Packers Stock Report: Week 15

Happy Holidays, Cheeseheads. The Green Bay Packers gifted you a win, albeit an ugly one, over the Carolina Panthers. The offense got off to a blazing hot start, scoring three touchdowns on their first three possessions before stalling out and only scoring three points the rest of the game. Luckily, the defense didn’t break and the early lead was enough. However, the Tennessee Titans are coming to town in week 16 and will be a true test heading into the playoffs.

Let’s look at the week 15 stock report following a 24-16 win against the Panthers:

Buy

Aaron Jones

Jones provided a bulk of the offense on Sunday, totaling 158 of the team’s 291 yards of total offense. He jumpstarted the offense with a 46-yard run on third down on the opening drive. Jones was efficient for a good portion of the game with an average of 7.3 yards per carry. In a contract year, Jones has made it a very tough decision for Green Bay on whether to resign him this offseason. At the moment, they need him to continue to be a dynamic threat out of the backfield if they hope to go deep into the playoffs.

Krys Barnes

Barnes was having one of his best games as a pro before an eye injury sidelined during the third quarter against the Panthers. Barnes was the main catalyst for the forced fumble on the one-yard line, knocking the ball from Teddy Bridgewater’s hands while he tried to extend the ball across the goal line. Kevin King picked up the fumble and returned it to midfield to set up a Packers touchdown. Barnes then sniffed out a screen pass for a huge loss at the start of the third quarter. Green Bay’s defense has been lacking from the inside linebacker position in recent weeks and Barnes provided a much-needed boost.

Green Bay’s Defensive Backs

The Packers secondary put together a great performance against the Carolina offense. They were responsible for six of the team’s seven pass deflections, including three by safety Adrian Amos. Amos has played like a Pro-Bowler for the last month and a half after a slow start in 2020. Outside of Kevin King, Green Bay’s defensive backs did a solid job locking down the Panthers receivers.

Sell

Pass Protection

It felt like Aaron Rodgers was under duress on far too many plays against a team not known for their pass rush. Lucas Patrick stood out with an especially poor performance after he allowed two sacks. In his defense, one appeared to be a hands to the face penalty. Rodgers was sacked five times total, which set a new season-high. As a team known for a having a strong offensive line, Green Bay can’t afford to allow that many sacks again this year.

Second Half Play Calling

Matt LaFleur owned up to it after the game, but it goes without saying that he didn’t have his best day as a play caller. During the first three drives, the offense was in great rhythm. However, they quickly lost it towards the end of the second quarter, punting on five consecutive drives. On-time throws were absent from the offense and the run game was not nearly as potent as it was early on. LaFleur needs to find way to continue feeding Davante Adams even when defenses key in on him. Adams essentially disappeared in the second as it was clear the Panthers aimed to take him out of the equation.  

 

 

 

 

 

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

2 points
 

Comments (13)

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

December 23, 2020 at 12:31 pm

" . . .defense has been lacking from the inside linebacker position in recent weeks . . . " Recent weeks? Hopefully that was said tongue firmly in cheek. More like recent decades. It was fun watching KBarnes make tough, aggressive tackles behind, at or near the line of scrimmage.
Disagree with trying to force it to DAdams more. That goes against the quick timing pass you mentioned later. Looking to a covered Adams slows down the offense when pass to the first open receiver keeps the chains moving and the defense pressing up. Spreading it around is a key to this offense. We bog down when forcing it to DA, in my opinion. GPG

14 points
14
0
jeremyjjbrown's picture

December 23, 2020 at 12:40 pm

"Recent weeks?"

It's been lacking since Desmond Bishop tore his Hammy to shreds. The last time we had 2 ILBs I could trust was Hawk and Bishop. So it's been over 8 years. I am hopeful with Barnes and Martin we will again soon.

6 points
7
1
Tundraboy's picture

December 23, 2020 at 10:51 pm

Forcing it to Adams. Aside from our tackling nothing makes me crazier. Well that and special teams,and prevent D....

I better stop. Here's to this week's game! Can't wait.

0 points
0
0
Coldworld's picture

December 23, 2020 at 12:42 pm

From what I can see, the issues on the O line are almost entirely Patrick. Turner was graded very highly, Jenkins, Wagner and Bakh were not really a problem. One of the worst games by a Packers guard in a long time. Hopefully just a bad day and matchup, not evidence of an exploitable weakness that teams have identified.

I’d actually say the whole game plan stunk, other than letting Jones run on a D known to be bad defending the run. I give Jones credit for exploiting that more than I do the planning. After half time, we barely ran and the pass calling regressed further: two steps in the wrong direction. So add adjustments to initial plan.

7 points
7
0
jeremyjjbrown's picture

December 23, 2020 at 12:42 pm

Patrick was horrible. They should try Runyan. Patrick's ceiling is clearly low as pass blocker.

Patrick and Kirksey are still 1s in the Depth Chart. I'm confused.

2 points
3
1
Coldworld's picture

December 23, 2020 at 12:50 pm

As and when Linsley returns, now he is reactivated, it will be interesting to see whether Runyon gets the last guard spot and Turner moves back to tackle. Of course Stepaniak has been practicing too, so I suppose he is an option.

Personally, I think there is a good argument to simply swap Jenkins back to LG and leave Turner at RG and Wagner at RT. Bakh, Jenkins, Linsley, Turner, Wagner seems like it might be our best line.

6 points
6
0
Guam's picture

December 24, 2020 at 08:17 am

Concur CW. Patrick on the bench is the best option. Patrick had a bad matchup against a very good DT (Brown), but that will happen again against the Bears and during the playoffs. Keep Turner at guard and Wagner at tackle. Next year I see either Runyon or Stepaniak replacing Patrick at guard.

0 points
0
0
MarkinMadison's picture

December 23, 2020 at 06:12 pm

I don't think Runyan is really ready for prime time this year. He has looked o.k. in emergency spot duty. He has played better than I thought he would.

1 points
1
0
Stroh's picture

December 23, 2020 at 10:19 pm

Runyan should spend the offseason in a serious weight room. I'm sure he did in college, but if he really pushes himself in the weight room, he should be ready to step in at LG next year with Jenkins sliding to Center to replace Linsley.

2 points
2
0
Stroh's picture

December 23, 2020 at 10:14 pm

It was clearly a bad day for Patrick. But the bigger thing was a reaaly bad matchup for him. Derrick Brown is an absolute beast and in all aspects a power player at 6'5 325lb. Patrick is a finesse player who relies on quickness. He was completely overmatched against Browns power game. Maybe a handful of DT who Browns game. Mostly should be an anomaly.

3 points
4
1
Tundraboy's picture

December 23, 2020 at 11:30 pm

Let's hope. But I do not like what we're seeing from Patrick with the games only getting tougher.

1 points
1
0
dobber's picture

December 24, 2020 at 09:09 am

This has been borne out over the course of the season: the Packers' OL has been good v. the majority of their opponents...but there are a small number of teams that give them problems (SF in 2019, TB and Car so far this year). Those teams tend to be playoff teams, too. TB and the Rams will make getting out of the NFC a challenge.

1 points
1
0
blacke00's picture

December 24, 2020 at 07:47 am

I'll add to the chorus, Patrick was totally outclassed. In the previous game he wasn't real great either IMHO. But to his defense, he never played that poorly (at least I didn't see it) in the games he played on the right side???? Maybe he just couldn't adjust. I hope one of you more astute game can correct me here if I'm wrong. If he falters again I would try Runyan, give him a chance to prove himself.

0 points
0
0