Morning Buzz: Hard work starts now for Gutekunst
Aaron NaglerWelcome to your Morning Buzz, rounding up news and views regarding the Green Bay Packers from around the web and here at PackersNews.com. Grab a strong cup of coffee and get caught up on everything you need to know about the Packers.
We’ll start with Pete Dougherty’s column looking at how the new general manager will need to help the new defensive coordinator.
No doubt there’s a lot to like. Pettine’s record as a defensive coordinator was good enough to get him a shot as the Cleveland Browns coach for two years. In seven seasons as a defensive coordinator or head coach, his defenses had three top-10 finishes in points allowed and six top-10 finishes in defensive passer rating.
But let’s not forget that a lot of this is about player talent, too. The Packers immediately got better when former GM Ted Thompson drafted Matthews in the first round in ’09. If new GM Brian Gutekunst can’t find another player or two of that caliber, or at least close to it, it probably doesn’t matter who’s calling the shots on the Packers’ defense.
On the best defenses Pettine coached, as Rex Ryan’s coordinator with the New York Jets from 2009-12, he had a future Pro Football Hall of Famer, cornerback Darrelle Revis, in his prime. He also had standouts in linebackers David Harris and Bart Scott, cornerback Antonio Cromartie and defensive lineman Shaun Ellis.
In Pettine’s one season as Buffalo’s defensive coordinator (2013), he had a dominant defensive line (Mario Williams, Kyle Williams and Marcell Dareus).
He’s not walking into that kind of talent with the Packers.
Michael Cohen and I spoke about the biggest challenges facing Pettine:
Speaking of the defensive side of the ball, Joe Whitt Jr will be sticking around:
Mike McCarthy continues to bring in coaches he is familiar with:
Gutekunst made his first official move:
I chatted with readers about all the latest Packers news via Facebook Live:
Elsewhere, Rex Ryan gives the Pettine hire a ringing endorsement:
As does Tramon Williams:
Jack Wepner takes a look at Pettine’s past defenses:
The Packers coordinators are both familiar and new:
The Power Sweep looks at what Eliot Wolf leaving means for the Packers:
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix was on hand for the opening of a reading room in a Milwaukee elementary school that is named in his honor:
The Packers defensive coordinator may have a certain game circled on next year’s schedule:
The crew over at ACME Packing Company give their thoughts on all the recent moves:
Free-agent-to-be Morgan Burnett may be a perfect fit for the new defense:
Tom Grossi is excited:
The Ranter’s got jokes: