Studs and Duds: Pack in Steeltown

[GBkrzygrl]

Studs: Tucker. He can do anything. He even saved Loves butt when he threw up that pass which in the past has turned into an interception. I would consider Love a stud. Parsons and DL. I know that there are a lot more but I can't think of them right now. Beating Rodgers and winning in Pittsburgh after years of losses. Way to go!

Dud: McManus for missing 2 FG's. I'm sure some of it is rust. Some of ML's play calls in the first half had me scratching my head. But in the end they won. I am so proud of them.

Officiating/stud for us.....Micah was clearly off sides and they did not call it. (I thought that they might call it after the fact)

 

[Heyjoe4]

OH.....Enagbare is playing his way to a for sure payday elsewhere...not like a top of market but dude has played out this year. I still think he could be a sneaky one a team could be calling us about that needs some edge help.

Yeah Engabare has played consistently well during his time in GB. I don't think he'll stay, there are other priorities and the D is solid. Wouldn't mind a trade for an edge-needy team with a solid CB to trade.

 

[tynimiller]

Yeah Engabare has played consistently well during his time in GB. I don't think he'll stay, there are other priorities and the D is solid. Wouldn't mind a trade for an edge-needy team with a solid CB to trade.

Yeah the defense really is only facing decisions on him and Quay from actual contributors...which is a massive blessing. I assume unless either wants to stay for a discount compared to moving on, neither is back in GB next season.

 

[pacmaniac]

I'll need to watch it again, but I believe the pass that broke the streak was a throwaway to the ground in the right flat while under pressure.

Yeah, but I think the incompletion before the streak was the one Kraft dropped.

 

[Heyjoe4]

It may have gone by unnoticed, but Valentine broke up a sure TD to Metcalf in the 1H, and Williams did the same by defending a ball that was headed for a wide-open Metcalf and a sure TD (there was holding on that play, but it would have been much worse without Willimas' athleticism and timing). Both were studs last night, just for these game-changing plays.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Studs: Tucker. He can do anything. He even saved Loves butt when he threw up that pass which in the past has turned into an interception. I would consider Love a stud. Parsons and DL. I know that there are a lot more but I can't think of them right now. Beating Rodgers and winning in Pittsburgh after years of losses. Way to go!

Dud: McManus for missing 2 FG's. I'm sure some of it is rust. Some of ML's play calls in the first half had me scratching my head. But in the end they won. I am so proud of them.

Officiating/stud for us.....Micah was clearly off sides and they did not call it. (I thought that they might call it after the fact)

I think McManus was brought back too soon after his quad injury. He kicked the 56 yarder straight as an arrow, but 3 yards short. That just shouldn't;t happen, especially this year where the kickers can "break in" the balls they use to kick.

Hindsight is 20/20 but the Packers coaching should have let Havrisik ride out his hot streak. The missed didn't contribute to a loss, but they certainly could have.

 

[Firethorn1001]

Officiating/stud for us.....Micah was clearly off sides and they did not call it. (I thought that they might call it after the fact)

I just view that as payback for the officials not calling the false start on the Steelers lineman that left a good second or so before the ball was snapped.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Yeah the defense really is only facing decisions on him and Quay from actual contributors...which is a massive blessing. I assume unless either wants to stay for a discount compared to moving on, neither is back in GB next season.

Seems to me like Walker has taken a big step up in his game this season. I thought the Parsons addition would allow Walker to play run and drop into coverage.

But he's been used to blitz and it seems to be working, at least in the number of pressures. The Packers can't pay everyone though, and Engabare and Walker may very well be cap casualties. Gluten is gonna need more picks anyway.

 

[Heyjoe4]

I just view that as payback for the officials not calling the false start on the Steelers lineman that left a good second or so before the ball was snapped.

I noticed that. It was clearly off sides when that OL went into what looked like motion, that's how obvious it was.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Studs: Arthur Smith. In the first half the Steelers were just crushing the Packers defense anytime they ran outside. Whether it was intentional or their RB's just bounced it outside. For some reason Smith either didn't notice or just decided that the Packers would adjust and called a different 2nd half. Thank you Art!

Duds: NFL Quick review process on the final Steelers TD. Had the game not been out of reach and that was the tying/go ahead TD, I'd be really PO'd at that process. Maybe it was a TD, maybe it wasn't, but seems to me it wasn't as simple as Tirico, Collinsworth and McAulay made it out to be. I may be biased, but I have never been a fan of McAulay.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Duds:
McManus
Jacobs, aside from the TD

Studs:
Love
Valentine
Coop
Micah
Gary
Watson

Superstud:

KRAFT!

Not sure what is going on with Jacobs. I'd point to the OL, but they were opening lanes for Wilson. I hope it's something Jacobs can overcome. He'll never take time off.,

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

I just view that as payback for the officials not calling the false start on the Steelers lineman that left a good second or so before the ball was snapped.

I'll take the no call either way and glad that they didn't decide that it was a penalty "after the fact". While it wouldn't have been a first down, it would have given the Steelers a retry on 3rd and 3. I think in Rodgers final few years in GB and still today, the Refs decided "enough free plays A-Rod." He was a master of them for years, but quicker whistles or in the case of last night, no flags, have taken some of those free plays from him.

All that said, the refs were far from perfect. Herbig took a couple of late shots on Love that didn't get called and there was a late shot out of bounds on a Packer WR that went unnoticed as well.

 

[gopkrs]

Studs: Tucker. He can do anything. He even saved Loves butt when he threw up that pass which in the past has turned into an interception. I would consider Love a stud. Parsons and DL. I know that there are a lot more but I can't think of them right now. Beating Rodgers and winning in Pittsburgh after years of losses. Way to go!

Dud: McManus for missing 2 FG's. I'm sure some of it is rust. Some of ML's play calls in the first half had me scratching my head. But in the end they won. I am so proud of them.

Officiating/stud for us.....Micah was clearly off sides and they did not call it. (I thought that they might call it after the fact)

I think it was Wyatt. But Micah confused him into going offside. Evidently, none of the officials were watching the line.

 

[gopkrs]

Super Stud: Kraft
Big Studs:Love and Watson
Studs: Heath, Doubs, Ryhan, Kinnard, Wilson, Hafley, Valentine, Micah, Gary, Engabare, Cooper, Williams, Bullard
Duds: Well Nixon and McManus weren't so good.

 

[tynimiller]

Seems to me like Walker has taken a big step up in his game this season. I thought the Parsons addition would allow Walker to play run and drop into coverage.

But he's been used to blitz and it seems to be working, at least in the number of pressures. The Packers can't pay everyone though, and Engabare and Walker may very well be cap casualties. Gluten is gonna need more picks anyway.

Yeah even with Quay's elevated play he isn't even in my Top 3 likely to sign back guys honestly....if forced I'd order our pending UFAs at least first few as:

Romeo Doubs - the stability he provides and repore with Love makes a ton of sense...
Rasheed Walker - hard to walk from a LT, but also incredibly hard to pay both tackles top of market...
Quay Walker is likely third...but you also have to factor in Rhyan could be a cost effective type signing if we walk from Jenkins and the value while cheaper could be good...

 

[Magooch]

Might put together a full studs/duds later but in the meantime want to give a particular shoutout/observation regarding LaFleur.

I've said for a while now how annoying it is to hear him in postgame pressers making these vague/generic comments about needing to be better and saying X, Y, and Z are ultimately his responsibility and it's on him to fix it. Except rarely does anything every come of it. Most of the time it seems like LaFleur has been a guy who is quick to claim responsibility for things but not ACTUALLY take any responsibility for them. He takes the heat for stuff but at the same time rarely comes off as being self-critical.

These past few weeks have got me thinking that he has finally started to be a bit more serious there, and is actually willing to be a little more introspective and display a healthy level of assessment and self-criticism.

Against Dallas, we go conservative towards the end and end up coming away with a tie, which to many (myself included) "felt" more like a loss at the time. Shortly thereafter we come out and have a 4th down call where we can get the tie but either LaFleur himself (or maybe at Love's urging) decide that conservative hadn't been working. He goes aggressive and we seal the win.

Now last night, for much of the first half it seemed like Matt was calling the offense like he thought we were living in the 60s. Repeatedly running Jacobs into a wall and it was like you could feel him convincing himself and others that it was just absolutely imperative to establish the run game first. But in the second half he seemed to realize that wasn't getting it done and put it in his QB's hands to turn the game around.

Moreover, we've had countless times in the past where once we get even a small lead we basically go into kneeldown mode. It would've been all too easy to return to Jacobs and keep plowing for 2-3 ypc and let Pittsburgh play right back into the game. But instead he let Love keep going AND fed more carries through Wilson, who was looking like the more dynamic and lively runner on the night.

