The expectations for the Packers offense should be sky high.
They have a quarterback that is truly invested in the development of his wide receivers, tight ends and running backs. They have an offensive line that is versatile and can deal with just about any situation.
Most importantly, this team has a head coach that is willing to mold and evolve with the personnel that he has. One of the biggest flaws of former coach Mike McCarthy was that he tried to run his system no matter what personnel was. He was very resistant to change.
The thing that I am excited about with training camp 16 days away, is that the Packers can put up points in so many different ways. Jordan Love can sit in the pocket and mince a secondary to pieces. Seven pass catchers caught at least 30 passes last year, with Romeo Doubs (69) and Jayden Reed (68) catching at least 60.
Love can also move the chains with his feet. The next Packers great quarterback had eight runs for 10 yards or more last year. He also had 17 runs that accounted for first downs. That tells me that LaFleur trusts Love in big spots and he’s willing to give the 6-foot-4, 219-pound quarterback the keys to the offense when it matters most.
And speaking of the running game, Josh Jacobs has accounted for 73 runs of 10 yards or more in the last three years. He’s a legitimate home run threat that is coupled with the power of a battering ram by amassing 1,703 yards after contact in the last two years.
But this offense is also something that cannot be measured. Love’s improvisational skills. His ability to throw off weird arm angles continues to boggle my mind. The fact that he can continue to elude pressure and find the open receiver, which is what he continued to do in the playoff win vs. Dallas.
And let’s not forget about an offensive line that continues to be very good. Zach Tom might be Green Bay’s best blocker. As a rookie, he played 60 percent of his snaps at left tackle in 2022. He also played left guard, right guard and right tackle. Last year, he played 99 percent of his snaps at right tackle. He is literally a Zach of all trades and will be a key piece for Packers offensive line coach Luke Butkus. For the first time since he was drafted in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft, David Bakhtiari will not be a member of the Packers. The injuries have really taken their toll and it’s time for both Bakhtiari and the Packers to move on.
The sky’s the limit for this offense. And the scary thing is, everyone in the NFC already knows it.
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Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on “Clubhouse Live” and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn
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