Who's The Unsung Player Of The Year Through The First Eight Games?

by Brandon on Nov 10, 2011 4:01 PM CST

I'll take this opportunity to write about a few Green Bay Packers who have been playing well this season, but I haven't often written about them. Which one of these players is playing the best this season?

LB Desmond Bishop. On a defense with LB Clay Matthews and a ball hawking secondary, Bishop might be quietly the most productive player on the team. He leads the team with 76 tackles and 4 sacks on the season.

LG T.J. Lang. He was the only offensive lineman who had to win his starting job in training camp, he won the battle over rookie Derek Sherrod, and after a couple of missed plays early in the season, he's settled down into his role as a reliable starter. With RG Josh Sitton struggling while he plays through a few nagging injuries, it's arguable that Lang's outperforming him this season.

FB John Kuhn. Obviously the running game isn't carrying the offensive load this season, but despite their lack of use and a modest 4.0 ypc this season, Football Outsiders has the run offense ranked No. 14 overall. And that good ranking is due in large part to Kuhn's performance as a lead blocker. Also, he's a very effective runner who usually scores a touchdown or runs for a first down in a short yardage situation. His carries are way down this season because Ryan Grant is back, but he's scored 3 touchdowns and should match last season's tally of 6. Not bad for a player who's on pace for only 32 touches (carries and receptions combined) this season.

RT Bryan Bulaga. He missed two games after suffering what looked like a season ending knee injury against the Bears. Then he returned against the Rams, and he's been solid the last three weeks.

Poll

Who's played the best through their first eight games?

Desmond Bishop

465 votes

T.J. Lang

117 votes

John Kuhn

73 votes

Bryan Bulaga

94 votes

749 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 22 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

While Desmond Bishop’s stats look good, he has had a down year in terms of pass coverage. That is a huge flaw in our D right now. Both Hawk and Bishop are struggling in coverage. My vote goes to Bryan Bulaga. I’ve been very impressed with his performances. I don’t cringe at the thought of him missing a block. He has been getting the job done both in run blocking and pass blocking.

My wife is gorgeous, but when she wears her pink Rodgers Jersey, she makes you fall to your knees...

by Jabooty on Nov 10, 2011 4:28 PM CST reply actions

Yep, that's the same reason I went with Bulaga > Bishop.

I already told you! I deal with the god damn receivers so the linebackers don’t have to! I have coverage skills; I’m good at covering people! Can’t you understand that? What the hell is wrong with you people?!

by msc32887 on Nov 10, 2011 4:43 PM CST up reply actions

Just curious...

How many ILB or MLB ARE good in coverage? I bet you can count them easily on one hand. There simply aren’t any that are good… Its almost a contradiction to have one that is. A good/great ILB or MLB has to be able to stop the run frst and foremost. Finding one that can play anything more than ordinary in pass D is asking alot! Certainly can’t expect an ILB/MLB to be able to cover a TE in man coverage! At most they might be decent in zone… Expecting any of them to be good or better in coverage should mean they were a high 1st round pick. Thinking Urlacher, McClain and Willis might be among the best w/o actually finding any info on it! Expecting a guy that was a 5th round pick to be that good an all around ILB is asking WAY too much!!

You've been Stroh'd™!!!

by Strohman on Nov 10, 2011 9:59 PM CST up reply actions

There are a lot of ILB’s that are playing better in coverage than our ILB’s. That’s the point. If the OLB’s are expected to be pass rushers (which they are in the 3-4), the ILB’s are expected to cover. This is one reason why Green Bay is one of the worst teams in the league in covering TE’s and RB’s. Yes, they have to stop the run, and that is their priority. However, that doesn’t mean their job isn’t to cover TE’s and RB’s, which seems to be what you are implying. Our ILB’s have significantly underperformed in pass coverage. That doesn’t mean they are having a bad year overall, I’m just speaking of one specific area. I think they’ve done a good job in run stopping so far. The ILB’s have to be able to cover TE’s along with the Safety. You can’t always dedicate a Safety on a TE though or you’re going to get beat a lot elsewhere by the receivers. They have to be able to share that role to disguise their coverage.

My wife is gorgeous, but when she wears her pink Rodgers Jersey, she makes you fall to your knees...

by Jabooty on Nov 10, 2011 10:54 PM CST up reply actions

The ILB’s have to be able to cover TE’s .