Now I do still think at times a tendency to err on the side of conservatism has gotten us off to slower starts than is ideal, but if nothing else that's two games now where it feels like Matt was able to take an honest look at what was/wasn't working and make the changes to get us two wins.

 

[tynimiller]

Might put together a full studs/duds later but in the meantime want to give a particular shoutout/observation regarding LaFleur.

I've said for a while now how annoying it is to hear him in postgame pressers making these vague/generic comments about needing to be better and saying X, Y, and Z are ultimately his responsibility and it's on him to fix it. Except rarely does anything every come of it. Most of the time it seems like LaFleur has been a guy who is quick to claim responsibility for things but not ACTUALLY take any responsibility for them. He takes the heat for stuff but at the same time rarely comes off as being self-critical.

These past few weeks have got me thinking that he has finally started to be a bit more serious there, and is actually willing to be a little more introspective and display a healthy level of assessment and self-criticism.

Against Dallas, we go conservative towards the end and end up coming away with a tie, which to many (myself included) "felt" more like a loss at the time. Shortly thereafter we come out and have a 4th down call where we can get the tie but either LaFleur himself (or maybe at Love's urging) decide that conservative hadn't been working. He goes aggressive and we seal the win.

Now last night, for much of the first half it seemed like Matt was calling the offense like he thought we were living in the 60s. Repeatedly running Jacobs into a wall and it was like you could feel him convincing himself and others that it was just absolutely imperative to establish the run game first. But in the second half he seemed to realize that wasn't getting it done and put it in his QB's hands to turn the game around.

Moreover, we've had countless times in the past where once we get even a small lead we basically go into kneeldown mode. It would've been all too easy to return to Jacobs and keep plowing for 2-3 ypc and let Pittsburgh play right back into the game. But instead he let Love keep going AND fed more carries through Wilson, who was looking like the more dynamic and lively runner on the night.

Now I do still think at times a tendency to err on the side of conservatism has gotten us off to slower starts than is ideal, but if nothing else that's two games now where it feels like Matt was able to take an honest look at what was/wasn't working and make the changes to get us two wins.

He absolutely let Love COOK that second half. And it opened up the run big time for Wilson. He even mentioned in the presser after Love was too good to stop passing....this team has the skill players (ESPECIALLY with Watson back) to simply LET LOVE COOK.

 

[GreenBaySlacker]

Studs

Love
Kraft
Watson with a great comeback game
2nd Half Defense was on lockdown

Duds
McManus

Also how did Favre of all people get 20 completions in a row. I don't remember that one, who did we play?

Pretty sure it was the game his father died.

 

[OldSchool101]

It was actually his ONLY bad game as a Packer. Even Justin Tucker had a game where he missed 3 of them, at Pittsburgh, no less. I'm not worried about it.

Sure. This is a 1 game thread though and it’s to call out the good and bad of that 1 game. Brandon had a bad game and I’m going to call a spade a spade.

 

[milani]

Me neither, I write this one off as attributable to the injury. I think he maybe was brought back a week early because Green Bay wanted to get him back in the drivers' seat and possibly give themselves some space to explore a trade with Hav.


I'll need to watch it again, but I believe the pass that broke the streak was a throwaway to the ground in the right flat while under pressure.

The 58 yard shot or so was accurate but just short. That kick is iffy for a lot of kickers. But the 44 yard miss made our effort to get down the field fruitless. Luke should have been the kicker last night.

 

[Magooch]

Okay lemme come back to give a studs/duds for last night.

Studs:
Jordan Love - and in particular second-half Love. Good in the first half, elite in the second. Probably his best regular-season game he's played, and in the conversation with Dallas playoffs for his best ever. This was also the first game of his career (as a starter) where he was credited with ZERO "bad throws." I think many have already made up their minds and it won't change much but IMO he is punching (big) holes in the narrative that he's a careless, sloppy, and/or inaccurate passer. Don't look now, but Love this season has quietly moved into 4th for total completion percentage and 5th for CPOE (completion percentage over expectation). He is top 10 in total yards, TD percentage, and pass success rate; he is top 5 in QBR and passer rating, Y/A, AY/A, NY/A, and ANY/A... and is now FIRST in QB EPA/play.
Yesterday he was (by my quick math) 13/18 for 146 yards and 1TD (114.58 rating) in the first half and 16/19 for 214 yards, 2TD and a 2pt conversion (148.68) in the second half.
I don't think there should be any doubt at this point that he absolutely can be "the guy."

