Packers Need To Give More Playing Time And Targets To the Young Receivers

Doubs and Toure played well against the Bills

The Green Bay Packers season is in jeopardy after four straight losses. The team is 3-5, well ahead of the Minnesota Vikings at 6-1, and they need six or seven wins out of the last nine games in order to have a real shot to make the playoffs. There's no more time to lose — especially because there are still difficult matchups, against teams like the Dallas Cowboys, Tennessee Titans, Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins, and Minnesota Vikings. More than just thinking about the rest of the schedule, the Packers need to reflect on their future, and that means playing young guys.

That's particularly important for the wide receiver room. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers historically prefers veteran players who do the right things, but this moment of the franchise demands opportunities for young receivers, as they learn the offensive adjustments and the NFL game on the fly. Instead of trying to extract the most out of high-floor, low-ceiling players such as Allen Lazard, Sammy Watkins, and Randall Cobb (who's now on injured reserve), the best move thinking about the future of the team is to invest in the young receivers, give them more playing time and targets.

On Sunday night, against the Buffalo Bills, the Packers were kind of forced to do that, because Lazard and Cobb didn't play. But Christian Watson suffered a concussion after his first catch. Even so, rookies Romeo Doubs (four catches, 62 yards, TD) and Samori Toure (one reception, 37 yards, TD) showed they are the best alternatives to produce. Amari Rodgers, who's highly criticized for his special teams performances, generally has better showings on the offense, and on Sunday he has a 22-yard catch.

It's understandable that people ask for the run game to be prioritized, because it is in fact the best aspect of the offense. However, it's 2022, and it's impossible to build an efficient NFL offense without a good passing offense — against the Bills, the Packers ran the ball well and frequently, but weren't able to score more than 17 points. The passing offense needs to click, and it's only going to happen if the young high-ceiling wide receivers start to play more and be an integral part of the gameplan each week.

Trade deadline

Tuesday is the last day to make trades in the NFL. Several reports indicate the Packers are interested in acquiring a wide receiver, but it's hard to justify more investment on this version of the roster, when future draft capital will be imperative to rebuild the team in the next couple of years.

A trade this week only makes sense if it involves a young player who may also be a part of the future — Jerry Jeudy, DJ Moore, and Chase Claypool are some of the mentioned names that are reasonable. However, trading future capital for veteran players, such as AJ Green, is strategically a bad plan.

Packers rookie WR stats in 2022 (through 8 weeks):
Romeo Doubs - 49 targets, 30 receptions, 296 yards, 3 TDs, 1 rush, 11 yards
Christian Watson - 12 targets, 8 receptions, 64 yards, 3 rushes, 19 yards, TD
Samori Toure - 5 targets, 2 receptions, 41 yards, TD

Photo: Jamie Germano/USA Today Network

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Wendell Ferreira covers the Green Bay Packers for Zone Coverage and Cheesehead TV. He is a Brazilian journalist with over a decade of experience covering the NFL, soccer, NBA, and MMA. Follow him on twitter at @wendellfp  

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4 points
 

Comments (80)

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

October 31, 2022 at 11:11 am

Sorry but that second sentence makes no sense. Every team has been and the rest will be tough matchups. The Packers are not a post season team this year. With cap hell and bad line ply, forget $$$ for vet receiver and get some blocking help for QB12.

11 points
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CheesedDeadHead's picture

October 31, 2022 at 11:21 am

Agree 100%. Jenkins is still less than a year from his ACL and won't be back to pre-injury form until 2023 likely (maybe later this year). Bahktiari is still missing chunks of time with his knee issues, Royce Newman should not see significant playing time and Tom will struggle as he still needs to grow a bit. They need a vet who can help stabilize the line, especially if a longer-term injury takes one of the OL for more than 1 game. If Rodgers get's time to throw and they can deploy more move the pocket schemes there is talent in the WR room to make some plays. Will it matter with the Swiss Cheese Defense? Maybe they luck into some correct guesses on the game plan. I would prefer to just get a top 10 draft pick instead of missing the playoffs while winning a few meaningless games.

3 points
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Packers1985's picture

October 31, 2022 at 12:14 pm

But Again would we be wise with the top 10 draft pick? Instead of drafting a development player are we willing to pick a player who contribute to the team right away?

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pacman's picture

October 31, 2022 at 11:20 am

Does any Packer fan actually believe the Packers can make it to the playoffs? And even if they miraculously did, does anyone believe they could make it to the SB?

It is shocking how many problems there are with this team from top to bottom. The only question is - what to do now?

I'm guessing that everyone would be perfectly happy if Gute found a buyer for AR before Tues but that is unlikely. It's not going to be fun in GB for the next few years. I don't believe MLF is capable of building a new team. He was lucky he inherited a good team (and apparently mostly good coaches). MLF will probably be given a chance for a few years. And fail, get fired and then we will start again. So maybe by 2030 we will be back in business. That's the way I feel today.

GPG (said without much enthusiasm).

3 points
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Cubbygold's picture

October 31, 2022 at 11:48 am

Yeah the season is effectively over for GB at this point, even if mathematically they can still make the playoffs.

As far as what they should do - the single best thing they should do is use the rest of this season to determine whether Love is starting at QB next year or if they're using their top 10 pick on a QB.

That single decision will have the largest impact on whether this team is competitive by 2025 or 2030.

4 points
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pacman's picture

October 31, 2022 at 12:52 pm

I'm wondering if GB is having a fire sale on AR's contract now? Of course, he would have to approve. But we only have to wait another day to find out!

The passing game was supposed to be 'not as good' without DA and MVS. What is surprising is how soft the D is. We seem to have the players. So that leaves the coach(es) as the culprit. The O line is just too hurt and not as good as they were. Even with a lesser AR, the passing game is mediocre at best. What are we going to learn if we put Love in now? The way I see it there is no choice. AR will be on the bentch in a few weeks. It's time for Love to sink or float. Swimming might be too optimistic with this team.

0 points
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bigstickpattyb89's picture

November 01, 2022 at 07:22 am

I agree with the season analysis, just not the plan. We bench Rodgers now and he is for sure to retire next year. If he retires at the end of the season the Packers are going to be hammered with something like $60 million in dead money. That is essentially cut and gut the roster type money. The Packers need Rodgers to stay on board through next season, after that the money is manageable.

What the Packers need to do is invest in a time machine and go back in time and trade Rodgers when he was coming off back to back MVPs for a franchise changing haul of draft picks. Losing a couple years would be better than losing for another decade. I can dream right?

1 points
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TarynsEyes's picture

October 31, 2022 at 11:57 am

“Does any Packer fan actually believe the Packers can make it to the playoffs? And even if they miraculously did, does anyone believe they could make it to the SB?”

Yes, because for many, as proven by their previous posts for years, making the playoffs is their SB, and it's been their defense of the many fails. Because of the issues that have openly harmed many a GB team not being fixed, but hey, a playoff spot and win here and there is deemed as enough success. As long as the regular season is easy, as the last three have been.

5 points
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jurp's picture

October 31, 2022 at 05:10 pm

You're not wrong. Reminds of the late 70s and especially the mid-to-late 80s, when a winning season was all that many fans wanted - the holy grail of going 9-7 that just seemed to be a hair's breadth out of reach. The Super Bowl was for the likes of real teams, like SF and Dallas (puke), not GB. I remember end-of-training-camp articles analyzing other teams' rosters and trying to predict which of their castoffs we would pick up to improve the team. It's not a long fall to go from "Yay! We made the playoffs!" to "Yay! We're 9 and 8 this year!"

The problem is, I think Mark Murphy is one of those people...

6 points
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egbertsouse's picture

November 01, 2022 at 06:43 am

I’ve been saying that for years. That’s Murphy’s business model; beat up on average teams, win a couple against contenders, get in the playoffs, and get hammered by strong teams. He builds the team to win the regular season and then hopes to catch lightning in a bottle and get to a Super Bowl every 20 years or so. He goes for the revenue of that home playoff game even though the Packers are a finesse team and are limited by the cold. He really doesn’t care about the playoffs as long as they get that home game.

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Packerpasty's picture

November 01, 2022 at 10:24 am

yup...too many are happy to buy another "NFC North Champs" t-shirt every year..

0 points
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Leatherhead's picture

October 31, 2022 at 12:27 pm

Does any Packer fan actually believe the Packers can make it to the playoffs

Playoffs? Playoffs? Are you kidding me? Playoffs? We can't win a freakin' game. We can't score any points. Playoffs?

Thank you Jim Mora.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

In seriousness, the WR decisions are going to make themselves. If we lose next week to the Lions, we'll be 3-6. Cobb is injured, Lazard is injured, Watson is injured. Right now, since the Lions is kind of a must win, so we'll see all hands on deck, even if they're banged up, unless they're just not able to play.

I wish I could say this ends well. I wish I could say that Rodgers rallies the team and we go on a six game win streak. I wouldn't bet on it. More likely is that this is going to be a long, difficult couple of months and we'll miss the playoffs.

At some point, we'll be preparing for next year, and we'll see Watson and Doubs and Toure on the field with Love. And maybe Cobb and/or Watkins and Lazard won't be with the team next year, and maybe we'll get somebody in the offseason to be the straw that stirs the drink.

Doubs, if he stays healthy and has another 8 games like the last 8, is going to become one of the most successful Day 3 rookie receivers in NFL history, with about 60 catches for over 600 yards. That's a good piece.

6 points
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LLCHESTY's picture

October 31, 2022 at 12:57 pm

Nice to see you finally got on the Doubs bandwagon. No mention of your guy Amari?

-1 points
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Leatherhead's picture

October 31, 2022 at 01:17 pm

I've never been against Doubs. I just said that he wasn't going to accomplish much unless the guys ahead of him got hurt or played poorly. Isn't that what happened?

Amari Rodgers is not part of the passing game. I do not know why. If I was going to speculate, I'd speculate that people don't want him on the field as a receiver. Maybe he can't run routes, maybe he can't catch. Maybe it was a total accident that he led his conference in receptions.

