November 11, 2014 /
Adam Czech
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Adam - ALLGBP.com, Adam Czech, Packers, Packers Stock Report
Let’s start this week’s Green Bay Packers stock report with a quick poll:
Is it more satisfying when Packers fans take over an opposing team’s stadium with “Go Pack Go” chants when the Packers win on the road, or is it more satisfying when the Packers are stomping the Bears at Lambeau Field and fans chant “Bears still suck?”
The correct answer is both, of course, but if I had to pick one, I’d go with taking over the other team’s stadium. One of my favorite Packers’ memories is walking out of Soldier Field after the Packers beat the Bears in the NFC title game and chanting “Go Pack Go” with other large groups of Packers fans. It made you feel eight feet tall (and thankful you were in a larger group of Packers fans so you didn’t get killed by depressed Bears fans).
The “Go Pack Go” chants were also loud when the Packers beat the Falcons during that same playoff run.
We can chant “Bears still suck” whenever we want to. At home, in our cars, at Lambeau Field, in the shower, and even on those rare occasions when the Bears actually have a decent team and don’t fit the traditional definition of sucking.
But it’s not very often that you get to celebrate loudly in the other team’s stadium after a big victory. Hearing Lambeau erupt in a “Bears still suck” chant was great, but I’m hoping we hear plenty of “Go Pack Go” in opposing stadiums the rest of this season.
Onto this week’s Packers stock report:
Rising
Julius Peppers
After Ted Thompson signed Peppers, there were actually people who wondered if he shouldn’t have signed Jared Allen instead. Good thing those people don’t run the Packers. Allen was a helluva player, but he’s nowhere near as gifted as Peppers. Allen also was aided for years in Minnesota by a fast indoor surface, whereas Peppers has played his entire career outdoors. So far, Peppers has delivered as we hoped he would in Green Bay.
Clay Matthews
In early October, some bozo suggested moving Clay Matthews to inside linebacker might not be such a crazy idea. The Packers tried it on Sunday, and Matthews had 11 tackles and a sack. He also nearly killed a Bears receiver who I had never heard of on a reverse. I’d like to see this experiment play out further. Matthews likely won’t dominate every game like he did on Sunday, but he’s the Packers most gifted defensive player. Sticking him inside seems to give him more opportunities to fly around and make plays in other areas besides edge pass rushing.
T.J. Lang and Josh Sitton
Normally I don’t cheat and grant multiple players rising status in the same slot, but I’m making an exception here. Lang toughed out an ankle injury and Sitton is battling through a toe injury. To see both suit up and play (and play well) against the Packers’ biggest rival says a lot about their toughness.
Military veterans
Thank you to all the veterans who read the Packers Stock Report and ALLGBP.com on a regular basis. Your sacrifice and service grants us the freedom to chant “Go Pack Go” and “Bears Still Suck.”
Steady
Jordy Nelson
Yeah, he should be in the rising category again, but seeing Nelson running past defensive backs and making big plays is starting to feel routine.
Mike McCarthy
McCarthy’s steady presence was rewarded with a contract extension this week. Cris Collinsworth and Al Michaels also had plenty of time to fill during the second half on Sunday, and used some of it to praise McCarthy. The extension from the Packers and praise from the national broadcast team are well deserved.
Falling
Nobody
When you beat the Bears 55-14 at home, nobody is falling. Well, the entire Bears franchise is falling, but you don’t need the stock report to tell you that.
November 4, 2014 /
Adam Czech
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Adam - ALLGBP.com, Adam Czech, Packers, Packers Stock Report
Since the Green Bay Packers didn’t play this week, it’s tough to do a traditional stock report.
I supposed we could look at what a couple of Packers players did over the bye week and rank their activities as rising or falling. For example, Jordy Nelson going to the World Series and Aaron Rodgers hanging out with Olivia Munn would land them in the rising category.
T.J. Lang whining about how he can’t block any punts in Madden would put him squarely in the falling category.
Ted Thompson doing whatever Ted Thompson does would make him steady. Ted Thompson is always steady.
An off-the-field Packers stock report could be interesting, but let’s save that one for another time. Instead, I’ll take a look at the Packers roster and try to predict who will rise, remain steady and fall over the season’s second half.
On to the stock report:
Rising
Aaron Rodgers
We’re seeing quarterbacks like Andrew Luck and Ben Roethlisberger put up some crazy videogame passing numbers. While Rodgers has been really good through eight games, he hasn’t had a video-game type of breakout yet. I think it’s going to happen.
Eddie Lacy
It wasn’t the stellar first half many of us predicted for Lacy. However, it wasn’t until November and December last season when Lacy really got going, logging three 100-yard rushing games. As the weather gets chillier, look for Lacy to warm up. He’s also showing signs of life as a pass-catcher, which will only help his cause.
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix
The rookie is always around the ball and is quick to close. He hasn’t made a WOW! play yet, but I get the sense that more WOW! plays are coming given how often Clinton-Dix is around the ball.
Steady
Mike Daniels
With the exception of the Seattle game, Daniels has delivered. As the Packers run defense continues to fall on its face, Daniels is going to have to remain steady down the stretch. I think he can do it.
Josh Sitton
There hasn’t been a more steady Packers offensive lineman in recent years and I don’t see any signs of that changing over the next eight games.
Mason Crosby
Hopefully I haven’t just cursed the second half of Crosby’s solid season……
Falling
Tramon Williams
Williams has looked a step slow and a few inches short on jump balls in recent weeks. I’m worried it could be a long season catching up with the aging veteran. Then again, I thought the same thing last year and Williams rebounded to have a monster second half. He even turned into an aggressive and willing tackler, something I never thought I’d see. Here’s hoping he has a similar breakout second half in 2014-15 and I’m wrong for putting him as a faller.
A.J. Hawk
What else is there left to say about Hawk? Packers fans have yearned for an alternative for years, but he’s always plugged in as the opening-day starter and he rarely lives up to starter status.
The Chicago Bears
Come Sunday at around 10:30 p.m. Lambeau Time, after another drubbing at the hands of the Packers, the Bears will have yet another reminder about why they still suck.
November 2, 2014 /
Adam Czech
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Adam - ALLGBP.com, Adam Czech, Packers, Surviving Sunday
With the Green Bay Packers on a bye, I figured this was a good time to resurrect Surviving Sunday for a week and ask a question that has been on my mind during this week without Packers football. Actually, two questions have been on my mind:
- If Brett Favre was the Packers quarterback during the Aaron Rodgers’ era, how many interceptions would Favre throw?
- If Rodgers was the Packers quarterback during the Favre era, how many interceptions would Rodgers throw?
I think it’s fascinating to think of Favre as the Packers QB in today’s era. Favre threw 50 interceptions over his first three seasons as the Packers’ starter. Over Rodgers’ 10 NFL seasons, now in his seventh as a starter, he’s thrown a total of 55 interceptions.
What if Rodgers threw 50 picks over his first three seasons leading the Packers offense like Favre did? He’d probably be benched or cut from the team.
What if Favre had a full career in today’s NFL, where quarterbacks are overprotected and it’s borderline illegal to play pass defense? There’s a good chance those interception numbers would be down.
Would they be significantly down? Hard to say given how Favre played the game, but it is safe to say it’d be fewer than 50 over three seasons.
You also have to factor in Mike McCarthy’s emphasis on winning the turnover battle every week and the realization from every NFL team that, hey, turning the ball over is bad. Let’s not do that.
And don’t forget about the Packers’ Rodgers’ era defense. Would Favre be more cautious if he played on today’s Packers because their defense isn’t that good? Or would he be even more Favre-like and take even more risks to make up for defensive leakiness?
What if Rodgers played in the 90s on those Packers teams that featured the likes of Reggie White, LeRoy Butler and Gilbert Brown on defense? Would he let a few more risky passes fly if he had confidence that his defense would clean up any mistakes he made? Or would he continue using his ridiculously great turnover ratio to the Packers’ advantage?
I’d also be interested to see if Rodgers changed his tune about holding the ball if he played in Favre’s era. Back then, you could hit quarterbacks, high or low, and drive them into the ground. Today, there’s a middle target area defenders must aim for and excessively slamming the QB into the turf draws a flag.
Both Favre and Rodgers would thrive in any era, but it’s interesting to think about the turnover question.
Chime in with your thoughts in the comments section, but please don’t turn it into another tired Rodgers vs. Favre debate. All I want to know is what you think both quarterback’s interception numbers would look like if they swapped eras.
