Year Two Players Will Fuel 2016 Packers

If the Green Bay Packers are to have a successful 2016 season, it will likely have been fueled by a talented group of second year players led by top picks cornerbacks Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins.

If the Green Bay Packers are to have a successful 2016 season, it will likely have been fueled by a talented group of second year players.

You have heard the statement countless times by the Packers hierarchy:  ‘We expect a big jump from our players from year one to year two’.  And after what might be looked upon in the years ahead as Ted Thompson’s best draft, plus solid signings of undrafted free agents, there is every reason to believe that these Packers will once again be grouped in a small cluster of teams as favorites to win the Super Bowl.

The 2016 roster, although far from set, shows twelve second-year players who spent time on the 2015 roster.  There are eight returning drafted players and four undrafted former free agents.  In addition there are eleven players who will be classified as first year players – those who spent time on the practice squad or were recently signed as street free agents.  It looks like yet another year where the Packers will be among the youngest teams in the league.

Key contributors will be players who logged significant playing time last season including two talented cornerbacks - first rounder Damarious Randall and second round pick Quinten Rollins. Both should be fighting for not only major playing time, but starting roles especially with Casey Hayward departing in free agency to the San Diego Chargers. Ty Montgomery showed flashes of being the talented all-purpose receiver, returner and occasional running back that the Packers had envisioned before injuries shelved his season. Montgomery will also be in the mix for significant playing time if not a part-time starter.

At inside linebacker former Michigan alum Jake Ryan had earned a starter’s role by season’s end and flashed potential that he could be a key contributor with the Clay Matthews announced move to the outside. Ryan will have to make a big jump though if he is to become a three-down starter.  FB Aaron Ripkowski contributed on special teams and may earn more playing time on offense should John Kuhn not return.

Kennard Backman a TE and DL Christian Ringo, both low round draft choices, must show that they belong and will have tough fights for roster spots.

Yet the most scrutinized second year player and under the white-hot spot light of media and fan analysis is not even counted on to be a starter. Fifth-round draft choice Brett Hundley is now penciled in as Aaron Rodgers primary backup at the quarterback position after the loss of Scott Tolzien in free agency.  Should Rodgers go down for any length of time it would fall on the talented shoulders of the former UCLA Bruin to save the Packers’ season.  In limited playing time during last year’s pre-season, Hundley's passer rating of 129.7 led all quarterbacks who had at least 14 passing attempts per game.  Should Hundley be called upon there is every reason to believe that he may be up to the task at least for a few games. In the long run there is optimism that he may well develop into a top-flight NFL quarterback.

Ted Thompson and Company also struck gold on the undrafted free agent market in 2015.  CB’s Ladarious Gunter and Robertson Daniel, RB John Crockett, TE Mitchell Henry and perhaps even long-snapper Rick Lovato are all highly thought of and will all be in the mix for roster spots.  Gunter showed enough potential that he could earn meaningful rotational time and Crockett could vault to the number-two running back position if James Starks departs in free agency.

Remarkably those who will be part of the nucleus of the 2016 Green Bay Packers young and talented team were not even on the roster at this time last year.  But make no mistake if the Green Bay Packers are to advance in the playoffs it will be because the sophomore class has blossomed and once again excelled in year two. If it does it will be in the running for Ted Thompson’s best rookie class ever.

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Comments (13)

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RCPackerFan's picture

March 15, 2016 at 02:36 pm

The key to every teams growth from year to year is the player development. Players going from their first year to second, and second to third.

This year for the Packers to get where we want, we will hopefully see a huge growth in the Packers first 4 picks.

Damarious Randall & Quinten Rollins - Both players are new to the CB position but played very well throughout their rookie years. For the defense to take another step having both players taking a big step could turn this defense from good to really good.

Ty Montgomery - He was really starting to come on until his devastating injury. Hopefully he returns to form because he showed his versatility could really impact this offense.

Jake Ryan - Packers have had a big hole at ILB. Ryan is a guy that could help solidify the ILB spot.

Those are the guys we need to step up the most.
If we get more then expected out of guys like Crocket at RB, Backman or Henry at TE, Gunter or Robertson Daniel, then that could take the team to another level also.

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Chad Lundberg's picture

March 16, 2016 at 12:57 am

That's why these types of articles are my absolute favorite to read. There's a lot fresh, young and talented "reinforcements" coming in, and they're the key to why the Packers have been so good under Ted Thompson. While his approach to free agency drives me crazy, if Thompson could just keep drafting like he has for the last three or so years, the Packers would be downright UNSTOPPABLE!!! The reason the Packers weren't able to repeat their SB victory like they were expected to was because Ted dropped the ball in the 2011 and 2012 draft's. How many of those guys are still with us? But since then he's hired new associates, and the results have been what we are seeing now. A team that is very young, and only one or two good players away from being complete. I can forgive Thompson's approach to free agency as long as he doesn't screw up in the draft again.