2 points
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4thand10's picture

October 31, 2022 at 06:32 pm

Doubs looks the part of NFL receiver. I remember when Adams had a boat ton of injuries early…I was calling on getting rid of him. That’s why i’m not a GM. Watson could turn into something special….he’s had a rough start. Amari has been catching balls on the rare occasion he’s thrown to, he definitely isn’t special on special teams but he has slot WR written all over him and seems to be able to catch passes.But ultimately, checking the Ego of Rodgers and give these young guys a chance to sink or swim is a good thing. Lazard is useful in many ways but he’s not a #1 But he’s good , smart in the right roles Schemes.

Savage is a head scratcher…great speed, flourished under Pettine…but with Barry…nothing so I honestly know if that’s player or scheme.

The defense… I’ve seen so so many no call holds on Gary, Preston and others…opposing teams have em in choke holds and fists full of jerseys and no flags are thrown. No excuses but officiating is rough this year. Making Diggs a focal point to shut down would have helped…that’s on Barry. I’m not a Pats fan, but they can have a defense full of jags and still shut the other teams best player down. I’m optimistic on some of the younger guys and LaFluer for the most part had a good plan…but there seems to be some disconnection between coaching . They had a whole offseason, preseason to prepare and some of these games look like a pre season …penalties, false starts, too many in motion, receivers not set etc… just doesn’t seem that disciplined this year.

0 points
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Coldworld's picture

October 31, 2022 at 12:30 pm

The sad fact is that in the wild card era, it’s not impossible, bad though we are. It it worth it? No. We aren’t good enough to seriously challenge. It would do us more harm longer term than good.

-3 points
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Leatherhead's picture

October 31, 2022 at 12:42 pm

Nah, dude, you always try to win. Tanking is a loser's game, by definition.

4 points
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Coldworld's picture

October 31, 2022 at 01:34 pm

Tanking is one thing, but throwing draft capital just to put lipstick on a pig is perhaps worse. Developing talent is a benefit: it’s not tanking to do so if it’s done properly.

4 points
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Leatherhead's picture

October 31, 2022 at 02:40 pm

CW, I’m not in favor of making moves to improve this team for the remaining 9 games. We tried, it didn’t work, we’ll try something different next season. Play out the season with an eye on next year

2 points
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Coldworld's picture

October 31, 2022 at 05:27 pm

We are in agreement. As the season goes on, the dynamic changes to finding out what we have on roster and giving opportunities to give young talent real snaps.

So playing Tom over Bakh, giving McDuffie ILB time, more Enagbare at OLB or Wyatt, Slaton and Ford On the DL as well as the likes of Toure at WR. That would include Love potentially, though hopefully with a dedicated game plan. It would decrease time for vets carrying injuries and ones not coming back. I think we are bad enough that that’s our reality, possibly by the Bye Week.

2 points
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LLCHESTY's picture

October 31, 2022 at 01:05 pm

If they showed one ounce of willingness to stop the run I'd say maybe they have a chance. Instead they had 16 missed tackles against a bad running team(minus Allen). Now they play, by average rushing yards, the 10th, 11th, 9th, 6th and 1st ranked rushing offenses without having shown a sliver of desire to stop the run since week 3. Without major improvement, and I see no reason to think there would be, 5-8 seems about right at the end of those 5 weeks.

3 points
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KenEllis's picture

October 31, 2022 at 11:20 am

And send Gutey's big offseason WR signing Hammy Watkins to the bench?

Would that not be proof that the GM utterly failed to replace Davante Adams (and MVS) with anything but non-1st round rookies in a year GB is paying its QB $50M?

Would that not be an indictment of the GM?

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CheesedDeadHead's picture

October 31, 2022 at 11:24 am

I think it's an indictment in that he didn't want to overpay teams for players like Parker, but as those modest WR options started to dry up he was limited in who to get and Watkins seemed as good as any other option. Julio is done. Who else should they have targeted?

1 points
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KenEllis's picture

October 31, 2022 at 12:05 pm

You are presuming that Gutey only had the opportunity to replace Davante (and MVS) AFTER they departed last spring.

A proactive GM would have been aware that "last dance" Adams was not going to return to GB in 2022 and that he was not going to re-sign his one and only WR draftee who has done anything in MVS, but alas Gutey has alternatively ignored the WR position and utterly failed to add talent to it ... FOR 5 YEARS.

Signing Hammy Watkins to pretend to put a bandage on a gaping wound is what bad teams do when they are desperate to project an image that they are doing something.

The only folks surprised that Watkins sucks are those who drank the Green & Gold kool aid.

At least, with articles like these, Gute's margin for error in deceiving the masses is dwindling.

2 points
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Packers1985's picture

October 31, 2022 at 12:18 pm

Well said even with Adams we didn't have a true Wr2 for a while still didn't do much about it. The fact is Front Office knows that they have to pay big money to Adams and some decent money to MVS should've had a plan by then in case of their departure but like always no plan at all.

2 points
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CheesedDeadHead's picture

October 31, 2022 at 12:28 pm

Well you can't rewrite history when the facts were that the MLF/Rodgers Packers were 7-0 when Adams was out. MVS seems to be this glorified whipping boy that Rodgers didn't even like, but now that he's gone somehow it was a massive loss. Just 12 hours ago we saw that the Packers have the WR to spread the field like MVS if MLF would use them. There was plenty of data that they could work with an Adams and MVS less WR group, but adding that to losing the Stenavich and Gutsey to the mix exposed MLF.

