Greetings, G-Force.
Brian Gutekunst is confidently walking with his chin up and his shoulders back. Dude should be really proud of what he’s accomplished in his short time as GM of the 13-time World Champion, Green Bay Packers. Gutekunst has quickly infused the talent in the roster with athletic phenoms in the prime of their careers.
As I write, I sip a 2017 New Gladys Enigma. Even with two years of age to it, it stills pours a fruit soured punch. I listen to the Bob Marley and the Wailers Burnin’ album. 10 magical hits to this vinyl. Tosh and Marley together, so powerful.
Here are my quick vibes from the last week:
Matt LaFleur went into Minnesota and fully out coached Mike Zimmer. Zimmer had trouble slowing the Packers down all day. And, even though the scoreboard only read 23 points, it felt much more commanding than that.
Over the last two weeks, the Packers beat the Bears to clinch a playoff berth and to eliminate the Bears. Then, they went into Minnesota to capture the NFC North crown. Matt LaFleur has swept the Bears and ‘queens in his first year as Head Coach. Powerful!
Mike Pettine pushed all of the right buttons. As the DL continued to win their battles, Pettine was able to simply rush 3 or 4 lineman. There was no need to blitz Cousins as Za’Darius and Clark were dominating the line of scrimmage.
In a match up of NFC North powerhouses, Za’Darius Smith was the best player on the field. He led the Packers in tackles. He also had 3.5 sacks. He dominated the line of scrimmage and singlehandedly destroyed the ‘queens game plan.
Kevin King with the play of the game. It felt like Minnesota was starting to gain some momentum. They had just converted a 3rd and long. They were across midfield. When King snagged the pass and started to take the ball upfield, it instantly felt as though all momentum was on the Packers side.
After quiet October and November months, Kenny Clark has dialed you his intensity. He’s been wrecking the opposition all December. He bulled his way through the Minnesota passing game. He helped to destroy their passing game with constant interior pressure. It feels like his game was ignited against the Giants when he wrapped up Barkley on the 3rd and 1 on the first possession of the game. Ever since that play, Clark was been unstoppable.
Kevin King and Jaire were dynamite tacklers. They were physical in the open field. King’s tackle on Thielen on the 3rd and short run led to a huge stop. An absolutely monstrous performance by King.
LaFleur was confusing the Minnesota all day. On the Packers second possession of the 1st Quarter, he sent Ervin in motion and flipped him the ball. Ervin slipped forward for 7 yards. LaFleur came back to this play a couple of times later with Ervin used as a decoy. Ervin drew attention as he has to be accounted for. As eyes peeled towards Ervin, Jenkins paves the way for Aaron Jones to get loose. MVS also chipped in with a great block. And, with that, Jones was off to the races. 56 yards later, the Packers were tossing a dagger into the Minnesota faithful and for the regular season, Green Bay returned to its namesake —Titletown, U.S.A.
Bakhtiari and Bulaga were trustworthy. Billy Turner continues to shine. Jenkins looks like a future Pro Bowl Guard. He frequently gobbles up multiple would-be defenders. Linsley wasn’t his normal mistake free self, but he stood up to the test and helped to manage a tough environment.
I’m so happy for Aaron Rodgers. Again, he didn’t look like the guy that we’ve known and loved since he took over the reigns in 2008. Rodgers was inaccurate. He missed his mark a number of occasions. But, he stood tall in the pocket. He didn’t hold onto the football. He played in rhythm.
Aaron Jones is an elite RB. 160 total yards. 2 TDs. He’s capable of getting loose at any time.
Kumerow, MVS and Lazard have developed into really good blocking WRs. Not only are they willing, but they’re very skilled.
Davante was clutch. Minnesota couldn’t guard him. 13 catches on 16 targets. One of those incompletions was the drop in the end zone on a poorly thrown pass that you’d love to see Adams catch, but other than that, Adams was mostly flawless. 116 yards for Adams in the NFC North Division clinching game in Minnesota.
Lazard has evolved into a legitimate threat on 3rd down.
On the 2-point conversion play call, LaFleur could sense. blood in the water. His courage paid off to give the Packers a 7-point lead.
The Packers were the more dominant team. They were the more possessed team. With more than 36 minutes of ball control, the Packers dominated the game. They had twice as many first downs via the pass as Minnesota had total first downs. The Packers were more physical and had a much better plan of attack.
Rashan Gary has amped up his force over the last month. He was really close to making game changing plays on a couple of occasions. I keep waiting for him to strip the ball from behind.
Fackrell was active. When Minnesota was attempting to dial up one last comeback effort, it was Fackrell beating Reiff around the edge to force the all-important holding penalty.
Keep chopping wood, Za’Darius! Dude is the hardest working player on the field. He’s changed the spirit of this franchise.
The Packers need Preston Smith to regain his stride. Preston has not been the impact player that he was over the course of the first 8 weeks. The Packers need the Pass rushing consistency from Preston that we watched earlier in the year. If Preston finds his form, and you combine it with the December play of Clark and Za’Darius, and you add the Fackrell/Gary rotation to the mix; suddenly, it looks like a 4-man rush that could carry the Packers to a Super run.
Lancaster and Lowry made their presence felt in the run game. Loved seeing Lowry get his hands up again to knock down the 1st Quarter pass. Lowry and Lancaster are playing with confidence.
The Packers had three brutal turnovers in the 1st half and only gave up 10 points. When the defense stepped into the field for the first time and it was 1st and goal, the tone of this game felt different. Huge kudos to the defense for rising to the occasion.
TMon had a fantastic game. He jumped the third down route to get the ball back late in the 2nd Quarter. He was a great tackler all game long.
Chandon Sullivan plays with excellent length. He brings physicality as well. He’s a solid rotational DB.
Blake Martinez is a tough dude. He’s the glue in the middle of this defense.
Have to enjoy watching all of the 2 and 3 TE sets. Soon, we will see a play that was designed to get Jace free in space. At this stage, you’d think that he’d be the least likely target. I’d anticipate that you could potentially see an explosive chunk play coming off of play action in a 3-TE set.
The Packers held the ‘queens to 139 net yards. On Monday Night Football. In Minnesota. To clinch the NFC North. That buzz is sublime!
It’s December football, baby. The Packers are 12-3. It feels like they’re gaining momentum. Soak this in. Enjoy these days.
Wouldn’t it be great if Rodgers would take a pay cut after the season, so that the Packers could afford to resign Clark, Martinez and Bulaga? Prior to the Packers converting the roster bonus into a signing bonus, Rodgers was scheduled to make more $32 million next year. I’m not sure what his cap figure is for 2020 after the bonus conversion, but I did see that the Packers created more than $11 million in cap space. If he could drop that to $25 million and if the Packers release Graham, they’d be able to free up more than $15 million. Martinez would have to come at a cap friendly deal, so the Packers could afford to pay Clark and Bulaga. In this scenario, the Packers would have Clark, Lowry, Gary, the Smith Bros., Martinez, Jaire, Amos and Savage all locked you for the next three years. That’s 9 of the key defenders on their current roster.
How pathetic has the sports scene been in Minnesota? The Star-Tribune named the Barr hit on Rodgers as one of the top 5 sports moments in Minnesota over the last decade. This only adds to the enjoyment of beating Minnesota in Minnesota to secure the NFC North crown.
For this weeks 2020 NFL Packers mock draft, I used the updated Fanspeak Draft Board. Here goes:
Round 1: Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson.
Round 2: Dylan Moses, ILB, Alabama.
Round 3: Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU.
Round 4: J.K. Dobbins, RB, Ohio State.
Round 5: Labryan Ray, DL, Alabama.
Round 6: Jordyn Brooks, ILB, Texas Tech.
Round 6: JR Reed, S, Georgia.