Tucker Kraft - Is he the best tight end in the league right now? There's not any TE who I'd trade him for at this point in time. He's going to be getting a big payday and well-deserved. Soon to be a priority signing for us.

2nd Half Defense - they really made adjustments and locked it down very well. Rodgers was never allowed to get comfortable and put behind a mediocre first half for a suffocating second half performance. Really pleased with how we adjusted there.

Duds:
Special Teams - ST continues to be a liability for us. I think our "ceiling" as things currently stand is average at best. Punt returns in particular are a total liability. I said it in the game thread, half joking, but at this point I'd just put 11 guys on the line and sell out for a punt block lol. Us returning the punt vs the kicking team downing it wherever they get to it is probably a wash for us in terms of field position
Whoever OK'ed plugging McManus back in and Havrisik inactive needs some serious scrutiny too. Seemed quickly pretty clear that McManus was NOT 100%...AND that field was horrendous, if you're going to rush him back at least do it on a week when he's not playing out there in the pasture. Best I can figure is that they know McManus isn't going anywhere and maybe want to get him back so they can explore Havrisik as a more viable trade piece. Still, irresponsible decision/approach overall.

Nixon - to be fair to him I think he often plays with a real "knife-edge" aspect to his game in that he is often hyper aggressive... sometimes that leads to him being that scrappy guy who gets a million PBUs, sometimes it leads to him being the guy who gets beat or flagged and has to take his licks. Yesterday was one of the not so great examples. It's a gives and takes away type of thing with Nixon, I think he will bounce back but it was not a good showing on the whole

Josh Jacobs - i love the guy, but this year he's got the feel of a guy who has yet to be 100% healthy. I know he's popped on the injury report here and there and ultimately ends up getting cleared and plays, but I suspect we will probably hear at some point that he's been carrying a lingering injury all year or something. And he's not been BAD bad but just not up to his usual standard.

 

[milani]

Pretty sure it was the game his father died.

The game when his father passed was 2003. I thought they said it was in 2007.

 

[tynimiller]

Okay lemme come back to give a studs/duds for last night.

Studs:
Jordan Love - and in particular second-half Love. Good in the first half, elite in the second. Probably his best regular-season game he's played, and in the conversation with Dallas playoffs for his best ever. This was also the first game of his career (as a starter) where he was credited with ZERO "bad throws." I think many have already made up their minds and it won't change much but IMO he is punching (big) holes in the narrative that he's a careless, sloppy, and/or inaccurate passer. Don't look now, but Love this season has quietly moved into 4th for total completion percentage and 5th for CPOE (completion percentage over expectation). He is top 10 in total yards, TD percentage, and pass success rate; he is top 5 in QBR and passer rating, Y/A, AY/A, NY/A, and ANY/A... and is now FIRST in QB EPA/play.
Yesterday he was (by my quick math) 13/18 for 146 yards and 1TD (114.58 rating) in the first half and 16/19 for 214 yards, 2TD and a 2pt conversion (148.68) in the second half.
I don't think there should be any doubt at this point that he absolutely can be "the guy."

Tucker Kraft - Is he the best tight end in the league right now? There's not any TE who I'd trade him for at this point in time. He's going to be getting a big payday and well-deserved. Soon to be a priority signing for us.

2nd Half Defense - they really made adjustments and locked it down very well. Rodgers was never allowed to get comfortable and put behind a mediocre first half for a suffocating second half performance. Really pleased with how we adjusted there.

Duds:
Special Teams - ST continues to be a liability for us. I think our "ceiling" as things currently stand is average at best. Punt returns in particular are a total liability. I said it in the game thread, half joking, but at this point I'd just put 11 guys on the line and sell out for a punt block lol. Us returning the punt vs the kicking team downing it wherever they get to it is probably a wash for us in terms of field position
Whoever OK'ed plugging McManus back in and Havrisik inactive needs some serious scrutiny too. Seemed quickly pretty clear that McManus was NOT 100%...AND that field was horrendous, if you're going to rush him back at least do it on a week when he's not playing out there in the pasture. Best I can figure is that they know McManus isn't going anywhere and maybe want to get him back so they can explore Havrisik as a more viable trade piece. Still, irresponsible decision/approach overall.