Gute has been planning the post-Rodgers era for awhile while Murphy has been the proponent for the "last Dance" and the "last last Dance" and now the "last last last Dance without the Dancers". The error was resigning Rodgers to the insane contract they did and they can't even roll with Love to see what they have because Rodgers could threaten to retire next year if they do and put the team in cap Armageddon. That's on Muyrphy as Gute was drafting and planning for the post-Rodgers era. We could have gotten the package that the Seahawks got for Wilson, but no we had to trot out the old MVP for another 3-5 years of wandering the wilderness. Gute and Murphy should have realized Adams wanted out, but they believed Rodgers that he wanted Adams paid like the top WR with the Packers. Sure they could have paid Adams what he wanted a year before, but if you are thinking that you will be done with Rodgers why pay Adams in 2021 when you are going to go with Love or another QB in 2022?

Blaming Gute just misses the mark as Murphy is the architect of this clusterchuck.

9 points
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TarynsEyes's picture

October 31, 2022 at 02:42 pm

"Well, you can't rewrite history"…

You haven't been paying attention to society these days, all history seems to be getting rewritten, facts be damned, to appease whichever thinking of the rewriter.

1 points
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Coldworld's picture

October 31, 2022 at 04:29 pm

“Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.” George Orwell.

1 points
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Leatherhead's picture

October 31, 2022 at 03:02 pm

Some very good points. My understanding is that if Rodgers retires after the season, we still owe him $40 million, which we could break into two years for hits of $16 and $24.

I’m a Love fan, but the percentage play is to play the MVP, if you can. But right now, Rodgers isn’t playing like an MVP, he’s not leading the offense to points and we’re not winning, and I don’t think there would be much interest in playing him anymore. When are we going with Love? After we lose to the Lions, or Rodgers had an injury, or both.

Rodgers might request a trade if he wants to hang around the league, and those details could affect the money we owe him.

-2 points
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HankScorpio's picture

October 31, 2022 at 04:24 pm

You don't need to re-write history. Just learn from it. That 7-0 record without Davante was meaningless regular season garbage. The rubber hits the road in the playoffs. Every one of the epic meltdowns suffered in the Gute/ML years revealed that WR was a need.

Gute said as much after the first one, where SF ran wild on the Pack in SF. He said it was something they needed to address that offseason. He didn't in that one or either of the next two. The chickens are roosting now.

4 points
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Leatherhead's picture

October 31, 2022 at 04:59 pm

So games without Davante are meaningless, and you were saying earlier that you don’t really consider the second half. Is there anything else we shouldn’t consider?

-2 points
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Oppy's picture

October 31, 2022 at 07:27 pm

Every one of the the epic meltdowns suffered in the Gute/ML years revealed that a QB who is willing to throw to the open WR (regardless what the name across the back of the jersey says) was a need.

I fixed it for you.

2 points
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Coldworld's picture

October 31, 2022 at 12:40 pm

If we were planning a third last dance, someone obviously didn’t tell Gutey. In the meantime time we tied up cal and gave the last away when we brought back Rodgers. Rail all you like at Gute, but you are missing the point. This third last dance was t working anyway most likely. Adams seems already to have decided to leave and wanted and got a great payday with others interested too. Even if he had come back, it’s last year but a tad weaker at best. How did that work out?

This team managed a legitimate 2 year window and blew it and couldn’t let go putting us in a hole for years and with a roster we’ve thus far got far less from than a decent coach should have. Perhaps that’s why we blew the previous years, but he’s still with us too. Murphy changed course but only after Ball locked up our cap and Gute set the roster and the course Murphy chose made no sense then or now. That’s the problem, along with the fact that LaFleur is a bust.

So Gute is the fall guy? Maybe, but he’s not the root problem or the assistant root problem.

I don’t recall getting much support when arguing we’d miss MVS, even though missing him was a big issue in the championship loss, with Adams. He’s not great but he made teams change their defenses week in and we out, and that’s good enough for what he got paid. Murphy backed himself and LaFleur over the cap and roster and lost spectacularly on both, as it always seemed likely.

-1 points
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Since'75's picture

November 05, 2022 at 04:11 pm

Excellent post Ken....
I've been saying the same for years.

Remember when we were wondering who our #2 receiver was....
Lazard, Allison....MVS?

So here we are today, with no #1, and no #2 receiver, and a leaky O line.

What did Gute think was going to happen?

What is Gute thinking as he watches his first 3 draft picks.....i mean....can anyone of them play, maybe show us a flash play of talent here n there?
Overall, those picks have shown us next to nothing.

0 points
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Fubared's picture

October 31, 2022 at 12:22 pm

Wow hold on there. Who said he was ever getting off the bench? He has one with his own name on it since he injured himself signing his rookie contract. LOL
Saw him heading off the field last night and the guy is a string bean. Who in the hell thought he could play pro ball with that body?????????

-1 points
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Coldworld's picture

October 31, 2022 at 12:48 pm

Watson isn’t a string bean and concussions don’t really discriminate. You should appreciate that at least.

