More Banjo - Packers vs. Commanders

[Joemailman]

Love dynamite under 20. Not so much throwing long, although he did have 39 yard TD called back for holding.

[run pMc]

Love isn't Alex Smith. His aDOT is much higher. He's actually closer to a gunslinger, at least in the context of the current NFL. A lot of teams throw it short-to-intermediate, Love is chucking it deep a few times more than average per game. In that respect he's more Favre than Rodgers, but he's not the arm talent of Favre. Some of that is MLF's scheme, but i expect the scheme is adjusted to the player. Regardless, I think he's a top 12 QB, possibly even top 8. His accuracy has improved, he rarely takes bad sacks, and he's very poised. Teammates really seem to like him, which isn't nothing (hello, DeShaun Watson, Jay Cutler, etc.) when you have adversity.

I don't think he's going to reach the ceiling of a Allen or Mahomes, but I think he can be good enough to win with. At this point I'd take him over Trevor Lawrence and probably Jalen Hurts. I'd take him over 2025 Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson.
The contract is a lot, but it's the going rate for a 'franchise' QB. Look at Kirk Cousins; that dude makes bank and hasn't won anything in the postseason. His current contract is probably going to look reasonable by the time they start negotiating the next one.


As for the running game, agree that DET and WAS both tried to bottle up Jacobs. Losing Banks and Tom probably didn't help things, but DET was blitzing a lot in the 1H. I think they'll get it going soon... remember, those were good playoff teams last year, they probably have above average defenses. MLF will take the mini-bye to adjust the scheme and playcalling, and they'll get it going.

I thought Belton and Kinnard looked ok. Belton settled in after a while, but I think he's destined for guard. Kinnard doesn't appear have the feet to last at T, but I think he can get your through a game, and he'd be better at G.
Morgan looked ok too, although I think he's the opposite - he's probably better at T than G.

Interesting that they played a lot more Wyatt/Brooks than Wooden/Wyatt; Not sure you want Wyatt or Brooks at the nose in general but I suspect it was because WAS isn't a big inside running team. Hafley playing mix and matchups.
Speaking of Hafley, if this keeps up he's gone for a HC gig next season.

[ThunderDan]

I thought Bullard played well again. He isn’t going to be a Pro Bowl caliber player. But he knows his assignments, closes fast and is a good tackler.

He gave up a bunch of completions (a negative on his PFF grade) but most only went for 2 or 3 yards.

[ThunderDan]

The only really bad plays that mattered were the Walker slip, the kickoff return to the 50 and the punt return to the 40.

And on the punt return our gunner had turned the corner to the returner and probably stops him for 5 yards. But he got held. You could see the jersey stretched off his shoulder pads. Still not sure how the refs didn’t throw a flag there.

[George Cumby]

I thought Bullard played well again. He isn’t going to be a Pro Bowl caliber player. But he knows his assignments, closes fast and is a good tackler.

He gave up a bunch of completions (a negative on his PFF grade) but most only went for 2 or 3 yards.

Bullard's tackling really jumped out at me, not much YAC, there.

Kid is only in his second year, I am holding out hope the light bulb comes on as far as coverage.

[Joemailman]

The closer to the line of scrimmage, the better Bullard is. Don't know if he'll ever excel in medium/deep coverage, but at worst he's a very good role player.

[run pMc]

The closer to the line of scrimmage, the better Bullard is. Don't know if he'll ever excel in medium/deep coverage, but at worst he's a very good role player.

Agree. I think he's fine as a slot defender on early downs, and he's good in zone coverage. Having him play man coverage against one of the shiftiest slot WRs in Amon-Ra St. Brown is asking a lot of him. Most corners struggle at that, he's a safety.
He's fast, chases, and tackles. if they use him for his strengths and what he can do, he's fine. Hafley's smart enough to do that. I think on that 3rd down slant to St. Brown the coverage wasn't terrible -- it was a pretty good release by St. Brown -- and he tackled him immediately. The call was against tendency to play zone and they were probably trying to outsmart Goff but ended up outsmarting themselves.

I haven't seen Bullard really get badly burned (yet), hoping that having a full offseason to know the D will help him. Also, playing slot defender is really really hard: you have OL and TE coming at you in the run game, and shifty WRs or giant TEs with two-way go's in the passing attack.

[bobblehead]

I'm just going to say pinch me. I must be dreaming because our D looks like an Owl D. I thought it would be good before the trade.....now it's elite.

[CaptainKickass]

I'm just going to say pinch me. I must be dreaming because our D looks like an Owl D. I thought it would be good before the trade.....now it's elite.

Shhhhhhh. I think you meant to say:

"The D looks pretty good so far, but there's certainly room for improvement as the season goes on."

[Joemailman]

NFL+
@NFLPlus

The @packers defense blitzed Jayden Daniels 12 times in Week 2, per@NextGenStats:

7 pressures (58.3%)
2 sacks
3/10 pass comp (Daniels' career low)

[bobblehead]

The closer to the line of scrimmage, the better Bullard is. Don't know if he'll ever excel in medium/deep coverage, but at worst he's a very good role player.

My take. He seems to be a decent box safety who can cover TEs in the short area. I doubt he is ever a guy you want to extend for more than a minimum though.

[George Cumby]

Love wins this week's Angry Runs scepter, LOL:

https://youtu.be/BsoYOIkeajk?t=2012