Round 7: Matt Bushman, TE, BYU.
Round 7: Troy Pride, Jr., CB, ND.
Round 7: Michael Pittman, Jr., WR, USC.
This week - the Packers travel to Detroit to play the Lions. LaFleur will attempt to have his team go 6-0 in the NFC North. I went to the Lions game last weekend at Denver. The Lions didn’t give max effort. They’re banged up and lacking intensity. Injuries have taken their toll and they’re currently lacking leadership. If the Packers don’t walk into Ford Field with lackadaisical passion, they’ll win handily. But, in division games, anything can happen, so the Packers must show up ready to play with heightened desire.
The Lions are really beat up on offense. They still have Kenny Golladay and he’s sure to challenge the Packers downfield. Detroit will look to beat the Packers over the top with Golladay. Danny Amendola is still a worthy slot WR. He finds the soft spot in the defense. Surprisingly, the Lions are still playing Kerryon Johnson. Johnson is a good back, but he’s been dealing with a boatload of injuries. David Blough throws a good deep ball. He’s not ready for prime time and will give the Packers a couple of opportunities to steal the football. The Lions OL is mostly intact. Ricky Wagner and Taylor Decker are big bodied Tackles who have manned up and played through injury. Frank Ragnow is a good interior lineman. Lady Aboushi couldn’t hold up at Denver. Graham Glasgow also struggled. Look for Za’Darius to be lined up on the interior of the defense most of the game. Aboushi can’t block an inspired Za’Darius. Bo Scarborough is a worthwhile backup RB who hits the hole hard. The Lions injuries at WR, TE, and RB have decimated the depth of their talent at the skill positions.
Defensively, the Lions still have Flowers, Robinson and Harrison to disrupt the flow of the game. They’re all talented players. Darius Slay is still grinding at CB, too. Tavon Wilson is trying to step up as the leader of the defense and Tracy Walker looks to be following his lead. The Lions are really banged up at LB. the middle of the Lions defense won’t be able to slow down the Packers rushing attack. If the Packers can get Jones to the 2nd level, look for Jones to feast all day.
The Lions will try to pound the ball at the heart of the Packers defense. Blake Martinez has to step up and plug the hole. If the Packers can slow the Lions run game down early, Blough can’t beat them.
Look for Pettine to give King help over the top with Savage against Golladay. Expect Savage to snag an interception this week.
LaFleur comes out with play action. He takes a shot deep to Lazard and Rodgers is on point.
Detroit fights hard early. They keep it close for 20 minutes. But, they don’t have the stamina to keep up with this determined Packers team. The nail biting won’t last long.
The Packers OL leans on the Detroit DL and Aaron Jones gets loose in a big way.
Clark and Za’Darius create havoc.
Let’s go, Preston! Come off the edge and make a play. I’m cheering for you to destroy a 3rd down.
With Slay mostly on Adams, Rodgers looks to Graham, Lazard and G-Mo.
Look for LaFleur to get Ervin involved in the screen game or on a halfback wheel.
With Jamaal Williams unlikely to play, we might see Dexter Williams involved this week.
Rodgers tosses 2 TDs, Jones runs for 2.
The Packers bring playoff intensity to a meaningless game for the Lions. With that, the Packers earn a 1st round bye and a 13-3 record.
The last time the Packers won the Division was in 2016 and the Packers closed out the Regular Season with a win in Detroit. Once again, the Packers are the Division Champions and they’ll be closing out the season with a win in Detroit.
Packers 31.
Lions 13.
Go Pack Go!
Talkin’ S-Mac.
talkins-mac.blogspot.com
Friday, December 27, 2019
Friday, December 20, 2019
My Take -> Week 16
Greetings, G-Force.
The 2019 version of the Green Bay Packers are the most misunderstood Packers team in my life. They play within themselves. They don’t beat themselves. They find new ways to win on nearly a weekly basis. They grind for 60 minutes. They believe in the power of positivity. They have faith in one another. And, when things are close late, they don’t think they’re going to win; they know they’re going to win. You can call them ugly, I will call them misunderstood. The choice is yours.
As I write, I’m in a festive spirit. I listen to a blend of Christmas Music. I always enjoy diving into John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas War is Over” and Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime.” I sip a 2016 River North Avarice. It’s a Russian Imperial Stout that weighs in over 9%. It’s a sipper.
Here are my thoughts over the last week:
WHAT A TREAT! The Packers clinch a playoff berth and the Bears are eliminated on the same day. An early Christmas present!
I loved LaFleur’s approach. The shot call to MVS to start. The play was there. The pass was there. MVS didn’t finish. Should’ve been LaFleur 7 Bears 0, but MVS short armed the perfect pass. LaFleur was aggressive to start the 3rd. The first two drives led to an exciting brand of football. Aggressive passing game out of play-action. Tossing it to Adams off of play-action to the weak side of the field. When the Packers led 21-3 and got the ball back, I fully expected LaFleur to come back to that play, but to call a double move to Adams on the outside. I’m certain it would’ve worked. And, it’d have been a 3rd Quarter dagger. I was surprised that LaFleur tapped the breaks and went with a more ball-control, eat-the-clock approach.
Mike Pettine is starting to show the creativity that we liked for most of 2018. Pettine dominated the first 43 minutes of the game. He had great disguise. He mixed his rushes and his coverage. While the Bears young QB had a statistically positive performance, he was often confused and unable to move the sticks as he crossed midfield.
This team wins the Red Zone battle. This team wins the turnover battle. These are significant ingredients to recipe to have a winning record. This team is misunderstood.
Za’Darius Smith is the Packers best player. I love his versatility. His pressure on the Lowry pick was a game changing moment. And, how about Lowry showing high-end athleticism?
Feed me some more Jake Kumerow. Comical to see him make HaHa miss in the open field.
Davante Adams was clutch on the 4th down TD and on the dart to start the 3rd.
Once again, G-Mo showed inconsistent hands. Need to clean up that portion of his game.
Elgton Jenkins continues to dominate the line of scrimmage. Especially in short yardage situations.
Loved seeing Bakhtiari and Bulaga as the first ones to greet Aaron Jones on his long TD run. The Tackles have been anchors for this team all year.
Rodgers was throwing in rhythm to start the 3rd and not surprisingly, the results were stimulating!
THE BEARS STILL SUCK!!
Dean. Lowry.
Tyler Ervin is making Gutekunst look like a mastermind.
Fun to see Gary get home on the sack. And, then Savage had a chance for a pick. Would’ve been stellar to see Gutekunst’s two first-round picks make monster plays to prevent the Bears from scoring points. Instead, Savage was only able to knock the ball down. Still, it was fun to see the rookies step up to hold the Bears to 3 points.
Gary has looked active two weeks in a row. Let’s hope he can continue to grow into the playoffs. With Za’Darius playing more on the inside, the Packers need Gary or Fackrell to step up on the outside.
Kenny Clark was phenomenal. Three weeks in a row, he’s been a dominant figure in the center of the defense.
Blake Martinez was tough as nails.
Another top-tier performance by Jaire. I’m amazed at how physical he plays. He plays much stronger than he looks.
The Adrian Amos signing continues to pay significant dividends.
Billy Turner was fantastic against a stout Bears front.
The Packers OL completely shut down Mack.
Sing it with me: The Bears Still Suck, The Bears Still Suck, They really, really, really, really, really, really suck. Oh, the Bears Still Suck.
For my 2020 Packers Mock Draft, I used the Fanspeak Steve Big Board:
Round 1: Austin Jackson, OT, USC.
Round 2: Dylan Moses, ILB, Alabama.
Round 3: Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU.
Round 4: Adam Trautman, TE, Dayton.
Round 5: Mustafa Johnson, DL, Colorado.
Round 6: Jon Runyan, OG, Michigan.
Round 6: JR Reed, S, Georgia.
Round 7: Josh Uche, EDGE, Michigan.
Round 7: Zack Moss, RB, Utah.
Round 7: Logan Wilson, ILB, Wyoming.
This week – it’s the ‘queens in Minnesota. I’ll never understand why they willing play in a Dome. The Packers have yet to win in their new building. Cousins has never won on MNF. Something has to give.
Minnesota has two sensational WR’s in Thielen and Diggs. Olabisi Johnson has been a good slot WR as well. Almost shockingly, Minnesota has put together a really good OL. Reiff and O’Neill are playing really well at Tackle. Garrett Bradbury has been a rock at Center. Kline and Elflein have brought power to the Guard position. Kyle Rudolph has been ageless. Irv Smith is developing nicely, as expected. Minnesota will likely be without Cook and Mattison. They’ll have Michael Boone and Ameer Abdullah as back-ups. The Packers will need to get in the face of Cousins. If so, they’ll force him into bad decisions. CJ Ham is often used as a short yardage back.
Danielle Hunter has developed into the best pass rusher in the NFL. Linval Joseph and Shamar Stephen eat up ball carriers in the run game. Everson Griffen isn’t the same player, but he’s still a weapon. Stephen Weatherly gives the ‘queens good snaps. Eric Kendricks is among the best ILB’s in football. Harrison Smith is among the best Safeties in football. Xavier Rhodes’ game has diminished. Trae Waynes is good for at least one pass interference, if he’s targeted. He’ll grab all game. Mike Hughes has struggled to rebound from injury. This Minnesota secondary can be targeted on double moves. They’ll bite. They’re susceptible to giving up the big play. Play action can also beat up this defense.
This is a let your nuts hang style of game for the Packers. Go win it and the Packers are in position for a 1st round bye. Lose and go beat a hapless Lions team to clinch the Division. The Packers should be playing loose. They are in position to accomplish the goal of winning the North either way. But, a win would go a long way in positioning the Packers for a run to the Super Bowl. So, play free, have fun and win the game!
Aaron Rodgers has played best when he’s targeted Adams, Lazard, Kumerow, Williams and Jones. He also trusts Graham and Lewis. I hope these 7 players are targeted on the vast majority of the Packers snaps. If so, I think we’ll see Aaron Rodgers playing in rhythm and executing the game plan. Rodgers is so cerebral, but he needs to trust his receivers. He trusts those 7 receivers. He seems to also trust Vitale. Could we see a big play to Vitale down the sideline?
If the Packers can limit Hunter and if Jaire and King can play as they did in the Week 2 match-up, the Packers will win this game. If the Packers OL struggles, it’ll be tough for the Packers to move the football. With time, the Packers will be able to expose a questionable ‘queens secondary. If King and Jaire are unable to contain the ‘queens dynamic duo, Minnesota will move the ball with an abundance of big plays.
Kevin King will be targeted on multiple deep balls. Pettine has to give him help over the top. Mission #1 is to prevent the deep ball. If Pettine can prevent the big play, Cousins will not stay patient and he’ll give the Packers opportunities to force a turnover.
When Harrison Smith steps up to the line, he must be accounted for.
I fully expect to see LaFleur pulling out all of the stops. Look for some trickery that results in a big play.
On December 24, 2004, the Packers went into Minnesota and left victorious to stake claim to the Division. On December 23, 2019, the Packers will do the same.
Packers 27.
‘queens 23.
Go Pack Go!
Talkin’ S-Mac.
Talkins-mac.blogspot.com.
The 2019 version of the Green Bay Packers are the most misunderstood Packers team in my life. They play within themselves. They don’t beat themselves. They find new ways to win on nearly a weekly basis. They grind for 60 minutes. They believe in the power of positivity. They have faith in one another. And, when things are close late, they don’t think they’re going to win; they know they’re going to win. You can call them ugly, I will call them misunderstood. The choice is yours.
As I write, I’m in a festive spirit. I listen to a blend of Christmas Music. I always enjoy diving into John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas War is Over” and Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime.” I sip a 2016 River North Avarice. It’s a Russian Imperial Stout that weighs in over 9%. It’s a sipper.
Here are my thoughts over the last week:
WHAT A TREAT! The Packers clinch a playoff berth and the Bears are eliminated on the same day. An early Christmas present!
I loved LaFleur’s approach. The shot call to MVS to start. The play was there. The pass was there. MVS didn’t finish. Should’ve been LaFleur 7 Bears 0, but MVS short armed the perfect pass. LaFleur was aggressive to start the 3rd. The first two drives led to an exciting brand of football. Aggressive passing game out of play-action. Tossing it to Adams off of play-action to the weak side of the field. When the Packers led 21-3 and got the ball back, I fully expected LaFleur to come back to that play, but to call a double move to Adams on the outside. I’m certain it would’ve worked. And, it’d have been a 3rd Quarter dagger. I was surprised that LaFleur tapped the breaks and went with a more ball-control, eat-the-clock approach.
Mike Pettine is starting to show the creativity that we liked for most of 2018. Pettine dominated the first 43 minutes of the game. He had great disguise. He mixed his rushes and his coverage. While the Bears young QB had a statistically positive performance, he was often confused and unable to move the sticks as he crossed midfield.
This team wins the Red Zone battle. This team wins the turnover battle. These are significant ingredients to recipe to have a winning record. This team is misunderstood.
Za’Darius Smith is the Packers best player. I love his versatility. His pressure on the Lowry pick was a game changing moment. And, how about Lowry showing high-end athleticism?
Feed me some more Jake Kumerow. Comical to see him make HaHa miss in the open field.
Davante Adams was clutch on the 4th down TD and on the dart to start the 3rd.
Once again, G-Mo showed inconsistent hands. Need to clean up that portion of his game.
Elgton Jenkins continues to dominate the line of scrimmage. Especially in short yardage situations.
Loved seeing Bakhtiari and Bulaga as the first ones to greet Aaron Jones on his long TD run. The Tackles have been anchors for this team all year.
Rodgers was throwing in rhythm to start the 3rd and not surprisingly, the results were stimulating!
THE BEARS STILL SUCK!!
Dean. Lowry.
Tyler Ervin is making Gutekunst look like a mastermind.
Fun to see Gary get home on the sack. And, then Savage had a chance for a pick. Would’ve been stellar to see Gutekunst’s two first-round picks make monster plays to prevent the Bears from scoring points. Instead, Savage was only able to knock the ball down. Still, it was fun to see the rookies step up to hold the Bears to 3 points.
Gary has looked active two weeks in a row. Let’s hope he can continue to grow into the playoffs. With Za’Darius playing more on the inside, the Packers need Gary or Fackrell to step up on the outside.
Kenny Clark was phenomenal. Three weeks in a row, he’s been a dominant figure in the center of the defense.
Blake Martinez was tough as nails.
Another top-tier performance by Jaire. I’m amazed at how physical he plays. He plays much stronger than he looks.
The Adrian Amos signing continues to pay significant dividends.
Billy Turner was fantastic against a stout Bears front.
The Packers OL completely shut down Mack.
Sing it with me: The Bears Still Suck, The Bears Still Suck, They really, really, really, really, really, really suck. Oh, the Bears Still Suck.
For my 2020 Packers Mock Draft, I used the Fanspeak Steve Big Board:
Round 1: Austin Jackson, OT, USC.
Round 2: Dylan Moses, ILB, Alabama.
Round 3: Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU.
Round 4: Adam Trautman, TE, Dayton.
Round 5: Mustafa Johnson, DL, Colorado.
Round 6: Jon Runyan, OG, Michigan.
Round 6: JR Reed, S, Georgia.
Round 7: Josh Uche, EDGE, Michigan.
