Grading the Packers offense: Aaron Rodgers finds winning touch
Quarterbacks
Aaron Rodgers: Went from a stat-sheet filler in 2008 to a bona fide winner in 2009. Threw for 4,434 yards (second most in team history, and fourth in the NFL in 2009) and became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for 4,000 yards in each of his first two seasons as a starter. Reduced his interception total from 13 to 7, matching Minnesotas Brett Favre for the league low among those who started all 16 games. Increased touchdown total from 28 to 30 and completed 64.7 percent of his passes, an increase of 1.1 percent over last season. Quarterback rating of 103.3 was fourth in the NFL behind New Orleans Drew Brees (109.6), Favre (107.2) and San Diegos Philip Rivers (104.4). Was selected to his first Pro Bowl. Overcame an uncharacteristic interception on the first play of the NFC wild-game loss at Arizona to throw for 422 yards and four touchdowns, but lost the game when he fumbled in overtime. Holding onto the ball too long was Rodgers only significant problem. Of his 50 sacks, 14 were probably his responsibility, although STATS LLC doesnt assign sack responsibilities to quarterbacks.
Grade: A-minus
Matt Flynn: Beat out Brian Brohm for the second straight season and showed significant improvement with his command of the offense, but theres still much that isnt known about the former seventh-round pick from LSU. Missed half the preseason with a bruised right shoulder. In limited exhibition action, completed 6 of 8 passes for 63 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions. Got some valuable experience late in the season in blowout wins over Seattle and Arizona. A bad decision turned into an interception against the Cardinals. Also mishandled a snap on a missed field goal and then was replaced as the holder late in the season.
Grade: Incomplete
Running Backs
Ryan Grant: Finished third in the NFC and seventh in the NFL with 1,253 yards. His 4.4-yard average was a significant improvement from 2008 (3.9 yard average). Had the same rushing average as the top-two NFC backs, St. Louis Steven Jackson and Minnesotas Adrian Peterson. Had 11 rushing touchdowns, which was seven more than in 2008. Lost only one fumble (Week 2 vs. Cincinnati). Broke more tackles in the second half of the season and ran with better vision, but still doesnt get enough yards on his own and is no better than an average receiver out of the backfield despite catching 25 passes for a 7.9-yard average.
Grade: B-minus
Brandon Jackson: Excelled in blitz pickup to the point of being dominant and was a far better receiver, especially in the screen game, than Grant. Averaged 8.9 yards per catch on 21 receptions. Averaged just 3.0 yards per carry on 37 attempts and at this point doesnt look like anything more than a third-down back, albeit a good one.
Grade: C
Ahman Green: Played in eight games after being re-signed off the street on Oct. 21, but predictably the 32-year old got hurt and missed two games because of a groin injury. Rushed for 160 yards on 41 carries (3.9 average), mostly as the short-yardage back and in the process became the franchises career rushing leader. Offered strong midseason leadership when the season was on the brink of disaster but probably doesnt have enough left in the tank to bring back for another year.
Grade: D-plus
John Kuhn: The most versatile of the three fullbacks. Scored three touchdowns (two receiving, one rushing) and was solid on special teams. Missed two games and was limited in a couple others by a broken hand.
Grade: C
Korey Hall: Not as powerful as Kuhn but perhaps a tad more athletic but for the second straight season was limited because of injuries. After missing five games because of a knee injury in 2008, was limited to just 10 games in 09 because of calf and elbow injuries. Was one of the top core special-teamers when healthy.
Grade: C-minus
Quinn Johnson: Rookie fifth-round pick played in nine games and showed the kind of power the Packers liked in him at LSU but was too raw to be the kind of contributor that Kuhn or Hall were.
Grade: D-plus.
DeShawn Wynn
Played in four games as the third-down back but wound up on injured reserve (knee) for the second time in three years. Talented back but cant stay healthy and would seem to be about out of chances.
Grade: Incomplete
Receivers
Greg Jennings: Average of 16.4 yards per catch was a slight increase over last season (16.2) but caught 12 fewer passes (68) for 1,113 yards. Those numbers were 11th and sixth, respectively, among NFC receivers. Was targeted a team-high 118 times, which was 22 fewer than last season, and reduced his drops from eight (5.7 percent) last season to five (4.2 percent) this season. After supplanting Driver as the Packers top receiver in 2008, received extra attention from defensive coordinators in 2009. Touchdown catches dropped to four from nine in 2008 and 12 in 2007. Still was the best playmaker among receivers.
Grade: B
Donald Driver: Regained the team lead in receptions (70) and posted his sixth straight 1,000-yard season (1,061) and seventh overall in his career. Six touchdowns were the most since 2006 (eight). Average of 15.2 yards was highest since the same mark in 2002. No doubt benefited from the attention Jennings received and was thrown to 112 times. Had seven drops, which increased his drop percentage slightly (6.3 percent this season, 5.2 percent last season). Fumble in the wild-card loss to Arizona was a major gaffe. About to turn 35 years old, still showed no signs of letting age slow him down.
Grade: B-minus
James Jones: Played in every game and for the most part was the No. 3 receiver. Posted a career high with five touchdowns but had a major problem with drops. After dropping just one pass in 2008, he had six (9.5 percent) this season. Was third among receivers with 32 catches and had a 13.8-yard average but still hasnt matched his rookie season numbers (47 catches, 676 yards, 14.4 yard average).
