Midseason Night Grades

[Tyrion Lannister]

I don't have McGinn's credentials, but I can be just as blunt as he is. Here's my position-by-position grades of the Packers after 8 games.

Quarterbacks (B): Rodgers played scared against Seattle, looked like Tolzien against Detriot and threw a bunch of picks vs. New Orleans...'12' also destroyed a bunch of hapless, tasteless teams...Flynn was terrible in garbage time.

Runningbacks (D+): For the most part, Lacy played slow and fat...Was a pimp in a couple of games...Stark has been average...Harris, elusive and fast, didn't play much from scrimmage thanks in large part to the coaches' stupidity...Kuhn was Kuhn.

Wide Receivers (B-): Nelson dominated Jordy Island...With a saftey over the top, however, wasn't so effective...Cobb scored TDs in bunches but also had problem separating from slow, bumish safeties...Adams was "solid" but also prone to crucial rookie mistakes...Boykin, I still remember a time not so long ago when this working-class hero was arousing us with his plays...Not anymore...WTF? Janis wasn't targeted once on a bomb.

Tight Ends (F-): Quarless caught game winner against Miami but didn't do shit for the most part...Rodgers, slow as fuck, didn't scare anyone...Bostick, what the fuck happened to this bum?...J-Mike must be healed by now...Man, I used to hang with J-Mike, even slang with J-Mike...Used to bang with J-Mike, goddamn I miss J-Mike...Master P still rapping?

Offensive linemen (C-): Bak was so-so and flag-prone...Bulaga, inconsistent...Lang and Sitton did not play "great" but they were "solid"...The rookie? Average...The Packers ran the ball well in the preseason with Tretter at center, so Tretter should be the starting center post-bye...The backups were/are bums, especially Sherry.

Defensive linemen (D): Not a single bona fide run clogger on the D-line...Gilbert Brown, at his current age, would do a better job vs the run than these bums...Daniels underachieved...Jones was arousing us a bit but then he got hurt...Neal was a JAG.

OLBers (B): Peppers was active for an "old" man...Claymaker disappeared at times but at least only once was it due to his fragile body...Perry found a niche as a breather OLB.

ILBers (F-): None of these bums could shed blocks, blitz or cover...Hawk is easily having his worst season as a "mediocre" pro, and this guy was once benched for, gasp, Brandon Chillar...Brad Jones? A poor man's Hawks, if there's one...The other guys were and are bums.

Corners (B+): Shields was having a pro bowl season before the knee thing..Williams used to win endzone jump balls; not anymore...Heyward showed that he can start in the No Fun League...As a nickle/dime corner, House didn't play too bad, but he ain't starter material.

Safeties (C): Burnett played like a pimp for the most part...Ha-Ha showed flashes but his tackling was inconsistent...Hyde simply sucked and sucked like a sucker sucking a...

Special teams (C+): Crosby was good; Masthsay, OK. Coverage and return units were OK.

[Joemailman]

Rodgers has 19 TD passes and 3 INT's (2 tipped) despite playing against 3 of the top 5 pass defenses in the NFL. His game against Miami was in his top 5 all time.

Lacy has been good the last 4 weeks averaging more than 5 YPC after a slow start. He and Starks are both averaging over 4 YPC despite running out of the shotgun most of the time, not an optimal running formation.

Crosby hasn't been good, he's been great. His only FG miss was blocked, and his kickoffs have been great.

Burnett has been very good. His absence at NO was a huge factor.

Other than those things, you're not too far off.

[Tyrion Lannister]

Lacy has been good the last 4 weeks averaging more than 5 YPC after a slow start. He and Starks are both averaging over 4 YPC despite running out of the shotgun most of the time, not an optimal running formation.

Burnett has been very good. His absence at NO was a huge factor.

Didn't realize Lacy was coming on lately. Guess the image of Lacy getting stuffed for no gain on that infamous 4th and 1 play in the Saints game must still be playing in my head.

Burnett's absence hurt, but I thought Shield's hurt even more. With his great speed, Sammy woulda matched up well against Cook.

ILB is a bit harsh. But I would say no higher then a D

Granted, the Packers lack a run-stuffing fat DT, but ILBers/MLBers are supposed to be a runningback's worst nightmare. Hawk and his band of bums have thus far failed miserably to attack inside rushes.

I wouldn't say Shields was having a pro bowl season, but a solid season though.

Maybe I'm jacking off too much, and thus am losing memory brain cells, but I can't recall a time this season where Shields allowed a TD pass other than the simi-trick play where Jeffry reversed direction at the snap and caught Shields off guard.

I'm giving the TEs a D+. Oh heck, C-. Q has been OK.

Ok ain't J-Mike good.

[Patler]

Didn't realize Lacy was coming on lately. Guess the image of Lacy getting stuffed for no gain on that infamous 4th and 1 play in the Saints game must still be playing in my head.

If you are blaming Lacy for the failure of that play, you are completely and unequivocally wrong.

[Bossman641]

Maybe I'm jacking off too much, and thus am losing memory brain cells, but I can't recall a time this season where Shields allowed a TD pass other than the simi-trick play where Jeffry reversed direction at the snap and caught Shields off guard.

Decker got him in the Jets game.

[Patler]

Maybe I'm jacking off too much, and thus am losing memory brain cells, but I can't recall a time this season where Shields allowed a TD pass other than the simi-trick play where Jeffry reversed direction at the snap and caught Shields off guard.

Probably time to start taking better care of those brain cells. I think we have Shields for at least 3 TDs in only 6 games played.

[Zool]

Rodgers has 19 TD passes and 3 INT's (2 tipped) despite playing against 3 of the top 5 pass defenses in the NFL. His game against Miami was in his top 5 all time.

Lacy has been good the last 4 weeks averaging more than 5 YPC after a slow start. He and Starks are both averaging over 4 YPC despite running out of the shotgun most of the time, not an optimal running formation.

Crosby hasn't been good, he's been great. His only FG miss was blocked, and his kickoffs have been great.

Burnett has been very good. His absence at NO was a huge factor.

Other than those things, you're not too far off.

I think all 3 hit a receiver actually.

[denverYooper]

I think all 3 hit a receiver actually.

Yep. 2 of them were right on. The last one that Adams got his hands on was off by quite a bit but looked like a miscommunication.

[red]

I can agree with most of those grades. A-rod has not been playing up to his usual level, despite his insane stat line.

Running backs is a bit harsh. I would say around a C

ILB is a bit harsh. But I would say no higher then a D

Special teamshas been pretty bad accept for crosby, he gets an A or A+ all by himself

[Harlan Huckleby]

Most of the grades look reasonable

I'm giving the TEs a D+. Oh heck, C-. Q has been OK.

Your RB beat-down is way harsh

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

I agree with most, but these few. Rodgers alone makes QBs an "A." We are 2-6 or 1-7 without Rodgers. Sitton is a stud and has played great. I wouldn't say Shields was having a pro bowl season, but a solid season though.

[Patler]

I think Shields also bit entirely on play action against Seattle, leaving his guy completely open, who then eluded a safety for the TD. I think that was Shields.

[Tyrion Lannister]

I think Shields also bit entirely on play action against Seattle, leaving his guy completely open, who then eluded a safety for the TD. I think that was Shields.

Correct me if I'm wrong (could be wrong play), but I think on that play the Gulls ran a read-option pass. Capers stated that Shields did not err as his assignment was to contain Wilson. Ha-Ha, I believe, was supposed to cover Sheilds' guy, but he got there a bit late and then proceed miss the tackle with one of his trademark "dive at the feet" tackle.

[Patler]

Correct me if I'm wrong (could be wrong play), but I think on that play the Gulls ran a read-option pass. Capers stated that Shields did not err as his assignment was to contain Wilson. Ha-Ha, I believe, was supposed to cover Sheilds' guy, but he got there a bit late and then proceed miss the tackle with one of his trademark "dive at the feet" tackle.

Could be. I don't remember Capers talking about it, but I don't remember very many of the excuses, I mean explanations Capers gives!

Didn't the Bears kind of go after Shields a bit, and complete a bunch of passes to his guy? I seem to remember McGinn or someone pointing that out.

I think Shields has been OK, but not close to pro bowl level, and certainly not a $10M man. Still his typical frail self physically, which, of course, is not his fault just a reality with him..

[Guiness]

Could be. I don't remember Capers talking about it, but I don't remember very many of the excuses, I mean explanations Capers gives!

Didn't the Bears kind of go after Shields a bit, and complete a bunch of passes to his guy? I seem to remember McGinn or someone pointing that out.

I think Shields has been OK, but not close to pro bowl level, and certainly not a $10M man. Still his typical frail self physically, which, of course, is not his fault just a reality with him..

He's a very good corner, but I was a little surprised at the money he got.

[3irty1]

Could be. I don't remember Capers talking about it, but I don't remember very many of the excuses, I mean explanations Capers gives!

Didn't the Bears kind of go after Shields a bit, and complete a bunch of passes to his guy? I seem to remember McGinn or someone pointing that out.

I think Shields has been OK, but not close to pro bowl level, and certainly not a $10M man. Still his typical frail self physically, which, of course, is not his fault just a reality with him..

I've never been much of a Shields fan. IMO he's really good at just one thing and it just so happens that the one thing he's good at is defending the go or 9 route. Its the route that gets WR's paid so it makes sense that it would get CB's paid as well. It seems like we bought high on Shields as his one skill is currently a premium. Pretty much the same reason I didn't want Byrd. With the tackling issues we've seen from Shields and House, I can't help but wonder if that 10 Mil would have been better spent on Vonte Davis. On 80% of plays, it seems to me like Davis is the better corner.

[Guiness]

I've never been much of a Shields fan. IMO he's really good at just one thing and it just so happens that the one thing he's good at is defending the go or 9 route. Its the route that gets WR's paid so it makes sense that it would get CB's paid as well. It seems like we bought high on Shields as his one skill is currently a premium. Pretty much the same reason I didn't want Byrd. With the tackling issues we've seen from Shields and House, I can't help but wonder if that 10 Mil would have been better spent on Vonte Davis. On 80% of plays, it seems to me like Davis is the better corner.

I agree that Davis is better on 80% of the plays - the thing is, Shields is better on the 20% that seem to matter. Patler brought up in the NO game day thread that most pro games hinge on a couple of pivotol plays that can change the outcome of the game. Well, a successful 9 route (or the drawing of a DPI penalty - same thing) is one of those plays.

[Tyrion Lannister]

Could be. I don't remember Capers talking about it, but I don't remember very many of the excuses, I mean explanations Capers gives!

Didn't the Bears kind of go after Shields a bit, and complete a bunch of passes to his guy? I seem to remember McGinn or someone pointing that out.

I think Shields has been OK, but not close to pro bowl level, and certainly not a $10M man. Still his typical frail self physically, which, of course, is not his fault just a reality with him..

I think JSO posted Capers' explanation in one of their blogs the day after the game.

Shields is playing well and he's NOT overpaid, imho. In another thread, you said that House is worth 6M/yr to some teams. Shields is way better than House. Shields probably would start for most NFL teams. House, maybe 3 or 4 other teams.

[Patler]

I think JSO posted Capers' explanation in one of their blogs the day after the game.

Shields is playing well and he's NOT overpaid, imho. In another thread, you said that House is worth 6M/yr to some teams. Shields is way better than House. Shields probably would start for most NFL teams. House, maybe 3 or 4 other teams.

I don't believe I said House is worth $6M, I believe I said he might get $6M. There is a difference. I also said that I don't think the Packers will pay him that much. I normally talk about what a player might receive, not what he is worth, because I have no idea what any player is really worth. Because of circumstances on a particular team, a player might get a much larger contract from one team than what most teams would pay him. Does that make him "worth" the higher contract? In that thread, I think I also said that a team without a lot of large contracts and a need at CB could easily decide to give the $ to House to be their starter.

I think Shields is an example of that. GB really needed to keep him at the time. Hawk's last contract when negotiated was, too. Probably TJ Lang, too. With the state of the Packer's O-line at the time, they really needed to keep Lang, and since they had the ability to do it under the cap, they probably paid him more than most teams might have been willing to at that time. I think it can be argued that the same thing happened with Finley, although on a short contract the concept of a player's "worth" can be skewed. Flynn's contract with Seattle is another example. I know Clay Matthews is worth $2M/year, but is he worth more than $13M? Is he worth almost 10% more than any other LB in average salary just because GB paid him that much? I doubt it, although he might have had more takers at that amount than just GB.

Even if you believe Shields is "way better", the difference between $10M/yr and $6M/yr is quite a bit. Shields average salary is the 6th highest among CBs on this years' list. Something around a $6M average would be around 18th on this year's list, probably a few notches lower for next year, when negotiated. A team identifying House to be a starter for them should be willing to pay that, and I think he has a decent chance of finding that type of team.

[KYPack]

[QUOTE=Tyrion Lannister;804907]I don't have McGinn's credentials, but I can be just as blunt as he is. Here's my position-by-position grades of the Packers after 8 games.

Quarterbacks (B): Rodgers played scared against Seattle, looked like Tolzien against Detriot and threw a bunch of picks vs. New Orleans...'12' also destroyed a bunch of hapless, tasteless teams...Flynn was terrible in garbage time.

QUOTE]

See the bold?

This is Tank.

1st screw-up, let's kick him out.

Again.