Packers Morning Buzz: Shades of 2010 Super Bowl season with emerging young players

Welcome to your game-day Morning Buzz, rounding up news and views regarding the Green Bay Packers from around the web and here at PackersNews.com.

The Packers (1-0-1) play their first road game of the 2018 season Sunday at noon CT in Washington (1-1).

We'll start with Pete Dougherty's look at the young players such as Kenny Clark and Geronimo Allison who could help put the Packers over the top this season.

Pete writes:

The 2010 Green Bay Packers were a prime example of just how much a team can grow in a year’s time.

From the end of 2009 to the end of 2010, they had a handful of young players who put them over the edge from playoff contender to Super Bowl champion.

It started with Aaron Rodgers, who went from good to great. It’s hard to overstate what the jump in his play meant.

But the list also included Clay Matthews and B.J. Raji, who down the stretch were borderline dominant in their second NFL seasons; Tramon Williams, who blossomed into one of the NFL’s better cornerbacks that year; Jordy Nelson, who by season’s end was a better receiver than aging Donald Driver; and Sam Shields, who was one of the team’s great surprises as an undrafted rookie cornerback.

That’s often what it takes to win, or at least challenge, for a Super Bowl. A handful of players distinguish themselves in ways they hadn’t before.

Read the entire column here:

Tom Silverstein writes about the multiple personnel groupings being used by Packers defensive coordinator Mike Pettine and how it's all orchestrated by assistant coaches on the sidelines and inside linebacker Blake Martinez via his helmet transmitter on the field:

The return of running back Aaron Jones is one of Silverstein's "5 Things to Watch," and we have our staff predictions as well:

Packers tight end Jimmy Graham finally spoke to the media Friday and said he's happy to contribute to the team in any way:

Bryan Bulaga has drawn two demanding assignments in his first games back from knee surgery, writes Jim Owczarski:

Pettine hopes something positive can come out of his unit's late-game fade against the Vikings:

Aaron Nagler gives his analysis of Sunday's game for Cheesehead TV:

Jason Wilde writes about Pettine's high hopes for rookie corners Jaire Alexander and Josh Jackson for the Wisconsin State Journal:

ESPN's Matt Bowen breaks down a Packers blitz that sacked Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins:

A look at Washington by the numbers via Acme Packing Co.:

The Power Sweep looks at what rookie inside linebacker Oren Burks could bring to the Packers' defense:

Should the NFL adopt college football's overtime rules to eliminate ties?

Former Packers edge rusher Julius Peppers stepping up in a big way: