2021 Packers Stock Report: Week 15
Take a look at the stock report for the Green Bay Packers after a 31-30 road win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday in Week 15.
By GunnarDavis
The Green Bay Packers' stranglehold on the No. 1 seed in the NFC just got even tighter.
But the win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday didn't come easy.
Still, the Packers managed to earn a victory, while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Arizona Cardinals took a loss. A win is a win in the National Football League, and those are hard to come by.
So let's take a moment and celebrate the little things, like a 1-point win, and the big things, like a third-straight NFC North division title, and dive right into the stock report for the Green Bay Packers after a 31-30 road win over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 15.
Buy
Aaron Rodgers- You could legitimately make a case that Aaron Rodgers should be on the 'buy' list every week and I wouldn't disagree with you. At this point, his greatness is just a given. After one bad game to start the season, Rodgers has been lights out. Don't look now, but there's a serious chance he could win the MVP award again this season. Even though it's already high, buy his stock now, because it could still rise. Especially if, and when, he breaks Brett Favre's touchdown record (442) on Christmas day against the Browns.
Jon Runyan Jr.- Don't get me wrong, Jon Runyan Jr. has had his fair share of hiccups this season. In reality, he's actually played well, though, for the majority of the year. He was at his best on Sunday in the win over the Ravens. In his second year, Runyan didn't allow a sack on Sunday and had several key combo blocks that sprung nice run plays. He's one player you don't hear much about during the broadcasts, but that's not necessarily a bad thing at the offensive line position.
Marcedes Lewis- I love when Marcedes Lewis has the ball in his hands. Which is a hilarious thing to write down when you consider he's a 37-year old who runs like he has a sled dragging behind him. However, the 'Big Dog' has been stellar since Robert Tonyan went down with an ACL injury earlier in the year. He continues to be dominant in the run game, and he's actually fifth out of all active tight ends in forcing missed tackles (9), with only 21 catches on the season. Also, my wife thinks it's hilarious when I bark at the TV as loud as I can on Sundays whenever Lewis makes a catch. So, buy.
Sell
Steve Wirtel- Remember when the Packers switched long snappers in the middle of the year from Hunter Bradley to Steve Wirtel? At the time, it was a questionable move. Now, it's a full-on head-scratcher. Wirtel has struggled all season with ball-placement. On Sunday, it was more of the same. A couple of low punt snaps, along with a delay of game penalty, are not mistakes that should be made at this time of year.
Special teams mistakes- Speaking of mistakes that shouldn't be made at this time of year, how about the 2021 Green Bay Packers special teams? I've been selling the special teams for a couple weeks straight now, because the blunders have been hard to watch. I've officially entered into 'terrified-special-teams-is-going-to-cost-us-in-the-playoffs' territory. After nine mistakes against the Bears, special teams followed it up with five more on Sunday.
Hold
Darnell Savage- Darnell Savage played the roughest half of football in his young NFL career on Sunday. The normally-reliable Savage struggled against pro-bowler Mark Andrews in the first half, getting beat on a couple touchdown catches and a 43-yarder. I'm not selling Savage, however. Every player has a rough day, and the Packers will no-doubt need him heading forward. I wouldn't be shocked to see him make a big play in the playoffs that helps Green Bay win. Hold.
Joe Barry- Don't give up on Joe Barry's defense yet. The unit has played well up until the past couple weeks. Although it makes me nervous, I don't think it's a sell yet. The Packers will get Kenny Clark, Jaire Alexander and Za'Darius Smith back soon (hopefully), which will no doubt improve this defense. Barry has done an excellent job up until this point, given the injuries and offenses the Packers have had to play. It was just a bad day, and I think the unit will respond better in the coming weeks.
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Gunnar Davis is a lifelong Packers fan and a recent graduate of Simpson College, where he was a 3-year letterwinner on the offensive line and graduated with a degree in multimedia communications. You can follow him on Twitter at @Gunnar57Davis.
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Comments (17)
HawkPacker
December 22, 2021 at 12:15 pm
"Steve Wirtel- Remember when the Packers switched long snappers in the middle of the year from Hunter Bradley to Steve Wirtel? At the time, it was a questionable move. Now, it's a full-on head-scratcher. "
I don't agree with your observation GD. Yes I did see at least one snap to the punter but that has been about it. When Crosby was missing field goals a few games back, some blamed Wirtel, however his hiking the ball was spot on. The holder is the one that did not help Crosby by not having the seems towards the target. I do remember when Hunter Bradley was released as I did note a lot of hiking issues on the field goal team. His hikes were high and away from the holder. Not sure if this was the only reason GB got rid of him but his hiking was not that good.
Otherwise, very good article and I agree with your buys, holds and sells. Before even reading the article, I was wondering if you would have Rodgers as a buy and I also was thinking, he could/should be a buy almost weekly.
GunnarDavis
December 22, 2021 at 12:37 pm
Maybe my sell on Wirtel was a little early. I get what you're saying, it's just so rare to see a team switch snappers mid-season, so I assumed that Wirtel wouldn't make any mistakes. He has been OK so far, just didn't have the best fourth quarter on Sunday. Appreciate the comment HawkPacker!
