November 23rd, 2009

Jarrett Freekin\’ Bush

Aaron Nagler in Dom Capers, Jarrett Bush

Wow, it must be hard to be a Packers fan.

Your team wins a big game that helps put it atop the wild card race and all fans can do is cry about the second half, or about losing Al Harris and Aaron Kampman, or about the special teams coach (really?) ANYTHING but enjoy the win, right? Even for 24 hours? Hell, I’d take ONE hour. Not 10 mins after I had Gut Reactions up, someone was opining how this team would now, obviously, be going 6-10 again.

Injuries happen. To every team. The teams that deal with it the best are the ones that win. The one that don’t, lose. Now, there are two big components at play here – the depth on the team and how the coaches use it. You can bet Dom Capers knows damn well he can’t run out Bush and Underwood in a lot of Dime stuff and will scale that back. You can also expect to see less blitzing by Woodson, which isn’t exactly a terrible thing. Tramon Williams, if not as stout off the edge, is actually faster and could surprise in a blitzing role, as could Jarrett Bush.

And don’t think I don’t know the mere mention of his name sends shivers down your spine. I’m right there with you – in fact, all I keep seeing in my head is the quote from a scout to Bob McGinn after the 49er preseason game last year: “God is he bad”

It’s simple really – every time Bush is burned for a touchdown, I will be laying the blame squarely at Ted Thompson’s feet. He’s had years now to see the deficiencies in Bush’s game and has refused to let him go, going so far as to match the offer the Titans gave him as a restricted free agent this past offseason.

Fine Ted. But now here’s your boy for all the world to see as the Nickel corner of the Green Bay Packers.

When I saw the Dime and Bush make their first appearances down in Tampa, I’ll admit I was shocked and thought Capers must have taken ill or there had been a mutiny in the coaching box. No way any self-respecting coordinator would ever think Bush was fit to see the field, right? And then it dawned on me – Capers was saying to McCarthy and Thompson: Look, it’s bad enough you’ve given me a defensive end to play linebacker, but now you really expect me to work with Jarrett Freekin’ Bush? Fine. You know what, you love him so much? I’m gonna play the guy and when people howl and scream about how bad he is, everyone will be asking YOU why he’s even on the team, not me.

Or something like that.

On second thought, maybe the Doom Merchants have a point.

47 Responses to “Jarrett Freekin\’ Bush”

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I thoroughly enjoyed the game and the win, despite the injuries. Could have had to do with the fact that I was there, but still – can’t discount a win. We still have the momentum.

Andyman said in November 23rd, 2009 at 12:07 pm

I think Bush steps up. I bet he finishes the year with 3 picks and 2 sacks.

RockinRodgers said in November 23rd, 2009 at 12:09 pm

I know you were partially joking at the end but I think Capers is a solid judge of talent, and he wouldn’t put him out there if he didn’t think he could perform. We keep saying Tramon could be a starting corner anywhere else…let’s see if that’s actually true. Your dime guy is ALWAYS going to be the weakest link…that’s no different. After having two superstar CBs now we’re going to have to come back down to earth and understand that this is how the majority of other teams have to play. That means the rest of the players need to step up big time.

NickGBP said in November 23rd, 2009 at 12:19 pm

Why it’s allways the great guys that get injuried? When was the last time a Jarrett Bush or a (thanks god he’s gone) Tony Moll got injuried?
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BTW, I feel sorry for the guy. I mean, everybody hates him. But he’s just so terrible…

PackersRS said in November 23rd, 2009 at 12:28 pm

would love to re-sign Mike McKenzie who is healthy again. Add a veteran cornerback to help out back there. Not a shut down guy or a quick fix but would be nice for veteran insurance in the playoff stretch. But alas for a litany of reasons… that isn’t happening.

I’m not saying anything is over, and I think that we had our best defensive game of the year against a good team without Kampman. So compensating for their losses is definitely possible. But losing Al is like pulling on a bottom Jenga peice. It may still look solid without it, but at any point it could all come toppling down on you.

Packnic said in November 23rd, 2009 at 12:59 pm

Nicks right on, the rest of the D has to step it up. Maybe they will with knowing in the back of their minds that Al isnt there to smother the top threat. We wont see many teams with multiple WR threats besides Pitt and AZ, until the playoffs.

bomdad said in November 23rd, 2009 at 1:12 pm

Well, it couldn’t get any worse than watching another of TT’s draft picks, Aaron Rouse, look stupid in a personal foul out of bounds hit in the Atlanta game Sunday, either. I think Kampman’s loss could be hidden but not sure about Al. Even though he’s clearly lost a step previous to the injury, I share your fears about Bush.

brewers_rule said in November 23rd, 2009 at 1:28 pm

I don’t think I said this, but I felt very good about that last drive yesterday, and I did enjoy the win.

I’m not concerned we’ll go 6-10 (I wasn’t one of THOSE guys) but I do hate to see Al out. If we didn’t need him, we wouldn’t miss him. And he’s a heckuva guy who I hate to see injured.

We’ll just have to hope for the best.

foundinidaho said in November 23rd, 2009 at 1:33 pm

I hate Bush as much as anyone, but let’s be real. He hasn’t totally sucked lately. Capers might be able to do something with this guy. The Zone defense might be more to his strength. I also liked Underwood in the preseason. The dude’s got skills, he was just raw. We’ll see how well he’s come along. Derrick Martin has played CB too, so he could do some time at dime. Although if he was better than Underwood he’d have probably been in there.
Collins probably has the speed to play corner if need be. This isn’t doomsday.
And as for TT, he’s given us plenty of depth. We’ve already lost Pat Lee, Will Blackmon and Harris. We had to cut Anthony Smith and Charlie Peprah, who I liked. These guys are on other teams now, because they are good enough to play. Yet they weren’t good enough for our team.
Our young DBs are going to rally around each other. We’ve still got veteran leadership and plenty of savvy in Capers. I think we could also see more Big Okie and Safety Okie.
The beat goes on. The next guy steps up. We keep going.

http://profootballtalk.nbcspor.....-mckenzie/

Saints plan to sign McKenzie

nerdmann said in November 23rd, 2009 at 1:35 pm

I love these posts. Every organization goes through the same process when it comes to rounding out the roster during final cutdown: GM advocates for his guy, coach advocates for his guy and scouts/assistants advocate for their guys. Ultimately, personnel decisions are laid at the feet of the GM, yes. That being said, nobody outside of the organization insiders has the faintest clue who is advocating for Bush and why.

Is TT responsible for the roster, hell yes. Do we know it’s his decision year in and year out to retain Bush, hell no.

Not defending TT, but not about to pretend I know Bush is one of ‘his guys’.

CSS said in November 23rd, 2009 at 1:40 pm

I’m betting that Capers can adjust sooner and more effectively than MM has ever done.

Ron LC said in November 23rd, 2009 at 1:44 pm

Well in a preemptive defense of TT when he resigned Bush it was as a special teams player (not that he has been great in that role) and a SIXTH corner. Harris, Lee, and Blackmon would all be ahead of Bush on the depth chart if they weren’t on the IR. I don’t even agree with the resigning personally but if (and most likely when) Bush struggles or fails in his role as the nickel or dime corner you have to consider that. The outcry that ”Our sixth corner is struggling therefore our GM is an idiot!” will most certainly come whether it’s reasonable or not. Not very many, if any, teams are six deep at cornerback and to expect us to be is a little bit unfair. While Bush isn’t very good you’ll have a pretty hard time finding any sixth corner on any roster that is. If Bush in the nickel role by design I could understand any outrage his poor play caused (and would probably be leading the chorus of boos) but that simply isn’t the case. It took a series of unfortunate events to get to this point.

wgbeethree said in November 23rd, 2009 at 1:50 pm

Here it is – Aaron’s soliloquy to disheartened Packer fans the world over that will lift the hearts and minds of Green and Gold nation and replace pessimism and doom ‘n gloom with optimism and a feeling that everything’s going to be okay

