We begin our 2014 report card grades with the Packers offense.

Please be understanding that this is an inexact science at best with players who haven't received major chunks of playing time.

The grading scale is as follows: A=Pro Bowl/All-Pro caliber, B=Solid NFL starter, C=Average NFL player, D=Below-average NFL player, F=Fringe NFL player.

Quarterbacks

Aaron Rodgers (A): Rodgers has thrown for more yards in a season, completed a higher percentage of passes, tossed more touchdowns, had a higher passer rating, a higher average yards per attempt, ran for more yards and more scores. But Rodgers has arguably never been more cluch, leading the team to comeback wins against the Jets in Week 2, and at Miami, throwing for the winning score with mere seconds on the clock. His second-half return against the Lions in the regular-season finale is the stuff legends are made from, and his performance in spite of a torn muscle in his calf over the final month was remarkable, including another comeback win against the Cowboys in the divisional round of the playoffs. Then there was Rodgers' six touchdown passes in first half of the win over the Bears. His five regular-season interceptions were the fewest of his career. Rodgers has already won the league's MVP Award from the Pro Football Writers of America and could very well win another when the Associated Press hands theirs out on Jan. 31.

Matt Flynn (D): The only time Flynn saw the field when the game was still in question was the final game of the regular season against the Lions when Rodgers was injured, a three-and-out series in which he endured a sack. Otherwise all his other appearances were in blowout wins and victory-formation kneel-downs at the end of the game. Flynn did little of note but did throw an interception in limited action against the Vikings in Week 5. He enters an offseason of uncertainty, his contract expiring.

Scott Tolzien (Incomplete): Inactive for the first 15 games of the season, the Packers activated Tolzien for the final game of the regular season and both playoff games, an insurance policy for the injured Rodgers. One could read into Tolzien's active status, assuming that Flynn may have been given a short leash in the event he was forced into action, in favor of the younger player with the stronger arm. Tolzien becomes a free agent, although he figures to return to fight for a job. It's not like other teams will be banging down his door, clamoring to sign him in the offseason.

Running Backs

Eddie Lacy (B+): Starting Oct. 26, Lacy had 10 consecutive games with more than 100 yards from scrimmage, a franchise record. He also became the first player in team history to rush for at least 1,000 yards and score double-digit touchdowns in each of his first two seasons. His 2,317 rushing yards were the most by a Packers player in his first two seasons. His success late in the year makes it easy to forget his struggles early on. In the first seven games of the season, he eclipsed 100 yards only once. In four of the first six games, he failed to either reach 50 yards or score a touchdown. He's obviously talented, but his early shortcomings were the difference between DeMarco Murray/Marshawn Lynch respectability and being in the second tier of NFL running backs. His pass protection was superb.

James Starks (B-): Starks had almost the exact same number of carries in 2014 as in 2013 but with significantly less impressive results. Last season he had 89 carries for 493 yards (5.5 avg.) and three touchdowns compared to this season's 85 carries for 333 yards (3.9 avg.) and two touchdowns. Starks contributed a handful of more receptions 18 this season, up from 10 a year ago, but neither his receiving skills nor his pass blocking is anything to write home about. After signing a two-year contract in the offseason, Starks played in all 18 games this season for the first time in his professional career.

John Kuhn (B): As the season went along, the Packers figured out a way to keep Kuhn on the field when they were operating their no-huddle offense, something they were reluctant to do early in the year. So as the weather got colder, his role grew, playing no fewer than 23 snaps per game the last four games of the season (including playoffs). Kuhn's lead blocking was one reason Lacy was more effective the second half of the season. The fullback carried the football 24 times, scoring once, although his four receptions were the fewest since 2008. There were arguably better fullbacks than Kuhn in the NFL despite receiving both Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors, although he proved he's still among the four or five best in the league. Kuhn also proved he could adapt from being Rodgers' personal pass protector to being more of a lead blocker in 2014.

DuJuan Harris (D-): About the only thing Harris could boast of in 2014 was being sure handed, not fumbling once. Among NFL kick returners with at least 20 attempts, he ranked second-to-last this season, 20 out of 21, in kick return average, gaining just 20.7 yards per attempt. Harris' long of 41 yards was tied for the shortest among qualified kick returners. The Packers showed how little faith they had in Harris by placing him on the inactive list in each of the last three games. He played just 51 snaps this season, according to ProFootballFocus.com, carrying the football 16 times. Chipped in two special teams tackles.

