I agree Cory, although Tonyan/Sternberger/Shepherd will probably get more touches, I think Ervin is the guy who will see the biggest uptick. I think the offense will be fine IF the receivers make the catches (MVS I'm looking at you).

I rewatched some of highlights NO game, Tonyan was really a factor and Sternberger makes 2, they will miss not having no.1 and no 2 for any extended time but I think TE position is certainly coming on. Finally ! Chumura and Jackson maybe never be but lets hear it for giving them time. Big Dog Mercades yeah! Now just an average defense somewhere around 18 and they can go deep. MLB needs to be addressed to help run defense

I rewatched some of highlights NO game, Tonyan was really a factor and Sternberger makes 2, they will miss not having no.1 and no 2 for any extended time but I think TE position is certainly coming on. Finally ! Chumura and Jackson maybe never be but lets hear it for giving them time. Big Dog Mercades yeah! Now just an average defense somewhere around 18 and they can go deep. MLB needs to be addressed to help run defense

I rewatched some of highlights NO game, Tonyan was really a factor and Sternberger makes 2, they will miss not having no.1 and no 2 for any extended time but I think TE position is certainly coming on. Finally ! Chumura and Jackson maybe never be but lets hear it for giving them time. Big Dog Mercades yeah! Now just an average defense somewhere around 18 and they can go deep. MLB needs to be addressed to help run defense

I don't see Rodgers changing a thing. If Adams can go, he'll go. This game: it's MVS and Taylor deep. Jones and the TE's; will get the third down calls again. And I'll take Williams over Irvin this game. Irvins #1 job is to be a returner. He must show that ability first.

It’s not good news by any stretch of the imagination, but this is football and these things happen. A good team has to have depth it believes in. Fans always want proven, but the sad fact is, in season gold is a rare find indeed. In addition, cap issues loom over this year. GMs aren’t paid (usually) to destroy the future for the now: it’s a balance. There really are not good receivers just sitting and even more so ones who could seamlessly cone in and really mesh immediately.

This offense did not go through Lazard, it merely gave him an opportunity to show what he can do given appropriate coverage. Lazard did well. Last week he clearly benefited from MVS having scared the Saints into scheming him out of the game, despite the absence of Adams. Lazard took those opportunities superbly but he did not create them. Rodgers and the alternative threats did.

Losing Lazard will likely affect some details of how the offensive plan. However, even without Adams, we still have the ability to do multiple things every snap.

At some point people have to realize that there is a reason why we kept certain receivers on the PS or roster. Is Taylor there purely because he can play gunner? I doubt it. Yes, all I know is that he is fast like MVS, but I’m not a coach who works with him every day.

Shepherd is one who a lot maybe wrong about. A little while ago a lot of us were wrong about a big slow quasi TE we picked up who did nothing for our overall speed or athleticism. He just ran good routes, blocked and caught the ball almost every time it was thrown to him in practice and then in games. I was one who did not see it.

Now that receiver is out. Shepherd is much smaller; totally different type of player, but he shares a couple of things with Lazard. He catches everything thrown his way, even ones he shouldn’t. He gets open when others doesn’t and, by all accounts, works his butt off inside and outside of practice.

A few years ago I was disagreeing here with many who wanted another receiver canned as garbage often dropping more balls than he caught and being blamed as the prime reason we lost to the Bears. His name was Adams and the vitriol was ferocious and convinced in its certainty that he should be gone.

Shepherd was someone I saw in camp last year. He did some things on both occasions that left me wondering how he could make his body do that and make a play. Not often I see that on multiple occasions in a practice or game from a no name. Then in a game he muffs a pass, has it bounce to an opponent and the screams of caterwauling linger till today.

Shepherd has something special athletically, particularly in a short area. I don’t know if he can be a real nfl regular, but watching him in practice it’s clear why the tryout player stuck against all the odds and in face of not fitting the Packers prototype for a receiver.

Practice is not the same as a game. That said, if he does things I saw in practice, he will catch balls against anyone. That’s what it takes to be a receiver. If you have ever played team sports you will know that even the greatest have plays where the body just doesn’t do what it normally does and where the mind caused physical discombobulation.

I don’t know how many of you have felt the mind racing as a ball swirls down for a few seconds or the hairs on your neck tell you half a ton of man flesh is racing at you from your blind side. Mistakes happen. Add in the fact that the ball wasn’t great and unfortunately caromed to an opponent and it looks worse. The fact that Shepherd not only survived with the team but came back to excel in camp is more impressive still in a world where players are cut all the time given the highlight reel nature of Shepherd’s only drop as a receiver.

Maybe, just maybe Rodgers has a reason to say Shepherd has earned his trust. Maybe he isn’t ever going to be a number 2 (probable), but just maybe the sky isn’t falling, Gute and LaFleur aren’t idiots and Rodgers isn’t full of hot air. Here’s hoping Shepherd can contribute positively and that we feel even half as good about keeping him around in Hindsight as we do about the receiver who cost us a loss to the Bears.

I noticed Shepperd had more snaps than Malik Taylor which is interesting considering Taylor made the original 53, one of those guys needs to step up....

