My Take -> Week 5

Greetings, G-Force.

This just got really interesting. It's easy to have a high-fivin', wide-smilin' locker room when you're carrying a winning confidence. But, how do you rebound from a game that slipped from your grasp? I'm interested to see how LaFleur rallies the troops after what had to have been a bitter taste in their mouth for the last 10 days. These are the types of losses that can have a painful carryover. This is a crucial moment in the Packers season.

As I write, I listen to new Billy Strings album, "Home". I have absolutely fallen in love with this band. Billy is arguably the most talented up-and-coming guitar player in all of the land. If you don't know his music and you can appreciate bluegrass music, dive in! I sip a 2017 Jackie O's and Crooked Stave collaboration called: The Ties That Bind. It's a sour beer with a red win finish. Aged perfection as the wild flavors have not overtaken the beer's flavor.

Here are my quick vibes from the last week:

* There are many that will complain about 8 throws from inside the 5. But, it's clear that on the RPO play, Jones should've been the call. Rodgers thought he saw something that didn't exist. Had Jones been handed the ball, he would have walked into the end zone with relative ease.

* I'm not going to complain about the officiating in abundance, but it's hard not to comment on the new PI rule. How do you change the ruling on the field on the Philly TD, but not change the ruling on the MVS pass down the sideline? And, then, how is it not an automatic booth review on the interception that sealed the game? Felt cheated. Man, it feels like the big calls have gone against the Packers way more than not over the last 20+ years or so.

* It felt as though the Packers run defense was in trouble. But, I didn't think it'd look as bad as it did. While I believed that Philly might be able to run the ball, I didn't think that the defense would suddenly look like a sieve. I was shocked that Pettine didn't adjust and come with a more aggressive run blitz in an attempt to close those wide gap running lanes.

* The Packers had 4-0 in their grasp. Until Jimmy Graham let the ball slip through his hand. Graham had a chance to shut me up for the year. And, he couldn't deliver. With Adams out, the Packers needed their $10 million man to deliver. He had two chances. He failed.

* Kevin King was a total baller. Great game for King. For a day, he was the best player on the defense.

* Kingsley Keke brings energy. I'd like to continue to see him on the field. While I like Lancaster's effort, he's limited athletically. Keke seems to be a better athlete and he gives just as much effort.

* Aaron Rodgers was superhuman. He was the ultimate competitor. He was tough. He was mostly accurate. He had his swagger back. If that's going to be Aaron Rodgers for the next 12 weeks, I feel good about the Packers chances.

* Davante Adams is a total stallion. I hope he can recover quickly. Had Adams not been injured, I have a hard time believing that the Packers don't win the game.

* MVS had a number of really bright moments. Had he been given the pass interference calls, his day would have felt even better than the box score looked.

* I'll never understand when LaFleur kept calling first down runs.

* It feels as though Alex Light might be a liability.

* Elgton Jenkins looks like he can play in this league.

* Adrian Amos is a tremendous open field tackler.

* Will Redmond showed that he's not ready for prime time. I like him as a gunner. I think he's a nice developmental player. He's not ready. Wish Josh Jackson would be played in his role.

* I hope Oren Burks is ready to return soon. This team could use his speed next to Martinez.

* I wonder if Gutekunst will go after DJ Swearinger. He tried to claim him last year off of waivers. He'd step into the Raven Greene role and allow Amos to return to his position alongside Savage. To me, it seems like it's a must-do move. Hope he pulls the trigger.

* I really thought that we'd see more crossing routes out of this offense. When I watch SF and the Rams; I see a lot of crossing routes. It makes me wonder where those same routes are in GB.

* I like the Tim Williams signing. Williams is loaded with potential. He's undersized. But, he's a speed rusher who had a knack for getting pressure at the college level. Here's what I wrote on him before the 2017 NFL Draft: Tim Williams, Alabama. Round 2-3. Needs to add weight, but when Williams' speed game is on point, he's unstoppable as a pass rusher. In the short-term, I think he's strictly a pass rushing specialist. Has to get stronger before he can be counted on to stop the run. Due to his need to add weight, he might be a bit of a project in his rookie year. But, he has unlimited upside.

In my 2020 Mock Draft, I tried to make a number of changes. Here goes:

Round 1 - Raequan Williams, DL, Michigan State.
Round 2 - Tyler Biadasz, C/G, Wisconsin.
Round 3 - JR Reed, S, Georgia.
Round 4 - Leki Fotu, DL, Utah.
Round 5 - Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU.
Round 6 - Jordyn Brooks, ILB, Texas Tech.
Round 6 - Drew Richmond, OT, USC.
Round 7 - Dana Levine, EDGE, Temple.
Round 7 - Isaiah Wright, WR, Temple.
Round 7 - Michael Bushman, TE, BYU.

This week - it's the Cowboys in Dallas. In a Stadium that has been very good to the Packers. It's a Stadium that has seen the Packers bring home the XLV Trophy. It's a Stadium that has seen the Packers grab a playoff victory. It's a Stadium that has seen a dramatic come-from-behind victory in the closing seconds during the regular season. With the loss to Philly, this one is important.

Offensively, the Cowboys are loaded with talent. Dak Prescott has played very well for most of the first 1/4 of the season. He's playing for a contract. Zeke Elliott has been pounding away. Tony Pollard looks like a really good back-up RB. Jason Witten is back and has looked like himself. The Cowboys OL is banged up. La'el Collins and Tyron Smith are both highly questionable. Zack Martin is a beast at RG. Travis Frederick is the same at Center. Connor Williams can also man-up at LG. If healthy, the Cowboys OL is dominant.

Defensively, the Cowboys have a physically dominant unit. Demarcus Lawrence is an elite pass rusher. Robert Quinn has previously given the Packers troubles. Maliek Collins gets a good push from the inside. Leighton Vander Esch has been unbelievable at ILB. He reads and recognizes plays like an All Pro. Jaylon Smith has been tremendous. He's fast, he's physical, and he's tough. Sean Lee is a veteran who brings a leadership approach. The secondary is their weakest link. Chidobe Awuzie brings speed and athleticism. He's talented, but he's not a #1 CB. I'd target Anthony Brown. Jourdan Lewis is a decent Nickel CB, but he has not been the playmaker that I anticipated he might become. He can be beaten over the top. Jeff Heath is dependable. Byron Jones is a good football player with fantastic athleticism.

If the Cowboys tackles are unable to play, the Packers should be in a much better position to stop than run. If so, I really hope that the Packers attack the line of scrimmage with Amos coming on the blitz. Martinez will need to roam behind Lowry and Clark to make the play on Zeke. The Cowboys are going to pound the ball early and often. And, then, they'll go with play action to attack the secondary with the deep crossing routes.

With Adams likely unable to play, I'm expecting Jake Kumerow to have a big game. I anticipate that Kumerow will be the #3 WR. Rodgers has a connection with Kumerow. Look for Kumerow to grab 3-4 balls.

LaFleur will likely stick with the run early. With Jamaal Williams unlikely to play, look for Dexter Williams to get his first action. He picks up first-down yardage on a screen pass.

Rodgers continues to play with confidence. He connects with MVS on a deep ball.

Jaire makes a game changing play.

The Packers defense bends often. It does not break in the end.

Packers 27.
Cowboys 23.

Go Pack Go!

Talkin' S-Mac.
talkins-mac.blogspot.com