MLF needs to can Petine and Mennenga at the end of the year. Why can't we have a decent defense and special teams? It's been since... what... mid Sherman?

OOF.

On par with you regarding special teams. Only surefire is our FG unit.

Shepperd doesn't look like an NFL player. Short, slow, bad decisions. Nothing in his game seems to be special. Why not try someone else like Begelton?

I was thinking exactly the same about the scripted offense. It looks as if everything is dialed perfectly for the first drives but then it starts to look horrific in the second half.
So maybe they should script twice more plays to cover the length of the game. If something works, keep doing it

If there is a lack of conditioning, it's a Packers problem, not league wide. Agreed, a shorter TC and no exhibition games, but these guys are getting very well paid to do their jobs. Other teams swarm and show intensity for 60 minutes. It seems there are some fundamental problems here that need to be addressed in the off season. Which unfortunately may be sooner than later. As far as coverage goes, I understand the concept that Pettine brings to the defense. The thing is, it doesn't work. You brought up staying on the field for the offense as being weak. So is getting off the field on defense. And that seems to be the relaxed/vanilla schemes that are being used. And ST's? Until the Packers are willing to pay a top notch coach to join the team, and instead settle for mediocrities, they're never going to improve.

JK Scott is a weapon for the Packers opponents, most other sports shows exploiting the Packers as soft and unable to maintain a lead , the whole NFL knows the Packers deficiencies except the Packers.

Al, I am pleased to see you identifying the abysmal blocking from the special teams unit. So many seem focused on Shepherd who, aside from the fumble, got more than he was given (I personally doubt Taylor or Ervin do noticeably better under the circumstances).

The comparison between the two units on the field last week is shocking. Unlike the catastrophic coverage the week before, this time we had most of our regulars not on IR. Our blocking was terrible. If we continue like that we will not only see poor field positions but more fumbles by the returners, if they stay healthy.

I do not buy the excuse of talent. The Colts aren’t running STs full of all Stars. It has to be coaching. The degree of indiscipline and technical ineptitude is simply too great.

I responded to a point earlier noting that LaFleur has been unable to change the approach of Pettine’s defense, despite post game statements that it is imperative on 3 or more occasions. Add to this the execrable ST showing and I am starting to wonder if LaFleur has it to be a HC as opposed to an OC.

A HC is responsible for the whole team. A HC who can’t get adequate performances out of his players will fail no matter how brilliant his game planning. We have seen this team come out flat in about 30% of the games, so that may also be a valid concern. However, a HC who can’t get performance from his coordinators is also likely doomed. So far it’s not looking good.

LaFleur needs to get hold of this team by the scruff of the neck now. There is no excuse for him either if Pettine plays a soft D or the D isn’t amped up again. Is he just not taken seriously? The same should go for ST.

LaFleur needs to show he really is the leader and can deliver a team that resembles his stated idea on the field. That starts with the coaches in this case. It may take drastic action to shake things up. A little less PR and a lot more Lombardi. Lead!

Hi Al, you asked me if Siena is in Italy and I confirm you. I send greetings to you and all Green Bay fans. I ask you to correct me if I say something irrelevant or irrelevant. I've been a long time fan but maybe I'm not very competent so if I say nonsense tell me. I would like to ask you for an analysis of the 3rd and 19th of the 4th quarter where the Colts, with a running game, came to 4 yards and then converted the 4th down taking a lot of time. There was still 01:58 It cost us 2 time outs and 30 seconds of play ...... everything we missed on the last drive !!!

Apparently, like ILB and run defense, the Packers don’t value special teams. Hire the cheap coach, don’t hold the returner or punter accountable, and don’t require anyone to block or tackle. We’ll just look concerned at press conferences and swear we will fix it. Yeah, that’s the ticket!

Darius Shepard as long as he's back there. Their going to kick to him. Cut him now. Swarm - lowery - What did BG see. Cut him now. Kirksey is slower. But he did make a few good plays. The LBs just are to inconsistent. P. Smith - Julius Peppers slowed down too. No matter how you cut it. The DL needs help first! And help is not on the way. BG cut Daniels without a back up plan. - Everyone behind Clark is a waste of time. Is BG really a GM or just a scout?? Turner- yes he's better then Wagner. Fast Drives - It's the Wall protection. Match ups- the safety use to cover the TE. And the LB played the run. I don't see the CB blitzing? So why does it keep happening. 3rd Downs and 1- If you can't run it. You don't have the right personel.

Third year since Mike McCarthy has been gone and what are we talking about.

* Special teams are a liability AND need a new coach
* Poor (soft) defense that can't stop the run AND needs a new coach
* Inconsistent offense with 3rd down conversion problems
* Linebackers and D-line deficiencies

Maybe we have a polluted mindset. Maybe we should just learn to accept this level of success and our participant ribbon.

Usually by this time in the season conditioning should not be a problem. If we have the best rated center there should be enough push in a spread formation to get a measly yard the vast majority of the time. I just think that our O line has to do a better job on running plays because I don't see us getting any push. I hope Turner can be our RT of the future, it would fill a big need. Obviously Wagner is not the ans and might be let go because he is too expensive for a backup ( 4mill cap saving).

LaFleur does a good job at the start of the game scripting plays. We need that also at the start of the second half and also when things go bad to help turnaround momentum. NOthing like a few first downs to right the ship.

Pettine needs to go now. Give the defense some new juice and aggressiveness. And perhaps the bad playing to soft and rushing three will go away. In the playoffs, the good quarterbacks perhaps won't pick apart the defense.

