Dublin Damhas (6-4)
A team still trying to truly find their rhythm, Dublin has gone 4-2 since starting the year with a shaky 2-2 record. Powered by the 2nd best running attack in the game and 1 of only 2 defenses holding the opposition under 300 yards, Dublin looks set to make a playoff run.
That is, if the injuries can hold out and if Aaron Rodgers can add some aerial threat to their game.
#Bottom Line
Draft Needs. DB, OL.
Week Four Draftee Update: Pete Retzlaff. A great pickup, Retzlaff has made an immediate impact.
#QB
Rodgers has merely been good enough so far this year, completing just over 55% of his throws with 16 TDs and 9 interceptions. He’s had 3 great games and 3 truly awful ones, and he’ll need to improve down the homestretch.
#RB
Remember when Dublin didn’t have a running game? Ever since Jim Taylor was picked up late in Year I, they’ve been dominant on the ground, and this year has been no different with Taylor gaining nearly 1200 yards and scoring 11 TDs through the Damhas’ 1st 10 games. Alfred Blue remains a solid backup, to the point where Fred Jackson‘s absence through injury has yet to be felt.
#WR & TE
This was supposed to be a strength for Dublin, and it would be if they could only stay healthy: Don Hutson played in only 4 games before going down, and is unlikely to be back this season; and Andre Johnson played in only 1, although he is due back in a week’s time.
That has opened the door for DeAndre Hopkins and especially Jordy Nelson, however: each has at least 55 catches, over 600 yards, and 3 TDs, and Randall Cobb has added 40 catches for nearly 500 yards.
Retzlaff has been great, with over 300 yards and 4 TDs since being drafted, and has turned TE from a blocking role to an offensive threat for Dublin.
#OL
Forrest Gregg has emerged as probably the best T in the league in Year II, and Josh Sitton and Mike Michalske are not far behind. Bryan Bulaga has been serviceable, but C has been an issue as Steve Wisniewski (now injured) and Greg Larson have both struggled a bit.
#DL
J.J. Watt is the most dominant defensive player in the league this year, with 60 tackls, 7 sacks, 14 stuffs, 19 hurries, 6 deflections, and 3 forced fumbles through 10 games. Mike Daniels has 3 sacks, and he and Cal Hubbard have combined for 70 tackles.
Ryan Pickett has been solid up front, but more was expected from Kabeer Gbaja-Biamilia and Lavvie Dilweg. Still, this has been an impressive group.
#LB
Dave Robinson and Clay Matthews, Jr. have been playing so well that Brian Cushing can’t get on the field, but the LB crew has been led all year by Ray Nitschke in the middle.
#DB
Casey Hayward has been strong at CB, but he could use some more help from Johnathan Joseph and Tramon Williams. LeRoy Butler leads the secondary in tackles, but injuries have hit the S spot hard, with both Kendrick Lewis and Darren Sharper missing some significant time.
#P & K
Mason Crosby is barely holding on to his job, missing 7 of 15 attempts.
When Tim Masthay missed 4 games through injury, Kyle Richardson handled the punting duties. He didn’t do enough to displace Masthay, despite a less than spectacular performance by either one of them.
#Returns
Keshawn Martin is averaging under 23 yards on kickoffs and under 5 yards on punts: something has to change here.
#Awards
Defensive Player of the Week: Watt (x3)
Teams of the Week: Daniels (2), Gregg (1), Nelson (1), Nitschke (2), Robinson (1), Rodgers (1), Sharper (1), Sitton (1), Taylor (2), Watt (4).