Bay of pigs edition Studs and Duds vs Tampa

[Pugger]

Drops. Two turnovers in the red zone.

Plus RBs that leave a lot to be desired.

 

[Magooch]

Studs:
- Call me crazy, but OL play was honestly a highlight for me this game. Maybe it's because the bar was basically on the floor but they looked like a reasonably competent unit today.
- I said it in the game thread but I really love what we have in Williams+Bullard and I feel like both of them kinda fly under the radar
- The passing game remains a fairly bright spot. Love was playing excellent for the most part, and Watson and Golden make up a great 1-2 punch. Don't look now but both are quietly in the top 10 in the league for rec yards (Watson 5, Golden 9)

Duds:
- We might have the worst RB room in the league right now sans Jacobs. I wish the best for all of them but pretty much every RB we have right now looks JAG-level. Might as well give Strong a shot
- as much as OL looked improved today, it's also worrisome that seemingly the two biggest factors for improvement were a 34-y.o. we poached off the practice squad and a guy who's been with us since 2024 and available to play but didn't get a single snap this season before today. To hear us talk about how we're so satisfied with our OL group and worried that someone will come try and steal OUR guys...only to wind up like this...does not speak well for both our self-scouting and our coaching/talent development
- injuries: in addition to playing largely mediocre uninspired football we are getting absolutely ravaged by injuries, many of them severe ones. With us not playing particularly well and guys dropping like flies don't be surprised when you start seeing players making "business decisions" out there on the field as the season progresses

 

[milani]

Love was spitting dimes…outside of the overthrow he was immaculate till Parrish decided to break off his assignment and Love never saw him or expected it.

Studs
Love still is one
Redman gets another as he blocked well and slipped awesome.
Evan Williams was excellent

Duds
Run blocking
Golden/Kraft/Bo drops
Ball security…

Smacker..a 58 yarder is the difference. If he misses it maybe we lose.

 

[milani]

Gee, even tho they weren't stellar I wouldn't label the OL duds. The improvement was noticeable.

Lot of 1st and 20s. Another 10 penalty day. 2 turnovers in the red zone. But at least we got there.

 

[Curly Calhoun]

Gee, even tho they weren't stellar I wouldn't label the OL duds. The improvement was noticeable.

I agree.

Far from dominant, they were at least not a liability.

That said, Sunday Green Bay beat (barely) a bad football with a rookie QB making his first start. Mistakes, as in penalties and turnovers, kept this game from being the blowout it should have been.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Stud- Evan Williams. Besides parsons he’s probably our best defender.

Dud- Matt LaFleur. Again, too many mental mistakes. That reflects coaching.

Gannon is using Williams much more than Hafley, and for the better.

Parsons is the best player on D, followed by Cooper and Williams.

Losing Cooper is hard to take. Between Parsons, Williams, and Gannon, the Packers still have a great D. They’ll need it.

I was encouraged at the improved OL. But the schedule gets hard now, and MLF will need to be creative.

And sorry MLF, you called a better game against an awful opponent. That won’t work with da Bearz.

Across the league yesterday there were some big injuries.

 

[AGreen2AJones]

Gee, even tho they weren't stellar I wouldn't label the OL duds. The improvement was noticeable.

I mean it's probably an overstatement but how do you only put up 17 points against the Bucs???

 

[Heyjoe4]

Studs:
Cooper (hope he will be ok l) game changer
Williams, Evan same with Cooper
4th down defense

Duds:
Oline and oline coaching. They are the worst
MLF as always. No discipline again. Worst penalty team in the League. No leadership
Love inexcusable throw on first down. Trying to force it up 3 at TB 25 is just absolutely pathetic behavior
Johnson inexcusable not to protect the football

MLF burned 2 TOs early in the 1H. He is, I’m afraid, what he is - not very good.

 

[AGreen2AJones]

MLF burned 2 TOs early in the 1H. He is, I’m afraid, what he is - not very good.

Agreed...he's honestly a bit clueless. I really don't think he's that intelligent--at least to the level some people think.

 

[mradtke66]

I mean it's probably an overstatement but how do you only put up 17 points against the Bucs???

As before:2 turnovers in the red zone, including a fumble on the 2. We should have been comfortably at a minimum 23 and at most 31 points just from those two turnovers.

 

[OldSchool101]

GB was fortunate that their self destructive mistakes didn’t cost them a very winnable game. We got back to double digit count (10) in flags. Not the 15 variety thankfully.

Kaleb Johnson and Lloyd both played better. Lloyd was used more in space where he thrives. Kaleb 8 X 5.3 per carry had better blocks and what a difference it made. Kaleb is a guy I’d like to see put on 10 pounds into that 235LB. area and be used more in short yardage.

LOVED we finally used Kraft in 4th down direct snap. I’ve Been calling for that for over a year. He’s now
3 tries X 6 yards 2.0 average for 100%

Travis Glover had a more normal level RG performance. 35 Pass and 25 Run blocks he did have 1 flag + 1 pressure. He’s an imposing sized Guard at 6’5 323lb. I was pleasantly surprised by his 1 game. Matt all but said he would’ve been in the plans in 2025, but he went on IR before game 1.

 

[mradtke66]

LOVED we finally used Kraft in 4th down direct snap. I’ve Been calling for that for over a year. He’s now
3 tries X 6 yards 2.0 average for 100%

We did it extensively last year. Today was the first time he was probably healthy enough to sneak it himself. How have you been able to call for it for a year when we were already doing it last year?

 

[OldSchool101]

We did it extensively last year. Today was the first time he was probably healthy enough to sneak it himself. How have you been able to call for it for a year when we were already doing it last year?

Tucker Kraft had 1 rushing attempt in Week 1 2025 and he was tackled +3 out of bounds. He had ZERO 4th down attempts last year.

His last 4th down attempt before yesterday was 12/23/2024. He’s started 14 games across 650 days since his last try. I’d call that a year.. without splitting hairs

 

[Magooch]

I would also note that Matt seemingly thought Tucker was healthy enough for it in Week 1 while Stenavich thought otherwise...

 

[Pugger]

I mean it's probably an overstatement but how do you only put up 17 points against the Bucs???

Two turnovers in the red zone killed any chance we had to really put the Bucs away.

 

[mradtke66]

Tucker Kraft had 1 rushing attempt in Week 1 2025 and he was tackled +3 out of bounds. He had ZERO 4th down attempts last year.

His last 4th down attempt before yesterday was 12/23/2024. He’s started 14 games across 650 days since his last try. I’d call that a year.. without splitting hairs

During the 8 games he was healthy, how many 4th and 1s did we face in 2025?

I'm off by the year, but they showed this was their play in 2024. I completely expected it to be back on the menu this year once he was healthy enough post ACL.

 

[gopkrs]

You know, at least the way I remember it, those weren't easy. I'm not sold on the play.

 

[OldSchool101]

You know, at least the way I remember it, those weren't easy. I'm not sold on the play.

You’re not sold on 4 of 4 100% conversation rate on 4th down? Looks like a darn successful play to me. Which play would you rather have run on 4th down than include Tucker Kraft?

 

[OldSchool101]

I'm off by the year, but they showed this was their play in 2024. I completely expected it to be back on the menu this year once he was healthy enough post ACL

Listen. My memory isn’t so hot either. Actually felt like more than a year, but possibly because by calendar it was. I just think it’s wise to stay with plays that are successful. Nobody suggests running it on every 4th down, thinks it’s been a pretty darn successful option, can’t get better than 4/4 100% conversion 2.0 yards per try.
I’d definitely keep this in my tool bag for that important 4th n 1 to try at critical junctures though.

 

[mradtke66]

Listen. My memory isn’t so hot either. Actually felt like more than a year, but possibly because by calendar it was. I just think it’s wise to stay with plays that are successful. Nobody suggests running it on every 4th down, thinks it’s been a pretty darn successful option, can’t get better than 4/4 100% conversion 2.0 yards per try.
I’d definitely keep this in my tool bag for that important 4th n 1 to try at critical junctures though.

From what I can find In 2025, they only attempted 4th and 1 ish. Of course those aren’t on DB, so I’m having to get cute with searches to get the data.

 

[OldSchool101]

From what I can find In 2025, they only attempted 4th and 1 ish. Of course those aren’t on DB, so I’m having to get cute with searches to get the data.

The 2.0 per carry is the end result of Kraft. He needed a Yard and he got 2.0 on four separate occasions. Which even moreso speaks to his success. The results weren’t close. They were definitive.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Williams was certainly very high in the "stud" category on Sunday.

I don't remember Hafley ever using him to blitz. Is that right?

 

[Heyjoe4]

The 2.0 per carry is the end result of Kraft. He needed a Yard and he got 2.0 on four separate occasions. Which even moreso speaks to his success. The results weren’t close. They were definitive.

Kraft is GB's version of the tush push. Everyone knows it's coming and it still works.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Plus RBs that leave a lot to be desired.

Yeah Pugger, even with a better performance from the OL, Lloyd and Johnson are a weak pair of RBs. Brooks has actually outperformed as the #3 back.

I didn't see Lloyd play in college, and I'm wondering why he was drafted at all. He's certainly strong and he's a decent receiver, but overall he doesn't have great vision and tends to run right behind his blockers into the DL. I know it's early, but I'm underwhelmed by him.

Getting Jacobs back will certainly help. RB will be a big need to be address in the offseason.

 

[milani]

Listen. My memory isn’t so hot either. Actually felt like more than a year, but possibly because by calendar it was. I just think it’s wise to stay with plays that are successful. Nobody suggests running it on every 4th down, thinks it’s been a pretty darn successful option, can’t get better than 4/4 100% conversion 2.0 yards per try.
I’d definitely keep this in my tool bag for that important 4th n 1 to try at critical junctures though.

Considering the opponent it succeeded. Rodgers ran a 4th down sneak last week and it worked for him.