Packers Morning Buzz: Will Aaron Rodgers return in MVP form?
Aaron Nagler
Welcome 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 Tom Silverstein's Packers notes, leading with rookie inside linebacker Oren Burks.
Just about the time the Green Bay Packers were starting to integrate Sean Richardson into their defense as a third safety, the former Vanderbilt undrafted free agent injured a cervical disc for the second time and was put on injured reserve.
It was 2015 and defensive coordinator Dom Capers was using the 6-2, 216-pound Richardson in a hybrid linebacker/safety position, a precursor to the role Morgan Burnett would play two seasons later.
In drafting Vanderbilt inside linebacker Oren Burks in the third round this year, the Packers may be envisioning a bigger, quicker version of Richardson. The 6-3, 233-pound Burks played safety at Vanderbilt through his sophomore season and comes to the Packers with athletic traits similar to Richardson's.
“Definitely versatility, my movement skills and just knowing the game from a lot of different perspectives,” Burks said of his skill set during a break at rookie orientation camp. “So that versatility, coming to linebacker, that's a very big asset for me."
What separates Burks from Richardson, besides 17 pounds, is lateral quickness. His times in the 20-yard shuttle and the three-cone drill at the combine were far better than Richardson’s despite the weight difference.
I chatted with readers via Facebook Live on Thursday afternoon:
Jerry Kramer credits his daughter for his breakthrough with the Hall of Fame:
My latest podcast looks at the Packers' right tackle spot, among other things:
The Packers have all their draft picks signed:
Elsewhere, several ESPN Insiders tabbed Rodgers as the frontrunner for 2018’s MVP honors:
Charles Casserly thinks the Packers had an impressive offseason:
Oren Burks joined the ACME Packing Company crew on their podcast:
Pro Football Focus thinks the Packers got a playmaker in the draft:
Zach Kruse has a pro player comparison for J’Mon Moore:
Cheesehead TV looks at the Packers' running backs:
The Power Sweep takes a deep dive on...Brett Favre’s chinstrap:
Bill Huber remembers the good old days:
This was a suboptimal experiment:
Couch Potato GM takes a look at the newest Packers corners:
Mike McCarthy recently spent some time at the American Family Children's Hospital: