The Packers had no hope with Brett Hundley at quarterback in their first two games with Aaron Rodgers hurt. Luckily for them, they had a bye right after those two losses to regroup.
Green Bay is 4-3 going into Monday night's matchup against the Lions at Lambeau Field, but it feels like the Packers' season is already on the line with a must-win division game at home. But the Packers won't be able to win many more games and stay in the playoff hunt unless Hundley is more effective and efficient while Rodgers is out.
The good news is, with the bye week to hit the playbook and game film, plus the full assistance from both coach Mike McCarthy and Rodgers, Hundley will be in a much better position to succeed in his second pro start and beyond.
That is, assuming the Packers help their young backup quarterback with an offense that maximizes his strengths and limits his weaknesses.
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Few teams in the NFL are better than the Packers at managing injuries, big and small. Unlike in 2013, the first time Rodgers had to miss time with a broken collarbone, Hundley carries more upside than Matt Flynn, Scott Tolzien and Seneca Wallace did.
Here are five things the Packers can do to get Hundley from major drop-off to more-than-adequate understudy.
Keep it simple with Hundley's receivers.
It's impossible to ask Hundley to scan the field the way Rodgers does when the Packers spread the field. Rodgers makes third and fourth wide receivers and second and third tight ends better than they really are by consistently finding them in matchups he likes. The process of Hundley going through his progressions will be slower, just like it is for any QB who isn't Rodgers.
Luckily, the Packers have one of the best starting 1-2 punches with wideouts Jordy Nelson and Davante Adams. Randall Cobb is also there in the slot, but he has lost his effectiveness as a No. 3. Nelson and Adams have enough route-running and lineup versatility to be moved around where one consistently is in a better position to produce.
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Detroit presents an exploitable matchup. Though the Lions have top cornerback Darius Slay and strong nickel corner Quandre Diggs, teams have burned their No. 2 corner, Nevin Lawson, repeatedly. That should line up for either Nelson or Adams to draw favorable coverage outside.
It's OK for Hundley to be more like a rookie and target both Nelson and Adams often, and not try to be Rodgers, digging deep for Geronimo Allison or Richard Rodgers. Hundley can move the offense simply with heavy volume for his top two playmakers. The Packers should still use three and four receivers often, but more so with the intent of getting Nelson and Adams in the right spots.
Keep Hundley aggressive downfield.
That doesn't mean Hundley should dink-and-dunk into safe, easy completions to Nelson and Adams on short-to-intermediate routes. Hundley will also benefit from another exceptional duo — left tackle David Bakhtiari and right tackle Bryan Bulaga.
It's been an injury-riddled first half of the season for Bakhtiari and Bulaga, causing each to miss time and limiting the great deep-shot abilities of Rodgers. With those pass protectors locking down both sides, plus Hundley's own mobility, the Packers have no reason to hold back in trying to push the ball for big plays. Besides, there will be nothing easy for Hundley unless he can get defenders to back off and respect his arm and confidence to let the ball fly.
Keep it diverse in the backfield.
Rookie running back Aaron Jones has proved he should get more feature-like work. But the Packers should keep using Ty Montgomery in creative ways to get him key touches, too.
Getting Montgomery in the same formations as Jones can create confusion for opponents and also give Hundley another reliable outlet receiver.
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Keep letting Hundley pick his spots to run.
Hundley has proved capable of running when things break down, a la Rodgers, but it wouldn't hurt to get him more comfortable with a few designed runs to play off the backfield threats of Jones and Montgomery. Hundley has the potential to execute run-pass options — it's just a matter of calling them more often.
This doesn't mean Hundley should become a high-volume runner; he doesn't need to be with the emergence of Jones. It's about using his mobility to get him off the spot to make him a more dangerous passer, showing why he was drafted to play behind Rodgers in the first place.
Keep Hundley fearless after mistakes.
This might be the biggest thing. The Packers need Hundley to be a confident playmaker, not a cautious caretaker, given their persistent defensive issues. With an attack mentality, there will be more of the mental and physical miscues Rodgers rarely makes.
Hundley's performances against the Vikings and Saints could have rattled him, so it's a good sign that he's looking at those rough games as an opportunity come back stronger.
Reining in Hundley does neither him nor the Packers good at this point. Although they would prefer to avoid turnovers, they can't allow one interception or fumble to throw Hundley off his game.
Green Bay trusts its system under McCarthy. In turn, the team should trust Hundley to improve, starting with Monday night's game against Detroit.
