Football Outsiders: Packers at No. 8 In Week 3 Standings

by Brandon on Sep 27, 2011 6:01 PM CDT in Green Bay Packers Analysis

There isn't anything specifically written about the 3-0 Green Bay Packers in the Week 3 DVOA rankings at Football Outsiders, but they are ranked at No. 8 overall. That's the worst of the three 3-0 teams, and behind the Titans, Ravens, Patriots, Giants, and Jets at 2-1.

What's holding the Packers back is there previously excellent pass defense, but it's been trending positive (currently No. 22 overall) after ranking near the bottom after Drew Brees shreded them in Week 1.

Unsurprisingly the offense is ranked near the top at No. 4 overall, and surprisingly their special teams is ranked a respectable No. 18 overall. WR Randall Cobb and his kick return for a touchdown is the big boost to their special teams ranking.

The main thing holding the special teams back is P Tim Masthay. According to NFL.com, he currently ranks last with a net average of 27.8. His average punt isn't much better at 39.6. He's only punted 13 times this season, so we may just be looking at a small sample. He'll be someone to keep an eye on over the next couple games.

Tweet Comment 14 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Not sure what happened to Timmy over the off season, he did great towards the end of the season and post season, hope he picks it up soon

by Packers-Braves fan on Sep 27, 2011 6:16 PM CDT reply actions

Outlier

Only 13 punts (we score on too many posessions – not seeing that as a problem), one returned for TD (Sproles)…. pull that out, bet it looks pretty good

by The Delivery Guy on Sep 27, 2011 10:18 PM CDT up reply actions

Didn't look at this and wound up repeating it down the thread

Great minds . . .

"IF CARDS CAN SIGN SUPPAN THEY CAN GIVE ME A HOME"

by Buddhasillegitimatechild38 on Sep 28, 2011 8:06 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions

Weird thing about punters

Having one in a fantasy league has been frustrating. The problem is that short-field punts hurt the average, even though not punting into the endzone (and thus getting a larger gross) is the right thing to do.

I’m not panicking over Mathsay, yet.

by GinSlinger on Sep 27, 2011 6:44 PM CDT reply actions

Few small grammar issues...

there previously excellent pass defense, but it’s been trending positive (currently No. 22 overall) after ranking near the bottom after Drew Brees shreded them in Week 1.

“Their” and “shredded”.

Yes, I am an English major…

Author at Acme Packing Company, a Green Bay Packers blog, and Editor at BT Powerhouse, a Big Ten Basketball blog
#FireCraigJames
Follow @GSchofield50

by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Sep 27, 2011 6:49 PM CDT reply actions

Rankings

Rankings mean dick in professional football! We have a regular season, if you win and your winning percentage is higher than another team, at the end of the season, you go too the playoffs. There you won’t play just one game and get named “National Champion”. You will play 2 or 3 games(and will have to win) to become champion of your conference. You will then have to play the champion of the other conference. Then, if you win all of those games, you will be Champion of the World. Superbowl Champions! So, like I said, Rankings in the NFL mean DICK!!

Coach Lombardi gave a speech to his players. "Gentlemen, when we play this game we shall strive for perfection. We won’t achieve it, because no man can, but in striving for perfection we shall achieve excellence. Excellence wins football games. The Packers will achieve that excellence again and repeat as Superbowl Champions!

by biggun33 on Sep 28, 2011 6:49 AM CDT reply actions

The Packers will achieve that excellence again and repeat as Superbowl Champions!

And this prediction is kinda like a ranking…..which means “DICK”. They haven’t played the games yet. We’ll see.

They’ve showed “enough to win” but certainly not “excellence” to this point.

In Every Climb and Place....

by PhoenicianPakFan on Sep 28, 2011 6:55 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

This

"IF CARDS CAN SIGN SUPPAN THEY CAN GIVE ME A HOME"

by Buddhasillegitimatechild38 on Sep 28, 2011 8:07 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions

Rec'd.

And, biggun33, for the actual Lombatdi quote, see my sig. :)

"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 Sep 30, 2011 1:22 AM CDT up reply actions

Wow.

*Lombardi < red-faced >

"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 Sep 30, 2011 1:23 AM CDT up reply actions

"The main thing holding the special teams back is P Tim Masthay"

If you would have told me before the season that this would be true I would shit a brick, clean up my brick, them discount everything you say. It’s very surprising. Although I’m sure most of it is the one Sproles TD and a small sample size. Masthay can do everything he can as a punter but Slocum still coaches the coverage unit

"IF CARDS CAN SIGN SUPPAN THEY CAN GIVE ME A HOME"

by Buddhasillegitimatechild38 on Sep 28, 2011 8:04 AM CDT via mobile reply actions 1 recs

You are spot on about Slocum

Slocum continues to be a weak link in the coaching chain. As far as Masthay’s statistics, I’d like to see them related to field position. Rather than simple yardage, percent of remaining field covered on the punt without return would be more appropriate. For example, if he punts 45 yards consistently from midfield, and the opposing team runs back 15 yards (thanks to Slocum’s brilliant coverage schemes), that is what you would like to see from him – he’s putting the ball where they ought to be able to pin them behind the 20.

by pdogville on Sep 28, 2011 10:12 AM CDT up reply actions

That stat on Masthay is astonishing...

…I’ve watched (on TV) the Pack play the Saints and Bears, and the 4th quarter against the Panthers, and I had no idea his punting average was that low. I agree that the sample size must be a major consideration when looking at his performance. I guess it’s hard to notice the punting when you’re doing it rather infrequently. ;-)

BTW, anyone else here as shocked as I was to read that stat?

by HailVarsity on Sep 28, 2011 9:54 AM CDT reply actions