The Green Bay Packers have some things they need to do better in the second half of the season if they hope to secure a playoff berth in the competitive NFC. One thing the Packers need to clean up remains dropped passes, something that has happened too often in the first half of the 2024 campaign.
Packers Need to Clean up Dropped Passes: The Numbers
The Packers passing game has been a bit of a disappointment when comparing it to preseason expectations. The passing attack hasn’t been consistent and has had fewer big plays than fans envisioned in Jordan Love’s second year as the team’s starter. Still, the Packers entered their bye week ranked 8th in the NFL with 235.8 yards passing per game.
But the numbers could be even better. According to ESPN, the Packers lead the NFL with 20 dropped passes through their first nine games. They are also worst in the league with a drop percentage of 7.4.
While many receivers have had issues with dropped passes, the biggest offender this season has been Dontayvion Wicks. The second-year man out of Virginia has eight drops according to ESPN’s count. They have also come at the worst times, like his dropped pass in the end zone against the Lions in the Packers last game.
Even players who have performed well have drops this season. Jayden Reed, who has been the team’s most dangerous weapon in the first half of 2024, has five dropped passes. Romeo Doubs and Tucker Kraft, who have also been productive players this year, have three apiece.
Another Factor
Obviously, the high number of drops are not all on the receivers. Love has missed two full games and almost half of a third due to injuries. The former Utah State star was injured in the season opener against the Eagles but played through it on a slippery field. He sprained his knee in the closing seconds of the game.
Even when he’s played, Love hasn’t been fully healthy. As a result, his accuracy suffered. Some throws were slightly behind receivers or not in the ideal place to give the receiver an advantage. Matt LaFleur also altered his play calls at times because of Love’s limitations when he was on the field.
Love has completed 61.3 percent of his passes after completing 64.2 percent in 2023.
When Love wasn’t on the field, the Packers turned to Malik Willis. The team threw fewer passes when Willis was in the game. When he did throw, Willis was extremely accurate, completing 74.4 percent of his passes.
Packers Need to Clean up Dropped Passes: Looking Forward
The Packers coaching staff realizes the team need to be better at holding on to the football. Fortunately, they see some areas that they can improve upon.
“I think it just comes back to the fundamentals,” LaFleur told reporters after the loss to Detroit. “Hey, listen, I get it. It was a wet day, and that’s never an excuse. I do think that when you look at some of the drops…our fundamentals weren’t necessarily right. The way we coach it and the way we drill it in terms of being aggressive with your hands and we were letting that ball get into our body too much.”
The Packers may also choose to reduce the number of snaps Wicks plays over the next few games. He has a catch percentage of just 37.2 after catching 67.2 percent. The Packers are deep at wide receiver and could give more snaps to Christian Watson, Bo Melton, or Malik Heath until Wicks improves his play in practice.
Regardless of how they do it, the Packers need to be better in the second half of the season at reducing the number of dropped passes. A combination of more accurate throws, small changes in the number of snaps taken by struggling receivers, and a better job of playing fundamentally sound football would go a long way to improving this problem.
