Cory's Corner: The Packers Are Rewriting The Term Rebuild

The Packers will have you rethink what rebuild means. 

I don’t care what you call it. Call it a soft rebuild, call it a flat out rebuild. 

It honestly doesn’t matter. 

“To me, flat out how I look at it, it’s disrespectful to say you’re not rebuilding off a Hall of Fame quarterback. It was disrespectful to say you weren’t rebuilding off of Brett Favre when we moved to Aaron,” said All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari. “No one knew who Aaron was or what he was going to be.”

The Packers appear to be in rebuild mode, but I’m not going to back down from what I’ve always been saying. This team has an unproven quarterback, but that doesn’t mean that they cannot win the NFC North. The Vikings, Lions and Bears have plenty of question marks. 

Would I pick the Packers to win the division in June? Maybe not. But at the same time, I’m not going to rule them out simply because I like Green Bay’s offensive line, running backs and defense. You can’t just win games with those three things, you can win consistently if you control the line of scrimmage. 

And that’s what I meant when I wrote that the Packers’ biggest expectation coming into the season wasn’t Jordan Love. It was the defense. Love doesn’t have to be the end-all for the Packers as long as the Packers keep opponents to 17 points or less. 

Bakhtiari isn’t wrong when he says that the Packers are rebuilding. The most important position in all of sports is quarterback. And we don’t know if Love can be trusted in big spots and we don’t know how well Love can lead. 

The Packers are rebuilding, but this isn’t going to be a Lions or Bears rebuild. The Packers have plenty of pieces already in place. There is no need for the Packers to take unnecessary risks on offense, mainly because they have a defense that is going to push opposing offenses to the limit. 

I know it may be hard to understand, but I think this team is going to be good. It’s all perfect for this team to succeed: the expectations are low, the head coach has plenty to prove and it has the opportunity to own both the defensive and offensive line of scrimmage. 

So you can write them off simply because they are a “rebuilding team” but that definition isn’t black and white. If you’re going to say that the Packers are rebuilding simply because of the quarterback, you’re wrong. There are plenty of ways that the Packers can win, despite the quarterback. 

So Bakhtiari is right, but with a caveat. Normally, a rebuild is supposed to be welcomed with a string of subpar seasons as the roster gets built back up. That isn’t the case in Green Bay. The Packers have used their last four first rounders on defense and they may have the best running back tandem in the league. 

Now it’s up to the Packers that this isn’t the rebuild that you expect. 

 

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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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8 points
 

Comments (40)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
greengold's picture

June 03, 2023 at 06:23 am

Yes, they are.

It began when they drafted Jordan Love, and was reenforced when they let Z walk. Out with the old. In with the new. The talent on this Packers team looks to have improved greatly since, including Gutekunst, himself.

It is time. Enjoy this.

Carry the G.

3 points
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KnockTheSnotOutOfYou's picture

June 03, 2023 at 08:33 pm

Love it GG!

Particularly "including Gutenkunst" because it is so true! Gutey just continues to improve and is the most valuable Packer.

Gutey now has approximately 20 years with the Pack and a good 5 years as GM. Plus, he has weathered the Aaron Rodgers debacle & turned it into a positive improving the overall talent including QB. I'm standing behind this statement that a 24 year old first year starting QB in 2023 with young inexperienced WR's and TE's will have better stats than a 39 year old HOF QB did in 2022 with experienced WR's and TE's. Better yet...JL will continue improving for the next half dozen years.

3 points
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SicSemperTyrannis's picture

June 03, 2023 at 11:35 pm

I hope that over the next 6 years it's an improvement over the last 6 years, without needing many changes to the current roster. I'd almost be willing to say I think that will be the case, except a lot of things have to go right for that to happen.

To say that this season will be better than last? Of all the ways that could be measured, the only tangible that matters would be at least 9 wins. I won't bet against that, but they could improve in lots of ways that don't include that magic number.

1 points
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mrtundra's picture

June 03, 2023 at 06:28 am

Why is it a rebuild when Love has been here for the past three years, learning the system? When we did not lose our RBs and gained some young ball catchers? Is it because our team is young? Whatever you call it, I'm excited for this season and the GBP! If things do not go as planned, I think we need to look at the coaches, more than the players.

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greengold's picture

June 03, 2023 at 06:43 am

Yeah mrtundra, I agree with you that it doesn’t really matter what you call it. Semantics.

All I know is that I like what I see. We haven’t had this kind of energy in Green Bay since the 2010 years when we won a Championship after walking in as a wildcard underdog.

You bring up a great point on coaching. Much can change when coaches have the players they can work with. Gutekunst looks to have added an incredible amount of talent to all 3 phases of the Packers team.

Now the real test for our coaches & players alike begins.

7 points
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ReaganRulz's picture

June 03, 2023 at 07:34 am

Love the energy comment. Not only from the players/culture, but from the fans. In past, it was like Groundhog Day. We expected our QB to lead our team to victory every week. Don’t get me wrong, it was good but it’s nice to shake it up a bit!!

4 points
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jannes bjornson's picture

June 03, 2023 at 09:12 am

I would look at the guy who brought in the players.

1 points
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Barnacle's picture

June 03, 2023 at 02:56 pm

It seems like the guy with the highest future cap number in the league(Bakt) thinks it’s a rebuild year. I hope he is correct and that we dump him and Ball (our Salary cap guy who got us into this mess).

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SicSemperTyrannis's picture

June 03, 2023 at 11:45 pm

I've seen a lot of plays where Bakh was the only one on our O line who was effective. I wouldn't want to trade him without an heir apparent.

Our current salary cap hell is the doing of the whole organization going for broke, not just one person.

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SicSemperTyrannis's picture

June 03, 2023 at 11:41 pm

Coaches can develop and evaluate talent well, but make mistakes during regular season games. These are two very different skill sets. The former is more important right now as most of this roster can be around for a decade, and at least the QB and K for more like two.

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TKWorldWide's picture

June 03, 2023 at 06:34 am

Does Alabama rebuild?
Or do they just reload?

To clarify, fair or unfair, Love plays a huge role. If he is at least representative of what MLF expects, then the “rebuild” answer is NO. I, myself, expect him to be competent at the very least, so to me, GB is merely reloading.

If the defense can perform well above average (by any measure you choose: yards, points allowed, turnovers, sacks, etc etc) then GB should definitely be in the hunt for the division crown. The defense is LOADED with resources, and to me, “well above average” is totally reasonable.

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SicSemperTyrannis's picture

June 03, 2023 at 11:52 pm

With all the talent on the defensive roster I think we're all licking our wounds over the last two seasons, at least. Pretty sad that we haven't even been indisputably top 10 defense 2019 - now. I think the talent is top 5, but not after Gary and Stokes went down.

3 points
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ReaganRulz's picture

June 03, 2023 at 07:29 am

Great article Cory! It probably won’t change the mind’s of anyone on the other side of the camp, but we do have a good nucleus with the OL, RBs, and Defense (with the caveat that Barry gets his #$%^ together! Like we’ve all heard and said before…..”we have to be patient”. There is a #$%^-ton of talent from the Youts.

Rebuild’s are probably more relevant in baseball. When every year, poor performing teams will dump many of their good players that severely impacts the team more than a football team. The Cubs come to mind after they won the World Series and soon after had to get rid of several players because of high salaries, etc. There’s probably a bunch more examples.

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TKWorldWide's picture

June 04, 2023 at 01:35 am

Tampa Bay Rays, over and over again!

2 points
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fireball's picture

June 03, 2023 at 07:35 am

So maybe the " rebuild " begins when Matt LaFleur is hired as head coach in 2019, and Jordan Love is drafted in 2020? And then many additions to the defense and offense over the last two years at least.

So the Packers are " rebuilt, " for the most part, and now it's all up to the coaches.

4 points
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croatpackfan's picture

June 03, 2023 at 07:42 am

I agree with you Cory. It does not matter how you want to call it. You can call it "business as usual" to "total rebuild".

Those are just phrases. For me, for example, rebuilding would be sacking complete roster of players 25/26 yo and older, change complete coaching staff and start from zero. And, what is important, for rebuilding you will need 3 to 4 years of developing young team with adding draft choices to reinforce your roster.

