2024-2025 Season Studs n Duds

[rmontro]

For years we have had QBs who could carry the team on their shoulders. I don't think Love is as bad as you suggest. If we surround Love with enough talent we can win with him. Other teams in the postseason this year are winning without elite QBs.

Yeah, as long as Love is competent, we should be able to win with him, as long as the team is good. The problem is he's getting paid like an elite quarterback, so he's sucking up our resources.

 

[Pugger]

So you think Josh Jacobs alone gave us 6 more victories, meaning we would have went 5-12?

I don't know if it was 6 but he made the difference in several games this year.

 

[AmishMafia]

Love looked much different this year. Last season he was very smart with his throws. Always seemed to find the open guy. This year he made a bunch of bad decisions. Not sure what to make of it. Want to reflect a few days before posting more.

 

[adambr2]

Matt Lafleur is Mike McCarthy with no ring.

 

[rmontro]

I have to think there is some pressure on Gutenkurst during the off season. This team lost two games each to the Lions, Vikings, and Eagles. And we could barely beat the Bears. Obviously this team needs something. If the Bears get a good coach, we might even find ourselves in the basement. That's not going to make the GM look very good.

Love looked much different this year. Last season he was very smart with his throws. Always seemed to find the open guy. This year he made a bunch of bad decisions. Not sure what to make of it. Want to reflect a few days before posting more.

Remember though, Love only played well for half the season last year. It was the right half though, the first half he was still finding his sea legs.

 

[Zartan]

Love looked much different this year. Last season he was very smart with his throws. Always seemed to find the open guy. This year he made a bunch of bad decisions. Not sure what to make of it. Want to reflect a few days before posting more.

Isn't like we had a huge turnover in WR personal. I wanna chalk it up to him having a down year. But if we split the two years into two halfs each he only had one good half of a season.

I will give him one more season to prove himself. If he continues to be bland or worse regresses to bad QB play then we gotta think about drafting a new QB and say Gutes experiment was a failure.

 

[red4tribe]

The biggest question heading into this season (to me at least) was about Love. Would he look like the guy from the first half of last season? Or the second half? And the answer I think was somewhere in between. He’s definitely grown since he first started, but I’m not sure quite how good he is. The jury is still out and next season will be very telling.

There are sometimes problems with his decision-making, but I’m also worried about his accuracy. Too often, he misses throws, or makes easy completions difficult, which prevents YAC. The pass that sailed high to Heath was representative of that. Should have been an easy catch, but he threw it high and Heath couldn’t stay in-bounds.

I would just have thought his mechanical issues would be fixed by now.

 

[AKCheese]

For the season… I’ll try and pick two studs on both sides of the ball.
O: Jacobs, Kraft
D: McKinney, Cooper

Duds: just about all the rest. Pass rush was next to nonexistent all year. Love looks worse than he did a year ago. None of our WRs took the “step” we hoped they would (and needed them to?). ST was generally a debacle with the exception of McManus and Whelan. Investing high draft capital in “projects” has failed to pay off and it’s catching up.

I just don’t know right now. Maybe it’s too fresh but right now I feel like I felt better about the direction/trajectory of the team at the end of last season than at the end of this one. In many ways it just kind of feels like a “wasted” season, unfortunately… didn’t play poor enough to get a premier draft selection, but not really good enough to be in the “elite” tier, either, and right now it doesn’t feel like we really laid the groundwork for much to build on next year and/or didn’t have much player improvement to hang our hats on. I dunno, I guess the improvements in defense were a pleasant surprise…

Wow team of all Duds except for 4 players and we made the playoffs? NFL must be way easier than I thought! Or Matt LaFluer is one helluva coach

 

[BrokenArrow]

The season is now over so I thought I would make a Studs and Duds dedicated to players through this season.

Who was that Stud who make a difference and who was a Dud and was a waste of money.

Studs:

Jacobs
McKinney
Cooper
Kraft
Doubs
Reed
Williams
Brooks
Willis
Whelan
McManus

Duds (not going to penalize guys for being injured):
LVN
Walker
Walker
Gary
Nixon
Heath

 

[BrokenArrow]

The biggest question heading into this season (to me at least) was about Love. Would he look like the guy from the first half of last season? Or the second half? And the answer I think was somewhere in between. He’s definitely grown since he first started, but I’m not sure quite how good he is. The jury is still out and next season will be very telling.