Sorry but its should not be an ILB, let me say that again, an ILB, job to be able to cover a TE man to man! I just don’t know how you can honestly expect guys that are mostly run stoppers to be able to cover TE’s in man. I think the ILB should be able to play decent in zone, but not in man and certainly not against the TE that populate the NFL these days! Do you honestly expect or thing other teams ILB/MLB to be able to cover Finley, Gates, Davis, Whitten, et al? Why do you think that teams see Finley as such a threat? Its simply asking too much for an ILB to do that! I just don’t see that… Drop in zone or do it w/ alot of help from the safety maybe, but in man? I seriously doubt there are more than a couple ILB in the NFL that can do that!

You've been Stroh'd™!!!

by Strohman on Nov 11, 2011 8:09 AM CST up reply actions

ILB’s in the 3-4 are much like OLB’s in the 4-3. Like I said, they have to be able to disguise their coverage by sharing their coverage assignments with the Safety. Yes, guys like Finley and Gates are too much for LB’s like Bishop. However, the average TE’s can be covered by ILB’s. In addition, they have to be able to cover RB’s out of the backfield…which has ALSO been an issue this year. You are bringing up elite TE’s. I’m not complaining about our ILB’s inability to cover elite TE’s, I’m complaining about our complete inability to cover ANY TE and RB. I think you’re taking this a little out of context though. I’m not down on Bishop like he’s having a bad year. It’s one little flaw that can be worked on. Like I said before, they have to be able to share the role to disguise their coverage. Many times they will drop into zone. Most times the Safety or Charles Woodson will cover an elite TE. Sometimes they have to be able to cover the TE so the Safeties can cover the deep ball or direct more attention to another WR.

My wife is gorgeous, but when she wears her pink Rodgers Jersey, she makes you fall to your knees...

by Jabooty on Nov 11, 2011 11:48 AM CST up reply actions 2 recs

It’s about ours being worse than those on many other teams. Ever notice that RB’s and TE’s always seem to gouge us in the passing game?

I actually think Bishop is pretty good in coverage or at least average. Where we get hurt is with Hawk, imo. He’s not a good blitzer and below average in coverage imo. He’s just too slow. The dilemma seems to be what to do with him in passing situations?

Fire Slocum

by packallday555 on Nov 10, 2011 11:03 PM CST up reply actions

I swear, one of these days

we’re going to give up a 70-yard TD to a running back on a checkdown because one of the ILBs forgot their coverage assignment.

It’s irritating, yes, and hopefully things get fixed this weekend now that we have actual film on Ponder. What can also help is that the Packers are playing in front of the home crowd for the first time in a few weeks (@ Minnesota, BYE, and then @ San Diego).

Author at Acme Packing Company, a Green Bay Packers blog, and Editor at BT Powerhouse, a Big Ten Basketball blog
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by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Nov 10, 2011 11:33 PM CST up reply actions

I went Lang

I was going more with the title of the post (“Unsung player of the year”) instead of the poll question (“Who’s played the best?”). I don’t think Bishop is “unsung” any more, at least not among Packers fans, and a first-round tackle starting for his second year and playing well isn’t unsung.

Among the original starting O-line(as well as among the the four poll choices) , Lang was the only real question mark. And he has certainly exceeded my expectations.

Angelo: Right….so anyways Jay, I’m sure you understand that we needed to make this move and I wanna wish you the best of luck.

Cutler: (Swoops bangs out of eyes by throwing his head back) Whatever, I don’t need this team or you.
/Leaves in a huff
//Writes bad poetry on his blog

Grossman: What the fuck is Wilford Brimley’s problem?

by Packers3485 on Nov 10, 2011 4:49 PM CST reply actions 2 recs

Lang for me too

Although he wasn’t really much of a question mark for me, as I expected him to play well. (He played well at RT for most of a season, saving our bacon when Tausch went down (and Allen Barbre turned out to be Allen Barbre). The only time he’s ever struggled was when they threw him to the wolves, asking him to play against Jarred Allen totally unprepared at LT) He didn’t play much last year, and it’s assumed that he would not have played well, but, to me, that was more “coaches decision,” and I always thought they should’ve given him more of a chance to try and play through whatever he had going on. Bottom line, he’s played well in practically every opportunity he’s had, and there’s every reason to think that he’s going to be a legit cog in our O-line for years to come.

