More Banjo: Week 14 vs Chicago

[Joemailman]

Defense was infuriating. Played well for the majority of the game until the 4th quarter when they played exclusively zone.

They can't play zone!!

Middle zone always open. Without a pass rush, and without Trubisky at QB, we lose this game. We didn't have a pass rush.

Good job stopping the run. Trubisky not ready for prime time.

Martinez might have played his best game of the year. Clark did.

This defense should be so much better than they are. I think they have the players and the first 3 quarters showed their potential.

I do think the defense has gotten better. I think they got a bit gassed there in the 4th quarter. 5 straight 3 and outs by your offense can do that. And as someone who works outside, I can say that being out in very cold weather does sap your energy.

[Fritz]

I think he has been rooting for Tonyan like he was rooting for Lazard to get some snaps. But I agree, it was a poor decision. Sometimes you just need a first down.

Another really, really bad decision was not throwing the ball away and getting called for getting grounded, which cost the team about a 49 yard field goal try. Rodgers still thinks he's got the spring in his legs that he had when he was 31 and can get away from defenders, but it's not happening like that so often any more. Really poor decision.

He also missed Jimmy Graham, who was open, by not lofting the ball and instead put it on a line - straight into a Bear defender's hands. Luckily the guy dropped it.

I don't think Rodgers is making up for the loss of physical gifts by playing smarter.

[run pMc]

Defense played pretty well for most of the game; I thought they relaxed when they went up 21-3 and started to play more prevent-style D. Anthony Miller started to kill them when they did.
Also, Trubisky didn't throw downfield in the 1st half. Nagy was clearly trying to get him confident and going. They did a nice job vs. the run, and didn't get killed by TE's, but CHI doesn't have anyone healthy who is a significant threat. Alexander tackled well, and with Tramon getting hurt King gutted through his 500 injuries to play. The last two plays gave me some heartburn.

It was big play or bust for most of their drives. That they couldn't even get 3 off the Lowry pick drove me crazy -- that was their chance to put the game out of reach IMO. CHI D played pretty well, especially the front 7. Buster Skrine got picked on and if it wasn't Adams it was a surprise. No A.Jones in the passing game - and only 13 carries - and MVS is in a major slump. The WRs had several bad drops (MVS, Adams twice, etc). Rodgers started off accurate and got worse as the game went on, took a bad sack, and had a grounding penalty. Overall he played ok and clearly outplayed Trubisky. At least they tried to keep running the ball vs. going full M3. Very inconsistent game, and the last 20 minutes the offense played poorly IMO.

ST didn't hurt them, Ervin played fine. Had a couple of good returns they could've done a better job capitalizing on. Hurt his hand which is why Tramon was back there getting his bell rung by Patterson. Mason didn't have much to do and JK punted fine. Coverage on Cohen/Patterson was mostly good enough.

Division games are rivalry games, especially when it's vs. the Bears, so I feel like you almost have to throw everything else out and just figure it's going to be a close and ugly game (which it was). Yards were earned, not given. I thought the Packers played like the better team overall but they have lots of warts.

Happy they are 11-3 but they play more like an 8-6 team.

[run pMc]

Also, they knocked the Bears out of the playoffs. Again.

[pbmax]

Another really, really bad decision was not throwing the ball away and getting called for getting grounded, which cost the team about a 49 yard field goal try. Rodgers still thinks he's got the spring in his legs that he had when he was 31 and can get away from defenders, but it's not happening like that so often any more. Really poor decision.

One of his sacks made some sense rather than throw away and stop the clock.

But yeah, the grounding call was brutal. Bulaga I think got beat very on an inside move which is happening all too much. Rodgers moved but not enough.

Which is strange that Mack did not have a bigger game.

[oldbutnotdeadyet]

Great play by Kumerow. Why doesn't he see more action? He can take some of Allison and Scantling's snaps.

Lazard was solid. Adams didn't have his best game with a couple of drops, but he's the only WR that gets open quickly.

Jones has a nose for the goal line, but didn't do anything between the 20s. He was blown away twice while pass blocking.

No running game to speak of. Field helped to dull the pass rush. Rodgers was good on 3 drives. Not good on all the others.

OL pass blocked well, but got no traction in the running game except on short yardage plays.

TEs were invisible, pretty much.

Typical Packer offense.

As far as I am concerned, Kumerow can have all of Allison and Scantling's snaps

[pbmax]

As far as I am concerned, Kumerow can have all of Allison and Scantling's snaps

Kumerow might be the answer to getting Rodgers to choose the shorter throw since he trusts him.

[texaspackerbacker]

I've completely given up on Allison too, but Valdez-Scantling is so fast and big that he is worth developing for a year or so in the hope that he shapes up. I've finally come around to the idea that they should draft a WR early, maybe second round - get a real speed guy who can actually catch the ball. I'll reprise something I've said previously, that they should make Lazard a TE. Tonyan doesn't seem to be developing very quick, Sternberger has been a big nothing, and the two oldies are just getting older. It seems like Lazard at times is kinda a de facto TE already based on blocking assignments.

Aaron Jones' pass blocking deficiency: I think maybe some teaching might fix that. He didn't have his feet under him right - leaning too far back. A lot of fairly small guys pass block just fine, and he's certainly strong and athletic enough.

Congrats to the short arm guy for reaching up and grabbing a pick - some really good hands on the end of those short arms. It happened, though, because he got no push in pass rush and just happened to be stuck in the exact right place.

Khalil Mack is starting to look like the last Packer years of Clay Matthews - a few good plays but no consistency. I'm glad it was the Bears that gave up two first rounders for him, not the Packers.

Amos > Clinton-Dix by a large margin.

I've had a lot higher opinion of Trubisky than most in here. It is scary that he is beginning to come around. However, by the time he is good, their D and the rest of the team likely will have deteriorated to well known BSS status (Bears Still Suck).

[pbmax]

I

I've had a lot higher opinion of Trubisky than most in here. It is scary that he is beginning to come around. However, by the time he is good, their D and the rest of the team likely will have deteriorated to well known BSS status (Bears Still Suck).

When they let him throw down the middle of the field (versus a zone) he looked good.

[MadtownPacker]

I think Kumerow should start next to Adams because he is white like Jordy Nelson was.

[pbmax]

I think Kumerow should start next to Adams because he is white like Jordy Nelson was.

Nelson - Kumerow

Jones - Adams

Cobb - Lazard?

[beveaux1]

Not ready to go all-in for Kumerow. Remember, he had Dix trying to tackle him. Can't help but think if he's good, why isn't he playing?

They took Lazard off the practice squad and he made an immediate impact. Has Kumerow ever caught more than two in a game?

I'm going to put this out there. Three of our present WRs need to be replaced from the roster by next year. Adams won't be replaced.

Wouldn't be surprised to see a free agent, an early draft pick, and a later draft pick. That would be similar to our OLB situation last year.

Anyway, food for thought.

[MadtownPacker]

Nelson - Kumerow

Jones - Adams

Cobb - Lazard?

We talking SB here man!! Has to Jennings not Cobb.

[texaspackerbacker]

Nelson - Kumerow

Jones - Adams

Cobb - Lazard?

There's a joke there somewhere about bigger being better.

[texaspackerbacker]

Not ready to go all-in for Kumerow. Remember, he had Dix trying to tackle him. Can't help but think if he's good, why isn't he playing?

They took Lazard off the practice squad and he made an immediate impact. Has Kumerow ever caught more than two in a game?

I'm going to put this out there. Three of our present WRs need to be replaced from the roster by next year. Adams won't be replaced.

Wouldn't be surprised to see a free agent, an early draft pick, and a later draft pick. That would be similar to our OLB situation last year.

Anyway, food for thought.

Are you counting that Grant guy who never plays? The only one I'd get rid of is Allison. Adams (obviously), Lazard, Kumerow, MVS - in that order - are worth keeping. With St. Brown presumably coming back healthy, that's one opening for maybe a second round draft pick.