Packers Stock Report: Week 1

Buy while it’s hot. It’s not too late to purchase stock in the Green Bay Packers for the 2020 season.

There’s a lot of ball game left, but the Green Bay Packers have to be feeling good about their week one performance. As the underdog, they came out and hit the Minnesota Vikings right in the mouth with a statement win. The offense had the best output of any team in the NFL from week one and silenced plenty of offseason skeptics. Their 522 yards of total offense from Sunday was the most during the Matt LaFleur era. When the defense catches up, this Packers team is going to be a very tough opponent.

It was a great win, but it wasn’t all good as Green Bay took their share of lumps along the way. Lane Taylor is out for the year, and the Packers may have to make more changes to the offensive line. The defense has seen better days. They nearly did everything they could to keep the Vikings in a game that should have been a decimation. Sunday’s showing isn’t going to cut it down the stretch.

But, a win is a win, and the Packers plan to win plenty more before the season is over. As we prepare for week two’s matchup with the Detroit Lions, you will recognize some new names on this week’s stock report.

Buy

  1. Aaron Rodgers

This one is pretty on the button, but Rodgers could do no wrong against Minnesota. 32 completions, 364 yards, and four touchdowns put Sunday’s performance up there with some of his best from the last few years. He burned a few timeouts that he and LaFleur wish they could have back, but after the snap, Rodgers looked like prime Rodgers. He picked apart a group of young Vikings corners and is off to a blazing start to kick-off 2020.

  1. Jon Runyan

Runyan was one of the most surprising players from Sunday. The sixth-round pick from Michigan became the team’s emergency right guard after injuries happened to both Taylor and Lucas Patrick. It was only 15 snaps, but the offense didn’t miss a beat with Runyan filling in. The rookie proved he can slide in when the line is in a pinch and might even pan out to be a starter sometime down the road.

  1. Jaire Alexander

Alexander was one of the few bright spots on defense. Green Bay’s number one corner made a pivotal interception just before halftime that led to points and also sacked Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins for a safety. Alexander finished with five tackles (four solo) and a pass defended. It’s only one game, but he is one step closer toward his goal of an All-Pro season.

Sell

  1. The run defense

Dalvin Cook is a great back, and Mike Pettine had to of known what Minnesota wanted to do going in, right? If he did, it didn’t look like it because the Vikings backfield ran through wide-open lanes for a good part of the afternoon. In total, Cook and company rushed for 134 yards, 6.1 yards per carry, and two scores. The run defense was the Achilles heel for this team last year, and it appears to be their weakness in the early stages.

  1. Darnell Savage

He might be a promising young player, but Savage has to own his critiques. The Packers' second-year safety had a costly yet questionable penalty that led to points. He also let Adam Thielen get behind him for a 37-yard touchdown. Green Bay remains high on their first-round safety, but too often he’s been the culprit of big plays. This is a temporary sell with Savage’s playmaking ability readily available.

  1. Lane Taylor

It has nothing to do with his play on the field. In fact, Taylor’s journey back to a starting spot after a severe biceps injury last season is nothing short of incredible. However, the season-ending knee injury he suffered in week one is devastating. The Packers restructured his deal this offseason knowing they would need the eighth-year guard in 2020, but the injury gods had other plans. This is the last year of the extension Taylor signed in 2017, so this could be his final year in Green Bay. Especially if the team wants to continue to get younger and healthier upfront.

 

 

Brandon Carwile is a Packers writer who also enjoys watching and breaking down film. Follow him on Twitter @PackerScribe.

3 points
 

Comments (22)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
pacman's picture

September 16, 2020 at 01:42 pm

You shouldn't even mention Savage's penalty. It was a totally clean hit. Ref must have blinked while he turned his body and hit with his shoulder.

Wall St often used Accumulate and Reduce for those middle areas. Might want to add those sections as it gives you more to work with. Put MVS and DeGeura in the Accumulate section.

