"Chips Report" From Packers Loss Vs. Falcons
Jordy Nelson had a good game and Brandon Jackson couldn't get the running game going, but who else earned our weekly distinctions in the Packers 20-17 loss to the Falcons?
Our weekly designations from the Green Bay Packers' 20-17 loss to the Atlanta Falcons...
Blue Chips
- Jordy Nelson–Tying for the team lead in receptions with 5, Nelson's biggest catch was his game tying touchdown with just 56 seconds remaining in the game to knot the game at 17-17. Also impressive was his second-half shoestring catch, an unbelieveable effort just to keep the ball off the ground. All told, Nelson had 61 yards and proved to be a reliable ball-control receiver.
- Charlie Peprah–The safety's biggest contributions were on back-t0-back plays in the second half while trying to keep the Falcons out of the endzone. First was his tackle teaming up with Desmond Bishop to bring down Jason Snelling short of the goal line. And then on the next play was his defending the pass and keeping future Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez outside of the endzone. The team's efforts to keep the Falcons out entirely would fall short when Michael Turner later scored on a 1-yard run but to no fault of Peprah. He finished second on the team with 9 total tackles.
Red Chips
- Aaron Rodgers–His fumble kept him out of the "blue chip" category, but his ability to overcome that fumble and put the Packers in a position to win the game were admirable. Directing his fourth quarter drive to tie the game at 17 when the running game wasn't working was a work of art. And his own contributions to the running game were the only thing the Packers had going for them on the ground. Rodgers finished the game completing 26 of 35 passes for 344 yards, 1 touchdown and 0 interceptions for a passer rating of 114.5. He also added 51 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.
- Greg Jennings–Continuing his streak of solid play pretty much dating back to the beginning of the Packers' four-game winning streak, Jennings topped the century mark with 117 yards and tied for the team lead with 5 receptions. Converting several first downs, Jennings kept the chains moving on Sunday.
Cow Chips
- Brandon Jackson–It was a tough decision to single out any one player for a "cow chip." And while Mike McCarthy or Shawn Slocum may deserve one, I've always tried to keep this a coaching-free post as well. Jackson did some good things against the Falcons in pass protection and a 12-yard run, but other than that, he offered little to the run game. Especially egregious was his attempt to string a carry out to the right sideline on his way to losing 6 yards.
Comments (54)
November 28, 2010 at 06:46 pm
Clearly this is going to be a problem going forward when we play playoff contenders the lack of running game will be our downfall!!!
November 28, 2010 at 08:08 pm
No it wont, just ask Nagler. I've thought all along the Grant injury was dang near as big as Finley.
November 28, 2010 at 06:58 pm
We probably have a running game but he takes a seat to Nance.Why,I have no idea but he needs to get the call next week.Starks cannot possibly do worst then this shit.
November 28, 2010 at 07:51 pm
BJ - 26 yards on 10 carries ..... Nance 0 yards on one carry ........ It wouldn't take much by the 'secret weapon' to surpass those numbers .... I'm not sure that Starks is the answer but I do know that AR shouldn't be the leading rusher (12 for 51) ......
November 28, 2010 at 07:02 pm
Love the chips report, and I agree with most of it (though I would have swaped Pep and A-Rod).
The Pack doesn't need a run game that can get four, five y/ac. What the Pack needs is a running game that can get one yard consistently. On that note, I don't think it's any one RBs fault; in fact, I think the fault lies mostly in the O-line today. The holes weren't there, the line was getting beat badly and continuously. We just need a running game that can make one yard consistently. Other than that, I'll take our lack of run game.
Also, the reason why I think A-Rod shouldn't get it too hard today was that, well, he was told to be a running back multiple times during the game. He's not. And hopefully this teaches MM to not use him as such. We're lucky that so far A-Rod hasn't fumbled in the sneaks--that's actually quite routine for QBs. I think it's spoiled MM to the dangers of the play (other than getting hurt, which also almost happened). That play highlights our need to coach a good bread and butter one yard run play. Put in Q Johnson and Dmitri Nance, bring in something like the old U-71, and punch something down someone's throat. Forget the fancy pants zone blocking for that B&B play, and just go man on man power football for one play.
