SnoTap Packer Classroom: Green Bay v. New York

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. 

A-Game 
Tramon Williams - Many people probably wondered where this Tramon Williams has been all season. He played like the 2010 version of himself all game long. Williams came up hard on tackles and for the most part, he took away one part of the field. He also made a great interception on Eli Manning. I have no idea if Williams stepped his game because Sam Shields was injured, or if this ended up being a moment of brilliance for him. We will see next week.

Jordy Nelson - Before Aaron Rodgers' injury, it appeared like Jordy Nelson was a lock for a Pro Bowl spot. I still think he will probably be there, but his production did slip a little bit in his last two games against Chicago and Philadelphia. He came up big on Sunday with 117 yards of receiving on eight catches. Nelson and Scott Tolzien seemed in sync which is a good sign to see for next week against Minnesota because I doubt we are seeing someone different at quarterback.

Mason Crosby - Big day for Mason. He made a 57 yard field goal to end the first half, and give the Packers a boost heading into the break down 10-6 in a first half where they were dominated for the greater part. Take away the Philadelphia game last week, Crosby had a great season. Kickers really are football's version of closers in baseball. Every year really needs to be assessed separately versus expecting things to carryover from the year before.

B-Game 
Brad Jones - I have to think this is one of his best games of the year. Jones had 13 tackles with eleven solo ones along with a sack as well as three TFL's. Jones made a solid impact on the football game. He tackled well and made some great plays for a struggling defense. It is good to see another linebacker have a big game when it comes to making things happen.

Jarrett Boykin - My colleague Adam Hatlak made a point on Twitter last night that Boykin deserves to be a part of the big four next year. I completely agree. I am as big of a James Jones fan as they come by, but with his contract up in 2014, you have to wonder if Green Bay will move on and keep Boykin instead of giving Jones another contract. Further, I would assume Jones gets more than what he did in 2011 even at an older age. Packers are not as deep as they have been in the past couple years at receivers so who knows maybe Jones returns for another contract.

Jason Pierre-Paul - I felt like I was watching professional wrestling with Jason Pierre-Paul having a pick-six. Green Bay had somehow found themselves down only seven points with 10 minutes left to go in the game. It is like watching a wrestling match when the fan favorite underdog is battling back, and you are getting excited they might do the unthinkable. Then the favorite and bad guy gets his finisher ending the match very quickly. This what JPP picking off Tolzien felt like to me which is pretty weird but whatever. The fact Pierre-Paul knew it was coming is a little concerning.

C-Game 
Scott Tolzien - This is a game made for the C category. His yardage numbers, 339, would make an A-game without question. But three interceptions including one taking back for a touchdown, is an F. I feel Tolzien can really throw the deep ball better than expected yet he makes typical young quarterback mistakes. Two of his interceptions happened because he telegraphed the pass. I think Tolzien gets another shot this week. Matt Flynn is not really going to be any different than what Tolzien is doing, and the consistency of having the same quarterback is a good thing. Aaron Rodgers will be back for Thanksgiving, said that from the beginning.

Datone Jones - Here is one you will not see in the box score. Jones did not have a tackle, but he made some attacks to the quarterback. I have no idea if there is an advanced stat for it, but it did seem like Jones nearly made it to Manning multiple times. This is encouraging with a young player. As Jones gets older, he will get more savvy and make better moves to the quarterback.

D-Game 
Committed to run - Eddie Lacy probably had his worst game of his career thus far with the tough Giants rush defense. It did not help Mike McCarthy made a commitment to running the ball so much. As some girl once told my friend when he had some issues in bed, 'This obviously isn't working'. That's basically Green Bay's running game on Sunday. Tolzien did well throwing the football, and I really feel like if McCarthy would have went to him earlier, not only do the Packers score more, but it also would open things up for Lacy.

Punt Return Coverage - When you start losing players on the starting defense and offense really, the special teams tend to suffer. This happened with the first punt return of the game as Reuben Randle returned the ball 32 yards. Granted, Green Bay had two or three times to make a tackle, and it did not happen as Randle advanced the ball to the Green Bay side of the field. Hopefully, this improves with Cordarrelle Patterson staring them down next week.

F-Game 
Micah Hyde - He went to church on Sunday. Victor Cruz absolutely destroyed him in the slot. He ate his lunch, his mother's lunch and his father's lunch on Sunday afternoon.  I am not going to give Hyde a hard time as Cruz is one of the best slot receivers in football, but he needs to look pass this game. Consider it just a game, and come out tough next week against Minnesota. Hyde cannot let it carry over to another week.

Marshall Newhouse - He is the Packers version of Mike Gonzalez where every time he is out there, it is a complete disaster.

Charlie.