Special Teams:
These last few weeks Special Teams have not been very good. They need someone or people to step up.
One player that the Special Teams is really missing is Lovett. He was a really good special teams player.

Darius Sheppard:
I thought it was telling afterwards that the Colts purposely were kicking high short kicks to land at or about the 5 because they knew Shepherd wasn't a threat to return it. I think its time to find his replacement. I have nothing against him but i haven't seen anything that suggests he is a really good NFL player. I don't know if any of the WR on the PS can return kicks. If not they may need to go out and find a guy who can. I don't know how long Ervin will be out, but we can't keep putting Shepherd out there if he is a liability and no threat.

Billy Turner:
Imagine where our OL would be without Turner. He has been very, very good! His versatility has really helped the offense out, big time! Without Turner our OL would have really struggled.

First Drives:
They have scored on opening drives except for 2. Last week against Jags, Rodgers throws to a wide open Tonyan and the wind carries the ball 7 yards away. This week they are driving with ease until Rodgers/Linsley fumble the snap. The one thing I notice is in the first drive there is probably more motion then any other drive of the game. While they still use motion it just seems/feels like they use it more on the opening drive. For whatever reason later in games they use it here or there, but its not as frequent as it is when its put into the script.

Matchups:
I get that the defense has to use OLB and whatnot in coverage at times. I get that the ILB has to cover people. BUt here is my question. What is the point of playing Dime Defense so often if you are still going to rely on your OLB to cover people? What is the point of playing Dime defense if you are going to have your ILB cover a WR?
My question with the TD that Smith gave up. I can't remember what the coverage was like on the other side, but the safety over the top slid that direction. Shouldn't that safety know that Smith is covering the TE on that play? Shouldn't that Safety understand that Smith isn't a tremendous coverage type of player? It just seems like to me that the safety should have helped over the top with Smith in coverage.

Two Point Conversions:
That was a huge play in the game. They could have really used a stop there. Also would have changed the game a bit with the mindset of the Colts.

Raven Greene:
Greene is possibly our tackler on the team. One thing I would like to see them do more with Greene is try blitzing him. He has the strength and the speed to fight through the OL.
They have to find ways to get Greene and Martin on the field at the same time. It seems like they take Martin off to bring Greene on. Maybe they should find someone else to take off to put Greene on the field because have both on the field together more would only be a good thing for the defense.

3rd and 1s:
This is where I would like to see AJ Dillon come back and be the guy they need. They need a short yardage guy that can pound his way for a first down. Or at the very least the threat of that guy.
This is also an area I think using the TE's a bit more in the passing game would help. They are reliable and should be able to get a couple of yards.

Another wasted Rodgers MVP like season, Starr, Favre, Rodgers it ends here striking gold 3 times doesn't happen often, don't think Love will join that group so enjoy Rodgers now because we won't see someone like him on the Packers ever again.

Special teams: As stated by a couple others already, JK Scott is third from the bottom in both net average and punts inside the 20. Surely there is somebody out there who is better. I like the M. Taylor suggestion for returning kicks when Ervin is out; what do we have to lose?

Opposing two conversions: Just not getting any penetration or off blocks fast enough; this goes back to the first game of the season.

Second half offense: No, why not come out with a few different wrinkles and try plays to catch the defense off-guard? Dig deep into the playbook and get them guessing and back on their heels ( I watched the Steelers-Cowboys game a while back ago and MM was throwing everything he could at the Steelers with a third-string QB--and almost pulled off the upset). Once again, what do you have to lose? We only had about five minutes worth of possession in the second half; this is not sustainable.

Dang AL another great job of presenting core problems/issues and asking the right questions that need to be answered if theres is going to be a plan for improvement.

IMO Some things go hand in hand.

1st half GB executes the game plan controls the time of possession and the Defense plays its best. Great point on swarming to the ball, its huge and I don't hear about as much as I used to when watching football. 2nd half the offense sputters, why? That loss of time of possession advantage "seems" to lead to a reduce in D performance which to your point could be conditioning as the swarming to the ball reduction is obvious and makes a difference.

Can guys be conditioned to be on the field that much and still play at optimal levels? Do they not have or are failing to implement some sort of rotation to keep players fresh. If so why? is it due to Depth, Coaching or combination?

Why do opp. offenses come out strong after half, adjustments I assume, which in turn is going to take a few series to identify and counter, most likely, on defense.

So intuitively I can see if the Packers are a strong 1st half team why would they be thinking about making big adjustments, what they are doing is working. They game plan for opponents tendencies.

Im nowhere near knowledgeable to know but can adjustments be anticipated and countered better at half? Faster after the opponents implement? How does one go about preparing for this? Is it having better coaching? better players who don't have to have everything perfect to make plays to withstand strong adjustments by opponents?

Good stuff.

Did anyone notice that Rodgers was smiling while talking with opposing players after the game? I don’t know if I would have noticed it except I read a comment about the same thing after a previous loss. Not sure if it’s just good sportsmanship or just not as hungry for wins or what. Just an observation.

Someone posted comments giving credit to Mennenga for Scott's improved punting - obviously this was last season. I am guessing that Mennenga isn't lining up to take credit for Scott's punting this year.

I don't think Mennenga coaches Crosby except in the most general sense. Scott is young, so maybe there is tinkering with mechanics. Bradley is fairly young and new to the NFL. Same for him. I am more interested in the coverage on kicks and punts, and the prowess of the return teams than on the specialists themselves.