October 10, 2016 at 2:11 p.m.
Shoutouts & Callouts
Mixed grades for Packers at the quarter pole
Shoutouts & Callouts
It's time to dust off the old gradebook and give the Packers an early season progress report.
Pass offense: C+
This one's hard because there are times, such as Jordy Nelson's touchdown grab in the first half of Sunday night's game, where Aaron Rodgers and company look as sharp as ever. Yet there are other times, like much of the second half on Sunday, where you have to wonder if the aliens from "Space Jam" have invaded their bodies and sapped them of their skills.
Take one series in the second half, for instance, where Rodgers and running back James Starks failed to connect on back-to-back relatively easy throws. These are throws you just don't expect Rodgers to miss. The Packers offense has looked strong in the first half of its last two games against Detroit and the Giants, but lackluster in the second half of both games.
Nelson's return to the lineup has clearly helped the receiving crew. Jared Cook was just starting to find his place in the offense when he injured his ankle in the first half of the Detroit game. Randall Cobb is as reliable as ever. Davante Adams is still inconsistent. For every great play, like his second-quarter touchdown grab on Sunday, he makes a play like the one later in the second quarter, letting a defensive back undercut his route for an interception.
Also, the Packers kept seven receivers on their roster, but I'd sure like to see them utilized more often. So far Ty Montgomery, Jared Abbrederis, Jeff Janis and Trevor Davis have been relegated to making most of their impact on special teams. There's speed to burn with this group, but the quartet has yet to be used effectively.
Run offense: B
Whether Eddie Lacy lost 20 pounds in the offseason is up for debate. What's not deniable, however, is Lacy's looking stronger this year, hitting the hole harder and finishing runs better. When he left Sunday's game with an ankle injury, it made the Packers' ability to put the game away much more difficult. James Starks, for as valuable as he's been to the Packers' since their 2010 Super Bowl run, just is not getting the job done right now. He's dancing around in the hole, instead of making one cut and going, which is what you want from a back in a zone blocking scheme.
Aaron Ripkowski seems to be taking over the fullback spot that John Kuhn held for years well. He had a nice run Sunday night that ended with several yards after contact, though we've yet to see Ripkowski catch the occasional ball out of the backfield like Kuhn did. My only complaint: "RRRRRIIIIPPP!" doesn't nearly have the same ring as "KKKUUUUHHHHNNN!" did.
Offensive line: A
Count me among those who was scratching his head when the Packers cut all-pro guard Josh Sitton days before the start of the regular season but, as is often the case, Ted Thompson knows what he's doing.
Lane Taylor has stepped up admirably in Sitton's old spot, ranked 15th at the position according to Pro Football Focus, heading into Sunday night's game. And he was the lowest-ranked Packers' offensive lineman. This unit is a strong as ever. Aaron Rodgers had enough time in the pocket to read half of "War and Peace" in the contest against the Giants and only took a couple of hits in the game. The line has also opening up several holes in the ground game, which is really evident when you are down at field level, like I've had to opportunity to be a couple of times this year.
Linemen are like referees. The better they do, the less we talk about them. So far, there hasn't been much to chirp about regarding the Packers' O-line, and that's a good thing.
Run defense: A+
Could there really be any other grade? When as a unit you are allowing in the neighborhood of two yards per carry that is simply getting the job done. Mike Daniels, Letroy Guion and Kenny Clark have been getting the job done up front for a unit that had question marks going into the season between B.J. Raji's hiatus/retirement and Mike Pennel's suspension. Also the Packers' group of middle linebackers - including Jake Ryan, Joe Thomas and Blake Martinez - have been getting the job done on the ground.
There's a but, however. Aside from Adrian Peterson who, let's face it, was a shell of himself prior to his injury, the Packers have not faced a truly elite running back this year. That will change this coming Sunday when Ezekiel Elliott and the Dallas Cowboys come to Lambeau. If Green Bay can stop Elliott and company on the ground, I will be a true believer.
Pass defense: C
The front end of the pass defense has been slightly better this year. Clay Matthews has returned to his role at outside linebacker and is getting more pressure on the cornerback. Father time appears to have caught up with Julius Peppers, who has not been the same player through four games this season, but the Packers haven't needed him to be. Nick Perry, Datone Jones and the rookie Kyler Fackrell have all stepped up there games, giving the Packers plenty of options in terms of getting after the opposing quarterback.
The problem is, if they don't get home, the back end of the defense is likely in trouble. For as good as the middle linebackers are against the run, they are still a liability in the passing game, especially against tight ends up the seam. The secondary is banged up without Sam Shields and Damarious Randall, but they limited Odell Beckham Jr. in Sunday night's game. The one touchdown he had was of the highlight reel variety and was more the product of a great catch than poor defense.
That being said, Stefon Diggs and Marvin Jones each had monster games against the Packers' secondary. That's something the Packers will need to improve moving forward.
Special Teams: C
Whereas Thompson's move to cut Sitton shortly before the start of the regular season seems to have panned out, his decision to ax punter Tim Masthay and replace him Jacob Schum has not.
Through four games, Schum is averaging only 40.8 yards per punt with a net average of 38.0. That simply is not getting the job done. And it's not like Schum has been punting on a short field and trying to pin opponents deep. Only two of his 15 attempts have ended up inside the 20 with no touchbacks. I get that Masthay had struggled in recent years, but if you are going to cut someone like that as late in training camp as Thompson did, you better have a replacement ready who can do a better job. Early on Schum has not and, as the temperature at Lambeau begins to plummet, so will his chances of hitting long, booming punts.
Mason Crosby's performance salvages a passing grade for the defense. Four games in and Crosby has not missed a kick, going 7 for 7 on field goals and 11 on 11 on PATs. The funk he was in a couple of years ago is clearly a thing of the past.
Overall: B+
At 3-1, the Packers are on schedule through the first quarter of the season and, realistically, they are a play or two away from being 4-0. All four games have been decided by seven points or less. While it's good that the Packers are pulling out these close games, the home contests against Detroit and the Giants should have never been that close. The Packers led 31-3 late in the first half against Detroit only to have to hold on for a 34-27 win. The way the Packers played in the first half, their lead should have been much greater than 17-6, but mistakes and turnovers kept the Giants in a game they were frankly getting dominated in at the line of scrimmage.
The Packers offense, while better than it was toward the end of last season, still has not returned to that pre-2015 form. The defense has stepped up its game overall, though struggles in pass coverage have kept the team from putting away games.
Right now, Green Bay is looking up at the surprisingly undefeated Vikings, who are being carried by an excellent defense and an emerging Sam Bradford at quarterback. The Packers will have to take advantage of their upcoming stretch of home games because, the way Minnesota is playing right now, 13-3 may win this division. With the best teams in the NFC East still on the schedule, along with a surprisingly good Atlanta team, Green Bay will have little margin for error over its final 12 games if it wants to dethrone the Vikings from the top of the division.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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