But, frankly, Scarlett, I don’t give a damn. I’m writing one, anyways.

The Green Bay Packers, as always, give us plenty to be thankful for. But what, in particular? Well, let’s get to some things now.

I’m thankful for Dom Capers. The job [...]]]> Yeah, yeah, I know – everyone writes posts like these around this time of year.

But, frankly, Scarlett, I don’t give a damn. I’m writing one, anyways.

The Green Bay Packers, as always, give us plenty to be thankful for. But what, in particular? Well, let’s get to some things now.

I’m thankful for Dom Capers. The job he’s done with what has resembled a JV squad, at times, has been nothing short of astounding. Hopefully, you take the smart approach and avoid any calls regarding head coaching jobs at season’s end. Titletown is where you need to be. And, don’t worry, Dom – the Brinks truck full of extra cheddar should be arriving at your place shortly.

I’m thankful for Mike McCarthy. It’s nice to know we have a strong-willed coach – one whom the players both like and respect – on our side. And kudos for remembering that you can line up and run the football more than just sparringly. Keep on keepin’ them honest, coach.

I’m thankful for Ted Thompson. Period.

I’m thankful for Aaron Rodgers finally hitting his stride. It’s good to see football become fun again for QB12.

I’m thankful for Brandon Jackson’s do-it-all abilities.

I’m thankful for John Kuhn. Okay, so he’s not the greatest player around. But he allows me to yell “KUUUHHHN!” whenever he touches the ball. Gotta love that.

I’m thankful for Chad Clifton proving the doubters wrong. There’s a great deal left in a man I believe to be held together by chicken wire and duct tape.

I’m thankful for Daryn Colledge not being, well, Daryn Colledge this season. Always nice when I don’t have to scream “COLLEDGE!” at the television in fits of rage.

I’m thankful for Greg Jennings regaining his elite status, James Jones being more “Good James” than “Bad James” and Donald Driver for being everything a Packer should be.

I’m thankful for Lambeau Field. See you in 11 days, baby!

I’m thankful for B.J. Raji cashing in on the promise we all knew he had and anchoring the defense. And, yes, I have to say that or else he might eat me.

I’m thankful for me upsetting Desmond Bishop on Twitter over the summer. And you should be thankful for that, too.

I’m thankful for A.J. Hawk turning in his best season yet as a pro. Something tells me this is no longer No. 50’s last year in Green Bay.

I’m thankful for Clay Matthews being an unstoppable, unblockable, long-hair waiving, anger-filled, high-motored – ouch. Matthews just sacked me. The guy is relentless!

I’m thankful for Charles Woodson shaking off his early season slump. And for making a difference in so many areas, some that can’t be seen on a stat sheet.

I’m thankful for Tramon Williams’ emergence. Don’t worry, Big Play Tra – that new deal is en route.

I’m thankful for Charlie Peprah ignoring people like me when they say things like “Charlie Peprah, frankly, does nothing for me.”

(Okay, here’s the part where I get sappy. Deal with it!)

I’m thankful for my cohorts here at OBOD, Adam Somers and Gene Bosling. Fellas, this wouldn’t be 1/1,000th as much fun without you. You are two of the best writers I know, but it’s much more than that. You really are two of the best friends a guy could ask for. Your friendship is something I will always hold in the highest regard.

I’m thankful for our buddies in the Packers blogosphere. You know who you are. We’ll never forget how you welcomed us into this weird, wonderful little universe back in early 2009. And to the newcomers, we’re always more than happy to pay it forward.

I’m thankful for you, the readers. To paraphrase a line from Jay-Z, you could have been anywhere in the world, but for a brief portion of your day, you decide to come check us out. Believe me, we take that very seriously. And we’ll never be able to thank you enough for simply caring about our work. You keep reading them – we’ll keep writing them.

Lastly, I’m thankful for all my friends and family. I love you all dearly. I won’t get to see any of you Thursday, but we’ll see each other at Christmas.

We at OBOD wish you nothing but the happiest and safest Thanksgiving possible. And, yeah, thanks again!

-Chris Lempesis

We give out donuts.

And, with the Green Bay Packers improving to 5-3 on the season with a 9-0 road win over the New York Jets on Sunday, we’d like to do just that.

Now.

(Sorry we never did a Minnesota edition of this, by the way. For the record, those [...]]]> We here at OBOD don’t give out gameballs.

We give out donuts.

And, with the Green Bay Packers improving to 5-3 on the season with a 9-0 road win over the New York Jets on Sunday, we’d like to do just that.

Now.

(Sorry we never did a Minnesota edition of this, by the way. For the record, those donuts would have gone to Chad Clifton, Desmond Bishop and Pat Lee).

Offense

A strawberry-filled, glazed-covered donut goes to…Greg Jennings. Okay, so it was not a perfect day for No. 85. He only came up with receptions on half his targets (12), for example. But when you consider that he was spending his day on Revis Island, Jennings’ six catches for 81 yards starts to look pretty damn good, doesn’t it? Included in there were several key grabs that led to first downs. On a day when the offense was scuffling, to say the least, against an elite defense, someone needed to make things happen. Jennings was that someone, as it looks like he’s finally beginning to have the season we all knew he could.

Defense

A chocolate-glazed, chocolate donut goes to…Tramon Williams. Frankly, I’m running out of ways to describe the impact he’s having for this defense. Williams was once again outstanding Sunday, making an impact in multiple facets. His main job was to hold down New York’s Santonio Holmes. Done and done, as Holmes finished with just three catches for 43 yards. Everything after that is, as they say, gravy. Well, “Big Play Tra” certainly provided a lot of gravy then. Williams came up with two turnovers – a gritty, gutty interception in which he wrestled the ball away from Jerricho Cotchery and a fumble recovery. There is no doubt he’s Green Bay’s No. 1 corner now, Williams turning in a Pro Bowl season and on the verge of becoming an elite player. He’ll be a rich man very shortly. Teddy, make that happen, please.

Special teams

A multi-color sprinkled (they are the special teamers, after all) goes to…Tim Masthay. Sure, go ahead and credit the wind for Masthay’s strong showing, his first since, well, week one, really. That’s partially true, after all. But, for one week, at least, we finally saw why Masthay won the punting job in camp. Eight punts, 352 yards (44-yard average), including one touchback and five – five! - punts inside the 20. His long for the day? 55 yards. In games like these, you need the punter to be a weapon for you. Masthay was just that. Here’s to hoping he can build on this.

Finally, a two-day old, plain donut goes to…Actually, no one. Yeah, the offense struggled. But, hey, the Packers pulled off a huge road upset of the Jets. We’ll keep it positive for this one.

-Chris Lempesis

In other words, I’ll be keeping this one brief (don’t worry – we’ll have a whole lot more reaction to this one later today).

Here are some quick thoughts on the Green Bay Packers’ 28-24 win over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night [...]]]> As I sit down to write this, the clock has just struck 12:37 a.m.

In other words, I’ll be keeping this one brief (don’t worry – we’ll have a whole lot more reaction to this one later today).

Here are some quick thoughts on the Green Bay Packers’ 28-24 win over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night at Lambeau Field. In no particular order:

• Man, this one feels good, doesn’t it? Actually, “good” doesn’t describe it, does it? How bout REALLY REALLY (EXPLETIVE DELETED) GREAT?!?!
• Anyone wanna argue about who the best quarterback in the NFC North is now? Yeah – I didn’t think so.
• Aaron Rodgers was not perfect, by any stretch. His first interception was terribly thrown, followed by a terrible decision on his second. He missed badly on a whole bunch of throws, as well. But, throughout the night, he played with confidence and did more than enough good to guide this offense. And, perhaps most importanly, he looked like he was having fun, didn’t he? Facing Brett Favre didn’t feel so daunting to him this time, clearly.
• Game balls – the entire offensive and defensive lines. That one’s easy.
• Speaking of the o-line, I’ve been backing Chad Clifton for much of the season. Sure glad I did. One of the best five performances of his career.
• You saw it tonight: If James Jones can finally put it all together, he can be scary good.
• I never doubted Desmond Bishop for a second. Okay, perhaps that’s not true, but he’s doing what he said he’d do to me on Twitter this summer: Eat my words. And I’ve never been happier to do so.
• If Tramon Williams isn’t an elite cornerback already, he’s damn close. Sure, he had help over the top on Randy Moss a lot of the time, but do not discount the job he did.
• Welcome back, Mr. Matthews. We needed ya. Looks like it could be an easy handoff for 2010 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Woody’ll just have to walk across the lockerroom.
• Welcome to the show, Andrew Quarless, C.J. Wilson and Jarius Wynn. Huge plays from all three of you guys tonight.
• See, Mike, if you stick with the run, good things CAN happen.
• Brandon Jackson really isn’t that bad. In fact, I think he’s pretty okay.
• Dom, you continue to do wonderful things with a battered group. My hat’s off to you, in every sense.
• I picked the Pack to win, 27-24. Not bad, if I do say so myself.
• At 4-3, the Packers look to be in the driver’s seat in this division. Funny how fast things change in a week.
• I haven’t really mentioned Favre, to this point. I’m going to pass on ripping him for being a washed up loser, both on and off the field.
• Oops, I guess I just did.
• By the way, Brent – you think we’re going to ever forgive you? Not. Bloody. Likely. Go home and stay there. Or, at the very least, don’t ever come back to Lambeau. You’re not welcome anymore.
• Oops, just did it again.
• Finally, to every single Vikings player, coach or fan: You can go ahead and blame anyone you want for this loss. Please, go ahead and blame the refs. Say we got lucky. After all, you’re all losers anyway, so doing such things fits right in with your mentality. But, remember the following two pearls of wisdom: Winners point thumbs when things go wrong – losers point fingers. And, as Bill Parcells liked to say, you are what your record says you are. You’re 2-4. You’re a crap team. See you in a month, losers.
• Fans, what did this one mean to you? Please share your comments below. Would LOVE to hear what you guys have to say about this.

-Chris Lempesis

As Gene, Adam and myself exited FedEx Field on Sunday, following the Green Bay Packers’ gutwrenching 16-13 overtime loss to the Washington Redskins, we found ourselves using variations of the same phrase over and over:

This team just [...]]]> (Note: My streak of game recaps is officially over at 29. Don’t worry – I’ll start a new one Sunday.)

As Gene, Adam and myself exited FedEx Field on Sunday, following the Green Bay Packers’ gutwrenching 16-13 overtime loss to the Washington Redskins, we found ourselves using variations of the same phrase over and over:

This team just isn’t very good.

In the hours – about a day and a half’s worth in all – that followed our disheartened exit, our overall outlook didn’t change.

Then, upon arriving back in Minneapolis on Tuesday, I decided to grab some chinese food. My fortune cookie contained an interesting bit of wisdom: Let reality be reality, it said.

That got me to thinking about where the 2010 Packers are five games in.

What is the real reality with this team? Are the Packers the Super Bowl contenders we made them out to be for nine or so months? Are they the stumbling, bumbling trainwreck the three of us made them out to be in our postgame thoughts, which were fueled by anger (and, okay, a little bit of alcohol)?

Reality is rarely black and white. And, in this instance, so are the Packers.

They are not Super Bowl contenders, as we currently find them. Not even close. Let’s just get that out of the way right now.

There is no continuity to this team. With roughly a third of the season already in the books, it has yet to turn in a full 60 minutes of strong play. That’d be one thing if the Packers had come close, but by my count, they haven’t given us more than about 30 consecutive minutes. And that came against the Buffalo Bills, so you know, insert your own joke there.

That’s the team, as a whole, but really, that extends to each of the three phases, as well. Outside of a few instances – the middle portion of the Philadelphia game, for example – the Packers have not been able to get all three units firing at once. The offense looks good in limited minutes early on against Detroit; the defense, Dom Capers in particular, tries its best to blow the game (with an assist from a suddenly out-of-synch offense).

Sunday, on the road in an environment that grew more hostile by the second, the defense came to play. Yes, things weren’t nearly as good minus Clay Matthews (how could they be?), but forget about the yardage totals. After all, Packers fans should know more than anyone else that they mean nothing, right? On the board, where it counts the most, Green Bay allowed 13 points in regulation. That should always – repeat: ALWAYS – be more than enough to win. But it wasn’t, was it? Nope, because the head coach refused to stick with what worked, seemingly more concerned with proving his intelligence than winning. Mike Martz, meet Mike McCarthy.

The killer instinct simply does not exist. We can take as many shots at Trent Dilfer for what he had to say about the team on ESPN earlier this week, but do not argue his point. He was correct. This team looks great, particularly offensively, in quarter one. After that, it’s gone. Against average competition, opponents that continually open themselves for the kill shot, the Packers continually fail to deliver it. Again, a third of the season is in the books. Shouldn’t that have developed by now?

The offensive line is officially back to where it was over the first eight games of 2009. Aaron Rodgers and the receivers have felt compelled to join them. In other words: terrible blocking, terrible pass catching and a quarterback who is making us look foolish for spending so much time saying he’s in the same group with such legitimate heavyweights as Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Drew Brees. Aaron, meet Tony. You two are in the same grade!

Have I really left out the special teams all this time? I guess, but that’s only because I’d like to be able to eat dinner before midnight.

(Now, after saying ALL OF THIS, are ya ready for the part where I take you the other way?)

The 2010 Packers can still turn this thing around. They can become more than what they’ve been.

It’s not like the talent isn’t there, even with the injuries mounting faster than my blood alcohol level at the Hawk ‘n Dove last Saturday night (damn those girls from Philly!). The offense, even without Jermichael Finley, has talent. Considerable talent. Remember, Finley wasn’t Finley for 16 games last year. The unit was still pretty good, though, right?

That group just has to play better. Rodgers has to stop looking downfield with every single first read. He needs to hang in the pocket longer, even if pressure is coming. By immediately bouncing out of the pocket, he cuts down half the field. He needs to remember that Greg Jennings is on his team (and No. 85 needs to show himself to be worthy of the elite checks he cashes). Donald Driver needs to stop dropping four passes. That group feeds off his energy, positive or otherwise – I’m convinced of it. James Jones and Jordy Nelson have to cash in on the potential each has. It’s time. These are all things that can still happen.

The offensive line has got to find a way to improve. If they can’t, it’s time to swap some guys out (Chad Clifton and Daryn Colledge, I’m looking right at you). Didn’t we spend the entire offseason/training camp/preseason talking about the depth there? If the starters can’t hang, let’s see some of it, dammit.

I have no real beef with the defense, outside of some penalty issues. The defensive line has been great, both against the run and in providing pressure. That held true even after Ryan Pickett exited the game Sunday. Charles Woodson is struggling a bit, but he’s clearly good enough to turn that around. Tramon Williams has been this team’s best player, period. And we can talk all we want about no pass rushing linebacker opposite Matthews, but in a crucial moment in overtime Sunday, there was Brady Poppinga breaking through for a huge sack. It’s not entirely out of the realm of possibility that someone still emerges.

Things just need to be a little tighter overall with that group. And when Matthews returns, the defense can still take off to a very high level.

You need two more reasons? I’ve got you covered: the NFC, as a whole, and one Michael McCarthy.

The Packers have not been very good. But let’s face it – no one has in the NFC. As of now, there is only one team (the Atlanta Falcons) somewhat close to an elite level. And they’re not really that close. New Orleans is in a slump. Chicago can’t keep it up for 16 games, same for Tampa Bay. New York is looking tough, but the jury’s still out. Same for Philadelphia. And either Dallas or Minnesota will have its season, for all intents and purposes, end Sunday. Go Cowboys.

In other words, it’s chaos. And who thrives better in chaos than McCarthy?

Seriously, think of all the times we’ve written this guy off. Early in 2006. Late in 2006. Late in 2008. Midway through 2009. For a big guy, this cat sure dodges a lot of ammo. When things are at their darkest, he somehow finds a way to get the team to rally. Can he do it again? At this point, I’m not sure I’d want to bet against him.

