers, and believe he was just a poor selection by Gutekunst. It happens to any GM.
If we are to believe what we've been hearing from 1265, there's been recent buzz about Tom projecting more as a HOF level talent at OC. Looking at how heavily Gutekunst invested at RB this offseason, I would imagine run blocking up front will be held as a premium, while also protecting the franchise in JL.
There's more competition behind those players, and I do believe Jacob Monk could force himself into consideration as our starting C with a rock solid TC showing, forcing any number of alterations:
Morgan, Jenkins, Monk, Rhyan, Tom
Walker, Jenkins, Monk, Morgan, Tom
Cinderella stories could present if Travis Glover, Jacob Monk and/or Lecitus Smith outperform Sean Rhyan for one of the starting OG positions. Caleb Jones? Maybe he forces the issue... and, I'm still not giving up on either of Luke Tenuta or Kadeem Telfort challenging/winning a starting position. Those guys have been developing in GB's system for years.
Does Josh Myers make a better RG than Rhyan? Tough to say. Both, to me, carry little credence as THE guy at RG as things stand today. Can GB turn Andre Dillard into a viable, quality starting OT? (***Funny note on that. Went back to my draft notes on Dillard, and found this gem of a stat on Josh Jacobs: 41% of his carries resulted in a first down or a TD..!!! Dillard's quick hit note: #1 pass pro grade from PFF).
It's all about to start playing out for us fans in TC, which begins in 16 days, July 22nd.
GregC
July 06, 2024 at 10:36 am
That report about the Packers believing Zach Tom could be a Hall of Fame center sounded odd to me. It's a really over-the-top statement to make about a young player. The report came from Rob Demovsky, who has insider access, so somebody within the organization probably actually said it. I wondered at the time if it was a smokescreen to make people think that the Packers wanted to draft an offensive tackle (to replace Tom), but then they DID draft an offensive tackle, so my theory went out the window.
So I don't know.... There's been no follow-up on that statement, and so far the Packers seem committed to keeping Zach Tom at right tackle. I'm fine with that. When someone plays tackle as well as Tom does, I don't think you should demote him to an interior O-line position.
Guam
July 06, 2024 at 04:07 pm
GG: I do think we could see a reshuffle of the O-line, but more likely next year than this year. If Myers doesn't improve, this may be his last year in GB (rather like Runyon). Morgan and Monk could use a year of NFL weight room work as well as some playing time.
With Myers gone and Morgan and Monk ready to step up, the 2025 O-line could look very different.
ricky
July 06, 2024 at 10:22 am
Jacobs gaining 1703 yards after contact the last two years is impressive. It's also a lot of wear and tear on the body. Last year, playing in 13 games, Jacobs had a little over 800 yards and an average of 3.5 YPC. Maybe this was an off year; maybe it was all those hits and carries taking a toll on him. Because he has had just over 1300 carries in five seasons. On the other hand, with all the WR's and a potent passing game, Jacobs won't be the focus of the offense. Add in Dillon taking some carries, and the Packers knowing how to keep a RB healthy for the post season, like they did with Jones, he could have a very good "bounce back" year.
LambeauPlain
July 06, 2024 at 10:27 am
Football success starts with the trenches. Both Packer lines are loaded up with young talent ready and willing to be coached up.
Coaching = wins or losses. A team with average talent can be made into a good team with excellent coaches.
The Packers team are deep with talented depth and the ROI with great coaching will be immense, IMO.
More than any position group on the field, the OL must be the most disciplined, cohesive unit. Getting the best Packer 5 correct has been a struggle over the last few years.
Get that right this season and watch Love & Company march through defenses. They have the big guys to do it. Butkus needs to have his best season too.
NickPerry
July 06, 2024 at 10:47 am
"The thing that I am excited about with training camp 16 days away, is that the Packers can put up points in so many different ways."
You know they REALLY do. I used to post something very similar back in the 2011 season. I always used to say this, Tell me, exactly who are you going to stop? Now I'm not saying these boys are Driver, Jennings, Jones, Nelson, Cobb, and Finley but but the SAME question holds true...Tell me exactly who are you going to stop?
I could even make an argument this offense may be much more difficult to stop. Besides the rule changes which makes it tougher and tougher to play defense every year, THIS team has a MUCH better running back room. I mean common, give me Jacobs, Lynch, Wilson, and Dillon all day over Starks, Kuhn, Grant, and UGH...Alex Green. The 2024 team also has two TE's who can be BETTER than Finley. Musgrave and Kraft, they definitely have better hands than Finley did and Musgrave is just as fast, maybe faster. He ran a faster 40 at the combine than Finley.
My point is I feel really good about this team as a whole. I feel REALLY good about the growth of Reed, Wicks, Doubs and I haven't even mention Watson. Imagine is his hamstrings cooperate? Imagine is Bo Melton continues where he left off?...GOOD LORD!
Cory made a great point about MLF being willing to evolve, change things up. MM was rigid in that area, not at all very flexible. IMO LaFleur is the perfect HC for this team. And MLF has himself a QB...A Team player and leader who's ego is still in check, and ALL his teammates love and would run through a brick wall for.
So tell me, exactly WHO are you going to stop all the time?
LLCHESTY
July 06, 2024 at 06:22 pm
McCarthy became inflexible but certainly wasn't rigid in 2011. That was one of the more schematically flexible offenses ever. The personnel groupings changed on an almost snap by snap basis that year. We'll probably never know if he got lazy or what changed later in the decade but it certainly would be interesting to find out.
Leatherhead
July 06, 2024 at 11:17 am
I'm excited that the offense can return to what it was a few years ago. I'm reminded of that scene in Moneyball where the guy explains that you need to score runs to win, and that's what they're trying to buy in FA.
I feel the same way about football. You have to score points to win. You can't expect to beat good teams 21-17 on their home field. Of the 13 playoff games last year, only one of those games was won by a team scoring under 24.
I also think most points are scored through the air, and we're going to be a good passing team. We can pass block, Love can deliver if protected, the receivers can catch and run. We'll run enough to keep teams honest, but The Plan is going to be to strike through the air.
The only thing. THE ONLY thing that could derail this offense is if we can't protect our QB. And unless we have more than our share of injuries, we should be able to do that.
CasuallyObsessed
July 06, 2024 at 06:30 pm
I also have concerns about the o line. The game is won in the trenches. I really like the outside o linemen. Walker got off to a rough start and Meyers was a constant issue last year, but walker has shown improvement! The addition of Morgan should make for an interesting preseason. I just want to know where he plays. If he plays.
Pack88
July 07, 2024 at 09:36 am
This article should start with the disclaimer I see on all my investment accounts "Past performance does not guarantee future results". The modern NFL is all about change and younger players but on offense- especially the Offensive Line continuity is probably as important as talent. Like Old married couples those 5 need to know what their shoulder mate is doing and how it fits into the play scheme. Hopefully the five who trot out on opening night have this component, if not the start of 2024 could look distressingly similar to the start of 23!
LeotisHarris
July 07, 2024 at 04:31 pm
I'd like to nominate this installment of The Corner (with a special shoutout to the third paragraph) for the 2024 Shams Charania Award For Excellence In Divulging Of Information Through Syntax Comprehended By Many.