November 23, 2014 /
Adam Czech
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Adam - ALLGBP.com, Adam Czech, Packers
There is no more annoying noise in sports than the *expletive deleted* Minnesota Vikings’ horn. I swear the Vikings started using that horn not because they thought it was a good idea, but because they realized their team is a farce and they’d rather just annoy everyone by blowing a *expletive deleted* horn instead of trying to actually win games.
*Expletive deleted* that horn. And *expletive deleted* the Vikings.
I get that a lot of in-stadium gimmicks, chants or sounds are cheesy and a little annoying. But most of them are at least somewhat fun, catchy or ironically cool. The horn is not. The Vikings could play a sound clip of a baby crying and it would be a thousand times better than the horn.
Nickelback cranked to 11 is less annoying than the *expletive deleted* horn.
Just thinking about that *expletive deleted* horn drives me crazy. So crazy, I can’t even write about it any more.
So, let’s cut to the chase: Here are five reasons why the Packers will silence that *expletive deleted* horn later today and beat the Vikings.
Home-field advantage
TCF Bank Stadium is going to be filled with Packers fans. Vikings fans don’t want anything to do with outdoor football. I thought they’d embrace their two years playing outside at TCF, but all they do is whine and moan about it. They’re counting down the days until the new Ziggy Dome is finished so they can move back inside and listen to fake crowd noise being pumped through the speakers while their team goes 7-9. Check out secondary market prices on tickets for today’s game. Their cheap, and me thinks Packers fans are gobbling up the seats, ready to make a whole lotta noise. “Go Pack Go” chants typically drowned out the horn at the Metrodome. Here’s hoping the same thing happens at TCF.
Healthier inside
Guards Josh Sitton and T.J. Lang have toughed it out through injuries the last two weeks. Both probably won’t be 100 percent (especially Sitton) but they should keep improving week to week.
Keep on rolling
It’s unrealistic to think the Packers will roll up 50 points every game the rest of the season, but now is not a good time to be playing Green Bay. Aaron Rodgers is locked in, the offensive line is in top form and the defense is even showing signs of life. I’m not a believer in week-to-week momentum in sports, but I still wouldn’t want to get in the Packers’ way at this time.
Eddie Lacy
Just like last season, Lacy is heating up now that the weather is turning cold. He’s not running the ball as effectively as last season, but he’s become a pass-catching threat and someone defenses don’t want anything to do with as he’s rumbling through the secondary. Lacy’s best game on the ground came against the Vikings earlier this season. Let’s see if he can top 100 yards again.
Teddy checkdown
I like Teddy Bridgewater. I think he’s going to be a good quarterback and I hate that he’s probably going to help the Vikings win a fair share of games in the coming years. But right now he’s not much of a downfield threat. He checks down often, and when he does go deep, accuracy is an issues. The Packers’ will gladly let Teddy checkdown all game and bank on drives stalling, and eventually, forcing turnovers.
If that *expletive deleted* horn blows early and often, and, God forbid, the Vikings win, here’s how it might happen:
Power running
No, Adrian Peterson won’t be coming out of the tunnel for the Vikings, and both Vikings running backs are a little nicked up, but this should still be a good test to see if the Packers can stop a power running attacked. With big back Matt Asiata out due to a concussion, look for the Vikings to use the slashing Jerrick McKinnon on misdirection runs and newly acquired Ben Tate for power against the Packers’ small defensive line. Also, keep in mind that this is the Vikings’ Super Bowl. They don’t have much to play for besides throwing a wrench into the Packers’ postseason plans.
November 18, 2014 /
Adam Czech
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Adam - ALLGBP.com, Adam Czech, Packers, Packers Stock Report
It’s been tough being a Green Bay Packers blogger these last couple of weeks. A pair of blowout victories and a Packers team that is doing next to nothing wrong doesn’t leave us a lot to write about.
Obviously, we’re thrilled that the Packers are rolling. We’ll keep putting up posts about the awesomeness of Aaron Rodgers or the sudden invincibility of the Packers at Lambeau Field.
But typically the highest-viewed posts and the posts that generate the most buzz have at least a little negativity in them, something the Packers are doing that warrants criticism and us bloggers can provide insight into how the Packers might address the situation.
There hasn’t been much to criticize lately. I supposed we could bag on the Packers for not reaching 60 points in either of the last two weeks, but even the most trollish of readers would scoff at that.
At least this week the Packers’ special teams gave us something to critique and complain about. But even the special teams managed a punt return for a touchdown, so the complaining can’t be too loud.
Oh well, I’ll try and find something to write about.
On to the stock report:
Rising
Aaron Rodgers
There is no other player more important to his team than Rodgers is to the Packers. That was apparent after Rodgers was injured last season and it’s obvious now that he’s back healthy and lighting up scoreboards. I think it’s safe to say that Rodgers is the new leader in the clubhouse for NFL MVP.
Letroy Guion
Just like we all predicted, Guion is making big plays in November. Actually, nobody predicted that, but Guion is making big plays in November. There’s a lot of season left, but if Guion keeps this up, that’s a heck of a free-agent signing for Ted Thompson. Will it lead to more outside free agent signings in the future? Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves (or too crazy).
Corey Linsley
When Linsley took over for the injured J.C. Tretter, we probably would have been satisfied with a Guion type of performance: Steady improvement and holding his own in place of the injured starter. Linsley has been more than that. Much more. He’s wrecking guys in run blocking and helping his two injured guards keep the A-gap as clean as possible in pass protection. When Rodgers said Linsley deserves Pro Bowl consideration, he wasn’t kidding.
Steady
Randall Cobb
It’s like clockwork; whenever Rodgers leaves the pocket, Cobb gets open. Now the question is whether Cobb signs an extension before the season is over, or if he’ll test the free-agent market.
Clay Matthews
When did the Packers sign Dick Butkus? Did pre-injury Patrick Willis secretly leave the 49ers and join the Packers? Did Luke Kuechly not get on the Panthers team bus leaving Lambeau a few weeks ago and has been playing for the Packers since? Nope. That’s just Matthews having his way at inside linebacker.
Falling
Packers special teams
A blocked punt and a couple of botched extra points stained an otherwise near-perfect day for the Packers on Sunday. Those kinds of mistakes won’t fly as the games get tighter in December. The game will get tighter, right? I mean, the Packers aren’t going to score 50 every week, are they? Right?
Nick Perry
Perry hasn’t really seized his opportunity now that he’s getting more snaps after Matthews moved inside. Besides falling on that fumble Sunday, Perry hasn’t done much the last two weeks.
The NFL
The Packers were penalized for having too much after one of their touchdowns on Sunday. Fun, on a football field. It’s just not allowed in the NFL. We don’t want to teach the children that it’s acceptable to have fun, especially with your teammates, after a big play.
November 17, 2014 /
Adam Czech
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Adam - ALLGBP.com, Adam Czech, Packers
The level at which Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson eschews signing free agents each offseason has gone from a local talker to a national meme in recent NFL offseasons. These days, it’s not just Packers fans who smirk/smile/shake their head/grumble whenever the topic of Thompson and free agents arises.
Now, everyone talks about Thompson’s team building style. It’s not just us Packers’ fans who know what the phrase “build from within” means.
That’s why everyone turned their heads and said “HUH?!?!?” when Thompson signed Julius Peppers this offseason. Signing a guy on the wrong side of 30 who was cut by his former team seems like the exact opposite of the Thompson mantra.
But oh what a signing is has proven to be. Peppers has five sacks, two interception returns for a touchdown and has provided the long-desired pass rushing threat opposite Clay Matthews. In fact, Peppers has been so good opposite Matthews that the Packers have now moved Matthews inside.
But Peppers wasn’t the only free-agent signed by Thompson. He also signed Letroy Guion to back up B.J. Raji.
Guion wasn’t well-known enough to merit any type of reaction after he was signed, but Packers fans quickly became familiar with him after Raji tore his bicep in the exhibition season.
At first, Packers fans didn’t like what they saw. Guion looked every bit like the Vikings’ castoff we worried he was.
But he’s come around lately, even showing some pass rushing moves in addition to doing his best to clog the middle of the line so Matthews can help bolster the Packers’ run defense.
Will the success of Peppers and Guion lead to Thompson signing more free agents in the future? Who knows.
What we do know is that his two signings this offseason have proven to be good ones.
Build from within is still the mantra, but Thompson has shown that it’s ok to get a little help if you need it.
November 16, 2014 /
Adam Czech
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Adam - ALLGBP.com, Adam Czech, Packers
I went to a Garth Brooks concert on Thursday night. I’m not a huge fan of Brooks, but my wife loves him and he’s one of the biggest artists of my generation. I figured seeing Brooks live would be a good time, and I was right. He was great.