Grade: C-minus
Jordy Nelson: A better deep threat than Jones because he has better straight-line speed and averaged 14.5 yards but had just 22 catches (two touchdowns). Missed three games in the middle of the season because of a knee injury. Had the highest drop percentage (9.7) among the receivers and tight ends. His straight-line speed didnt work well on kickoff returns, where he had an OK average (25.4) but no home-run ability.
Grade: D-plus
Patrick Williams
Promoted from the practice squad on Dec. 15 but was never active. Was the most talented of all the undrafted free agent receivers signed last offseason and has a chance to develop.
Grade: I
Brett Swain
Won a roster spot for the first time after a strong training camp. Made the team instead of veteran Ruvell Martin because of his special teams ability and played in the first six games, primarily on special teams, before blowing out his knee covering a kickoff on Oct. 25.
Grade: I
Tight Ends
Jermichael Finley: Became one of Rodgers go-to targets, especially late in the season after returning from the knee injury that cost him three games. After a disappointing rookie season (six catches, 74 yards), made a huge jump in year two with 55 catches for 676 yards (a 12.3 average) and five touchdowns. Size, speed, athleticism and great hands made him a matchup nightmare for corners, safeties or linebackers. Set a team playoff record with 159 yards receiving in the wild-card loss at Arizona. A budding Pro Bowler who needs to improve blocking so that he can play more in the base defense, which will create more mismatches against linebackers. Dropped only two of 71 passes thrown his way to easily post the lowest drop percentage (2.8) of all the regular receivers and tight ends.
Grade: B
Donald Lee: Dependable, durable and a better blocker than Finley but became an afterthought in the passing game. Caught just 37 passes his fewest in three seasons and averaged a career-low 7.0 yards per catch. Reduced his drop percentage slightly, from 8.0 last season to 7.3 (four drops in 55 times targeted).
Grade: C-minus
Spencer Havner: Converted linebacker excelled as the No. 3 tight end and was a reliable target in the red zone. Was only targeted 10 times but didnt have a drop and caught seven passes, four of which were touchdowns. Athletic limitations showed when he had to play more in the three games Finley missed. Among the top three special teams performers, finishing third with 20 tackles.
Grade: C-minus
Offensive Line
Chad Clifton, LT: Began the season feeling good after four offseason surgeries (both knees and shoulders) but played his fewest games (12) since the 2002 season when he was hit by Warren Sapp. Sprained ankle in Week 2 began the string of injuries. Missed four of the next five games and didnt finish two others because of a hamstring injury. Pass protection was mostly solid, allowing 3 sacks. The worst run blocker and was charged with five negative runs. Also has a team-high 10 penalties. An unrestricted free agent this offseason that has a chance to be re-signed if only because the future left tackle isnt on the roster.
Grade: C-minus
Daryn Colledge, LG: Yielded a team-high 8 sacks and a team-high 6 negative runs but some of those came when he was filling in for Clifton, an experiment that ended after the Vikings Jared Allen abused him in the Metrodome. Took him a while to readjust to left guard. Had only three regular-season penalties (including only one hold) but had a costly holding penalty in overtime in the playoff loss. A restricted free agent this offseason, its not a given he will return and if he does, he might not have a starting job.
Grade: D-plus
Scott Wells, C: Lost his starting job to Jason Spitz in training camp but started the final 14 games plus the playoff game and had the best season of his six-year NFL career. Yielded four sacks, which was one-half more than last season, but he played in two more games this year. Was charged with six negative runs and four penalties (all holds). Excelled at making line calls and adjustments.
Grade: B-minus
Josh Sitton, RG: First-year starter was the most consistent of the group. Started all 16 games and allowed four sacks and 4 negative runs. The best run blocker of the group. Looks like a solid starter for years to come. Had four penalties (two holds, two false starts).
Grade: B-minus
Mark Tauscher, RT: Signed off the street on Oct. 12 after completing the rehab from his torn ACL in 2008 and started the final eight games plus the playoffs. Helped stabilize the pass protection unit, which gave up only 14 of its 51 sacks after Tauscher entered the lineup. Allowed just two sacks and 1 negative runs in his half season. Committed three penalties (one hold, two false starts) and played well enough to consider bringing him back for another year.
Grade: C-plus
Allen Barbre, T: Opened the season as the starting right tackle but couldnt block a tackling dummy. Gave up seven sacks and one negative run in just 10 appearances (seven starts), and by the end of the season he was inactive. In two years, has lost a starting guard job in training camp and a starting tackle spot less than halfway through the season. Committed three penalties (one false start, two holds).
Grade: F
T.J. Lang, T: Rookie fourth-round pick looks like a future starter after playing in all 16 games (including two starts at left tackle and one at right tackle). Still to be determined is his best spot but probably could play both tackles and both guard spots. Allowed 5 sacks and 1 negative runs and committed three penalties (one hold, two false starts).
Grade: C
Evan Dietrich-Smith, C/G: Made the team as a rookie free agent and played in 13 regular-season games plus the playoffs, mostly on special teams. A tough mauler, got a lot of snaps in practice because of injuries on the line and looks like a potential starting center some day.
Grade: I
Breno Giacomini, T: Lost the starting right tackle job to Barbre in camp and for the second straight season was active for only one game. After a two-year free pass will have to show he can play in camp next summer.
Grade: I
Jason Spitz, C: Beat out Wells for a starting spot in training camp in part because they wanted a bigger body in the middle but struggled, giving up two sacks and negative run in four starts before a back injury ended his season. Could be a candidate to move back to guard next season if Wells remains the center.
Grade: I