We give grades to the different aspects of the Packers game from Sunday or Monday. Am I too critical sometimes? Yes. Am I also too nice sometimes? Yes. I do not have a teaching degree in case you were wondering.
If you missed my morning post, I wrote about Aaron Rodgers. I assume most of you are looking for that but there were other Packers and moments that occurred in the this game.
A-GameEddie Lacy - The light shined bright on the young Alabama running back when Rodgers went down with injury. The Packers rookie had a chance to make a statement on Monday night and he did just that. Lacy carried the ball for a career high 150 yards with on 22 carries averaging 6.8 yards a carry. He also had a bruising run of 56 yards setting up his one-yard touchdown in the third quarter. Lacy looks like a complete star whether Rodgers is in there or not.
Jamari Lattimore - He played great again in a little different role for the Packers. Lattimore did see some time playing defense but most of his A-worth play came from Special Teams. He blocked a punt in the first half giving the Packers a short field and then Lattimore did a great job with the big balls onside kick by Mike McCarthy. Lattimore is a good player no matter where you put him. I am convinced he could play quarterback too. I will be interested to see if he gets more time in the following game.
Josh McCown - ESPN had quotes from Josh McCown feeling 'great' about his chances on Monday night. I sort of shrugged it off feeling like McCown would make some mistakes tonight and the Packers could take advantage. It did not happen as the Bears quarterback went for 272 yards with two touchdowns. He looked very efficient under his head coach Marc Trestman. I do not think McCown is the long-term plan, but with how many quarterbacks are in the draft plus Trestman's ability to help quarterbacks, does it really make sense to keep Jay Cutler at the high price? I am not saying McCown is the answer just so we are clear.
B-Game
B.J. Raji - Matt Forte had a big game on the ground, yet I still feel like B.J. Raji played his ass off last night. For what it is worth, he had the biggest known impact game for the season. Known impact means hearing his name by the announcers versus what Raji has been doing this year where he creates pathways for linebackers to make plays. Raji is having a Pro Bowl quality season in my opinion and hopefully he will continue to have known impact games.
Andrew Quarless - It is also hard to give a B to a guy whom had five catches for 34 yards but hear me out. Quarless is known around the Packer fanbase as a player with similar skills to Jermichael Finley but he has worse hands. Quarless became the major target for Seneca Wallace and he deliver. I think he caught the ball when Mike McCarthy refused to challenge in the second half. Hopefully Quarless is hitting his stride as a tight end and will continue to progress in the coming weeks.
C-Game
Morgan Burnett - Maybe it is not his fault, but he needed to be more involved than he was last night. Burnett made some plays yet he did not really come over the top on Brandon Marshall or Alshon Jeffery. He also failed to come up in the flats allowing Forte to run wild. Like I said, Burnett might have been a victim of the system but making him obsolete makes part of the system flawed.
A.J. Hawk - First average game from Hawk this season. This happens with players honestly. He ended up with eight tackles, but Forte took full control when he hit the second level. The Packers have been able to hold running backs at the level at the very worst this year but last week, the rushing defense went to complete shit. Hopefully, Hawk bounces back but it will not get any easy for him with LeSean McCoy coming Lambeau next week.
D-Game
Seneca Wallace - Yes he did not play great. I cannot really defend anything we saw from Seneca Wallace because frankly, he did not play well at all. Remember Wallace was thrown into action in a Monday Night game at Lambeau Field against a good team. He struggled mightily throwing the football and staying in the pocket. I would like to see Wallace with a full week practicing with the one's versus just getting limited time at practice. I still feel okay with Wallace back there.
The return of James Jones - This is not James Jones' fault at all but this kind of flew under the radar. Jones returned, he had one catch and at least the Packers have that going for them. Jones can be a good option for Wallace in the next couple of weeks as he can play both the slot and go outside. It is nice to have James back and healthy.
Dom Capers - We have seen precedent of this with Capers. If he faces a brand new offense, he looks like Tom Hanks character from Cast Away. Just completely lost with no idea what is going on. Marc Trestman ran a clinic against him and Capers will need to do much more so Green Bay is better prepared the final game of the year. I will not rush to judgement, but it is scary to see another new offense, Philadelphia, next week.
F-Game
McCarthy's missed challenge - Still unsure why McCarthy did not throw the flag here. Green Bay pinned Chicago back but what could it have hurt to challenge that play? The Packers challenge it and if it fails, it is a timeout lost in the first half. I do not believe Green Bay even used a timeout in the first half. McCarthy needs to throw the kitchen sink with a backup quarterback in there. If they reverse the call, it is at least a field goal attempt for the Packers.
Casey Hayward - Real bad game from Hayward. He looked completely exposed in the slot all game long. He missed a big tackle on Martellus Bennett down the stretch on a short third down completion. Hayward needs to be better out there. It could be a case of him just trying to get comfortable after being out so long, but he did not look good.
Marshall Newhouse - He came in for T.J. Lang and moved to right tackle for Don Barclay whom shifted over to Lang's position. Newhouse was the Packers left tackle last season and he looked horrible against a Bears defense that only allowed nine sacks all season. It looked like Chicago of old out there and Newhouse deserves some of that criticism. Hopefully, Lang can return from a concussion because Newhouse is not the answer at right tackle.
-Charlie.
0 comments:
Post a Comment