Packers OTAs Preview: Seven Things We’ll Be Watching

From quarterback to kicker, here are some of the key story lines with Green Bay Packers OTAs beginning on Monday.

Author:
Bill Huber
Publish date:
May 21, 2023 12:39 PM EDT

In this story:

GREEN BAY, Wis. – On Monday, the 2023 NFL season and a new era will unofficially begin for the Green Bay Packers with the start of organized team activities.

Jordan Love, who had directed the No. 1 offense with Aaron Rodgers skipping the voluntary practices the past couple offseasons, anyway, will be running the show as the starting quarterback.

All eyes will be on Love. All aspects of his game will be under the microscope, first and foremost with the obvious: Can he complete passes and move the offense in “live” situations?

Of course, Love can’t throw passes to himself. He’ll have the youngest group of receivers and tight ends in the NFL, with receivers Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb and tight ends Marcedes Lewis and Robert Tonyan replaced by five rookies: receivers Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks and Grant DuBose and tight ends Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft.

There will be growing pains. Along with charting Love’s progress during the three weeks of OTAs and the June minicamp, it will be interesting to see who emerges as Love’s favorite targets.

It will be impossible to have a Rodgers-to-Davante Adams connection in Week 1 but it will be critical to start building chemistry. It will be especially interesting to see which of the rookie tight ends, if any, emerges as Love’s go-to guy.

Here are six more things we’ll be watching when reporters are allowed to watch practice on Tuesday.

No. 1 Offensive Line

The left side of the offensive line is set with David Bakhtiari at tackle and Elgton Jenkins at guard. But what about center, right guard and right tackle? There will be a four-man battle royale for those spots with Zach Tom challenging returning starters Josh Myers (17 starts at center), Jon Runyan (17 starts at guard) and Yosh Nijman (13 starts at tackle).

“We’ve got a lot of competition on the right side, whether it’s right guard, right tackle or even center,” offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich said on Tuesday. “We’re just going to go out there and put these guys in different spots. I know right now, Zach’s going to compete a lot at right guard and right tackle and possibly some at center.”

As much as offensive line coach Luke Butkus tried to spin it, the team has to be disappointed that Myers is going to have to fight to keep his job. He was the first center off the board in 2021 – ahead of All-Pro Creed Humphrey. Given his draft pedigree, the Packers need him to rise to the occasion.

Pass Rush Without Gary

With Rashan Gary coming off a torn ACL, he won’t be on the field for OTAs or the June minicamp. That might be OK, though, as it will give other players additional snaps.

That list of other players, of course, starts with first-round pick Lukas Van Ness.

“There’s high expectations, especially when you’re a first-round (pick),” outside linebackers coach Jason Rebrovich said. “Let’s call it what it is: He’s a first-round draft pick to rush the passer. There’s a lot of pressure on that man.”

It’s not just Van Ness or even the outside linebackers. Defensive tackle Jarran Reed, who signed with Seattle in free agency, was one of the team’s best pass rushers last season. Can Devonte Wyatt emerge in Year 2 as a real difference-maker? How about athletic rookies Colby Wooden and Karl Brooks?

To be sure, rushing the passer in shorts in May is different than rushing the passer on a Sunday in September. However, any success in the spring will lay the foundation for the summer and fall.

Safety Dance

There won’t be a more wide-open competition than what’s looming at safety. The Packers need to replace steady veteran Adrian Amos, who started every game in his four seasons with the team.

There’s strength in numbers, at least. Rudy Ford, second-year player Innis Gaines and free-agent additions Jonathan Owens and Tarvarius Moore have started games, and hopes are high for seventh-round picks Tariq Carpenter (2021) and Anthony Johnson (2022) because of their potential position versatility.

“The cream always rises. It always does,” position coach Ryan Downard said on Thursday.

As for Darnell Savage, this will be the biggest season of his football life. He needs to return to form to earn a big payday in free agency next offseason. That starts with playing with more physicality and certainty. The physicality will have to wait for training camp but the playmaking starts now.

“Darnell’s best when he pulls the trigger and he lets it all hang out,” Downard said. “He’s got to trust himself. We’ve got to do a better job in tackling and playing a physical brand of football and that’s not only at the point of contact, that’s also taking on blocks.”

Kicker Competition

Sixth-round pick Anders Carlson or rookie free agent Parker White aren’t going to win the kicking battle during the next four weeks. But they sure as heck can lose it.

Kicker is a lonely position. A couple bad misses can get in a kicker’s head. The pressure will be amplified in that they’re battling to replace Mason Crosby, one of the best to do it. It’s all part of overcoming the “NFL monster,” as Carlson’s personal coach, Jamie Kohl, said.

“I think with all players in the National Football League, they’re going to ride the rollercoaster at times, regardless of the position,” special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia said on Tuesday. “It just happens that the kicker is out there by himself, and they’re usually put in critical situations where you’re counting on them to come through.

“So, I think we’re all prepared organizationally if Anders can perform like we think he can and can improve, I think we’re prepared organizationally as well as with a majority of the other draft picks to weather the storm to some degree positionally, and hopefully they can keep improving and get better with time.”

Taking Attendance

When the team leader – Rodgers, in this case – stays away from the voluntary practices, it provides a green light for others to play hooky, as well.

At one of the first practices in 2021, Rodgers, receivers Davante Adams, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Allen Lazard, Equanimeous St. Brown and Devin Funchess, and cornerback Jaire Alexander were among those who were absent.

At one of the first practices in 2022, Rodgers, receivers Lazard and Sammy Watkins, outside linebackers Rashan Gary and Preston Smith, and cornerbacks Alexander and Rasul Douglas weren’t on the field.

With a young roster led by a new starting quarterback, will attendance be stronger?

First Rookie Starter?

Expectations always are sky-high with a rookie class. Expectations might be even higher this year. It’s a new era, with the exciting potential of new stars being developed at positions at which former stalwarts are no longer with the team.

Starting jobs aren’t just handed out. Even last year, first-round pick Quay Walker was only splitting first-team reps with Krys Barnes at the end of the offseason.

Chances are it will be Preston Smith and Kingsley Enagbare at outside linebacker rather than Van Ness. And Samori Toure in the slot instead of Reed. And Tyler Davis at tight end instead of Musgrave or Kraft.

Who will be the first draft pick to truly emerge as a potential Week 1 difference-maker? It will be fascinating to see which of the rookies is the first to break through the veteran depth chart.