And, really, I’m only sure of one thing: I’m done talking about the first five weeks. This team is 0-0. The injuries are an issue. The schedule is much harder. We’re going to find out what this team is made of. Call me crazy, but that excites me.

Bring on the Dolphins.

-Chris Lempesis

By now, we are all aware of what happened with Green Bay Packers safety Nick Collins [...]]]> (I know, I know – usually the “mixed bag of donuts” piece runs on Wednesdays. But we’re still trying to get caught up after the Monday nighter. It’s crazy how much one day changes things in terms of a schedule.)

By now, we are all aware of what happened with Green Bay Packers safety Nick Collins and an (allegedly) spitting/racist Chicago Bears fan at the conclusion of Monday night’s game.

Collins apologized for his actions, both immediately after the game and again Wednesday.  The NFL is continuing to review the situation.

Collins, per Jason Wilde of ESPN Milwaukee:

“This is a situation that I could have walked away from but (in the) heat of the moment, things happen. Both sides (were) out of line,” Collins said. “It was just a situation I shouldn’t have been a part of. I should have just kept walking into the locker room.”

“I’m a grown man. I’m a big boy. And like I said before, I shouldn’t have put myself in that position. Unfortunately, I got caught up in the hype and the emotion from the game.”

Collins is right. He needed to be smarter, needed to keep his cool. He is a representative of the Packers organization. In any job, when you are on the clock, you have to remember you are representing that particular organization. That has to supercede most, if not all, of your personal feelings. And, for the foreseeable future, he’s going to get egged on by fans in every non-Lambeau stadium the team enters.

But if you’re looking for who to blame on this, the fault ultimately lies with the unruly fan. While we don’t know exactly what was said, I agree with Donald Driver’s sentiments that it must have been something that crossed the line. That is simply unacceptable, no matter what came out of that person’s mouth.

At some point – and soon, you’d hope – fans are going to have to realize that purchasing a ticket does not – repeat; DOES NOT – allow you the right to think you are a part of the show. This continues to be a problem in a society where everyone wants to be recognized for something, anything. It has to stop. And these idiot fans need to be stopped. They are ruining it for the 99.9 percent of fans who do not behave this way. Incidents like these only further the divide between athletes and fans. I’m not sure that gap can get much wider.

Collins was rightfully upset after a loss in which his team gave the game away. The gas was already poured.

But who lit the match and dropped it? Well, that would be the fan.

Eventually, those in charge will find out who the person was. And that person – or whoever gave that person their ticket – is going to be punished, likely through a loss of said tickets. As always, all I can say is that I sincerely hope it was worth it for them. I hope they got their money’s worth. It’ll be a long time before they get to do so again.

As for Collins, he’ll get a fine of some sort – say, $20,000 – and a lecture from the league on better behavior. But I’ll be floored if he’s suspended.

Three weeks in, how has Aaron Rodgers distributed the ball?

Much is made of the Packers’ considerable depth at the skill positions on offense (or, at least, the passing-related positions). But how has Aaron Rodgers been, in terms of distributing the ball to them, so far?

After glancing at the first three weeks’ box scores, some interesting facts emerged:

• The most targeted receiving option for Green Bay is not Jermichael Finley or Greg Jennings, but rather Driver (23, including a whopping 11 targets on Monday). The old man isn’t done yet, from the looks of it.
• Finley and Jennings are not far behind, of course, as each has been targeted 21 times.
• While many fans, myself included, wonder aloud as to why James Jones is thrown to so much, the numbers don’t really support that. Jones has been targeted 15 times, a good amount but still decently behind the big three.
• No love for Jordy Nelson? It appears that way, as Nelson has been targeted just eight times thus far, although four came Monday so perhaps Nelson will become more of a factor.

Injury report

From Greg Bedard of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Linebacker Brandon Chillar did not practice with a shoulder injury. Maybe he hurt it on all those plays he continues to not make.

Left tackle Chad Clifton and corner Charles Woodson were limited with knee and toe injuries, respectively. No big deal there – likely just a precaution. Collins was also limited with a knee injury. That’s one to watch as the week progresses.

Linebacker Brad Jones (knee) and Mike Neal (rib) were both full participants. I think Jones should be platooning with Frank Zombo at right outside linebacker. Jones plays the run well, while Zombo covers the pass rushing. And hopefully, Neal can practice two days in a row this week. The team needs to get him in the rotation along the d-line. His addition would be huge.

One last note

With the game being on Monday, I was unable to write my weekly opposition glance. But I have you covered (at least, sort of). Here’s a post I wrote about the Detroit Lions waaay back before the Thanksgiving Day game last season.

-Chris Lempesis

Some felt veteran Chad Clifton needed to give way to rookie Bryan Bulaga, using age and/or injuries as the main reason for their beliefs. On that one, I firmly backed Clifton.

With that said, the following statement may come [...]]]> Last week, the big debate amongst fans of the Green Bay Packers centered around the team’s left tackle position.

Some felt veteran Chad Clifton needed to give way to rookie Bryan Bulaga, using age and/or injuries as the main reason for their beliefs. On that one, I firmly backed Clifton.

With that said, the following statement may come as some surprise: Right tackle Mark Tauscher needs to be benched.

Outside of a strong performance against Buffalo in week two – who didn’t have a strong showing in that one, though? – Tauscher has spent much of the 2010 season being either pushed around or, worse, flat-out spooked out by opposing pass rushers. The Packers can no longer afford to send him out there in the hopes he can regain his old form.

In turning in two very bad performances, Tauscher has shown that the game has simply passed him by, struggling in both the physical and mental aspects.

In week one, it was the physical. Philadelphia’s ends/outside linebackers simply pushed Tauscher around for much of the contest – that is, when they weren’t flying past him. That could be forgiven at the time, though, because of the Eagles’ elite front-seven talent. And, hey, everyone has a bad day, right?

After the performance against the Bills, as bad as they are, you hoped Tauscher had gotten back on track. Then came Monday night.

As bad as Tauscher was, physically, in his matchups with Chicago defensive ends Julius Peppers and Israel Idonije, he was even worse in the mental areas. It became very clear, even before the penalties reigned down on Tauscher in the second half - three in all, two false starts and a holding – that Tauscher was mentally overwhelmed by the matchups. The reasons behind that are anyone’s guess, but go back and look at his facial expressions/body language throughout the night. He just didn’t look like the Tauscher we’ve come to know.

You remember the old Tauscher, right? The gamer, the battler, the man who held Seattle’s Patrick Kearney to zero defensive stats in the 2008 divisional playoff win (the most impressive right tackle performance I’ve ever seen). That Tauscher is gone and maybe we shouldn’t be surprised. He was never the most physically-gifted tackle, but he always had enough to make him a good player when you threw in his knowledge of the game/mental toughness. But now it appears his already-limited physical skills have left him completely, and they’ve taken his mental strength with them.

It’s time to turn the page there and give either Bulaga or second-year man T.J. Lang a go. Bulaga has already practiced at the position more than once this season, so he should get the first shot. He’s got the youth, strength and disposition (i.e., nasty, as does Lang). The team’s putrid running game should also see a boost from his insertion into the starting lineup (even though Mike McCarthy really doesn’t want to run the football).

I know what you’re saying: Chris, why are you in favor of putting Bulaga in long-term at right tackle when you just said last week that he should not replace Clifton?

Well, there are a couple of reasons.

First, the right tackle position is less daunting on a rookie than is the left tackle spot. Right tackles face some good pass rushers, yes. And, as we saw Monday, teams will shift their best pass rusher to the side they feel is the weakest (as the Bears did when they moved Peppers to left end in the second half). But, more often than not, the right tackle draws a matchup that isn’t as intimidating, good for Bulaga as I still think he’ll struggle with pure speed rushers, at least for year one. It’s more a game of strength over there, something that should suit Bulaga just fine.

Secondly, I never thought the game passed Clifton by, proven by his overall strong showing Monday. With him, it was simply an injury issue. If healthy, I was – and still am – fairly certain Clifton has at least one more year in him. Tauscher, on the other hand, doesn’t appear to be injured, unless the team is hiding something from us. He just appears to be shot.