November 28, 2010 at 09:03 pm
"The Pack doesn’t need a run game that can get four, five y/ac. What the Pack needs is a running game that can get one yard consistently. "
You are absolutely right. Silverstein says basically the same thing and after today, I agree with both of you. I don't think the Fullback matters that much, but we should seriously consider keeping a couple gigantic O linemen for backups and swapping them out in short yardage. Cliffy and Colledge cannot drive block.
November 28, 2010 at 11:47 pm
As to your last comment, I thought we had someone like that in Giacommini but we all know how well we played. tsk tsk... if only we could get some big guys who are not only tall but also competent.
November 29, 2010 at 08:39 pm
My Christmas wish list for 2010:
Scrap the ZBS altogether!
(I never did like it, they've never really executed it well, and it obviously isn't working for them.)
November 28, 2010 at 07:25 pm
Watch the quarterback sneaks, and the 3rd and 1... clearly Colledge is your Cow Chip
Brian Carriveau
November 28, 2010 at 07:35 pm
You might be right, Eric. I feel uncomfortable blaming any particular one of five offensive linemen without watching film of the game first. But obviously the offensive line had its problems today.
November 28, 2010 at 07:41 pm
I agree, though I thought the Oline was overall outstanding on pass protection. Rodgers had all day on several snaps, I don't really remember him getting hit very much, if at all.
November 28, 2010 at 09:30 pm
yep. o-line was excellent in pass protection. there were a few plays where a-rod had all day to throw
November 29, 2010 at 10:54 am
Colledge has improved as a pass blocker, but he is (and has always been) a huge part of the problems with the run.
His run blocking on short runs is horrible. As a 2nd round pick, he's underachieved.
November 29, 2010 at 01:16 am
Collage is a joke, off sides next to the center!!!!!!!!!!!!?
November 28, 2010 at 07:28 pm
A-rod's fumble not his fault, Green Bay's lack of a running game caused that fumble.
We are asking too much from A-rod to not only throw touch downs, but to punch it in on the goal line.
QB sneaks work when you have a running game.
Bottom line Brandon Jackson is not good enough against elite teams, clearly Atlanta was a complete team (defense,running game, passing, and special teams).
Packers better in some areas, but not better enough to over come the lack of a running threat. Complete teams win these types of games.
November 28, 2010 at 08:09 pm
It wasn't lack of running game that cost us this game. It was the fumble.
November 28, 2010 at 07:32 pm
Completely wrong on grading A-rod's performance, may have been his best game of the year considering the competition and what was at stake.
He is not a hybrid (QB/running back). That turnover is on MM, he is asking A-rod to do too much.
November 29, 2010 at 05:49 am
Okay, so QB's are allowed to fumble, now?
Seriously?
Rodgers fumbled. QB's are expected to protect the ball, just like anyone else who is expected to handle the ball on the field. Period.
We all love Rodgers, and we all think he played a great game. But don't be a chump and give him a pass for putting it on the ground and blame MM instead.
Don't like the playcalling? Fine. But a play call doesn't make a fumble.
November 29, 2010 at 12:13 pm
If we had a running game then it shouldnt have to come down to AROD punching it in on the goalline. Why not give it to a RB and risk injury to AROD. If it wasnt for AROD the game would have never been tied at the end. If you blame rodgers for this loss your a complete idiot and dont understand the game of football. Did you see the falcons punch it in with Ryan? NO
PackerAaron
November 29, 2010 at 12:40 pm
"If we had a running game then it shouldnt have to come down to AROD punching it in on the goalline" - but they don't, so it did.
No one, near as I can tell, is "blaming" Rodgers for the loss. But to deny that the fumble was not a major component is foolish. Why do people get so sensitive when Rodgers is criticized? I just don't get it.
November 28, 2010 at 07:41 pm
one positive is that our injury ravaged team just hung with arguably the best team in the nfc and could have won if not for a few boneheaded plays and play calls. hopefully the packers learn from this game, fix some of the problems and keep improving. that said, our road into the post season just got a lot tougher with this loss.
