Packers Stock Report: Week 11
If there was a way to define letting a game slip through your fingers, the Green Bay Packers accomplished it in week 11. Up 14 points over the Indianapolis Colts, the Packers had the chance to put away a worthy opponent to propel them to the upper echelon of this year’s NFL teams. However, a monumental collapse in the second half prevented such an outcome as they fell in overtime 34-31.
Aside from a third quarter in which they ran only six plays, Green Bay’s offense had success against the league’s number one rated defense. The defense forced two turnovers but inevitably left a lot to be desired after allowing 420 yards to the Colts offense.
Week 11 was supposed to serve as a measuring stick for the Packers. They’ve defeated the NFC’s top-seeded New Orleans Saints but were trounced by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Much like the two halves from Sunday’s game, Green Bay has been a tale of two teams in 2020. While Indianapolis has their flaws, they certainly are a playoff team, and a win would have been a nice shot of adrenaline for the Packers. Ultimately, Green Bay failed the test, and now they have to regroup to avoid a second straight loss.
On the heels of a heartbreaker, here is the stock report for week 11:
Buy
Rashan Gary
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a member of the Packers defense who had a better outing than Gary. Things are starting to click for the 2019 12th overall selection as he finds himself on the buy list for the second week in a row. Last week, he helped seal the win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. This week against the Colts, Gary was outstanding at disrupting quarterback Philip Rivers. Even though Gary failed to log a sack against Indianapolis, he had multiple pressures, including one that led to an interception for linebacker Christian Kirksey.
Aaron Rodgers
When the defense started to crumble in the second half, Rodgers had to put on his magician hat yet again. He had a bad interception early, but after that, he was pretty much lights out. Rodgers threw for three touchdowns and racked up over 300 yards through the air while completing 71 percent of his passes. Down three with a 1:22 left in the fourth, Rodgers led the offense 86 yards on 10 plays to kick the game-tying field goal that sent it to overtime. During that drive, he completed one of his best passes of the year to Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Off his back foot, he found his receiver deep over the middle for a 47-yard gain with a defender draped all over him.
Elgton Jenkins
When Corey Linsley left the game with a back injury, Jenkins took over center duties. By now, we all know he played center at Texas A&M, however that doesn’t make it any less impressive to change positions mid-game in the NFL. Whatever the team needs him to do, Jenkins has proven he is more than capable. The fact that he can wear so many hats along the offensive line continues to make him a steal for a second-round pick.
Sell
Darrius Shepherd
Costly miscues continue to be the story for the undrafted free agent out of North Dakota State. Shepherd has been mostly limited to return duties in 2020 but even that might be too much for him. The Packers desperately needed a momentous drive offensively to start the fourth quarter, but a fumble on the kickoff by Shepherd costs them that chance. For the game, Shepherd returned the ball seven times for a mere average of 19.7 yards. At this point, he’s done more harm than good during his time in Green Bay.
Jaire Alexander
Sunday wasn’t a great day for the Packers' number one corner. For a guy that is seldom targeted, it felt like Rivers was picking on Alexander at different times during the game. The good news is, he didn’t allow a touchdown. However, Rivers targeted the man Alexander was covering three times in the fourth quarter to gain first downs. One in particular was to running back Nyheim Hines, who most assumed was a matchup that favored Alexander. Hines caught a slant on fourth and four to prolong a drive for the Colts.
Preston Smith
10 games into 2020 and Smith has had more bad games than good after a breakout year in which he totaled 12.0 sacks. This year, he has just 1.5. The reason for Smith’s decline continues to be mystifying. The team is paying him to be a pass rusher, but he hardly wins any of his one on ones to get to the quarterback. Meanwhile, his awareness in the run game has been putrid. At this rate, Smith will be an easy cap casualty during the offseason. In the meantime, his snaps are probably better suited for Gary.
Brandon Carwile is a Packers writer who also enjoys watching and breaking down film. Follow him on Twitter @PackerScribe.
Comments (17)
Bearmeat
November 25, 2020 at 12:10 pm
RE: Alexander - that catch by Hines was a clear pick that should have been called. Go back and watch the play again. I promise. :)
HighPlainsDrifter
November 25, 2020 at 12:58 pm
I absolutely agree, that play was pick.
However, there were a couple of other completions that Jaire uncharacteristically allowed. I'm not sure whether that was the result of him being targeted or Rivers being a little reckless with the ball
Fabio
November 25, 2020 at 01:49 pm
I have said that in other posts .... in my opinion Jaire did not do well on 4th and 4th, but the previous action was a 3rd and 19th and they shouldn't have arrived WITH A RUN at the 4th and 4th ... .. that was the action that cost us 30 seconds of time on the clock and 2 time outs to waste afterwards to stop time (how much we missed the last action !!) Greetings to all and come on Packers
Coldworld
November 25, 2020 at 02:10 pm
Even had it not been, even the best corners will get beaten. The rules deliberately favor the receiver.
Selling Alexander is ludicrous. I bought him though so I love it. You are going to be poor next week Mr Writer.
I’m going to stick with the buys plus MVS (despite fumble) and Raven Greene, Amos and Winn.
I’m selling the entire ST unit except Crosby. The rank worst performer in that game isn’t mentioned here: JK Scott, in a dome to boot. I’m selling Pettine for the same reason as always (comes with a free life sized Lowry), inability to adapt till the momentum was lost, running one ILB In nickel and a team that could down a beer before the fastest receiver eats up the cushion they gave him.
jannesbjornson
November 25, 2020 at 04:54 pm
He goes dime against a power stack and ILB naturally over-runs the gap responsibility or should I say the two safeties and Kirksey.
