Packers training camp 2024 preview: Democratized offense, skill players highlight Green Bay's plans
The Green Bay Packers completely changed their philosophy since Aaron Rodgers left, and the initial results have been awesome. Jordan Love has developed individually, but also created great chemistry with his young receivers, and the Packers almost made the NFC Championship Game in 2023.
With a new season approaching, Green Bay isn't just a team ready to compete and with huge expectations. The Packers are also in great shape for the future, especially if the development continues to follow in a linear manner where the team keeps improving and improving.
Aaron Rodgers has been long forgotten in Wisconsin.
The Packers' offense has a lot of room to grow
Two things are impossible to deny about Green Bay's offense: the production of Jordan Love and his receivers surpassed expectations in 2023, and this offense doesn't have a #1 wide receiver.
It looks fine on paper, but, well, everything is beautiful on paper: when it comes to late-game heroics, everything can go up in flames in seconds – and it could cost you a playoff spot down the road. Having a unique receiver is great, but a number one receiver isn't always a guarantee that you will have an offense performing well in the playoffs. The Packers' recent years prove this.
In 2021, the final year of Davante Adams with the franchise, he had 123 receptions, 1553 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns during the regular season.
The six other wide receivers on the team at the time had a combined 117 receptions, the same 1553 passing yards and 15 touchdowns. Adams alone was responsible for 51% of the receptions and half of the aerial yards among wide receivers in 2021.
The 2023 group had overall numbers slightly lower, but nothing as sudden compared to two years ago: between seven players, there were 229 receptions, 2891 receiving yards and 27 touchdowns. Jayden Reed and Romeo Doubs were the leaders in the group, but their production was similar: 64 and 59 receptions each, 793 and 674 receiving yards and both with eight touchdowns.
The production of other receivers, such as Dontayvion Wicks and Christian Watson, wasn't very different.
There's no perfect formula in the NFL, and the Packers' offense build over the last two seasons is quite commendable. With highs and lows, the team knew how to invest in good players in the draft - and they produced immediately: in addition to the aforementioned names, Green Bay found a great and promising pair of tight ends in Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave. On the offensive line, same story: Zach Tom and Rasheed Walker were found in recent recruitments.
The coaching staff also deserves its merits for the quick turnaround
This is also a reflection of the work made by the coaching staff and the general manager: how many franchises in the league achieve this frequently and with consistency?
The biggest talking point is, when you take a deep look on the roster, it's difficult to point out a “star”. On defense, you can find Jaire Alexander, Preston Smith, Kenny Clark and even Rashan Gary - but who's the star on the offense? Jordan Love, who had an excellent end to the season, but still needs to improve? Josh Jacobs? Christian Watson, if he stays healthy and becomes the team's WR1?
These are questions that, faced with such a young and developing roster, may take longer to be answered than you imagine. The question is whether the Packers – and the fans, in particular – will have the patience to wait.
Matt LaFleur continued to believe in the Jordan Love project, and the first results were seen in 2023. However, we return to the question of “something more”: if with a more star-studded roster in previous years, the Packers hit the goalpost, how will they perform with a younger team?
The Packers surprised in 2023, and have good players to make the playoffs again. Even though there isn't a real superstar on the offense, that doesn't mean that the players aren't capable.