Round 7: Zack Moss, RB, Utah.
Round 7: Logan Wilson, ILB, Wyoming.
This week – it’s the ‘queens in Minnesota. I’ll never understand why they willing play in a Dome. The Packers have yet to win in their new building. Cousins has never won on MNF. Something has to give.
Minnesota has two sensational WR’s in Thielen and Diggs. Olabisi Johnson has been a good slot WR as well. Almost shockingly, Minnesota has put together a really good OL. Reiff and O’Neill are playing really well at Tackle. Garrett Bradbury has been a rock at Center. Kline and Elflein have brought power to the Guard position. Kyle Rudolph has been ageless. Irv Smith is developing nicely, as expected. Minnesota will likely be without Cook and Mattison. They’ll have Michael Boone and Ameer Abdullah as back-ups. The Packers will need to get in the face of Cousins. If so, they’ll force him into bad decisions. CJ Ham is often used as a short yardage back.
Danielle Hunter has developed into the best pass rusher in the NFL. Linval Joseph and Shamar Stephen eat up ball carriers in the run game. Everson Griffen isn’t the same player, but he’s still a weapon. Stephen Weatherly gives the ‘queens good snaps. Eric Kendricks is among the best ILB’s in football. Harrison Smith is among the best Safeties in football. Xavier Rhodes’ game has diminished. Trae Waynes is good for at least one pass interference, if he’s targeted. He’ll grab all game. Mike Hughes has struggled to rebound from injury. This Minnesota secondary can be targeted on double moves. They’ll bite. They’re susceptible to giving up the big play. Play action can also beat up this defense.
This is a let your nuts hang style of game for the Packers. Go win it and the Packers are in position for a 1st round bye. Lose and go beat a hapless Lions team to clinch the Division. The Packers should be playing loose. They are in position to accomplish the goal of winning the North either way. But, a win would go a long way in positioning the Packers for a run to the Super Bowl. So, play free, have fun and win the game!
Aaron Rodgers has played best when he’s targeted Adams, Lazard, Kumerow, Williams and Jones. He also trusts Graham and Lewis. I hope these 7 players are targeted on the vast majority of the Packers snaps. If so, I think we’ll see Aaron Rodgers playing in rhythm and executing the game plan. Rodgers is so cerebral, but he needs to trust his receivers. He trusts those 7 receivers. He seems to also trust Vitale. Could we see a big play to Vitale down the sideline?
If the Packers can limit Hunter and if Jaire and King can play as they did in the Week 2 match-up, the Packers will win this game. If the Packers OL struggles, it’ll be tough for the Packers to move the football. With time, the Packers will be able to expose a questionable ‘queens secondary. If King and Jaire are unable to contain the ‘queens dynamic duo, Minnesota will move the ball with an abundance of big plays.
Kevin King will be targeted on multiple deep balls. Pettine has to give him help over the top. Mission #1 is to prevent the deep ball. If Pettine can prevent the big play, Cousins will not stay patient and he’ll give the Packers opportunities to force a turnover.
When Harrison Smith steps up to the line, he must be accounted for.
I fully expect to see LaFleur pulling out all of the stops. Look for some trickery that results in a big play.
On December 24, 2004, the Packers went into Minnesota and left victorious to stake claim to the Division. On December 23, 2019, the Packers will do the same.
Packers 27.
‘queens 23.
Go Pack Go!
Talkin’ S-Mac.
Talkins-mac.blogspot.com.
Saturday, December 14, 2019
My Take -> Week 15
Greetings, G-Force.
December wins must be cherished. There’s no need for concern over style points. Scoreboard points are all that matters. Enjoy these days.
As I write, I listen to Burning Spear’s “Marcus Garvey” album. Deeply rooted reggae vibes echo through my mind. I sip a Left Hand Chai Milk Stout. It’s nitro, creamy goodness with the perfect amount of Chai spice finish. The beer is a winner!
My quick vibes from the last week:
Matt LaFleur was dialed in. Don’t let this offensive performance fool you about his playcalling. He was in attack mode. A lot of motion. A lot of play action. But, the fumble and two near misses on deep balls made it look less than appetizing. If Rodgers holds onto the ball and if he hits Jones/Graham, the Packers would’ve had a 37 point performance. These are “if’s” yes, but the players have to execute the play. On the deep balls, the call worked, the players didn’t finish.
Mike Pettine set the tone for the game. He was in control from the start. He made sure the stage was too big for Haskins.
Aaron Rodgers did not climb the wizard list with his performance against Washington.
You are what your record says you are and last I checked the Packers hold the #2 seed in the NFC with a 10-3 record. Toss away the stats, wins are what matters. The most important stat is the standings. With 3 weeks to play, the Packers are sitting pretty.
I marvel at the way Aaron Jones keeps his balance. In a both frantic yet casual way, he spins his arms in circles to sharply turn corners and to cut the ball back across the field. Jones consistently uses his balance as arguably his greatest trait for picking up yards when they don’t appear to exist.
Across the board, the OL played really well. Fun to watch Jenkins in short yardage. On 4th and 1, Jenkins had the quickness and the power to take both the DL and the ILB out of the play to help Williams pick up the first down.
Quietly, Billy Turner has had a really good season.
Matt LaFleur is not afraid to call 3-TE sets. And, I love it.
I wish Jimmy Graham had an extra gear. Graham played as well as we can expect him to, at this stage of his career. He did his job. And, he’s blocking fairly well, too. But, his athleticism has declined tremendously.
Marcedes Lewis was a blocking machine. He was consistently moving people backwards.
Tonyan! Loved seeing him extend for the TD. Good footwork, too!
Thought Jace did a great job blocking on the outside. On the pass to him in the end zone, he needed to sit down in the zone. If he had, he’d have scored his first TD. Rodgers three the ball where it needed to be. Jace lacked awareness on the play.
Za’Darius Smith continues to be the best player on the team. He brings a palpable energy to the defensive front. I love the way Pettine continues to move him around. He needs to be accounted for on every play. And, Pettine is making it hard to find him.
Kenny Clark! Let’s hope we see more of that version of Clark in the month of December and beyond. He was a force!
Another star shining day for Jaire.
Adrian Amos continues to look more and more comfortable with this defense. He’s becoming a peg that Pettine is putting in position to be the playmaker. Amos has been performing really well most of the year, but especially as of late. He was dynamic in the win over Washington.
Chandon Sullivan played well. Fun to see him deflect the 3rd down pass to get the defense off of the field.
Twice, the ball was on the ground for the defense to steal. Unlucky to not come up with it.
There was a Josh Jackson sighting and the results were positive.
Great game, Darnell Savage. The strip was beautiful. He also made a TD saving tackle on the play in which Guice got injured. I’d have preferred to see Savage tackling him higher to prevent the Dalvin Cook style TD that we saw earlier this year, but a really good tackle by Savage in the open field.
Blake Martinez was active and in charge.
Lancaster and Lowry were setting a physical tone at the line of scrimmage.
Rashan Gary isn’t always the quickest off the snap, but when he gets his motor revving, he has quickness and a desire to finish the play.
It was clear that this game was really important to Preston Smith. He’s up to 11.5 sacks on the year.
Tyler Ervin!!! It’s been a woeful year for a return units, but Ervin offered hope. He wasn’t flashy, but he made people miss and run forward. He was shifty finding his was up the field. 4 returns with a 12.8 average and a long of 18 yards. I’ll take that weekly.
Mason Crosby. Money!
While it was not a super feel good kind of day for the offense, it should be noted that the offense, once again, was able to deliver a 4th Quarter Championship Drive to essentially seal the game. The offense got the ball back with 9:58 to play. They took over from their own 11. They went 74 yards on 14 plays. They ate up 7:24 off of the clock. They made it a 2-score game and ensured that this team got to 10-3.
