Brett Hundley: QB has a great upside, but long way to go

GREEN BAY, WI – OCTOBER 22: Brett Hundley /

Brett Hundley got his first start in the National Football League Sunday afternoon against the New Orleans Saints; it didn’t go as he hoped it would.

Brett Hundley is the new “Brett” in Green Bay, but his first start in the NFL didn’t go as well as fans, coaches, and he himself hoped it would.

The “In Hundley We Trust” signs and banners were in abundance, but by game’s end, there wasn’t much trust in the new quarterback, nor the coach who was calling plays for him.

Brett Hundley was 12-of-25 passing for 87 yards, one rushing touchdown and one interception. His 39.9 quarterback rating was something Packers fans haven’t seen for a while.

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So, what should we take out of the third-year player’s performance?

We know for sure that head coach Mike McCarthy reined him in. McCarthy’s conservative play-calling, especially in the second half, has come under massive criticism from across the internet today. McCarthy criticized himself yesterday for the “disgusting” second half his team played.

Being the “half-filled-glass” guy that I am, we did see only a glimpse of what Hundley can offer this Packers team. We shouldn’t be too pessimistic at this point. The guy has skills, but it’s up to the coaching staff to figure out how they can maximize those skills to the benefit of the offense.

Most assuredly, Hundley has running skills, but in order for him to utilize them best, the Packers have to establish an inside running game that will force linebackers to stay in the box. If they do that, then the Packers will have something – they will have a quarterback they can get out on the edge on designed plays where he can either run or make something happen in the passing game.

McCarthy has to move the pocket for Hundley and to design specific run plays for his new quarterback.

GREEN BAY, WI – OCTOBER 22: Brett Hundley /

Hundley is not Aaron Rodgers, but they do share the skill of escape and using their legs to make things happen.

One of the good things is that the Packers have two weeks to get this homed in; two weeks to get an offense designed that will benefit Hundley and his skills.

When the Detroit Lions come to town Monday, Nov. 6, it should be a time when McCarthy and Hundley have an opportunity to show something different.

I’m excited for the chance to see this Hundley offense evolve and change to the benefit of its quarterback and this team.

If the evolution doesn’t take shape, if McCarthy insists on making Hundley adapt to the Aaron Rodgers offense, this season could be a disaster. This team, if that occurs, may not win another game. The likes of the Chicago Bears could even overtake them … God forbid.

The sting of yesterday’s loss won’t go away for a bit, and everyone will be talking about Hundley’s performance, but even more importantly, the implosion of the Packers’ defense.

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Not only does McCarthy have to deal with getting his new quarterback ready to go, but he’s got to look at what’s happening once again with this team’s defense.

If there was anything disgusting about yesterday’s game, it was Dom Capers’ defense that did anything but defend in the second half yesterday.

In the meantime, let’s continue to hope for the best with Hundley’s evolution. Hopefully, it will result in some wins down the road.

Stay tuned.

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