My main worry about seeing Brooks wasn’t so much the quality of his performance, it was his fans. More specifically, country fans. Even more specifically, bro country fans.
Bro country (aka pop country) is one of the lowest forms of entertainment ever created. I despise Jason Aldean almost as much as I despise Jay Cutler. To me, there’s little difference between Florida Georgia Line and Al Qaeda. Luke Bryan needs to be muzzled.
The terribleness of bro country music is made worse by the moronic fans of bro country music. You know, the 22-year-old dudebro who lives in the suburbs, buys a cowboy hat at Gap and starts using a fake southern accent. Or the 27-year-old who works in a skyscraper downtown, but thinks he’s a farmer when “Dirt” plays on the corporate-owned pop country radio station for the third time in an hour.
I was worried these creatures would be in Brooks’ audience and negatively impact my enjoyment of the show. Thankfully, I didn’t see many of them. There were very few cowboy hats in the crowd. No bro country frat boys were slamming Bud Lights and sexually harassing women. I didn’t hear anyone pretend to know how to operate a combine or manure spreader.
I equate fans of Philadelphia sports teams, including the Eagles, with bro country fans. People try and attach a certain level of charm to Philly fans, but there’s nothing charming about throwing up on kids or having to install a prison at your football stadium. Just like bro country fans give fans of legitimate country music a bad name, Philly fans give all sports fans a bad rap.
It’s because of Philadelphia sports fans that people think sports fandom is for the simple-minded and obnoxious.
On Sunday, it is up to the Green Bay Packers, home to one of the best fanbases in all of sports, to stand up to the Eagles and their bro country fan base. A victory for the Packers is not just another victory on Green Bay’s march to the Super Bowl, it’s a victory for legitimate sports fans everywhere who are sick and tired of being lumped in with the dolts who cheer for the Eagles, Phillies or Flyers.
It’s a victory for decency. Don’t let us down, Packers. Here are five reasons why they won’t:
Man in the middle
Who knows if we’ll get another week of Clay Matthews playing middle linebacker, but I think we should. Chip Kelly is probably foaming at the mouth just thinking about the possibility of getting LeSean McCoy or Darren Sproles in space against A.J. Hawk or Brad Jones. Matthews has the speed to actually pursue sideline-to-sideline and negate some the speed advantage the Eagles’ offense enjoys over the Packers’ defense.
Special teams
Whoa! Special teams as an advantage for the Packers? Against the Eagles? You’re probably wondering if I’ve listened to one too many Blake Shelton songs and now my brain is rotting away. Hear me out: The Eagles rely heavily on their special teams. If you can contain their special teams, you’ve got a huge leg up on beating them. The key to containing the other team’s dangerous special teams unit is having a good kicker and punter. It sounds overly simplistic, but I believe it to be true. Mason Crosby will boot kickoffs out of the end zone and Tim Masthay’s directional punting will frustrate the Eagles’ special teams all afternoon. Advantage Packers.
Aaron Rodgers
He’s probably mad about not setting the NFL record four touchdown passes in a game against the Bears and will take out his frustrations on the Eagles.
Health
The Packers beat the Bears 55-14 despite having both guards operating with toe/ankle injuries and Morgan Burnett still hobbled a bit with a calf injury. These nicked up players have had another week to heel up. Good news for Green Bay.
Lambeau Field advantage
Watching Rodgers and the Packers’ offense operate at home is a work of art. Rodgers is able to use his snap cadence to get the defense to show their cards pre-snap or hop offsides. Bryan Bulaga and David Bakhtiari don’t have to deal with noise and a fast track when trying to block speed-rushing ends. It feels like playing at Lambeau is once again a significant advantage for the Packers.
Sigh….sometimes good doesn’t persevere over evil. Just like bro country music outsells actual country music, sometimes the Eagles win and reward their fans for boorish behavior. Here’s how that could happen on Sunday.
Pass rush
The Eagles have some speedy pass rushers, exactly the types of rushers who give Bryan Bulaga fits. Yes, playing at Lambeau will help negate some of that speed on the edge, but Connor Barwin, Vinny Curry and Fletcher Cox are the real deal. If the Eagles can sit back with two safeties and get pressure on Rodgers with minimal blitzing, well, Packers fans have seen that scenario go bad for Rodgers and the offense all too often.
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
/
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.
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