Green Bay Packers: 2021 Regular Season Superlatives
By Paul Bretl
In a little over a week, the Green Bay Packers will be taking on the New Orleans Saints in their Week 1 matchup. But before we get to that point and begin looking ahead to that game, I thought that this would be a perfect time for my regular-season edition of Packers’ superlatives.
This is one of my favorite exercises that I do three or four times over the course of the year, where I choose several superlatives — or words that are exaggerated or a hyperbolic expression of praise, as it’s defined –to describe members of this Green Bay Packers team.
For this edition, I’ve chosen eight superlatives, and in a way, I will be making predictions since the players that I choose for each category are the ones that I believe will best be described by that word or phrase over the course of the season.
Be sure to share your picks for each category in the comments below, or you can find me on Twitter at @Paul_Bretl.
Most Underrated: Adrian Amos
Not only on this Green Bay Packers team but across the NFL landscape, I think it can be easy to forget just how good Adrian Amos is. Maybe it’s because he doesn’t make the flashy plays all the time, but when it comes to the safety position, he is as steady as it gets.
In 2020, Amos was the second-highest graded safety by PFF’s grading system ($$) and the highest-graded safety when in coverage. He played over 1,100 snaps for the Packers, allowing only 7.9 yards per catch, a passer rating of 79.0 while logging three interceptions, and seven pass breakups.
Stat-wise, 2020 may have been Amos’ best season, but if you look back at previous years, his grades and final numbers aren’t too far off–he just consistently plays at a high level. And if his performance in training camp this summer is an indication of things to come, 2021 could be even better.
Rookie of the Year: Josh Myers
As Larry McCarren told us, Josh Myers has looked the part this summer. Aaron Rodgers called his play and understanding of the offense “really impressive.” While Matt LaFleur named him the starting center early on. Not bad for your first few months on the job.
Myers is my pick for Rookie of the Year on this Green Bay Packers team because from a snap count standpoint, it’s him and Royce Newman who are going to see the most playing this season. Amari Rodgers is likely the fifth wide receiver option, TJ Slaton will be in a rotational role, and while we hope Eric Stokes becomes CB2, it looks like that is Kevin King’s role to begin the season.
While Myers will likely take some lumps, especially early on like almost any rookie will, there has been nothing to suggest that he isn’t capable of stepping in and playing at a high level from Day 1. In fact, that’s exactly what this training camp has suggested he will do.