2024 Archive

Third Time's a Charm!

Just like Romeo Dobbs and Christian Watson, the rebooted Post Pattern is entering it’s 3rd season and we couldn’t be more excited about it. After the relaunch in ‘22, and a successful sophomore season last year, the upcoming campaign promises to be one full of twists and turns.


For the Green and Gold, will the moves made by Brian Gutekunst over the past few seasons pay off with postseason glory? Can Matt LaFluer guide his newly minted franchise QB to an MVP caliber effort? Does the defense finally return to championship caliber play under the direction of new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley?


Equally as pressing to our readers, can anyone stop Steve Simmons? A dominating performance last year in which he led for most of the season was quite impressive. However, there are many pickers vying to dethrone the champ.  Amy Wilma and Tracy Buboltz were the closest contenders last year, while Hoofer and his grandsons Noah and Blake were close behind as well.  If the young upstart Molly Horn '(23 MIP...Most Improved Picker) continues her growth, she could be at the top of the leaderboard in no time. Rumors also are swirling that a “mystery picker” may be a contender in this year’s competition.


As is our tradition, the Post Pattern will continue such features as Heard in the Crowd, Coaches Corner (when Coach V’s schedule allows), and the Buboltz Sports Kids Roundup. In our nod to the past, we’ll set the dial of our wayback machine to 1980 for The Vault. Over 9 editions, the Post Pattern staff provided predictions, poems, and prose that puckered the pallets of their prognosticating pickers.  Editions included commentary on the Iranian Hostage Crisis, Bart Starr (the coach), and Letters to the Editor. While combing through the archives, our staff found letters from Shorty, Aunt Marvis, and none other than “Lady Matriarch Mundo” Buboltz (i.e. Lauretta Buboltz…kids, that would be Great-Great Grandma and author of “One Hundred Fifty Miles North…and Back”). Finally, in addition to the Guest Pickers section that was gaining momentum, a Mystery Picker was added to the mix.


Packers have “Big Mo” Entering Season


While we could be referring to Packers’ 1st round draft pick Jordan Morgan, the organization is hoping to capitalize on the momentum they’ve built coming on the heels of a remarkable turnaround in the ‘23 season along with some key additions made in the offseason.


Heading into Week 8 of 2023 and sporting a lowly 2-5 record which included painful losses to non-playoff teams, hope was dwindling in Packer Nation. However, sparked by development in several of their young players, perhaps most notably their offensive line, the team caught fire in the second half of the season which culminated in a playoff road victory vs the hated Cowboys and nearly upsetting the Super Bowl bound 49ers.


That success carried over into the offseason, where GM Brian Gutekunst made several key acquisitions.  Most notably, Xavier McKinney, one of the NFL’s rising defensive stars will shore up a secondary that was 28th in interceptions. McKinney will be joined in the back half of the Packers defense by 2nd round pick Javon Bullard, yet another defender from Georgia to join the team.


On the offensive side of the ball, there was a short stretch of time where Green Bay fans thought they had a two headed monster at running back in Aaron Jones and free agent Josh Jacobs. In a move that saddened some fans, Jones was released (and of course ended up where all GB castoffs land…Minnesota). Along with AJ Dillon’s move to IR, the backfield will be an overhaul this year with Jacobs and rookie Marshawn Lloyd likely to be the bell cows. With the addition of Morgan in the 1st round to solidify the offensive line, Green Bay has a young core nucleus of talent on offense that should prove more than capable in 2024.


Hopefully the momentum the team has will generate into immediate results on the field as the team takes on the Eagle this Friday.

Heard in the Crowd


Who is #.....

New this year we will have a feature in the Post Pattern about a particular Packer player. Perhaps an up and coming player, or a player who is not as well known, or someone who made a spectacular play the previous week. Our first article will feature Brayden Narveson #44. 


Throughout camp one of the biggest headlines was who was going to win the kicking battle. Would it be last year’s draft pick Anders Carlson or would veteran Greg Joseph get the nod? The battle was a close one, each kicker trying to outdo the other. When it came to cut day, Greg Joseph appeared to have won the battle when the Packers released the young Anders Carlson. But, not so fast…


Packer GM Brian Gutekunst decided he was not content to head into the season with Greg Joseph and made the move to pick up Brayden Narveson from the waiver wire. Brayden had been in camp with the Titans, but was released at the end of the preseason.  


WHO IS #44
Brayden Narveson
Kicker

Experience: R

Height: 6-0

Age: 24

Weight: 215 lbs

College: N.C. State


As mentioned above, Brayden made a name for himself in preseason by nailing a 59 yard field goal, but he also went 6 of 7 on kicks during the preseason for the Titans. He was a bit of a journeyman in college, but finished his career at NC State where he was 18-23 on field goals and set a school record with a 57 yarder. The thing that stands out for Brayden, however, are his extra points. In an area that the Packers struggled last year, #44 looks to bring stability. In his college career, he was 196 of 196 extra points. That's right, you're reading that right Packer Fans. He was 100%.  


We hope that consistency continues for him as he will play his first NFL game against the Eagles in South America. Coach LaFleur likes what he sees so far and is looking forward to seeing him in action. And in case you need any more confidence in him, Jaire Alexander told coach LaFleur, “Man, I love this guy.” 


Judging from Malik Willis' reaction below, Packer fans aren't the only ones excited about Narveson: