Portrait » Green Bay reportedly feels that Daniels is no longer

a three-down player. Given that evaluation Josh Jackson Color Rush Jersey , moving on from him was inevitable." />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesAcme Packing Company homepageHorizontal - WhiteAcme Packing Companya Green Bay Packers communityFollow Acme Packing Company online:Follow Acme Packing Company on TwitterFollow Acme Packing Company on FacebookFollow Acme Packing Company on InstagramLog in or sign upLog InSign UpSite searchSearchSearchAcme Packing Company main menuFanpostsFanshotsSectionsPackersOddsAboutMastheadCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 321 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections The APC PodcastPackers Film RoomFantasy Football AdviceCDTShare this storyShare this on FacebookShare this on TwitterShareAll sharing optionsShareAll sharing options for:Packers’ view of Mike Daniels’ limited role helps explain the decision to release himTwitterFacebookRedditPocketFlipboardEmailPhoto by Jonathan Daniel/Getty ImagesWhen word first came down that the Green Bay Packers were cutting Mike Daniels on Wednesday, the most common reaction among fans of the team was shock. That shock then gave way to anger for many fans, as Daniels was a fan favorite for much of his seven-year career.Then, as the day went along, more and more details came out that gave more context to the release. The first and easiest to obtain was Daniels’ contract number. The $10.7 million cap hit he was scheduled to have this season was a large figure, and freeing up about $8 million in space clearly played a significant part. Looking back at the Packers’ additions in free agency and through the draft shows the team’s commitment to taller, longer, more versatile players up front.But one subtle comment from beat writer Tom Silverstein went a bit under the radar. Check out the last sentence of this tweet:If the Packers truly think Daniels is only a third-down pass-rusher at this point, then the release makes complete sense, especially in light of their offseason additions. On obvious passing situations, the Packers have a ton of options for interior rushers. Kenny Clark can do the job tremendously well, and Dean Lowry has shown plenty of chops in those situations as well, while Montravius Adams and rookie Kingsley Keke represent additional potential options. Then there are the outside linebackers, as the team has been quick to note that Za’Darius Smith and Rashan Gary will definitely put their hands on the ground in those situations. There’s also a good chance that the team sees some of those players — Clark and Smith in particular — as being better options than Daniels right now anyway, making him a second or third option in those situations.Now, that analysis is certainly up for debate. Daniels has been an effective run defender throughout his career, anchoring well on base downs and eating up blockers. However, he did seem to slip a bit in that area in 2018 https://www.thepackersfanshop.com/Montravius-Adams-Jersey , Mike Pettine’s first year as defensive coordinator, even before his injury struck. That and his 30th birthday passing in May would surely be reasons for the Packers’ reported evaluation of his value as a player for the coming season.Given his projected role as a situational interior rusher, Daniels was unlikely to play more than 50% of the team’s snaps in those situations, based solely on the other options that Pettine has at his disposal. If the team then does not see him as being a suitable option on base downs any more, then a $10.7 million cap hit is absolutely unacceptable and moving him would be the obvious choice.That cap hit was the 9th-highest among all defensive tackles in 2019, according to Spotrac, and by this writer’s count it would have fallen behind only five other 3-4 defensive ends. In today’s NFL, you simply cannot pay a situational player like a star, which is what Daniels’ contract was set to do.Now that money will be freed up for an extension for a true star in his prime, as the 23-year-old Kenny Clark will be due a new contract after 2020. Locking him up — whether that happens during 2019 or next offseason — will be a pricey proposition, and the Packers surely have an eye on that extension when considering the salary cap ramifications of this move. Keep in mind that any unused cap space rolls over year-to-year, so even if the Packers don’t sign Clark in the next few months, the extra $8 million opened up now will still be available.A move like this all comes down to value. The Packers determined that they were better off eating $11.1 million in cap space to move on from Nick Perry, because the future cap space that release freed up was more than worth it to let him walk. They evidently feel that opening up $8 million now is worth it to let go of a player who is no longer a three-down difference maker.When Daniels inevitably catches on with another team, his 2019 season will show whether Brian Gutekunst and company were wrong in their assessment of his remaining capabilities. Almost all is good in Titletown, with the Green Bay Packers surging to a 3-0 start to begin the season and the defense continuing to carry the team through the early schedule. The offense, with some level of new creativity, also showed more promise in week three after being a talking point the first two weeks. Yet Jake Ryan Jersey , there is still plenty for the team to clean up as it sets its sights on Philadelphia on short rest. One of those areas is in the secondary as younger veterans are taking on larger roles. While Green Bay received a lift in tackling from budding star Blake Martinez, a couple of other players must step up to prevent big plays.Will Redmond and Kevin King struggled, especially as tacklersOn a day in which inside linebacker Martinez flashed solid open-field and behind-the-line-of-scrimmage tackling, the performance of Redmond and King fell on the flip side. King’s health has allowed him extended playing time at cornerback on the secondary and he has had some positive moments through the first two games. But against Denver, King’s lack of physicality to wrap up as a tackler reared its ugly head several times during the game. Perhaps none was bigger than a short screen pass to Phillip Lindsay in the third quarter, deep in Denver’s own territory. King missed an opportunity to stop Lindsay for a short gain with a one-on-one tackle and Lindsay scampered 36 yards down the field untouched. The inability to win those crucial tackles hampered Green Bay all of last season on defense. King then followed up that play by allowing Courtland Sutton space downfield along the sideline and was bailed out by a Joe Flacco throw that was too close to the line for Sutton to get two feet down.On the same drive, Redmond, seeing a jump in snap count with Raven Greene injured, also failed to make a critical stop. Whether Redmond was going for the strip, one cannot tell for certain, but the veteran could not bring down Broncos tight end Jeff Heuerman after a short catch. The play turned into a 10-yard gain and a first-and-goal opportunity that eventually became a Broncos touchdown. Not too long after this drive, King and Redmond combined for a difficult play to watch. Again with the Broncos starting the drive deep in their own side of the field, Sutton beat King over the top for a 52-yard gain on 3rd-and-6. For whatever reason, as seen below in the video tweet, King stopped running and Redmond was late to pick up the slack. Making matters worse, Sutton juked King and Redmond to pick up yardage after the catch before finally taking him to the ground.While the struggles were plentiful, King had a redeeming moment on the first drive of the fourth quarter when he wrapped up Royce Freeman on a pass to the flat to force a fourth down. It was a huge three-and-out for the Packers, but even on that play Lance Kendricks Color Rush Jersey , King almost let Freeman get by. The Packers will need King and Redmond to be much more sure with their tackling next week.Marquez Valdes-Scantling had an up-and-down dayThe final stat line looks wonderful for MVS with six catches for 99 yards and a momentum-swinging touchdown to begin the game. He also had a crucial catch on third down late in the game in which he high-pointed the ball to get the Packers in much better field goal range. The 41-yard field goal from Mason Crosby effectively put the game out of reach.But MVS, who was targeted 10 times on Sunday, had his share of learning mistakes as well. On a pair of plays, the second-year receiver did not show strong enough hands to secure the catch, notably a third down play near the sideline in which MVS had the ball in his hands beyond the line of gain but lost control as a defender closed in. Later, on a receiver screen, MVS also appeared to give up early and dive to the ground for a mere couple of yards instead of fighting for extra yardage.It is apparent that MVS has gained Aaron Rodgers’ trust with his number of targets against Denver, and he certainly is a playmaker. But if he is able to take the next step in becoming a reliable second-option across from Davante Adams, MVS will need to play much stronger.The backfield was involved in the passing gameMany who follow the Packers believed Aaron Jones was primed for a breakout season with Matt LaFleur in command. That could still be true, and Jones had a great week two of action. But Jamaal Williams received the bulk of action at tailback in week three and was especially important as a receiver.Williams hauled in a pair of catches for 27 yards Sunday, none more important than a 12-yard crosser over the middle on a 3rd-and-5 play in the second half. It was that kind of short, check-down type of throw that could benefit Green Bay this season. Jones also added a catch for four yards out of the backfield, but the play that stood out most was a well-timed fullback wheel route in the third quarter. Rodgers hit Danny Vitale for a 27-yard gain to set up a first-and-goal and eventual Packers score. When was the last time the Packers tried a wheel route, much less one to the fullback? The creativity was a good sign for the Packers moving forward at getting the backfield involved in the aerial attack.