November 28, 2010 at 07:44 pm
Honestly, at this point I'm not entirely sure that we're not a better road team than home team in December and January. We're not exactly built like the teams in the 90s, where Ron Wolf made them so that they would excel in the cold muck of Lambeau in winter.
November 28, 2010 at 09:00 pm
you might be right. i think even rodgers said that he loves playing in domes. he talked about the feel of the football saying it's much easier to handle in the warm climate of a dome compared to lambeau field in the winter
November 29, 2010 at 03:15 pm
you're talkin' like this team is a shoe-in for the playoffs.
i don't like the looks of things.
SF - win?
Det - win?
NE - loss
NY - loss
CH - loss (yes, they are good)
NE, NY, CH... anyone thinks the Pack will blow out any of these 3? Didn't think so. So how's this team been doing in close games?
9 wins ain't gonna do it.
DAG-NABBIT!!!!!!
They should be sweet next year, though. sign all the FA's, draft OL, OLB, WR, RB.
November 29, 2010 at 10:30 pm
i think we'll be 11-5 at the end of the season. i'm picking us to go 4-1 down the final stretch, losing another close one to NE. the only problem is is that i also see the bears ending up at 11-5 losing to the packers and the pats (or maybe the jets). anyways.... i picked us to go 11-5 at best before the season started so, considering all of the injuries, i think this season has been a success overall and sets us up to make a very strong run next year.
November 28, 2010 at 07:44 pm
I say that Colledge deserves a "cow-chip", as well... he was back-rubbing some guy that Clifton was blocking -- and left a huge hole in the middle of the line, that compromised Rodgers.
A false start? while, next to the center?
Collapsing passing pockets; no push on runs/QB-sneaks; can't block in space/on-screens.
I vote cow patty.
November 28, 2010 at 08:09 pm
The OL didn't play spectacular in the run game but let's face it.....the lack of a run game falls squarely on the shoulders of McCarthy. PERIOD. You go in to the game without Donald Lee who is your best blocking TE by deactivating him? Not too much empahsis on the run game with that move. You don't even try to establish the zone run. Then you try to run toss that fall in to the gap scheme. Make up your mind. You'll notice that we "made some hay" behind the right side (Sitton & Bulaga) running the zone scheme the few times we did attempt to hand it off to a running back. Unless McCarthy is seeing us average 4yds per carry he won't stick with the runa and this is the downfall of the Pack. He's used the short passing game to our backs much better by running scat protections like the old WCO but you still have to turn around and drive the ball in to the backfield and let your runners work. Jackson is much like Bennett was.....can catch and is a decent runner.....BUT you've got to give him more than 10 carries and you have to be consistent in your running scheme. Toss plays against a fast flow defense don't cut it. Zone plays do and we saw it a couple of times. I swear that McCarthy hates to run the ball. All he gets excited about is his "Big 5" sets. I like them too but running them exclusively won't cut it. Look at our losses and than look at our run ratio. 13 or fewer runs by any one back and we have a loss every time. Sorry folks....as long as McCarthy is in Green Bay, no SuperBowl. Why he doesn't fire Slocum is beyond me but then why doesn't he make a committment to run the ball instead of paying lip service to it? Pretty much sums up McCarthy.
November 28, 2010 at 08:16 pm
BJ - 28 yards on 14 carries last week .... 26 yards on 10 carries this week ........
And you want him to carry the ball more often? .....
November 28, 2010 at 08:49 pm
And you want him to carry the ball more often? ...
-----
and how else will he get 600 yards this season ?
November 28, 2010 at 09:03 pm
i would've liked to see either nance or kuhn punch it in on the 2 yard line rather than 2 failed quarterback sneaks (the 2nd resulting in a costly turnover)
November 28, 2010 at 09:23 pm
Like I said....13 or fewer carries by the main back and we lose. It's the attempts more than the yards. 14 is more than 13. Looks like we won that game. Just sayin.
