Like every team, the Green Bay Packers are focused on improving over the second half of the season. However, they’re looking to improve so they can build for the future and not necessarily so they can win this season.
At 3-6, the Packers understand their chances of making the playoffs are slim. They have much bigger goals in mind than simply squeezing into the postseason this year. They want to reset their franchise’s trajectory to find their next decade-plus of successful players.
Getting that talent into place will take some time. They may have some of those guys on their current roster, but they have a lot of work to do. Here are three resolutions the Packers should make at midseason to focus on improving their current talent.
With the Green Bay Packers needing to improve over the second half of the season, here are three midseason resolutions they should make.
Packers Midseason Resolution: Score Touchdowns in Red Zone
The Packers do a fairly nice job of getting into the red zone–ranking eighth by making 3.6 appearances inside the 20-yard line per game–but struggle mightily to score six points once they get down there—their 46.9 percent touchdown percentage inside the 20 ranks 27th in the NFL.
Green Bay has lost four games by four points or fewer. Imagine if they turned just one of those red zone trips they were forced to kick a field goal, into a touchdown. That would turn their fate immensely, and suddenly their 3-6 record looks closer to 7-1.
Packers Midseason Resolution: Make Easy Plays on Offense
Jordan Love is great at making spectacular plays. However, he’s below average at making average plays. The latter is where he needs to improve.
Love’s completion percentage ranks near the bottom of the NFL, indicating the Packers are leaving many opportunities on the field. They aren’t taking what defenses are giving them and are trying to force too many big plays.
Of course, it doesn’t help that the Packers’ receivers also struggle to make simple plays. They’re still working on adapting to life in the NFL themselves and don’t always translate their potential to on-the-field success. It’s an aspect the entire unit needs to focus on improving.
Packers Midseason Resolution: Force More Turnovers
The Packers’ defense has been solid, but not spectacular this season. They’ve limited opponents in the scoring category, ranking 15th in average points allowed per drive. However, they’ve allowed opponents to keep them on the field for long periods of time, as they rank 30th in opponent’s average time of possession per drive.
Perhaps the significant time they’re spending on the field is sapping their energy and limiting their ability to make big plays. The Packers’ defense ranks 29th in forced turnovers.
This lack of big plays rarely gives the offense a short field to work with and the team momentum. Defensive coordinator Joe Barry might be okay with this. His mantra is to keep everything in front of them, make the tackle and get off the field. The issue is they even struggle to perform that part of his scheme. The team needs big plays from a defense that isn’t set up schematically to make them.