6 points
6
0
JerseyAl's picture

September 16, 2020 at 07:56 pm

Or HOLD for guys that could go in either direction.

3 points
3
0
Roadrunner23's picture

September 16, 2020 at 01:58 pm

Buy:
Tyler Ervin- swervin Ervin is making an impact on returns and has to be accounted for every time he is in.

Alan Lazard- consistent as the day is long and better wheels than advertised.

Krys Barnes- came out of nowhere to solidify an ILB spot that has been neglected for way too long!

Elgton Jenkins- is there anything this dude can’t do? Damn he good!

Sell:
Orin Burks- traded up in the 3rd to get him, played only 3 snaps on defense. Really?

Montravius Adams- Monty take your toe and go, another 3rd round bust!

Dean Lowery- I like you Dean but common man you got to earn your keep!

Jace Sternberger- I’m a fan of Jace but since he has been drafted it’s been one thing after another. I haven’t given up hope but break the damn curse already Jace, let’s go!

12 points
14
2
dobber's picture

September 16, 2020 at 06:20 pm

Good list, ND.

-1 points
0
1
LayingTheLawe's picture

September 16, 2020 at 09:09 pm

Barnes played 15 plays so I know I shouldn't be too excited about that. But he had 7 tackles on those 15 plays including 2 tackles for losses. Damn!

The guy had 150 tackles his last two years in college and a high pressure rate for an inside linebacker. Why was he not a draftable guy? Size? Speed? He doesn't look good in shorts? lol

2 points
2
0
jannes bjornson's picture

September 16, 2020 at 09:29 pm

Too much RAS score bullshit and not enough film review. He was solid for three years at UCLA. I know some of the elders on this site fall asleep when the PAC-12 games get rolling on the West Coast, but he stood out as a solid football player, not a project, not an absurd SS/rover @ the pro game level. A very assignment sure guy. He was promoted by Sam Seale, no doubt.

2 points
2
0
ShooterMcGee's picture

September 16, 2020 at 02:28 pm

I'm a draft junky and hate when we give up picks to trade up. So often it doesn't work out. Not only the prospect for whom we draft up is a gamble there is a huge opportunity cost of who we may have selected with the additional picks.
In Oren Burks case we traded 2 picks in order to select him, what a waste. We traded up for Savage which looks like a bad decision. He doesn't seem special. He takes bad angles so misses many tackles, his coverage is suspect, and not the biggest of hitters. Juan Thornhill, Chauncey Gardner Johnson, Nasir Adderley, or Taylor Rapp could have been drafted in the 2nd round instead. Many of whom have played better thus far.
And let's not forget trading up for Jordan Love.
The picks we had to give up could have been used on so many good players. The more picks the team makes the higher likelihood to find a good player.

-3 points
2
5
Tabin's picture

September 16, 2020 at 03:16 pm

Burks is a bust. I said this many times great athlete but very slow to read the play. He can not have an impact at pro level.
I still have hope on Savage last year he had some good games. He needs to improve his angles but it is not a bad player. It is questionable to trade up for him.
Jordan Love. I don´t know if he is good or bad, but I know that he will not help the Packers this year and they could have use the pick in a player that would have help.

0 points
2
2
Coldworld's picture

September 16, 2020 at 04:39 pm

Savage has a tendency to over commit and takes risks. It will take a while. In the meantime, he will be greatly helped by not playing prevent. The above typically don’t gel well with that type of D.

2 points
2
0
BradHTX's picture

September 16, 2020 at 10:03 pm

I remember screaming “DAMMIT SHARPER!!!!” at the TV numerous times in his first and second seasons. He turned out pretty well (when he wasn’t, y’know... raping women).

Give Savage time, Safety isn’t an easy position.

1 points
1
0
Coldworld's picture

September 17, 2020 at 12:03 am

Remember Collins early on too. And he is rather a more sympathetic character to look back on fondly.

