Packers Stock Report Week 5: Stars from Sunday's Win in Big D

Here is the week 5 Packers Stock Report

The Packers are one of the surprise teams in the NFL this season as they go into week 6 sporting a 4-1 record following their stellar performance in Dallas on Sunday.  Pettine's defense found a way to contain Dallas's high powered ground attack and create turnovers that stalled promising drives and shifted the momentum in the game.  The offensive line did a good job controlling the point of attack allowing Aaron Jones to have a career day and help the offense control the tempo of the game.  With their 4-1 start to the season, the Packers have given themselves a very realistic path towards the playoffs as they would only need to go 6-5 to reach the 10 win mark.  

Here are the players whose stock I am buying after their week 5 performance:

1. Aaron Jones:

He kind of foreshadowed his performance in big D when he said that he always feels at home when playing in Dallas.  With 182 yards from scrimmage and 4 touchdowns, Jones really did receive some tremendous home cooking.  His performance single-handedly was the difference in the game.  Cheers to Aaron (Jones) for a career performance on America's Game of the Week.

2. Brian Bulaga:

After facing Khalil Mack, Danielle Hunter, Von Miller, Brandon Graham, and Demarcus Lawrence, Brian Bulaga has still not given up a sack (Bill Huber-Sports Illustrated). I actually felt most confident with Jones running through the sealed holes that Brian Bulaga and Billy Turner created early in the contest.  Bulaga has stood up to every challenge thus far and has proved that there is still a lot left in the tank.

3. The Law Firm of Smith INC.

The Law Firm of Smith INC continued to lay the smackdown on Sunday, accounting for 3 sacks against Dak Prescott.  The Smiths found a way to collapse the pocket, rush throws, and complete sacks which helped change the momentum of the game during crucial points.

4. Kevin King:

Kevin King really stepped up and managed to make a game-changing interception to seal the win for the Packers despite playing through injury.  I have to admit that when King was downgraded to doubtful, I sent the following text out to my friends: "Death, taxes and another Kevin King injury".  This time, King proved his doubters (me) wrong and played a huge role in Sunday's win.  In my opinion, it was a huge deal for King to battle through injury and perform at a high level.

 

Players I'm Trending Down On:

1. The Packers Young Receivers:

Aaron Jones and Jimmy Graham bailed out the young receiving core with a combined 10 receptions for 116 yards which accounted for almost half of the receptions and receiving yards in Sunday's win.  This young group definitely has talent but lacks consistency.  The Packers will be looking for their receivers not named Davante Adams to step up their games and provide some much-needed consistency over the next month.

             

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David Michalski is a staff writer for Cheesehead TV. He can be found on Twitter @kilbas27dave 

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5 points
 

Comments (16)

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

October 09, 2019 at 11:41 am

The firm of Smith, Smith & Smith is becoming prestigious, indeed. Coach Smith is the senior partner.

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NickPerry's picture

October 10, 2019 at 05:08 am

Thanks for mentioning Coach Smith. I think Smith has done a fantastic job and to be honest an looking forward to what he can do with Gary.

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Slim11's picture

October 09, 2019 at 11:55 am

In a couple of other threads, I've questioned who would seize the opportunity before them. Make no mistake...Adams' absence is an opportunity. Spreading the ball around is great, but which of the four...Allison, Kumerow, Shepard and Lazard...will make the best of their current situations? I omit MVS purposely. He's going to get the opposition's #1 CB more often than not until Adams can return.

I disagree with the observation "Aaron Jones and Jimmy Graham bailed out the young receiving (corps)..." IMO, it was Aaron Jones and the TE group who bailed the WR group out.

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Hawg Hanner's picture

October 09, 2019 at 08:24 pm

EQ's being on IR really hurts. He was #2 under Adams. I am afraid the other guys are well just guys, including Geronimo. We nee more talent there, that is for certain. Kumerow looks to be the next version of Jeff Janis.

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GBPDAN1's picture

October 09, 2019 at 12:11 pm

I rewatched the Packers Cowgirls game 3 times so far. Basking in the glory of another win over the hated Cowpies is exhilarating !

4 points
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Bearmeat's picture

October 09, 2019 at 12:27 pm

The young receivers need reps, but there is no guarantee one of them is going to pop. Adams is a 2nd rounder. After him it's a 5th for MVS and all-undrafted WRs... There was promise. There still is. But it's more than possible that none of them are NFL starting caliber players.

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Matt Gonzales's picture

October 09, 2019 at 03:47 pm

I don't see draft position as a great indicator of success - the draft is all crystal ball business, and there are probably as many 1st round busts as there are UDFA success stories in any given year.