Coldworld
December 22, 2021 at 02:59 pm
The change in long snapper has been a disaster. You were absolutely right to sell. A good long snapper has maybe a muffed snap a season. When one is being defended as one per game, the argument is already lost. Can Wirtel sort it out? Maybe, but we were better served before the change based on results so far.
HawkPacker
December 22, 2021 at 06:05 pm
Has anyone heard why Bradley was let go, other than the bad hikes that we all saw. Seems a bit absurd to just let him go at that point and not just bench him. I wonder if there were any other issues that we have not heard about.
PeteK
December 22, 2021 at 12:19 pm
I hope you're right about Z, but I don't have the same confidence as you. We got so desperate on ST, we had Jones return a kick.
Guam
December 22, 2021 at 01:04 pm
MLF said Z will not practice this week. It is looking increasingly likely that Z may not be back at all this season. Bahk and Alexander are practicing this week and hopefully will return before the playoffs. No word on Myers or Turner although as others have pointed out, the Packers did not place Turner on IR so there is reason for optimism with him.
GunnarDavis
December 22, 2021 at 12:39 pm
Also, forgot to post this in the original article -- Wishing everyone a Happy Holidays! Hope your Christmas Day is filled with love, joy and many Packers touchdowns. Go Pack Go!
splitpea1
December 22, 2021 at 12:49 pm
Liquidate: Special teams. This can't come soon enough, but wholesale changes are going to have to wait until the off-season. Gute is currently looking for help on the practice squads, but he should have started earlier.
Vacillate between hold and sell: Savage. He may be reliable most of the time, but his performance vs. the Ravens was terrible and he failed to come up with a big interception vs. the Chiefs that would have helped us out a lot. Hopefully he will bounce back in the weeks to come.
Hold: Barry. A little regression from the defense lately, but no need to panic. There are no more super-elusive QBs to deal with in the regular season, and if we see one in the playoffs, it's probably going to be at home. We'll have K. Clark back, too. The only concerns are those three-man rushes and soft coverage that we saw recently--got to resist those unholy urges, wherever they may come from.
Buy: #1 Seed in the NFC--I can smell it.
Lphill
December 22, 2021 at 01:14 pm
How to fix special teams now? Fire Drayton and replace with Chris Gizzi he's right there on the sidelines, teams are exploiting the Packers special teams, fix it now.
Coldworld
December 22, 2021 at 01:38 pm
It sure why Gizzi is your choice, but I agree on removing Drayton in favor of virtually anyone with experience of NFL ST coordination
Lphill
December 22, 2021 at 03:49 pm
Gizzi was a standout special teamer his entire playing career.
Coldworld
December 22, 2021 at 06:28 pm
I am aware of that, but he’s been a strength and conditioning coach exclusively since.
croatpackfan
December 22, 2021 at 01:41 pm
It is little strange for me that you did not put MVS at least in Hold category, if not in Buy. He had nice game and it is not his mistake for being placed on Covid list. Many times we forget that this is the game where players are very often breathe each other in the face away an inch or two.
Just asking as he had very good game...
GunnarDavis
December 22, 2021 at 02:46 pm
Agree with you. I would've put MVS in the 'buy' category if not for COVID. Definitely someone who should be on 'hold' for now!
canadapacker
December 22, 2021 at 01:48 pm
First off Special Teams - the writing is on the wall - definitely a new voice is needed in the room. What I cannot believe is the number of mental errors. Picking up the ball on the sidelines near the 5 yard line? Crosby has had several Kickoffs out of bounds? There are things that smart and well taught players need to have ingrained in them before they even see the field. Now one thing that so far has only bit us a few times ( and last game it did) taking penalties on our special teams return. That needs to be a commended to date but we have had enough bad field position due to poor judgement. The time is NOT now to fire Drayton - but if I was him and his assistants I would be polishing up the resume. I would also be looking around for the next good special teams candidate. We have been too bad for too long to assume that we have an in house qualified person.
LambeauPlain
December 22, 2021 at 02:11 pm
I would also put Nijman on the buy list. Most of the combo blocks executed by Runyan had Yosh helping him. Several times Yosh helped Runyan with the Center or Guard...then quickly sliding to his left to hit the Tackle to create a good opening for AJ or AJD.
Yosh again did a good job in pass pro from what I saw.
I am concerned about the D. They have again been getting gashed for chunk plays the last few games. I am also of the opinion Z has played his last game in Green Bay. Regardless, I would keep Gary and P. Smith as the starters even if Z could play.
Certainly hope Alexander the Great gets back for the playoffs. Alexander, Stokes, and Douglas in the slot to replace Sullivan would be a formidable CB corps.
LeotisHarris
December 22, 2021 at 04:30 pm
I love to see the ball in Marcedes' hands, too, but the man needs to do a better job of securing it while he's running or we're going to see another fumble.
How difficult can it be to find a quality long snapper? We had Tabor Pepper in camp a couple of times. The kid finally found a home with the 49ers.