Cheese Curds, 6/1: Keeping up with the Packers’ Joneses

The second-year jump is a common topic of discussion for Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy. He often says that players take their biggest leaps in physical ability, productivity, and knowledge of football between their first and second NFL seasons. And as always, that will be a focus for a Packers squad that saw a varying level of production from its 2017 rookie class.

Two players in that group who received significant playing time as rookies are second-round safety Josh Jones and fifth-round running back Aaron Jones. Both are looking to make that big leap in their sophomore seasons, but they’re going about making it happen in very different ways.

One of them is focusing on a single position after bouncing around in a variety of roles last season, and he said he is already seeing benefits. The other is reshaping his body to add some bulk while still maintaining his burst and speed. For each of these players, as well as the rest of the Packers’ 2017 draftees, opportunity is knocking. Hopefully everyone has put in the work in the weight room and the classroom to take that big jump for 2018.

Packers RB Aaron Jones gets bigger to help in pass protection | Packers Wire
Jones entered the NFL at 5-foot-9 and about 205 pounds and apparently played at 208 as a rookie, but expect him to be listed a bit bigger this fall after he added some bulk to help protect Aaron Rodgers and break more tackles.

Ups and downs of rookie season all part of process for Josh Jones | Packers.com
Jones' rookie season was a grind, as he not only played a ton of snaps in the regular season but in the preseason as well. However, he has already seen a difference in his own game as a result of focusing on a single position this spring.

Packers take new approach with Marcedes Lewis, Byron Bell signings | Packersnews.com
With Ted Thompson in the GM chair, the Packers rarely signed players between the draft and training camp. These transactions are indicative of how Brian Gutekunst's approach to roster construction will differ from Thompson's.

Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers gets honorary doctorate | ESPN.com
Congratulations to Rodgers, who was awarded a doctor of humanities for his work with the MACC Fund over his NFL career.

These NFL players are the best bargains at each position in 2018 season - SBNation.com
In other words, this is the "All-not first round picks and still on their rookie contract" team.

Lipscomb police offer to test public's meth for Zika virus | AL.com
I really hope somebody took them up on this offer.