November 29, 2010 at 01:35 am
i just heard that nance suffered a concussion in the game! when the hell did that happen???
November 28, 2010 at 08:12 pm
Cow Chip for the Run and Shoot Offense.
November 28, 2010 at 08:47 pm
Last I checked, MM head coach, not OL coach, Campen and crew has got to go!
November 28, 2010 at 09:25 pm
MM should have fired Campen long ago....I agree. So...since it hasn't happened it falls on McCarthy since that is the horse he's going to ride. Same goes with Slocum.
November 28, 2010 at 09:31 pm
I thought Campen would go when Sanders, et al left two years ago.
I don't see a Denver/Atlanta/ZBS-style run game from the Packers.
Nor are they road-graders.
They're miscast -- square pegs in round holes (or some other apt metaphor)
Will this be a future oLine?
Bulaga/Lang/McDonald/Sitton/Newhouse ????
November 28, 2010 at 09:30 pm
POC---Agree-agree.
November 28, 2010 at 09:33 pm
I guess he's gonna ride that horse into the fire, can't fix stupid!
November 28, 2010 at 09:56 pm
This running game is laughable, -seriously-laughable!!!!!!!! Rodgers leading rusher? Do we really want to mortgage our future QB, (who I might add is a very good QB) to this crap? Something's gotta give!
November 28, 2010 at 10:10 pm
Cow Chip to McFatty and his awful play calling & no red flags thrown. At the end of the second "suprise" QB sneak, McCarthy could be seen mouthing "WOW".
Also, AR should be calling a TO or audiable when the entire D is lined up to stop a obvious run.
For a guy who loves throwing the ball, his goal line play calling sucks. This is tat least the second goal line (or more) bunch & run up the middle style.
BTW - with 6 seconds left on the game clock, your best play call is a mid range pass.
November 28, 2010 at 10:17 pm
When the H&** are we going to see Starks or Nance run the ball.
Every week we all talk about the running game, or lack of... What is the Packer organization talking about? They can't be happy about it.
McFatty is wasting our chance for the playoff's
November 29, 2010 at 05:54 am
Felt the same way about Nance, this week MM was saying they were going to give Jackson and Nance close to equal carries- 3-5 touches for Brandon, 3-5 touches for Nance, etc, so forth, alternating unless someone gets a hot hand and then they'd roll with that guy while he's hot.
I was pissed during the game that it didn't happen, but it turns out Nance suffered a concussion, I don't know if it was on a ST play or his one carry, but none the less, that's why Nance was never utilized even though Jackson was struggling.
Honestly, with the way the O line was run blocking yesterday, I don't know that it would have mattered.
November 28, 2010 at 10:52 pm
OH. MY. GOD.
For the last 4 weeks y'all couldn't heap enough praise on these guys and now we are calling for coaches to get fired?? Good F'ing grief. We went into a game on the road against a team with the best record in the NFC who is 18-1 at home w/ current QB and took them to the wire. Is everything perfect with this team? Hell no, but geez some of you guys turn fast.
BTW, with it fairly obvious that Sitton is our best run blocker, why would we go to the left? Is that left to AR's discretion? Seems going behind Sitton would almost always be preferable to Colledge regardless of the DL configuration.
November 28, 2010 at 11:51 pm
That's the point! Run to our strenghts = right side. Or, with the line stacked, roll AR to the pylon. Or, pass in the flat to a TE. Any of these would be better than what happened.
Running AR is just fine when he's alluding pressure. Sneaks will get him injured sooner or later.
I've been calling MM an idiot for most of the season. I've quieted down the last two weeks, but sensed that we were just playing immensely dysfunctional teams that made him look good. I agree that we played tough against a very good team; but better HC gives us the win. Forget injuries, yes that has disrupted us; but nevertheless, we're still in this. That makes for a thinner margin of error.
Does the call for a replay revolve around the TV feed, or is there different video that can be watched? The TV replay was very slow on that play. I didn't think it was anything but a catch until after the next play (and I think, a commercial).
