2016 in Review, Bob's Grades for the Packers

[pbmax]

So our O line only looks competent because Rodgers can escape pass rushers so well?

IMO the reason why AR had to hold onto the ball so long is our WRs had problems getting open...

The Packers offense is such a weird thing with the Tarkenton scramble element, I am not sure how to compare. You really would need to divide up pass attempts between pocket/out of pocket and under 3 seconds/4 or more seconds.

The Tackles are very good pass blockers. The interior can be had, but none are terrible. Linsley and the backs had trouble with delayed blitzes and they Cowboys and Falcons both discovered that whatever protection the Packers were running could be had with DB blitzes from outside. Those worked in part because the routes being run were long developing and Rodgers had to avoid the DB first before he was going to throw.

My guess is that the Packers pass pro is Top 5 but I would not be surprised if was just Top 10.

Football Outsiders has them the 11th ranked, which is probably low end simply because Rodgers, from holding the ball to running into trouble, is essentially a hit or miss pass protector himself. http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ol

[vince]

Aaron is a high percentage tosser, he will use the sideline to limit INTs, but rarely will he throw to receiver that has less than two steps on a defensive back. He would rather hold on to the ball, take some sack rather than utilize the pocket and make contested throws. It works until it doesn't, it's even hard for me to argue his strategy when it comes to his production.

Yeah contested throws are a big part of why they do what they do and when they do it. Sacks tend to end drives but picks tend to lose games.

It's obvious Rodgers hates to throw picks and that's something McCarthy emphasizes. He was able to ingrain that discipline into Favre in the couple years they worked together too. Favre improved from his career-high 29 in Sherman's last year to 18 in 2006 and 15 in 2007. Those numbers aren't great by today's standards but they were pretty good for Favre and his era.

So on a long field, by holding the ball, Rodgers doesn't actually need 2 steps but it does allow him time to confidently assess just how "contested" the ball is likely to be when it arrives. He knows it's better to throw a guy open when the defender is trailing with his back turned (which he regularly does) than on a quick strike where the play is right in front of the defender still.

They do throw slants, for example, but it's not their favorite play because that's one where defenders can jump the route and/or are more likely to be on top of the receiver to get their hands in to defend the pass or even tip the ball up.

Situation and personnel play a role too. Low-read quick throws tend to be more effective toward the goalline and when they're expecting pressure. And how confident is Rodgers that his guy will be able to create space quickly and effectively use their body to shield the defender? A lot of times the ball has to be out before that can be known. Arod don't like that. There's not much worse that can happen than a defender beating the receiver to the spot on a slant, particularly on a long field.

[pbmax]

Adams and Cook seem to be able to create space on a regular basis on slants. I am not sure I understand the reluctance this year. Still, saw more of that route with those two.

I don't think Rodgers is looking for two feet of separation on throws. He has made too many close ones, including most of the touchdowns, to state that with any certainty.




He does lock in on pre-snap reads too much and misses other chances because of it. They look deep too much and except for a few games this season, refuse to take what they are given short until its 3rd and short.

I do think it can take 2 feet of separation to get his attention when he is scrambling unless he and a WR lock eyes and agree on a destination.

[Deputy Nutz]

Lee was completely toasted on that play he was running like a mad man to catch up to Rodgers. There was more of window than that picture lets on.

[Zool]

Lee was completely toasted on that play he was running like a mad man to catch up to Rodgers. There was more of window than that picture lets on.

Fore sure. That ball was under thrown and DickRod had to basically stop at the one, catch it and fall backwards into the end zone. I'm not saying you're right about the 2 steps, but this throw is not a good example of tight window throws.

[pbmax]

Fore sure. That ball was under thrown and DickRod had to basically stop at the one, catch it and fall backwards into the end zone. I'm not saying you're right about the 2 steps, but this throw is not a good example of tight window throws.

[pbmax]

[Zool]

Like I said, I don't agree with him, just agree with that one instance.

[pbmax]

[pbmax]

Like I said, I don't agree with him, just agree with that one instance.

Yeah, I know. I just sensed a meme developing.

[Zool]

Yeah, I know. I just sensed a meme developing.

Find the back of the end zone TD to Adams with Rodgers rolling left (Cowboys?)[edit: Giants] There's no reason that should have been a completed pass.

Found it but the .gif isn't linkable apparently.

https://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/dTA98bIXsAnz0Daa0Oz-pOTLgT0=/0x0:496x300/720x0/filters:focal(0x0:496x300):gifv():no_upscale()/cdn2.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/7772799/eli_sux.0.gif

[Deputy Nutz]

Rodgers had about two steps on the guy running with him. Rodgers didn't see the DB come in from the left.

[Deputy Nutz]

Find the back of the end zone TD to Adams with Rodgers rolling left (Cowboys?)[edit: Giants] There's no reason that should have been a completed pass.

Found it but the .gif isn't linkable apparently.
https://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/dTA.../eli_sux.0.gif

It either was going to be caught or incomplete. Like I said, he will use the sideline. Hell of a throw, hell of a catch. The Packers have good receivers, some were complaining that they don't get open and not every play a receiver is going to get open right away, and it is up to the QB to buy some time which Rodgers does extremely well. The Play to Adams no one was getting open, but sometimes thats really good defensive preparation knowing what the Packers are going to run.

[SkinBasket]

I thought the biggest problem, of several, during the losing streak was the inability of the WRs to improvise and get open during scrambles. Can't tell you how many times you would watch the replay and while our QB was scrambling right, the WRs busied themselves with running into their defenders, continuing to trot in a general downfield direction, or falling down. One of this offense's greatest weapons neutralized itself oftentimes. Sure, Rodgers was to blame on some of those - not seeing openings, but there certainly seemed to be a general malaise in the WRs' motivator units.

Once the entire team seemed to embrace the idea that this was just how our offense would function, I think you saw much more articulate movement and better energy from the WRs on those 6-10 second plays. Don't know if that was a coaching thing, or the players finally getting their dicks out of each other's asses, but the correlation was there in my reality.

We need a more aggressive WR or two that senses blood when the play breaks and goes to get the ball while abusing those poor DBs, not fucking Cobb who looks like a wounded puppy humping legs.

[red]

or we could go back to having an offence that doesn't depend on the "play breaking down"

it seems like all too often the play that gets called in just goes like "ok, you, you and you, go out and get open deep"