First 8 Games Report Card

No major disagreements, I'd downgrade QB and RBs but not much.

Packers best football has yet to be played this year.

Interesting that your positional groups average out to about a C- but the team gets a solid A.  Not challenging it because wholes vs sum of parts, etc.  But interesting to think about exactly why it is.  Is it AR, MLF?

I would give the team a B/B+.  You can win games in the league and still not be playing well.  They've been up and down a lot, have had some good bounces and played some crappy teams.  But AR is the great eraser and they seem to have a lot of the intangibles you look for.

I think Kevin King has been much better this season, compared to last season. He is much better in man coverage than he is in zone coverage, too. There should be two sets of stats for him, Man to Man and Zone, and use them to see how he pans out in each.

He's been up and down like the defense in general.  He struggles in space but mans up well vs big stiffer receivers.

Team  A-
7-1 for a first year coach is incredible.   They find a new way to win every week.  MLF game and clock mgt has been outstanding. 

Offense  B+
They played some really tough defenses early and did enough to win.   As of late, they have been scoring on 80% of their drives.  Rodgers has fully bought into the system and it's what we all hoped for.   When Adams comes back we will be one of the top offenses in the NFL.    There are not many better trios at the skilled position than Rodgers, Adams, Jones. 

Defense  B-
ILB is ugly and it hasn't helped that the D line isn't playing great.     The improved pass rush has helped the secondary who is good, but I don't think they are as good as most here do.   King can't stay with speed,  Williams has played better as of late but I think it's just a matter of time before teams start picking on him again.   

ST  C
Scott has been a game changer and Mason has been solid as a rock.  If the coverage and return teams were just adequate, this would be a B at least.   Hope MLF moves on from Mennanga right away.   He, being MLF, has proven that you don't need time to turn around a unit if there is talent.    Put the pressure on Murphy publicly and tell the world you need him to pay for something better. 

OL  A
Bahk and Bulaga are the best tackle tandem in the NLF right now.   Jenkins is an absolute home run of a pick, just dominating in the run game and I don't think he has allowed a sack yet.  (Not counting when #12 holds the ball for 8 secs).   Turner and Linsley have been solid as well. 

TE  C
Lewis is doing what we expected with more PT, kicking ass in the run game and being a sure handed outlet for #12.   Graham has shown more willingness to get physical blocking and I credit MLF for this.    That said, when Tonyan is ready I would like to see him take snaps from Graham.   Forget the contract, just look at the production, and it's a C.  

WR  D
Everyone here has been a disappointment except for Lazard and MVS.    Can't control injuries but Adams has zero TD's through 8 weeks.    This grade will improve by the end of the year as I think we've worked through the seating arraignment via Adams injury to learn who can produce and who can't.   Adams, MVS and Lazard will be the group going forward. 

RB  A+
Everyone has played as well as or better than we imagined.   I think MLF has more in store for Vitale in the passing game coming up too. 

QB  A
No explanation needed.

DL  C-
Clark was lights out to start the season but since the injury hasn't been making an impact.   Lowry has been up and down, I worry about that contract extension.  Everyone else is just a body.   I wish they would have added here at the trade deadline. 

ILB  D
This has been beaten to death in other threads but we need a LB who can play 3rd down.    I'd like to see what Burks and Summers have to offer but it just doesn't look like its going to happen.   Go back to last year when we were completely out of the playoff picture and Burks still didn't get any PT.  

OLB  A
The Smiths have been better than I imagined .   Fackrell has played well with his limited snaps too.   

CB  B+
Alexander has been a A while King has been up and down.    I think it's time for Williams to grab a clipboard but he's been good the last couple games.   When Brown has had to play he was decent for a #3 or #4 CB.   Only real disappointment here has been the decline of Josh Jackson.    I loved the kid coming out of school and he flashed that ball hawk potential pre season and first couple games of his rookie year.   Since then it's been a steady decline.   

S  B
Amos has been as advertised.  Not flashy but steady as a rock.   Savage looks like he has the potential to be one of the best.    Redmond isn't good but, hey, what can you expect from your 4th safety?   This kid Sullivan has been standing out and making plays.   Maybe he takes playing time from Redmond or maybe he can play the role that Greene was playing?

