After watching a loss to Washington, the Green Bay Packers have concerns about rules, catching the ball, and the defensive side of the ball. After an unexpected loss it’s good to take a look at who played well, and who did not.
Studs:
Aaron Rodgers
Rodgers wasn’t perfect, but playing hurt he did absolutely everything he could to put the Packers in a position to get back into the game. Unfortunately, the rest of the team really let him down.
JK Scott
The rookie flipped field position on several punts. His hang time continues to be impressive, and he looks to be a real value to the team.
Duds:
HaHa Clinton-Dix
HaHa continued to struggle all over the field. He had a really nice play in the interception, where he read the option route and prevented Jordan Reed from getting outside. However, his angles in the passing game continue to be really bad, and he is brutal playing in the box. Clinton-Dix is no longer a starting-calibur safety in this league, and if the Packers don’t find an in-season replacement, the safety position will probably cost the Packers any chance they have to make a deep run in the playoffs.
Kentrell Brice
It has been two games in a row with both starting safeties on the duds list. That is not going to be a recipe for success going forward. Brice is a player I loved as an undrafted free agent. He has blazing speed and is a huge hitter. Unfortunately, huge hitters have themselves become the target of the league, and Brice seems gun-shy of getting fined for his hits. That is unstandable when the fines equate to huge percentages of his salary, but the concerning part is that as the deep safety Brice continues to give up big plays. His path to the ball on the opening score is the kind of tape that is going to have opposing quarterbacks targeting deep passes at Brice over-and-over until he can prove himself.
Pass Catchers
If the Packers catch any one of the three dropped passes on third down, or the one dropped pass on fourth down, the outcome of the game likely looks very different.The ball was wet, the field conditions were brutal, but when Aaron Rodgers is putting the ball on the money on one leg, you absolutely have to make the play. Randall Cobb and Lance Kendricks get major duds.
Run Defense
When Adrian Peterson gashes you over-and-over you know you didn’t have a good day. The loss of Muhammad Wilkerson hurts, but the depth Green Bay possesses should be enough to win against a very questionable Washington offensive line. Instead they got pushed around.
The loss is frustrating and concerning, but it is important to keep perspective on losing one road game in the long NFL season. The Packers have a lot to get cleaned up, but will look to do so in getting ready for the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
Andrew Mertig is a a lifelong Packers fan and draft enthusiast. He has covered the NFL draft for radio and television stations in Green Bay. He is currently a host of the Pack-A-Day podcast and a writer for PackersTalk.com. You can follow him on Twitter @andrewmertig
1 response to “Green Bay Packers Week 3: Studs & Duds”
Brice has to be replaced, or he has to improve a lot real quickly. Rewatching the game and focusing on Brice on every play will let you understand why, if you’re confused.
Not a good day for the receivers. But I’ll say this: You have a beat up quarterback, on the road, on a wet day……..why aren’t we running the ball? I know we fell behind but still, both backs average 5.0 yards/ carry or better. Maybe try to keep that porous defense off the field a little.
It’s a long season. If our plan is for Rodgers to throw 44 times for 13 more games BEFORE the playoffs start……..well, I don’t think that’s a very good plan.