5 points
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Since'75's picture

November 05, 2022 at 04:15 pm

Concussions aside....Fubar is correct, that guy looks more frail than Kevin King did.

Watson is listed at 6'3" and 179 lbs.
I mean...C'mon man.

I heard he got injured getting off the bus earlier this season.

0 points
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HawkPacker's picture

October 31, 2022 at 03:12 pm

I think he is built much like Cee Dee Lamb of the Cowboys and he turned out pretty well.

I was truly disappointed last night when he got hurt right away. My comment at the time was 'you can't even breathe on him and he gets hurt'.

Well, this morning after thinking about last night's game and Watson getting hurt, I thought back quite a few years ago when we had put a quarterback in the game and he immediately got hurt in what looked like not a big hit by the defense. He left the field and I had pretty much the same thought at that time which was 'we drafted this guy in the first round and he can't even absorb a small hit like that?'. Well, of course, that was Rodgers and look how he turned out.

So, I am hoping that Watson's injuries are not behind him and he will turn out to be the player that we all hope he will be.

0 points
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Since'75's picture

November 05, 2022 at 04:20 pm

I think you meant to say....

You're are hoping his injuries are behind him.

0 points
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packerbackerjim's picture

October 31, 2022 at 03:16 pm

Ever take a close look at Randy Moss?

1 points
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egbertsouse's picture

November 01, 2022 at 06:52 am

The biggest indictment of the GM is his drafting. Sure, he finds an occasional gem in the later rounds but many of the 1st round picks are head-scratchers. Jordan Love? Savage? Stokes?Walker over Devin Lloyd? Wyatt, to be the 5th D-lineman? And the 3rd round, forget about it. I know it’s a crapshoot but you’d think he would be 50/50 on 1st rounders at least.

0 points
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splitpea1's picture

October 31, 2022 at 11:40 am

We're still talking about the playoffs here? Maybe we should try winning one game first before we go there (again and again).

The running game should be prioritized, because that's what this offense does best. But we need the passing game to close the deal and be able to score points. I'm all for getting the new receivers more chances, but they have to be able to get open, and in Watson's case, stay on the field for more than a few plays.

D.J. Moore: Fans are bitching about Walker's penalty, but did anybody see Moore's unsportsmanlike that eventually cost the Panthers the game?

And there's nothing wrong with high floor prospects, either. In fact, Gute would be wise to take this more into consideration instead of being wowed by super-athletic talents that take so long to develop. Watson can't stay on the field, Wyatt is finally cracking double-digit snap counts, and Rhyan can't get on the field. Because Tom is a more polished product than the others, he can contribute when called upon to do so.

The Packers need to throw the ball to whoever is open no matter their draft status, age, or floor/ceiling ratio. Besides, we're not sure if the FO realizes they may have a serious rebuild ahead of them.

5 points
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Packers1985's picture

October 31, 2022 at 12:20 pm

Gutey has been too much in to RAS and measurables rather than taking the good football player. Best available in the draft for that position.

3 points
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Coldworld's picture

October 31, 2022 at 12:55 pm

The best career or best now? I’m not going to defend what I see as potential picks through round 3, but I’m wondering whom you have in mind, if any, who are doing significantly more this year in the range we picked at? Olave was taken at pick 11 and although he has more yards, he has less TDs and YAC than Doubs.

Missing the point in my view. Arguably Gute took the BPA on potential. I wouldn’t have, I’d have gone for now, but it’s hard to argue that any options would have squared the circle.

0 points
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Packers1985's picture

October 31, 2022 at 01:57 pm

I wasn't talking about us taking the receivers when they are gone. I was talking about taking the best proven player than looking for their RAS and high upside which hasn't payed off well so far for us one such ex is :-Devin lloyd was one such pick which was purely botched up by the RAS. Coming the receivers yes if we had stayed put at 52 and 58 we could've had atleast Pickens and Pierce if not both instead we gave up two picks for Watson. Even last year when Humphrey was still on board we went with Myers though i am ok with Myers Humphrey is definitely a better center than Myers.

Gutey has better with later round picks than his first 3 picks last 3 years. And that is point i am trying to make. His whiffs have been covered up a lot by this FA acquisitions. None of his reaches love(gave up 2 picks), Savage(gave up two picks) and again Watson(this is i am not blaming since he is injured which no one could've guessed but my point is could've stayed put at 52 and 58 had both pickens or pierce) gave up two picks contributed much to the team.

1 points
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jurp's picture

October 31, 2022 at 05:20 pm

RE: your "gave up two picks" statements. No, we gave up a total of a single pick for each of those players - two of our own for one of the other teams' picks, which we then used to draft the player. This is a net "give away" of one pick, not two.

1 points
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Irish_Cheesehead's picture

October 31, 2022 at 11:53 am

With all the injuries, we still need to trade for a WR, and I agree that I would prefer a young developing receiver over a rental veteran. Don't give up extremely high picks, but Gute has to loosen up a little on guarding all his picks.

-2 points
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Roadrunner23's picture

October 31, 2022 at 01:01 pm

No, we do not need to trade for a receiver, there are many more deficiencies on this team than that. The trade now is not going to move the needle judging by how the packer season is going the Packers will be drafting extremely high in the draft.