Can a 7 and 1 record be anything less than an A.   As Herm said, you play to win the game. They are doing just that.

And that is an A with room for improvement.

Yes, because of special teams.   It hasn't bit them in the ass yet but I think we all watch those plays with a full clinch.  

Team- A

Just Win, Baby.

the 4th quarter shart in the Philly game cost them a +

I'd like to see what Burks and Summers have to offer but it just doesn't look like its going to happen.   Go back to last year when we were completely out of the playoff picture and Burks still didn't get any PT.

THIS!!!!!!!!!

BrainDed posted:

Yes, because of special teams.   It hasn't bit them in the ass yet but I think we all watch those plays with a full clinch.  

Pucker factor is high during ST play

Team  A
7-1 is the second best record in the league. If they were 8-0 they would get an A+ and they very well could have been 8-0 save fro two shitty goal line problems v. Philly. GB is the most penalized team (by yardage) 8th in penalties called.

Offense  B-
They have scored the ball well the last couple of games but they have issues on 3rd and 4th down conversions and gaining yards. They also fumble too much.

Defense  C-
They give up way too many gash plays (worst in 40+ yd plays allowed, 5th worst in 20yd plays allowed), have serious trouble against offenses with power and/or speed. They are only average in yielding points, below average in yielding yards. They are average on 3rd down but have been very good on 4th down. They are top 10 in defensive passer rating allowed but average in sacks.

ST  C

K/P has been pretty good. Coverage teams blow. 

OL  B
Tackles and Jenkins are very good. I think Linsley peaked a couple years ago and wish they still had Tretter. He's longer, faster and a better fit for this scheme. I am not a fan of Turner. I think he's soft and a bit lazy with no killer instinct.  

TE  D
Lewis and Tonyan are the two best TEs. They can both catch and make soething happen. Graham is terrible. Has trouble running, goes down like a horny co-ed, and can hardly seem to catch. Unknown is Sternberger who should be making his appearance soon. 

WR  C

Adams is a star. MVS is a 2nd year guy who is a deep threat, can catch and blocks. Allison is a bit miscast as a slot guy but I think he decent enough. WWJ is a hell of a blocker and has made the plays he needs to when asked. Lazard has upside and a good attitude. He hates little DBs and wants to squish them, exactly what a 6'5" 230lb WR should do. Sheppard is bad (and saw he just got cut). They still need a dynamic 2nd option IMO.

RB  B+

Jones is exactly who I thought he was. Fast, shifty, accelerates and great in space. Something GB has needed for 40 years. Unfortunately Williams is who I thought he was. He's a journeyman undersized banger who will never be a dynamic runner of catcher of the ball. But he is functional and decent as a pass protector. Vitale is a very good FB. I love him. He's Kuhn but more athletic.

QB  B-
Save for the past two games Rodgers has been merely decent and not great.

DL  B-
I think this is the hardest group to grade due to the preponderance of 2 man lines. They are just expected to eat up blocks or push the pocket. They have mostly done that. I love Clark but really think he's been dinged up and playing hurt. Lowry has been the biggest disappointment to me. Doesn't get any pressure or cause any turnovers so far. Adams hasn't played much, probably due to the injury but he's been lights out on short yardage. I think Lancaster has more impactful that Lowry.

ILB  C
Martinez is who he is. Will never be a difference maker in space. But is a trust worthy component. He isn't big enough. He isn't fast enough. He isn't tall enough or long enough. Would love to find someone who is and can play. Burks can't be graded as he's just coming back from injury. Goodson is a run stuffer. Summers and Williams are inc.  

OLB  B
Smith's have been as expected for me. I love Preston Smith and Z has been impactful. Both are long and fast, something GB has needed for years. Gary has been somewhat disappointing. I like to watch him when he's in and he really has no rush moves at all - none. Never had to learn them in HS or college because he could beat 90% of OL on shear ability but no more. He does give good effort which I love to see. Fackrell is who I thought, he isn't the 10 sack guy but a 4-5 sack guy.  This group has not been good v. the run. 

CB  B-
Alexander has been not as good as the last half of last season but he's very good. King before he got the groin was playing really good ball. He was down for a couple weeks while he played through it and is getting better.  Brown showed early then got hurt. Williams has been decent. Made some plays and given some up.

S  B
Amos has been very good, especially lately. Savage is a rookie but he does something I have seen from a GB S since Nick Collins, break on the ball! Green and Campbell are inc. Sullivan has potential but think he's probably better in a CB roll. 

Coaching - I love MLFs attitude. I think it is infectious. I was asked about him after 2 games by a Colts fan about what I thought. I said I love how he handles himself in the locker room, on camera and on the sidelines. I don't know if he's a good Xs and Os coach but that part I do like. I love the offensive scheme that creates players rather than the player creating the play. Still need that but we can all see what happens when a talented player is matched up against someone not quite as talented. And I love that the offense stresses defenses through scheme, alignment and movement. Defenses look more confused v. GB than in the past 15 years.

On defense I like Angry Bald Man. I still think he has holes that get exposed but has done a pretty good job of dialing it up when needed and his players are responding. I don't think they are a top 10 defense but they are probably top 13. 

Now the whole damn team needs to stay healthy and get healthy. 

AtTheMurph posted:

Team  A
7-1 is the second best record in the league. If they were 8-0 they would get an A+ and they very well could have been 8-0 save fro two shitty goal line problems v. Philly. GB is the most penalized team (by yardage) 8th in penalties called.

#GBRefs

AtTheMurph posted:

Team  A

See, I just don't get this.  The team gets an A because they are 7-1 but each group gets B or less.  And the coaches get no grades.  I'm giving the team a B- because they should be 8-0

This is like aceing  a test but having no fucking clue as to how you got the answers. 

Barbarino & Horschack gave me the answers!

It's simple:
The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

ammo posted:

AtTheMurph posted:

Team  A

See, I just don't get this.  The team gets an A because they are 7-1 but each group gets B or less.  And the coaches get no grades.  I'm giving the team a B- because they should be 8-0

This is like aceing  a test but having no fucking clue as to how you got the answers. 

Agree 100%.  The mean of the individual grades has to be somewhat close to the overall team grade.

The individual grades, all in all, are too low.  Rodgers a B?  He is now being referred to as becoming a frontrunner for MVP.  But, he grades a B.  And why only a B for OLB?  Not enough sacks?

Inaccurately critical individual assessments.

I assume they are simply capturing the individual grades given in the game threads.

My perspective, speaking solely for myself:

I lumped MLF and staff into the team grade, mostly for the sake of brevity. I could include the FO in there, although I didn't initially.

Also factored in how the team has played over the first 8 games, meaning when the offense wasn't playing particularly well, the defense played strong. And vice-versa over the last 2-3 games. 

Another factor is points for/against. Although the defense has hemorrhaged yards at times, they have forced plenty of FGs and punts, holding opponent's scoring down. 

This is how/why I assigned a higher grade to the team although some positions were graded lower.

Timmy! posted:

It's simple:
The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Like the original Frankie 'Bag-o-Doughnuts'.

Personally. I'd give the team a B- and positional grades a B + with the exception of ST return teams because they have really, really sucked. 

I think this team is better than their 7-1 record. They just haven't showed it yet. 

I give them an F.

Should be 10-0 after 8 games.

Timmy! posted:

It's simple:
The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Do you still think the whole is greater than the sum of the parts? 

Well, the ninth game report card should clearly be F's down the line.

BrainDed posted:

WR  D
Everyone here has been a disappointment except for Lazard and MVS.     

MVS has six receptions over the past six games. That's the very definition of a disappointment from a guy supposedly your #2 receiver.

How many targets over that same time?

Too lazy to look it up.

It should be six receptions in the last five game and I've got an unofficial count of thirteen targets. Biggest problem I see with MVS is the intermediate and shorter routes aren't a significant part of his repertoire. Looking a bit like Corey Bradford- not  a lot there beyond the go route.