1 points
1
0
fastmoving's picture

September 17, 2020 at 06:39 am

Thanks god they dont listen to the fans. So they would have drafted an WR instead who is way more useless than Love right now.

Jordan will help a lot. Its just the norm you draft for the long and short term future. Easy logic.....

Draft was good to great, even we dont know for sure till 2023

-1 points
0
1
LayingTheLawe's picture

September 16, 2020 at 05:10 pm

Didn't they trade up to get Clay Matthews? I think it's just like the draft itself and filled with hits and misses.

4 points
4
0
Lphill's picture

September 16, 2020 at 04:21 pm

Sell Mike Pettine .

-2 points
1
3
davidedwards637's picture

September 16, 2020 at 06:50 pm

He was a bust in Cleveland. Not sure why we would expect something different.

0 points
1
1
JerseyAl's picture

September 16, 2020 at 08:02 pm

Belichick was a bust in Cleveland. Everyone's a bust in Cleveland.

2 points
3
1
Qoojo's picture

September 16, 2020 at 04:41 pm

I don't think you have to put "run" in front defense for the sell part.

2 points
2
0
Demon's picture

September 16, 2020 at 07:11 pm

Ill bet the cowgirls fans have a Mcmuffin they would like to sell

3 points
3
0
Since'61's picture

September 16, 2020 at 07:47 pm

I would add Ervin to the buy list. He has great speed and hits the hole very quickly. He was a huge asset to the offense against the Queens.
I would also buy Jenkins. An OL who can play guard, tackle and center is a great value.
Thanks, Since ‘61

3 points
3
0
croatpackfan's picture

September 17, 2020 at 05:43 am

You marked Darnell Savage for sell, because: "He also let Adam Thielen get behind him for a 37-yard touchdown." But that was maybe miscommunication with CBs? Who knows now.

Also, when your darling player, Jaire Alexander do the same 1:21 left in 4Q that is OK. Not even to mention that. Also, I agree that end zone sack was great joy for me, but, Jaire is lucky that Cousins does not good vision of the field. He let 2 Vikings players completely alone on his side of the field for what would be long (80-90 yards long) TD. To risky! Thank God, that finished well for Packers.

1 points
1
0
murf7777's picture

September 17, 2020 at 11:54 am

Just watched the first half of the All 22 tape and I'd add a couple to the Buy that looked great in the first half:

BUY
Rashan Gary - oh my he is learning from Z how to rush the passer. His outside/inside move created pressure twice and his hands have become violent. In addition, he ran down two players; Cousins (close to a sack) and Matteson from 5 yards behind the LOS. He doesn't give up and is explosive. Maybe a bit over zealous homer, but that is what I'm seeing. And I didn't like his first 8 -10 games last year. This man is progressing.

Deguara - He had one hell of a game. His blocking is awesome, not only the one he put two guys out, but another where he pancaked a CB. MFL loves, loves using him on 1st down and they had some creative plays with him in there. He is a winner!

MVS - sure he missed 2 passes, but the ones he caught were awesome. Good things to come from him this year!

Some guy who wears number 51....he just makes plays.

MLF - he is showing to be a very good HC with an innovative offense. It was fun to watch.

SELL

Burks - he just can't stay healthy to even know if he has anything.

Tipa G - He was in 3 plays and Cousin rans for 30+ yards and Matteson for another 6 or so. Who knows as he has potential, but I was surprised to see him get PT.

Tonyan - Didn't show much for the PT he received. An average at best blocker and wasn't getting open. It may have just been the scheme.

Rush D - yes, please get help.

JURY STILL OUT

Sternberger - didn't do much in the first half, but did have two very good blocks.

1 points
1
0
Bure9620's picture

September 17, 2020 at 08:45 pm

Buy-Deguara, Lazard, Runyan, Dillon, Barnes

Sell- Burks, TE group, Kirksey, Jackson

Risky- MVS he is a boom/ bust player

0 points
0
0