Actually the DL kicked ass, a strong majority of the games and IMO the only reason coverage (which struggled and you didn't mention) was able to hang in there.

Last season might be the least amount of time I've heard the OL bitched about since the early 2000s OL.

And ILB, yeah your right, they sucked... though Martinez did have a point in that he wasn't used to his strength this last season, but you can't use all 11to their strengths unless they have the same ones.

But, yes, I agree, OT is a large concern. Though so is CB for me.

On a similar note, very popular opinion is that Gute was a great GM while going 13-3....but I'm not ready to cede that, as his draft picks really haven't develop at all yet.

Yeah there are some good ones, but they almost came at the level that they're playing at and haven't yet improved that much.

Though Gute is positioning them to give them room to grow, which if they do develop, that's extremely smart, but if they don't, leaves us in a potential hole at the position.

Also, with this last draft, it appears that Gute is setting himself to free up cap space in the future, so he has more for FAs, which he has used fairly well on defense, not as much on offense.


Not many of Gute's rookies have huge impact from the beginning, except maybe those selected in the very top. Part of that is because he seems to be selecting guys based on their top ceiling potential.

Which you can get in round one, but further down, they only dropped because they need development... so he's going high risk, looking for that high reward.


The big problem with going after need is that most selection are swings and misses, so you need to look for best value, not necessarily best need.


Also, I still argue the Packers do draft for need... media and fans just don't see it because they define the word "need" differently. Fans mean, what have need right this second. Where the Packers look more toward a season in the future.

1) QB = not a need
2) RB = Need with Jones, Williams and Ervin all going into contract year
3) H-Back = Need because this system needed another, and lost Graham and Vitale
5) ILB = lost Martinez
6) OL OL OL = Linsley, Taylor, and Bak are all going into contract years. Madison injury might hold him out this year, Turner didn't play up to his contract.amd if they want to,.they can get out of it.after this year fairly easily.
7) OLB and S, = Packers lost OLB Fackrell and S Campbell


So all potential needs looking at next year model except the QB, which as Gute said months before the draft, if he sees a franchise QB drop to him, the Wolf model that these scouts have been trained in say grab them even if you already have one.

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I thought that Billy Turner guy played well? And by that I mean I didn't hear anyone complaining about him. To me, that usually means the OL did their job. I don't readily watch the OL so I wouldn't have much insight.

I do agree with the context of the majority of your post, however, this part below ...



... feels very much like a semantics argument.




Separately, I am curious if our coaching staff goes into a Sophomore slump (e.g. teams have tape on the coaches tendencies) or if the team grows from year one to year two.

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He struggled a lot earlier on, was the weakest guy on the OL for a while, but turned on strong down the stretch.

But I've also thought that Packers might be getting rid of two of their three veteran interior OL (Taylor, Linsley and Turner), and that was before they drafted three interior OL.




Might feel like semantics, but fans claimed the Packers didn't draft for need for years, but in reality, they often used their second selection on a position with an important player going into contract years. So fans looking at the current, team is looking at the future.


I'm curious about that too, and I think the Packers will have a slump but not due to those factors (so not because of Sophomore slump (e.g. teams have tape on the coaches tendencies) but because the Packers lucked out time after time last year, from staying healthy, to playing injured teams, to facing some of the starting QBs that struggle with pressure the most.... to now facing one of the best group of opposising veteran QBs that I can remember.

IMO, I think this will be a fact, defense will struggle a lot more this year, not because they've changed.but the QBs they're expected to face are much better than the ones.laat year with pressure in their face.


But also to note, the Packers defensive will be in their third year with Pettine and LaFleur didn't have all the pieces to truely run his full offense last year (according to Rodgers).

So I think the offense will look more complete, especially in small ball which fans won't care for as much, but it'll be more effective. But the defense results will take a step back.

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The Packers took an ILB, a G, a C, a OT, a S, and a DE in the 2020 draft. They may not be pro-bowlers in their rookie years, but then was David Bakhtiari right away. Last years O and D lines will have the advantage (for the most part) of playing together as O or D units. That experience of playing as they have builds cohesiveness and lessens unwanted mistakes.

Some say a team is rebuilding and sometimes it's true. In the Packers case they are not rebuilding, but evolving. I'm not seeing wholesale player position replacement, but the normal activity that most teams undergo during their offseasons. The Packers GM and HC both know what needs to be addressed and it looks like they are getting the job under way. As usual TC will weed out the best from the rest.

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Translation: There's the wide receiver finally. ;)

I'm curious how many other teams offer coaching fellowships.

Incidentally, LaFleur apparently has a history with Martin:

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