Green Bay Packers Report Card: Grading the Team in Tampa

I originally wrote this article for SportsScribes.net .

Here is how each unit ranked last week and how that applies to this Sunday's matchup against the Dallas Cowboys:

Quarterback: D

Aaron Rodgers had easily his worst game of the season, and second worst of his career—at least in last season's game in Tampa Bay he had the excuse of an injured shoulder. It was the first game of the season in which he did not have a passer rating over 80, dropping him from first to fifth in the league.

For only the third time in 24 starts, he had more picks (three) than scores (two, although he did add a third rushing), more than doubling his season total. While he had 266 yards, he failed to complete half of his passes (17 of 35).

Of the Packers are to have any chance against the Dallas Cowboys, he has to have a huge bounce back game.

Running backs: B

Both Grant and Ahman Green had runs of 20-plus yards, and Grant got into the endzone. The unit provided 144 yards rushing on 29 carries for five yards per carry and three catches for 26 yards (8.7), for 170 total yards on 32 touches (5.3). There were no fumbles.

Green Bay will need to run the ball effectively against the 11th-ranked (both in yards per game and per carry) rush defense of the Cowboys in order to keep the pressure off Rodgers.

Receiving Corps: B-

The wide receivers did great, as third receiver James Jones led the way with four catches for 103 yards and a score. Donald Driver had four catches for 71 yards and a score, and Greg Jennings had five for 61.

But there was nothing from the tight end position—it is clear the team misses JerMichael Finley. Donald Lee had just one catch for five yards and Spencer Havner did not appear on the scoresheet.

Dallas is 20th in passing yards allowed and tied for 17th in yards per play. This is one area the Packers can exploit.

Offensive Line: F

What is left to say? Sure they did okay in opening holes for the running game, but this is still the worst unit in all of the NFL.

They allowed six sacks to a team that came in with 11 in seven games. It is the sixth time in eight games they have allowed four or more sacks and the fourth in which they allowed six or more.

Let me spell out just how much it bolsters a team to play against this line:

1) The Minnesota Vikings lead the league in sacks thanks to getting 14 of their 31 in the two games against Green Bay. That means they averaged fewer than three sacks a game against the rest of the league and seven against the Packers.

2) The Cincinnati Bengals had six sacks against Green Bay and have just 15 in their other seven games, an average of just over two per contest.

3) The Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions are also among the five of seven Packers opponents to garner at least twice as many sacks against Green Bay than they have averaged against the rest of the league.

And now this line has to face the pass rush of the Cowboys? They average 2.5 per game, more than any Packers opponent thus far has against teams not dressed in green and gold. The only question is whether Dallas can top the Vikings' week four total of eight sacks.

 

Defensive Line: B-

Tampa Bay had 25 rushes for 81 yards (3.2), helping the Packers maintain their ranking of third best in yards per carry allowed. At the same time, they managed just four tackles and two assists. They will need to continue their control of the line of scrimmage with Marion Barber, Felix Jones, and Deshard Choice coming to town.

 

Linebackers: F

They had 16 tackles, four assists, and one sack, led by AJ Hawk's six, one, and one respectively. That might not seem worthy of an F, but remember the line does all the work in a 3-4 so the linebackers can make the big plays.

In a game in which a rookie started at quarterback, you need to contain the dump off options and make him throw downfield under pressure. Instead, this unit that failed to pressure him or make any big plays also allowed seven catches for 111 yards and two scores to the tight ends and running backs.

If the Packers are going to have any chance against the Cowboys, they will need to put pressure on Tony Romo and get some plays out of this unit.

 

Defensive Backs: D+

This unit looked good on paper. They gave up one score and generated one pick. They contributed greatly to Josh Freeman's sub-50 percent completion rate, the fourth game in which they have accomplished that feat. Only seven passes were completed to wide receivers.

However, those catches amounted to 94 yards, a 13.4 average per catch, and Tampa was without its only real wide receiver threat, Antonio Bryant, injured. And they have to take some responsibility for Kellen Winslow's big day, too.

Finally, while they amassed 15 tackles, they missed a few by tackling high and not wrapping up. My high school coach would have had us doing grass drills for a good 30 minutes for that!

Dallas comes in with solid receivers in Roy Williams and Miles Austin, plus Patrick Crayton as a third option. If they can shut down Williams for the first half, he will shut himself down in the second and they can focus on Austin.

 

Special Teams: F

Mason Crosby did okay, hitting all four extra points (he did not attempt a field goal) and putting five of his six kickoffs in the endzone resulting in four touchbacks. But every other phase of this unit struggled—on the two kicks that were not touchbacks, the Packers allowed over a 50-yard average on returns.

Jeremy Kapinos had two punts inside the 20, but Clifton Smith averaged 13 yards per return. The Packers managed just four yards per punt return and, thanks to a Tramon Williams fumble that limited his return to two yards when the team really needed a big return to regain the lead and the momentum, the Packers averaged only about 16 yards per kick return.

Sunday is going to be a long day for Packers fans...Cowboys 27, Packers 16.