+'s/-'s Ravens Packers

He was sacked over 50 times last season PackerBacker. He looks more average when he has no one to throw to, I'll give you that.

I thought Rodgers had a sub-par game. His accuracy today just wasn't there for the most part. There were a few drops, but he also had a whole bunch of throws that just were not accurate by any QB standard.  Still the best (or one of anyway), but not very good today overall.. With the way the defense played, the Packers should have won this game going away.  He WAS clutch in the end, though, and I'd rather he have an occasional poor game in a win than several stellar performances in a loss.

 

And what was the deal with him and clock management??? We're plays just not getting called in to I'm quick enough or what???

Rodgers was under pressure all day and playing with receivers who weren't getting open. It's tough to play QB that way.

Regardless of who his WRs, many of his throws were uncharacteristically off. Sure there was pressure, but there's been pressure all year. And last year. And the year before, etc. He was just off for most of the game IMO. He's allowed bad games, especially in wins. And he made a couple of big pays down the stretch to secure a victory.

It seems to me since the Packers have gone to 50% run 50% pass Rodgers just doesn't have the rhythm he's had in the past.  In the past once he got hot he stayed hot for the game and that is why he is the most accurate passer in the NFL.  But with the new commitment to run the fricken ball, which MM always said he would do but never did, Rodgers just can't seem to get that completion streak going and keep it going.

I don't think it's a coincidence that with a better running game our defense is suddenly better. Amazing what a little rest and a shortened game will do for big fat guys.

It's ok to say Rodgers had a bad day.  He's human, it happens.  Best thing though, is that they were able to beat the defending Super Bowl champs on the road with a subpar performance by him.  This isn't a one man team like it was in 2011; we have 45 players on game day that can make plays to win the game.  I like that more than praying AR is perfect every week.  

 

And for the record, that interception was very un-Rodgers like.  He really forced that throw to Jordy.  Don't usually see that from AR.  

The only play from Rodgers that I was pissed about was the INT (that was a Favre pass). The two incompletions to Boykin looked ugly, but I'd have to guess that is mostly due to Boykin being in the wrong spot.

+

Hawk with possibly the best game of his career

Crosby in a groove

Lacey with another nice game

-

poor clock management/ wasting timeouts

injuries

Kuhn on the punt block

 

Gotta add that Kuhn is wearing out his welcome. The punt block snafu was bad enough, but late in the game GB was faced with a 3rd & 9. A short pass to Kuhn should have easily gotten a first down as Ellerbe(?) closed on him. He needed to get 1 yard when the defender hit him. He should have been able to muscle 1 yard after contact, but instead he tried to hurdle him. It was painful watching him run so slow after the catch, but watching him attempt to jump over the defender was sad. I really think this should be his last year here.

Negative...dip****s with the dagger

LOLDAGGERICPACK!

+ Just a great win, beating the defending champs on their homefield.  The defense might turn out to be nearly as good as the 2010 defense if they can find one competent safety to team with Burnett.

 

- Injuries.  Just awful watching 1 guy after another go down.  Takes away from the enjoyment of an excellent win.

 

The offense is sputtering, but honestly, I figured they would have a tough time against a talented defense on the road.  The injuries made it even more of a struggle than it had o be.

 

The weird thing is they still had over 450 total yards of offense. Just didn't seem like it because lots of it came in large chunks.

We're going to miss Charles Johnson off the PS. I liked him. Is Walker on his way to GB?  

Would you drop a 7th for Johnson?

At the rate our WRs are dropping, and with Jordy having a tweaky knee in preseason, it might be worthwhile to drop that 7th.

Strahan mentioned at the half that the Packers are about as balanced as he could remember them being in about a decade with something like 60 running plays to 65 passing plays so far this season. But just as important, those running plays aren't just for show or coming in garbage time. GB is actually running the ball on 1st and 10 which they rarely did in recent years.