And, in any event, he’s been super-solid this year, so…

…plus it’s hard to vote for anybody playing on the 31st ranked defense, so…

Lang it is!

by Curly Lambeau on Nov 11, 2011 8:29 AM CST up reply actions

I voted Des

But that should hardly surprise regular Game Thread participants.

"Who ever heard of the Cubs losing a game they had to have?" -Frank Chance
"If [Ruth] had [called his shot], I would have knocked him down with the next pitch." -Charlie Root

by Clutch16 on Nov 10, 2011 6:01 PM CST reply actions

Lang

would be the surprise with me. I thought he would struggle and he has played very well. When Clifton comes back our o-line will be very solid.

by PacerBacker on Nov 10, 2011 6:59 PM CST reply actions

Clifton back?

I HIGHLY doubt it!! Even IF, big huge IF, he can come back he will probably sit behind Newhouse. Not that I think Newhouse is much more than good right now, but Clifton’s career in GB is finished. WHat good comes from giving the job back to Clifton? Unless Newhouse falls apart, your much better off letting Newhouse continue to play and get better than to let Clifton play again! Learning and development will do far more for Newhouse than any minor improvement from Clifton MIGHT provide!

You've been Stroh'd™!!!

by Strohman on Nov 10, 2011 10:04 PM CST up reply actions

Can I get a "Charlie Peprah"???

He has come in to replace Nick Collins, a Pro-Bowler, and has 4 picks already this year. He hasn’t been fantastic, but he’s been pretty solid as a replacement

by rip_city_swagger on Nov 10, 2011 8:06 PM CST reply actions

He has also given up several TD's

Not saying I’m really down on him, because he at least is grabbing interceptions to cover his mistakes, but that doesn’t earn him this ‘pretend’ award.

My wife is gorgeous, but when she wears her pink Rodgers Jersey, she makes you fall to your knees...

by Jabooty on Nov 10, 2011 10:57 PM CST up reply actions

I think our fans are putting WAY too much emphasis on INTs and not enough on solid football. WE are getting beat up on D because we aren’t covering well, I don’t care about the INTs, I want solid fundamentals.

The Green Bay Packers...Putting bad coaches out of their misery since 2010

by TrevorR on Nov 11, 2011 9:39 AM CST up reply actions

"Mr. Reliable" for the Pack?? Scotty Wells--Hand down--To small to Play--RIGHT!!!

by Buddyruff on Nov 11, 2011 10:44 AM CST reply actions

Combo of

Brett Goode and holder Tim Masthay.

"Perfection is not attainable,
but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence."

"It's a great day to be great, baby!"

Skol is a four-letter word.

The Munsters of the Midway still suck!

by NorthStarr on Nov 11, 2011 9:12 PM CST reply actions

Mason Crosby is sung.

The two guys I mentioned are unsung.

"Perfection is not attainable,
but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence."

"It's a great day to be great, baby!"

Skol is a four-letter word.

The Munsters of the Midway still suck!

by NorthStarr on Nov 11, 2011 9:15 PM CST reply actions

MARSHALL NEWHOUSE!!!

The guy no one is talking about is newhouse and if your a young left tackle that is a really good thing. When a guy like Clifton goes down and its not a story every week that is a huge deal. He not gunna make the pro bowl but he has played solid. newhouse gets my vote

by willy80 on Nov 12, 2011 12:05 PM CST reply actions

gotta agree

Was gonna post Newhouse too. You beat me to the punch

I love wins. Wins are good for the soul.- Barry Alvarez Sep 25, 2005

We expect to win.- Ted Thompson July 28, 2011

by White92 on Nov 12, 2011 12:15 PM CST via iPhone app up reply actions

Newhouse

Newhouse does deserve recognition. He went in earlier than most of us would’ve preferred, but he is playing well. No, he’s not playing like a Pro Bowler, but you can’t expect a young player like Newhouse to do that. Newhouse is playing at a high enough level where our offense isn’t missing a beat. Not only that, but he’s doing it without help. As you mentioned, he’s young, so he’ll only continue to improve. Newhouse is very much worthy of being an unsung player of the first 8 games.

My wife is gorgeous, but when she wears her pink Rodgers Jersey, she makes you fall to your knees...

by Jabooty on Nov 13, 2011 5:13 AM CST up reply actions