NFL
By: Greg Rector
The Green Bay Packers enter the 2023 season without Aaron Rodgers. Jordan Love is now the quarterback for the Packers. The questions abound amongst many as to how Love will play. I have no idea how this will turn out. The Green Bay Packers fortunes though rest on the arm and legs of Jordan Love.
The Packers president thinks it will take half the season to figure out if Jordan Love is the quarterback for the Packers. Let’s look at the Green Bay Packers.
Green Bay Packers Offense
The Packers have plenty of weapons around Jordan Love. The two veteran running backs Aaron Jones and AJ Dillion can provide excellent yardage on the ground the Green Bay Packers failed to do with both in their last few home playoff games when Aaron Rodgers was used far too much in my opinion. When you run the ball less than 20 times at Lambeau Field in January you aren’t taking advantage of the conditions.
Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs will both need to improve upon their rookie seasons and are joined by Jayden Reed out of Michigan State as the third wideout. Hopefully, the off-season workouts see the Packers receivers improve.
At the tight end position the Packers had nothing to speak of so in the draft they drafted Luke Musgrave and Tyler Kraft both were well sought after in the draft. How these two rookies handle the NFL will be important for the Packers.
My main concern for Jordan Love is the veteran offensive line. Can David Bahktiari return and play a full season? The left tackle has been hurt far too much for my liking. If the offensive line doesn’t protect Jordan Love the young quarterback will be under the gun and need to use his legs more often than the Packers would like to see.
Green Bay Defense
The Green Packers defense has solid pieces especially in the secondary and at linebacker. Jaire Alexander is a tremendous corner who can shut down any receiver. Along with Rashan Gary at linebacker, these two guys must be the leaders for the Packers‘ defense. I just feel like this season is going to be dependent more on the Packers’ defense than in past years. Minus Aaron Rodgers and his magical ability to pull games out of the hat the defense must be the guys to keep the Green Bay Packers in most games.
Quay Walker cannot make the same dumb players we saw out of him far too often last year. It will be interesting to see how Bowling Green’s Karl Brooks will fit in along the defensive end positions as well.
Green Bay Packers Outlook
I am hesitant to predict where the Green Bay Packers will finish in the NFC North. However, given the relative youth at the wide receiver and quarterback positions, I feel the Green Bay Packers will be an under-.500-ball club in the 2023 NFL season. I have the Packers going 8-9 for this season.
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