Oh, I just thought of a bonus question: What if Twitter existed during Favre’s rise to prominence in the 90s? Picture Ron Wolf’s and Mike Holmgren’s face if they woke up on a Sunday morning before a big game and saw this on Favre’s Twitter feed.
Packers news, notes and links
- Still bored during the bye week? Was this Surviving Sunday column not entertaining enough for you. Fine. If you need even more Packers bye week content, the crew at Packerstalk.com has all kinds of new podcasts up. You really can’t go wrong with any of them, but the ‘Ol Bag of Donuts guys always make me chuckle.
- Zach at CheeseheadTV.com hands out his Packers midseason awards. Can’t say I disagree with any of his selections. For defensive MVP, I might have gone with Tramon Williams over Mike Daniels.
- In case you don’t get enough Dom Capers discussion during Packers games on Sunday, Dan at LombardiAve.com has a reasoned breakdown of the Packers defensive coordinator everyone loves to hate.
- If you’re finishing up the last of your kid’s Haloween candy, chow down on those fun size Reese’s and Snickers while reading ALLGBP.com’s Kris Burke Halloween-themed take on the Packers’ season thus far.
Non-Packers links and other nonsense
- Take this poll to determine if your bathroom habits are weird. If you take your pants off all the way to poop, you’re a weirdo.
- This story on what hostages of ISIS endure while in captivity is sobering, scary and extremely well reported.
- Kansas City Royals’ pitchers threw 2,287 pitches that reached 97 miles-per-hour or more this season. Minnesota Twins’ pitchers threw one.
- I’m a sucker for games or “Would you rather,” so this drew me right in.
- Did you know that it’s bee 25 years since the Berlin wall came down?
- If you missed Mastodon perform on David Letterman earlier this week, check it out here.
- Finally, good luck and be safe if you’re heading into the Minnesota or Wisconsin woods in the coming weeks to try and bag that 30-point buck. I’ll be in my deer stand bright and early on Saturday, likely firing off some #TweetsFromTheDeerStand.
October 28, 2014 /
Adam Czech
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Adam - ALLGBP.com, Adam Czech, Packers, Packers Stock Report
After eight games and heading into the bye week, the Green Bay Packers are about what we thought they were (cue the Denny Green soundbite).
- Aaron Rodgers is amazing and does amazing things.
- When Rodgers get hurt, even if it’s just a silly hamstring pull that he plays through, things go to hell in a hurry.
- The defense is better, but still not quite where it needs to be.
- The safety position is better than last year because 1) it couldn’t get much worse, 2) Ha Ha Clinton-Dix has a future and 3) Morgan Burnett looks improved.
- Inside linebacker hasn’t gotten worse, but it’s still no good.
- The injury situation is better, mainly because it couldn’t get much worse than it has been in recent years.
- The defensive line might be the one position that hasn’t lived up to expectations, even though those expectations were modest.
Add all that up and you get a team that’s 5-3 at the bye and on pace for around 11 wins and another division title despite its flaws. That’s about where most reasonable people pegged the Packers to finish.
The bothersome thing about this year’s team is that they’re so hard to read. Different areas of the team, including the coach’s decision making and playcalling, are up and down on a week-to-week basis.
Is that a sign of an inconsistent team that will go on a run once they put it all together? Or is that a sign of team that is good, but not quite good enough?
We’ll find out over the next two months. For now, onto the stock report:
Rising
Randall Cobb
This is about to become Cobb’s theme song after he signs a big contract, hopefully with the Packers. Will he hire a body guard named Virgil to guard against ketchup-wielding fans at Lambeau?
Eddie Lacy
Davante Adams has come along nicely as the Packers’ third receiver. After catching 100-plus yards worth of passes on Sunday, Lacy can stake claim to being the Packers’ fourth receiver.
Josh Sitton
Sitton never has a game where he’s totally worked over. He rarely even has stretches of games where his man gets the best of him. Year in year out, game in game out, Sitton shows up and gets the job done.
Steady
Mason Crosby
Will I always be nervous when Crosby trots out to kick a field goal? Probably, but perhaps it’s time we apply Aaron Rodgers’ advice to Crosby’s kicks and just R-E-L-A-X. He’s been steady as can be so far.
Falling
Michah Hyde
He just doesn’t seem fast enough to be an impact player. You can’t argue with the value the Packers have squeezed out of him as a later-round draft choice, but if injuries in the secondary persist, the Packers will need more from Hyde.
Josh Boyd
All we needed Boyd to do this season was develop into the 2010 version of C.J. Wilson: an unspectacular, but reliable and athletic run-stopper. So far, it hasn’t happened.
Refs
A small part of me died when Davon House was whistled for pass interference because he “cut off the receiver’s route.” By that definition, the very action of playing pass defense is a penalty.
October 26, 2014 /
Adam Czech
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Adam - ALLGBP.com, Adam Czech, Packers
The New Orleans Saints are a not quite as good version of the Green Bay Packers.
Both teams have elite quarterbacks, but Drew Brees isn’t quite as good as Aaron Rodgers. In 12 seasons as a starter, Brees has thrown double-digit interceptions 11 times and is well on his way to 10 or more picks this season, his 13th as a starter. Rodgers has thrown double-digit picks in just two seasons and has just one so far in 2014.
Both teams have excellent coaches, but Sean Payton isn’t quite as good as Mike McCarthy. Payton is 75-43, a .641 winning percentage. McCarthy is 87-47, a .649 winning percentage. Payton is also an a$$hole. McCarthy is not.
Both teams have had bad defenses since winning a recent Super Bowl. We could probably call this one a draw.
Both teams have unique home stadiums. However, the Saints’ home field is enclosed by a dome. Lambeau Field is outside, where football was meant to be played. Advantage: Packers.
The Saints and Packers have played three times since Rodgers took over as Green Bay’s starter. The Packers lead the series 2-1.
The list could go on and on. The Saints are a dang good team, but they’re not as good as the Packers. And they won’t be as good on Sunday night.
Here are five reasons why:
Desperate team
There’s a lot of buzz that the Saints will be a desperate team tonight, fighting to stay alive in the playoff race. This is bogus for two reasons: 1) When you’re 2-4, you’re a bad team, not a desperate one. Sure, there’s plenty of time for the Saints to turn things around, but calling a team “desperate” is code for “this team has stunk;” and 2) The Saints are only a game out of first place. Teams that are a game out of first are not “desperate.” Forget the meaningless national narrative. The Saints will not be playing extra hard on Sunday because they’re “desperate.”
One-armed Jimmy
Superstud tight end Jimmy Graham is battling a shoulder injury and was mainly used as decoy last week. Because the Packers are so slow at middle linebacker, they struggle covering tight ends. But even A.J. Hawk and whoever lines up next to him should be able to at least contain Graham if he’s playing with one arm.
Another bad secondary
It seems like whenever I sit down to write these “5 reasons” game previews every week, whichever team the Packers are playing has a terrible secondary, a secondary decimated by injury, or both. The Saints chose to draft speedy WR Brandin Cooks in the first round instead of a defensive back, and now the back end of their defense is a mess. If the Packers offensive line can deal with the crowd noise and keep Rodgers upright, QB1 should have another big night in prime time.
Fast start
I’m liking this new Packers trend of taking the opening kickoff and scoring right away. There’s nothing wrong with deferring to the second half to try and double up, but there’s something about the Packers scoring right away and putting their opponent in “Uh-oh, now we’re down 7-0 to Aaron Rodgers. Time to panic!” mode. It’s essential that the Packers take an early lead against the Saints. It’ll shut that crowd that up and hopefully force the Saints to pass often instead of handing off to their sneaky good running backs.
Tom Crabtree
The Saints keep signing former Packers fan favorite Tom Crabtree and cutting him. It’s annoying and the Packers must avenge this mistreatment. I’m guessing New Orleans keeps signing Crabtree to try and get him to share inside info about the Packers. Here’s how those conversations probably went:
Saints: Hey Crabtree, we’ll sign you if you tell us all the Packers secrets.
Crabtree: Cool, where do I sign?
Saints: Right here. Now spill your guts. What’s the key to beating those guys?
Crabtree: Don’t let Aaron Rodgers throw for 500 yards and seven touchdowns.
Saints: Well, duh. We already knew that. What else?
Crabtree: That’s all there is to know.
Saints: Gett outta here, you’re cut.
Crabtree: K. Bye.
*A week later.*
Saints: Thanks for re-signing, Crabtree. Now, don’t hold out on us this time, tell us what the Packers don’t want us to know.
Crabtree: Ok. I’m serious this time. I REALLY mean this. You’re not going to beat the Packers if you let Aaron Rodgers do Aaron Rodgers things and tear you apart.
Saints: Grrrr. Leave.
Crabtree: See ya.
Even low-down dirty Bountygate teams who jerk around Tom Crabtree cheat their way to a win over the Packers every now and then. Here’s how the Saints could make that happen today:
Silent count
The Packers used an annoying version of the silent snap count on offense during the Miami game. Rodgers would let the play clock bleed down to one second, then call for the ball. It allowed the Dolphins to time the snap perfectly and put a hurtin’ on Rodgers all game. The Saints defensive line isn’t nearly as good as Miami’s, but if they can use the home crowd noise to get a jump on the Packers’ pass blockers, things could turn ugly. The Superdome (or whatever it’s called now) is just not an easy place to play.
October 21, 2014 /
Adam Czech
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Adam - ALLGBP.com, Adam Czech, Packers, Packers Stock Report
After the Green Bay Packers throttling of the Carolina Panthers, how do you put any Packers in the falling category?
You know the Packers are on a roll when 1) the safety position is a strength; 2) Nick Perry is healthy and playing well; 3) their top cornerback is out and barely anyone notices; 4) the injury list is short, especially when compared to recent seasons; and 5) Aaron Rodgers is saying he and the team could be playing better.
Rodgers is typically overly positive when the Packers are playing poorly. When the Packers are rolling, Rodgers usually talks about all the improvements that need to happen. As Packers fans, we want Rodgers in “we can be better” mode, not R-E-L-A-X mode.
Will all this jubilation carry into the bye week after a road victory over the Saints this week? Or will the #FireCapers hashtags return after Drew Brees knocks the Packers defense down a few pegs?
Who knows. Just when you think you have a decent grip on who’s good and who’s not good in the NFL, the Rams beat the Seahawks, the Cowboys start 5-1, Kyle Orton wins a couple games as a starting QB and you start making ice fishing plans for hell.
On to the Packers Stock Report:
Rising
Aaron Rodgers
After another dazzling game from his quarterback, Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Rodgers is playing better than he did during his 2011 MVP campaign. That sounds like it easily could be coachspeak hyperbole, but I think McCarthy is right. Rodgers makes a handful of ridiculously difficult throws per game (and mixes in a few nice runs, as well) and makes it all look much easier than it actually is.
Randall Cobb
Welcome to the rising category, Randall. It took you a little longer than we thought to arrive, but now that you’re here, please stay awhile. Oh, and since you’re probably going to be making a whole lot of money in the very near future, do you mind picking up the tab when the pizza delivery guy arrives? K, thanks!
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix
It’s refreshing to see the Packers defense flying around again. They’re still not the physical, hard-hitting force that teams fear, but in today’s league, you don’t have to be. What’s been maddening about the Packers defense in recent years was their lack of explosiveness. They were always a step slow, and if they were in position to make a play, they’d flail at the ballcarriers feet and whiff or get dragged an extra three yards. Clinton-Dix has helped bring some of that explosiveness back. He won’t knock a guy’s helmet off with a big hit or shut down the other team’s top WR, but he’s always around the ball and his tacking is getting better each week.
Steady
Nick Perry
It looks like there’s hope for Perry, after all. In a limited role, Perry has been stout on the edge against the run and an effective power pass rusher. Now, let’s see if he can stay healthy and continue to contribute in the season’s second half.
Letroy Guion
Who put a quarter in Guion? Ever since tearing up his old team on Thursday night, Guion has held his own inside and has even provided the occasional big play. Pro Football Focus gives Guion a positive grade in each of his last three games.
Casey Hayward
All the guy does is pick off passes. You could also put Davon House in this spot. Either way, the Packers deep secondary is leading the resurgence on defense.
Falling
The fan who dumped ketchup on Randall Cobb
It had to have been a Panthers fan guilty of this offense. Packers fans know how to catch the Packers player doing the Lambeau Leap and maintain control of their food and beverage. What if Cobb is allergic tomoatos? What if he prefers sauer kraut on his dogs? What if some of the ketchup got in his eye and he was blinded the rest of the game? These are all things fans sitting in the Lambeau Leap zone need to be aware of. Keep the players clean when they make the leap.