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RCPackerFan's picture

March 16, 2016 at 06:51 am

Completely agree.

Those 2 drafts really did hurt. The last 3 however have been great.
In general I consider it to be a great draft if you get 3 or more starters and/or key role players in a draft.

Between 2011 and 2012 they have 3 total players left on the roster from those 2 drafts. Randall Cobb - 2011, Nick Perry, Mike Daniels - 2012. That's terrible.

Packers last 3 drafts however have added a lot of starters, future starters and/or key role players.

2013-
Starters: Datone Jones, Eddie Lacy, David Bakhtiari, Sam Barrington
Role players/future starters: JC Tretter, Micah Hyde

2014-
Starters: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Davante Adams, Richard Rodgers, Corey Linsley
Role players/future starters: Jared Abbrederis, Demetri Goodson, Jeff Janis

2015-
Starters: Damarious Randall, Quinten Rollins, Jake Ryan
Role players/future starters: Ty Montgomery, Brett Hundley, Aaron Ripkowski

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Bearmeat's picture

March 16, 2016 at 10:54 am

RC - I also am excited about the future of the 13-15 drafts. That said, I have to say that Jones and RRod are NOT solid starters - at least the way they've been used here. I'd also say that while I haven't given up on Adams, he was AWFUL last year. So was Cobb. You have to think that was because MM effed up the offensive coaching staff.

I'm also not sold on Hundley or Abby or Janis yet. All intriguing options. None proven - and I hope Hundley never has to be.

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AgrippaLII's picture

March 15, 2016 at 02:41 pm

I like the way Ted runs things. Draft'em, give'em a couple years to develop, resign the ones who have made the jump to long term contracts and let the others walk...and become comp picks. He doesn't bite on overpriced,old,oft injured,baggage tote"in Free Agents who destroy the salary cap. He keeps the Packers young and hungry. It's the way a football team "should" be run. These are the best of times to be a Packer Fan.

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chugwater's picture

March 15, 2016 at 07:22 pm

Amen. I'm a glass is half full fan of Ted's. The Draft and Develop philosophy requires patience that's in short supply in this Twitter driven world. When executed properly, it yields more than enough productive players to fuel a Super Bowl winning team.

I fully expect several players in the Ringo, Backman, Walker, Ringo, and Perillo personnel group to contribute in the next couple years. This goes for the 2016 draftees as well. We can't resign everyone, but I hope most people can appreciate the difficulty in managing a revolving door or players.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

March 16, 2016 at 06:19 am

Thumbs up, Chugwater. I'd take Backman out and put Henry in your list, but these are guys who very well might make a big jump. I'd add Abby and Pennel too, when he is done serving his suspension, as guys capable of making a big jump.

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Ibleedgreenmore's picture

March 15, 2016 at 02:41 pm

I am excited and its not even camp yet. It would seem we do have some that will really contribute this year.

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Amanofthenorth's picture

March 16, 2016 at 12:01 am

One line Aikman said still gives me a bit of a chill to imagine it's coming true. "Having one shut down corner makes defense much easier. The idea that the Packwrs might have two is pretty amazing "

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Since'61's picture

March 16, 2016 at 10:21 am

The big jump is crucial to the Packers success. Last season we expected the big jump from D. Adams, K. Thornton and R. Rodgers but we got the big flops. Corey Linsley was OK but no jump. We're still waiting for Datone Jones and Nick Perry to make the leap. And let's not forget Bostic's leap which cost us a trip to the Super Bowl. I'm all for draft and develop and the Packers do it well but I think we expect too much from our young players in big spots and it bites us almost every year in the playoffs. It's great that we believe that we have all this young talent but is it reasonable to expect an SB run when they face more experienced opponents on the playoffs every season. Thanks, Since '61

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RCPackerFan's picture

March 16, 2016 at 10:30 am

I would argue that Richard Rodgers did provide a big jump. He went from 20 receptions, 225 yards, 2 TD's his rookie year to 58 receptions, 510 yards, 8 TD's in his 2nd year.

Clinton-Dix also had a big jump.

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barutanseijin's picture

March 16, 2016 at 06:15 pm

Maybe he had more yards & receptions, but aside from that night in Detroit, Rodgers was as terrible this year as he was in his first. The guy gets TDs because defenses forget about him. They forget about him because he doesn't hurt them too much if they do. The typical Rodgers reception is n-2 yds, where n is number of yards needed for the first down.

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PackerBacker's picture

March 17, 2016 at 04:08 pm

Terrible might be a bit too strong of an adjective. Rodgers was never going to be a field stretching tight end. He's a possession guy. He has great hands. But he's a catch the ball and fall down type of guy. He's not elusive. Overall, he's better than the rest, but could really use a complementary TE on the other side that has the speed to get up the field.

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