What to Look for During Training Camp
The 2019 Green Bay Packers get set to take the field tomorrow. Here are ten things to look for as the training camp and the preseason progress.
The Packers Have a Lot to Prove:
Oh, happy day! Today is the eve of Training Camp, the offseason is all but over, and a new season of Green Bay Packer Football is finally upon us. The time for talk is over, and it is time for the Packers 90 man roster to prove itself and earn their spots on the week 1 roster.
Many Veterans and Rookies alike will be looking to prove to the front office as well as the coaching staff, that they can provide value and versatility to the Packers roster and help them return to their winning ways in 2019.
The Release of Mike Daniels Grabs Today's Headlines:
The headlines around the Packers have shifted from the opening of tomorrow's first training camp practice to the somewhat unexpected release of Mike Daniels. Daniels was coming off an injury-plagued 2018 season and was in the final year of his deal. The Packers were faced with the difficult decision of whether to keep the veteran coming off of a down year who was set to incur a cap hit of over $10.7 million or let him go.
It seems the Packers made the decision to move on from the veteran, Daniels, to save a little more than $8 million dollars, and move forward with Dean Lowry by signing him to a more team-friendly 3-year extension worth just over $20 million.
The Packers defensive front will now consist of a deep unit of young and talented players, headlined by budding superstar Kenny Clark. With the extra salary cap flexibility created by these latest transactions, it will be interesting to see if the Packers choose to extend Kenny Clark before the start of the regular season.
The move to release Daniels today certainly has me on alert for players to keep a close watch on as the preseason progresses.
Something tells me the Packers may not be done making moves.
Ten Things to Watch During Training Camp:
1. Will Tramon Williams or Brian Bulaga be released leading up to roster cuts?
2. How will Aaron Rodgers adapt to Matt LaFleur's offense?
3. Will Aaron Rodgers return to form?
4. How will the starting offensive line look for week 1 against the Bears?
5. Will the defense improve enough to lead the charge?
6. Will the first and second-year players develop enough to make an impact in 2019?
7. Will special teams show a big enough improvement to not be labeled as a liability?
8. How will the wide receiver position group shake out?
9. Will a new coaching philosophy breath life into this team?
10. Will a new dedication to the running game turn the offense around?
The answers to these ten questions will likely determine how the 2019 season plays out for the Packers. This is why it will be so important to be following Cheesehead TV both on the web as well as on the airwaves (at 97.3 the game and iHeart Radio) for daily updates on how the team is progressing, along with tuning into each preseason game on either the NFL app or NFL network if you are outside of the Green Bay market.
The 2019 season of Green Bay Packer football kicks off tomorrow and I am really excited to see what is in store for the Green and Gold.
-------------------
David Michalski is a staff writer for Cheesehead TV. He can be found on Twitter @kilbas27dave
Comments (39)
ILPackerBacker
July 24, 2019 at 04:27 pm
Why not put a couple of words together on all this young talent and compare them to say, other young talent.
Like Harrell/Perry/Jones/Adams.......do you see the connection?
Daniels did it. Did it well.
stockholder
July 24, 2019 at 04:58 pm
Gute is in. I see the packers slowly shifting back to the 4-3-4. It's training Camp. Relax, Le Fluer has this. Keeping up with Jones is a bigger question. .
kevgk
July 24, 2019 at 07:15 pm
daniels is a better 4-3 lineman than 3-4, so if they do play more 4 man front, cutting daniels was an independent decision from that
flackcatcher
July 25, 2019 at 06:22 am
No, the Packers still play a base 3-4/flex scheme. The question is will the base shift to a 3-3-5 or a 3-2-6 which the Packers went to more in the second half of games before injuries caught up the the defense. If the standard is 6, then playing and extra DB inside the ILB slot makes sense with the FA signings and drafts. Should be an interesting training camp.....
JonathanSpader
July 24, 2019 at 05:21 pm
Think the Packers will sign Mason Foster to shore up the ILB spot?
ricky
July 24, 2019 at 08:41 pm
The question being whether the team has confidence in their younger, cheaper players, or if they feel that signing a 30 year old vet is the better way to improve the team. Since they just cut an aging, somewhat expensive player with an injury history, would it make sense to sign a guy with the same issues? Still, this makes a lot more sense than the suggestion on this site a few days ago, exploring whether to bring back Nick Perry.
JonathanSpader
July 25, 2019 at 08:40 am
Over his career, Foster has been fairly healthy. In 2014 he would play in only 10 games after aggravating an Achilles tendon injury. Then in 2017, after only five games he was placed on IR with a right should injury. But other than those two seasons Foster has played in at least 15 games five different times and 13 in another.
Most recently in 2018, Foster was the captain of the Redskins’ defense and played a full 16 game season. Last year he would record two interceptions, four pass deflections, 131 total tackles and four tackles for loss. Foster has led the Washington defense in total tackles in two of the last three seasons.
Foster is known for being a very solid tackler and can be an asset in the running game. However, he is not as skilled in coverage and can struggle if left on a running back or a tight end in the open field.
Daniels saved GB 8.4 mil on their cap Was saved 4 mil for Foster. I don't think it would be that expensive to sign Foster. He's an older Blake Martinez and a great insurance policy if Blake gets injured. ILB is relatively thin and DL was a strength. I don't think you can say Foster is in the same boat as Daniels Ricky.
Leatherhead
July 25, 2019 at 02:16 pm
Sounds like a solid plan. I’d go with it.
Bure9620
July 25, 2019 at 06:56 pm
Show me the percentage of defensive snaps the packers actually were in a standard 3-4 base, and in that alignment had 2 standard ILbs on the field. Morrison and Martinez a few times against running teams on early downs. Not often, lots of 3 safety looks, or Josh Jackson on a TE, or Jones or another safety in the box actually playing downhill. Why? For coverage, and to create confusion. This is a different NFL. Why go get another off the ball backer? Pettine may even have 3 or 4 OLBs on the field together. The reason the Packers are not deep at off ball linebacker is because they have not put a heavy emphasis on that position because that position has been devalued. I predict no more than 3 on the Roster.
flackcatcher
July 25, 2019 at 11:37 pm
Think your right. I could see 10+ DB on the 53. It all depends on how many DL Pettine wants as he adjusts his system to the NFL pass rules.
Lare
July 24, 2019 at 06:08 pm
The offense will take a few weeks to sort itself out, with scheme, starters and backups.
The defense should be pretty well set and I'm guessing Pettine already knows the players and position groups he's going with.
Should be an interesting next few weeks.
Leatherhead
July 24, 2019 at 05:58 pm
Good health. You start with 90 guys and you put your best guys on the 53. Then you activate 45 of them. Daniels isn't on the 90 anymore.
Rick1
July 24, 2019 at 06:57 pm
People are questioning the move on Daniels I don’t get it. 30 years old broken foot and declining production. Huge cap savings and Pettine usually only runs 2 d lineman at a time. They have a young core of ascending players that are tailored to Pettine scheme. If they lock up Bakhtiari or Clark with that cap money that is smart business. Team first!!!
Hawg Hanner
July 24, 2019 at 09:34 pm
Agree it was a worthy economic move. As much as I love Tramon, can the team afford his cap number?
NickPerry
July 25, 2019 at 05:09 am
Don't they have to until Kevin King stays healthy and Josh Jackson becomes less grabby? King scares the hell out of me and has since being drafted by Ted... Just so damn thin!
Now I have faith in Josh Jackson. I don't care he ran the 40 just 1/10th of a second slower than the "Fast" CB drafted before or after him. I think his grabbiness is more of a product of starting just 12 games in college and playing zone than a speed issue.
BUT...If speed really is the issue I think they found a gem in Tony Brown who's a whole 2/10ths faster than Jackson!
Rick1
July 24, 2019 at 07:13 pm
This team Gutekunst has built is a lot better than the pundits think. People have to understand that the packers have missed the playoffs 2 years in a row.
I think MLF will design a offense that will make big plays. Rodgers is going to be playing with a chip on his shoulder. Those young wideouts are going to take big strides. I think the wide zone scheme is going to be a huge asset in keeping down and distance manageable. The TEs will have more favorable matchups because of all the talent around them.
The defense with a more physical, fast knock you on your ass style is going to be a tone setter.
porupack
July 25, 2019 at 06:31 am
"chip on the shoulder". A useless, fan fueled idea.
Rick1
July 25, 2019 at 08:49 am
To be a professional player they all chips. Something is a driving force for all of them. People are doubting him I think he has that silent killer instinct.
Swisch
July 25, 2019 at 01:58 pm
I sense that you are right on target, Rick, and that the Packers surprise the pundits and make the playoffs with 10 wins.
There's a lot of positive energy surrounding a lot of promising players, plus already an elite quarterback throwing to an elite receiver. I'm confident in our coaches, or at least hopeful.
I'll add that just improving special teams with smarter play and a sense of mission will mean a victory or more in and of itself.
Since'61
July 24, 2019 at 08:50 pm
I'm hoping for the Packers to stay healthy so they have the best 53 for the regular season. Fingers crossed until September. Thanks, Since '61
IceBowl
July 24, 2019 at 09:08 pm
I am looking for improvement, for consistency, for team work, and for execution.
That will bring playoffs.
Packer Dave
July 24, 2019 at 09:26 pm
No reason to cut Williams or Bulaga, especially Bulaga.
TarynsEyes
July 24, 2019 at 10:12 pm
Reasons can always be found and with Tramon's age and Bulaga's knees reasons are screaming like a group of kids with their hands raise after asking who wants ice cream.
flackcatcher
July 25, 2019 at 06:26 am
As you so often do.......
TarynsEyes
July 25, 2019 at 11:59 am
Yes, I always reason things out.
Reasoning is always difficult for blind optimist.
