The IFL has completed its two biggest events during the off-season, the Rookie Draft and the Veteran Auction. With that said, how did each team manage use these events to better their rosters. We (Nils and I collaborating again) developed three categories in which a team could fall into:

• Improved – The GM has acquired talent this off-season, building upon where the team left off in 2016. To earn this rating, the team improved their weekly scoring potential by an estimated 16+ ppg.
• Sustained – The GM has acquired talent this off-season, but the acquisitions aren’t projected to make a dramatic change to their roster from the end of last season. To earn this rating, the team may have increased their weekly scoring potential by an estimated 8 ppg or less.
• Declined – The GM has gone backwards this off-season. Whether it was intentional or accidental, they are heading into 2017 with much less potential than they had at the end of 2016. To earn this rating, the team may have decreased their  weekly scoring potential by an estimated 16+ PPG.

This article will review the Green Bay Packers.

[Administrative Note – Roster data was pulled from week 16 of the 2016 season and July 5th, 2017 to compare/contrast rosters. Some of the roster data won’t include players who were on IR or the TS from week 16. The data was pulled via the weekly rosters/scores page.]

Green Bay Packers – Barry. 11-5 Record, 4636.57 Points.

To start, here’s a quick glance at how the roster was compiled last season and what the roster currently looks like:

A few observations include:

• Ummmmmm, yeah not much has changed.

Let’s examine the player acquisitions, retention, and losses from last season.

Offensive Assessment: Declined. To start, we have the saddest combination of QBs in the league. There’s no upside here. But wait! What’s that? ODB, Mike Evans, Michael Thomas, and Dez Bryant! 4 WR’s with 300 point potential! That’s amazing on paper, and when they are all in the lineup Barry has great potential. Right now, Cole Beasley is looking to be his 5th starter, with James White rotating in. It’s not terrible, but it’s not flashy at all. Very little upside. Zach Miller may be cut. I think Barry missed the mark in the auction, as there were tons of players on offense with potential that Barry could have signed that would have solidified this offense. He might as well sell the farm if one of his main four suffer an injury.

Defensive Assessment: Sustained. Berry focused everything on his defense the offseason. He drafted three should be starters in Reuben Foster, Myles Garrett and Duke Riley. In the auction, he grabbed Grady Jarrett, who should start for him. He also signed Calvin Pryor, who has some potential, but could be a part time player this year. Barry has a ton of potential on defense, but I am not sure how much of that potential we see this year. There’s also a slight chance Foster doesn’t heal from that shoulder injury and Duke Riley doesn’t win the starting WLB job. This would be detrimental to Barry, as he has little depth behind these guys. Not to mention that injury Garrett suffered in training camp. It’s tough for DLineman to make an impact in their rookie seasons to begin with. A lingering injury and missed practice time could keep us from seeing Garrett’s true potential until next season.

 

Overall Assessment: Declined. This is tough. I think if all goes right for Barry this year, he may have a chance to improve his weekly scoring output. However, I do not believe we will see that potential this year. The youth on defense and lack of depth on offense will cripple him. Barry traded away Stefon Diggs to save 6M in cap and did not even use that cap in the auction. 2-3 guys could have completely changed the outlook for Barry, but I fear his lack of action may have put him behind the rest of the NFC North. There is still some time. Barry has the resources to make a few trades that could change his season, but right now we’re looking at a Packer team that has less weekly scoring potential than they did last year.