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| The Packers were in Beast Mode on MNF |
I got up Wednesday morning starving to death (still suffering from the after effects of food poisoning) and wanting to avoid making my picks for this week's prep football games for my newspaper, because I have dropped four back of the new leader after making a terrible mistake in last week's picks during my first day of food poisoning picking a team that had no hope of winning, so I was so bummed that I didn't even open Saturday's paper to see the scores.
But life goes on and today is the deadline for the picks, so I made a cup of coffee (which hasn't slaked my hunger) and made my picks and without thinking about it too much (which I do most of the time) put them in stone (clicked) and sent them off.
I'm waiting for the cable guys to arrive to fix my cable, so I was just sitting here with hunger pains and a slight headache, so I retreated to my Quantum of Solace the Green Bay Packers.
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| NFC Offensive Player of the Week |
I saw Aaron Rodgers was named Offensive Player of the Week for the sixth time breaking a tie with Brett Favre, who got his in 19 seasons as a starter while Rodgers got his in just eight seasons. It got me thinking about stats,
I LOVE STATS, and I looked Rodgers up and found he leads the NFL in touchdown passes with 10, in quarterback rating (135.4) while tied with Tom "Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire" Brady and Eli "Half a" Manning (of all people) as the only starting quarterbacks without an interception. He is also fifth in completions percentage (73.6), and 11th in passing yards (771 behind 1,122 by Brady).
I also found out that tight end Andrew Quarless will be out 4 to 6 weeks with a MCL sprain in his left knee, Sorry to hear that, but this is another season where Packers lose players weekly with injuries (it seems the Packers have had more than their share during the Ted Thompson era, which makes Thompson's skimping on quality veteran backups a big problem).
Sitting out last week were starting strong safety Morgan Burnett (calf) for the second time in three weeks, dime safety Sean Richardson (ankle), starting right tackle Bryan Bulaga (knee surgery), and reserve cornerback Demetri Goodson (hamstring).
Wide receiver Davante Adams hasn't practiced since re-aggravating his high ankle sprain against the Chiefs, defensive end Datone Jones is out with a possible concussion (no surprise here since he is always hurt) and third string inside linebacker Jake Ryan is out with a hamstring issue.
I would hope that Ted Thompson could see the trees in the forest and hire a hamstring specialist and now it seems the injury de jour is now ankles. The Packers seem to suffer certain injuries in bunches.
My stomach finally stopped grumbling for whatever reason since I haven't eaten yet. The cable people are 40 minutes late and SHIT my cable issues just cleared up, so they won't be able to fix a problem I've been having for three years.
This headache is making my thoughts a bit less focused, so what other issues can I think of. Let's see it seems Clay Matthews.............sorry I had to run to the toilet.....has been playing more at outside linebacker and he got his first two sacks against the Chiefs from the outside, so I suspect we'll see more of Nate Palmer and Joe Thomas (who was cut in the final cuts and signed by the Cowboys to their practice squad and then re-signed by the Packers when Josh Boyd was put on injured reserve) as the inside linebackers in certain packages. Thomas leapfrogged Ryan and Palmer as the lone inside linebacker in the dime package and Thomas and Palmer were inside in the nickel. Thomas finished with 3 solo tackles and a sack.
Speaking of leapfrogging my man Jayrone Elliott has jumped ahead of Andy Mulumba at outside linebacker. During the pre-season Mulumba was a starter when the starters were not playing the final two games. Against the Chiefs Elliott finished with 2 solo tackles and a sack.
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| Randall Cobb caught 3 of Rodgers' 5 TD passes |
Jeff Janis got some offensive playing time against the Chiefs when Adams went out only because there was no one else since it was down to James Jones, Randall Cobb (a slot man) and Ty Montgomery.
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| James Jones' TD on a free play |
To no one's surprise if you've been reading this blog he was thrown one ball (deep down out of bounds on the left sideline) and he never saw another ball thrown his way. I feel sorry for him and wish him well with his new team when they hopefully cut him.
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| Ty Montgomery's 1st Lambeau Leap |
It seems Montgomery is the real deal. While he continues to do well as the kickoff returner (1 for 36 and 1 for 28 against the Chiefs), he has stepped up his production from scrimmage catching both passes thrown to him and one for his first NFL touchdown on a play that was amazing.
With Jones, Cobb and Richard Rodgers lined up to the right at the Chiefs eight Rodgers changed to play, but Jones couldn't hear, so he had no clue where to go so when the ball was snapped he just raised him arms and stood there. Montgomery on the left side deaked (evidently this is not a word and I use it all the time, but don't know how to spell it) the corner and was wide open for the score.
First round draft pick cornerback Damarius Randall is getting more and more time on the outside. With Burnett out and Micah Hyde moving to strong safety Casey Hayward moves into the slot and Randall takes the former Tramon Williams spot at left outside cornerback. Even though he got lost in coverage once against the Chiefs giving up a 61-yard completion he is solid and should be the starter by the end of the year as I've predicted several times.
Former No. 1 pick Nick Perry continues to play well with this being his final year with the Packers since they didn't pick up his option for next year. Against the Chiefs he had 3 solo tackles, a sack and another tackle for a loss. It would be great to see him finally live up to his lofty status, but I think his ship has already sailed and he will be allowed to leave after the season. I also think will continuing health issues with another former No. 1 Datone Jones next year, if not sooner, will be his last also.
Eddie Lacy continues to be the man. James Starks didn't have a good game (1.9 yard a carry) after an excellent game the week before. Alonzo Harris looked good in his two carries, but Lacy with Starks spelling him is what makes the running game go.
The offensive line (giving up just one sack against the sack happy Chiefs) was good, but a lot of that has to do with the mobility of Rodgers. Like I said on Tuesday David Bakhtiari did not have a good game at left tackle and something is going to have done about his pass protection issues. When Bulaga returns the fat will be in the fire and I'm guessing he will be moved to left tackle when he is actually a future Pro Bowl right tackle.
Finally, despite a very sore shoulder Cobb is on a pace to finish with 106 catches, 1,307 yards and team record 21 TDs. He currently has 20 catches for 245 yards and four touchdowns.
Old man Jones has been a god send with Jordy Nelson gone for the season. He has 12 catches (18.3 yards per catch), 219 yards and four touchdowns with a TD catch in every game.
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