Guam
November 25, 2020 at 01:46 pm
Gary looked great and yet got half the snaps that P. Smith had. What is Pettine seeing?
Coldworld
November 25, 2020 at 02:12 pm
Or not seeing? I’d vote common sense: so lost he can’t see the woods for the trees.
jannesbjornson
November 25, 2020 at 04:54 pm
Smith's contract.
Qoojo
November 25, 2020 at 04:03 pm
P. Smith, there is definitely a scheme problem when he is covering anyone past 10 yards down the field.
Pettine, I read an article from someone this past week pondering if the packers would be ahead by firing Pettine right now, and just rolling with whatever. It planted the seed in my head. I have seen this defense for the past 20 years, and I know it's not good enough to win more than a game or two, depending on seed, in the playoffs.
13TimeChamps
November 25, 2020 at 02:53 pm
Sell: Packers collapse in 3rd quarters in their 3 losses. In their 7 wins, they've averaged 8.86 pts in the 3rd, with highs of 17 and 14. In their 3 losses, they've scored a total of ZERO pts in the 3rd quarter, while giving up 35 (10,14,11). That's a hole they've dug that they obviously don't have the ability to dig out of.
What that says exactly I'm not sure. Coaching, lack of focus, not being able to adapt to the oppositions halftime adjustments?
Slim11
November 26, 2020 at 09:57 am
Third quarter was a problem during McCarthy's last 3-4 seasons too. That said, one has to wonder if the problems aren't a combination of all three issues.
stockholder
November 25, 2020 at 03:42 pm
You said it perfectly. The packers pay P. Smith to rush the passer. So why has Preston Smiths Role changed? We see every LB getting burned by a Te or Wr. I can understand covering a Rb. I can understand the problem on the DL. Even Missing Martinez. I can see the packers are trying to hard with Gary. But, I'm just not ready to dump on P.Smith. P.Smith is not the cause of the defensive failures. My sells are Shepard and Linsley. Shepard can't hang on to the ball. Linsley has a back problem. The buys should be are RBs. Seems the best part of this team is still Arron Rodgers.
13TimeChamps
November 25, 2020 at 04:13 pm
"Seems the best part of this team is still Arron Rodgers."
Aaron Rodgers isn't too shabby either.
canadapacker
November 25, 2020 at 04:24 pm
Smith is a big boy - but I am starting to believe that he is out of shape and it is not because he bulked up. He cant just throw even a tight end aside. He seems to be just lost out there and plays with little passion. Now we all know that with Covid and the lack or a real training camp - the guys who actually DID the work in the offseason are the guys performing. Smith from the looks of it and his play DID NOT do the offseason work. Sometimes guys play themselves into shape during the season if they still have a job after a slow start - that does not appear to be happening with Smith. Even if he is not pressuring the Quarterback - if he was setting the edge and making it hard to run in his direction we would be better off - but they appear to run at him both around him and inside him. That makes it impossible for our middle 3 to stay inside and plug up the middle. Our SBowl team had Hawk Zombo CM3 and Bishop and they all flowed to the ball and let the middle clog it up - they seemed lighter and faster than the present guys.
NickPerry
November 25, 2020 at 06:09 pm
Shepard has cost the Packers dearly in his time in GB. Remember the bobble against Philly last season which was picked and returned? Then of course there's the KO returning since Tyler Ervin's been hurt. Now it's not entirely on Shepard, the blocking is horrendous and the punting might be worse...THAT'S COACHING!
This was part of a piece written in the Athletic yesterday...
"In February 2019, shortly after Mennenga was hired by LaFleur, I asked three established coordinators to rank the league’s 10 new coordinators. Mennenga finished ninth in that poll.
“He’s a nice man, a very nice man,” one AFC coordinator said. “He could be fantastic or he could … you just don’t know. You’ve got to lead all the meetings now. Mennenga had been an NFL assistant for seven years in Cleveland under Chris Tabor, but the Browns ranked 29th in that span. He coordinated in the college ranks at Vanderbilt in 2018 before ending up in Green Bay."
Well we know he wasn't fantastic...
In that same article they spoke of Rizzi whom I've mentioned in the past but also Danny Crossman who's in Miami now and has the #1 ST unit if the NFL this year. According to the article MLF took too long to make up his mind and lost out on Crossman.
This team HAS talent on the defensive side of the ball and IMO should be much better than what they've showed this season. The bottom of the roster is better so ST should be improving too...They aren't.
Win, lose, or draw this year there NEEDS to be NEW DC and ST Coordinators next season in GB. Rodgers is on the back, back, back nine of his career. It's time we do EVERTHING we can to win a couple more SB's. You already hear a lot of talk about the Packers Management pissing away Rodgers career. Theres still time and it starts with getting rid of some of these coaches.
Gopack12
November 25, 2020 at 06:15 pm
I’m buying Kamal Martin.. every time he is on the field he flashes.. we can’t stop the run but we continue to play dime defense with only one LB .. what is Pettine thinking... it’s time to keep Kamal Martin on the field full time.. he’s better than Kirksey
NickPerry
November 25, 2020 at 10:28 pm
Love Kamal Martin. I actually think the Packers have an ILB for the future on their roster.