Mid-season report card, part one

I had to make a choice.

I could do what I usually do on Tuesdays and write some sort of lighthearted, (hopefully) funny post about why we as Packers fans hate the team’s upcoming opponent, the Dallas Cowboys. But seeing as how they’ve pretty much owned us for the past, oh, I don’t know, length of time since the “Ice Bowl”, that seemed like an exercise in jealousy.

I could give you another round of depressing leftover thoughts from the Green Bay Packers’ 38-28 road loss to the previously winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. It would include the fact that Mark Tauscher (knee sprain) is out for at least a few weeks and Aaron Kampman (concussion) might not play Sunday against Dallas. I actually started to write one of those, in fact, but decided against it. I really don’t want to spend ANY more time re-hashing that horror show or the somewhat serious injury fallout from it.

Instead, I’ve decided to use this space to give a mid-season report card for the 4-4 Packers (second place, NFC North). I did one – actually three (here, here and here) – of these after the first four games. This will be the last one I do until the end of the season and this time, I’m limiting it to two parts. This is part one; part two will be up later today.

(Wait, what’s that? By going with this option I have to talk about not only one depressing game but a depressing series of eight games? Is it too late for me to back out? It is? Crap)

Alrighty then, the midseason report card starts…now.

Enjoy. Or at least try not to throw up too much.

Offense

Bad news all around for this group, expected to be so good before the season started.

Aaron Rodgers might be putting up good fantasy football numbers (63.1 percent completion percentage, 2,255 yards, 16 touchdowns, five interceptions) but he still isn’t progressing at all in more than one key area. He can’t get rid of the ball quickly enough, too often looks for the home run and either can’t or won’t trust his abilities enough to make tight throws. His confidence has clearly been shaken by the 37 sacks he’s suffered and, if the beatings continue, Gene’s Philip Rivers comparison might be too kind. Rodgers might be headed for David Carr and Tim Couch territory. Grade: B

Wednesday wrap-up: Tauscher’s time finally nearing (plus an injury update)

The Green Bay Packers got back to work Wednesday in preparation for Sunday’s road contest with the winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

They did so, apparently, with a new starter at right tackle: Mark Tauscher.

According to the Green Bay Press Gazette, Tauscher took most of the reps with the starting unit. That likely means Tauscher will take over for Allen Barbre at the position.

If that’s the case, it’s an interesting decision to make at this juncture of the season, one that I have to admit I’m not completely on board with.

Yes, Tauscher is a much more experienced and (likely still) better player than Barbre. But Barbre seemed to be at least getting his feet beneath him a little bit since his disastrous first game against Chicago. He hasn’t been great, but we seem to be talking about his struggles less and less as the season goes on. That’s what we call progress, kids.

Plus, this is only his first season as a starter (third in the league) so he clearly has more upside than Tauscher, 32, at this point. It’s great if Tauscher steps in right away and plays well, but what are the odds he’s brought back for next season even if that happens? Not very likely, in my mind. That means the Packers will probably once again turn to either Barbre or Breno Giacomini and the position will remain unsettled.

The No. 1 goal the rest of the way has to be making sure Aaron Rodgers doesn’t get killed. I understand that. Maybe Tauscher can help that cause more than Barbre, maybe not.

But in a season where a Super Bowl run is unlikely, a big part of me thinks the Packers should be working on growing a cohesive unit for the future. Barbre would be a part of that future; Tauscher would not.

Wednesday wrap-up: Tauscher's time finally nearing (plus an injury update)

The Green Bay Packers got back to work Wednesday in preparation for Sunday’s road contest with the winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

They did so, apparently, with a new starter at right tackle: Mark Tauscher.

According to the Green Bay Press Gazette, Tauscher took most of the reps with the starting unit. That likely means Tauscher will take over for Allen Barbre at the position.

If that’s the case, it’s an interesting decision to make at this juncture of the season, one that I have to admit I’m not completely on board with.

Yes, Tauscher is a much more experienced and (likely still) better player than Barbre. But Barbre seemed to be at least getting his feet beneath him a little bit since his disastrous first game against Chicago. He hasn’t been great, but we seem to be talking about his struggles less and less as the season goes on. That’s what we call progress, kids.

Plus, this is only his first season as a starter (third in the league) so he clearly has more upside than Tauscher, 32, at this point. It’s great if Tauscher steps in right away and plays well, but what are the odds he’s brought back for next season even if that happens? Not very likely, in my mind. That means the Packers will probably once again turn to either Barbre or Breno Giacomini and the position will remain unsettled.

The No. 1 goal the rest of the way has to be making sure Aaron Rodgers doesn’t get killed. I understand that. Maybe Tauscher can help that cause more than Barbre, maybe not.

But in a season where a Super Bowl run is unlikely, a big part of me thinks the Packers should be working on growing a cohesive unit for the future. Barbre would be a part of that future; Tauscher would not.

Breaking down Packers vs. Vikings (aka, Round Two)

Are you ready for round two?

I know I am.

There have been plenty of titles for Sunday’s contest between the Green Bay Packers (4-2) and Minnesota Vikings (6-1), set for 3:15 p.m. Lambeau Time at, well, Lambeau Field.

I’ve pretty much stuck with “Round Two” because, to me, it most encapsulates everything this game is.

It’s another shot to take over first place; it’s another shot for the o-line to prove its mettle; but, more than anything, it’s another shot to bury that  hillbilly traitor Judas.

How will the Packers go about winning the second round? Well, let’s find out as we at OBOD break down Packers vs. Vikings.

Current line (not that we encourage gambling): Green Bay by three with an over/under of 47 1/2 points.

Weather forecast: A high of 42 degrees with a low of 28 degrees and a 30 percent chance of precipitation. In other words, a typical early November afternoon at Lambeau.

A Monday trip to the question department

As Oasis once said, questions are the answers you might need.

I’ve always loved that line and it seems to hold particular importance today. There are a few fairly major question marks surrounding the Green Bay Packers as they get ready for round two with Judas and the Queens on Sunday at Lambeau Field.

(On that note, I’m already incredibly psyched about the re-match and it’s only Monday. I’m going to be a lunatic come game time. I might not even be able to speak English, instead sounding like Chucky when he angrily spoke Latin at the end of “Child’s Play”).

Finding answers will be extremely important for the Pack as they look to exact revenge:

• Question #1: Who will be the starting five offensive linemen?

The re-shuffled offensive line – wish I had a dollar for everytime I’ve had to write that this season – gave without question its best performance of the year Sunday. But that was against the Cleveland Browns. Playing well against Fat Pat, Hillbilly Jared and Kevin “I can’t think of a degrading nickname for him” Williams will be another story altogether.

Wednesday wrap-up: Green signs (and other notes)

What was rumored Tuesday became official Wednesday.

Ahman Green is a Green Bay Packer once again.

Green signed a one-year deal with the team. Terms were not disclosed. Green and former Indianapolis Colts running back Dominic Rhodes both worked out for the team Monday.

I’ll have a column expanding my thoughts on the Green signing later today, so make sure to check back. But for today, let’s focus on what this means for the Packers running back situation: