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Hello Packer Nation!

The 2018 off season started off with a bang for the Packers, uncharacteristic of years past but well overdue. Changes started at the top and worked down into the coaching staff. Ted Thompson was relieved of his GM duties. Eliot Wolf and Alonzo Highsmith took a "red eye" to Cleveland. Dom Capers received his long awaited walking papers. Edgar Bennett, Darren Perry, Mike Trgovac and Alex Van Pelt were told their services were no longer needed. 

The fact that the actual genesis of this entire discussion was born of a quasi "paid-patriotism" business model between the US govt and the NFL basically tells you everything - none of this anthem celebration business was pure, true patriotic spontaneity between the league, owners and teams. 

"What in the hell...?!"

Those were my exact words when I heard the Packers drafted a punter in the 5th round in the 2018 NFL Draft.  I had horrible flashbacks to one BJ Sander, a punter that Mike Sherman traded up to draft in the early 2000s who, as it turns out, could not punt.  A punter who cannot punt is an issue.

Happy Saturday Packer Nation!

Wow...this draft feel like replays of 1999, 2004 and 2015 doesn’t it? Those drafts netted at least two CB’s with their first picks in the draft. 1999 draft class brought Antuan Edwards, Fred Vinson and Mike McKenzie with the first three picks.

I have said all along the Packers issues on defense are all over the field. The most glaring weakness obviously lacking quality cover corners to shade today’s pass happy pass catchers. We just shored up that deficiency on days 1-2.

So day 1 & 2 of the 2018 NFL draft has yielded some interesting happenings with regards to the Packers and the newly-christened regime of GM Brian Gutekunst. (By the way: it's pronounced GOOT-I-KUNST, not gutENkoost or whatever lol).  The chaos of Güte trading down in round 1 only to trade back up to 18 seemed a bit much as they had to give up a 3rd round pick, but they netted out with a 2019 1st round pick from the Saints so that was a great get.

Good Morning Packer Nation!

Did I not say the first round would be interesting? It lived up to the billing - no doubt! I think many expected a trade up but Ward, Chubb and R. Smith were all taken before pick #8. The Packers were unwilling to give away high valued picks to get up that far.

The trade down from #14 to #27 was a shocker. They obviously had Jaire Alexander high on their board and maximized the opportunity to draft him and recoup a couple picks. It was a shrewd move. 

With the draft already upon us tonight, things are shaping up to be an interesting night for the Packers. Sitting at #14, the odds are slim they can draft a “playmaker” this team sorely needs on defense. The defense is thirsty for guys in the mold of Nick Collins or Charles Woodson, or maybe a Ray Nitschke. 

What does that mean? The playmakers on defense in this draft have been established by teams and experts:

* Derwin James - Safety

* Denzel Ward - CB

* Roquan Smith - ILB

* Tremaine Edmunds - LB

* Bradley Chubb - DE

There are some nasty rumors that the offense has plateaued. Let me reassure you that is not the case. Aaron will be back to lead the offense and he will have a full compliment of weapons...and a running game to boot. They do have to rectify some positional depth issues. Otherwise, they should be fine as long as they have no major injuries to their starters. Mind you they always start the year off slow because the regular season is the first substantial snaps the starters have taken with McCarthy’s light preseason workload. R-E-L-A-X...

The defense...did we have one in years past? This side of the ball needs MAJOR attention. First, they do not have proven starting caliber players at cornerback and lack a substantial pass rush to put fear in opposing offenses. That is a recipe for disaster with todays pass happy game transformation. They are sorely lacking difference makers at linebacker. A new coaching staff lead by new Defensive Coordinator Mike Pettine will be put to task with developing a good defense quickly.

It can't be understated how important the next 5 years are going to be in terms of how the Packers handle Aaron Rodgers during the latter part of his career.

Unless you've been living under a rock the past 4 months, you no doubt have noticed that there is a lot of change going on with the Packers organization on the whole.  Change can be tough, especially when it happens to a steady, consistent team & front office like the Green Bay Packers of the past +10 years.