2 points
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Coldworld's picture

October 31, 2022 at 01:02 pm

In my opinion, going back to the summer, 2 of the 4 best receivers in current terms on the roster scored touchdowns last night. The other 2 did not suit up.

Ask why that could be the case and I will answer that you should ask LaFleur. Camp showed it. The season has supported that. Toure has been tearing it up on the scout team for weeks apparently, which would suggest practice confirms it.

LaFleur took 7 weeks to figure out who our best weapon is, so perhaps it’s not surprising that he game planned for Watson instead and has still not grasped who he should be trotting out and looking to scheme opportunities for.

4 points
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T7Steve's picture

October 31, 2022 at 01:25 pm

It's no surprise it took so long for him to figure it out. Look how long he tried to keep Newman on the line not to mention trying Hansen. We're going into week nine with a line that still hasn't played a whole game together.

2 points
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jurp's picture

October 31, 2022 at 05:22 pm

The only way I'd trade for a WR is if Aaron Rodgers and his massive contract were what we were trading for that receiver.

1 points
1
0
Fubared's picture

October 31, 2022 at 12:20 pm

I agree to dis agree. The PACKERS COACH LEFLUER NEEDS TO GET THE PASSING GAME GOING BY INSISTING THEY PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE AND THAT RODGERS IS IN ON IT AND NOT RUNNING HIS OWN SHOW.
Time they sit Rodgers down and spell it out. Lazard and Cobb are not the only receivers on this team

-3 points
3
6
LLCHESTY's picture

October 31, 2022 at 01:11 pm

WHY ARE YOU YELLING?

You know Lazard and Cobb didn't play last night right? That last sentence is silly.

3 points
3
0
Since'61's picture

October 31, 2022 at 08:35 pm

Newsflash!!! The CBA does not allow Practice, Practice, Practice regardless of what the HC insists.

If you were paying attention last evening you would have noticed that Rodgers did not run his own show during the Bills game. The Packers had 31 run plays and 30 pass plays. Plus there are plays like the flip to Jones or a quick throw at the LOS that are recorded as pass plays but they are actually long handoffs and are actually a version of a run game.

As for Lazard and Cobb they didn't suit up last evening because they're both injured. Cobb has been on IR for at least 2 weeks. But yes by all means spell it out for Rodgers because it's so clear for you. Thanks, Since '61

2 points
2
0
Ritzy's picture

October 31, 2022 at 12:59 pm

I agree we should be using the young receivers more. Watson looked poised to have a breakout game before he got hurt. Doubs made the best catch by a Packer for a td with shades of Davante Adams. Touri adjusted his route like a crafty veteran. In this down year that trio makes the Packers worth watching as we continue to chart their progress. And on defense rookies Wyatt, Enagbare and Walker are showing flashes. So at least we have something with our rookie class. Since this season is going to hell, at least we have some promise for 2023.

4 points
4
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Tundraboy's picture

October 31, 2022 at 10:18 pm

That's how I see it as well. First game in quite some time where I haven't felt stressed by the need to win and frustration with expectations. Now that that's out of the picture, I feel relieved and can focus on watching the players, especially the new guys and seeing what we have in them.

0 points
0
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Ritzy's picture

October 31, 2022 at 12:59 pm

I agree we should be using the young receivers more. Watson looked poised to have a breakout game before he got hurt. Doubs made the best catch by a Packer for a td with shades of Davante Adams. Touri adjusted his route like a crafty veteran. In this down year that trio makes the Packers worth watching as we continue to chart their progress. And on defense rookies Wyatt, Enagbare and Walker are showing flashes. So at least we have something with our rookie class. Since this season is going to hell, at least we have some promise for 2023.

1 points
1
0
Roadrunner23's picture

October 31, 2022 at 12:59 pm

Toure
Doubs
Rodgers
Watson (post concussion)

Like it or not these guys have to play, they are the future and right now (more importantly) cheap labor on a bulging salary cap.

Cobb, Tonyan, Watkins are not the future and the time to cut bait with them is immediately after the season (which will not be after the playoffs, that is for Good teams)

2 points
2
0
LLCHESTY's picture

October 31, 2022 at 01:16 pm

Toure definitely should have been getting snaps before Amari but when the vets were healthy there was a reason he was inactive. I don't think we should pretend Doubs didn't have the dropsies for two weeks before last night. Hopefully his big game gives him some confidence and he's on a upward trajectory the rest of the year.

2 points
2
0
Coldworld's picture

October 31, 2022 at 01:38 pm

You have to look at why he struggled. It all leads back to LaFleur

0 points
3
3
HankScorpio's picture

October 31, 2022 at 01:40 pm

Didn't the NBC yuks say that Doubs was leading the team in targets? I'm not sure what more you want there. He's a rook, prone to the kind of inconsistency that goes with being a rook. If he can grow as a Pro and develop consistency, I think he's got a bright future. Key word is future. He won't be moving the needle much this year. However, he's getting a crash course this year so far. It seems to me they are doing all they can.

I'd love to have a clue as to whether I believe the same bright future can be said of Watson and Toure. Watson can't stay healthy. We'll see if they start to work Toure into the offense more. As far as I'm concerned, they can slide Amari Rodgers to the waiver wire and move Toure into Rodgers slot to get that ball rolling.

