3 Days Until Training Camp: 3 Biggest Strengths

With just a few days until the first practice of Packers training camp, here are three strengths that could carry the team to the NFL playoffs.

David Bakhtiari (Photo by Eric Hartline/USA Today Sports Images)

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Conventional wisdom says the Green Bay Packers could endure a challenging season.

When Aaron Rodgers replaced Brett Favre, the Packers went from 13-3 to 6-10. Why should they actually improve under Jordan Love? The passing game is young, the run defense is chronically terrible and no significant veteran additions were made to the roster. Added together, the Packers have the longest odds to win the NFC North at SI Sportsbook.

Still, with three days until the first practice of training camp, the Packers’ three biggest strengths – one in each phase – could carry the team into the 2023 NFL playoffs.

Offense: The Line

A powerful offensive line should set the tone for Green Bay, whether it’s fueling a strong running game or providing time for Love to get comfortable.

The tandem of left tackle David Bakhtiari and left guard Elgton Jenkins rank among the best in the NFL. They’ll lead a group that’s without a weak link and has a lot of depth. In fact, from center Josh Myers (team-high 99.7 percent playing time) to backup Jake Hanson (started Week 1 at Minnesota), all 85 starts from last season are back. Including seven snaps from Luke Tenuta, all 5,471 snaps are back, as well.

“It’s good, it’s great,” Bakhtiari said. “You’ve got a bunch of guys, not too many new faces, so we can really get going with a little more complex stuff and start establishing ourselves early. I think that’s something that’s going to be big for us this year as an entire unit. Each one’s got to fill their role and pick up where they need to pick up.”

Critically, turning back to the aforementioned game at Minnesota, the starting line had Yosh Nijman at left tackle with Bakhtiari still coming back from his knee injury, Jon Runyan at left guard with Jenkins not quite ready following his knee injury, Myers at center, Hanson at right guard and Royce Newman at right tackle.

With Bakhtiari and Jenkins’ injuries in the rearview mirror, the team could roll out the same group they ended the season with, with Bakhtiari at left tackle, Jenkins at left guard, Myers at center, Runyan at right guard and Nijman at right tackle. Unless last year’s super sub, Zach Tom, nudges aside Nijman.

Health is always the key in the NFL, and especially so on the offensive line. If Bakhtiari really is ready for the next phase of his career, Green Bay’s line will be the driving force this season.

Defense: Takeaways

Nothing has a bigger impact on winning games than turnovers. Last season, the winner of the turnover battle went 159-48-1. That’s a winning percentage of .767.

Who knows how the Packers will do on offense with Jordan Love. We do know history suggests the defense will hold up its end of the bargain.

During Matt LaFleur’s four years as coach, the Packers are 11th with 93 takeaways. After a slow start to last season, the Packers from Week 7 through Week 18 had 20 – third-most in the NFL. During their four-game winning streak that almost propelled them into the playoffs, they had 12 – most in the NFL and the team’s best stretch since 2016.

With Jaire Alexander (five interceptions) and Rasul Douglas (four), the Packers had the only cornerback tandem with four-plus interceptions apiece. Safety Darnell Savage has shown playmaking ability, and fellow safety Rudy Ford grabbed three interceptions while starting only six games.

Once Rashan Gary returns, the pass rush could be prolific with outside linebackers Gary, Preston Smith and rookie Lukas Van Ness and defensive linemen Kenny Clark and Devonte Wyatt. The rush should feed into the hands of all those playmakers in the secondary.

We’ll see what happens with Love, but the Packers finished seventh in points off takeaways last season, their fourth consecutive top-10 finish. Converting takeaways into touchdowns is the ultimate winning recipe.

It all sounds good. So long as the Packers can stop the run and force opponents to throw the ball.

Special Teams: Keisean Nixon

The Packers didn’t make any major moves in free agency but general manager Brian Gutekunst did open his wallet to keep the special teams mostly together.

That starts with re-signing All-Pro returner Keisean Nixon, who in less than a full season became one of the best in franchise history. Despite not returning his first kickoff until late in Game 6, Nixon led the NFL with five kickoff returns of 50-plus yards. Nobody else even had three. The Packers hadn’t had one since 2015 and had just five over the past decade.

It’s not just Nixon. The top seven in tackles are back, as are the top eight in snaps. Along with Nixon, Gutekunst re-signed safety Dallin Leavitt (tied for first in tackles, second in snaps), linebacker Eric Wilson (tied for first in tackles, sixth in snaps), tight end Tyler Davis (fourth in tackles, first in snaps), safety Rudy Ford (tied for ninth in tackles, 17th in snaps) and cornerback Corey Ballentine (tied for ninth in tackles, 18th in snaps). He also signed a long snapper, Matt Orzech, who won a Super Bowl with the Rams.

There are obvious questions, starting at kicker, but a veteran group should make the unit a strength.

“I think anytime you can keep your core together, as long as they can still perform at a high level, is good for our team,” special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia said. “Credit to Brian and Coach LaFleur and them putting their heads together and getting our guys back that we think – as the year went on, , I thought we got a little bit better. We started to perform a little bit better. We’re excited about that group coming back.”

Packers Training Camp Countdown Series

It's not quite the beloved (sarcasm) 100 Days of Mocks, but this is Day 30 of our Training Camp Countdown.

Four days until the first practice of #Packers training camp.

Four non-Jordan Love big questions.https://t.co/9jjKhfL9d7

— Bill Huber (@BillHuberNFL) July 22, 2023

4 days until training camp: Four big questions

5 days until training camp: Five biggest battles

6 days until training camp: Got to Love the schedule

7 days until training camp: A missed-tackles surprise

8 days until training camp: Third-down pressure

9 days until training camp: One-score games

10 days until training camp: 10 most important Packers

11 days until training camp: 11 drops too many

12 days until training camp: What history says about replacing No. 12

13 days until training camp: Replacing Mason Crosby

14 days until training camp: Previewing the 14 opponents

15 days until training camp: Aaron Jones, touchdown machine

16 days until training camp: Two months until Week 1 at Bears

17 days until training camp: 17 is the unmagical number

18 days until training camp: LaFleur’s magic touches?

19 days until training camp: 19 1,000-yard challenges

20 days until training camp: 20 reasons for optimism

21 days until training camp: 21 Packers rookie tight ends

22 days until training camp: Fourth of July fireworks

23 days until training camp: No. 23, Jaire Alexander

24 days until training camp: From No. 1 to No. 24 in red zone

25 days until training camp: From No. 1 to No. 25 in tackling

26 days until training camp: The key to the defense is No. 26

27 days until training camp: 27 sources of inspiration

28 days until training camp: At least they’re consistent

29 days: Keisean Nixon’s surprise stardom

30 days until training camp: 30th in key defensive stat

31 days until training camp: A killer No. 31 ranking

32 days until training camp: 32nd-ranked receivers

33 days until training camp: No. 33, Aaron Jones, is a great player

34 days until training camp: Plus-34 in turnovers