Christian Watson (USA Today Sports Images)

20 Days Until Training Camp: 20 Reasons for Optimism

Can the Green Bay Packers win with Jordan Love? With 20 days until the first practice of training camp, here are 20 reasons for optimism.

Author:
Bill Huber
Publish date:
Jul 6, 2023 3:21 PM EDT

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Green Bay Packers

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Expectations are low for the Green Bay Packers as they are about to embark on the 2023 NFL season. After all, they went 8-9 in Aaron Rodgers’ final season as the starting quarterback. How will they be better in Jordan Love’s first season as the starter?

With 20 days until the first practice of training camp, here are 20 reasons for optimism.

1. Jordan Love

Nobody knows if Jordan Love is going to be good, bad or something in between. However, if general manager Brian Gutekunst didn’t have belief in Love, he might have moved heaven and earth to bring Aaron Rodgers back for another season.

2. Aaron Jones and the Running Game

Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon are the driving forces behind Green Ba’s strong running game. Jones statistically is one of the most explosive running backs in NFL history. Dillon hasn’t been explosive but he’s good for 3 or 4 yards every time he gets the ball. Last year, Green Bay ranked 12th in yards per carry. They are ready, willing and able to carry the load.

3. Christian Watson

Christian Watson scored seven touchdowns during the second half of his rookie season. He’s got Randy Moss-like potential. Speaking of Moss, Watson joined him as the only rookie receivers in NFL history with eight touchdowns over a four-game span. Regardless of experience, Watson joined Chase Claypool, All-Pro Tyreek Hill and legendary Jerry Rice as the only receivers since the 1970 merger with 40-plus receptions, 600-plus receiving yards, seven-plus receiving touchdowns and two-plus rushing touchdowns in a season.

4. Young Playmakers

Who knows if Jordan Love’s got enough firepower in the passing game. But at least he’s got options with Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft. Maybe – “maybe” being the key word – this group will lead the Packers into the future.

5. David Bakhtiari’s Knee

David Bakhtiari (69) and Jordan Love (10) — David Bakhtiari (69) and Jordan Love (Photo by USA Today Sports Images)

The outside perspective is David Bakhtiari’s knee is one of the team’s big question marks entering the season. Bakhtiari said the torn ACL, originally sustained late in the 2020 season, is behind him. And maybe it is. If the Packers were worried about the former All-Pro, would they have given him first-team reps during OTAs?

6. Elgton Jenkins

Elgton Jenkins is back from his torn ACL, as well. He’s also back at left guard. There is no experiment at right tackle. There is no need to move him to left tackle. As a left guard, Jenkins is one of the best in the business. He and David Bakhtiari will give the Packers a premier left side.

7. Intact O-Line

The best offensive lines are the ones that practice together and play together. During the final nine games of last season, the Packers lined up with Elgton Jenkins at left guard, Josh Myers at center, Jon Runyan at right guard and Yosh Nijman at right tackle. The starting five might have been together for all nine of those games if not for David Bakhtiari’s emergency appendectomy. Other than perhaps right tackle, where Zach Tom might challenge Nijman for the starting job, Green Bay’s No. 1 line should enter the season in fine form.

8. Cutting Edge

When Rashan Gary is back from his torn ACL, Green Bay’s outside linebacker corps of Gary, Preston Smith, first-round pick Lukas Van Ness, second-year player Kingsley Enagbare and veteran Justin Hollins could be the best in the NFL.

9. De’Vondre Campbell and Quay Walker

De’Vondre Campbell’s return from an injury played a huge role in Green Bay’s five-game run toward a playoff spot. If Campbell returns to anything close to his All-Pro form and if Quay Walker takes a Year 2 jump in terms of defense and discipline, the Packers could have a game-changing duo.

10. Jaire Alexander

There aren’t many better cornerbacks than Jaire Alexander. A cornerback who can take care of business against elite receivers is worth his weight in gold.

11. Rasul Douglas

It’s still rather incredible that the Packers, in their time of need following Jaire Alexander’s shoulder injury in 2021, found Rasul Douglas buried on the Cardinals’ practice squad. Since joining the Packers, he leads the NFL with six fourth-quarter interceptions. He’s one of six cornerbacks with four-plus interceptions each of the last two seasons.

12. Improved on Defense

How did the Packers go from 4-8 to controlling their playoff destiny? Because of Joe Barry’s defense. Down the stretch, the Packers allowed 20 points or less in each of the final five games. Was that strong performance a sign of things to come or fool’s gold? With eight first-rounders on the defensive roster, there will be no excuses.

13. Keisean Nixon

During his All-Pro season, Keisean Nixon had five kickoff returns of 50-plus yards. That’s as many as the Packers had over the past decade.

14. Rich Bisaccia

With Rich Bisaccia creating the mentality and Keisean Nixon delivering the big plays, Green Bay’s special teams took a sizable step in the right direction last season. The Packers didn’t re-sign venerable kicker Mason Crosby but everyone else is back on special teams – including the esteemed Bisaccia. There’s no reason why the special teams shouldn’t be a major weapon.

15. NFC North

So long as Jordan Love is at least decent, there’s no reason why the Packers shouldn’t contend in the NFC North. The Detroit Lions are heavy favorites but have to show they can live up to the hype. The Minnesota Vikings won a record 11 games by one score last year – a feat that might be hard to replicate – and suffered some significant personnel losses. The Chicago Bears won a league-low three games last year.

16. The Schedule

Green Bay will open the season with games against the Bears, Falcons, Saints, Lions, Raiders and Broncos. None of those six teams reached last year’s playoffs. Of Green Bay’s first nine games (the Vikings, Rams and Steelers being the others), only the Saints and Lions are projected to finish with a winning record. So, while the Packers are surrounded by questions, so are many of their early opponents.

17. Give Love a Chance

Twelve of Green Bay’s 17 games will come against teams that finished 20th or worse in opponent passer rating. In the first five games, four opponents had an opponent passer rating that ranked in the bottom quartile. That weak-on-paper list of foes gives Jordan Love a chance to build early momentum.

18. Discipline

Good teams don’t beat themselves. Over the past four seasons, the Packers were second in the NFL in turnover margin and fourth in penalties.

19. Matt LaFleur

In four seasons, coach Matt LaFleur has fashioned a record of 47-19. That .712 winning percentage ranks fourth in NFL history behind three Hall of Famers: Guy Chamberlin, John Madden and Vince Lombardi. LaFleur has to prove he can win without Aaron Rodgers – the team struggled to adjust without Davante Adams – but the overall track record is strong.

20. Fresh Start

Aaron Rodgers is one of the great quarterbacks in NFL history. Year after year, Rodgers gave the Packers a chance to win a Super Bowl. Year after year, the Packers fell short of that goal. With great teams in 2020 and 2021, Rodgers fell short at home in the playoffs. With a chance to get to the playoffs in 2022, Rodgers lost at home again.

Jordan Love might never be as good as the four-time MVP. But he’s got the team’s support. Sometimes, change can be good. Maybe, just maybe, the change at quarterback will be just what a team that had been headed the wrong direction needed to embark on a new era of sustained success.