Hey folks, welcome to our weekly live chat. The Black Monday edition. Sure there's plenty of questions today after the Packers wrapped up their season with a (fill in horrible adjective here) 31-0 loss to the Lions at Lambeau Field. Let's get started.
This one's easy: Anybody making 2019 season predictions on New Year's Eve is, by definition, not an expert. Experts know better.
I think you really hit it on the head, Dave. My natural reaction has been, Well, they need to fix the offense. But you're right. They need the right person for the job, period. No matter what his background is, that person has to be able to lead, motivate and scheme. That said, yes, they really need to fix the offense.
Hey, John. Happy New Year's Eve to you. Don't know who else in the media has discussed Adam Gase and the Packers. I spoke with someone last night who thought he'd be of high interest to the Packers, which I tweeted this morning. I would not go anywhere near as far as to say he's a front runner; I'm not sure he's going to interview. But it would surprise me if he didn't. Lots for the Packers to like with Gase.
I mean, Joe, if you were holding out for a seventh-round pick to save the most important position on defense, I'm sorry.
I don't put much stock into a meaningless Week 17 game. Did the Packers quit? I mean, it sure felt like a glorified exhibition, so it's fair to say that. Thing is, they had nothing to play for, and they played like it. Very unlike the previous week in New York. Now, that doesn't help Joe Philbin, or anyone else on staff. What the Packers did was all that unexpected. For Philbin to be retained as permanent head coach, he needed to get this team to do something very much unexpected. He needed to get them to play markedly different than under Mike McCarthy, and that definitely did not happen. But I can't say I was surprised a team with nothing to play for played completely uninspired. I was more surprised they actually played like they cared against the Jets.
Maybe, but I very much believe Mason Crosby will be the Packers kicker in 2019.
Sure, this is the doomsday scenario. Aaron Rodgers might be on a steep decline. He might have been injured this year and back to a high level next season. The answer will determine whether the Packers are a Super Bowl contender or non-playoff team.
I think they'll look in the college ranks, just as they'll look in the NFL ranks. It's going to be an expansive search. I would not by any means say it's a lock that the Packers are hiring a college coach.
Sure. Interceptions are bad. I think everyone knows this. The thing is, when you have the physical gifts Aaron Rodgers possesses, there's also validity to taking more shots at big plays.
Yeah, Ron, you're not making a lot of sense here. That's OK. I appreciate you participating in our chat. Can't speak for anyone else on our staff, but I've been called too soft on the Packers and too hard on the Packers simultaneously all season. I'll take that as a compliment. Can't please everybody. Happy New Year.
I think James Campen is a damn fine offensive line coach. No idea what his future will be.
Every team needs a run-stopping inside linebacker. That's Antonio Morrison. I think he'll compete with Jake Ryan for that role in the Packers defense next season. My guess is the Packers will keep one. Both are limited in other areas, particularly the pass game.
Davante Adams was the Packers best player this season. So, yeah, his absent hurt. I wrote today that his absence said more about his caliber of play this season than anything he did on the field. Because the Packers offense disintegrated without him. As for Geronimo Allison, yes, I think he'll play a big part in Packers offense next year. He was going to have a big year this season if not for his injury.
Hey Vic, they definitely need to explore the free-agent market to plug some of their holes. As for the lines, offensive line is a much bigger need than defensive line. Two of their top players (Kenny Clark and Mike Daniels) are on the defensive line. On the offensive line, only left tackle and center are in a really good place.
Give me until about 2020 to answer this.
That's a great way to put it, Dan. Here's another way, the turn of phrase I've been using: Packers are rebuilding contenders. That's a tough line to balance.
Gotta put guard up there, too. But, yes, backup quarterback will be a need. I think exploring a veteran option in free agency could have merit. Packers have tried to go the young, developmental route, and it hasn't worked. Might be best to go with a veteran behind Rodgers.
That's a good, fair question, but one that's hard to answer. The difficulty is we just don't know what Brian Gutekunst is yet. There's no question John Dorsey has more experience, and he's really talented. Dorsey also has a pair of lieutenants in Eliot Wolf and Alonzo Highsmith who were higher ranking than Jon-Eric Sullivan and John Wojciechowski, but that doesn't mean Sullivan and Wojo are incapable by any means. Ultimately, the GM matters. And we just don't know enough about Gutekunst to really say, but the experience edge goes to Cleveland.
Not trying to dodge this question, but it honestly seems impossible to answer right now, because the Packers are going to talk to a lot of candidates. It's too early in the process for me to narrow down to three names.
I'd say we're on top of it right now as we chat. Make sure you keep following PackersNews for full coverage.
