Packers Morning Buzz: Bashaud Breeland move demonstrates difference under Brian Gutekunst

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

We'll start with Pete Dougherty's look at the importance Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst is placing on building depth at cornerback.

Pete writes:

It’s been enlightening to watch Brian Gutekunst’s first season as the Packers’ general manager. If he’s done nothing else, he’s gone the extra mile to build his cornerbacks corps.

In Week 2, Gutekunst claimed one cornerback (Deante Burton) off waivers for the 53-man roster and signed another (Will Redmond) to the practice squad. Both had traits that had to intrigue Gutekunst – Burton was a big cover man (6-2, 230) who’d won a spot on Atlanta’s 53-man roster in Week 1; Redmond was a former high third-round draft pick (No. 68 overall in 2016) who’d been injured for most of his first two years.

Two weeks later, Burton is gone (to make room for Aaron Jones) while Redmond remains. But either way, Gutekunst cleared roster and practice-squad space for a first-hand look even though he’d used his first two draft picks (Jaire Alexander and Josh Jackson) and free agency (Tramon Williams) to build up the cornerback position in the offseason.

Then this week Gutekunst signed Bashaud Breeland to replace Davon House (shoulder), who landed on injured reserve. If Ted Thompson were still GM, he’d have just elevated Redmond from the practice squad. But Gutekunst went outside the organization for an experienced 26-year old with a pedigree and an injury red flag. 

You can read Pete's whole column here:

Packers pass rusher Clay Matthews remains at the center of the NFL's roughing-the-passer controversy, writes Ryan Wood:

Matthews says he was told by Packers president/CEO Mark Murphy, a member of the NFL's competition committee, to keep playing like he always has:

Aaron Rodgers finally was able to practice on a weekday:

Tom Silverstein and Jim Owczarski discuss Rodgers' return and the health of the offensive line:

Tom writes about how rookie receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling is making a name for himself as the gunner on the Packers' punt return coverage team:

The Packers are looking for help on the defensive line after losing Muhammad Wilkerson to a season-ending injury:

Hard to overstate the importance of a healthy Kevin King in the Packers' secondary:

Be sure to listen to our Packers Podcast reviewing the week and previewing the Buffalo game:

Geronimo Allison is helping Packers fans forget about Jordy Nelson, writes Tom Oates of the Wisconsin State Journal:

ESPN's Rob Demovsky takes a day-by-day look at how Packers receiver Randall Cobb reacted to a rough game at Washington:

The Power Sweep examines the importance of "drive starters" for the Packers' offense:

The NFL competition committee "clarified techniques" regarding what constitutes roughing the passer:

At Cheesehead TV, they're lamenting the one who got away: safety Eric Reid signing with Carolina instead of Green Bay.

The Vikings' best pass rusher addressed his mental-health issues:

Packers coach Mike McCarthy gave the same old song-and-dance when asked how his three running backs will be deployed: