Green Bay Packer rookies have returned to town and have joined veterans in the final week of their conditioning and training portion of the off-season. The organized team activities will commence on Monday. Tuesday, all three coordinators held court with reporters at the Lambeau Field auditorium and here’s a few takeaways from each session.
Defensive Coordinator Joe Barry went first.
He acknowledged the inconsistencies that plagued his unit in last season’s disappointing 8-9 finish. Barry said there were times his defense played well, times they didn’t and it wasn’t until the final month of the season when the Packers made a desperate run toward the playoffs when his squad put together a decent run of performances. “We can’t wait 10 weeks” he said to find that level of consistency.
Barry has yet another number one pick to develop in Iowa’s edge rusher, Lukas Van Ness. “He’s a big man”, Barry said, with impressive strength and explosion and he’s only 21. He can’t wait to see what he’s like in a couple of years. The drafting of Van Ness now makes 8 first round picks on Barry’s unit. He realizes expectations are high but they would the same even if his defense was comprised of nothing but 7th round choices. The level of expectation for a Packer defense never changes he said.
With the departure of Dean Lowry and Jarran Reed on the defensive line, Barry is expecting bigger things from last year’s second first round pick, Devonte Wyatt. When asked what he needs from Wyatt in year two? Barry responded, “disruption”. Not with just sacks but pressure and disruptive play in both the pass and run game.
Adrian Amos won’t be coming back at safety and Barry has no idea right now who will start in the back end opposite Darnell Savage. He said that’s what OTA’s and training camp are for, to sort out the competition. Last year’s holdover, Rudy Ford and former Houston Texan Jonathan Owens appear to be the front runners.
Offensive Coordinator Adam Stenavich was next.
His session obviously started with Jordan Love. Stenavich said with three years in the system, the entire playbook is open for him. He admits the offense still might look a bit different from the Aaron Rodgers days when he had liberal authority to change play calls at the line of scrimmage. One of the biggest challenges for Love will be how he handles pressure and blitzes from opposing defenses. Stenavich said Barry can help in this regard by dialing up some of his pressure packages on the practice field but with veterans up front and in the backfield, he’s confident they’ll be able to handle the expected blitzing.
Stenavich is excited to integrate his new pair of tight ends in Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft. They both impressed during rookie mini-camp and they should provide plenty of options in the pass game. The Packers love the “12” personnel package with one running back and two tight ends and Stenavich said the way they can split the backs or tight ends wide to create matchups against linebackers could be productive.
While the offensive line appears to be returning intact, Stenavich said there will be plenty of competition on the right side of the front. David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins are the only sure things at left tackle and left guard. Stenavich said the emergence of the versatile rookie Zach Tom last year will move into the mix getting looks at right tackle, guard and possibly center as well. He wants the best five on the field and the most physical players will get the jobs up front.
Stenavich said the coaching staff took a hard look at how the San Francisco 49ers developed game plans for rookie quarterback Brock Purdy in the second half of last season to see if they can glean a few tips on doing the same for Love.
He may have to have Pull-Ups handy for his baby-faced corps of wide receivers. Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs are the most experienced players in the room and neither played the entire year as rookies because of injuries. Their year two jump will have to be significant.
Special Teams Coordinator Rich Bisaccia finished up.
I asked Bisaccia how his job description has changed after getting promoted this off-season to Assistant Head Coach for Matt LaFleur. Bisaccia said he was appreciative of the title and he hopes to help LaFleur in devising practice plans and getting more involved in personnel discussions with not only LaFleur but General Manager Brian Gutekunst as well.
Bisaccia said the door hasn’t completely closed for Mason Crosby, the two sides still have discussions but it’s apparent the team is looking toward the future after drafting Anders Carlson out of Auburn in the 5th round. Bisaccia coached Anders’ brother Daniel with the Las Vegas Raiders and he recalls first meeting the Carlson family when he was with Auburn. His first in-home visit as an assistant coach recruiting was at the Carlson house when Anders was still a youngster. Once Daniel made it to the NFL, Anders made visits to the Raiders to watch and learn, even getting on the grass a few times and Bisaccia said he’s followed his career closely and believes he has a chance to become a productive kicker in the league.
The input on personnel with Gutekunst likely played a role in the GM making sure the team retained key special teams players from a year ago. None more so than All Pro kick returner Keisean Nixon who lit a fuse for the unit’s big jump in production in the second half of the year. Dallin Leavitt and Rudy Ford, two more key performers were also re-signed the Packers giving Bisaccia’s Teams a solid corps coming back.
A couple other notes from Tuesday had the Packers sign an intriguing prospect at punter. While veteran Pat O’Donnell will return, the Packers will give a look to Daniel Whelan, a native of Ireland who has never kicked in an NFL game. He was with the New Orleans Saints in training camp last year before getting cut but he resurfaced with the XFL this spring and was named to the All-League team after averaging 45.6 yards a punt with 11 kicks inside the 20 for the Washington Defenders.
The Packers also worked out a veteran wide receiver on Tuesday. Keke Coutee, a former 4th round pick out of Texas Tech by the Houston Texans back in 2018 made a record setting debut with 11 catches in his first pro game. Injuries derailed his career over the next several seasons and he wound up with the Indianapolis Colts the last two seasons, playing primarily on special teams. The 5-11, 180 veteran has appeared in 33 games in all, with 85 receptions for 966 yards and four touchdowns.
