Plenty to Build On, Plenty to Improve in Green Bay

You watch the game on Sunday, and despite another difficult loss, I think you had to feel pretty good about what you saw from the Green Bay Packers. Sure, the final score wasn’t what anybody wanted, but for much of the afternoon, it felt like a game the Packers were in control of and probably should have won.

Of course, ask any number of Lions fans, and they’ll tell you Detroit dominated the game and rightfully deserved to win. But the way I see it, the Packers left as many as 19 points on the board and lost by just three.

Now, I’m not suggesting that Green Bay played a perfect game or that Detroit didn’t deserve the win. But there’s something to be said about going into Ford Field, playing a division rival without some of your best players, and putting yourself in a position to win despite leaving so many opportunities on the field.

And that’s really my biggest takeaway from Sunday. There’s a lot to like about this Packers team, but there are still some things that need to get cleaned up if they’re going to take that next step.

For starters, I think Jonathan Gannon deserves some credit for what he’s been able to do with this defense. Without Micah Parsons and Edgerrin Cooper, the Packers managed to hold a talented Detroit offense to just 20 points. That’s a pretty impressive accomplishment when you consider the amount of talent the Lions have on that side of the ball.

Gannon’s bend-but-don’t-break approach isn’t necessarily the most exciting brand of football, and there are certainly moments when it can be frustrating to watch. But it’s difficult to argue with the results. In fact, despite the injuries, I think the defense has quietly become the most consistent unit on this football team.

There are still some things I’d like to see improve, particularly when it comes to generating pressure without Parsons, but if this is what the Packers can accomplish without arguably their best defensive player, there’s plenty of reason to be optimistic about what this unit could look like when he returns.

On the other side of the ball, I thought the offense showed some encouraging signs, even if the missed opportunities ultimately proved to be the difference.

Much like last week against the Dallas Cowboys, there were a handful of plays that Green Bay simply didn’t capitalize on. A missed throw here, a dropped pass there, and suddenly you’re looking at another game that probably should have ended differently.

But I also think it’s important to consider the circumstances.

You obviously can’t account for having to turn to your backup right tackle to play meaningful snaps at center, but I thought John Williams did a masterful job stepping into that role. For a player who hasn’t taken many practice reps at the position, he handled himself about as well as you could reasonably expect.

And with a short week ahead against the Carolina Panthers, the Packers are going to need him to do it again.

It was also good to finally get Josh Jacobs back on the field. Although the rushing numbers weren’t necessarily anything to write home about, I thought the offense looked more comfortable having him back in the lineup. His presence alone gives defenses something else to account for, and we saw what he’s capable of as a receiver on that 25-yard touchdown.

Unfortunately, Jacobs also dropped what could have been another touchdown late in the game, which accounted for seven of those potential 19 points Green Bay left on the board.

Still, I think there’s plenty to be encouraged about with his return, and I’m looking forward to seeing LaFleur get him more involved as the season progresses.

Another player I’ve really enjoyed watching is Savion Williams.

I like the creativity LaFleur has shown in finding ways to get the football into his hands, and I think Williams brings an element to this offense that it hasn’t necessarily had in recent years. Whether it’s using him out of the backfield, getting him involved in the screen game, or finding opportunities downfield, there’s clearly a lot of potential there.

My only concern is that some of these longer-developing plays aren’t necessarily ideal given the current state of the offensive line.

When you’re already struggling to consistently protect Jordan Love, asking him to hold onto the football while a play develops probably isn’t the best recipe for success. I’d like to see LaFleur continue getting creative with Williams, but perhaps find ways to get the ball out of Love’s hands a little quicker.

And speaking of Love, I really don’t understand what it’s going to take for him to start getting some of the same calls that other quarterbacks around the league seem to receive.

There were a handful of passes on Sunday that I thought could have drawn defensive pass interference penalties. But at this point, we should probably know better than to expect the Packers to get those calls.

Then there was the roughing-the-passer penalty against Karl Brooks, which I thought was utter BS.

It’s especially frustrating when you consider how frequently Jordan Love gets hit without receiving the same benefit of the doubt. I’m not sure what the explanation is, but the inconsistency is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

I don’t know if the league is trying to make some sort of point following the Packers’ handling of the Josh Jacobs situation or what it is, but sometimes it really does feel like Green Bay is playing by a different set of rules.

Regardless, I thought Love did enough to put the Packers in a position to win, and that’s really all you can ask of your quarterback when the offensive line is dealing with that much adversity.

Then there’s special teams, which I think is probably the biggest area of concern coming out of Sunday’s game.

Trey Smack has certainly had his struggles, but I’m not entirely convinced that all of the blame belongs on his shoulders.

Yes, the box score will show two missed field goals, and those kicks ultimately played a significant role in the outcome. But I think there’s a larger conversation to be had about the entire kicking operation.

Going back to last season, Brian McManus experienced more inconsistencies than we had typically seen from him throughout his career. Now we’re seeing some of those same issues with Smack.

At what point do we start looking beyond the kicker?

I’ve questioned the Packers’ commitment to Matt Orzech for some time now, and I still don’t understand why the coaching staff has been so reluctant to explore other options at long snapper.

