I agree about last years defense, I also thought picking up the runner and tossing him in the end zone was very unusual . King maybe just needs reps remember he hardly practiced in the pre season.

Excellent Al
Cobb being gone is one issue for not throwing in the middle but MVS could be targeted there with his speed and or any tight end and or Kumerow so no excuse....would also help the 2nd/3rd and long issues
You nailed it on King......not worth the hype he gets

Tired of LaFleur saying we need to do a better job and it starts with me.....THEN DO IT
and Rodgers saying offense needs to do their part....THEN DO IT
Al....please send NEXT GEN STAT to them and Gutey
GO PACK GO

Tongan should be used more than Graham.....It would also provide Tonyan with a chance to make his mark. Some combination of Tonyan, Marcedes Lewis and fullback Danny Vitale would give the Packers a better mix of heavy personnel and legitimate receiving threats. (over the middle also) It could improve the efficiency of the run game and put more speed on the field while also inviting the Eagles to play more base personnel.

...There isn't a doubt in my mind that if the Packers had played these three games with last year's defense, their record would be 0-3 right now...

This is the true of the season and the team this year. The offensive sputter of this team is going on three years now. We all put a lot of faith in the 'new' offense but poor TE play, lack of separation, inconsistent run game, etc. are still the story.

I think King is best suited as a matchup guy against big and strong receivers like Alshon Jeffrey, Mike Evans, etc... The little guys that are great route runners are going to beat him and that's okay. There are only a handful of guys in the league that can cover Diggs 1:1 and luckily for GB one of those guys is Jaire Alexander. King is a great complement to Alexander and the team is able to employ those looks with Alexander taking the #2 guy 1:1 and giving King help in covering a #1 guy.

This defense will really be cooking when Alexander ascends (and he is very close if not already there) to a guy who can erase a #1 receiver 1:1 leaving the help for King on a #2 receiver.

I'm glad to see Jersey Al has brought up the RB tossed over the goal line.

I saw that at the time and knew the rule that prohibits players being tossed or carried, but no-one else seemed to mention it.

I also found the contention that Rodgers is reluctant to throw into the middle of the field well worth pointing out.

As for the implied idea of King to Safety, ? I wouldn't disagree that it should be considered, with the rider that Josh Jackson should be the first guy in line to be tried at Safety, and King a somewhat distant second.

It should be the aim of any site like this to entertain, inform and educate..............................job done, and thanks.

"The Defense: There isn't a doubt in my mind that if the Packers had played these three games with last year's defense, their record would be 0-3 right now. Agree or disagree?"
Agreed. Infact I will go one further. I think with any defense they have had since 2010 season, they would be 0-3.

Thank you for clarifying the rule on the TD run. I have seen everywhere that they didn't think you could do it but no one really knew for sure.

"Pass Targets:"
A part of this is the fact that they have not had the TE's involved as much and they don't really have a true slot WR.
And some of it maybe that the WR's simply aren't open in the middle or the progression starts on the outside? There is a lot that can be read into where his targets are. But the chart does paint a pretty good picture.

Kevin King:
While King didn't have a great game he still is a good player and there is a huge difference when he is playing and isn't. But the one play that I'm sure we have all seen is that 3rd and long play from Denver's 5ish yard line and King gets burned deep. It looked as if King had no idea where he was at or what was going on there. I'm wondering what the call on the defense was? I haven't seen the All22 on it. It looked like King maybe thought he had Safety help? Was the Safety late getting over the top? Or did he think the blitz was going to get there and the QB wouldn't have time to throw it deep? I just would like to know what King was thinking on that play. Because that play alone was U-G-L-Y.

Al - Just have to say this is my favorite article on Cheesehead TV. I like what the others do, but this one is one that I look forward to every week!

Always enjoy this article, Al. I especially liked the explanation and video of the TD infraction that was missed. I knew something was wrong when I watched, but was streaming the game and couldn't rewind to see what happened. I'm posting this hoping to see if CHTV has fixed the flaw where my posts take me straight to the top of the article after submitting.

Edit: Yay! This time it didn't. Now my life is complete, lol.

We’ve been so bad on third down,” Rodgers said, “we haven’t had those conversions to get more plays.”
The Packers offense has seen the third-most drives (38) in the league, yet they rank 25th in total plays (182). The Baltimore Ravens lead the league with 228 total plays.
The Packers currently rank 29th in third-down percentage, moving the chains just nine times in 36 attempts.
HELLO?

