Pack’s GM excited about team’s d-line, OLBs

The Green Bay Packers once again have their eyes set on winning the Super Bowl after suffering a heartbreaking divisional round loss to the San Francisco 49ers back in January.

This offseason though, the Packers underwent a change on offense, as two-time All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders in the offseason. This opens up a major vacancy in the receiving room, as Adams was targeted 169 times in 2021. Those 169 targets were tied for second in all of the NFL.

The Packers combated Adams’ departure by signing wide receiver Sammy Watkins, who spent 2021 with the Baltimore Ravens. The team also drafted three more wide receivers who made the 53-man roster — second-round pick Christian Watson, fourth-round pick Romeo Doubs and seventh-round pick Samori Toure.

Toure finished the preseason with nine receptions for 125 yards. Due to his performance in preseason games and in training camp, Toure found a spot on the active roster over Juwann Winfree, who has been with the team since 2020. Winfree was recently signed to the Packers’ practice squad.

“Those are some tough calls,” said Packers General Manager Brian Gutekunst, when talking about keeping Toure over Winfree. “Samori really started to excel towards the second half of training camp. Samori’s ability in the slot and his ability to get open really intrigues us.”

With four new faces in the receiving room, buzz surrounding the running back duo of Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon has commenced. The duo are currently the only running backs on the Packers’ depth chart, but 2021 seventh-round pick Kylin Hill, who will miss the first four games of the season, figures to be in the mix as well.

With the lack of depth currently at the running back position, Gutekunst said that a wide receiver could help to fill that void.

“I think that the emergence of Amari Rodgers doing some stuff back there on gameday could help us,” said Gutekunst. “We have some flexibility there, so that was part of the decision (to only keep two running backs on the active roster).”

In regards to the defensive side of the ball, Gutekunst said that a major focal point of the defense will be the defensive line. The Packers enter season with six defensive lineman on the active roster — Kenny Clark, Dean Lowry, Jarran Reed, T.J. Slaton, Devonte Wyatt and Jonathan Ford.

“We are excited about our defensive line group — we think it is very deep,” said Gutekunst, noting the talent at each position, as well as on the practice squad. “If we have to dig into depth, we feel pretty good about it.”

Outside linebackers were also a point of emphasis during Gutekunst’s Aug. 31 press conference, as Gutekunst said that he feels comfortable on the state of that position room.

“We have had some guys with Rashan (Gary), Preston (Smith) and Jonathan Garvin coming back — J.J. (Kingsley Enagbare) is really the only new one — obviously Tipa (Galeai) is there as well — so, really four of those guys have been here and we know what those guys are,” said Gutekunst. “Jonathan and Tipa have really taken some nice steps and obviously Preston and Rashan are real-deal players. I think for us, as we go through it, when Rashan and Preston come off of the field, those other guys have to hold their own.”

Special teams was a major issue for the Packers in 2021, as a myriad of special teams mistakes led to many scoring opportunities for the opponents. This included San Francisco blocking a punt and returning it for a touchdown to tie the game late in the fourth quarter in the divisional round of the playoffs.

In the offseason, the Packers hired Las Vegas special team coordinator Rich Bisaccia to help rebuild that unit.

“I think that we have done a little bit of things that might be out of character for us, as far as some of the guys that we brought in that don’t play as big of a role on offense or defense, but are more heavy special teams players,” said Gutekunst, on what has changed in the offseason with special teams. “We will kind of see how that goes. We have to get better there to accomplish the goals that this team wants to accomplish.”

Over the last three regular seasons, the Packers have have compiled a record of 39-10, giving head coach Matt LaFleur the NFL record for most regular season wins in their first three seasons as a head coach. With that 39-10 record though, the Packers are just 2-3 in the playoffs over that stretch, with two losses coming in NFC Championship Games.

With Aaron Rodgers on the team for his 18th season, the most in Green Bay history, the Packers are once again looking to compete for a championship.

“It is the same thing as last year, just winning the (NFC) North again and just hoping to get over that hump and make it to the Super Bowl,” said Green Bay Packers guard Royce Newman, on his goals for the team for the season.

lreimer@newmedia-wi.com