Training camp is a week away. Like in most years the Packers are a favorite to make a run at the playoffs. This is despite once again fielding one of the youngest rosters in the entire league. Young teams aren’t typically considered likely to make the playoffs, so why is Green Bay?
The answer is twofold. First you can’t acknowledge the Packers success in recent seasons without recognizing that they have one of the better coaching staffs in the league. Matt LaFleur is one of the best offensive minds in the game and second year DC Jeff Hafley made fans fast as he brought a defense without much star power to a respectable level.
Coaching can only take you so far though. At the end of the day its the players that decide the games. Despite the youthful slant of the roster, there is a lot of talent, but which five players lead the Pack?
The Packers Best Five
1. Xavier McKinney – McKinney is the rare example where prior to signing both fans and the media agreed that a player made perfect sense. Then the team itself actually went out and did it. Even more rare, everybody was right.
McKinney stepped in and was immediately the best player on a rejuvenated Packers defense. He went on to record eight interceptions, the most for a Packer since Charles Woodson was on the roster. He earned a first team all pro for the first time in his career.
McKinney is exactly what the defense needed given how little star power the secondary had after Jaire Alexander was lost to injury.
I expect McKinney to be excellent again this year with a full season in Green Bays system under his belt. I do not think he’ll be holding on to this spot however if the season goes as hoped.
2. Jordan Love – As I alluded to above, I think next year Love is unquestionably the top player on this roster. He’s shown flashes of top five quarterback play already. He was let down last season by a number of things outside of his control.
It’s been beaten to death but the receiver group let Love down in a big way, leading the league in drops and errors. In addition long term injuries clearly influenced his play in a multitude of ways.
The Packers front office has done what they can to fix the receiver issue, adding two top 100 picks at the position with Matthew Golden and Savion Williams.
Are there things that Love will need to improve on? Sure. One of the biggest things he needs to do is be more willing to scramble when the need arises. That being said injuries may have played a role there and he has acknowledged that he needs to be willing to run more.
3. Zach Tom – If my prediction regarding Jordan Love is accurate, Zach Tom and the offensive line will have something to do with it.
Tom has been a consistent presence on the right side of the line since taking over as a rookie. With the rest of the line a bit in flux, Tom will be expected to go out and play at a pro bowl level.
The Packers obviously agree as all signs point to them signing Tom long term in the near future.
4. Rashan Gary – Maybe the most polarizing player on this list as opinions about him range from he’s got the potential to be one of the best edges in the league all the way to he’s an absolute bust. As with most things the truth is somewhere in the middle.
Gary really stepped up as run defender last year and continues to generate pressure as a pass rusher. Among edges in the league only 4 have generated more pressures than Gary since he came into the league.
Pressures are undoubtably valuable, but so are sacks and that’s where Gary needs to step up this year.
I think an argument could be made that the system change and how it shifted how Gary would line up could have played a role in his decreased rush production.
Regardless of the reason however a lot will be expected of Gary this season. By virtue of his contract and by the team not doing much to add to the group, Gary has to be the guy this season. If he is, the Packers defense could take the leap from good to great.
5. Brandon McManus – Do I really think McManus is the fifth best player on this roster? Probably not. But I don’t care. After several years in the kicker wilderness (is this how teams without qbs feel?) only one thing matters to me:
95.2
That’s his field goal percentage from last season. He missed one field goal. He hit multiple game winners and was denied another as a result of some uncharacteristic bad coaching. For the first time in several years we’re going into a season not having to worry about the kicking part of special teams.
Honorable Mentions
Edgerrin Cooper & Evan Williams – Both played very well last season, but injuries and sample size kept them out.
Elgton Jenkins – The most versatile player on the roster, and an expected upgrade at the center position. Injuries are a concern as well as the position switch and some offseason drama all combined to keep him off the list.
Christian Watson – Likely won’t see the field until the midway point at best
Josh Jacobs – The hardest exclusion (and if we’re being honest should actually be in the McManus spot), Jacobs had a huge bounce back year with the Packers coming off a disappointing season with the Raiders. While he did rack up counting stats, advanced metrics were less kind and there’s always a concern when a running back is coming off 300 plus carries.
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