Episode 24 - These Are My Confessions
Blue 58, powered by WTMJ Mobile, goes beyond the headlines to help you become a smarter fan of the Green Bay Packers. Hosted by former WTMJ newscaster Jon Meerdink and his friend Gary Zilavy, Blue 58 brings you a unique, upbeat perspective on your favorite NFL team, as long as that team is the Packers.
This week on Blue 58, we speculate on who could be starting at right guard for the Packers next season, figure out if the wave of free agents signed this offseason signal a new direction for the team, and get a look at the final price tag on a couple Packers free agents. Plus, it’s time to open up and share some feelings.
Here's the headlines we covered on this week's episode:
Who Replaces T.J. Lang at RG?
Lang is off to Detroit, and the Packers have to start someone at right guard. There are some options on the roster – Kyle Murphy, Don Barclay, and Lucas Patrick. Also, there's a chance the Packers go the free agent route with someone like Jahri Evans or select a guard in the draft.
Jon: Who do you think will replace T.J. Lang at right guard?
Gary: The most popular name is Western Kentucky’s Forrest Lamp. He played left tackle in college, but his arms are a full inch shorter than Bryan Bulaga, who’s probably got the shortest arms of any successful offensive tackle. So Lamp’s game will have to be inside at guard or center. He’d have to be the first round pick, though. One under-the-radar name that’s already on the roster is Kyle Murphy, a sixth-round draft pick last year. Murphy played less than 10 snaps last year, but started taking reps in practice at right guard after Lang broke his foot in the regular season.
Are the Packers really doing anything different in free agency?
Green Bay has signed four (count ‘em! Four!!) free agents since the new league year began in early March. Are the Packers really going all-in as Aaron Rodgers suggested, or is it something else?
Jon: Is this really a new direction for the Packers?
Gary: No, it’s not a new direction. It’s moreso the fruits starting to ripen from a plan that started two years ago. The buzz started to gather that Thompson was going to be more aggressive in free agency. “We’ll see how it shakes out,” head coach Mike McCarthy said of free agency. “We might shock you this year.” Jared Cook was nice, but calling his signing a ‘shock’ is a bridge too far. Then this January, Ian Rapoport said the Packers would “go and get some free agents this year.” It felt like the same verse. Then came Bennett, Kendricks, House and Ricky Jean Francois.
These are my confessions
The Power Sweep (formerly Packer Perspective) has been around in some form or fashion for over five years. During that time, both Jon and Gary have made some claims about the Packers that now seem ridiculous or silly.
Together, the hosts come clean on some of their worst ideas throughout recent Packers history – from Tim Tebow to sending mean tweets.
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