Time for a large dose of running game. Dillon needs 10 to 15 touches while teaming with AJones in the same backfield. AJones catching passes and AJDillon pounding the rock. Keep them guessing, MVS over the top, just for fun. MLF is having the time of his life. AR = GOAT.
GPG

This will be an interesting test of talent versus scheme. I recall WRs getting injured during McCarthy's tenure and the offense dropping off when less talented replacements couldn't get separation in their one-on-one battles. LaFleur seems to be better at scheming receivers open and this will be a stern test of that philosophy if Adams can't go. If the Packer offense continues to roll, it will be a pretty strong indictment of McCarthy's offense.

MLs use of 12 personnel sets has steadily increased and with Deguara likely returning it could take a big jump this week.

But agree Cory, no need to panic. Big opportunity for MVS and Sheppard and Ervin and Sternberger.

Is there a Physical Therapist in the audience?----i'm trying to figure out why the hamstring issues like Adams and Mathews, jones etc---isn't there some type of exercises to avoid the issue?-----also, i agreed with those who thought adams was not good and james jones used to drop a lot of passes but eventually fixed it----even if Adams can go monday, would it be advisable to wait 2 more weeks?----and we won 4 games last year w/o him so maybe we do not need to panic

Yeah, it would be nice to have all our receivers, but I am much more concerned about our defense.

If Adams can’t go on MNF, I expect the Packers to lean heavily on Jones. Possibly use Jones as a decoy and give more touches to Ervin. I would also expect more 2 TE sets including Lewis and Deguara for blocking while rotating Tonynan and Sternberger in as well.
If Adams plays even as a decoy that changes everything and opens up the offense for our other skill players.

Our defense will need to step up in this game to contain Julio Jones and Ridley. We should not enable this game to become a shootout.

If we’re playing with a lead in the 2nd half I hope to see some ball control, clock chewing with Dillon and Williams in a ground and pound mode. Go Pack Go! Thanks, Since ‘61

Next man up. The Packers still have plenty of weapons and they have MLF who has proved to be able to make Lemon-aid when handed lemons.
*I have a feeling Adams will be back, good as new
*Shepard will step up, the kid has some talent
*The three headed Tight End monster will be a major factor and
*The Packers have three dynamic running backs who can catch and run equally as well and
*The X factor Tyler "Swervin" Ervin who will log a bunch of playing time as a WR/RB/KR and decoy

They be good

Packers 35 Falcons 21 (Matty Ice 2 picks)

Go Pack!

I want to see lots of Swervin’ Ervin! Great story about him here: https://packerstalk.com/2020/10/03/packers-rb-tyler-ervin-has-been-impre...

BRA-freakin'-VO, Corey!!!!

You bring up some really great points throughout this piece. The Packers are highly unlikely trade partners this year for any of the marquee names that have been bashed about endlessly. Reason being, we have plenty of marquee names at other positions we are hoping to retain in 2021 and beyond. Absorbing 1 contract is going to be difficult, and WR seems to be loaded with young but proven talents from their respective histories.

Should the Packers make a trade for a WR, that would mean what was considered a well thought out plan by Gutekunst & Co, proven personnel people who are highly regarded, went sour -OR- there are other catastrophic injuries to that group. God forbid.

Loosing Lazard sucks. That dude was CA$H MONEY. What an awesome find. The Packers have more... I firmly believe this to be true. Plus, it is entirely possible Lazard has a successful surgery and is able to heal in time to contribute towards season's end and a playoff run. Stay positive on WR. There is a lot left to like there.

Love that Corey noted here LaFleur is passing just 54% of the time. Especially compared to what MM is doing in DAL, same old same old stuff we do not miss. LaFleur has brought this team dynamic concepts to make Aaron Rodgers and the entire team more successful. My biggest takeaway for just about every season under MM was that we needed a more balanced attack to take pressure off of Rodgers, pummel opposing front 7s with run blocking, and extend drives to keep our defense fresh. The versatility, and the strong RB &TE groups are allowing for LaFleur to unleash his full scheme. He wasn't able to install all of that Year 1.

Just think, this Packers team is not suffering like it used to in short yardage. It is looking like this really could be a very special year.

I don't know about you, but I'm really looking forward to seeing a Packers game where we just smash-mouth the opposing team with a heavy run attack. Knowing LaFleur, and having seen that employed against him by his mentor v. SF last year, I would bet we will get a look at one or more of those types of gameplans this season.

One other note: on Darrius Shepherd. He really is about as close as you can get to a Randall Cobb. He's very sure, pure slot, great hands, and super tough. While he isn't quite as fast in the 40 as Cobb, his burst speed is exceptional. I bet he fares well with this opportunity. I'm also stoked to see what Taylor brings to the table. Look back to last year for Tramon Williams' comments on Shep. You'll dig it.

A ton of dynamic stuff is in store for us fans with this Packers team. I'm confident it all will come together. Even more.

Defenses have been getting a huge dose of Lafleur's creativity all season. His offensive scheme is what got Lazard open on both deep shots. If it can get Lazard wide open, it can pretty much get any WR on the roster or PS open. Same is true for the TE scores.

LaFleur gets his offense lined up, uses motion to change a defenders primary responsibility and you see Lazard running downfield wide open.

He also uses crossers to prevent CB from being able to cover WR across the field (which is difficult by its own right anyway). Thd CB get caught up in the bunch formations and the pick action of crossers in opposite directions at similar depths.

The scheme is doing the work of getting receivers open, whether its WR, TE or RB as targets.

This could be a Sternberger breakout game......I look for the Packers to really feed the TEs