The atmosphere at Lambeau Field was electric. Ionized by 7,500 brand new seats and lit aglow by well over 80,000 total attendees, the Packers struck early and often in what amounted to a route of Washington to the tune of 38-20. Gobs of passing yards, stout defense, and a surprise 100+ yard rusher made this game an all around positive. Let's focus on a few keys.
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| RB James Starks. Photo: CBS.com |
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The Running Game: If one had said during the preseason that James Starks, not Eddie Lacy, would be the savior to rid the Packers of the stigma of going 44 straight games without a 100+ yard rusher—The last was Brandon Jackson (seriously) on October 10, 2010 (seriously) to this same Washington football club (seriously)—one might have been labeled insane. Yet it happened. Everyone saw it. On his first carry—a 10 yard gallop— rookie Eddie Lacy was struck hard on the helmet by safety Brandon Meriweather, and forced to exit with a concussion. That would be his only carry. The next man up was James Starks, a guy who quietly took precedence over running back Alex Green in training camp, ultimately winning Green's roster spot. Starks hasn't been a household name for many fans since his 2010 breakout performance and subsequent struggles to stay healthy, but it's clear the coaching staff saw enough in the tall running back to warrant a job. Score one for the coaching staff. On Sunday, Starks was decisive. He was elusive. He cut well and made guys miss, carrying the ball 20 times and rushing for 132 yards. Starks also notched something the team has been sorely lacking, a "big play run" on a 32 yard touchdown scamper.
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| QB Aaron Rodgers. Photo: NFL.com |
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Up in The Air: It's been communal wisdom among Green Bay fans that if only the Packers could mount a formidable rushing attack, quarterback Aaron Rodgers would have a field day. Well, with RB James Starks gobbling up an average of 6.6 yards per carry, Washington's already suspect safety group was forced to respect the run. What happened next has become so commonplace in Green Bay, that one almost forgets to highlight its significance. Aaron Rodgers was surgical, completing 34 of 42 passes for 480 yards, 4 touchdowns and no interceptions. The yardage tied a franchise record set, funny enough, by former backup Matt Flynn. On the strength of Rodgers' arm, Green Bay saw 18 of its 28 first downs come via the pass. While they were only 4-10 on 3rd down conversions, the ratio of 28 first downs to just 10 third downs means that the offense was humming efficiently, already a well-oiled machine just two games into the season. Rodgers has 7 touchdowns and 1 interception through those two games.
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| S Shields. Photo: Roemerphotoblog.com |
Sam Shields Was All Over The Place: At some point between defensive snaps in the third quarter, I scribbled the following exclamation in my notebook: "Sam Shields is all over the place!" And indeed he was. The young cornerback was involved on seemingly every clutch stop. Shields led the team with 8 tackles—5 of them solo— and made three pass breakups in textbook fashion, closing on receivers with perfect timing and playing the ball rather than the receiver. Lacking the quality and quantity of receiver that San Francisco enjoys, Washington's wideouts were contained when it mattered against Sam Shields and fellow corner Tramon Williams. They surrendered yardage late, but this secondary was much improved from last week's flop, and Sam Shields was a key cog in that improvement.
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I think that Shields is making his self a fair bit of money with his play this season. It's a contract year and he seems to be evolving into a shut down corner.
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