Packers have their coaches (unfortunatelly, all of them, looking at you Mr Barry) in place for 4 years except Tom Clements and new CB/DB coach.

For QB they have talented guy who was learning system for 4 years, and at every position group some players in second or more years with the team.

I agree that we can not overlook fact that the former Packers QB was 18 years with the team, but many (me included) are suspicious that he started to hold team from progress to adapt to the new rules in NFL. We lose few experienced players, like Mason Crosby, but he was in obvious decline.

I agree that we do not know what near future will looks like, but from outside view of the team, we all (well, almost all) are excited about potential this team have.

So, IMHO this is more retooling than rebuilding. Rebuilding with the sight to the future. And future will come, as Father time waiting no one.

It is always smarter to do retooling than rebuilding, as retooling is much shorter process.

5 points
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stockholder's picture

June 03, 2023 at 07:42 am

We've been in a Rebuild since 2010.
I get you like the percentages since then.
But this isn't about winning percentage.
It's about QUESTIONS?
And we just have too many questions, Fore success.
Love Baby Love, is No secret.
So- while your thinking of all the great days ahead,
I wouldn’t go with picking him, for any fantasy Team.
The questions list names; ready for execution.
I see the guillotine. Chopping off the wrong head;
Puts us right back before Wolf.
It’s time for the packers to put the business end first.
And as long as this is a rebuild mode.
I’m planning on a subpar season
so I won’t be disappointed.

-9 points
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ricky's picture

June 03, 2023 at 07:45 am

The first year Rodgers was the starting QB, the Packers went 6-10. Will Love do better? The stars seem to be aligning that way. My main concern is depending on the defense to make major strides forward. They have the players. But is the DC capable of scheming to the strengths of the players? And, at this point, have the players started to lose their enthusiasm, because they don't trust the coaching? Look at Detroit as a counter point. That team comes out fired up every week, and it seems the players would be willing to run through walls if the coaches asked them. The Packers need to open their pocketbook and hire coaches who can inspire and bring out the best in the players. I thought they had learned that lesson with the big turnaround on special teams with the hiring of Bisaccia. Then they brought back Barry as DC. We can only hope they made the right move.

3 points
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HawkPacker's picture

June 03, 2023 at 08:18 am

I don't think that there are many of us that are happy that Barry is the DC. MLF could and should have made the change this off season but he did not. If the defense does not improve this coming season, then that is on MLF for not making the change.

Think about it. If MLF does make a change after this coming season as the defense has not improved, he should be fired as well. All of the players on our defense is not a year older and this coming season would be a waste of all that talent.

1 points
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SicSemperTyrannis's picture

June 03, 2023 at 11:59 pm

Do we really know that keeping JB was entirely on MLF? Either way, Rich Bisaccia might be able to keep JB from ruining another season. Then would it really be good to replace JB and MLF at the same time? That could be unnecessary turnover.

0 points
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Johnblood27's picture

June 04, 2023 at 09:10 am

So long as Bisacchia is placed in the HC role, I would not be too upset at MLF and JB getting the Axe.

0 points
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Coldworld's picture

June 03, 2023 at 08:34 am

Rodgers had statistically the best year ever for a first year starter at the time. It remains a stand out. However, as he has admitted that, despite his gifts, was a tad misleading. Rodgers struggles that year manifested in the 4th quarter of games.

In 2008, Aaron Rodgers threw for 4,038 yards and 28 touchdowns, fourth in the league and he finished sixth in passer rating at 93.8. The Packers finished 6-10, not helped by the D, but critically Rodgers struggled too when it really mattered.

As Bill Huber has pointed out, the fourth quarters of the 10 losses, Rodgers completed a mere 54.0% of his passes for four touchdowns and five interceptions despite a lot of quality experience at the skill positions.

That was where his inexperience showed. That’s where he improved dramatically after his first year. We should expect the same struggles under pressure from Love, perhaps compounded by the greater inexperience around him. This will be a growth year, just as Rodgers 2008 was.

3 points
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LambeauPlain's picture

June 03, 2023 at 11:31 am

The Defense in 2008 struggled even more in the 4th quarter. It was maddening to watch Sanders D, giving up scores and wins during the last possession games.

