GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – The Packers put in their heavy workout of Super Wild Card week today, donning pads for practice inside the Don Hutson Center. Only three players didn’t participate, a good sign. A.J. Dillon is dealing with a sore neck along with a healing broken thumb and after he stretching, he joined the rehab group which included Elgton Jenkins peddling a stationary bike as part of his veteran’s rest day which has been customary through the second half of the season.
The third member of the DNP group was unexpected and may be throwing a major curveball toward Defensive Coordinator Joe Barry’s game plan.
Jaire Alexander wasn’t on the practice field at all. As if he hasn’t had enough to deal with this season. A bad back forced him to miss three games early in the season, New Orleans and Detroit at home and a week later, Denver on the road. He injured the back in a practice collision with practice squad quarterback Alex McGough. The All-Pro corner returned for two games but against the Los Angeles Rams, he damaged his shoulder while diving to break up a pass. That lingered for the next six weeks even though he was practicing for the last couple of those. Alexander came back for the game against Carolina where he anointed himself captain which was the last straw before the General Manager Brian Gutekunst suspended him for the week 17 game against the Vikings. A repentant Alexander was back for the finale against the Chicago Bears and played hard in the playoff clinching victory. During Wednesday’s practice, a shortened jog through to among other things, prevent any other unnecessary contact, Head Coach Matt LaFleur said “a freak deal” occurred. Alexander inadvertently stepped on the foot of a teammate and rolled his ankle. Now his status for the playoff game against the high powered passing game of Dak Prescott, Ceedee Lamb and their Cowboys company is in doubt.
LaFleur said it was something that just happened, Alexander wasn’t goofing off, he was working diligently and now he’s going to do everything he can to rehab the ankle and be on the field Sunday. It’s been quite a year for Jaire.
Barry meanwhile, said having it happen mid-week, after the game plan has been established, complicates matters but they’ve played nine of the 17 games without him already and they’ll manage. In meeting reporters after practice, Barry wouldn’t say if part of the plan was to have Alexander match up with Lamb where ever he lined up. He said that strategy is fairly simple for the defensive back to trail a single wide receiver but it gets complicated for the rest of the secondary covering routes around the matchup. While the Packers have deployed that plan in the past, most successfully with Justin Jefferson late last year at Lambeau Field, today’s offenses are effective in combatting that idea by formation and motion. Not that long ago, a star receiver would almost always line up in the X or Z position making it much easier for defensive coverage. Barry’s defense will have it’s hands full with the Dallas offense, an explosive unit that was the only team to eclipse 500 points scored this season.
Offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich also met the media and talked about how his extremely young unit has come of age around Jordan Love. Stenavich said after the first Minnesota game, a 24-10 loss, a fourth straight dropping the Packers to 2-5, the offense had all but bottomed out. LaFleur told his team “we’re done with being young”, it was time to throw that crutch away. Stenavich said that’s when the coaching staff made changes with how they prepared, delegated responsibility and practiced. Over time, offensive concepts were getting mastered and production followed, peaking with back to back 400 yard peformances to finish the season. Stenavich is excited about the possibility of having his entire wide receiving corps available for the Dallas defense. Both Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson have been practicing this week. Doubs is recovering from a chest injury that occured when he nearly pulled in a touchdown against Chicago. The team even sent him to the hospital last Sunday to get checked out but he was quickly released later that day. Doubs said he’s feeling much better and is hoping to play. Watson has missed the last six weeks with his second major hamstring injury but he believes he’s ready to cut it loose. Throw in tight end Luke Musgrave who returned from his lacerated kidney to get just a taste last week with some 4th quarter snaps, and Jordan Love could have his entire arsenal available.
Speaking of Love, he picked up another honor as Pro Football Focus named him their Breakout Player of the Year. In his first season as a starter, Love finished second in TD passes with 32 and was among the top ten in passer rating.
The football world was jolted Wednesday with three senior coaches making career decisions. In Seattle, Pete Carroll stepped aside after 14 years with the Seahawks but he’s been invited to stay with the franchise in an advisory capacity. His teams captured a Super Bowl and made the playoffs in 10 of his 14 seasons. Carroll also coached USC to a national collegiate championship. Then, word came that 72 year old Nick Saban was retiring from the University of Alabama after 17 seasons and an incredible 6 national championships. Finally, the Bill Belichick era has come to a close with the New England Patriots. After meeting with owner Robert Kraft all week, the owner and coach agreed to mutually part ways after an epic, 24 year run. 17 division titles and 6 Vince Lombardi trophies were accumulated during Belichick’s reign in Foxboro.
I visited with running back Patrick Taylor who was on New England’s practice squad for several weeks before getting re-signed by the Packers. Taylor was surprised to hear the news. I asked him what he thought separated Belichick from the rest of his coaching brethren and he said it was his acute knowledge of what every single player’s responsibility was on every single play and that included offense, his specialty with defense and even on special teams. Taylor said Belichick spared no one, from stars to scrubs in critiquing mistakes. The detail of his game plan installation was exceptional. Belichick said in Foxboro today it was a day of reflection and celebration but he also indicated he still has the passion to continue coaching. There will be plenty of suitors.
One more practice day on Friday will be important for the large number of players who have been limited at times this week. The team will depart for Dallas Saturday, if they aren’t delayed by a significant snowstorm forecast for Wisconsin, expecting 6 to 10 inches or more beginning on Friday. I got spooked by the possibility so I’m flying out of Dodge a day early, departing tomorrow and I’ll have a wrap on the Wild Card preparation from deep in the heart of Texas Friday night.
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