November 29, 2010 at 01:06 am
Just for the record= Ive never been a fan of our OL, under Campen, and yes, Im calling for the head of the OL coach! If you think for a second this team is Super Bowl bound, your wrong! Watch NFL TODAY!
You smell a rat, call it a rat-this running game is a rat! I refuse to go back to the 70's--80's!!!!!!!!
November 29, 2010 at 01:51 am
Next two weeks, OL will run gangbusters against power houses SF- and the Cats, and alls good. ha.
November 29, 2010 at 06:00 am
Aaron,
Obviously, I agree the running game was lousy, but I think the Cow Chip should go to the entire run unit- Brandon Jackson AND THE O-LINE.
The entire O-line was horrendous yesterday in run blocking. Hardly a run got off without a D-lineman initiating contact with Jackson (or Nance's one carry) behind the line of scrimmage. ATL was penetrating and pushing around our O line as though our guys were high school kids.
Jackson didn't help the situation by making the losses bigger, but damn, he was often trying to find somewhere to escape because he was guaranteed a 1-2 yard loss if he stayed behind the "blocks" of his o-line.
Yes, Jackson was horrible, but the O-line deserves a stern cow-chipping, too. And it wasn't just Colledge. The right side collapsed just as often and Daryn did.
November 29, 2010 at 06:06 am
LOL, Aaron,
Disregard this post, as I see I'm preaching to the choir.
Just watched "My Ugly Mug" and see you've stated exactly this. I actually paused it right after hearing you state the run blocking was non existent and BJ was getting hit behind the line, to write this retraction.
November 29, 2010 at 08:48 am
Given Aaron's completely fair point about relying too much on complex stats, I can't help but point out that coming into this game ATL's run D was 4th overall in DVOA and 6th in overall rush yards/game allowed. It's understandable that they would do well against our rushing attack (with possible scare quotes). We shouldn't be surprised by this.
PackerAaron
November 29, 2010 at 09:28 am
I agree with this for the most part. I also agree with those that say 10 attempts just isn't getting it done. On his 9th or 10th attempt, Jackson broke a 12 yard gain. But by that point they were trailing in the 4th quarter. Not the time to "establish the run".
November 29, 2010 at 09:55 am
B Jax's running yardage with direction:
1st Q: 1 LG, -1 LT (pen.), 0 LE, 4 RT
2nd Q: No Attempts
3rd Q: -6 RE, -1 RT
4th Q: 12 RT, 4 RE, 5 LT, 8 LT
Just remember that the Packers were down 17-10 in the 4th quarter.
November 29, 2010 at 10:22 am
Did I watch the same last few minutes as the rest of you?
AR leads a great comeback, setting up the chance for a defensive stop and the ball back.
SPECIAL TEAMS becomes NOT SO SPECIAL.
Cruch time and not a big play in sight. Specifically, Atalanta targets our roving MVP Woodson who is trailing 5-10 yards behind as his receiver makes play after play moving the ball down the field.
And no one has mentioned AJs poor path to the ball after the Packers nearly pull off a great goal line stand thanks to Pep.
November 29, 2010 at 11:48 am
I just thought Atlanta played with much more urgency throughout the game. Our O-line always seemed a step slow as compared to an average Atlanta D-Line. Atlanta went all-in on this contest based on a relatively easy schedule down the stretch. I can assure you however that MM and company will not lose to this team again this season - here's to hoping we get the chance.
November 29, 2010 at 09:00 pm
I've got to strongly disagree with giving Brandon Jackson a cow chip. He is constantly underutilized by the Packers. He is not put in the game to catch the ball, is usually not in the game to run the ball, and when he is the dump route he is open and ignored. You won't get 10 yards every carry, so if you abandon running the ball immediately then a rb cannot get into a flow. With a team that fills gaps, you need want to have extra blockers via 2 TEs or 2 FBs. On goaline, he is also ignored in favor of a qb run that teams are expecting and if there's a pass he's ignored. The guy has done nothing but block great, run hard, and gets constant criticism from this site due to his lack of "productivity." Everyone has acknowledged the line issues, but it seems that he is the man who gets blamed.