3 Guys Who Need To Play More
Aaron highlights three players he thinks deserve more playing time down the stretch of the 2019 regular season.
By PackerAaron
Cheesehead TV is not affiliated with the Green Bay Packers or the National Football League.
Comments (24)
zoellner25
November 19, 2019 at 03:34 pm
and Sternberger
Cbender6907
November 19, 2019 at 03:37 pm
Yes on all 3 especially Gary!! I am right there with you. We have all seen what our D looks like going into the last quarter or the season/ playoffs with our stars banged up. Get Gary in there more because the last few games Z. Smith has had a few little injuries that he has missed a play or 2. I definitely don't want to see that turn into something season ending.
mattgsx
November 19, 2019 at 04:45 pm
Gary is interesting to me, because he was drafted to play the edge role as more of an OLB, but I wonder if he could be used now on the DL along with our OLBs to help shore up the point of attack on the defense and help against the run. He doesn't have the size of an NFL 3-4 DL player, but he may make up for it with his athletic ability.
Minniman
November 20, 2019 at 02:24 am
Hmmm, I'm inclined to agree with you Matt.
The Chargers terrorized the Packers in the first 2 quarters playing Bosa and McCoy next to one another.
A defensive front of Montravius Adams, Kenny Clark and Rashan Gary with the 2 Smith's coming off the edge.
Especially in the Redskins, Lions and Giants games - if Gary can't break into the back field of those o-lines, then he's got a lot of work to do in the off season.
MattyG
November 19, 2019 at 03:59 pm
I'll jump on the Gary train for sure. I love that dude's freak athletic ability. I will also say Jace and MVS. MVS's role has lessened with the return and emergence of some players, but I still think he should be used as a downfield threat.
WestCoastPackerBacker
November 19, 2019 at 04:15 pm
Let's hope they can unleash all 3 of these guys towards the end of the season. James Starks came in towards the end of the season as a rookie and completely changed the offense with a real running game that took them thru the playoff run to a Super Bowl Title. So young guys CAN contribute.
Lare
November 19, 2019 at 04:19 pm
The Packers are in a playoff battle. I think they should play the players that are the most productive and give them the best chance of being successful.
Minniman
November 20, 2019 at 02:32 am
I agree in not playing them for sake of it but the only counter-argument is that it's widely known that the Packers are lacking depth at certain positions - and if they are to go deep into the play-offs then the Packers will need to scheme them in for maximum effect - and that's going to take reps.
cheesy_buffalo
November 20, 2019 at 08:50 am
But they aren't really in a playoff battle. They are leading the playoff race right now and are in a battle for 1st place in the conference and a bye. I think it makes sense to use a guy like Gary to spell Smith and Smith so that once the playoffs roll around those guys are fresher/healthier.
packerbackerjim
November 19, 2019 at 04:28 pm
In previous years I had been hopeful that MM was going to bust out some new plays, a new wrinkle, a player or two stashed to confound opponents when it was most needed. MLF has the players to do the latter and the concepts to realize the former.
Minniman
November 20, 2019 at 02:37 am
I agree and think that MLF is going to need to pull a tactical ambush on the 49ers in order to get the W there.
I think that by winning a couple of those tight games with goal line stands has allowed MLF to keep some of his play book up his sleeve
Lphill
November 19, 2019 at 04:30 pm
Gary, Lazzard, Vitale and maybe Sternberger .
MarkinMadison
November 19, 2019 at 04:54 pm
It looks like MVS is losing a significant amount of snaps to Lazard. I'm ok. with that move.
I'd like to see Campbell get more snaps as a fifth DB.
From the snap counts it looks like they are playing more 2 DL alignments than I had realized. A lot more. Instead of Keke or X, maybe it should by Keke and X.
Zapato
November 19, 2019 at 06:46 pm
I'd like to see Gary, Keke and Sternberger all get quality snaps over the last six games. Otherwise, why did we draft them?
JonathanSpader
November 19, 2019 at 11:47 pm
For the future.
Leatherhead
November 20, 2019 at 09:36 am
The draft is about the future of your organization, not about who can help you the most this year. These rookies are 21, 22, and they're competing against guys who have twice as many years in the weight room and have been competing for years.
Gary, Keke, and Sternberger were all solid choices, although I would have probably taken a QB instead of Gary. These guys will help us next year, and the year after. Sternberger, for example, is going to move up the depth chart in the offseason when we part company with Graham and Lewis. Keke isn't going to play ahead of the guys who are in front of him for a while, but he may get some rotation snaps next year.
If you're relying on rookies to get you to the Super Bowl, you're probably going to be disappointed. It doesn't happen very often.
splitpea1
November 19, 2019 at 08:02 pm
Especially get these defensive guys on the field more against the weaker opponents coming up like the Giants, Redskins, Bears, and Lions. They need to gain experience sometime. We might not even need to play the Smiths against the Redskins.
jsb937
November 19, 2019 at 09:16 pm
Lets see. Max Crosby fourth round pick of the Oakland Raiders is starting and tearing up the league. Gary is a first round pick and can't get on the field because he is soft.
Admit the error and move on.
SterlingSharpe
November 20, 2019 at 03:45 am
What do you mean "move on"?
Lofton82
November 20, 2019 at 06:22 am
Some guys hit the ground running, others need a bit of time. Gary is the latter maybe. We knew we had good options at Edge that have become stellar options. So he has time to get it right. Yeah, it would be nice if that was sooner rather than later. If he doesn't realise his potential until next season or the season after, but becomes the player he promises to be, it's still worth it.
I still think we could use or at least try Gary at ILB in the meantime. He has the mobility for it.
Minniman
November 20, 2019 at 01:24 pm
And to your point he has two excellent examples in the Smith's of what is needed to succeed at the professional level for that position.
Next year will be the one for Rashan Gary - if at the conclusion of that season he's not semi-consistently asserting himself in the NFL then that won't bode well for his future.
Lphill
November 20, 2019 at 07:18 am
Gary can play anywhere on the D line maybe it’s time to try him there.
Swisch
November 20, 2019 at 10:01 am
Love this video by PackerAaron!
This is where the NFL is going with such a long and brutal season: load management, so to speak, and using the bench.
As splendidly as the duo of Jones and Williams is working at running back, let's see some substitutions in other places to keep guys fresh -- especially on the defensive line.
If Gary isn't the bendiest edge rusher, he could be a beast at inside linebacker roaming the field for prey, and is athletic enough for coverage against the pass. Let's get Summers a few snaps, as well.
My fellow alum from both high school and college, Danny Vitale, does seem to be a secret weapon waiting to cause havoc for defenses in a myriad of ways, including tight end routes over the middle. Also, Marcedes Lewis has looked great to me when he's been targeted for receptions, so let's run a play or two for him against the 49ers.
All the while, we're keeping guys fresh and finding out who is on his game for key snaps in the fourth quarter. If one guy is sluggish or gimpy on any given Sunday, see if another is spry and stout.
Here's hoping the Packers are at the forefront of putting our reserves in positions to succeed, and keeping our starters fresh for the grueling slog of an NFL season.
dbertuso
November 20, 2019 at 11:26 am
Campbell, Williams & Jones at the same time, Lazard