BARANCZYK

Analysis: Packers can't count on Brett Hundley as backup QB

Eric Baranczyk and Pete Dougherty

USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Hundley shows his frustration after a fourth-down pass that was incomplete against the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field on Dec. 23, 2017.

In nine starts, Brett Hundley showed the temperamental and character traits you look for in a quarterback: poise, determination, toughness.

But his play also raised enough red flags that the Packers probably need to replace him with a veteran backup in the Brian Hoyer mold this offseason.

Aaron Rodgers has missed enough games because of injuries over the last five years (seven in 2013, nine this season) that the Packers can’t just assume he’s going to make it through 2018 OK. That means they no longer can take chances with the backup position.

Hundley had his moments this year — a comeback win over Cleveland, a strong fourth quarter in a win over Chicago, a credible performance in a loss at Pittsburgh.

But in the end, he didn’t show enough throwing accuracy or ability to move off his first read to justify bringing him back as the No. 2 next season.

Maybe most troubling was the fourth-quarter interception he threw in each of the last two games, against Minnesota and at Detroit. He was trying to bring his team back from deficits but in both cases threw gimme interceptions that removed any doubt of the game’s outcome.

On the one against the Vikings, tight end Lance Kendricks wasn’t close to being open, but Hundley threw it and hit safety Harrison Smith in the numbers. Against the Lions, Hundley escaped the pocket to his right and his throw to the sidelines made it look like cornerback Darius Slay was the intended receiver.

Rule No. 1 for backup quarterbacks is not to do anything that loses the game. Those are the kinds of plays that lose games.

Hundley’s accuracy was a concern coming out of college and remains one. His completion percentage (60.8) was below the league average (62.1), and even on catchable throws too many were off target.

One example was his interception on the Packers’ first possession against Detroit, after he’d moved the Packers into the red zone. It was a short throw over the middle that caromed off running back Jamaal Williams’ hands and was intercepted by linebacker Jarrad Davis. Williams should have caught the ball, so the interception is on him. But Hundley’s throw clearly was behind him.

Hundley also didn’t put the ball on the money on what could have been a 23-yard touchdown pass to Jeff Janis in the first quarter. Janis was open on a post route down the middle of the field, and it wasn’t an easy throw because Hundley had defensive end Ziggy Ansah charging at him.

But he had time to set his feet and fire before he took the hit. You can fairly call the play a drop because Janis got a hand on the ball as he lunged at the goal line, but if the ball had been on target it would have been an easy touchdown.

In the NFL, quarterbacks have to be pinpoint accurate, because the throwing windows are smaller than in college, and ball placement often determines what happens after the catch. Hundley just isn’t quite accurate enough.

Overall, on quick one-read throws, Hundley was just fine. But when he had to make a second or third read, things got shaky. He too often didn’t seem to trust that guys were open and failed to get the ball out in rhythm.

In nine starts, you’d expect to see progress. But there wasn’t, or at least not enough. So this offseason the Packers need to sign a veteran and use a later-round pick for their next developmental prospect.

SILVERSTEIN:Packers' loyalty to Brett Hundley misguided

Fallback role

The Packers probably can view Justin McCray as a fallback starter at right guard next season, but he will not be in the running for starting right tackle.

McCray filled in at both positions this season — in fact, he played pretty much everywhere on the offensive line — but the finale against Detroit showed that he just isn’t athletic enough to handle the speed at tackle. Ansah was too big and fast for McCray, as he showed when he beat McCray for a sack on a spin move about halfway through the third quarter.

McCray is a good run blocker and is stout enough to hold up as a pass blocker at guard, where he’s blocking basically in a hallway between the center and tackle. He’s not as good as left guard Lane Taylor was at the same point in his career but is better than Don Barclay.

If Jahri Evans isn’t back, and that looks like a possibility based on the slip in his play late in the season and his comments about considering retirement after the final game, then McCray is a fallback for the starting job at right guard.

The Packers probably will want to sign another stopgap starter in the Evans mold or draft a possible starter. But if those fall through, McCray probably is good enough to go with.

Extra points

» Being out of the playoff race the last two games gave the Packers’ young receivers a chance to show they could replace Jordy Nelson or Randall Cobb in the top-three rotation next year, but none of them did that.

Trevor Davis made a big play against Detroit with a 29-yard catch downfield and picked up 21 yards on a screen pass. But on another screen to Janis, Davis was late off the line and instead of making a key block for Janis got in his teammate’s way. The play went for 1 yard.

Janis had a chance to make a tough 23-yard touchdown catch on the aforementioned skinny post over the middle but didn’t come up with it.

And Geronimo Allison (two catches for 15 yards against Detroit) did nothing to distinguish himself over the final two games.

» Safety HaHa Clinton-Dix clearly didn’t feel like playing in the last game and then compounded that early this week by calling out management for having too many young backups on the roster.

Clinton-Dix showed little interest in tackling receiver Kenny Golladay on a 46-yard touchdown, ran right through a chance to tackle Ameer Abdullah on a seven-yard touchdown run, and probably was responsible for leaving Matthew Stafford uncovered on the Lions’ two-point conversion pass to their quarterback in the fourth quarter. A bad ending to a bad season for Clinton-Dix.

Grade card

Quarterback: Brett Hundley (59.7 rating, two interceptions, lost fumble) didn’t finish the season looking like an NFL quarterback. Grade: F

Running backs: Jamaal Williams (87 yards on 22 carries) ran hard and with some power, but his dropped pass on the game’s first drive turned into a big interception. Grade: C

Offensive line: The game on artificial turf moved a little too fast for fill-ins Justin McCray at right tackle and club-handed Lucas Patrick at right guard. Grade: C.

Tight ends: Third-stringer Emanuel Byrd made the only play of this group, a 29-yard catch and run. Lance Kendricks remarkably had no catches in 58 snaps. Grade: D+

Wide receivers: Randall Cobb (four catches, 45 yards) showed his professionalism by coming to play in a game that didn’t matter. Grade: C-

Defensive line: Mike Daniels had a sack, and the line helped hold Detroit to 2.2-yards a carry. Grade: A-

Linebackers: Jake Ryan and Blake Martinez have their issues in coverage, like many linebackers in this league, but finished good seasons as run defenders. Reggie Gilbert on the outside had a couple pressures. Grade: B-

Cornerbacks: Undrafted rookie Lenzy Pipkins is a willing tackler and might be a depth guy next year. Josh Hawkins lacks awareness in coverage. Grade: C+

Safeties: Simply poor effort from Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, and Josh Jones keeps making assignment errors. Grade: D+

Special teams: Great game-opening onside kick by Mason Crosby and recovery by Jermaine Whitehead. Justin Vogel (36.3-yard net) had a shaky day. Grade: B-