Green Bay Packers Continuity will Play Key Role in 2020

With little roster turnover between the 2019 and 2020 seasons, the continuity that the Green Bay Packers have could play a key role in their success.

Across all aspects of life, this has been a very odd year, to say the least. And of course, the Green Bay Packers and the NFL aren’t immune. Earlier this offseason, OTAs and mini-camps were held remotely, and we’ve just learned that the preseason has been canceled as well.

The players most affected by these changes are going to be the rookie class. There is already a steep enough learning curve when it comes to making the leap from college ball to the NFL and with practices lost, time at the facility taken away, and preseason games canceled, it only makes that jump more difficult.

Even 2020 free agents who are on new teams may start off a bit slower than what they normally would. While the transition for them will be easier than it is for rookies, they still have to learn a new system with new teammates.

When it comes to the Green Bay Packers, many fans were upset at how free agency and the draft went, while many in the national media criticized their moves, or in some cases, the lack of moves.

As we all know, the Packers didn’t have the same spending power that they did in 2019. As a result, their free-agent additions were of the bargain variety. Meanwhile in the draft, many were left scratching their heads with the first three selections.

So, for the most part, this 2020 Green Bay Packers team is going to look very similar from a personnel standpoint to the 2019 team. And for one, that’s not as bad as many have made it out to be. They did go 13-3 and reach the NFC Championship Game after all.

However, on top of that, there is familiarity and continuity among this group on both sides of the ball and within the coaching staff. And given how unusual the offseason has been and how I assume unusual the regular season will be, that is going to play into their favor at the very least early on.

On the offensive side of the ball, Rick Wagner will be taking over at right tackle this season for Bryan Bulaga, and I’ve been quite vocal about my concerns surrounding that position. With that said, this is an excellent overall unit led by David Bakhtiari that ranked as the fourth-best offensive line entering the 2020 season by Pro Football Focus.

At receiver, the new addition was Devin Funchess, but this is a Green Bay Packers team with plenty of pass-catching options including Davante Adams, Allen Lazard, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Equanimeous St. Brown, Jace Sternberger, Marcedes Lewis, Robert Tonyan, Aaron Jones, and Jamaal Williams. So if Funchess isn’t making plays right out the gate, it’s not as if Aaron Rodgers doesn’t have other options to rely on.

Additionally, Sternberger and Lazard are going to have to play bigger roles, and we hopefully see bounce-back seasons from Valdes-Scantling and St. Brown, but all four are familiar with Rodgers and the LaFleur offense.

Defensively, there is even less turnover. The only major free-agent addition was Christian Kirksey at linebacker, but I’m sure you all remember that his head coach for his first two seasons in Cleveland was none other than Mike Pettine.

This offseason Kirksey has mentioned how he is already familiar with Green Bay’s defense because of that connection to Pettine, and that should allow him to fit in seamlessly.

When it comes to the rookie class, unlike last year, where the Packers were relying on players like Elgton Jenkins and Darnell Savage almost immediately, they don’t have to do that this season.

Sure, A.J. Dillon and Josiah Deguara will see the field this year and perhaps Kamal Martin as well, but with Jones and Williams at running back, Sternberger and Tonyan as move tight ends, and the depth at linebacker, the Packers don’t have to rely on them.

And other than those three players, Green Bay’s other six draft picks are likely going to assume backup roles anyway this season.

The continuity that the Green Bay Packers are carrying into the season is not quantifiable, but it exists. Now, how much of a difference it makes remains to be seen, but I’d bet that it gives them an edge at least early on, if not longer. And any sort of advantage is never a bad thing.