Dublin Damhas (5-5)
Going 3-1 over their last 4 games has brought Dublin to .500, where they have not been since the second week of the season. If Aaron Rodgers can maintain his current level of play, a playoff push is not out of the realm of possibility.
The running game is weak, but the defense has more than picked up the slack: first in the league against the run and fifth against the pass. The run dominance has helped them to be second overall in total yards surrendered.
Dublin have created the most turnovers in the league (19) and have the second best ratio (+7).
#Bottom Line
Roster Moves. Move Blue, Green, Daniels up the depth chart.
Draft Needs. RB.
Week Four Draftee Update: Ahman Green. Unproductive in his brief appearance, injured since.
#QB
While at one point there were calls for Aaron Rodgers to be benched, his recent production levels make it seem that he could break into the elite QBs int he league. He’s completing 60% of his passes, with 21 TDs go go along with only 5 interceptions, all of which combines into a QB rating of 92. When you combine that with over 500 rushing yards, Rodgers really does emerge as a top QB.
#RB
This has been the Achilles heel of the team all year, and has been the major contributor to Dublin having the worst yards/play in the league.
Lee Lacy was supposed to be the featured back, but he’s only gained 320 yards and has moved in and out of the leading role. John Starks has done well back there, as has Alfred Blue, but neither have been able to actually own the role.
The leading rusher is actually Rodgers, which speaks to how weak the position has been.
#WR & TE
The trio of Andre Johnson, Randall Cobb, and DeAndre Hopkins has been very, very good. Johnson leads the way with 67 catches, Hopkins leads with 762 yards and is averaging over 15 yards a catch, while Cobb has had the surest hands, with only 2 drops (Johnson, as a point of concern, has 9; however, 7 of those were over the first 3 weeks of the season). Combined, the three have 15 TDs.
And that is with early season starter Don Hutson sidelined through injury (he’s really only played 1 full game and will be out another month or so).
Garrett Graham, Andrew Quarless, and Ryan Griffin have done well at TE, combining for 24 catches and 3 TDs.
#OL
Brandon Brooks, Cal Hubbard, and Mike Michalske have led the way up front, combining for 36 big holes. Corey Linsley has had a rougher time: 11 big holes, but 8 bad runs and, more importantly, 8 sacks allowed.
Forrest Gregg has been mediocre at best at T, but Josh Sitton has done quite well in limited time at G.
#DL
J.J. Watt is a force of nature across the board: 35 tackles, 3 sacks, 13 hurries, 9 stuffs, and 4 deflections. Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila has been strong as well, with 4 sacks and 16 hurries. Those hurry numbers are out of this world, good for 1st and 3rd in the league, respectively.
Throw in Mike Daniels‘ 3 sacks and 2 stuffs, and the defensive line has been solid.
#LB
Dave Robinson has led the way with 73 tackles and 4 sacks, but Brian Cushing has been fantastic as well, second on the team in tackles with 59, but adding 4 stuffs and leading the team with 4 interceptions (the team has 12, but nobody else has more than 1).
When Clay Matthews, Jr. was injured in week 1, there were worries, but a mixture of A.J. Hawk, Ray Nitschke, Whitney Mercilus, and Brooks Reed has done quite well; perhaps not up to Matthews level, but certainly solid.
#DB
The secondary has been decent, but not overpowering. The low number of tackles is actually a positive: the DL and LBs are stopping most plays before they ever get to these guys. Johnathan Joseph has 10 deflections and LeRoy Butler has added 6.
Joseph, Casey Hayward, and Tramon Williams are all, over decent samples, defending successfully on over 50% of balls thrown their way.
#P & K
Mason Crosby has been quite good: he has missed 1 XP (out of 31), and has made 14 of 17 FGs, with most of the misses coming from longer distances.
Tim Masthay has been mediocre, with a net under 36, but his performance has been enough to keep Chad Stanley–who he replaced through injury–on the taxi squad.
#Returns
Keshawn Martin is averaging 25 yards on KO returns and just under 14 on punts: very, very good.