Two Areas of Concern Heading Into The Playoffs

'Mr. Rodgers'

Besides Aaron Rodgers looking more like Mr. Rogers and Eddie Lacy like Eddie "The Eagle" the most disappointing areas of the 2015 Packers offense are the offensive line and the wide receivers.

Eddie 'The Eagle'

Both areas were touted as the best in recent memories and both turned out to be some of the worse. The offensive line has given up 46 sacks, which isn't that bad, but after giving up just 10 sacks in the first six games the line gave up 36 the rest of the way, including 14 the last two weeks.

The funny thing is about stats is the Packers haven't done so bad averaging 4.2 yards a carry and 5.2 yards per play. To put that into perspective let's look at previous seasons: 2014: 4.4/6.2; 2013: 4.7/6.0; 2012: 3.9/5.5; 2011: 3.9/6.6; 2010: 3.8/5.7; 2009: 4.3/5.8; and 2008: 4.1/5.6.

The offensive problems are more in scoring and third down conversions. 2015 turned out to be worse in those two categories since Rodgers became the starter. The Packers converted 3rd downs only 33.7 percent of the time with the worse since 2008 being 41.2 in 2013 when Rodgers missed seven games. The Packers scored only 42 TDs this season also the worse since 46 in 2013. Last season the Packers scored 58 and in 2011 it was 70.

Scoring, converting 3rd downs all start with the line. While the injuries to tackles David Bakhtiari and Bryan Bulaga are a big reason, especially the sacks, but both All-Pro guards Josh Sitton and T.J. Lang have had subpar seasons, especially holding, and sophomore center Corey Linsley has had a very rough season after a superb rookie season.

Lack of depth is also a problem with the offensive line. Don Barclay has been found lacking at tackle and neither Josh Walker or Lane Taylor have played well when pressed into action.

In fact Barclay has been so bad at left tackle Sitton was moved there last week with Taylor taking over left guard. This week Coach Mike McCarthy said Sitton has to at left guard. That leaves either J.C. Tretter or Barclay or Bulaga is moved and those two are on the right side if Bakhtiari is out again.

The wide receivers have been a disaster even though the stats aren't that bad. The Packers in the middle of the league in drops with 23 out of 565 for a percentage of 4.1. Last year it was 4.5 and the season before it was 3.2 (during the time Rodgers missed seven games) and before that it was 6.6, 5.9, 5.3, and 6.8. so, it seems the drops came on third down.

The main problems with the wide receivers are getting open and getting down field, which meant Rodgers had to throw the ball away more than at any time in the past leading to his career low completion percentage of .607 (his previous low was .636 his first year as a starter) and his average per throw of 6.7. Rodgers previous low was 7.5 also his first year as a starter.

After Jordy Nelson went down the rest of the unit that included newly signed $40 million dollar man Randall Cobb and up-coming superstar Davante Adams having trouble taking up the slack.

There is a lot of talk about how great an acquisition of James Jones has been and I agree, but only to a certain degree. Without him Aaron Rodgers would have been up that creek without a paddle or a boat, but with him he was still up that creek with all his paddles, but the boat had a hole in it and no Flex Seal in sight.

As the No. 1 wide receiver assuming the Jordy Nelson role Jones is third on the team in receiving with 50 catches for 890 yards and 8 TDs for an average 17.8, easily the best of his career.

Jones was great during the first five games with 19 catches for 394 yards and 5 TDs for an average of 20.7 per catch. The next six games when the offense began to stall he caught 11 passes for 198 yards (18.0) and 2 TDs while being held without a catch in two games. The final five games he caught 20 passes for 298 yards and 1 TD for an average of 14.9. A big drop off. It seems the 31 year old hit the wall both the Raiders and Giants apparently thought he would.

However if you take away his big plays (34, 29TD, 52, 38, 65T, 36, 37, 30T, 37) he averaged only 13.9 yards a catch on his other 41 receptions, which is just around his career average, but much better than the 9.9 average he had last year with the Raiders and the 12.5 he averaged with the Giants during the preseason. However, I think that had a lot to do with Aaron Rodgers doing the throwing.

Davante Adams has been a big disappointment. He started the season with 9 catches for 92 yards in the first two games, but after hurting his ankle against the Chiefs and missing the next three games he has only caught 41 passes for 391 yards for an average of 9.5 yards per catch. If you take out 10 catches he had in the first Lions game he had 31 catches over nine games. Overall he has 50 catches for 483 yards (9.7 average) with only 1 TD. Last year he had 38 catches for 444 yards (11.7 average) with 3 TDs.

Randall Cobb has also had a bad season. Last year he caught 91 passes for 1,287 yards (14.1) and 12 TDs. This year he has 79 catches for 829 (10.5) and 6 TDs. He didn't miss a game, but did suffer a separated right AC joint in the second preseason game and hasn't been the same all season. In fact, at times he seems to look for someone to cover him so he doesn't catch a pass and get tackled.

The line, especially whoever plays at left tackle, and the wide receiver are going to be key to any success the Packer offense has this week.