Packers: Four ways 2018 team can mirror 2011 success

4. Tight ends a big part of offense

One thing that was apparent when watching tape on the 2011 team, was that they made the tight end position a focal point on offense. They had an extremely athletic tight end in Jermichael Finley, and he was utilized in the middle of the field to create mismatches.

During the 2011 season, Finley saw 92 targets, resulting in 55 catches for 767 yards and eight touchdowns. Ever since losing Finley to a career-ending injury during the 2013 season, the Packers have been trying to find a solution to fill his shoes, but have been unable to.

They drafted Richard Rodgers, and brought in Jared Cook and Martellus Bennett in free agency. All of which didn’t have the same playmaking ability that Finley possessed and never served as an integral part of the offense.

Enter Jimmy Graham.

Graham, a six-foot-seven, 265-pound giant of a tight end has been a premier TE in the league ever since his days with the Saints. After leaving New Orleans, Graham spent three seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, where he spent more time with his hand in the dirt as an in-line tight end, which was much different than his time spent in New Orleans.

While he still saw very good production during his time in Seattle, I expect him to be utilized more like he was in New Orleans, more like Finley was in the Packers offense. This means less snaps with his hand in the dirt, and more time split out at receiver in the slot. It’s no secret that Graham isn’t known for his blocking skills, he’s known for his receiving skills, he’s known for being a mismatch nightmare, and a deadly red-zone threat.

Graham also wasn’t the only big name tight end signed by the Packers this offseason.

Enter Marcedes Lewis.

Unlike Graham, Lewis is as good a blocking tight end as there is in the NFL. With two tight ends on the roster not known for their blocking skills, in Graham and Lance Kendricks, it was very important that a tight end was added into the fold with solid blocking skills.

Lewis, who stands at six-foot-six and weighs about 270 pounds, is another enormous target for Rodgers to utilize in the middle of the field and in the red zone. The double-TE packages that the Packers are going to be able to put on the field with Graham and Lewis are going to wreak havoc on opposing defenses in the middle of the field, especially in the red zone, and in the play-action passing game.

With how much we are already seeing “Rodgers to Graham” repeatedly coming from training camp, we should expect to see plenty of production from the tight end position this season.