Week Four in Review

There’s my chippy. This was officially the second NFL game EVER that did not feature a single punt. Neither team punted! That’s crazy. Of course we didn’t punt because we were busy scoring, while Chicago didn’t punt because they were busy getting their asses kicked up around their necks. Smokin’ Jay was up to his old tricks, throwing passes off his back foot, throwing passes to the wrong team, gobbling up and down the sideline, strutting his prominent turkey neck. Just imagine him being your team’s quarterback. What a nightmare. The offense was operating at full capacity, scoring on six straight possessions to start the game, including five touchdowns. The defense gave up tons of production in terms of yards, but held a decent offense to 17 points. It would be easy to criticize the defense after this performance, but I was happy with what they did on Sunday. It was reminiscent of the 2010 defense, forcing critical turnovers to mask statistical shortcomings. We’ve played .500 ball through the first quarter of the season, including a 1 – 1 record in the division. It’s not ideal, but everything we want is well within reach. Fuck the Bears. Here’s what I liked and didn’t like:

What I Liked:

Aaron Rodgers: One hell of a performance against a division opponent on the road, facing a potential 1 and 3 start to the season. An average of 10.78 yards per passing play is ridiculous. That means we averaged a first down every time we called a passing play. Four touchdowns to zero interceptions is good. He was 7 for 7 on third down, and 6 for 6 on attempts that traveled 15 yards or more in the air. Here’s the thing though, he can be better. He missed a couple of throws and was visibly upset with himself. It’s a step in the right direction, and I’m looking for him to continue this kind of production. He’s currently on pace to finish the year with 3996 yards, 36 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions.

Starting Wide Receiver Tandem: Cobb and Nelson were Cobb and Nelson. They combined for 17 catches on 21 targets for 221 yards and 4 touchdowns. They each had over 100 yards and 2 scores and had just one drop between them (Cobbler dropped a touchdown). Jordy leads the league in yards with 459, leads the league in first down receptions with 24, and is second in the league among wide receivers in yards after the catch with 137. Cobb leads the league in touchdowns with 5. I’ll say it again, we have the best starting wide receiver tandem in the league. Jordy is making a bid to be considered the best wideout in football this year. Now if only those rookies could start producing a bit…

Offensive Line: I don’t really know what to say or how to analyze their play, but I do know that Rodgers had all day to hang out in the pocket and pick apart the defense. So, I figure that’s good and stuff.

Hitting: Not tackling (although that was pretty darn good too), hitting. We gave up waaaay too many yards, that much is certain. It’s not realistic to think we can hold a team to 17 points while giving up 496 yards more than once. That being said, the defense was laying the fucking wood on Sunday. Burnett and Hawk combined for 26 tackles, and there weren’t many arm tackles. Hitting is important for a lot of reasons. Receivers start to get alligator arms, running backs get tentative, catchable balls get knocked out, quarterbacks get happy feet, all good things. Hitting is an attitude, and it affects the entire game. I’ve been looking for some edge on defense, and it finally showed up.

What I Didn’t Like:

Running Game: Eddie Lacy turned in another gem, racking up 56 yards on 17 carries for a robust 2.8 yards per carry. He’s really firing on all cylinders right now. Running with purpose, breaking all kinds of tackles, getting north and south in the backfield, generally instilling fear in defenses and forcing them to respect the run. Thank god James Starks didn’t get a single carry, cuz you can’t do anything to derail that freight train wearing number 27.

Run Defense: We continue to give up all kinds of production on the ground. We’re the worst run defense in the league right now and it’s not even close. We’ve given up 704 yards on the ground on 4.6 yards per carry. The next worst is Oakland (who just fired their head coach because they suck so bad), who’ve given up 633 yards on 4.3 yards per carry. So yeah, we’re the worst. It’s gotta get better or we won’t be winning any playoff games.

Extra Points:

        -    Charles Woodson is on pace for 96 tackles, 4 interceptions, and 16 passes defensed. He is 37.359 years old.

         -   Clay Matthews was a full participant in this week’s only practice, and is fully cleared for action on Thursday.

        -   The Vikings will start rookie QB Teddy Bridgewater this Thursday. He had himself a decent game this past week in his first meaningful NFL action, but the defense has to be licking its’ chops at the prospect of facing the rookie.

 -  Cornerback Jumal Rolle has been signed off the Packers practice squad by the Houston Texans.

** Bonus Quote of the Week **

"I spent thirty-three years and four months in active military service … and during that period I spent most of my time as a high-class muscle-man for big business, for Wall Street, and the bankers. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street, in China I helped to see to it that Standard Oil went its way unmolested."

-  Marine Lieutenant General Smedley Butler, winner of two congressional Medals of Honor

** What Was I Drinking **

Russian River Temptation Blonde Sour Ale aged in French oak chardonnay barrels. Pretentious? Sure. Delicious? God damn right. Thanks again Nick.