Nixon - to be fair to him I think he often plays with a real "knife-edge" aspect to his game in that he is often hyper aggressive... sometimes that leads to him being that scrappy guy who gets a million PBUs, sometimes it leads to him being the guy who gets beat or flagged and has to take his licks. Yesterday was one of the not so great examples. It's a gives and takes away type of thing with Nixon, I think he will bounce back but it was not a good showing on the whole

Josh Jacobs - i love the guy, but this year he's got the feel of a guy who has yet to be 100% healthy. I know he's popped on the injury report here and there and ultimately ends up getting cleared and plays, but I suspect we will probably hear at some point that he's been carrying a lingering injury all year or something. And he's not been BAD bad but just not up to his usual standard.

You know Josh isn’t 100% shoot his game against Arizona he was puking on top of his body issues. Dude is a warrior.

 

[milani]

Okay lemme come back to give a studs/duds for last night.

Studs:
Jordan Love - and in particular second-half Love. Good in the first half, elite in the second. Probably his best regular-season game he's played, and in the conversation with Dallas playoffs for his best ever. This was also the first game of his career (as a starter) where he was credited with ZERO "bad throws." I think many have already made up their minds and it won't change much but IMO he is punching (big) holes in the narrative that he's a careless, sloppy, and/or inaccurate passer. Don't look now, but Love this season has quietly moved into 4th for total completion percentage and 5th for CPOE (completion percentage over expectation). He is top 10 in total yards, TD percentage, and pass success rate; he is top 5 in QBR and passer rating, Y/A, AY/A, NY/A, and ANY/A... and is now FIRST in QB EPA/play.
Yesterday he was (by my quick math) 13/18 for 146 yards and 1TD (114.58 rating) in the first half and 16/19 for 214 yards, 2TD and a 2pt conversion (148.68) in the second half.
I don't think there should be any doubt at this point that he absolutely can be "the guy."

Tucker Kraft - Is he the best tight end in the league right now? There's not any TE who I'd trade him for at this point in time. He's going to be getting a big payday and well-deserved. Soon to be a priority signing for us.

2nd Half Defense - they really made adjustments and locked it down very well. Rodgers was never allowed to get comfortable and put behind a mediocre first half for a suffocating second half performance. Really pleased with how we adjusted there.

Duds:
Special Teams - ST continues to be a liability for us. I think our "ceiling" as things currently stand is average at best. Punt returns in particular are a total liability. I said it in the game thread, half joking, but at this point I'd just put 11 guys on the line and sell out for a punt block lol. Us returning the punt vs the kicking team downing it wherever they get to it is probably a wash for us in terms of field position
Whoever OK'ed plugging McManus back in and Havrisik inactive needs some serious scrutiny too. Seemed quickly pretty clear that McManus was NOT 100%...AND that field was horrendous, if you're going to rush him back at least do it on a week when he's not playing out there in the pasture. Best I can figure is that they know McManus isn't going anywhere and maybe want to get him back so they can explore Havrisik as a more viable trade piece. Still, irresponsible decision/approach overall.

Nixon - to be fair to him I think he often plays with a real "knife-edge" aspect to his game in that he is often hyper aggressive... sometimes that leads to him being that scrappy guy who gets a million PBUs, sometimes it leads to him being the guy who gets beat or flagged and has to take his licks. Yesterday was one of the not so great examples. It's a gives and takes away type of thing with Nixon, I think he will bounce back but it was not a good showing on the whole

Josh Jacobs - i love the guy, but this year he's got the feel of a guy who has yet to be 100% healthy. I know he's popped on the injury report here and there and ultimately ends up getting cleared and plays, but I suspect we will probably hear at some point that he's been carrying a lingering injury all year or something. And he's not been BAD bad but just not up to his usual standard.

Defense had given up over 80 yards rushing in the first half. In the second half Pitt gave up on the run because we were putting up points.

 

[DoURant]

Duds: NFL Quick review process on the final Steelers TD. Had the game not been out of reach and that was the tying/go ahead TD, I'd be really PO'd at that process. Maybe it was a TD, maybe it wasn't, but seems to me it wasn't as simple as Tirico, Collinsworth and McAulay made it out to be. I may be biased, but I have never been a fan of McMcAulay.

I thought all scoring or potential ones were automatically reviewed under 2 minutes in a game by the booth, regardless? As long as they get it right, I honestly have no qualms with it.

Edit: I actually prefer it vs challenges, we want the result of a play called correctly, when in doubt, review it. College Football does it, and overall it seems to work for them.