3 points
3
0
Tundraboy's picture

October 31, 2022 at 10:24 pm

Yes puleez!

0 points
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0
canadapacker's picture

October 31, 2022 at 01:48 pm

Another blah blah blah article. First run more get Jones more snaps - blah blah blah - If you cant protect the QB and you cant block to get guys running then it is hard to do anything. When every short pass is contested it is hard even to do that knowing that if the ball isnt out in 2 seconds or less it is a hold or a sack what does one do.
Last night it was apparent that they found something out in the second half - that the soft spot was in the middle and the Oline improved both blocking and protection a bit and Jones showed that he could get through some arm tackling but then again on 4th and one nobody blocks Miller? Obviously there is an Oline problem and that is one of the root problems. Last night we also saw the emergence of Doubs and Toure - and dont get me going on the walking bandaids - Watkins and Watson - I wonder if toughness is an attribute Gute looks for?
Finally many have been getting their knives out on AR - I agree with some criticism dating back to last year - but just to say that his arm and legs and smarts have deteriorated is totally false and we saw that last night even on long passes that were incomplete never mind those passes to Doubs. But then again I go back to the root cause which is horrible Oline play - and that makes Lafeur;'s poor play calling quite obvious.

2 points
3
1
stockholder's picture

October 31, 2022 at 01:59 pm

We're not in a rebuild. We need to get ever body on the same page. Make the plays. And something good will happen.
It matters whether you win or Lose. I get the encouragement. But the process from Rookie to veteran isn't reps now.
It's about one for all. And all for one. One team, one goal. One victory at a time.

3 points
4
1
canadapacker's picture

October 31, 2022 at 04:36 pm

I 100% agree - but we are not a Superbowl talented team - YET. Can we be - I would say not iikely. There are 2 main reasons as I have been stating over and over. Our perceived before the season strength was supposedly our Oline. Bak was supposed to be back and the other guys had a year under their belt. Jenkins back early as well. That has been the exact opposite - and the holes are glaring. The receiving corps was supposed to be good enough - Watkins added experience and Watson was to take the top off and the other guys played fast and Tonyon back to what he was. There was an optimism there as well. Well that has been a disaster from Watson's first play drop to his being a walking bandaid and Sammy has been nothing but the same as he was before - I am hear for the party - I mean Money. So when you have an Oline that cant block and receivers who cant catch the ball or get open what do you have. The running strength is still there although Dillon has regressed a bit but if the other team is almost beating the QB to the handoff - it is hard to run the ball.
Defensively - everybody talked about how great they were going to be - Stokes - regressed -Campbell regressed = Douglass regressed and takes stupid penalties and the whole unit is kind of misused and totally ineffective. Guys cant tackle - and whose responsibility is that - Coaches for not coaching it - or Gute for not selecting guys who are willing to stick their nose into it and stick somebody. One on one tackles on the outside are drive killers and we are so weak up the middle we get exposed. Last year we stopped Henry cold not this year - not only that Dillon had a great game - not this year.
However I was optimistic after the second half last night. Now if we ever needed a team to get our game together it is the Lions - but that will be totally dependent on our D - they seem to score a lot and we need them to score less and even with a new co-ordinator on the back end we need Doubs and Toure to expose them and the Oline to hold up enough to let AR hit them. This needs to be our turn around game - otherwise it is our playing for draft picks season.

3 points
3
0
jannes bjornson's picture

October 31, 2022 at 05:48 pm

I want to see a deal made when I pick up the E -news @ dawn. Bring in veteran OT, a safety, a WR, a waterboy. Do something to affect change. The secondary is so soft and out of position it hurts the eyes.

2 points
2
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Oppy's picture

October 31, 2022 at 07:29 pm

We were literally 3 years into a rebuild.

Man, you guys really need to wake the eff up and come to grips with reality.
This roster has been tooled for the future since Gute took the reigns.

Someone stepped in and derailed the train when Rodgers was resigned.. but it's about as obvious as it could be that the path was long set upon to rebuild this roster for the next decade.

0 points
1
1
Dragon5's picture

October 31, 2022 at 02:04 pm

REALITY CHECK...Rodgers will be our QB for the next 2.5 years with DEAD CAP hits of 100m / 25m for '23 / '24 respectively. Then he enters his enemy year in '25 and the dead cap goes down to an unpleasant, but feasible 16m. Can't expect extraordinary results with ordinary WRs.

0 points
1
1
Dragon5's picture

October 31, 2022 at 02:12 pm

Distressed assets: Elijah Moore (outside) Hunter Renfrow (slot)...have become afterthoughts in their systems. That's where value in trade market lies IMHO.

0 points
1
1
Since'75's picture

October 31, 2022 at 02:20 pm

Saying the Packers need to get the younger receivers more targets is kind of stating the obvious.
That's the position upper management put them in.
But sometimes talk is easier than action.

It's now week 9 of the Packers continuous training camp for rookies who need to be productive RIGHT NOW.
This is NOT how draft and develop works...unless of course you deplete the talent pool, then realize, you need receivers, then you draft two, needing them to be productive now.
That isn't how Championship teams are built.
If you have to rely on a rookie draft class, you have already lost.