Aaron Rodgers is a proud man. He knows the headlines. He’s not happy about it. Expect Rodgers’ soul to shine this weekend.
Quick NFL Draft thought: I anticipate that Gutekunst will look to trade back in this years Draft to fully stock up on mid to late round picks. With the way the Packers cap situation looks over the next two years, Gutekunst is going to have to compile a number players on the roster who have 1st year contracts. Look for him to pair those youngsters with multiple veterans who will come on 1 year prove it deals, similar to what he did with Wilkerson and Lewis over the last two years.
For my Packers 2020 Mock Draft, I used the Draft Network’s big board. As a side note, the Draft Network’s Draft order is not updated as it only recognizes the Packers as having 2 7th round picks. Here goes:
Round 1: Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson.
Round 2:Austin Jackson, OT, USC.
Round 3: Rashard Lawrence, SL, LSU.
Round 4: JR Reed, S, Georgia.
Round 5: Lamical Perine, RB, Florida.
Round 6: Jonathan Garvin, EDGE, []_[].
Round 6: Kendall Coleman, EDGE, Syracuse.
Round 7: Chase Claypool, WR, Notre Dame.
Round 7: Cameron Brown, ILB, Penn State.
Round 7: Daelin Hayes, EDGE, Notre Dame.
This week - its the hated Bears coming to Lambeau Field. The Bears are coming to Titletown, U.S.A. with full confidence. They've won 3 straight and hold onto hope for a late playoff push. The Bears entered 2019 with Super Bowl aspirations. The Packers have a chance to crush their dreams. With a Packers win, the Bears would be eliminated from playoff contention. It's December. It's the NFL's greatest rivalry. It'll be near single digit weather. Both teams have winning records. It doesn't get any better than this.
The Bears have started to find a rhythm on offense. Their young QB has, once again, started to run with the football. If he's forced to be a pocket QB, he's proven to be ineffective, but when he can use his mobility to attack a defense, he is a dangerous weapon. He throws well on the run and he's a good running QB. When he's extending plays with his legs, he can control a game. David Montgomery and Tarik Cohen make for a good 1-2 combo at RB. Both are solid receiving options. Montgomery is excellent at breaking tackles. Cohen is as elusive as it gets. He'll be targeted multiple times as a receiver. Anthony Miller is an ascending WR who wins in traffic. Allen Robinson has superstar potential. He's been terrific for the Bears during their winning streak. The Bears might be without Taylor Gabriel and Javon Wims. Cordarrelle Patterson always seems to make a play against the Packers. Pettine will have to have a plan in place to limit Patterson when he touches the ball. The Packers must attack the right side of the Bears OL. Alex Bars and Rashaad Coward aren't legitimate NFL starters. Charles Leno is a good player at LT, but he struggles with a speed rush. Cody Whitehair and James Daniels are good players, but they're grabbers. With a quick shifting hip move to the inside, they're susceptible to holding calls.
Roy Robertson-Harris has destroyed the Packers over the last two years. He's listed as questionable. If he can't go, the Packers would catch a huge break. The Bears get Hicks back this week. He's disruptive. Khalil Mack is still the most disruptive EDGE player in the game. While the stats aren't flashy, Leonard Floyd is also playing very good football. Bilal Nichols and Nicholas Williams have overachieved for the Bears this year. Both have brought great hustle. At ILB, Nick Kwiatkoski has been great. He's stepped in and is in the midst of earning himself a nice contract as a UDFA after the year. Kevin Pierre-Louis has also played with a speed + power combination that has grabbed attention. The Bears back-up ILB's have shown premier abilities. Kyle Fuller continues to be a shutdown CB. He jumps routes and is a game changer. Eddie Jackson also brings the ability to immediately alter the complexion of a game. Prince Amukamara has started to show signs of decline. HaHa Clinton-Dix has played fairly well for Chicago. He's been around the ball. Buster Skrine has been good in the slot, but I still believe that he can be beaten.
Throughout the year, the Packers have ensured that Aaron Jones was fresh for the stretch run. This week - Aaron Jones should touch the ball 25 times. The Packers have to be dictators at the line of scrimmage. With it, the play action pass will open up.
Look for LaFleur to test Amukamara on a deep ball that comes off of play action pass early in the game. Rodgers must trust the play design and take a shot. Lazard is much bigger than Amukamara and would be able to win a jump ball. The Packers have to take advantage of that match-up.
Defensively, look for Pettine to stack the right side of the Bears line. Clark and Preston Smith on the left side of the defense with Za'Darius coming on the stunt. He'll overload the Bears and force the Bears young QB to play with happy feet.
The Packers should have Jaire match-up with Allen Robinson all over the field. On 3rd down, it feels like Robinson is always the Bears young QB's first read. Miller is the 2nd. If Jaire can neutralize Robinson, it'll be tough for Chicago to move the football.
On two occasion, the Packers defense will have a chance to force a turnover. If the defense can hold onto the football, the Packers should win this game by 2-scores.
Look for Campbell to spy the Bears young QB.
I expect to see a razor sharp performance from Rodgers. 2 TD's. 0 turnovers.
December wins are fun wins. Regardless of how they look.
Packers 27.
Bears 16.
THE BEARS STILL SUCK!
Go Pack Go!
Talkin' S-Mac.
talkins-mac.blogspot.com
December wins must be cherished. There’s no need for concern over style points. Scoreboard points are all that matters. Enjoy these days.
As I write, I listen to Burning Spear’s “Marcus Garvey” album. Deeply rooted reggae vibes echo through my mind. I sip a Left Hand Chai Milk Stout. It’s nitro, creamy goodness with the perfect amount of Chai spice finish. The beer is a winner!
My quick vibes from the last week:
Matt LaFleur was dialed in. Don’t let this offensive performance fool you about his playcalling. He was in attack mode. A lot of motion. A lot of play action. But, the fumble and two near misses on deep balls made it look less than appetizing. If Rodgers holds onto the ball and if he hits Jones/Graham, the Packers would’ve had a 37 point performance. These are “if’s” yes, but the players have to execute the play. On the deep balls, the call worked, the players didn’t finish.
Mike Pettine set the tone for the game. He was in control from the start. He made sure the stage was too big for Haskins.
Aaron Rodgers did not climb the wizard list with his performance against Washington.
You are what your record says you are and last I checked the Packers hold the #2 seed in the NFC with a 10-3 record. Toss away the stats, wins are what matters. The most important stat is the standings. With 3 weeks to play, the Packers are sitting pretty.
I marvel at the way Aaron Jones keeps his balance. In a both frantic yet casual way, he spins his arms in circles to sharply turn corners and to cut the ball back across the field. Jones consistently uses his balance as arguably his greatest trait for picking up yards when they don’t appear to exist.
Across the board, the OL played really well. Fun to watch Jenkins in short yardage. On 4th and 1, Jenkins had the quickness and the power to take both the DL and the ILB out of the play to help Williams pick up the first down.
Quietly, Billy Turner has had a really good season.
Matt LaFleur is not afraid to call 3-TE sets. And, I love it.
I wish Jimmy Graham had an extra gear. Graham played as well as we can expect him to, at this stage of his career. He did his job. And, he’s blocking fairly well, too. But, his athleticism has declined tremendously.
Marcedes Lewis was a blocking machine. He was consistently moving people backwards.
Tonyan! Loved seeing him extend for the TD. Good footwork, too!
Thought Jace did a great job blocking on the outside. On the pass to him in the end zone, he needed to sit down in the zone. If he had, he’d have scored his first TD. Rodgers three the ball where it needed to be. Jace lacked awareness on the play.
Za’Darius Smith continues to be the best player on the team. He brings a palpable energy to the defensive front. I love the way Pettine continues to move him around. He needs to be accounted for on every play. And, Pettine is making it hard to find him.
Kenny Clark! Let’s hope we see more of that version of Clark in the month of December and beyond. He was a force!
Another star shining day for Jaire.
Adrian Amos continues to look more and more comfortable with this defense. He’s becoming a peg that Pettine is putting in position to be the playmaker. Amos has been performing really well most of the year, but especially as of late. He was dynamic in the win over Washington.
Chandon Sullivan played well. Fun to see him deflect the 3rd down pass to get the defense off of the field.
Twice, the ball was on the ground for the defense to steal. Unlucky to not come up with it.
There was a Josh Jackson sighting and the results were positive.
Great game, Darnell Savage. The strip was beautiful. He also made a TD saving tackle on the play in which Guice got injured. I’d have preferred to see Savage tackling him higher to prevent the Dalvin Cook style TD that we saw earlier this year, but a really good tackle by Savage in the open field.
Blake Martinez was active and in charge.
Lancaster and Lowry were setting a physical tone at the line of scrimmage.
Rashan Gary isn’t always the quickest off the snap, but when he gets his motor revving, he has quickness and a desire to finish the play.
It was clear that this game was really important to Preston Smith. He’s up to 11.5 sacks on the year.
Tyler Ervin!!! It’s been a woeful year for a return units, but Ervin offered hope. He wasn’t flashy, but he made people miss and run forward. He was shifty finding his was up the field. 4 returns with a 12.8 average and a long of 18 yards. I’ll take that weekly.
Mason Crosby. Money!
While it was not a super feel good kind of day for the offense, it should be noted that the offense, once again, was able to deliver a 4th Quarter Championship Drive to essentially seal the game. The offense got the ball back with 9:58 to play. They took over from their own 11. They went 74 yards on 14 plays. They ate up 7:24 off of the clock. They made it a 2-score game and ensured that this team got to 10-3.
Aaron Rodgers is a proud man. He knows the headlines. He’s not happy about it. Expect Rodgers’ soul to shine this weekend.
Quick NFL Draft thought: I anticipate that Gutekunst will look to trade back in this years Draft to fully stock up on mid to late round picks. With the way the Packers cap situation looks over the next two years, Gutekunst is going to have to compile a number players on the roster who have 1st year contracts. Look for him to pair those youngsters with multiple veterans who will come on 1 year prove it deals, similar to what he did with Wilkerson and Lewis over the last two years.
For my Packers 2020 Mock Draft, I used the Draft Network’s big board. As a side note, the Draft Network’s Draft order is not updated as it only recognizes the Packers as having 2 7th round picks. Here goes:
Round 1: Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson.
Round 2:Austin Jackson, OT, USC.
Round 3: Rashard Lawrence, SL, LSU.
Round 4: JR Reed, S, Georgia.
Round 5: Lamical Perine, RB, Florida.
Round 6: Jonathan Garvin, EDGE, []_[].
Round 6: Kendall Coleman, EDGE, Syracuse.
Round 7: Chase Claypool, WR, Notre Dame.
Round 7: Cameron Brown, ILB, Penn State.
Round 7: Daelin Hayes, EDGE, Notre Dame.
This week - its the hated Bears coming to Lambeau Field. The Bears are coming to Titletown, U.S.A. with full confidence. They've won 3 straight and hold onto hope for a late playoff push. The Bears entered 2019 with Super Bowl aspirations. The Packers have a chance to crush their dreams. With a Packers win, the Bears would be eliminated from playoff contention. It's December. It's the NFL's greatest rivalry. It'll be near single digit weather. Both teams have winning records. It doesn't get any better than this.
The Bears have started to find a rhythm on offense. Their young QB has, once again, started to run with the football. If he's forced to be a pocket QB, he's proven to be ineffective, but when he can use his mobility to attack a defense, he is a dangerous weapon. He throws well on the run and he's a good running QB. When he's extending plays with his legs, he can control a game. David Montgomery and Tarik Cohen make for a good 1-2 combo at RB. Both are solid receiving options. Montgomery is excellent at breaking tackles. Cohen is as elusive as it gets. He'll be targeted multiple times as a receiver. Anthony Miller is an ascending WR who wins in traffic. Allen Robinson has superstar potential. He's been terrific for the Bears during their winning streak. The Bears might be without Taylor Gabriel and Javon Wims. Cordarrelle Patterson always seems to make a play against the Packers. Pettine will have to have a plan in place to limit Patterson when he touches the ball. The Packers must attack the right side of the Bears OL. Alex Bars and Rashaad Coward aren't legitimate NFL starters. Charles Leno is a good player at LT, but he struggles with a speed rush. Cody Whitehair and James Daniels are good players, but they're grabbers. With a quick shifting hip move to the inside, they're susceptible to holding calls.
Roy Robertson-Harris has destroyed the Packers over the last two years. He's listed as questionable. If he can't go, the Packers would catch a huge break. The Bears get Hicks back this week. He's disruptive. Khalil Mack is still the most disruptive EDGE player in the game. While the stats aren't flashy, Leonard Floyd is also playing very good football. Bilal Nichols and Nicholas Williams have overachieved for the Bears this year. Both have brought great hustle. At ILB, Nick Kwiatkoski has been great. He's stepped in and is in the midst of earning himself a nice contract as a UDFA after the year. Kevin Pierre-Louis has also played with a speed + power combination that has grabbed attention. The Bears back-up ILB's have shown premier abilities. Kyle Fuller continues to be a shutdown CB. He jumps routes and is a game changer. Eddie Jackson also brings the ability to immediately alter the complexion of a game. Prince Amukamara has started to show signs of decline. HaHa Clinton-Dix has played fairly well for Chicago. He's been around the ball. Buster Skrine has been good in the slot, but I still believe that he can be beaten.
Throughout the year, the Packers have ensured that Aaron Jones was fresh for the stretch run. This week - Aaron Jones should touch the ball 25 times. The Packers have to be dictators at the line of scrimmage. With it, the play action pass will open up.
Look for LaFleur to test Amukamara on a deep ball that comes off of play action pass early in the game. Rodgers must trust the play design and take a shot. Lazard is much bigger than Amukamara and would be able to win a jump ball. The Packers have to take advantage of that match-up.
Defensively, look for Pettine to stack the right side of the Bears line. Clark and Preston Smith on the left side of the defense with Za'Darius coming on the stunt. He'll overload the Bears and force the Bears young QB to play with happy feet.
The Packers should have Jaire match-up with Allen Robinson all over the field. On 3rd down, it feels like Robinson is always the Bears young QB's first read. Miller is the 2nd. If Jaire can neutralize Robinson, it'll be tough for Chicago to move the football.
On two occasion, the Packers defense will have a chance to force a turnover. If the defense can hold onto the football, the Packers should win this game by 2-scores.
Look for Campbell to spy the Bears young QB.
I expect to see a razor sharp performance from Rodgers. 2 TD's. 0 turnovers.
December wins are fun wins. Regardless of how they look.
Packers 27.
Bears 16.
THE BEARS STILL SUCK!
Go Pack Go!
Talkin' S-Mac.
talkins-mac.blogspot.com
Friday, December 6, 2019
My Take -> Week 14
Greetings, G-Force.
Sometimes, you have to get right at the expense of someone else’s wrong. In 2019, the New York Giants are not a very good football team. The Packers took advantage of their ineptitude. And, suddenly, the bounce is back in the energy of the Packers locker room.
As I write, I’m sipping a Newcastle Nut Brown Ale. Almost oddly, I had a craving for it. So I bought a 6-pack of it. I’m going to bury these pups. I’m listening to Janis Joplin’s Greatest Hits. My 4 year old asks me to listen to “Me and Bobby McGee” on a daily basis and because of it, this album has been spinning in my ears frequently.
Here are my quick vibes from the last week:
Matt LaFleur came out in attack mode. He delivered early knock out punches to Lazard. Loved seeing Lazard in motion, changing sides in the slot. Play action. Chunk play successes followed. Regardless of the result, I loved the early shovel pass to Davante. These are good moments to have on film. These plays set up trickery in the future.
Mike Pettine. Maybe his best showing since Week 2. The Kevin King interception was all Pettine. Pettine gave King help over the top, which allowed King to play the underneath route. Pettine drew up the defense to perfection and the results followed.
Aaron Rodgers. It was near mastery. Calling his shot to BIG DOG was fantastic. The 4th and 10 throw. The dart to Lazard for the TD. Ducking low to avoid the rush and then floating it to Adams for a Tud!
After being shut out for the first 10 weeks, it’s really nice to see Davante in the end zone 3 times over the last two weeks. LaFleur did a really nice job of designing plays to get the ball into his hands.
Allen Lazard is proving to be a worthwhile 2nd option at WR. He’s a big target that Rodgers clearly trusts.
It was a great relief to see G-Mo grabbing a couple of clutch catches to move the sticks.
What has happened for MVS? I had high hopes for him. He was showing signs early on. Now, he’s disappeared. At some point in December, the Packers are going to hit on a deep ball to MVS.
I want to see Jace targeted either on a seam route or on a crossing route in the month of December. He has the play speed to add a dimension to this offense that is currently missing.
I was so happy for Marcedes Lewis. And, to see the leadership that Rodgers displayed throughout the game, especially on the TD, was an absolute joy to witness.
Plainly stated, Aaron Jones needs to see the ball a minimum of 20 times per game.
Jamaal Williams running hard to close out games will never get old. Wish LaFleur would get back to having Williams and Jones back on the field at the same time.
Bulaga has been an absolute stud this year. He’s earning big coin after the season. If not from Green Bay, he’ll get it somewhere.
Za’Darius Smith is the best player on the team. He absolutely destroys the opposition week-in and week-out. He doesn’t always get home, but he’s disrupting plays all-of-the-time. Soon, he has a strip sack coming. He’s close, he just needs to swipe at the ball.
Preston Smith needs to refind his stride. He’s lost a little of his big play momentum. It’s time for him to turn up the December heat.
Kenny Clark with the big play on 3rd and 1 to stop Barkley set the tone for a very impressive run-defense performance.
Lowry flashed run stuffing skills. He was quick off the snap and swallowing the ball.
Stoked to see Savage grab another pick. The rookie has added a speed dimension that this defense has sorely missed.
Another impressive performance by Amos. He’s the surest tackling safety that I can remember in Green Bay.
Jaire was on lock down. After a minor mid-season blip in his performance, Jaire is back to his normal self. He was dynamite in NJ.
Once again, Kyler Fackrell was close. He couldn’t finish, but he was close.
What if Rashan Gary puts it all together and wins a play in December? Wouldn’t that be riveting? Would love to see his sack excitement. This year has had to have been a mental struggle for him.
A memorable performance by Mason Crosby. My heart goes out to him and his family. His 47 yard kick was a sight to see!
The Packers punt return units have been pathetic. It’s well documented. But, Gutekunst isn’t resting. The Tyler Ervin addition has me super stoked! I believe Ervin has the skillset to change the Packers fortunes. Prior to the 2016 NFL Draft, I wrote this on him: 10.) Tyler Ervin, San Jose St. Round 4. I heart Tyler Ervin. While he's undersized, he hits the hole fearlessly. On runs to the edge, he's blazing fast. He's a lethal weapon out of the backfield as a receiver. He runs a fantastic wheel route. A LB won't be able to cover him if you put him in the flat. More often than not, he'll make the first person miss. But, he's an absolute liability in pass protection. He gets run over. He lacks awareness as a blocker. It wouldn't shock me if he shows up well as a great Punt Returner.
For this week’s 2020 Packers Mock Draft, I used the Fanspeak Big Board:
Round 1: Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama.
Round 2: Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson.
Round 3: Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah.
Round 4: Hunter Bryant, TE, Washington
Round 5: Devin Duvernay, WR, Texas.
Round 6: JR Reed, S, Georgia.
Round 6: Josh Uche, EDGE, Michigan.
Round 7: Chris Orr, ILB, Wisconsin.
Round 7: Troy Pride, CB, Notre Dame.
Round 7: Logan Wilson, ILB, Wyoming.
This week – the Packers host the Redskins. With the win, the Packers will reach the magical 10-win platform. This year, it might require 11 wins to make the playoffs in the competitive NFC. Nonetheless, more often than not, historically, 10 wins has meant a playoff berth. The Redskins are a bad football team. I fully expect the Packers to win handily this weekend.
Dwayne Haskins will start at QB for the Redskins. The rookie has walked away victorious the last two weeks, but he’s not ready to play in this league. The Redskins live off of their run game. AP can still play. Historically, he’s dominated GB. He’ll be ready to run. I know he’s banged up, but I fully expect him to play. Derrius Guice is a stiff-arm, tough running machine. He’ll challenge the Packers front. Terry McLaurin has been an impressive rookie WR. He’s a big play threat. I imagine the Redskins will challenge Kevin King with McLaurin running a double move route down the sideline. Paul Richardson is an average WR who has a tough time separating from a jam at the line. Jeremy Sprinkle has been a fighter as a blocker, but he’s battled with limited success. He is a talented short yardage route runner. He’s a decent possession receiving TE. The Redskins OL has been a physical component of their team. They’ve performed well as run blockers. I don’t believe Donald Penn and Morgan Moses can hold up at Tackle. Additionally, there’s no chance that Ereck Flowers can block Za’Darius Smith. The Packers should line Smith right over Flowers all day.
The Redskins DL is legitimate. Jonathan Allen, Ryan Kerrigan, Montez Sweat and Da’Ron Payne were all 1st round picks and they’re all living up to expectations. Matt Ioannidis has developed into a really good player. He’s a high effort player. He flashes physical dominance, at times. Cole Holcomb has surprised me as a rookie. He’s been much better than I anticipated. He’s played stronger and more tenacious than I envisioned he would. He has a promising future. The Redskins have issues in the secondary. Josh Norman’s game has diminished. Landon Collins hasn’t made the impact that the Redskins hoped after signing a massive FA contract. Quinton Dunbar is a very good player. I’d expect him to shadow Adams all over the field.
This is the week that the Packers see a punt return of more than 10 yards. Tyler Ervin will make someone miss. He’ll be anxious to make a play. He’ll dance his way to the second level.
If the Packers can slow down the Redskins run game, this one won’t be close. Haskins won’t be prepared to deal with the intensity of Lambeau Field. Haskins will commit at least two turnovers. This game resides in the hands of the Packers run defense. Look for Pettine to play a bunch of 5 man fronts with Lancaster, the Smith Bros., Lowry and Clark. He’ll also have 2 ILB’s on the field. Pettine will trust Jaire 1 on 1. He’ll give King help over the top.
Look for the Packers to come out with an abundance of play action. I expect Rodgers to take two shots deep down the field early in the game. I’m hoping MVS gets back on track.
Za’Darius grabs at least one sack and likely 2.
Savage grabs another pick on an overthrown ball.
Haskins isn’t ready for this, if the Lambeau Faithful rises to the task!
Packers 31.
Redskins 13.
Go Pack Go!
Talkin’ S-Mac.
Talkins-mac.blogspot.com
Sometimes, you have to get right at the expense of someone else’s wrong. In 2019, the New York Giants are not a very good football team. The Packers took advantage of their ineptitude. And, suddenly, the bounce is back in the energy of the Packers locker room.
As I write, I’m sipping a Newcastle Nut Brown Ale. Almost oddly, I had a craving for it. So I bought a 6-pack of it. I’m going to bury these pups. I’m listening to Janis Joplin’s Greatest Hits. My 4 year old asks me to listen to “Me and Bobby McGee” on a daily basis and because of it, this album has been spinning in my ears frequently.
Here are my quick vibes from the last week:
Matt LaFleur came out in attack mode. He delivered early knock out punches to Lazard. Loved seeing Lazard in motion, changing sides in the slot. Play action. Chunk play successes followed. Regardless of the result, I loved the early shovel pass to Davante. These are good moments to have on film. These plays set up trickery in the future.
Mike Pettine. Maybe his best showing since Week 2. The Kevin King interception was all Pettine. Pettine gave King help over the top, which allowed King to play the underneath route. Pettine drew up the defense to perfection and the results followed.
Aaron Rodgers. It was near mastery. Calling his shot to BIG DOG was fantastic. The 4th and 10 throw. The dart to Lazard for the TD. Ducking low to avoid the rush and then floating it to Adams for a Tud!
After being shut out for the first 10 weeks, it’s really nice to see Davante in the end zone 3 times over the last two weeks. LaFleur did a really nice job of designing plays to get the ball into his hands.
Allen Lazard is proving to be a worthwhile 2nd option at WR. He’s a big target that Rodgers clearly trusts.
It was a great relief to see G-Mo grabbing a couple of clutch catches to move the sticks.
What has happened for MVS? I had high hopes for him. He was showing signs early on. Now, he’s disappeared. At some point in December, the Packers are going to hit on a deep ball to MVS.
I want to see Jace targeted either on a seam route or on a crossing route in the month of December. He has the play speed to add a dimension to this offense that is currently missing.
I was so happy for Marcedes Lewis. And, to see the leadership that Rodgers displayed throughout the game, especially on the TD, was an absolute joy to witness.
Plainly stated, Aaron Jones needs to see the ball a minimum of 20 times per game.
Jamaal Williams running hard to close out games will never get old. Wish LaFleur would get back to having Williams and Jones back on the field at the same time.
Bulaga has been an absolute stud this year. He’s earning big coin after the season. If not from Green Bay, he’ll get it somewhere.
Za’Darius Smith is the best player on the team. He absolutely destroys the opposition week-in and week-out. He doesn’t always get home, but he’s disrupting plays all-of-the-time. Soon, he has a strip sack coming. He’s close, he just needs to swipe at the ball.
Preston Smith needs to refind his stride. He’s lost a little of his big play momentum. It’s time for him to turn up the December heat.
Kenny Clark with the big play on 3rd and 1 to stop Barkley set the tone for a very impressive run-defense performance.
Lowry flashed run stuffing skills. He was quick off the snap and swallowing the ball.
Stoked to see Savage grab another pick. The rookie has added a speed dimension that this defense has sorely missed.
Another impressive performance by Amos. He’s the surest tackling safety that I can remember in Green Bay.
Jaire was on lock down. After a minor mid-season blip in his performance, Jaire is back to his normal self. He was dynamite in NJ.
Once again, Kyler Fackrell was close. He couldn’t finish, but he was close.
What if Rashan Gary puts it all together and wins a play in December? Wouldn’t that be riveting? Would love to see his sack excitement. This year has had to have been a mental struggle for him.
A memorable performance by Mason Crosby. My heart goes out to him and his family. His 47 yard kick was a sight to see!
The Packers punt return units have been pathetic. It’s well documented. But, Gutekunst isn’t resting. The Tyler Ervin addition has me super stoked! I believe Ervin has the skillset to change the Packers fortunes. Prior to the 2016 NFL Draft, I wrote this on him: 10.) Tyler Ervin, San Jose St. Round 4. I heart Tyler Ervin. While he's undersized, he hits the hole fearlessly. On runs to the edge, he's blazing fast. He's a lethal weapon out of the backfield as a receiver. He runs a fantastic wheel route. A LB won't be able to cover him if you put him in the flat. More often than not, he'll make the first person miss. But, he's an absolute liability in pass protection. He gets run over. He lacks awareness as a blocker. It wouldn't shock me if he shows up well as a great Punt Returner.
For this week’s 2020 Packers Mock Draft, I used the Fanspeak Big Board:
Round 1: Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama.
Round 2: Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson.
Round 3: Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah.
Round 4: Hunter Bryant, TE, Washington
Round 5: Devin Duvernay, WR, Texas.
Round 6: JR Reed, S, Georgia.
Round 6: Josh Uche, EDGE, Michigan.
Round 7: Chris Orr, ILB, Wisconsin.
Round 7: Troy Pride, CB, Notre Dame.
Round 7: Logan Wilson, ILB, Wyoming.
This week – the Packers host the Redskins. With the win, the Packers will reach the magical 10-win platform. This year, it might require 11 wins to make the playoffs in the competitive NFC. Nonetheless, more often than not, historically, 10 wins has meant a playoff berth. The Redskins are a bad football team. I fully expect the Packers to win handily this weekend.
Dwayne Haskins will start at QB for the Redskins. The rookie has walked away victorious the last two weeks, but he’s not ready to play in this league. The Redskins live off of their run game. AP can still play. Historically, he’s dominated GB. He’ll be ready to run. I know he’s banged up, but I fully expect him to play. Derrius Guice is a stiff-arm, tough running machine. He’ll challenge the Packers front. Terry McLaurin has been an impressive rookie WR. He’s a big play threat. I imagine the Redskins will challenge Kevin King with McLaurin running a double move route down the sideline. Paul Richardson is an average WR who has a tough time separating from a jam at the line. Jeremy Sprinkle has been a fighter as a blocker, but he’s battled with limited success. He is a talented short yardage route runner. He’s a decent possession receiving TE. The Redskins OL has been a physical component of their team. They’ve performed well as run blockers. I don’t believe Donald Penn and Morgan Moses can hold up at Tackle. Additionally, there’s no chance that Ereck Flowers can block Za’Darius Smith. The Packers should line Smith right over Flowers all day.
The Redskins DL is legitimate. Jonathan Allen, Ryan Kerrigan, Montez Sweat and Da’Ron Payne were all 1st round picks and they’re all living up to expectations. Matt Ioannidis has developed into a really good player. He’s a high effort player. He flashes physical dominance, at times. Cole Holcomb has surprised me as a rookie. He’s been much better than I anticipated. He’s played stronger and more tenacious than I envisioned he would. He has a promising future. The Redskins have issues in the secondary. Josh Norman’s game has diminished. Landon Collins hasn’t made the impact that the Redskins hoped after signing a massive FA contract. Quinton Dunbar is a very good player. I’d expect him to shadow Adams all over the field.
This is the week that the Packers see a punt return of more than 10 yards. Tyler Ervin will make someone miss. He’ll be anxious to make a play. He’ll dance his way to the second level.
If the Packers can slow down the Redskins run game, this one won’t be close. Haskins won’t be prepared to deal with the intensity of Lambeau Field. Haskins will commit at least two turnovers. This game resides in the hands of the Packers run defense. Look for Pettine to play a bunch of 5 man fronts with Lancaster, the Smith Bros., Lowry and Clark. He’ll also have 2 ILB’s on the field. Pettine will trust Jaire 1 on 1. He’ll give King help over the top.
Look for the Packers to come out with an abundance of play action. I expect Rodgers to take two shots deep down the field early in the game. I’m hoping MVS gets back on track.
Za’Darius grabs at least one sack and likely 2.
Savage grabs another pick on an overthrown ball.
Haskins isn’t ready for this, if the Lambeau Faithful rises to the task!
Packers 31.
Redskins 13.
Go Pack Go!
Talkin’ S-Mac.
Talkins-mac.blogspot.com
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