2 points
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LambeauPlain's picture

June 03, 2023 at 08:41 am

Rodgers played well in his 4th year as first time starter. Bob Sanders' Defense did not play well, collapsing late in games after the Team had a lead and was mostly responsible for the 6-10. Sanders was then fired.

It is likely Love may play well in his 4th year as a first time starter. Will Barry's Defense play well? They have the talent but the coaching needs to "rebuild" their game strategy how to best deploy all that talent to best attack the current opponent.

They have the player skillsets to be very creative and diverse to keep their given foe off balance. Hope we finally see it after 2 years. Shoot, for Barry...it would be a departure from his "one size fits all" 6 year history.

My expectations for the D are low...not due to the players, but the coaching talent.

4 points
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SicSemperTyrannis's picture

June 04, 2023 at 12:04 am

What if JB is at least competent at developing players at practice? And Rich Bisaccia can overrule him in games so bad decisions are avoided?

There's still some possibility for a good outcome here; heck, JB might have even learned how to utilize this defensive roster?

1 points
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jannes bjornson's picture

June 03, 2023 at 09:21 am

Can't scheme tackling. A lot of missed assignments and whiffs from that crew.

1 points
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SicSemperTyrannis's picture

June 04, 2023 at 12:06 am

"What the hell's going on out there! Everybody's hitting, nobody's tackling." We could use another coach Lombardi, that's for sure.

What's this I hear the NFL disallows drilling on tackling?

1 points
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Turophile's picture

June 03, 2023 at 07:48 am

It's not a reload, retool, rebuild, re-anything.

If we didn't have all of Alexander, Clark, Stokes, Wyatt, Gary, Walker, Bakhtiari, Jenkins, Tom, Jones, Watson, Van Ness, Reed (to name only some of the better or potentially-better performers) then yes, its a rebuild - but we do have all of the above, so those names don't really fit.

What it actually IS, is a youth movement. Most of the older players Rodgers liked to have around him are gone, and so is he. The Packers are now the youngest team in the NFL.

That's kind of exciting - many fans have said that this is the season they are looking forward to, more than any other in recent years. They don't know what's coming, but they DO know a lot of young players will be getting better in the next year or two along with our new QB. It's a new world, and no-one is sure of what is to come.

12 points
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TKWorldWide's picture

June 03, 2023 at 08:14 am

Well put!

3 points
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HawkPacker's picture

June 03, 2023 at 08:20 am

'It's not a reload, retool, rebuild, re-anything.'

I agree and furthermore, what difference does it make? These are only words or different terminology and will not change a thing. They can call it anything that they want and it won't mean anything.

5 points
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Coldworld's picture

June 03, 2023 at 08:23 am

These days it’s foolish to get hung up on a definition when such things have become habitually amorphous in terms of usage, according to the desired message of the user. This debate is really totally pointless therefore.

Look at this team. It’s not what it was. In addition to Rodgers, time and cap has led to wholesale change in personnel after a period of relative stasis. Call it what you like, it doesn’t matter. This isn’t last year’s team and it’s certainly not 2020s. It’s young, potential laden and untested. Chose your term for that, but that fact is incontestable. I also find it exciting.

4 points
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LambeauPlain's picture

June 03, 2023 at 09:04 am

Agree...after the 8-9 season with one of the highest starting salary rosters in the NFL...there needs to be change, reloading, rebuilding, makeover, choose your adjective.

If there is any "definition" of rebuilding going on, I hope has, and will continue among the coaches on both sides of the ball.

MLF needs to return to his blueprint of the Illusion of Complexity that got smudged up with Rodgers trying to be the architect of a hybrid plan. Didn't work well.

Barry needs an eraser on his blueprint of zone, off ball D to stop the big play but get ground pounded into the dirt in the run game...dust off, then lining up and running the same D. We will see...my hope is my low expectations will be proven to be misplaced.

However, Special teams were FINALLY rebuilt last year by a COACH who can identify individual player strengths to maximize and weakness to minimize.

In the player/parity NFL, two factors are great equalizers...turnovers, and Coaching. Turnovers saved Barry Ball during the late season 4 game win streak. But the T/Os disappeared vs the lions and so did the playoffs.