I think the rookies should learn as they go, and the targets they get will be the targets they've earned.
Nothing against the rookies, but....they're rookies, they aren't on the same level mentally as Lazard, Cobb, and Watkins.
These rookies need a year or two at least, to learn the NFL, the speed, timing and mental aspect of the game.
There are only so many Justin Jeffersons who excell the first year to go around.
But we didn't trade up for Justin Jefferson, we traded up for Jordan Love.

Rodgers should throw to whoever earns the targets and can move the chains, rookies or veterans, rb's, wr's or tight ends.

2 points
2
0
Shenanigans's picture

October 31, 2022 at 02:43 pm

Lots of negativity here. Yeah the packers can still salvage the season. But we need another playmaker besides Aaron Jones. And for what it’s worth, Jones is one hell of a player. If everyone else could just put in half the effort Jones puts in, we got a different team.

6 points
6
0
Since'75's picture

October 31, 2022 at 10:33 pm

Who are we now...the Bears?
Dreaming we can eek into the playoffs as a wild card?

There's a difference between negativity, and reality.

I'm about the biggest Rodgers fan around.
But back after Love was drafted and the Packers were planning to move forward from Rodgers, i said back then in spring of 2020, that they should have traded him.

Why? Because it would have been in the best interest of the Packers future.
They could have traded him to San Fran for team changing prime draft asset's AND eliminated their salary cap issues in one fell swoop.

I'm a Packer fan first, and a Rodgers fan 2nd, trading him was the right call at the time.

1 points
1
0
EnemyTerritory's picture

October 31, 2022 at 03:04 pm

God forbid this team make the playoffs. One and done with a SB caliber team is awful but one and done with a team that right now is not far from a top 10 draft pick is worse. Time to sell. I’ll say it again. sell sell sell. Sell Jones. Sell Bahk. Sell 12 if at all possible even if we eat 100m in guaranteed salary. Trot out the rookies and Love. Move on. Start the rebuild. There are 9 games to make an assessment of who is worthwhile keeping for the future

3 points
6
3
Roadrunner23's picture

October 31, 2022 at 04:55 pm

Unfortunately, that time has passed, the time to trade, Rogers was in the off-season when his value was high, same with Bakhtiary the time to trade him of course would’ve been before he got injured within. Why would you trade him? With his fat contract and week to week playing status nobody’s gonna trade for him. Jones has some value but also a fat contract the Packers have backed themselves into a corner with poor choices, and probably overvaluing their own players. This is not a Super Bowl team Aaron Rodgers basically no holds the Packers hostage with his large contract and guaranteed money. Gonna be some rough sledding ahead for a few years that’s for sure 

0 points
1
1
Rudedawg67's picture

October 31, 2022 at 04:36 pm

The Packers need help at the receiver position and it is ludicrous they will not go get help. KC just gave a 3rd and 6th for Kadarius Toney and we couldn't afford that much for that talent at an area we need help in. Sure he didn't work out in NY but the Giants had been dysfunctional until this year. Plus he is cheap because he is still on a rookie contract. Look at the video of this kid. He has more moves than Barry Sanders at the receiver position and ran a 4.39 forty. Would have fit great in the slot position. KC will use him, watch and see. The GM needs to commit to upgrading the receiver position. No wonder the defense looked lights out practicing against this offense. No one scares you deep with exception of Watson who can't get on the field. Doubs is good but a decent #1 corner can limit him. They took a chance on Sammy Watkins who can't stay healthy and still can't. Lazard is not a number one and Cobb was only good as long as he had Jennings and Jordy. Just plain stupidity when it comes to upgrading the receiving corp.

4 points
4
0
BAMABADGER's picture

October 31, 2022 at 04:58 pm

Agree, Doubs, Toure, Amari, Watson (if he ever gets healthy) need a significant increase in offensive playing time. The second half proved when a pass scheme involving moving the pass protection pocket or Rodger's using whatever mobility he has left to improvise, young Toure and Doubs have good instincts to find the opening on the field beyond 10-15 yards. They both seem able to extend the play with YAC. Based on the remaining schedule, the Pack has a real opportunity to win no more than 3or 4 games. As soon as they are playoff eliminated, please start Jordan Love and see if he has a future in GB. GPG!

1 points
2
1
Packers1985's picture

October 31, 2022 at 06:31 pm

For Now packer's should play all Three i.e, Toure, Doubs and Amari to the lineup and sit Watkins when Lazard is back. Watkins isn't getting the thing done. Amari sits when cobb is back. So Our Lineup should be Cobb, Lazard, Doubs , Toure and Watson(when healthy).

1 points
1
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Tundraboy's picture

October 31, 2022 at 09:49 pm

Been saying that since day one, except with Watkins instead of Cobb. And NO Amari of course.

0 points
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FAN24583's picture

October 31, 2022 at 06:53 pm

The packers need to make a trade or 2!!!! Then develop the young receivers. All of this saving the draft picks is for losers

0 points
1
1
Tundraboy's picture

October 31, 2022 at 09:46 pm

Yeah duh! Let's see if they use them. Took disaster to finally give Jones and Dillon the ball more and they were proven commodities.

1 points
1
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