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We are officially a week removed from the end of the 2017 NFL season, we’re more than two weeks out from the start of the 2018 Scouting Combine, and there’s still a month until the start of free agency.
Welcome to the first dead period of the offseason.
Of course, speculation and draft analysis will dominate the conversation in the coming weeks, and in today’s curds we find plenty of talk about the Packers’ offensive line. The group had a host of injury issues throughout the 2017 season, but one thing that is surprising is how effective the group was in run-blocking, particularly to the side that had the most injury concerns.
In the meantime, we as Packers fans should probably get familiar with this year’s offensive line class. Given the questions on the right side of the line, there’s a very good chance that Brian Gutekunst will invest a draft pick or two on the line this April. Furthermore, the trend among his fellow Ted Thompson proteges suggests that it will be an early pick.
Tune in a few months from now to find out for sure, but we’re moving forward expecting a fairly high pick on the line.
Packers' special teams look to take the next step | Packers.com
With a new assistant coach -- Maurice Drayton -- taking over for Jason Simmons, the Packers hopefully will have some new ideas and a continued improvement next season.
No playing experience required: Packers down to 3 ex-players on coaching staff - ESPN
The Packers had ten coaches with NFL playing experience on the team just five years ago. Now it's down to the trio of James Campen, Winston Moss, and Simmons.
2017's best offensive lines in yards before contact | Fantasy Analysis | Pro Football Focus
The Packers have historically been a mediocre run-blocking offensive line, even though their pass protection has had some stellar seasons. However, the team finished fifth in yards before contact, and they led the league in that area on runs to the right side.
Injuries create critical openings on Packers' offensive line | Packersnews.com
As for the right side of the line, there are question marks galore for 2018. Justin McCray should be around to compete for a job somewhere -- probably at guard -- but the tackle spot and his competition at guard are very much up in the air.
Eagles fans’ Super Bowl 52 trick play tattoos feature wrong formation - SBNation.com
Oops. Oh well, no regerts.
Indianapolis Colts hire Frank Reich to be next coach - NFL.com
Instead of hiring the offensive coordinator from the team that lost the Super Bowl, the Colts have hired the one from the winning team. In retrospect, this doesn't seem like a bad consolation price at all for Indianapolis.