More Banjo: Week 13 vs Washington

[pbmax]

Started out a house on fire on offense and defense.

Then the game fell apart. Defense held on with pressure and turnovers as per usual.

But the offense was in a funk. By design or fear or the refusal of the QB, they play the entire game through Jones/Williams and Adams. Everything else is specialty plays or extended offense. Working as well as it did last year.

Subbing in Willams early probably hurt Jones success in running the ball. Almost has to be front office insisting on not wearing him out?

Dr. Zaius hurt his leg/hammy, but was back on next series.

Packers pass blocking is porous at times and Rodgers can't hold onto the ball like that. Had a dumb turnover because Bulaga got beat backside like a drum.

Secondary plays a bit more solid in the middle.

[Joemailman]

Looked like they lost some focus after taking a 14-0 lead. Or maybe Redskins just made some adjustments that gave Packers trouble. Game was pretty much what I expected. Redskins defense is respectable, but passing offense is bad.

"I think if we had the answers, you wouldn't be seeing what you saw today," coach Matt LaFleur said of the offense. "I don't think it's up to our standards."

[Joemailman]

So, was Ervin that much better than their other returners, or was the blocking better?

[pbmax]

Zach Kruse @zachkruse2
Aaron Jones is destroying Washington so naturally the Packers are banging their heads against the wall with their frustratingly inconsistent passing game.

Ryan Wood @ByRyanWood
Here's one possibility to spark the offense in this final quarter: Give the football to Aaron Jones.
He's got 117 yards on just 12 carries today. That's 9.75 yards every time he runs the ball. Might help.

Wes Hodkiewicz @WesHod
That was a 14-play, 74-yard drive that ate 7:24 off the clock.
The #Packers have had their ups and downs on offense this year but this team runs the four-minute offense as efficiently as any GB team I've covered. Today, it was Aaron Jones but Jamaal Williams has done it, too

THIS IS VERY TRUE. ONLY THE LACY OFFENSE IN FIRST TWO YEARS LOOKED THIS GOOD LATE WITH A LEAD.

[pbmax]

So, was Ervin that much better than their other returners, or was the blocking better?

One of the returns had better blocking. But two of them he just took the ball and pushed it. One of those the Wash punter out kicked his coverage.

[run pMc]

Negative plays on first down hurt them. Rodgers missed some throws, and the Redskins can play ok run D.
Given the advantage they had in starting field position, I was discouraged that they didn't score more points.
Jimmy Graham has improved his blocking this year, but he looks awkward running to me.
Geromino Allison doesn't bring much to the table...that almost fumble was ugly, but he had a nice rub against a corner to free up Lazard.
MVS' must be hurt worse than we know. Don't think he even got a target today.
Billy Turner plays decent but every so often has an appalling snap...thought he was on the ground a lot today.

Everyone knew the Native Americans were going to run the ball all day, and IIRC they ran on every 1st down. GB still had trouble stopping them, but it could have been worse. Guice/Peterson combo is no joke, in fairness.
Alexander played decent coverage -- I thought the secondary played better than vs. NYG. Haskins was often under pressure and isn't as good at this point as D.Jones. Also the safeties played better. Kevin King didn't play, I don't think that's why. Josh Jackson got some meaningful snaps! Rashan Gary almost had a sack, and Fackrell played ok except for that bad drive extending offsides penalty. Kenny Clark showed up, and the FA acquisitions (Smiths and Amos) all played well.

Tyler Ervin got a standing ovation from the crowd in the 1st half for his punt returns. Mason helped seal the game, and JK Scott punted well.

I still don't know what this team does consistently well enough to beat SEA/NO/SF, but they're 10-3 which is pretty amazing.

[pbmax]

Andy Herman @AndyHermanNFL
After returning his first punt for positive yards the Packers have signed Tyler Ervin to a lifetime contract.

[pbmax]

Bad news Frtiz, this looks promising:

https://twitter.com/SeedsofJake/status/1203748624397676547

[Fritz]

Bad news Frtiz, this looks promising:

https://twitter.com/SeedsofJake/status/1203748624397676547

Once I found a strand of Drew Barrymore's hair on the red carpet in Hollywood. Things look promising!

[pbmax]

Saw this on Peter King's FMIA article: https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...w#numbers-game

Basically the perils of FA, 2019 edition. What struck me wasn't the folly of signing Nick Foles to a contract with $50 million guaranteed. It was that neither Smith (Za'Darius or Preston) was on it. Now maybe King cherry picked the list? Possible. But the list seems to cover the highest guarantees handed out. Ranges from $56 to $25 million.

Where are the Smiths? Dr. Zaius got $20 and Preston got $16.

So it might have been the silly money portion of FA, but it wasn't the dumbest part of the silly money season.

Good job Gute and Ball. When Pettine handed over his wish list, I wonder if he knew he was getting bargains? Packers might have been willing to spend $30-$40 mil on a guy.

EDIT: Fits what they generally seem to prefer, not to guaranty as much as others but offer larger salaries and non-guaranteed bonuses.

[Tony Oday]

It's scary when the Redskins make a game of it.

[pbmax]

@DhaSickest
Replying to
@NFLPhotoGuy and @don1964a
I think it was a cheap shot!! He knows the history of my knee injuries and went straight at them...

Derrius Guice thinks Savage leg takeout was a cheap shot because the rookie 'knows the history of my knee injuries'.

[pbmax]

Aaron Jones ran a different route release when the CB fell down. Should have been an outside release according to LaFleur. This was the near miss to Jones that would have been a TD.

https://twitter.com/RossUglem/status/1204254909744472064

[pbmax]

State of the Offense according to the coach:

https://www.si.com/nfl/packers/news/green-bays-offense-trending-the-wrong-way/

[texaspackerbacker]

@DhaSickest
Replying to
@NFLPhotoGuy and @don1964a
I think it was a cheap shot!! He knows the history of my knee injuries and went straight at them...

Derrius Guice thinks Savage leg takeout was a cheap shot because the rookie 'knows the history of my knee injuries'.

Guice is a damn nobody. If he's that scared about his damn knees, he should pull a Borland and quit.