That’s not to suggest that every missed kick can be attributed to Orzech. In fact, the late attempt against Detroit was tipped, and there are clearly some protection issues that need to be addressed as well.

But I think the Packers need to take a closer look at the entire operation rather than simply expecting Smack to figure everything out on his own.

There’s something to be said for continuity and consistency in the kicking game, and when you’ve had multiple kickers struggle over the course of several seasons, I think it’s fair to start questioning whether the problem extends beyond the guy actually kicking the football.

I still think Smack has the ability to be a good kicker in this league. We’ve already seen flashes of what he’s capable of, and I’m not ready to give up on him after a difficult afternoon.

But if the Packers are serious about competing in January, they need to get this figured out sooner rather than later.

Which brings me to Brian Gutekunst and the upcoming trade deadline.

I know the Packers have traditionally preferred to build through the draft, develop their own talent, and avoid making moves simply for the sake of making them. And for the most part, I think that approach has served them pretty well.

But with several teams around the league seemingly beginning to look toward the future, I think there could be some interesting opportunities for Green Bay to improve its roster.

The Indianapolis Colts, in particular, are a team I’d be keeping a close eye on.

With Indianapolis potentially entering another transition period, there are a handful of players on that roster who I think could make a lot of sense for the Packers.

Quenton Nelson is one name I would have loved to see Green Bay at least inquire about, especially considering the current state of the offensive line.

The same goes for DeForest Buckner. If a player of his caliber can be acquired for reasonable draft compensation, I think that’s the type of opportunity Gutekunst should seriously consider.

The defensive line has performed admirably given the circumstances, but adding another proven veteran could make a significant difference, particularly if Parsons is able to return and give this defense another dimension.

Another player I find especially intriguing is Sauce Gardner.

We’re talking about a cornerback who, not that long ago, was considered one of the best defensive backs in football. A multiple-time All-Pro with the physical tools to match up against just about anybody, Gardner is the type of player who could immediately elevate Green Bay’s secondary.

His time in Indianapolis hasn’t necessarily gone the way many expected, and I think some of that can be attributed to how he’s being utilized.

Lou Anarumo has incorporated a mixture of man and zone concepts, and some of the Colts’ defensive packages have asked Gardner to operate in roles that don’t necessarily maximize his strengths.

Personally, I’ve never been particularly impressed with Anarumo’s ability to develop defensive backs, even dating back to his time with the Cincinnati Bengals.

And I think Gardner is the perfect example of a player who could benefit from a change of scenery.

He’s at his best when he’s allowed to get physical with receivers, play aggressive coverage, and use his length and athleticism to disrupt passing lanes.

I think Jonathan Gannon could find some interesting ways to utilize a player with that skill set, and adding Gardner would give the Packers another legitimate playmaker in the secondary.

Grover Stewart is another Colts defender I’d be interested in. He’s been a productive and reliable presence along the interior defensive line for years, and his ability to eat up snaps and defend the run could be especially valuable for Green Bay.

Then there’s Zack Baun.

The Wisconsin native has developed into one of the better linebackers in football with the Philadelphia Eagles, and I think a potential return home would make a lot of sense.

With Edgerrin Cooper dealing with an Achilles injury, the Packers have a significant hole at linebacker, and Baun could provide an immediate upgrade while also giving the team some flexibility heading into next season.

The last thing you want to do is rush a young player like Cooper back from an Achilles injury before he’s fully recovered. Bringing in a player like Baun would allow the Packers to take their time with Cooper while still fielding a talented linebacker group.

And if we’re being realistic, Baun would be a significant upgrade over Isaiah McDuffie.

Now, I’m not suggesting that Gutekunst should go out and trade for every recognizable name that becomes available. There’s obviously a balance between improving the roster today and protecting the team’s future.

But I do think the Packers are in a position where they should at least be exploring some of these opportunities.

Because when I look at this roster, I don’t see a team that’s miles away from competing with the best teams in the NFC.

I see a team that’s already capable of doing that.

Sunday’s game against Detroit was another example.

The Packers went on the road, dealt with injuries at several important positions, and still put themselves in a position to beat one of the better teams in the conference.

The defense continues to find ways to keep Green Bay in games. Jacobs is back in the lineup. Young players like Savion Williams are beginning to carve out meaningful roles, and Jordan Love continues to show that he’s capable of making the throws necessary to win football games.

Those are all encouraging developments.

But the dropped passes need to be cleaned up. The offensive line needs to get healthier and more consistent. The special teams operation needs to improve, and LaFleur needs to find ways to turn some of these promising offensive possessions into points.

And if Gutekunst has an opportunity to add another difference-maker without sacrificing the team’s long-term future, I think he should seriously consider it.

There’s still a lot of football left to be played, and I don’t think Sunday’s loss should change how we view the potential of this team.

If anything, I came away from the game feeling more encouraged about what the Packers are capable of accomplishing when they put everything together.

The pieces are there. The talent is there. And despite the injuries and inconsistencies, Green Bay has continued to show that it can compete with anybody.

Now it’s just a matter of putting together four quarters of football.

And if the Packers can start turning some of these missed opportunities into points, I think we’re going to be having a very different conversation about this team over the next few months.