Green Bay Packers: Midseason report card grades for each position

The Green Bay Packers are riding high at the midway point of the 2019 season. Here are the report card grades for each position after the first eight games.

It’s hard to imagine a better start for the Green Bay Packers through eight games. At the midway point of the season, the Packers stand at 7-1, conquering a feat not even the most optimistic outsider could have predicted before the season started.

Thanks to a revived offense predicated on the zone running game, quarterback Aaron Rodgers is having his best season since 2014. Rodgers is on pace for the most passing yards in a single season in his career and could have his highest passer rating since 2014, the last year he won the MVP award.

While Rodgers is in the top three players at the moment in consideration for the NFL MVP, we can’t forget to talk about running back Aaron Jones, who currently leads the entire NFL in touchdowns (11). Jones is having a legitimate breakout season and should be considered among the league’s elite at the position.

On the flip side, Green Bay’s defense started off hot in the first three weeks but has since cooled off a bit. Mike Pettine’s group is currently allowing 20.4 points per game (11th), but is giving up a whopping 375.5 yards per game (22nd). The Packers defense has been the definition of the “bend but don’t break” mentality.

Leading the defense as one of the team’s three season-long captains is star outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith, who’s currently tied for fourth in the NFL with eight sacks. On the other side of the line of scrimmage is fellow outside linebacker Preston Smith, who’s produced seven sacks of his own.

The Packers have been a complete team in all three phases, but have yet to truly play their best football, which is scary for opposing teams. With all of that said, here are the report card grades for each position at the midway point of 2019.