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| Logo at Lambeau Field 8/5/2009 dwm photo |
At the half-way point of the season, the Green Bay Packers are ahead of my expectations. I projected them to be 5 - 3 with losses to the Saints, Buccaneers, and 49ers. Instead, I got one of those games right. Green Bay beat New Orleans and San Francisco but lost to Minnesota which I had as a win.
6 - 2 ties them with the Saints and Seahawks for the best record in the NFC.
The Packer offense is impressive. There is a lot of activity before the snap with quarterback Aaron Rodgers distributing the ball to almost every receiver available. Rodgers is having a great year, but I want to award a superior achievement award to the offensive line.
The O-line coaches cross-train linemen so tackles can sub for guards when necessary. That's important. Guard Lane Taylor is out for the year after an injury in game 1. Left tackle David Bakhtiari limped off the field during the game October 18 and hasn't returned, but the line has been resilient.
Second year left guard Elgton Jenkins has moved out to left tackle at times while also able to take-over as center. Right tackle Billy Turner who came to Green Bay from Denver prior to last season has lined up at left tackle as well. Lucas Patrick took over for Lane Taylor at guard in game two and been a god-send for the offense, performing well blocking for the run and pass.
Three adjustments along the offensive line will frequently sink a team's fortunes. It speaks well for the players and coaches when the "next man up" is ready when needed.
Hopefully, Bakhtiari can return Sunday against Jacksonville. He is one of the best at his position. The only other lineman, center Corey Linsley missed a handful of snaps in games 2 and 8. Center isn't as glamorous as left tackle, but the center sets up the blocking assignments and then gets the ball to the QB. There's a lot going on.
Receiver Davante Adams and running back Aaron Jones are two key skill players on offense. While each has missed parts of games and back-ups kept things going, Adams and Jones are vital in making the team explosive.
On defense, Green Bay is still finding its way.
Tackling at times, seems to be a lost art. The group needs to create more turnovers than they have so far. It's the same group that performed reasonably well last year (with the exception of playing poor run defense against the 49ers).
There were signs in their last game they might be getting better. San Francisco wasn't at full-strength, so until they start stringing good games together Rodgers & Company need to score lots of points.
Before the game in San Francisco, Green Bay had its first in-season cases of Covid-19 lead to quarantining a few players. Overall, the NFL has been fortunate keeping things going with minimal disruption.
Assuming that continues, three of their next four games are at home:
Home 11/15 Jacksonville 12 CST
Away 11/22 Indianapolis 3:25 CST (new time)
Home 11/29 Chicago 7:30 CST
Home 12/6 Philadelphia 3:25 CST
I'll stick with my preseason prediction, with the Packers winning 3 of 4, only losing to the Colts. That will have them 9 - 3 going into the final four games of the season.
The Packer's midterm grade, B+ Go Pack, Go!
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