Thanks for continuing to write. Not everybody has time for podcasts and video

Thank you for bringing up the fact that Rodgers never throws the ball in the middle of field. I’ve been thinking and saying this for years. My Theory is it all comes down to him playing too safe and being scared to throw pick. He’s scared that an overthrow or a tip ball will turn into interception but not throwing the ball in the middle of field definitely leads to the offense being stagnant and guys not Supposedly being open. When I go back and watch games I always see guys open in the middle of the field and I always wonder why Rodgers never throws those balls. This is also the reason that our tight ends never seem to do anything in our offense. Where do tight ends do most there damage in the middle of the field. He needs to be willing to throw it up a little higher and let Jimmy Graham and the other tight ends use there big bodies and long arms to make plays for this team and hit them with quick throws when they run curl routes. If you make those throws on time and in rhythm they’re pretty hard to defend. The defenders have a hard time getting around the big bodies. I see other teams making those throws all the time. He also needs to be willing to throw some balls In the holes in the middle of the field and also throw some of those balls over the top of linebackers and In front of the safeties. I watch all the other quarterbacks in this league throw those balls and making big plays in the middle of the field and it just angers me when I watch Rodgers just completely ignore this part of the field. He needs to stop playing scared of throwing picks and start trusting himself to make those throws because I know he can.

Thanks Al for pointing out what I pointed out the other day.

The Packers should have(had) sent a formal complaint to the league about the sloppy officiating.

Also, why didn't the "review" see the problem? Reinforces what many view as "corrupt" or incompetent or both?

How do you explain such an obvious error in officiating?

Seems like forever since I've seen a TE play over The Middle. Or a draw play for that matter.

Also that penalty on Brown during that punt, still has me scratching my head.

Perhaps that will change this week because we may not be always ahead against the Eagles Being behind might force them to be more diverse.

Al - I agree completely that we would be 0-3 with our old defense. As good as our defense has been, and they have been great so far, they can still afford to improve their tackling.

I don’t know why we’re not throwing into the middle of the field, other than Rodgers is not confident that he has accounted for every defender or that our receivers are not open or a combination of both. But if we see it opposing DCs see it as well and will plan accordingly.

As for Kevin King he is going to be the CB who is picked on by opposing QBs. They will reach a point, if they haven’t already, where they won’t even throw to Alexander’s side of the field.
As a result King is going to see plenty of passes come his way and you just can’t stop everything.

Keep writing Al. Your articles are spot on, well written, and more effective than the podcasts, videos, etc. Secondly, IMO the written articles and the resulting dialogue have created a sense of community among the AllGBP bloggers and subsequent CHTV bloggers despite being separated across the country and around the globe.

Speaking for myself that sense of community has been a major differentiator first for AllGBP and then for CHTV. That sense of community is somewhat weakened with the new format and the increasing podcast/video approach. I realize that there is a need to keep the site contemporary and to continually attract younger, screen centric, users/subscribers. However, I hope that you and other CHTV decision makers will keep the sense of community that has evolved in mind as you move forward and consider that there is value in that sense of community for the bloggers.

Speaking of the community, I haven’t seen anything from Andy Herman or James Reynolds (TGR) lately. Anything up with them?
Take care Al and as always Thanks, Since ‘61

I'm trying to remember when it happened but Lang did near the same thing with Cobb and I'm not sure if one person here complained.

Rodgers not throwing over the middle must be a ' trust issue '...it just has to be. Just not sure what or who he doesn't trust.

Each week we'll likely see one DB look bad but as long as the front 7 get it done we won't see again what has plagued the defense in the secondary because of the front 7 play.

The poster above who mentioned Rodgers doesn't throw down the middle is that he wants to avoid the interception seems spot on to me. It made me see the connection and probably the reason he throws so few. Maybe now that AR sees he has defense he'll start taking more chances.

