How they changed, Part I: A look at 2017 opponents

Every offseason ushers in big changes for NFL rosters. Here we take a look at Green Bay's first four opponents in 2017 and how they've changed. 

A lot can change in a single offseason. Even though the process is still playing out with the start of OTAs and a full summer and training camp still ahead, it’s worth looking at the Packers’ schedule and how their opponents have changed since last season ended. 
 
In this series, we’ll look at the season Mike McCarthy style: in quarters. This first post will examine the first quarter, which features the archrival Seahawks, defending Super Bowl NFC champion Falcons, bad guy-friendly Bengals and Muppets of the Midway Bears. 
 

Week 1: Seattle Seahawks

Seattle’s offseason approach was typical by the standards of a highly successful NFL front office: They went about addressing their biggest needs (offensive line and feature running back) while bolstering their strength (the entire defense). 
 
Eddie Lacy signed an incentive-laden deal that requires he keep an eye on his waistline. His battering-ram style is a perfect compliment to Seattle’s characteristic physical play. Lacy joins a backfield with a pair of other talents in Thomas Rawls and C.J. Prosise. 
 
On the O-line, the biggest addition is second-round pick Ethan Pocic of LSU. He’s probably their best interior lineman day one, and will join re-signed middle man Oday Aboushi and former No. 2 overall pick Luke Joeckel, whose only hope of a career lies inside. 
 
On defense, Seattle drafted Richard Sherman’s successor in Shaq Griffin, while adding juice to the pass rush with first-rounder Malik McDowell. Delano Hill will back up Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor, while Nazair Jones adds depth at defensive tackle. The also signed a bevy of linebackers to back up Bobby Wagner and KJ Wright. 
 
The pieces that mean the most to Seattle’s are already there: Russell Wilson and a great defense. Shoring up their offensive line and adding a physical running back are positive changes. 
 

Week 2: Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons should have won the Super Bowl, so they’re roster wasn’t in need of an overhaul. Big man Dontari Poe is the big offseason acquisition, and the 350-pounder should help Atlanta’s biggest defensive weakness – stopping the run. Ex-Cowboy Jack Crawford adds some situational pass rushing. The addition of wide receiver Andrew Roberts provides an upgrade for the Falcons’ return game. 
 
Atlanta’s defense took a quantum leap in 2016, in large part because of Vic Beasley’s ascension as a bonafide pass rusher. By drafting Takkarist McKinley with their first pick, they’ve got a blue chipper to line up opposite of Beasley. The Falcons also added LSU linebacker Duke Riley, who gets to play alongside his former Tigers teammate Deion Jones. 
 
Offensively, the Falcons added to their impressive running back corps with Brian Hill of Wyoming – a physical, downhill runner with size and speed. Sean Harlow of Oregon State helps address a need in their interior line. 
 
The big question mark for Atlanta is how their offense – which by every measure was incredible in 2016 – will withstand the loss of offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, who took over as 49ers head coach. 
 

Week 3: Cincinnati Bengals

Cincy’s offseason is a bit of a head-scratcher: While they added some needed playmakers to their offense, they let go of a pair of lineman considered among the best at their positions. 
 
Stalwart left tackle Andrew Whitworth won’t be back to guard the Red Rifle’s blindside. Kevin Zeitler, one of the league’s best young guards, goes from one orange powerhouse to another and will suit up for Cleveland in 2017. Here’s guessing Andy Dalton wasn’t a huge fan of these changes. 
 
The Bengals did, however, infuse some serious talent with the draft. Even though they went wide receiver in the top 10 by grabbing speedster John Ross, the top Cincy draft headline was the selection of Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon. Nothing needs to said here that hasn’t already been said – a thousand times – about the ultra-talented but troubled Sooner. The Bengals added another talented wideout in Josh Malone, who is 6-3 to go with 4.4 speed. 
 
After recently struggling to find replacements for Marvin Jones and Mohammad Sanu, the additions of Ross and Malone give the Bengals some exciting prospects opposite A.J. Green. 
 
Lastly, the Bengals added a pair of edge rushers in Jordan Willis and Carl Lawson, who were excellent values at picks 73 and 116, respectively. 
 

Week 4: Chicago Bears 

Of the Packers’ first four opponents, the Bears will look the most different in 2017. A roster overhaul is to be expected considering the team’s front office and head coaching transitions the past few seasons. 
 
Chicago was ridiculed, by myself included, for trading up to select North Carolina quarterback Mitch Trubisky. These criticisms weren't wholly warranted, though. Using a draft value calculator, the numbers show that the Bears gave near appropriate value for the move – and if it ends up paying off in the form of a franchise quarterback, then it will definitely have been worth it. 
 
Make no mistake, though, Trubisky won’t start in 2017. The job for now belongs to Mike Glennon, the Jim Miller of the 2010s and the, well, Mike Glennon of today. 
 
Elsewhere, the Bears signed aging safety Quintin Demps, but the move is still a massive upgrade. Demps immediately becomes the team’s most reliable safety. The Bears also drafted Eddie Jones of Alabama, a converted corner to safety in college who has some good ball skills. 

 
The defensive backfield as a whole received a major facelift, with corners Prince Amukamura and Marcus Cooper joining the ranks. Both would figure to be the starters, and both offer the size that defensive coordinator Vic Fangio covets. 
 
