Packers’ final eight games should have fans hopeful
Green Bay has gotten off to a mediocre start through the first half of the season going 3-4-1 through eight games. This is in part due to the poor offensive play calling and scheming from Mike McCarthy and also poor play from QB Aaron Rodgers. The defense also saw a shakeup as FS Haha Clinton-Dix was traded to the Washington Redskins.
I expect the second half of the season to be much better than the first. For starters, the grueling two game road trip is now over. Granted, they lost both but showed flashes of what type of team they can be when clicking on all cylinders. According to ESPN, from week ten on, Green Bay has the league’s 5th-easiest remaining schedule. The division is still most definitely up for grabs as well. Chicago has a gauntlet remaining (LAR, MIN twice, and Detroit twice), as does Minnesota (Bears twice, Patriots, Packers once, and Seattle in Seattle).
I blame both the ineptitude on play calling with McCarthy and also Rodgers’ inability to snap the ball at a reasonable pace. You don’t need to run the clock down to 1 every time. Sometimes, you need to go no huddle and snap it quickly to get in a rhythm offensively & keep the opposing defenses on their heels. Also, they need to be more creative on offense if they expect to win more games, no more straight up the middle runs and 5-wide pass plays…The offense is built for more than that with a QB the caliber of Aaron Rodgers under center. Aaron Rodgers has been playing poorly as of late. His stats don’t necessarily say that but his play on the field does.
Green Bay’s defense saw a ton of trick plays and screens against New England but couldn’t defend them at all. Sure, sometimes they’d get a stop or a touchdown saving tackle, but most of the time it was either a huge gain or a touchdown. Green Bay’s defense, specifically the secondary, has to get better at defending those types of plays. You can’t continue to get gashed for huge yardage play after play and expect to win. Green Bay will also be better prepared defensively for more complex offensive schemes if they use them in their own offense.
Green Bay’s final eight games will be considered the easier stretch on their schedule. The teams remaining have a combined record of 31-35-1. This will also hopefully mean that Aaron Jones (the NFL’s 2nd leading RB in YPC at 6.1), will get used more in the offense for them. He is an explosive runner between the tackles and can be a weapon on offense when used effectively. Aaron Rodgers also will improve himself in the second half of the season.
Overall, this final portion of the schedule will be a proving point in the season for Green Bay. Will they end up faltering down the stretch or will there be a fight to the finish & a playoff berth in sight after missing them for the first time in 9 years last season? I have a feeling that Green Bay will turn things around with an eye towards not only the division but the NFC in the postseason. The NFC North & conference as a whole is still fairly competitive. Green Bay also has been great at home under Aaron Rodgers, 9-0-1 since losing to the Colts in week 9 of 2016. It’s time to make a run, starting Sunday afternoon at Lambeau Field!
#ParkerMoes @ParkerMoes #DHPF @DieHardPackrFan
