What The Packers Will Look Like Over The Next Few Years

The NFL is a copycat league and it looks like the Packers are copying the Tennessee Titans and the San Francisco 49ers.

The Titans connection is even stronger with the HC Matt Lafleur. Ben Fennell comped RB AJ Dillon to former Falcons RB TJ Duckett. On ESPN someone commented that Dillon was one of those big backs you used to see teams draft in the 1st round. Used to. Instead it looks like the Packers view Dillon as their Derrick Henry.

Since DC Mike Pettine can't scheme up a run defense I'm sure the Packers were very impressed with what they saw from the 49ers in their two match-ups last season. A run first team with a strong defense who asks their QB to do just enough got to the Super Bowl. Of course the Packers haven't done much to make their strong defense a reality by bringing back Pettine who I expect will do more of the same next year. Also the 49ers loaded up their defense before last season with Nick Bosa and Dee Ford while the Packers have only added ILB Christian Kirksey (if healthy) to take over for Blake Martinez.

It's interesting to watch the Denver Broncos copy a different team. I only watched one entire Broncos game last season and it was their game against the Packers. The Broncos offense was plain vanilla. Run the ball, don't ask too much from Joe Flacco, and slowly move down the field.

Instead of doing more of the same next season it looks like the Broncos took that Chiefs game film to heart. The 49ers's scheme worked in the Super Bowl until it didn't and Jimmy G had to do something. And he couldn't against a mediocre Chiefs defense. Instead MVP QB Patrick Mahomes led the comeback against the 49ers's great defense.

This offseason the Broncos hired OC Pat Shurmur. He's a boring retread but he's also spent a lot of time with Chiefs HC Andy Reid. He knows better than probably anyone what the Chiefs want to do on offense. Drew Lock and his cannon arm take over at QB. Their 1st round pick is the best WR available (caution-might have bad knees) Jerry Jeudy. Penn State WR KJ Hamler in the 2nd round, he might have to be schemed open but he's a big play waiting to happen when he does get the ball. They did sign RB Melvin Gordon to big money for some reason but he won't hurt them unless he keeps RB Phillip Lindsay off the field. There are some big question marks here; is Lock really the guy, are Jeudy's knees really a concern, is Hamler undersized. But I love what they're doing. And the Broncos already have one of the best WRs in the NFL in Courtland Sutton.

The Broncos just raised the ceiling on their big play passing offense while the Packers just brought their's down with a new run focused offense. The Broncos might be going toe-to-toe with Mahomes and the Chiefs for the next few years. The Packers will be led by franchise RB AJ Dillon and game manager QB Jordan Love, battling for that last playoff spot and a first round exit.