At receiver, the Bears added Kendall Wright and Markus Wheaton. Of the two, Wright is the better player and is by no means a bad option as long as he's your second or third option. 
 
Chicago threw $10 million guaranteed at blocking tight end Dion Sims, a strange move, while drafting D-II standout Adam Shaheen of Ashland. Shaheen is massive at 6-6, 280 pounds and has serious upside as a pass-catching option. Both moves signal a lack of confidence that Zach Miller can stay on the field. 

 
Lastly, Chicago added Darren Sproles 2.0 by drafting 5-foot-6 Tarik Cohen a.k.a. “The Human Joystick.” Check out a highlight tape of Cohen – it’s highly entertaining. Cohen has freakish balance and change of direction ability, and could provide needed playmaking as a runner and particularly as a receiver out of the backfield. 
 
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Comments (11)

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MarkinMadison's picture

May 22, 2017 at 06:01 pm

Atlanta is the measuring stick right now.

I said it before, I'll say it again. My problem isn't that they drafted Turbisky. My problem is that there is no reason to believe they could not have stayed put and got him one pick later. Even if he turns out to be the next Tom Brady, that problem will not change. The Bears shot themselves in the paw.

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dnicholson's picture

May 22, 2017 at 09:14 pm

I'm getting the distinct sense that this series is either not interesting or the execution was poor.

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JerseyAl's picture

May 23, 2017 at 09:44 am

why do you think that?

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dnicholson's picture

May 23, 2017 at 11:57 am

Just hasn't generated much discussion. I'm going to stick with the series, though, because it's genuinely helping me learn about Green Bay's 2017 opponents. It's also a good way to track all of these draft picks and where they ended up.

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JerseyAl's picture

May 23, 2017 at 02:34 pm

I wouldn't expect a lot of comments, but I think it's a very good idea, actually. Enlightening for people who don't pay close attention to other teams (like myself).

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

May 24, 2017 at 01:34 am

I like the article, but have little to write about it. It is well written and informative. I don't follow other NFL teams, so even with this information I don't have many opinions about other teams. I am fairly familiar with Atlanta, Seattle and Chicago for obvious reasons, so only Cincinnati was kind of new to me.

And I am pretty familiar with the draft prospects already, say through the first 4 rounds anyway. I know that Delano Hill was the next safety picked after Josh Jones (some 30 slots later), and that the drop off in talent from Jones to Hill was substantial.

The most interesting items were the FA losses of other teams, but that could just be for me.

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Savage57's picture

May 24, 2017 at 08:13 am

Please continue the series. It's good to see a summary of upcoming opponent's moves, how they're shaping up as opposition, etc. Believe it or not, there really are some fans who realize the other teams are usually pretty good football players as well and that it's not a foregone conclusion the Packers are awarded a victory just for showing up because Packers.

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croatpackfan's picture

May 23, 2017 at 04:16 am

David you had better articles in the past. Idea is excellent, but...

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NickPerry's picture

May 23, 2017 at 06:00 am

I'm not so sure Seattle improved the O-Line that much this offseason. Lacy could very well have a decent season in Seattle. Hopefully that decent season doesn't start week one against the Packers.

Atlanta's in a division where the division winner changes mostly yearly. Before Carolina won the division from 2013 through 2015 no team won the division in consecutive years dating back to 2002. Atlanta is the one team who scares me a bit but I think the Packers can play with anyone in the NFL. I just wish the Packers weren't the team to have to open another NFL Stadium.

The Bengals have lost a lot of players over the last 2 seasons in FA so I really wonder how good they'll be. They have one of the best WR and TE in the NFL right now so Mixon and Ross could really help them offensively. Week 3 in GB I'll take the Packers by at least 9 points.

The Bears??? LMAO!!!! Enough said.

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RCPackerFan's picture

May 23, 2017 at 06:41 am

Seattle you know will be coming for GB. The last 2 times the Packers have played them, they have beat them. In the last meeting GB put a beat down on them. 38-10. Wilson threw 5 interceptions. Now coming with Lacy, you know he will be wanting to show his best in week 1. Seahawks are definitely going to be a tough team to play in week 1.

I'm really curious to see what Atlanta team shows up this year. Teams that get beat in the super bowl have a hard time coming back the next season. Just look at the Panthers. Also the NFC South is a division that the first goes to worst and the worst to first almost every year. With the way the Falcons lost, how will they overcome that? Losing Shanahan won't help.

The Bengals definitely added some firepower this year. Adding Ross and Mixon. However losing their top 2 OL will really hurt them. They will be a tougher team to play early, but

The Bears are the Bears... We will always get their best effort no matter how good or bad they are. With Fox as their Head Coach you also know that they are going to be giving 100%.

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PatrickGB's picture

May 23, 2017 at 10:30 am

Finally, an article on how our opponents have changed! Good job. I get the optimism for our own "improvements" but we don't play in a league where we are the only team with changes. When we keep the same defensive scheme every year and draft at the bottom of the rounds we are barely keeping up with the league. Couple that with TT's frugality we are often struggling to keep up. However we do have a great offense and when clicking we are hard to beat. So this year (again) we must rely on Aaron and our offense to keep up. King and Jones are good additions but wont be ready to play full time until mid season.

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