Is LaFleur calling for passes over the middle and Rodgers changing the plays? I still have no clue what LaFleur's offense looks like, it's so disjointed. Is that on Rodgers or LaFleur? This new offense is very similar to the old, even to the point that after everyone was excited about Jones finally being freed to be the main ballcarrier we hear that LaFleur now wants to even out the carries. We don't hear that from the men who coach Kamara, McCafferty, Cook... and a dozen other premium ballcarriers. My impression of LaFleur so far is offensively he still hasn't developed an understanding of how to use a Hall of Fame QB, a top-five WR, and a top 10 running back. He keeps claiming to want balance but that means fewer touches for your stars, Adams and Jones, in favor of less-skilled players. That's a recipe for mediocrity. Jamal Williams isn't Jones, he's a backup. He should never out touch Jones. Get your stars the ball, and sit those who haven't been playing well like Allison and Graham. And for those who keep saying that it will take time to implement this new offense, I say, what new offense? Rodgers is frustrated because he knows what a good offense looks like. He'd throw over the middle if he expected his receiver to catch the ball. Remember those bullets in traffic to Jennings in the Super Bowl. Allison not only can't get open for that if he did he wouldn't catch it. We've seen enough to at least try something different.

Wow!!! Thank you Al !!! I couldn't figure out for the life of me how Lowery missed that tackle and now I see RISNER CHEATED !!!!!

Ii would start sending M. Lewis over the middle and wear that secondary down.

And it is time to play TONYAN full time!!!

One of the 3rd receivers has to step it up.
G. Allison
J. Kumerow
D. Sheppard
Lazard

Or a trade has to be made....

Lastly, I would still like to get Kenyan Drake in a trade and/or maybe even Devante Parker.

About Rodgers throwing in the middle of the field, for one, this is one game, and without a similar analysis of all games this year, it's hard to know if Denver took the middle away or it is a trend.

If it is a trend, perhaps Rodgers does not trust his vision of the middle. Remember, Rodgers is viewing the field behind 9+ tall guys blocking his vision, not from the side and halfway up the stadium. So Rodgers needs lanes from the OL to get a good vision of the field.

Another point is who besides Adams would you trust to make catches in the middle? Maybe Lewis? Graham is injured and not getting much separation. Pretty much the ball has to be waist high to everyone but Adams.

89 - Mercedes Lewis!!!! Send him up in the middle!!

HT: 
6' 6"

WT
267

Al Very good article. Nice Points. Rodgers could be avoiding the middle: 1. Cobb is gone. 2. He's over throwing people. 3. The Te's are blocking. 4. He's using the sidelines to protect the ball, WR, and OL breakdowns. So Really it's eye opening. But not alarming at this time. While most want to trade for a WR. It's a bad idea unless theres a discount or Fire sale. Their #1 pick must remain untouchable. I think your a little to harsh on Kings play too. He needs to be in there. The success of the defense has been better with him, then without. And How many times have we seen Shields and Williams play off Wrs, as they developed. He'll tighten it up. As the score tightens. Their 3-0. Nothings broken yet.

It’s a lot easier for the defense to get ints over the middle, tipped balls are up for grabs and lbs can jump routes. A sideline pass is a lot more likely to be either caught or out of bounds. I love Rodgers lack of ints but sometimes you got to put the ball in play. I’ve heard from various sources that the middle of the field is the hardest to defend, so why aren’t we attacking it?

Al, the simple answer on over the middle is timing. Most passes are on slants or digs. In Rodger's case, he is releasing before the WR has made his cut. Think he is going to that in a new system he is not comfortable in. I don't think so. Last year, he did throw to MVS and ESB on quick slants and digs before injuries wiped out their season. Also, Rodgers is very sensitive to exposing his WR to high hits, has always been, more so in recent years after Adams in the Chicago opener at LB.

The pattern seems crystal clear to me with AR. Give AR 2 great or 3 good receiving threats, get top 5 offense.

Good- 2014: Nelson and Cobb were both #1 WRs that year. Top ranked offense at 30.4 pts/game.

Bad- 2015: Nelson out, Adams/Cobb hurting/ butterfingers leads to 15th ranked offense at 23/game.

Good- 2016: Nelson, Adams, Cook, a little from Cobb when not hurt = 6 win streak and 4th in pts at 27/game.

Good- 2017: Adams, Nelson, Cobb leads to 27.4 pts/game while AR was still upright.

Bad- 2018: Adams, and little else leads to a 14th ranked offense. 23.5 pts/game.

History seems to be teaching us what is necessary to have an elite offense. I’d say it has been screaming at us.

I like the next Gen stat showing Rodgers throwing the ball outside 80% of the time. I had never thought about it before but as soon as you mentioned it, it just seemed about right. I would have to think covering the receivers has to be easier when you have the boundary to help keep them corralled 80% of the time. And it very well may be a major reason you don't see the receivers getting open regularly.

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