Wide Receivers

Jordy Nelson (A): Nelson scored 15 touchdowns in 2011, two more than in 2014, but otherwise had the best season of his career. He became one of just eight players in NFL history with 95-plus catches (98), 1,500-plus receiving yards (a franchise-record 1,519) and 13-plus receiving touchdowns (13) in a season. For the first time, Nelson was named to the Pro Bowl, an honor he deserved. He's one of the best in the league, perhaps in history, at body control, showing uncanny discipline along the sidelines. Just about the only thing Nelson can be faulted for is dropping what could have been a 94-yard touchdown pass from Rodgers in the loss to the Buffalo Bills. Regardless, he's still one of the best deep threats in the NFL.

Randall Cobb (A-): In a contract season, Cobb showed how valuable he can be, setting career highs in nearly every receiving category: 91 catches for 1,287 yards and 12 touchdowns. He's one of the best slot receivers in the NFL, equally dangerous breaking inside, outside, or threatening to bust straight down the center of the field. Although he had his fewest rushing yards (37) of the past three seasons, Cobb was still a match-up problem for opponents, particularly when motioning out of the backfield. Despite being voted a playoff captain on special teams, Cobb was less effective than Micah Hyde on punt returns and returned just three kicks all year. Including playoffs, he fumbled four times in 2014, losing two.

Davante Adams (C+): His performance in the divisional round of the playoffs, catching seven passes for a team-high 117 yards and a touchdown, helped Adams put a disappointing month of December behind him, one in which he caught just four passes in four games. It was an up-and-down year from the second round draft choice, establishing himself as the unquestioned third receiver, surpassing Jarrett Boykin on the depth chart, but also displaying too much inconsistency. Adams' 38 receptions for 446 yards and three touchdown in the regular season is something to bulld off, but he also has a long way to go to become reliable starter material. His alert reception on a fake spike by Rodgers to set up the game-winning touchdown in Miami was an obvious highlight.

Jarrett Boykin (F): It was a shocking disappointment to watch Boykin go from 49 receptions for 681 yards and three touchdowns a year ago to a mere three receptions for 23 yards and no scores in 2014. There was little shame in losing out to Adams for the third receiver job, but to completely fall out of favor was nearly beyond belief, considering that the fourth receiver in Green Bay's offense has traditionally contributed 30-plus receptions for 300-plus yards in recent seasons. Boykin's biggest contribution was probably on special teams, where he was the only player on the team to force a fumble and actually forced two.

Jeff Janis (Incomplete): Despite three explosive plays, two of them for touchdowns, in the preseason, the Packers were clearly uncomfortable giving the seventh round draft choice from a Division II college a role in his rookie season. Janis played in three games and caught just two passes. With another offseason to learn the offense, Janis will have the opportunity for a bigger role in his second year.

Tight Ends

Andrew Quarless (C): Starting 11 of 16 games, Quarless has evolved into a reliable if unspectacular tight end. He caught 29 passes for a career-high 323 yards and three touchdowns in the regular season and added another score in the playoffs. His moment in the sun was the game-winning touchdown grab in Miami with just seconds remaining on the clock. Unfortunately for Quarless, he's no longer the same blocker he was prior to a knee injury with multiple torn ligaments in 2012.

Richard Rodgers (C+): If Rodgers were to be evaluated on solely the last month or so of the season, he may have graded out much higher. The Rodgers that caught five passes in the division-clinching regular-season finale and four passes in the NFC Championship and a touchdown in the divisional round is a different player than the one from the first half of the season. Consider that before the bye, Rodgers caught just seven passes for 111 yards and didn't find the end zone. The challenge will be to build off his late success moving forward, but he'll also have to become a much better run blocker. At 270 lbs., he should be better.

Brandon Bostick (D-): Bostick's muff of an onside kick attempt in the NFC Championship game may be a career-defining event. It certainly made everything he did the entire season before that pale in comparison, catching just two passes for three yards all year, although one did go for a touchdown. The tight end's entire campaign was a disappointment considering the expectations for him entering the season in hopes that he would be able to take over the seam-busing role from Jermichael Finley.

Justin Perillo (Incomplete): Perillo was active for two games, playing just 11 snaps on offense, according to ProFootballFocus.com. In limited exposure, including the preseason, he would appear to show some promise as a fluid athlete but may have to display continued development as a blocker and special teams player if he hopes to stick around.

Offensive Linemen

David Bakhtiari (B+): The book on Bakhtiari after his rookie season was that he was a promising pass protector that needed to hit the weight room to become better as a run blocker. Consider it mission accomplished. Although he's not a dominating road grader by any means, Bakhtiari anchored and drove better in Year No. 2, doing well to open up holes for Lacy on the left side of the line. He may have allowed a team-high six sacks, according to ProFootballFocus.com, but that's not a necessarily high figure considering he played nearly every snap of the 2014 season. If Bakhtiari can make as much progress in Year 3 as he did in Year 2, he'll be one of the best left tackles in the league. He will have to cut down on penalties, however, with a team-leading nine on the season (one declined).

Josh Sitton (A-): If Sitton were to receive a handicap because of the torn ligament in his big toe, then consider him a solid "A." But as is was, the starting left guard wasn't quite himself in the immediate aftermath of the injury suffered in Week 8. Combine that with a less than stellar performance at Detroit in Week 3, and Sitton gets a "minus" tacked onto his "A." It, however, does little to diminish an otherwise impeccable season, culminating in both Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors. Accoding to ProFootballFocus.com, Sitton didn't allow a sack the entire season.

Corey Linsley (A-): If you ask some observers—although ProFootballFocus.com notably isn't among them—Linsley didn't allow a sack until the divisional round of the playoffs. Whether his first came against the Cowboys or back in Week 13 against the Patriots, it was still an exemplary season for the fifth round draft choice of the Packers. There were a handful of shotgun snaps that either came too early or were slightly off-target, but that could probably be expected for any center that played 1,216 snaps, let alone a rookie. Linsley was the only player on the Packers roster that played every single snap this season on either offense or defense, and as such, should receive the highest performance-based pay on the team in the offseason.

T.J. Lang (B+): Consider it the best season of Lang's career, a player that seems to be settling in nicely at right guard, where he was allowed to play exclusively in 2014. Lang wasn't called upon to fill in at center or tackle, like he had in previous seasons. The continuity was beneficial to not only Lang, but the entire offensive line. A battler in the trenches, Lang was effective both pass and run blocking.

Bryan Bulaga (B+): After missing a game and a half the first two weeks of the season, Bulaga settled in nicely at right tackle, starting the final 16 games and providing a steadying influence on the offensive line. Through steady play, he likely ensured he'll receive a generous contract offer in the offseason, whether it's with the Packers or another team. It wasn't all roses, however. Bulaga did allow a team-high 20 quarterback hurries, according to ProFootballFocus.com, while also the team leader in pre-snap penalties (seven), including two in the NFC Championship game.

Lane Taylor (F): In a 65-snap audition as the team's right guard in place of an injured Lang in Week 8 against the Saints, Taylor was clearly overmatched, getting pushed around in the run game. Three of the blocked kicks the Packers allowed this season also came to Taylor's immediate left or right this season as well. To stick around for another campaign, Taylor will have to show marked improvement.

J.C. Tretter (D): Once Tretter came of the Physically Unable to Perform list during the bye week, the Packers felt comfortable enough to part ways with former first round draft pick Derek Sherrod, who never got back to form following a gruesome broken leg in 2011. Tretter played only sparingly this season, mostly in blowout situations, but even so, seemed to struggle in pass protection. If nothing else, he's developed into a versatile player that can play tackle, guard and center but still needs to take a big step forward.

Garth Gerhart (Incomplete): Gerhart played in just two games, again, primarily after the outcome of the game had already been decided. He has the versatility to play both guard and center, but the Packers clearly didn't trust him to be any better than the eighth offensive lineman in the pecking order this season.

Defense on Tuesday.

*Only players that finished the season on the active roster are graded.

Brian Carriveau is the author of the book "It's Just a Game: Big League Drama in Small Town America," and editor at Cheesehead TV and its "Pro Football Draft Preview." To contact Brian, email [email protected].