The Chicago Bears
The Bears’ recent struggles have nothing to do with the Packers or the Packers’ next opponent. But it’s always important that you never miss an opportunity to point out how the Bears still suck.
October 19, 2014 /
Adam Czech
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Adam - ALLGBP.com, Adam Czech, Packers
I gotta admit, on Monday and Tuesday I was worried about the Green Bay Packers losing to the Carolina Panthers this week.
Sam Shields and Datone Jones are out. Tramon Williams might also be out. Cam Newton is one of the best running quarterbacks in the league, and we all know what happens when the Packers encounter a running quarterback. Luke Kuechly is like Brian Urlacher and Patrick Willis rolled into one player.
But when you dig into this matchup, you don’t have to dig too far before you realize the Packers are the better team. With the exception of middle linebacker and maybe defensive line, the Packers have the advantage at every position group on the field.
Normally I use the intro to these “5 Reasons” posts to endlessly mock and ridicule the Packers’ opponent. But are the Panthers, a two-player team, really worth mocking and ridiculing? Not really.
After today, the Panthers will be just another pelt on the Packers’ 2014 wall.
Here are five reasons why this Packers victory is already in the bag:
Not your 2013 Panthers
Remember the 2013 Panthers and their hard-hitting, almost-as-good-as-Seattle’s defense? Those days are long gone. The freaking Bengals nearly racked up 40 points on the Panthers’ D, and that was without A.J. Green. Pass-rushing nightmare Greg Hardy is suspended and standout safety Mike Mitchell is in Pittsburgh. As long as Kuechly doesn’t go completely crazy, the Packers’ offense should have a big day.
No-name WRs
If rookie WR Kelvin Benjammin misses the game with a concussion, the Panthers might just run the ball 75 times, 70 of which will be some type of option play or scramble with Cam Newton. Beyond Benjammin, I have no idea who the Panthers WRs are. Usually when I don’t know something while I’m writing a blog post, I look it up. But this is the Panthers WRs we’re talking about. Who cares about the Panthers WRs? Not me, so I’m not going to look up who they are. If Benjammin is out, the Packers won’t care, either.
Always-injured RBs
Jonathan Stewart says he’ll start today. He also predicted he’ll play an entire game without getting injured for the first time since 2008. I’ll believe it when I see it.
Aaron Rodgers TD-INT ratio
Aaron Rodgers has 15 touchdowns and one interception. Repeat: Aaron Rodgers has 15 touchdowns and one interception. He also has the best touchdown-to-interception ratio in the history of the NFL. Everyone in the entire world is impressed by those stats, expect this weird Dolphins homer over at fivethirtyeight.com who thinks Rodgers needs to throw more interceptions. Seriously, that’s what he thinks. Dolphins fans, man.
3-WR threat
It’s been fun to watch Davante Adams develop and help bring back a true three-WR threat to this Packers’ offense. Adams still has a long ways to develop, and his week-to-week production is far from a guarantee, but defenses at least have to pay attention to him now.
Whoa, Adam! You’re always cocky and tongue-in-cheek overconfident in this weekly column, but today you’re especially flippant and dismissive of the Panthers. The Packers could be without their two starting CBs. Cam Newton might run for 200 yards. Luke Kuechly might make 73 tackles. This game is far from a gimme for the Packers. Am I right?
Two players
Yes, ominous voice of reason who always types in italic font, you are right. Newton and Kuechly are both amazing players capable of taking control of games and carrying their team to victory. It could happen against the Packers. I doubt it will happen, but it could (see, I can type in italic, too).
October 14, 2014 /
Adam Czech
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Adam - ALLGBP.com, Adam Czech, Packers, Packers Stock Report
Before we get to this week’s Packers Stock Report, what category would you put the Green Bay Packers in as a team after six games?
I’d say, overall, the Packers are steady.
They’ve done plenty of dumb things to land in the falling category and made plenty of huge plays that would merit a rising designation. When you add it all up, the Packers are right about where I, and many others, thought they’d be. They’re steady.
The Packers are relying heavily on Aaron Rodgers to make plays and lead the offense. For the most part, he’s coming through.
The secondary is anchoring an improved, but not yet good, defense. We’ll see what happens to this unit after recent defensive injuries.
There’s a mix of overachieving players (Jamari Lattimore and Corey Linsley) and underachievers (Clay Matthews and Eddie Lacy). Hopefully the overachievers keep it up and and underachievers get rolling.
