‘TURN IT UP’
Preparing Brett Hundley becomes Packers’ No. 1 priority
The template for where the Green Bay Packers go from here is 2008.
With Aaron Rodgers needing surgery on his broken collarbone and possibly out for the season, coach Mike McCarthy has to retool his offense to fit the skills of backup Brett Hundley.
It’s natural to think McCarthy’s offense will have to become more run-oriented, the way it did in 2013, when Rodgers missed seven games. But that team had a young, fit Eddie Lacy at halfback. The 2017 Packers don’t have anybody with that kind of size, power and ability. They also have a depleted offensive line.
Instead, 2008 offers the best lesson in how McCarthy might tailor his offense to a new starting quarterback. That was Rodgers’ first season as Brett Favre’s successor, and McCarthy tried to help him by simplifying his reads and emphasizing getting the ball out fast while remaining a pass-first team.
In that season, Rodgers often had to read only half the field. It wasn’t until ’09 and ’10 he routinely made backside throws and held the ball longer waiting for things to develop.
McCarthy didn’t put the game on Rodgers’ shoulders that season, though he still ran a pass-heavy offense. Rodgers’ 536 attempts that season were sixth-most in the NFL. But the emphasis was on getting the ball out fast and providing him with simplified reads. The ’08 approach does limit playmaking chances, but it also limits risk.
The Packers went only 6-10 that season but lost seven games by four points or fewer. Playing that way gave them a chance.
That approach also can give Hundley his best chance for success, even if he’s not as talented as Rodgers. Defenses know McCarthy wants to take the pressure off Hundley by running the ball
Unlike in ’13, defenses don’t have to worry about tackling a freight train like Lacy. Aaron Jones has the vision and quickness to make some good cut-back runs, but he’s 208 pounds. The Packers can’t just hammer him at defenses like they did with Lacy.
In other words, defensive coordinators are going to force Hundley to beat them.
In the Packers’ 23-10 loss to the Vikings, Hundley showed he has something to work with even with his terrible passer rating (39.6).
He made a couple of plays outside the pocket. He had a nice back-shoulder throw to Jordy Nelson for 26 yards. He made a good play when he started scrambling up the middle and then found Davante Adams with his peripheral vision for a 14-yard touchdown pass.
He stayed poised even after his first pass of the game was intercepted. He stood tall in the pocket despite taking several hard shots. He showed toughness.
The biggest concern is that when he misses throws, he tends to miss high. That’s a problem, because it leads to interceptions.
The one quality all good quarterbacks share is the ability to play fast. That doesn’t mean they have to run fast. They just have to have fast reactions. They have to read defenses quickly, and when they see an open receiver they have to get the ball out fast.
Can Hundley go .500 in Rodgers’ place? There’s no reason to rule that out. The Packers have been grooming him for this. But some things you can’t know until a guy gets on the field.
No rush
The Packers’ pass rush is their biggest problem on defense. They’re not getting home with four guys, and the problem with living by the blitz is that it’s also easy to die that way.
They had no sacks Sunday against a pedestrian quarterback, Case Keenum. They also had only four quarterback hits.
Daniels, Kenny Clark and Dean Lowry got OK pressure as inside rushers, but on the outside the combination of Matthews, Nick Perry and Kyler Fackrell didn’t do anything to force Keenum into mistakes.
Ahmad Brooks didn’t play because of a concussion, so his return might help the outside rush. And maybe Vince Biegel’s return — he’s eligible to come off PUP this week, and the Packers expect him to start practicing immediately — might add something later in the year.
But you wonder if the Packers should start activating Montravius Adams as well. They drafted him in the third round in large part because of his inside rush ability, but he’s been a healthy scratch the last two weeks.
Grade card
QBs: In his first real relief role, Brett Hundley (39.6 rating) threw three interceptions against one of the NFL’s more talented defenses. He also flashed some ability to make plays outside the pocket. Grade:
COL: Three starters (David Bakhtiari, Bryan Bulaga and Lane Taylor) were on the sidelines by game’s end, so injuries were a big factor. But still, Hundley was under siege all game. Grade: F
RBs: Seeing Aaron Jones on the same field as Ty Montgomery only strengthened the case that he should get more carries. Grade: C
WRs: This group runs good routes and catches the ball, but no one made any plays after the catch to help the new quarterback. Grade: C+
TEs: Martellus Bennett had a horrendous drop on the throw when Aaron Rodgers was injured. Grade: C-minus
DL: Kenny Clark and Mike Daniels had good games against the run and pass. Grade: B
LBs: Blake Martinez had another strong game at inside linebacker, but the outside pass rush was MIA. Grade: BCBs: Without injured Kevin King (concussion) and Davon House (quadriceps), cornerbacks Damarious Randall, Quinten Rollins and Josh Hawkins didn’t make many plays on the ball and missed too many tackles. Grade: DS: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix played a solid game, but at this point the Packers need more. Grade: C
ST: Punter Josh Vogel had a shank and kickoff returner Jeff Janis misjudged a ball that cost field position. Grade: C