A lot of QBs have had down years the year after a big contract and then bounce back big the following season. Terry Bradshaw was talking about it on a pregame show when a guy got his big pay day (maybe Russell Wilson or Luck?). He said guys tighten up because they suddenly feel all the pressure of having to earn the big bucks and instead of doing what got them the money, they become tentative for a while.

Next year will tell the tale on Love.

 

[BrokenArrow]

For years we have had QBs who could carry the team on their shoulders. I don't think Love is as bad as you suggest. If we surround Love with enough talent we can win with him. Other teams in the postseason this year are winning without elite QBs.

Allen, Hurts, Jackson, Daniels not elite?

 

[milani]

The biggest question heading into this season (to me at least) was about Love. Would he look like the guy from the first half of last season? Or the second half? And the answer I think was somewhere in between. He’s definitely grown since he first started, but I’m not sure quite how good he is. The jury is still out and next season will be very telling.

There are sometimes problems with his decision-making, but I’m also worried about his accuracy. Too often, he misses throws, or makes easy completions difficult, which prevents YAC. The pass that sailed high to Heath was representative of that. Should have been an easy catch, but he threw it high and Heath couldn’t stay in-bounds.

I would just have thought his mechanical issues would be fixed by now.

I was surprised to hear the announcers say that we lead the league in DROPPED passes? If that is the case we cannot put it all on Love.

 

[rmontro]

I was listening to a call in show, and someone pointed out that there's a good chance Hafley will be hunted as a head coach. Which would leave us with MLF and needing a DC again. Right when the only comfort we have is at least the defense looked good, that's not good news.

 

[milani]

I was listening to a call in show, and someone pointed out that there's a good chance Hafley will be hunted as a head coach. Which would leave us with MLF and needing a DC again. Right when the only comfort we have is at least the defense looked good, that's not good news.

If that is the case let it happen and we can go from there. If Hafley is sought out more power to him.

 

[AmishMafia]

Studs:

Jacobs
McKinney
Cooper
Kraft
Doubs
Reed
Williams
Brooks
Willis
Whelan
McManus

Duds (not going to penalize guys for being injured):
LVN
Walker
Walker
Gary
Nixon
Heath

Tom? Have yet to see him on a list.

 

[XPack]

Studs: Jacobs, X, Kraft
Dud: Love, MLF
Meh: Everyone else

Can't blame the Def as they pulled through in playoff despite missing Jaire.

 

[tynimiller]

Studs:

Jacobs
McKinney
Cooper
Kraft
Doubs
Reed
Williams
Brooks
Willis
Whelan
McManus

Duds (not going to penalize guys for being injured):
LVN
Walker
Walker
Gary
Nixon
Heath

You putting Rasheed Walker on the season long Dud list? really. Do tell?

 

[adambr2]

I didn’t expect to win the Super Bowl this year, but the disappointing thing to me is that we felt closer to it at the end of last year than we do this year. The defense did progress some despite the lack of pass rush, but the young offense showed no improvement from the end of last season.

 

[Heyjoe4]

How do you get a fumble on the very first play? Get hit in the face helmet to helmet and then the refs don't call the play dead after you recover it and allow Philly to rip it out of your hands.

What was missing was anyone from the Packers arguing with officials after film showed Nixon recovering the ball. There should have been a fair amount of outrage.

But that wasn't what lost the game. Outside of the defense and Jacobs, the team showed he heart. I watched the Washington game after and J. Daniels plays with confidence and energy. Would be nice to see Love get some of that.

 

[Catamount1971]

Does MLF command the respect to lead the team? Are there consequences for all of the penalties and mistakes or just the excuses we hear every post game. I would love to see the Packers on Hard Knocks to see his coaching style and influence as a coach. After watching 1 episode with the Bears, I knew immediately that Everfluss was not the man to lead the team. Poles is way over his head as GM and the president of the Bears is worthless. In the episode where they gave DJ Moore 140 million, the president or GM said, now he can support his family. Totally out of reality. Unless the Pack make some changes, why would we expect a different outcome?

 

[RicFlairoftheNFL]

For me I have to put Love JUST on the Dud side. He was inconsistent even in his consistency late in the season. Sophomore slump? I hope so.

 

[tynimiller]

I normally try to stick to 3 each, since season long I'll try to go with 5:

STUDS
Josh Jacobs - I believe he is the best mixture of explosion, wiggle, elusiveness, burst and power we've had since Ahman Green...and truly seems even better.
Tucker Kraft - He is here folks, he is legit producing like a Top5 TE in the entire league and truly can be our #2 receiving threat most years and #1 for many games.
Xavier McKinney - He is the heart and leader of this defense IMO. Gary's not it and I don't see it becoming anyone else while X is here.
Edgerrin Cooper - He is everything folks hoped Quay would be, and truthfully I think increased Quay's play as well.
Evan Williams - This young man is SPECIAL and in many ways is more impressive than Cooper was this year.

