Packers Q&A! Record Prediction, Rookie Vs Veteran WR, Lambeau Field Stories

Answering your Packers questions

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Good morning! I haven’t done a Q&A in a while but I figured it was time. Thanks to everyone who submitted questions.

Let’s get into it.

“What’s your record prediction for the GB Packers next season?” Sideline Report 

The Packers are coming off an 8-9 year with Aaron Rodgers leading the team. Now Aaron Rodgers will be gone and Jordan Love will take over. It’s not crazy to imagine Jordan Love taking some time to get a hang of things in his first year as starter in Green Bay.

At the same time I honestly don’t feel like the Packers are going to be drastically worse than they were last year. Even though Rodgers started in all 17 games last season he played banged up most of the year. He dealt with a fracture in his thumb from week 5 on. He clearly wasn’t himself. I think lots of it had to do with that injury. 

Now a fully healthy Jordan Love will be taking over. I honestly don’t feel that worried. I’m more excited than anything.

For the past 15 or so years with Aaron Rodgers we’ve gone into every season expecting greatness. This is one of the first years in a long time where the Packers enter the season with lots of unknowns. The greatest unknown being the level at which Jordan Love is going to play. Right now it feels like all possibilities are on the table. He could shock the league and be much better than everyone expected. He could have a bad first year and take more time to develop. Hopefully it is the former. 

Even though there are lots of unknowns with Jordan the offense has a strong foundation. We still have one of the best backfields in the NFL with Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon. The offensive line started to mesh as the season went on and everyone got healthy.

The offensive scheme that Matt Lafleur likes to run is very quarterback friendly. Pound the rock and set up the play action pass. It’s very similar to the 49ers scheme. Jimmy G was able to reach NFC championships leading that offense, and I’d say Love has much more ability and upside than Jimmy G ever had. Love doesn’t have to be great for this offense to put up points. The important thing is not turning the ball over. 

I’m going to say the Packers go 9-8. One win better than last season. I’ve got a great feeling about Jordan Love.

There’s a part of me that almost feels more worried about the defense than offense to be honest. The defensive line is pretty thin especially with Rashan Gary’s ACL tear. Safety position is weak. Our corner and MLB group should be strong next year with Quay Walker talking a leap forward in year 2. Lots of the defensive holes should get plugged in in this draft. I think Love will shock non Packers fans with his athleticism and ability to make Patrick Mahomes-like throws. I’m betting on Jordan Love having a better first year than most people think. 

“Have you ever been to Lambeau? What was your favorite game you attended in general?” Steven Crane 

I’ve been to 3 games at Lambeau Field. The first game I went to was with my mom on thanksgiving vs the Chicago Bears when Brett Favre had his jersey retired in 2015. It was about 33 degrees and pouring rain. Growing up in Texas my mom and I always dreamed of going to a game.

Leaving the airport and driving past Lambeau Field is a moment I will remember forever. It’s crazy seeing something your whole life on TV and then finally seeing it in person. Unfortunately we lost that game to the Bears but it was awesome to be there and see Bart Starr, Brett Favre, and Aaron Rodgers on the field at the same time. 

The last game I went to was the playoff loss to the 49ers in January 2022. I drove all the way from Dallas, Texas to Green Bay by myself. It’s never fun watching the Packers lose but regardless there’s nothing like watching a Packers game in person at Lambeau Field. I hope to go to many more in the future. 

“Do you think the Packers should sign Jarvis Landry or draft a receiver like Jaxon Smith-Njigba?” EJT Sports Gamer 

If I had to pick between those two options I’d say JSN all the way. The Packers haven’t drafted a 1st round receiver in around 20 years but with Jordan Love taking over we need to get him all the help we can get. Njigba could come in and take a majority of the slot reps. Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba would be a solid receiving room. Watson has that deep burner speed, Doubs can win with his route running on the outside, and JSN would open things up even more for the offense. 

If we don’t draft a guy like JSN I’m all for signing Jarvis Landry. One thing the Packers are missing right now is a veteran receiver. Landry has years of experience and could coach up the young receiver room. He’s dealt with some injuries the past few years but I think he still has some left in the tank. We could probably get him super cheap. 

Brian Gutekunst knows he needs to give Jordan Love the necessary weapons to ensure he is successful. I’m excited for the draft so we can finally see what his plan is to fill the Packers needs and build around Jordan Love.

Us Packers fans want JLove to be successful but Brian Gutekunst probably wants him to be successful even more than we do. His future employment could bank on how Jordan Love plays in the next couple years. If Jordan Love is great, Gutekunst looks like a genius. If he is not great people will say it was a wasted pick in a time when the Packers could’ve used more pieces to help Rodgers. That’s just how it goes in the NFL. You take chances. Sometimes it works, other times it doesn’t. I think we will all be very happy with the Jordan Love pick in the next couple years. 

“Any word on Rashan Gary’s injury status? Will he be good to go by the start of the season?” Riley Kruse 

There is no certainty that he’ll for sure be ready for week 1. Brian Gutekunst said a couple weeks ago that Gary has been in constant communication with the Packers trainers. He also said they expect a full recovery and will ease him back as they get into camp. 

ACL’s can be tricky. Sometimes there are complications.

David Bakhtiari was held out longer than any of us imagined with many different things going wrong throughout his recovery process. Let’s hope everything goes smoothly for Gary and that he’ll be able to get back as soon as possible. He tore his ACL on November 6th so the start of September when the season begins will put him at about 10 months post injury. I’d say there is a chance he could be ready.

Most NFL players who tear their ACL come back after 9-12 months. It could take him sometime to shake the rust off but I assume by mid season he will be back at peak form. With the uncertainty of exactly when he will be back the Packers need to add more depth at edge. I expect them to draft one in the first few rounds. 

I really appreciate all of your guys' support, not only for this newsletter but also on my youtube channel. May 1 will mark 3 years of starting my channel Sideline Scoop on youtube. It’s been lots of fun covering the team I’ve loved my whole life. Can’t wait to keep doing it for years and years to come. Hope everyone has a great week!