I hope Assist. HC Rich is sitting in during the Defense's planning sessions.

3 points
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Guam's picture

June 03, 2023 at 09:40 am

It's the football doldrums and the media is having to dig deep (sic) to find something to write about. Today it is the definition of "rebuild".

Wake me up when training camp starts.

1 points
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PatrickGB's picture

June 03, 2023 at 09:14 am

Semantics. Who cares? Just go Pack go!

4 points
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Leatherhead's picture

June 03, 2023 at 10:29 am

You're either the defending division champ....like we are most of the time....or you're trying to get back to the top, which is where we are now. After the disappointing ending to last season, the adults in charge decided to make the changes they thought were necesssary to win the division. We've got our ducks ready to line up.

Most of our defense is back, and although people like to talk smack about it, it's far and away the best defense in the division. The problem was that Minnesota, and Detroit, both put better offenses on the field than we did. That's been addressed by changing to a new QB and adding Musgrave, Reed, and Kraft. We return a veteran offensive line and backfield. Hopefully, we've made enough changes to win the division this year.

2 points
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Swisch's picture

June 03, 2023 at 10:51 am

Right on, Cory!
I'm hopeful the Packers can go 9-8 this season and contend for a spot in the playoffs.
I'm prepared for them to do worse than that, but also for them to do better.
In any case, by 2024, I want the Packers winning 10 or more games for at least a few consecutive seasons.
I like our players with regard to talent and character, and think they can be much more of reload than a rebuild.
***
Jordan love may be a bust or may be a star, but my hunch is much more to the latter.
He'll have his ups and down this season, but my guess is mostly ups.
Even in the short term, we'll be doing more winning because of Jordan Love than despite him -- especially if he doesn't try to do too much too soon as our starting quarterback.
I'm confident that he'll gradually grow into a top-ten quarterback, and most of all that he'll be a leader to win us a Super Bowl or more.
***
There are no guarantees in life, but that's the drama of it all, whether it be the Green Bay Packers, the United States of America, or our own personal existences.
To paraphrase a principle held dear by Bart Starr, life is not mainly a matter of chance but of choice, ultimately not determined by fate but by fortitude.
To paraphrase Vince Lombardi, it's not about getting knocked down, but about getting back up again.
God never gives up on us, so may we never give up on ourselves.
Whatever the weaknesses of our current Packers, it's about making the most of their strengths.
Even with our own individual flaws and faults, may we all persevere unto triumph.

0 points
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Ferrari-Driver's picture

June 03, 2023 at 11:17 am

Rebuild? A significant aspect of the term "rebuild" in my mind depends on the difference. For the Packers many people are saying "rebuild" because we no longer have Aaron Rodgers behind center and this will be the first year for Jordan starting. Let's wait until we really get into the season to see if this is truly a "Rebuild". Don't fool yourself, Aaron Rodgers who played for the Packers was not the Aaron who won MVP awards in 2011 and 2014 when he was "hungry" and those legs were young with spring and about 4.5 speed in them, and the arm was more lively. I expect the Aaron Rodgers who will take the field for the Jets this years will be less of a threat to run and make those critical running first downs and there will be more passes off target than in years past. Now Jordan Love is an exciting physical talent who has three years of maturing and learning under his belt. It's now his team. There is a possibility by the time the Packers have 8 games under their belts the Packers will look every bit as good or perhaps better than even our optimistic fans like me, GG, and Nick Perry, and others expect. Let's just wait a bit on using that term "REBUILD" to emphatically.

2 points
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snowdog's picture

June 03, 2023 at 03:29 pm

Were not re-doing . Just changing lanes

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snowdog's picture

June 03, 2023 at 03:29 pm

duplicate

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marpag1's picture

June 03, 2023 at 03:43 pm

People want to argue about whether teams are “rebuilding” or “reloading” or whatever, without defining what these stupid, made-up terms actually mean. Small wonder that they can never get to the bottom of it. Pull your head out, define the terms like a sensible person, and then you will find that you don’t even have a question anymore. Simply by defining your terms, you will have answered the question yourself.

1 points
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