Those not seeing the reasons for the Daniels release or the reasons that can be used for Williams and Bulaga possible release/trade are those blind optimist who just say...can't with reason discarded.
IceBowl
July 25, 2019 at 07:47 pm
Tarynfor12,
You say ..... "Yes, I always reason things out."
Really?? Surely you are kidding. Mostly your reasoning is that a fan cannot be objective, except for yourself. Hogwash!!!!
Just like your comments above, not rocket science you know. Anyone/everyone can provide rational to keep/release/trade everyone in the NFL (reasoned opinion). I listened to people's rational to trade ARod. Some thought about it. Absurd as it was. (more reasoned opinion)
Your whiny mantra about being the "sole reasoner" on the site is getting stale, don't you think?
I do. And I always reason things out. (and that is my reasoned opinion)
TarynsEyes
July 25, 2019 at 08:26 pm
I never said others cannot reason or are unreasonable.
I never claimed my comments to be that of rocket science.
Never implied all reasons are right or wrong.
I never claimed or whined about being the sole reasoner.
Perhaps you are a fan of CNN etc spewing things that aren't true and never uttered by the one you accuse as saying or thinking such.
I do know this though...I get under your skin for some ' reason ' and if I actually cared at all, I may try to ' reason ' it out but it's simply not worth it.
Is that ' reasonable ' to you?
IceBowl
July 25, 2019 at 09:04 pm
Tarynfor12 ,
You say ..... "I never claimed or whined about being the sole reasoner"
My word, you whine about fans posts most of your posts. Are you claiming you are just posting white noise? No, you are admonishing fans for not being as "reasoning" as you. Which is crap.
And you say ..... "I do know this though...I get under your skin for some ' reason ' and if I actually cared at all, I may try to ' reason ' it out but it's simply not worth it.
Is that ' reasonable ' to you?"
And you know this how? You do NOT! And if you did not care. your whole post would be in your garbage can.
Your posts are condescending to fans and label fans negatively. So I say what others won't. And I will call out nonsense whenever I am in the mood.
Simple, sound reasoning.
TarynsEyes
July 25, 2019 at 09:30 pm
Is this what you mean by whining?
What you're doing now because I surely don't do it.
I'll be around for long time so....happy whining.
IceBowl
July 26, 2019 at 08:47 am
Not at all.
Simple, sound reasoning.
LambeauPlain
July 25, 2019 at 09:38 am
I agree. You don’t cut players if his replacement isn’t better, as good, or nearly as good.
In Daniels case, Lowery, The Smiths, Gary, Adams, Lancaster are on deck to replace Mike’s hefty salary and injury games missed, declining production.
Who replaces Bulaga? Moving Turner maybe....but then it creates questions at RG.
Who replaces Williams’s swingman talent to play CB or S? Josh Jackson maybe but he has no experience playing S yet. Williams could be cut if he has a poor camp...but if he shows up he stays.
PAPackerbacker
July 25, 2019 at 05:07 am
It appears to me by cutting Daniels and keeping and signing Lowry that the Packers are moving on from players who they deem as a higher risk of injuries in 2019 and beyond. It makes sense. I would not be surprised to see other players released or cut who have a history of injuries that keep them on the bench more than on the field, as long as there are enough talented players who can step in and get the job done. I'm not stating players won't be missed and wonder why they were released. It's a business that will keep team needs ahead of individual needs, as it should be. As a Packer fan sometimes these decisions appear like easy ones and sometimes they don't.
flackcatcher
July 25, 2019 at 06:46 am
Well stated. The other ugly truth is NFL players are not as built as they use to be. Could for any number of reason, from being younger when entering the league, to the league basing toward more taller quicker athletic types. Now, the downside is the current crop may be more prone to leg and thigh injuries. Since those are more about time and reaction on the field, they effect the teams as the league has become so pass heavy. We may seeing even more ACL types with serious leg injuries in the league as a whole, which could degrade play further across the NFL. Ironic, rules which was suppose to speed up and make the game exciting, may be crippling the slowing the game down instead.
PoizNgun
July 25, 2019 at 05:48 am
When is the date the pads actually come on, I can't find that any where.
IceBowl
July 25, 2019 at 07:51 pm
Sunday.
LambeauPlain
July 25, 2019 at 09:45 am
Late round draft picks that may make some noise in camp....Keke & Summers.
PackfanNY
July 25, 2019 at 10:22 am
I am curious to see who replaces Daniels on the 90 man roster. Gute was asked about it and he kind of smiled and said we should have something tomorrow. Don’t know if that means anything or nothing at all.
4thand1
July 25, 2019 at 02:57 pm
Of the 10 things to watch, they have all been hashed over in here in the past several months. This team will go as far as the o-line takes them and a healthy AR. And few more stops by the D on 3rd down.
BoHunter
July 25, 2019 at 03:37 pm
My bet to fill the 90 is Ibraheim Campbell, but I have been wrong before.
Bo Hunter