DUDS
Kenny Clark - I am by no means happy to put KC here, but it's deserving. Now I fully admit he was tasked with different style of defense this year and at times he did it perfectly - but the times he would get one on one snaps, his success rate is dropping and I think we are starting to see him wane some. I hope I'm wrong and from people close to the organization have said he wasn't always fully healthy this year and is not at all happy with how he performed this year. Hoping that triggers a recharged off season.
LVN - Being listed here is for this season, not the player overall. Many are starting to use the Bust word, but I won't say that just yet given how insanely young he still is and the progression I saw this year in him. Next year is going to be the year his career starts really happening or ends IMO.
Nixon - He is always more worried about making the big play instead of the smart play...and he's got a loose head (too emotional) like Quay far too often. With the new kickoff rule his value in GB was slashed in half or more...he isn't the answer at slot or outside corner.
Wicks - Only because of his drops. This young man is legit nasty in route running...if he can get back to that alpha dog mindset without the stress or pressure he clearly places upon himself he still might become one of our best.
Narveson - The damage his presence did early in the season was massive.

*I refused to hold injuries against guys so the likes of Musgrave, Jaire and others didn't deserve IMO to be on either list.

 

[rmontro]

If that is the case let it happen and we can go from there. If Hafley is sought out more power to him.

More power to him, but my only concern is the Packers, and that the defense is in good hands. Is Robert Saleh still hanging around?

 

[Sanguine camper]

Studs
Tom, Kraft, Reed, Jacobs,

I normally try to stick to 3 each, since season long I'll try to go with 5:

STUDS
Josh Jacobs - I believe he is the best mixture of explosion, wiggle, elusiveness, burst and power we've had since Ahman Green...and truly seems even better.
Tucker Kraft - He is here folks, he is legit producing like a Top5 TE in the entire league and truly can be our #2 receiving threat most years and #1 for many games.
Xavier McKinney - He is the heart and leader of this defense IMO. Gary's not it and I don't see it becoming anyone else while X is here.
Edgerrin Cooper - He is everything folks hoped Quay would be, and truthfully I think increased Quay's play as well.
Evan Williams - This young man is SPECIAL and in many ways is more impressive than Cooper was this year.

DUDS
Kenny Clark - I am by no means happy to put KC here, but it's deserving. Now I fully admit he was tasked with different style of defense this year and at times he did it perfectly - but the times he would get one on one snaps, his success rate is dropping and I think we are starting to see him wane some. I hope I'm wrong and from people close to the organization have said he wasn't always fully healthy this year and is not at all happy with how he performed this year. Hoping that triggers a recharged off season.
LVN - Being listed here is for this season, not the player overall. Many are starting to use the Bust word, but I won't say that just yet given how insanely young he still is and the progression I saw this year in him. Next year is going to be the year his career starts really happening or ends IMO.
Nixon - He is always more worried about making the big play instead of the smart play...and he's got a loose head (too emotional) like Quay far too often. With the new kickoff rule his value in GB was slashed in half or more...he isn't the answer at slot or outside corner.
Wicks - Only because of his drops. This young man is legit nasty in route running...if he can get back to that alpha dog mindset without the stress or pressure he clearly places upon himself he still might become one of our best.
Narveson - The damage his presence did early in the season was massive.

*I refused to hold injuries against guys so the likes of Musgrave, Jaire and others didn't deserve IMO to be on either list.

I think your list is accurate but leaves out a few players on either side.
Stud
Zach Tom- He played very well nearly every week and was often their highest graded lineman.
Dud-
Love- He regressed from last season and was especially mediocre in the biggest games. Other than the Cardinal game, I didn't think he played at an elite level. Big disappointment for a 50 million dollar player. I wouldn't say he's doomed for failure but I would think Lombardi Ave is alarmed to say the least over his performance.
Gary- He plays like a decent starter but that's not what you expect from a guy making his big bucks and the 12th pick in the draft.

 

[tynimiller]

More power to him, but my only concern is the Packers, and that the defense is in good hands. Is Robert Saleh still hanging around?

I would love to see Saleh brought in as assistant head coach...take some off of MLF plate and let him focus a lot more on playcalling. I love MLF as a HC and as a playcaller...but essentially being both is not working IMO.