Episode 17 - Revisiting the Packers Slow Start
Blue 58, powered by WTMJ Mobile, goes beyond the headlines to help you become a smarter fan of the Green Bay Packers. Hosted by former WTMJ newscaster Jon Meerdink and his friend Gary Zilavy, Blue 58 brings you a unique, upbeat perspective on your favorite NFL team, as long as that team is the Packers.
One of the Packers best players is released, another is a free agent that hasn't heard a lick from the Packers and a third is going to get less money than they originally thought. Hosts Jon Meerdink and Gary Zilavy unpack the headlines and take a quick look back at the first four games of the Packers regular season.
Here are the headlines we covered in Blue 58:
CB Sam Shields released
Seventh year corner's release save the Packers about $8 million against the 2017 cap. We touched on what cutting Shields means for Green Bay shortly after the news broke.
Eddie Lacy's asking price is lower than expected
Some people believe that Eddie Lacy’s asking price could be lower than originally suspected. Unless a team can overlook his significant issues, he's likely to sign a one-year “prove it” deal that’s mostly incentives.
T.J. Lang hasn't talked contract with the Packers yet
The free agent guard told SiriusXM NFL Radio that he hasn't heard from the Packers yet about a new contract. At 30 years old, he would be one of the only players Ted Thompson has signed to a third contract with Green Bay.
Reviewing the season's first four games
Our mission is to become smarter Packers fans. Green Bay plays their sixteen games a year at a frantic pace; it's hard to add context and perspective to the Packers schedule when the season happens so fast. We'll take a quick look over the next few weeks at the Packers schedule this year – here's why:
Reason 1: It helps tease out the story of the season. Every season has an essential story. That story may not align with the common narratives around the team during the year. For instance, the 2010-2011 Packers season ultimately was about starter Aaron Rodgers becoming superstar Aaron Rodgers. If you examine the season game by game, you see a quarterback going from a rising star to a bona fide champion.
Reason 2: The season goes faster than you think. With some hindsight, we can together learn new things about the 2016 Packers that we may have forgotten or missed the first time around. Knowing what we know now helps us see patterns forming.
Game 1: Green Bay 27, Jacksonville 23
The Packers defense makes a last-second stand, stopping receiver Allen Hurns in the Packers red zone on a 4th-and-1 swing pass with 15 seconds left and no timeouts. Aaron Rodgers throws two highlight reel touchdowns, but the Packers offense is quieted by the Jaguars rising defense.
Game 2: Minnesota 17, Green Bay 14
Quarterback Sam Bradford makes his Vikings debut after the gruesome injury to Teddy Bridgewater. Bradford manages the game beautifully, and the Packers offense is frustrated by Mike Zimmer's defense. Aaron Rodgers is sacked five times, and the Packers have had 350 or fewer yards in each of their last five regular season games.
Game 3: Green Bay 34, Detroit 27
Aaron Rodgers bounces back after opening the season with two mediocre performances. He throws four touchdown passes in the first half, and the Packers hoard off a furious second half rally by the Lions. Nick Perry has a career day, and tight end Jared Cook exists with an ankle injury.
Game 4: Green Bay 23, New York 16
New York's Odell Beckham Jr. is one of the game's premier receivers, and he's licking his chops before this game. The Packers secondary is without Sam Shields; Stefon Diggs and Marvin Jones both torched Green Bay's defense for career games. Beckham is held in check – instead, the Packers' Randall Cobb shines with 108 receiving yards. Aaron Rodgers throws two interceptions in the first half.
While I've got you here
Richard Rodgers has one career rushing attempt for 11 yards.
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