OFFENSIVE LINE (1½)
NT Terrance Knighton and Tyson Alualu dominated the run inside. T.J. Lang's punch and power has been diminished because of a damaged right elbow that forces him to play with a brace. It's a huge factor why the run game went nowhere. On the outside, Marshall Newhouse seems satisfied with stalemates blocking for the run. There is little semblance of finish or sustain in his game. He just doesn't give the extra effort. Jeff Saturday battled. He tries to cover up bigger men but doesn't get much movement and was brushed aside by Knighton at times. His glaring lack of speed also shows up in the screen game. Bryan Bulaga got pushed back by Alualu on a failed third-and-1 and, when the Packers were trying to run out the clock, was shoved 4 yards deep by DE George Selvie and the carry was for no gain. The most physical blockers were Josh Sitton and Evan Dietrich-Smith, who played two snaps in the backfield and two at TE. Sitton was most able to match the high-intensity level of the Jacksonville D-line. He tried to punish people. His only bad play was the sack by DE Jeremy Mincey on a spin move. Dietrich-Smith caved in Selvie on a successful third-and-1 and came across to trap NT C.J. Mosley on an 8-yard burst. Given Dietrich-Smith's youth and robust nature, it would be surprising if the coaches weren't at least talking about giving him at least some of Saturday's snaps. Newhouse was partially responsible for the other sack by being bulled back by DE John Chick, a hard-charging free agent. He allowed a team-high four pressures.
RUNNING BACKS (1½)
There continue to be positives in the fledgling career of Alex Green. His effort and technique in pass protection generally are excellent. Regarded by some scouts as a fumbler out of Hawaii, he has shown no signs of that in 2012. And he doesn't hesitate in the least pounding into heavy-contact areas inside. At the same time, Green hasn't been able to make himself skinny, change a course, avoid a pile and bleed a 2-yard run into a gain of 6 or 7. More natural and experienced runners do that all the time, making their coaches and linemen all look better. McCarthy finally decided enough was enough, having gone five games in a row without handing the ball off on third and 1. Green converted two of three. He burst for 6 on the first, but with only S Dawan Landry standing between him and a long gain he was cut right down. Partially because Green was too impatient on slower developing runs the past two weeks, the Packers ran him more straight ahead Sunday. Let's face it. There wasn't much there. But Green also didn't help himself by slipping and tripping a few times. Look for James Starks to get a legitimate shot this week. It was hard to tell anything about him in seven snaps.
Not a huge fan of EDS, but I believe Saturday is completely awful and would like to see that change made at center. Green has done nothing to distinguish himself by any means, but this offensive line is really bad and no aging RB is going to change that.