 

@PackerUpdate

Maybe it's a coincidence, but boy has Perry looked a lot better these past two games coming off the right side.

Would that be more painful than dropping a deuce? Sounds like it.

Before we start trading draft picks lets remember TT could probably find 2 WR's at a Hobby Lobby tent sale.

That ability might be tested this week...

Packers were 0 for 4 in the Redzone. Have got to start being efficient near the goal line. 

This is becoming a theme this season.  Seems odd too, as you'd think an improved run game would help in the red zone.  

MM still learning how to call running plays in the RZ.

That is a really interesting observation.  AR has had more "bad" quarters this year after 5 games than any season I can remember.  If we're still winning, that's great.  Still optimistic about everything coming together by December.

In a way this season has so far reminded me a bunch of 2010.  Close games with stupid mistakes being the difference in losses rather than being outplayed.  Today they overcame those stupid mistakes.

Fast D-lines have always given AR some fits and he had to face some fast Ds this year already.  I do not think having a running game has a negative effect on AR.  But I could be wrong.

+

• Consistency in the running game.  
• Offense burning off the last two minutes to seal the game.
• Solid defensive effort.  Held the Ravens to 2/14 on 3rd down.  Our defense is building itself into a strong unit.  

 

-

• Red zone inefficiency.  We were 0 for 4.
• More dumb mistakes.  This week it was Kuhn, but stuff like this has happened each game - not running the correct routes, not practicing solid ball security, stupid penalties.....  

 

I don't believe it is but it what it will do is bring down gaudy numbers we're so accustomed to. He came into this game with a 105.5 QB rating (5th in the NFL). It's not like Rodgers has fallen off a cliff with his play and guys like Boykin particularly in the 2nd Q today did him no favors. Nelson also IIRC had a key drop.

Improve the pass protection and you will see the #12 we are accustom to seeing. We have taken a step back there with Bulaga being replaced by Barclay.  Newhouse and Bahk are about a wash.  EDS still giving up more than he should.

 

Before you get your panties in a bunch, this is only looking at pass pro.  Run blocking is clearly a different story.

+

Lacy. Quietly, but steadily,  pounded 'em all game long.

Jordy. Smart as a whip, and as clutch as they come.

Masthay. He's a weapon.

Crosby. He has won our last 2 games for us.

The DL. Everybody played great today. Rush defense and pressure were awesome!

Raji. I've got to single him out because he was especially dominant.

Hawk. Can't say enough how huge his play was today. An incredible effort!

Burnett. He has almost stopped the bleeding in the backfield.

Hyde. He's a ball player, plain and simple.

 

-

OC/MM. Whatever the reason, plays were late coming in today. Once or twice can be circumstances; all game long is not. Luckily, it didn't bite us, but it sure didn't help anything.

OL. They're getting better, but pass protection is still marginal and hinders the offense. Not to mention the holding or false start penalty that kills a drive.

Williams. No idea why, but his tackling skills have eroded tremendously. His effort on that big pass play for the Ravens today was laughable.

McMillen. Who would've thought someone could ever make Jarrett Bush look like an All-Pro DB? Like slowmo mentioned earlier, regardless of anything else that happens, the concept of keeping everything in front of you is about as basic as it gets. What was he thinking when he's looking at Burnett in front of him, in the middle of the field...and then runs to that spot?

 

Now, to overcome all that, and win a tough game on the road, and maintain our position in the standings, is priceless. That's the kind of experience that our rookies need more than any other. Makes their BFI increase!

+
Hyde  Love his work near the line and looked very good on returns.
Hawk Probably his best game as a Packer.
DL Outstanding run defense/GL stand and Daniels has developed into a very solid player.
Lacy Workmanlike effort and usually gets the 2-3 yards when nothing's there.

-
Offense still struggling and poor RZ production. Pick by AR inexcusable and he also fumbled twice.
McMillen More Banjo, please.
Mental mistakes by both Kuhn and Finley are simply unacceptable.
Streaming problems all game and missed the punt block and long 4th down conversion.

Bottom line: hard fought and gritty win and can't call the team soft any longer.

+ the defense overall played very well, especially Raji & Hawk

   Hyde reminds me of Hayward

   Having talented RB's makes a huge difference, especially if teams keep playing 6 in the    box vs. us.

 

- Receivers drops at inopportune times

  RZ offense

  McMillan

 

http://www.pro-football-refere...ayers/W/WillMa22.htm

Have another beer.

+ great road win

+ of course Hawk

+ Lattimore-the D-line and how many very young players are looking very good

+lacy-- that first down to ice the game was very much like Mac Lane and Brockington from the last time we won in Baltimore

+ shields pretty much shut down Jones

 

- Tramon Williams is just about done. Can't tackle, can't stay with receivers, holds and when he is beat..when does  Hayward get back?

-McMillin is not one of the outstanding young talents

-Finley's  limited football IQ...he holds on every off tackle play and I'm watching the game on tape delay and I'm screaming at him to stay in bounds---that was a potential disaster on an otherwise fabulous play.

(Testing) Positive:

 

Most telling part of that shot? Early in the 2nd qtr and look at the pressure AR has been under to that point. They threw 21 times and ran 10 times in the 1st half. They threw 11 times and ran 20 times in the 2nd half. The flip of the pass-run mix was apparent in Rodgers playing better. He had more time in the 2nd half and the defense was guessing more. When playing top defenses the Packers have to be able to capitalize on what's there and they did that yesterday. 

 

Don't ask me why it took until halftime for McCarthy et al to recognize what was there. 50 drunks on a message board could see it.

true dat, H5.

bust off a couple of great runs early in the game and then...   go... mostly away from it for the rest of the half.  didn't understand that at all.  script?  well, throw the script out then. 

funny, when that screen came up I said to my wife 'AR's about to go off - he's got a .357'.

didn't come to fruition tho.

Hmmmm.

 

@Packerpedia: RT @PFF: Nick Perry rushing from left side picked up a pressure on 7.6% of pass rushes. Moving to the right side that number is 26.7%.

Viewing note:

 

@Packerpedia: The Packers-Ravens game will be re-aired on @nflnetwork at 2:30 (CST) tomorrow.

GB hasn't played a complete game of football yet. They haven't been remotely healthy. 2013 has been a replay of 2010 with all the game/playing time lost to injuries. Rodgers hasn't been himself except for a few brief stretches. I'm of the opinion Rodgers is trying to work through defenses being where he doesn't expect them to be because this running game is actually working. He's seeing LB's and DB's in places he hasn't seen them over the past 5 years. And I think that's screwing with him. MM is clearly trying to sync the gears up to the running/passing play calling and how/when to toggle between the two. There's no way Lacy's second effort "I got this" 3rd and 2 conversion on the second to last drive didn't get MM's attention.

 

Yet this team is 3-2 and is 4-1 if Lacy plays in Cincy or if Starks played that entire game.

 

Everything about yesterdays win felt different. They won a street fight on the road in the defending champs house. Without Cobb, Jones, Jones, or Matthews. The 4th and 21 completion was a wicked body shot and the TD on the following play was a kick to the nuts. Yet GB took the air out the ball on the following drive.

 

GB is going to figure this wealth of riches out on offense pretty soon. They're going to get healthy(er) on both sides of the ball. Scary thought.

Everything about yesterdays win felt different. They won a street fight on the road in the defending champs house. Without Cobb, Jones, Jones, or Matthews. The 4th and 21 completion was a wicked body shot and the TD on the following play was a kick to the nuts. Yet GB took the air out the ball on the following drive.

 

GB is going to figure this wealth of riches out on offense pretty soon. They're going to get healthy(er) on both sides of the ball. Scary thought.

 

Great post, Chilli.  Think you nailed it.