3 weeks of preseason football is finished, and with the Regular season fast approaching, a Packers writer gives his positive thoughts and mild concerns for the Green and Gold going into the first season of the Post-Aaron Rodgers Era.

In case you haven’t heard, for the first time in 18 years, the Green Bay Packers will be piloted by a new captain of the ship at the quarterback position. Aaron Rodgers is gone, and 4th year quarterback, and latest Rodgers protégé Jordan Love, is the new leader of the Pack.

Talk, speculation and optimism has filled the world of Packers fans and the rest of the NFL (including Bears Fans).

How will the Packers fare without their longtime signal caller? They couldn’t possibly hit the lottery again and found ANOTHER franchise quarterback to lead them to positive results, would they? Was Aaron Rodgers better off going to the Jets and in a better position to win the Super Bowl?

The offseason definitely produces some different possibilities, opinions, and theories.

But.. currently after 3 weeks of preseason football, Week 1 is approaching and here are some reasons good… and bad Packers Fans should be positively optimistic about a season full of unclear possibilities.

Good:

Whether in practice, joint team sessions, or in his limited preseason time, Jordan Love showed leadership, poise, calmness, and production as the new signal caller for Green Bay, in *about* 4 quarters worth of football, Jordan Love, went 21 of 33 for 183 yards, with 3 Touchdowns and zero interceptions in three games albeit only playing a few series in each game. Love showed

moments of newness in the new shoes he’s expected to fill, missing a few open passes, under and overthrowing at times, but overall, the production showed was enough for Packers fans to think there is HOPE for the future now that Love is officially QB1.

To go with Jordan Loves production this preseason, was positive play from the packers receiving room. All 3 of Green Bays news regime of receiving threats caught a touchdown pass from their new quarterback. Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, and rookie slot receiver Jayden Reed each caught a score, as well as Doubs making an incredible deep ball catch and cementing his status as Love’s number 1 receiving threat week 2 of the preseason. This all comes with no significant playing time from the dynamic duo of Aaron Jones, and AJ Dillon in the backfield. Both backs seen very limited time in the preseason and adding both to the offensive game plan mixed with the production that has been showed by the receiving room may show a very dynamic and balanced offensive attack this coming season.

Much like the past when Rodgers was around, Green Bay is more productive when they have a play making, pass threat in a tight end. Before injuries derailed their careers, tight ends Jermicheal Finley, and Robert Tonyan were considered to be some of the best tight ends in the league, and after Tonyan’s ACL tear and recovery, the tight end position was lacking production in Rodgers’ last year in Green Bay. Musgrave showed early in the preseason that he will be a pivotal part of the offense as a safety valve to Jordan Love when things get hairy. Musgrave had 5 catches this preseason with 36 yards and was the quick checkdown in the middle. Love also missed Musgrave on an open play to let Musgrave run after the catch, which can be fixed as the season progresses. Packers’ safety Dallin Leavitt was quoted saying that Musgrave gave him Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce comparisons. A productive tight end may just give Green Bay and Jordan Love a big edge this season.

Kenny Clark has some backup up front with a little more depth and experience from TJ Slayton and Devonte Wyatt in the starting lineup. A *healthy* De’Vondre Campbell and Quay Walker are one of the best starting linebacker duos in the league. And Rashawn Gary is back after a knee injury to pair opposite of Preston Smith who had 8.5 sacks in 2022 in his absence. Added into the mix is rookie linebacker out of Iowa and first round draft pick Lukas Van Ness. Nicknamed ‘Hercules’, Van Ness made splashes in preseason with a couple of solo tackles in the backfield and will be looking to make an immediate impact as the pick made in the trade for Aaron Rodgers. Also, showing some high production in the preseason was Kingsley Enagbare, who had a strip sack vs New England in Game 2.

On paper, the front 7 for Green Bay could prove to be a Top 10 unit in the league, this is without mentioning the back end of the defense.

The Packers also have an arsenal of cornerbacks to face opposing offenses’ receivers. All Pro Cornerback Jaire Alexander is coming off a career year, paired with veteran Rasul Douglas and a returning Eric Stokes, Green Bay may have one of the best starting cornerback units in the NFL. Darnell Savage has also locked one safety spot down, but one glaring gap in the Packers defense may be the other safety spot that has been a juggle between Rudy Ford, and free agent signing Jonathan Owens.

Barring the never avoidant injury bug, Green Bays defense has the chance to shut down opposing offenses giving the Packers offense MANY drive and scoring opportunities. As the saying goes… Defense wins Championships.

Concerns:

Things are… never perfect though. The Packers offense did show signs of concern when it came to their new signal caller. Love missed on a couple throws, whether wide open, or not putting enough air on some throws. This should work itself out as the season progresses and game speed becomes the norm for the 4th year quarterback whose only game time was either menial, or unexpected.

Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs are both now in their second year in the league and the game may be a little slower, but Watson also dealt with a couple drops/ balls he could have went up and got but resulted in breakups, and Doubs has been dealing with a hamstring injury, causing him to miss the last preseason game.

And just as Packer fans had to be patient with the development of Doubs/Watson last year, fans may also need to extend their patience to the new class of Packers pass catchers that were acquired this last offseason too. Jayden Reed will enter the starting lineup in the slot, Luke Musgrave will be the new starting tight end, and other newly drafted tight end Tucker Kraft may become a pivotal piece to the run game as blocker. Mistakes will happen early, and the thought to keep in the back of every fans head is, what a famous former Packers quarterback was once quoted saying, “R-E-L-A-X.”

Myers had some struggles in training camp, and in the preseason, having a BAD snap in Game 2 against New England. Myers will remain the starter going into Week 1, but should be looking over his shoulder with Zac Tom, and Elgton Jenkins in the lineup ready to replace him if things don’t get better than what was shown in preseason and in training camp.

Green Bay moved off its All-Time leading scorer this offseason, like Rodgers, Mason Crosby was the longest tenured Packer on the roster. And in a league where the kicker can make or break a game and a season, the packers declined to sign a free agent veteran and rather select a kicker in the draft. Rookie Anders Carlson, brother to Raiders Kicker Daniel Carlson, will take over kicking duties after his storied tenure finishing second (To His Brother) in career points at his alma mater, Auburn. Carlson was inconsistent throughout training camp but came to be efficient when in game time situations, a highlight being drilling a 57-yard field goal in the final preseason game against Seattle in front of his home crowd. If the situation calls for a leg, Carlson looks to be the new safety blanket just as Crosby was for the Packers. A new form of intensity will be added to the Packers team this season, UNASSURED KICKING.

All in all, Packer fans should have a lot to look forward to when it comes to the season ahead. If the team that was efficient, healthy, and having fun on the field shows up in Chicago on Sunday September 10, Packers fans may come out from that shadow of unsureness of the Post Aaron Rodgers Era and have something to cheer for. The pressure of the Super Bowl or Bust is gone, and it’s time to play football. Win or Lose, I’m here for it.

Check back WEEK 4, for the first quarter report of the 2023 Packers Season!

Where will the Packers be sitting 4 weeks into the season?

How will Love look?

Is Ja still money?

We will find out.

Ryan Williams

3 Weeks In.. Green Bay

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