Having said that, no receiver is showing yet that they can be that reliable #2, which spells trouble when there's no #1. I think GB can game plan around this most weeks, but at some point, as MM had been saying for years, guys just have to go out there and find a way to win their matchups. The more the Packers play, the more defenses have on tape to prep for, and there will come a point this season where defenses are going to know ARs tendencies and MLFs play designs well enough to anticipate where the ball is actually going. Adams has a lot of good things he does with his stutter steps, head fakes, etc. to be able to throw off coverage (in addition to just being a physical beast). None of the other guys have shown the confidence in the offense yet to start using their toolbox to get that extra half second.

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FAN24583's picture

October 09, 2019 at 03:06 pm

Go get a WR2 Gutekunst. Get er done or we’re not going to win a playoff game

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Swisch's picture

October 09, 2019 at 03:28 pm

Still hopeful that a couple or more of our receivers not named Davante will step up into stellar starters -- beginning with some big strides this season.
I'm so happy that it appeared our great quarterback was willing to take the little pass plays for big gains, even if it was mostly to running backs and tight ends.
As I remember, Rodgers had a slick sidearm completion, a lefty completion, and a push-pass completion as part of his creative craftsmanship in this game.
I'm confident the longer strikes downfield will come in good time, as early as this Monday night against Detroit.
One thing I wonder about our offense is whether we run enough crossing routes for our receivers. It seems so difficult to cover speedsters running sideways for long distances -- and if we add crossing routes all the better, because the natural confusion seems to get guys open without even needing to try any picks.
As I recall, Allison had a nice long catch against the Cowboys crossing the field.
Let's really practice a few plays this week that have our new receivers as primary targets, so the routes are precise and the timing is perfect. At least one play for Vitale as well (and not just because he is from both my high school and college, as I was excited to learn of late, albeit some thirty years apart).
To Aaron Rodgers, please patiently keep up the masterful mix of plays, the top leadership, and the sterling execution -- and I think that the deep game will, paradoxically, be even more effective.

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Matt Gonzales's picture

October 09, 2019 at 05:15 pm

Nothing paradoxical about it, but it all comes down to running the ball. The best way to get your receivers open is to successfully and consistently run the ball. If GB can force teams to go heavy up front, it's going to leave all sorts of open space for WRs. Make them stack the box, and then make them pay for it. The screen game is more about the pass rush, but forcing defenders to account for it helps buy some extra time for the QB to find their guy in coverage or possibly open up a big deep route over the top (you can only out a safety on one guy if you can force the other one to stay close to watch for the screen or swing).

The short pass, death by a thousand paper cuts type attack is effective, but that is just taking what the defense gives you. At some point, you have to be able to force defenses into the look you want - this is the conundrum the Packers have faced for years. Defenses were content playing tight man coverage and trusting their base front to stop the run.

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Lphill's picture

October 09, 2019 at 04:16 pm

I think if Davante Adams is still out Monday and no other receiver comes up big then I believe there will be a trade made sooner rather than later.

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Lare's picture

October 09, 2019 at 04:27 pm

I was really optimistic about the Packers backup WRs before the season, but I think that we're seeing pretty much what they're ever going to be- Inconsistent and generally covered pretty easily by opposing DBs. Watching players like Amari Cooper having great games has made me wish the Packers had another really good WR besides Adams.

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Since'61's picture

October 09, 2019 at 05:00 pm

The interesting thing is that with D. Adams out the opposing defense doesn’t really have a point of focus against our offense. When Adams plays opposing DCs know to try to take Adams away from AR with double or even triple coverage. With Adams out the defense doesn’t know where Rodgers is going to go with the football.

The question is how does MLF turn this into an advantage when Davante returns? The run game the Packers displayed against Dallas should help our play action going forward especially if the Packers can keep the run game going consistently in upcoming games. As for our receivers it looks like MVS and our TEs are our other best options after Davante. Unless someone else steps up.

I think Tra Carson is a good stock pick for this week. We’ll see.
Thanks, Since ‘61

4 points
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pacman's picture

October 09, 2019 at 08:55 pm

Repeating - it is not all MVS' fault. AR has underthrown him a bunch of times. He would be the next superstar if AR could adjust for his speed.

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croatpackfan's picture

October 10, 2019 at 07:23 am

All of you that calling for trade or signing "WR2" do not forget that any player who will come to Packers will need to gain trust from Aaron Rodgers. You'll have star receiver and he will not get the ball, because first he has to understand how Aaron are thinking and what and how Aaron sees the field...

Jimmy Graham is the best example and Aaron is more than willing to throw the ball to him but how that looks?

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PatrickGB's picture

October 11, 2019 at 12:44 pm

Not just trust from Rodgers, but a new WR will need to learn the whole offense. Right now the whole team is still learning a new offense and they have yet to master it.

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