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Green Bay Packers: Three changes to get back on track

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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The Green Bay Packers, after two sub-par performances to start the season, head home to take on, for the second straight week, a division team in the Detroit Lions. 

What should we expect out the 1-1 Packers this week.

What is it going to take for the Packers to right the ship?

So far many believe that we haven’t seen the real Packers play yet. 

I single out three areas to help them get back on the winning track: The young DBs have not played up to their potential; quarterback Aaron Rodgers seems to be struggling to connect with his receivers; and the running backs have yet to have a strong presence in a game so far.

So, let’s get started by taking a look at the defensive backfield …

The DBs need some chemistry

Green Bay Packers cornerback Damarious Randall and the rest of the defensive backfield needs to get on track. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Two years ago the Packers went to the drawing board and drafted numerous defensive backs to fill the hole. 

Enter Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins. 

As much talent as these three add to an already good secondary, all the DBs are not quite on the same page yet. 

Will this change? 

I believe so. 

These guys are still young and are learning and waiting for the game to slow down for them a little bit. 

Morgan Burnett and Micah Hyde have been their normal dependable selves but they need to continue to gel with the new guys. 

Throw in the fact that All Pro Sam Shields is out with another concussion, and one can see that the chemistry needs happen quickly to complete the defense for the Packers.

And what about Aaron Rodgers?

Aaron Rodgers needs to R-E-L-A-X

Minnesota Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter (99) sacks Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Aaron Rodgers is struggling. 

Is it all his fault? 

No. 

Yet, he has been having a hard time getting on the same page with his receivers. 

Originally, we all figured that he was missing his go-to guy Jordy Nelson from last year. 

Jordy has been a little bit slower in his rehab than anyone would have liked and therefore he missed a lot of preseason to work with Rodgers again. 

The connection they have shared for so long has been pushed back a bit.  They are not on the same page yet. 

The Packers have a plethora of young talent with the rest of the receivers. 

Davante Adams, Ty Montgomery, Jeff Janis, Jared Abbrederis and Trevor Davis all have two or fewer years experience in the system and the NFL.  That is five of the seven receivers on the roster. 

The chemistry, like with the DBs, is just not there yet.  I believe it will come but no one is patient for it to blossom when the Packers are wanting to win right now. 

We are all just waiting for that light to turn on so the Packers offense can be back in the NFL driver’s seat like we expect them to be.

On to the running game …

Consistency needed in running game

Green Bay Packers running backs James Starks and Eddie Lacy need to find their groove. Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

I don’t know if it is the play calling by coach McCarthy, the lack of football conditioning, the change in the offensive line or the backs themselves, but where is the Packer running game this year? 

Eddie Lacy and James Starks seem to be stuck in neutral. 

Is it the play calling? 

To some degree I believe so. 

McCarthy seems to abandon the run too quickly.  The Packers have yet to be down a whole bunch to switch the offense to a pass-needy mindset. 

Plus, Eddie Lacy and James Starks are not best utilized running sweeps to the outside. 

They are north and south runners who need to run between the tackles.  That is their forte. 

That is where they can run over people. 

As of now, that is not happening.

Could the loss of Josh Sitton to the Bears and Corey Linsley to injury have something to do with this?  I believe it does, again, to some degree. 

I will come out and say that Josh Sitton is a better guard than Lane Taylor. 

Linsley is better than J.C. Tretter.  The loss of Linsley is hurting the team.  How could it not?  The line is still a good line, they just need to work things out. 

Much has been made of Eddie Lacy’s weight at the end of last season which carried over to the offseason.  Lacy got hooked up with P90X and lost 20-plus pounds.  He does look better but he is still a big guy.  He uses his weight to his advantage.  We can’t expect him to be a scat-back all of a sudden.  That isn’t what he is or will ever be.

It is easy to look from afar and see that there are things they need to work on here to get to where they think they can be. 

Some of these take time and some can be changed immediately.  Let’s hope they change the things they can now and continue to work on the issues that may need more time. 

Bring on the Lions!

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