If that’s the case, it’s time to have Tauscher – a man Packers fans have all come to love – step aside. As a smart, crafty backup, Tauscher can still provide excellent value, both to his replacement and the team as a whole.

-Chris Lempesis

Well, fear not – we’ve got Packers football tonight. Green Bay heads into Soldier Spaceship – er, Soldier Field – for a Monday Night contest with the Chicago Bears (7:30 p.m. Lambeau Time).

In this matchup of 2-0 teams, who has the edge [...]]]> Man, Sunday’s kind of stink when there’s no Green Bay Packers game, don’t they?

Well, fear not – we’ve got Packers football tonight. Green Bay heads into Soldier Spaceship – er, Soldier Field – for a Monday Night contest with the Chicago Bears (7:30 p.m. Lambeau Time).

In this matchup of 2-0 teams, who has the edge in the position battles? Let’s take a look now. This is part one; part two will run Monday morning.

Quarterback - It’s been an up-and-down first two games for everyone’s preseason MVP, Aaron Rodgers. By my count, he’s played four really good quarters, three bad quarters and one decent quarter. That’s not to say he’s been terrible, just that he hasn’t been flawless. Jay Cutler has been the Cutler that Bears fans thought they were getting a year ago so far, throwing five touchdowns against just one pick. Mike Martz’s system appears to be suiting him just fine, though it is just two games. Edge: Packers

Running backs - One game into the Brandon Jackson-John Kuhn experiment, things aren’t looking so great. While it shouldn’t hurt the Packers too much, long-term, you have to wonder how the offense will hold up in a game where Rodgers struggles. Matt Forte hasn’t done much better on the ground (2.9 yards per carry), but he is bringing great value in the passing game (12 catches, 188 yards, three scores). He’ll act as Martz’s Marshall Faulk in this offense. Packers fans know Chester Taylor from his Vikings’ days as an outstanding pass-catcher and very good pass protector. Look for him to get involved more than a few times in this one. Edge: Bears

Wide Receivers - Things are going pretty much as expected for Green Bay’s highly touted receiving corps, although you have to wonder why the team is dead-set on making James Jones such a factor. Note to broadcasters: He is not a No. 1 receiver for any team in the league and is only a two for about one-third of the teams. No clear No. 1 has emerged for the Bears yet, but the group of Johnny Knox, Devin Hester and Devin Aromashodu is young with plenty of upside. Upside doesn’t win the day here. Edge: Packers

Tight ends - While he has not set the league on fire, as many expected, Jermichael Finley has still turned in two very good games. Last week, we saw what happens when teams decide to single-cover him. Not sure if we’ll see much of that again. Donald Lee has not been a factor at all and Tom Crabtree is a blocker. Much has been written about how Martz does not like to use the tight ends in the passing game. So far, that seems correct as Greg Olsen has just five catches for 76 yards (and a score). Olsen is very talented, though, and should not be overlooked. At 295 pounds, Brandon Manumaleuna is primarily a blocker and will stay in to help cover Cutler. Edge: Packers

Offensive line - Green Bay’s offensive line has been decent so far, but Rodgers has faced more pressure than you’d prefer . The group needs to reach another level. Chad Clifton (knee) is a game-time decision; if he can’t go, in steps rookie Bryan Bulaga. Either way, Chicago will attack that side of the field. The Bears’ front five hasn’t been great, either, and will be going with a pair of guys, Frank Omiyale (left tackle) and Kevin Shaffer (right tackle), playing out of position due to injuries. If the Bears think they can get away with all those five-and-seven-step drops behind this group, they’re nuts. Edge: Packers

So far, the Packers hold the edge in four of five categories. How will things shake out in part two? Again, check back Monday morning to find out.

-Chris Lempesis

We at OBOD, however, love conundrums. They give us a chance to come down on one side or another of an important Green Bay Packers-related issue and, of course, stir the pot – something [...]]]> Conundrums are a pain in the you-know-what for football teams. They wreck the “keep it simple, stupid” approach that most thrive on.

