while tallying a pair of receiving scores

Friday Curds: Packers cornerbacks finally worth watching Who was the last legitimately exciting player in the Packers’ secondary? Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins were exciting in Green Bay...for opposing offenses. Ladarius Gunter probably falls into that category too.Micah Hyde and Casey Hayward both remain fixed in the minds of Packers fans Bryan Bulaga Jersey White , but neither of them was much of a spark in the secondary. Hyde made most of his biggest plays in Green Bay as a punt returner (with the notable exception of his amazing interception against Dallas in the 2016 playoffs) and while Hayward made plays when healthy, the “when healthy” part didn’t come around as often as he or the Packers hoped.Prior to those two, there’s precious little to look back on for most of the last decade. You probably have to look back to Charles Woodson to find someone in the secondary who was worth watching closely. His last noteworthy season came all the way back in 2011, a year that also featured the loss of Nick Collins.But this season, it seems like that’s all changed. Jaire Alexander is an energetic spark. Josh Jackson is promising and earning more snaps every week. Even Kevin King, for all his injuries, looks more or less like the player the Packers hoped he could be.Even if there are still issues http://www.packerslockerroom.com/authentic-kentrell-brice-jersey , at least the position group isn’t the complete waste it’s been in the not-at-all-distant past. It’s both a welcome change and a storyline that will be fascinating to watch as the Packers move deeper into their 2018 season.Mike Pettine calls rookie CB Jaire Alexander one of defense’s best players through 2 weeks | Packers WireJaire Alexander has largely been more or less as advertised in his first two weeks as a pro. Now Mike Pettine is taking his turn in publicly praising the rookie.How the Packers Drafts Hurt Their Depth | The Power SweepAs much as Alexander and fellow rookie Josh Jackson have brought to the secondary, the Packers still have some issues there. Kevin King’s injury exposed the relative lack of depth in the cornerback group, a problem exacerbated by the end of Ted Thompson’s tenure in Green Bay.Third-down conversion rate needs to improve | Packers NewsAaron Rodgers’ play through two weeks has ranged from very good to spectacular, but the Packers still find themselves roughly near the middle of the league in the overall offensive production rankings. A lot of that has to do with some uninspiring play on third downs.JK Scott’s big leg having an impact for Packers | Packers.comOf course, if the Packers don’t convert on third downs, that just means more opportunities to watch JK Scott kick the crap out of the ball. As far as consolations prizes go, that’s not too bad.Packers ranked 12th most valuable franchise | ForbesThough we know they’re priceless Justin McCray Jersey , Forbes doesn’t have the Packers in the top 10 on their annual ranking of NFL franchise values. The Cowboys take the top spot here. In need of a slot receiver and return specialist, the Packers could look to the 25-year old Crowder to fill both roles for the right price."When the Green Bay Packers shipped Ha Ha Clinton-Dix to Washington before the 2018 trade deadline, they ultimately staged a coup in netting a fourth-round draft pick for a player who struggled in a burgundy and gold uniform. More recently, reports indicate that the Packers are set interview current Washington linebackers coach Kirk Olivadotti for the same position in Green Bay. After potentially stealing two assets from Washington in less than three months, the Packers could have a chance at yet another in free agency.The Packers, especially without an injured Randall Cobb for the majority of the season, struggled with converting third-and-short situations. While much of that had to do with offensive scheming and persistence from Aaron Rodgers to find the big play Womens Josh Jones Jersey , Green Bay could greatly improve its short-to-intermediate passing game heading into the 2019 season by adding a dynamic slot receiver. Though he’s dealt with nagging hamstring and ankle injuries over the past couple of seasons, Washington’s Jamison Crowder could be a player that the Packers keep an eye on over the spring if he is not re-signed.At just 25 years old, Crowder’s peak could still be well ahead of him. In Washington, he has been a catalyst for opening up the field for other receivers on offense while occasionally beating the defense deep himself. Crowder was most effective when targeted on first down for Washington, generating almost 11 yards per reception on that down over his four seasons. That kind of production could instantly help a Green Bay offense that gained 1.5 yards less on first down than the league average, according to Pro Football Reference. As a slot receiver, Crowder’s career 11.9 yards per reception is well above the 10.0 mark Jarvis Landry had prior to signing a franchise tag with Miami last offseason and getting traded to Cleveland. Crowder’s injury history has helped keep him under the radar in comparison to Landry who hauled in a high number of catches. While the receiving market is thin in free agency Josh Jackson Jersey White , that could bode well for Green Bay’s chances of signing him to a more reasonable deal.The Packers should know Crowder well, as the veteran has posted especially strong numbers in his two games against them. Crowder’s 20.14 yards per reception (141 yards on seven catches) is an average almost five yards more than he has against any other team. Crowder hauled in all seven of his targets in those games versus Green Bay while tallying a pair of receiving scores. At just over 5’9, Crowder would not be the biggest target for Rodgers and the Packer offense, but he has proven to be dangerous. With the Titans in 2018, Matt LaFleur used receiver Rishard Matthews in the slot before Matthews’ surprising mid-season departure from the team, while new Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett received great production from Marqise Lee in the same role in Jacksonville. It is fair to believe that the duo will seek a more-than-capable slot receiver in their new offense.In addition to his skills as a slot receiver, Crowder has experience as a return man http://www.packerslockerroom.com/authentic-mason-crosby-jersey , notably on punts. Although those numbers have leaned toward the average level, his 2016 season resulted in a 12.1-yard average with a touchdown. As the Packers have waited on the development of Trevor Davis only to be burned by the injury bug, Green Bay could potentially fill that role with Crowder while adding a more polished receiving weapon than Davis seems likely to become.While drafting a slot receiver may be the more typical and economical approach for a team like Green Bay, the Packers have enough money to spend in free agency on an offensive weapon, especially with the likelihood of moving on from Cobb. Welcoming an NFL-tested pass-catcher with a skillset that varies from the Packers’ current group of up-and-coming receivers would be a perk. While Green Bay certainly should not get into a bidding war for a slot receiver this offseason, Crowder’s contract demands and fit within a LaFleur-Hackett offense should be explored.