The Packer Pundit

Packer Pundit / Patrick Stuckey

Here's my position by position take on the Pack's win over Atlanta --

Quarterbacks
Favre had a very good night (16-22, 134 yds and 2 TD's) and what more can you say aobut him. He's simply the best there is in reading defense's... looking off receivers... and hasn't lost a nano-second off his speed ball as witnessed by the rocket he tossed to Donald Driver in the 2nd quarter. This, however, is also my second biggest beef (or critic) of Brett. The ball he threw should never had been thrown. The guy covering Driver was all over him... yet somehow Favre fit a 'hummer' in 'hum' sized hole. Certainly a pass that only #4 could complete... but certainly... a pass that could have been picked off.

I just don't understand how QB's like Matt Hasselbeck and Tom Brady ALWAYS find wide open recievers... somewhere! Are their Wide outs just running better patterns or is it they are more patient and disciplined.

If a nobody Packer fan like me can see this... certainly M&M can see it as well. I hope he and Brett have a long talk on this. I will allow that I haven't played competitive football since 9th grade and the Ford administration... so maybe I'm all wet. Maybe Brett is just that good... maybe he just got visitied by the interception fairy a little more than usual the last couple years... maybe?

Aaron Rodgers didn't have the 'Brett who' spectacular game that he had last week but still... he was very impressive. (3-6, 111 yds - most on one 85 yarder to Jennings - 2 TD's) What Impressed me the most was his 'Take Charge' attitude on the field. He bitched out his blockers pretty good as they meandered off the field after allowing pressure on Aaron during a designed roll out.

The game does seem to be going slower for him and... he did what I've been wanting Brett to do for years. My number one Favre pet peive is that when the first down marker is right effin there in front of him and all he has to do is fall down to pick it up... he passes the damn ball... usually for an incompletion... and we end up punting. I HATE THAT! Move the Damn sticks Brett! Aaron did that last night. On a 3rd and 2... he dropped back... saw an opning up the middle and ran it for 5 yards. First down! We keep the ball and the other teams offense off the field.

Running Backs
Ho hum! Sorry but still not too impressed. I was pretty hard on Najah yesterday and I will say this... I watched the game today (NFL Network replay) and he looked better than what his stats will belay. (11-29) During the game, Rich Gannon said Warrick Dunn told him it tokk him till week 8 before he became comfortable in the zone blocking scheme.

They do say Ahman Green has played in this system and it's taylor made for his running style. We'll see. Samkon Gado sat and to tell you the truth... he or Najah may be playing elsewhere this year. Free Agent RB Arless Beach (Kentucky) looked great picking up huge gains. (9-50)

Throw in Noah Herron (whom the coaches seem to love) and Running back will be quite competitve this year.


Receivers
After losing Jevon 'Show me the Money' Walker in a trade... and Donald with a bunch of 'Plan B'ers' catching passes last year... who would of thunk this would be a Packer streangth?

The aforementioned Donald Driver (7-91) was spectaular and rookie Greg Jennings (3-115-1) just keeps impressing! Ferguson also had a nice game as did Bubba Franks.

Ummmm... Gardner and that tall fast white guy (no not Shroeder) Boreighter or something like that... they need to pick it up a notch as do the other Tight Ends (Lee and Martin) who dropped a couple passes.

Defensive line
No pressure. Nuf' said
On the bright side... they did hold the best running team in Football to just 111 yards on 26 carries. Still... let's get after it more guys!

Linebackers
AJ was fantastic! I love this guy! He was all over the field... made some nice break ups on passes... and leveled the Falcon running back for a 2 yard loss... knifing his way into the backfield and taking him down HARD!

Okay I'm salivating but that hit and play make me jump up off the couch (no easy task on a Sunday morning) and yell "Yessssss!" very loudly and much to my neighbors chagrin.


Defenisve backs
Al Harris made a really nice play breaking up a sure TD in Atlanta's first drive. Unfortunately... they scored on the next play burning the Pack 'D' over the middle for a 20 yard crawling TD. I'm assuming that was a breakdown by the safeties Collins and Culver.

Speaking of Culver... he had a career night (bite me... yeah I know it's only his second game). He led the team in tackles and made a really nice interception. Also... in the third quarter he showed discipline... Falcon QB Shockey faked a handoff to the left side then boot legged to the right to run. Tyrone stayed home and made a really sweet open field tackle for no gain... on a very elusive player.

Ahman Carroll still seems to be getting beat too often. *sigh*

Special Teams
The kicking game kicked in last night. Rayner made all his kicks including a 30 yard field goal. What was really impressive was the distance he gets on kick offs. During the Longwell years I was convince there was an invisable force field set up about the other teams 10 yard line. Sort of an inpenitratible 'Ryan Longwell Zone of protection'.

BJ banged a boomer of 61 yards and over 5 seconds hang time!
(How many double entendres can you find in that last statement?)

Now if we can just find somebody to run the ball back on Kick offs and Punt returns! *double sigh*

ADDITIONAL NOTE
I have been chosen to be a Gallup Poll contributor for the upcoming college football season. Email me your suggestions for the pre-season top 10!