As the Green Bay Packers welcome the Arizona Cardinals into Lambeau Field later today, I’d like to revisit some questions that I had just prior to the season kicking off in Brazil. You can find that article by clicking here. I gave five questions that I thought the Packers still needed to answer. These are those five questions and the answers we have thus far into the 2024 regular season.
Packers Questions Number Five – Jeff Hafley’s Defense
This first question was and is what will Coach Hafley’s defense look like? Prior to the season starting, Hafley and many players on the defense talked about how aggressive they were going to be this season. And, honestly, they have been very aggressive – well, mostly aggressive on the back end.
Other than in the second half of the Titans game, the Packers pass rush has struggled to put pressure on the quarterback. Now, I believe there is a multifaceted reason for this, but still. It doesn’t change the results. The Packers pass rush needs to be more aggressive and quite frankly better.
However, the linebacker and defensive back play has been extremely aggressive. I mean, Xavier McKinney himself has had an interception in each of the first five games of the season. Aggressive has been his middle name.
So, this question is being answered slowly but surely. This defense seems to be defensive back heavy. The pass rush does need to be improved.
Number Four – Packers’ Run Game
So, in the first article, I cheated and asked two questions in one. What will the Packers’ run game look like from the offense and defensive perspective? Well we have an answer for sure.
From the offensive perspective, this team is a formidable rushing attack. Between Josh Jacobs, Emmanuel Wilson, Jayden Reed, and yes even Malik Willis, this team is ranked fourth in rushing yards. That is according to nfl.com. Josh Jacobs has already rushed for over 400 yards and is projected to have 1,367 rushing yards while Wilson has rushed for 156 yards and is projected to have 530 rushing yards by the end of the season. All of this is according to espn.com.
So, the offense is doing great. On the other hand though, you have the Packers defense. The defense has been letting up an average of 114.2 rushing yards per game, which honestly is a bit surprising that it isn’t any worst because the Packers occasionally have been a bit leaky in the middle of their defensive line. Kenny Clark, among others, hasn’t been playing up to his personal standards. I believe that this will change.
Number Three – Safety Rotation
Wow, I could not be happier with the safety play. This is a complete 180 from last season. The Packers probably have the best safety in football at this moment in time in Xavier McKinney, and the rookies have been playing lights out. This particular question was what would the safety rotation look like this season? I think this last week we received our answer.
Xavier McKinney, Evan Williams, and Javon Bullard are the guys. McKinney has been mostly playing the post-safety while this past Sunday Evan Williams played a lot of strong safety. Javon Bullard was mostly in the slot and sometimes as the Sam-linebacker. I sure hope this is the answer, because these three in those positions are really impressive.
Number Two – Who Is The Number One Receiver?
Well, I thought this would be a rotation type of thing. I was wrong. Dontayvion Wicks has been dropping balls left and right, and Christian Watson has been injured. Romeo Doubs, well, let’s put that behind us.
It’s been Jayden Reed.
It’s been Jayden Reed and one other person. This player has quickly become many Packers fans’ favorite player.
So, it’s been Jayden Reed and Tucker Kraft. ‘Nuff said.
Packers Questions Number One – Jordan Love Still?
It’s interesting. I think this is still the number one question. Love, up to this point, has only played in three games that haven’t been the best measuring stick for him yet. He hasn’t had the opportunity to really get into a good enough rhythm yet to start the season.
The first game he played in was in Brazil where the fields were not very good, and then he got injured. The second game he played in was his first game back after missing two games with an MCL sprain against the Vikings, who have probably the weirdest defense going in the NFL right now. And, finally, the third game was across the country in Los Angeles. I just don’t think we have had enough information yet to answer this question.
Let’s hope against the Cardinals that Jordan Love begins to get into a rhythm.
Go Pack Go!
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Damon is a diehard, fully-immersed cheesehead who currently lives in southern Missouri. He teaches at a local high school and has a family YouTube channel about all things Packers. You can follow him on twitter at @packersfamily and on YouTube at The Packers Family.
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