Welcome to the weekly Zone Coverage Packers mailbag, where I try to answer all your burning NFL and Green Bay Packers-related questions, submitted via Twitter to @m_widmeier.
How big of a snub was De’Vondre Campbell for the Pro Bowl?
The Pro Bowl has become the biggest joke among the All-Star games in major professional sports. In the NBA there’s at least a ton of points and highlight-reel dunks. The stars always show up. In MLB, it’s much of the same, with the stars all showing out. For the NFL, it’s a complete dud, with one fill-in after another taking up spots.
As far as it goes for De’Vondre Campbell, it’s tough to argue against Micah Parsons and Bobby Wagner at inside linebacker for the NFC. But Campbell has been right there in that top tier. I’m not sure I’d necessarily consider it a snub, but it would’ve been more than deserved had he gotten the nod. Keep in mind the Pro Bowl is largely voted on by fans, so it’s as scientific as any popularity contest.
Campbell is one of the better feel-good stories of this past offseason. The Packers scooped him up late in the process. Not in their wildest dreams did they expect him to turn into the machine that he’s been. Campbell has registered 125 total tackles, two interceptions, two sacks, and two forced fumbles on the season so far. He’s been one of the most pleasant surprises in the NFL this year. As a result, he should be able to cash in during the offseason.
It would’ve been sweet to see Campbell named as the fourth Packers player to the Pro Bowl, but let’s be honest: This team has far loftier aspirations.
Why is (Matt) LaFleur not getting more love for Coach of the Year?
Odds Shark currently has Matt LaFleur as the second-highest favorite to win the award, trailing only Bill Belichick. How accurate those odds are is anyone’s guess.
The Coach of the Year award often goes to a trendy, newer coach. If LaFleur were to win it, it probably would’ve come when he went 13-3 either last year or in his first year. Even though the Packers could very well go 14-3 this year, the voting for Coach of the Year is very strange and super subjective.
For example, Belichick hasn’t won the award once in the last decade. Meanwhile, Matt Nagy won it in 2018 and Jason Garrett won it the year before that in 2017. How are those two doing nowadays?
LaFleur could very well win it this year. But even if it goes to someone else, he really doesn’t seem like the coach who would sweat that sort of thing.
Is it fair to expect the Packers to limit Myles Garrett the way they did Aaron Donald?
This one is tricky for a couple of reasons.
Both of those dudes are absolute game wreckers. Even though Donald didn’t necessarily feast against the Packers, his presence was still strongly felt. Green Bay had to shift a lot of attention towards Donald, which opened up opportunities across the line for one-on-one battles.
But Donald and Garrett do it in slightly different ways.
Garrett works off the edge of the defensive line, while Donald bulldozes his way up the middle most of the time. Both are successful in their methods and both can take over a game. Don’t just expect the Packers to automatically be able to take away Garrett just because they were somewhat able to hold Donald in check.
One thing working in Green Bay’s favor is the groin injury that Garrett suffered on Monday night against the Las Vegas Raiders. He was noticeably less explosive afterward, even though he finished the game. With Cleveland on a quick turnaround having played Monday and now playing the Packers on Saturday, it’s very possible that Garrett is not 100%.
How does Cleveland beat Green Bay on Saturday?
Don’t overthink this. The recipe for the Browns to sneak away with a victory is exactly what you think it is: Feed Nick Chubb and get pressure on Aaron Rodgers.
Chubb is one of the premier backs in the NFL and has been running all over defenses when healthy this year. Given the uncertainty of Cleveland’s quarterback situation entering this one — and even if it is Baker Mayfield — the Browns will need a big day from Chubb to hang around and try to pull one out late.
On the other side of the ball, Garrett will have a major say in how this game goes. Takk McKinley is out for the year after rupturing an Achilles on Monday night and Jadeveon Clowney may not clear the COVID protocols. That could mean a lot of the pass rush is missing for Cleveland, putting even more weight on the shoulders of Garrett.
If Cleveland can establish the run consistently and feed Chubb, and if Garrett is able to cause even little disturbances here and there, the Browns could win this game.