The defensive line and inside linebackers have been liabilities, like everyone predicted.
Injury luck, until Sunday, was better than recent years. Sounds like the injuries to Tramon Williams, Sam Shields and Jamari Lattimore aren’t long term, so hopefully that injury luck continues.
Add all that up, combine it with a 4-2 record, and the steady description fits this team well.
Now the key is staying steady through Thanksgiving. From there, the teams who crank it up and enter the rising category will play in the Super Bowl. Hopefully the Packers are one of those teams.
Onto the Stock Report.
Rising
Aaron Rodgers
The fake spike play is getting all the national attention, but the touchdown pass to Randall Cobb in the third quarter was an amazing piece of quarterbacking. Rodgers is the first quarterback in NFL history with at least 15 touchdown passes and only one interception through his team’s first six games. And remember his only pick this season? He hit Jordy Nelson in the hands and it ricocheted to a defender.
Jordy Nelson
We’re getting close to creating a special Jordy Nelson category of the Packers Stock Report. Every week the guy is making both spectacular plays and the types of “regular” plays that a superstar receiver needs to make. Like Rodgers, it’s almost a given that Nelson will be rising every week.
Davante Adams
I think it’s safe to say Rodgers is starting to trust his young receivers. In a span of less than two months, Rodgers has gone from hesitant about his young targets to telepathically communicating with one of them, Adams, on a fake-spike play late in a close game.
Steady
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix
He hasn’t been flashy, but he’s been solid, which is exactly what the Packers needed at safety. Clinton-Dix still whiffs on a tackle here and there, but he’s always buzzing around the ball. More big plays will come if he keeps it up.
James Starks
James Starks in 2014: 35 carries, 152 yards, 4.3 yards per carry. Eddie Lacy in 2014: 80 carries, 306 yards, 3.8 yards per carry. Not saying Starks should leap Lacy on the depth chart. What I am saying is that Starks has been a nice luxury to have as Lacy struggles. Those shotgun draws seem more suited for a quicker running back like Starks instead of Lacy. How about that 10-yard dash before the two-minute warning on Sunday? Great stuff.
Davon House
If Sam Shields and/or Tramon Williams miss time, get ready to see more of House. He’s been an excellent depth cornerback this season. Can he take the next step if asked to do so? We might be about to find out.
Falling
Clay Matthews
I always thought Matthews was underrated as a run defender. Not any more. His lack of discipline often leaves the edge totally exposed and he’s helpless on zone reads run in his direction. He’s disappeared on pass rushes far too often as well. Someone tell me to R-E-L-A-X about Matthews. I’m worried.
Brad Jones
Jones and Jarrett Bush were on the field at the same time for the Packers in the second half on Sunday. No wonder the defense struggled.
Rodgers’ clutch critics
Remember when people said Rodgers isn’t a clutch quarterback? Obama needs to deport those people to a different country.
October 13, 2014 /
Adam Czech
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Adam - ALLGBP.com, Adam Czech, Packers
Am I crazy to think that the Green Bay Packers should consider moving Clay Matthews to inside linebacker if Jamari Lattimore is out for a significant amount of time?
It probably won’t happen, but here’s why I think the Packers should at least think about it:
- It would get Brad Jones off the field. The Packers had nobody else to plug in once Lattimore went down Sunday, so they were stuck using Jones at inside linebacker. Once again, it was obvious that Jones does not belong on the field. Moving Matthews inside would keep Jones out of the starting lineup and on the sidelines.
- In their limited roles, Nick Perry and Mike Neal have been solid. Perry is strong at the point and sets a good edge against the run. Neal disappears for stretches, but also has stretches where he gets after the quarterback. Between the two of them, I think they could hold down the outside linebacker spot opposite Julius Peppers if Matthews moved inside.
- Matthews is struggling outside. It’s been a quiet season for Matthews, especially after he injured his groin against Detroit. He’s not getting after the quarterback, he’s not setting the edge against the run or read-option and ballcarriers have no problem cutting it back inside on Matthews when they encounter him in space.
- When I watch Matthews play, it seems like he’d fit well inside. His over-aggressiveness hurts him at times on the outside. In tight spaces inside, that aggressiveness combined with Matthewss’ athleticism I think would help him sort through trash and make plays, something we haven’t seen from a Packers inside linebacker since Desmond Bishop.
Cons to moving Matthews inside include his lack of discipline being a liability and the usual concerns about having a player switch positions midseason. Asking a player with groin/hamstring issues to run around and cover tight ends and running backs might also be a bad idea. The Packers also don’t want to overreact to a rough stretch of games for Matthews. There’s a good chance he’s just in a slump outside and will snap out of it soon.
I highly doubt we’ll see Matthews take any more snaps than he usually does at inside linebacker, but it’s an intriguing option. The Packers should do whatever they can to keep Jones off the field.
October 12, 2014 /
Adam Czech
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Adam - ALLGBP.com, Adam Czech, Packers
Whenever you’re feeling down Green Bay Packers fans, remember this: It could be worse. We could be Dolphins fans.
Like the Packers, the Dolphins had it really good for a really long time back in the day. Super Bowl titles, an undefeated season, Hall of Fame coaches, and Dan Marino, one of the best quarterbacks of all time.
For a long time, the Dolphins were right up there with the Packers when it came to franchise greatness.
Then the post-Marino era arrived, and while the Packers’ mystique continued rising with more Super Bowls, more playoff appearances and more great quarterbacks, the Dolphins have been submerged in terribleness.
Check out this list of stiffs who have played quarterback after Marino: Jay Fiedler, A.J. Feeley, Gus Ferrotte, Joey Harrington, Cleo Lemon (huh?), Chad Pennington, Chad Henne, Matt Moore and Ryan Tannehill.
Can you imagine how miserable all of us Packers fans would be if we had to endure even two of those guys suiting up in the green and gold and trying to succeed Brett Favre? I love the Packers and always will, but even my Packers’ loving heart would have a hard time loving Cleo Lemon if he was under center at Lambeau Field.
Here’s hoping the Packers go easy on the Dolphins this afternoon. Maybe beat them by three touchdowns instead of seven. They’ve had it rough since their star quarterback left.
Here are five reason why the Packers will extend the Dolphins 14 years of post-Marino misery by at least one more week:
Ryan Tannehill
Tannehill is one of those quarterbacks who seems like he should be good, but he isn’t. He can run, he’s got a good arm, he seems to be a bright kid and a hard worker. But when you add it all up, you get….Ryan Tannehill. The Packers secondary, mixed in with some blitzes from Dom Capers, and Tannehill is a QB the Packers should be able to handle.
Linebackers
Pop quiz: Are the following players Dolphins linebackers or UPS deliverymen? Phillip Wheeler, Koa Misi, Jason Trusnik and Jelani Jenkins. If you guessed Dolphins linebackers, you win. Unfortunately for the Dolphins, this lackluster linebacker crew hasn’t helped them win much of anything.
Packers offensive line
Don’t you get the feeling that it’s all finally starting to come together for the Packers offensive line. The Dolphins defensive line will be a big test, but the Packers o-line has kept Aaron Rodgers clean for two straight games and showed signs of life in run blocking against the Vikings.
Defense
Led by an underrated secondary, the Packers defense has held three straight opponents under 20 points. They’re also forcing turnovers and getting after the quarterback. That said, everyone still thinks the Packers defense stinks. The Dolphins’ muddling offense will be another stepping stone for a defense trying to prove itself.
Ha Ha and Morgan
Oh what a difference a year makes. Gone are Jerron McMillian and M.D. Jennings. A healthy Morgan Burnett and rookie Ha Ha Clinton-Dix have turned the safety position from a game-breaking weakness into a strength for the Packers. Burnett might have played the best game of his career against the Vikings. Now, let’s see if the duo can keep it up.
Even a lowly franchise with a rotating carousel of rotten QBs can win a game every now and then, even against the Packers. If the Dolphins somehow manage to win today, don’t panic. Remind gloating Dolphins fans (do any Dolphins fans care enough about the Dolphins to gloat about anything?) that the Packers followed one hall-of-fame QB with another one. Anyway, here’s how the Dolphins could sneak away with a victory.
The usual formula
By now, it’s no secret how to beat the Packers: Get after Rodgers will four pass rushers, play two high safeties and dare Mike McCarthy to try and run it. The Packers might not see constant two-high safeties from Miami, but the Dolphins have the type of defensive line that usually drives the Packers bonkers. Cameron Wake is more than capable of completely throwing off the Packers offense all by himself.
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