We at OBOD, however, love conundrums. They give us a chance to come down on one side or another of an important Green Bay Packers-related issue and, of course, stir the pot – something we happen to think we’re pretty good at.

That said, this current Packers conundrum is a doozy even by our lofty standards: What, exactly, should Green Bay do with its left tackle situation?

Through roughly six quarters of play in 2010, mainstay Chad Clifton hasn’t been good at all. His bulky knee has been a major reason for that and some are suggesting that age has also finally caught up to the 34-year old, 11th-year warrior (not a term I use lightly, either). Clifton was pulled from Sunday’s blowout win over Buffalo during the second quarer, head coach Mike McCarthy said, because he felt Clifton’s knee simply was not right.

In his place stepped rookie Bryan Bulaga. The man many expect to take over for Clifton sooner rather than later got his first taste of regular season action. Outside of one false start call – looking like Cliffy already with that one – Bulaga was rather good. He did a nice job in pass protection and the team seemed to run the ball better with Bulaga in the game, although the running game still wasn’t very good. Perhaps just as importantly, he didn’t seem overwhelmed by any of it (well, it was the Bills).

That’s led some to suggest that Bulaga’s time is now, that he should replace Clifton as the starter going forward. McCarthy weighed in Monday, saying that when Clifton is healthy, he’ll return to the starting lineup.

After giving it some serious consideration, I have to say I agree with McCarthy. If Clifton’s 100 percent, it’s his job. I’m sorry, but there’s just something about playing the entire season with a rookie left tackle – solid performance versus Buffalo or no – that scares me to death.

Maybe that’s because I’ve checked out the Packers schedule. Over the next seven weeks, Green Bay faces some seriously talented pass rushes:

• Chicago – Julius Peppers in a nationally televised game. These are the only games he shows up for.
• Detroit – Much improved in that department. Kyle Vanden Bosch isn’t done yet and has a ton of veteran know-how.
• Washington – Despite losing to Houston, that defense bashed Matt Schaub around all day.
• Miami – We all saw what that group did to Favre, right?
• Minnesota – Jared Allen. Enough said.
• New York Jets – You don’t think Rex Ryan is going to collapse things Bulaga’s way?
• Dallas – DeMarcus Ware. Uh-oh.

Now, this is not to suggest Bulaga would be eaten alive every single time out, because I really don’t think that’s the case. He’s extremely talented and should be able to hold down the fort for a brief stretch while Clifton’s knee gets right. In time, he’ll likely become more than adequate at manning the left tackle spot and, hopefully, he can do just that for, oh, the next decade-plus.

Key words in that last graph: “A brief stretch” and “in time.”

Bulaga’s time has not come yet. 

Are you sure that a rookie who, according to most draft experts, struggled with speed rushers will be able to survive that seven-game stretch without at least a few wretched performances? What about the rest of the season? And if he can’t survive, can Aaron Rodgers? Remember, it only takes one whiff by an outmatched lineman for it to be all over.

If Bulaga plays, it should only be because Clifton’s knee is still too bothersome to go on. While I’m supporting Clifton, I’m not supporting him at anything less than 100 percent. And by “100 percent”, I mean he has to be able to practice all three days. Anything less is simply not good enough. But, when he’s healthy, he deserves one more chance. That’s not because of his status or lofty 2010 salary, either.

It’s because of his considerable knowledge of the position. Clifton has never been the most talented left tackle in the league, by any stretch, but like his running mate on the right side – Mark Tauscher – Clifton has excelled at the position because of smarts and toughness. He may be at or approaching AARP status for an NFL player and he may be held together by duct tape and chicken wire, as I’ve long suggested, but he almost always makes sure the quarterback makes it through unscathed. In a season with Super Bowl aspirations, that’s the type of player I want covering the blindside.

The playing time Bulaga sees while Clifton heals up – unknown as of now, but it sure sounds like he’ll draw Peppers next Monday – will be extremely valuable for him moving forward.

But I’m not ready to count Clifton out yet. With everything he’s been able to bounce back from, it seems silly to bet against him.

-Chris Lempesis