…wait a tic…this makes me feel worse about the rest of the season…

bigfog said in November 23rd, 2009 at 1:58 pm

every team’s 3rd and 4th corners are shakey. we’re lucking to have t.williams to slide into harris’ spot.
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just gotta make it happen.
==
b.jones’ll be fine.
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offense is starting to get it’s act together. they were smoking the ‘9ers until they got bored. then smoked ‘em at the end when it was “winning time”.
===
i see 8-4 in our future

cow42 said in November 23rd, 2009 at 1:58 pm

There are no easy games in the NFL. Do not overlook Detroit.

Bad Knees said in November 23rd, 2009 at 2:23 pm

okay, so i didn’t even bother to read everyone’s comments yet, but..

you know – harris IS a big loss. but after thinking about it for a bit, why can’t we just stick with what was working – i’m sure there’ll be a little bit of dropoff covering teams’ #1 wr – but i think having flexibility with woodson is too valuable to give up, and i hope capers sees it that way. woodson is a wild card, and should be moved around – one of his best attributes is his ability to ‘hide’ from the qb until the ball is thrown, always keeping the qb guessing as to where he is on the field. that’s become a huge advantage for this packer d as they get big turnovers in big spots.

and you know what harris’ biggest weakness is? covering giganto, speedy wideouts who can endure his physicality and then turn on the burners to beat him deep. sounds a little like a certain #1 in detroit. i’m not sure tramon will be any better, but i say stick with the current gameplan.

the problem is the #3’s and the #4’s. underwood – rookie. bush – is bush. one is a complete mystery, and the other blows more coverages than … someone who blows a lot of coverages.

my conclusion? collins and bigby better step things up. charles, keep doing what you’re doing.

i’ll be disappointed if capers goes conservative and tries to hold things together that way – i’d rather have the threat of a #1 wr beat a #3 cb (who is probably at least a #2 on any other team) once in a while than the defense lose their killer instinct. it’s not like he’s coming back after the half, or in a game – this is not the time to just clench your cheeks and hope no one pinches the big loaf — get after ‘em, and let charles be charles.

joshywoshybigfatposhy said in November 23rd, 2009 at 2:27 pm

I think Brad Jones will pick up the pace at the d-line, Clay Matthews will help the d-line with more blitzing and Woodson will help out the new corners. Hopefully we don’t need another 8 weeks to assess new players positions.

fish said in November 23rd, 2009 at 3:23 pm

Paging Ahmad Carroll? Just kidding… sorta.

Keith said in November 23rd, 2009 at 3:57 pm

Joshy I agree with your assesment of Woodson but an important note: Woodson has adjusted to cover a team’s greatest (consistent) threat. The last two (three?) games have been great TEs. In this case I don’t think you can say Pettigrew is the Lion’s biggest threat, nor is he near the caliber of the other TEs we’ve played. So I’d say Woodson might float a bit, but he’ll continue covering their biggest threat in my opinion. In this case I think it is the #1 WR.

NickGBP said in November 23rd, 2009 at 4:02 pm

The combines factors of the defense starting to “gel” with the new system and having Brad Jones in for Kampy might actually mitigate some of the dropoff we have for losing Harris. Yeah, I know. But maybe.

nerdmann said in November 23rd, 2009 at 4:20 pm

Don’t joke, Keith! We’ve already got Ahmad v2 in Jarrett Bush, pretty much.

Andyman said in November 23rd, 2009 at 4:27 pm

What is this talk of a “dropoff” from Harris to Tramon? Even though Harris has been a more effective player than Kampman this season, I think it can be argued that the dropoff from Harris to Tramon is less severe than the dropoff from Kampman to Jones (and this is coming from someone who has been firmly entrenched in the “Kampman is overrated” camp for a while now.)

—–

Tramon Williams is good, people!

Keith said in November 23rd, 2009 at 4:28 pm

Keith….it’s not the drop off from Harris to Williams that has people worried…it’s the drop off from Williams to Bush in the nickel which we use about 50 percent of the time

wgbeethree said in November 23rd, 2009 at 4:39 pm

wgbeethree, I understand that, but we had a huge advantage with Williams as the nickel. IMO, that was a luxury and Capers should be able to adjust since most teams have weaknesses at the nickel back spot. (I hope that just made sense.)

Keith said in November 23rd, 2009 at 4:42 pm

Keith….that’s exactly it though…we went from having a HUGE advantage in the nickel to it now being a weakness…I’d expect a lot more teams to spread the field with three reciever sets, motioning their top recieving option into the slot, and trying to isolate and pick on Bush…that’s a huge part of another teams playbook that having three starting caliber cornerbacks almost completely eliminates…we’ll also most likely not be as comfortable moving Woodson inside and leaving the corners on an island which eliminates a huge part of our playbook… having to scheme to cover a weakness as opposed to scheming towards your strengths makes a really big difference IMO… we already saw some of that earlier in the year when Bigby was out and we had to ‘protect’ Rouse and Martin… it forces you to have to do things differently than you have practiced all season with ‘inferior’ players, not a good combination… Jones might not be the pass rusher that Kampman is but you don’t really have to change much if anything about how you call your defenses to ‘protect’ him while with Bush IMO you drastically alter what you can and can’t call or risk him getting continually taken advantage of

wgbeethree said in November 23rd, 2009 at 5:29 pm

Aaron – enjoyed your comments above. The first part actually made me smile – I figured after the win few would be focused on the injuries. But that sure was not the case… and perhaps to the point of the chicken little ’sky is falling’ mentality. Every team WILL deal with injuries and as you pointed out that’s the job of the GM to prepare for…i.e. every pick needs to be average to excellent, not questionable. Over the last 2-3 years, that’s just not been going well with Teddy in my opinion.
*
…and now that that chicken may have come home to roost … so when it comes time “to pluck wings and fry chicken” let’s not forget which big bird needs to be cooked. TT era 8-8, 13-3, 6-10, (8-8)? What a drop between 07-08…everyone’s concerns is whether there is a recovery in sight!
*
Maybe the Pack needs a ’stimulus package’ … lol
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*

greenbaypackerbob said in November 23rd, 2009 at 5:54 pm

wgbeethree, I totally get what you’re saying, but I’m trying to look at the positives here. There is more than one way to cover for a weakness in the secondary. I think we would all agree that the team needs to bring more than 4 rushers on pass plays. Perhaps Capers was content to keep trying with 4 because our corners cover so well? Maybe this forces him to get more creative with the blitz calls/packages. So, even though the secondary may be weaker, maybe Capers’ hand is forced and he starts dialing up the pressure. Just a thought.

Keith said in November 23rd, 2009 at 6:12 pm

There is a reason why we are blogging and not making personell decisions for the Pack, so let things play out before you guys find more reasons to trash the Packers coaching/management.

Bush has NFL talent period, and players have different learning curves. For some its takes longer for the light to turn on. I know it may be hard, but we need to give him the benefit of the doubt right now. We have no choice…

I also thought that Bush has played fairly well the last few games, so MAYBE just MAYBE he is progressing into a serviceable NFL player.

GO PACK GO!!!

Pack Fan In Enemy Territory said in November 23rd, 2009 at 6:28 pm

Wow. I actually find it quite funny that a large percentage of responses are STILL from the doom ‘n gloom crowd, when the entire first part of Aaron’s post is telling them to shut up.
———-
Hey, I’m still just as down on Mike McCarthy as ever, but I loved the win. San Fran is no pushover. 6-4, people. That’s good. So is 7-4, which is VERY likely (even though we have been warned on this very page not to overlook Detroit for whatever reason). I’ll just go ahead and mention how the offense had SIX scoring drives yesterday, four of which started inside our 26 yard line. Another started at the SF 45 after a very nice return. This team is getting better as the season moves along. And in my opinion, even without Harris and Kampman, the defense will be good enough to win IF WE KEEP RODGERS OFF HIS BUTT…and keep the dumb offensive penalties at bay. So…this team has the same problem it has had all year, basically.

Ruppert said in November 23rd, 2009 at 7:17 pm

One more thing–you made my day, greenbaypackerbob! Top notch! This is one of the funniest run-on metaphors I have ever read:
———
“and now that that chicken may have come home to roost … so when it comes time “to pluck wings and fry chicken” let’s not forget which big bird needs to be cooked. “

Ruppert said in November 23rd, 2009 at 7:20 pm

Keith: The problem is not that he was only rushing 4. It’s okay to play more conservative when you have a big lead. However, he was rushing them ALLWAYS FROM THE SAME POSITION. The 2 down lineman and the 2 elephant DEs. ALLWAYS THE SAME. If a D gets predictable, it gets beat.
——
In my opinion, it had much more to do with who were rushing and where they were rushing from than how many were rushing… It’s not the prevent D, it’s the vanilla, predictable D… Don’t know if I made my point in here…

PackersRS said in November 23rd, 2009 at 8:01 pm

The ‘doom & gloomers’ always jump up after a loss………. Now they’ve figured out a way to jump up even after a victory with another ‘doom & gloom’ forecast based on injuries……. This is either the result of woefully uninformed fans or these same fans are still hoping for a massive troika change at seasons end ….. Either way, it certainly adds to the perception that GB PackFans have become the laughing stock crowd of the NFL in the last 18-24 months if not longer…… Some of you should just admit that you’d like to sacrifice this season with the end result being rid of MM, TT, etc……. Just say it…….. The ‘dancing around’ bit is tiresome for all who still focus on the whole instead of just a few parts.

WoodyG said in November 23rd, 2009 at 8:10 pm

This isn’t doomsday for the regular season but mark my words…we will wish we had Al Harris if we ever make it to the post season. Two words…Vikings…Saints. Good luck relying on pressure getting there on time when you can’t put the dime out without being abused. We are less of a team today than we were early on yesterday. Good luck with your rehab Aaron and Al.

brady.augustine said in November 23rd, 2009 at 8:11 pm

Packers signed Bell from Broncos. Sounds like he would have made their team this year but had a minor knee injury at the beginning of the season and wasnt worth waiting for when final rosters were made. Considering the pickings TT had to choose from I think that’s a pretty good pickup. Filled in for Bailey last year.

NickGBP said in November 23rd, 2009 at 8:48 pm

Joshy – you seem to have a fairly clear head, hence, my respect for you… my fear in all this is that Capers WILL GO CONSERVATIVE in his future defensive schemes. In several games the Pack, with an aggressive defense, puts up a commanding lead and then Capers SITS ON IT hoping for the best (MM was the same way with the offense but it appears he has seen “the light” as of late). However, as it was said earlier, GOOD TEAMS deal with the adversities and move on. BTW, has any one noticed the plethora of injuries this season in the NFL or, am I being somewhat naive?

mopak65 said in November 23rd, 2009 at 9:35 pm

Calling all Packer fans! Please vote for my sister, Aretina Trepczyk! She is representing Green Bay in the NFL Director of Fandemonium contest. She is currently in 1st place, please help our Packer fan stay there and represent in the NFL. Please vote, you could win yourself some Super Bowl tickets. You can vote once a day. Good luck to you! http://www.nfl-monster.com

Linda Trepczyk said in November 23rd, 2009 at 10:50 pm

The defense hasn’t let us down all year, imo.

nerdmann said in November 23rd, 2009 at 10:58 pm

Not even in the Tampa game, nerdmann?

NickGBP said in November 24th, 2009 at 6:13 am

Nick – hard to lay Tampa on the defense. Sure they could have got more pressure on Freeman, but they were put in some terrible positions by special teams and turnovers.

Aaron Nagler said in November 24th, 2009 at 8:50 am

heard we just sign josh bell from the broncos
http://www.jsonline.com/sports.....67537.html

PackerFan4Life said in November 24th, 2009 at 11:03 am

Woody – If TT & MM can produce another playoff season then most would not have any trouble inviting them to the big dance – if not, then they should Foxtrot out of GB. And based on the -trends- of the last 2 years some of us are not ready to buy them a prom dress just yet (e.g. trends = observing the whole and not just the parts, as you recommend)
*
After Vikings, Tampa (low) and Dallas (high) and 49ers (oh no, comeback?) I don’t know what to expect from week to week from the Pack. Real playoff teams, by definition, are consistent at a higher level. And I can “feel the pain” of those who are discouraged over GB injuries – they are real, not just speculation. Yet no one is going to turn down a win however it comes.
*
But here is some optimistic news to spread holiday cheer: Three upcoming teams for the Pack have also had potential injuries (e.g. The Pitts, Ariz birds and the Detroit kittens all suffered QB hits). I guess we can be happy about their injuries! (and I’m not holding TT responsible for that). lol
*
/Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!
*

greenbaypackerbob said in November 24th, 2009 at 12:19 pm

Happy thanksgiving, Bob. And not that he needs anyone to advocate for him, but isn’t it amazing that Rodgers got hit as much as he did, and played every snap this year, he that was acclaimed as frail, and Roethlisberger, who gets hit just as much, but is colended as a really though guy, gets injuried? I’m just saying…

PackersRS said in November 24th, 2009 at 12:46 pm

PackersRS, Let’s not become a revisionist historian. Rodgers WAS frail early in his career. Every time he got on the field he would suffer a season ending injury. As for Ben, he suffered a concussion, which has 0 to do with toughness.

—-

I totally agree with your assessment of the painfully vanilla scheme Capers ran in the second half. I’m just chalking that up to having a big lead and having to incorporate some subs into the defense after Kampman and Harris went out. Capers is a good DC and I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Let’s see what the D looks like in the coming weeks.

Keith said in November 24th, 2009 at 1:42 pm

Rodgers BROKE HIS FOOT that one time. Then he played the entire second half on it.
The next year, he strained a hammy in practice the day after the game. He could have played on that, and would have, but they wanted to get some tape on Nall, iirc.
That was in a meaningless last game of the season that year.

nerdmann said in November 24th, 2009 at 4:00 pm

RS –
*
Good pt. — when Rodgers took Ironman’s place (now 300+) I was not optimistic based on Rodgers previous record for season injuries in his starts (as Keith pts. out). Although, the last 18 mos. has indeed shown “he can take a lick’in and keep on tick’in !
*
HW, in light of our current discussion with Bush, let’s ask ourselves, “if Rodgers had gotten injured anytime over the past seasons what preparation had TT put in place to protect the team?” We would have been killed with only rookies in the wings and new QB on the field (poor preparation & planning AGAIN -IMO-). Whether it had to be that way is another discussion I won’t bring up (but we did have 2 excellent QBs on the same bench). But for now we hold our breath offensively every time Rodgers gets sacked (Again- due to more poor planning around the O-Line – etc.,). And the list goes on.
*
The best help Rodgers received this year, hasn’t come from TT or MM, but from the recent changes in the NFL rule book that no longer allows QBs to be hit below the knees or speared with a helmet, etc. !!
*
*

greenbaypackerbob said in November 24th, 2009 at 4:39 pm

Keith: I’m not doing revisionisms in here. I get from were the predictions that he was frail came from. But exactly as nermann pointed out, Rodgers is though to surpass the injuries. Also, I’m not just talking about this game: I’m talking about both games against Minnesota, when he didn’t wanted to blitz so he wasn’t burn by Peterson, but on every 3rd down, it was the same formation. It’s not just this time the vanilla D didn’t work. We simply cannot generate enough wravoc to make it work.
BTW I agree about the other conditions to the 9ers comeback, but the vanilla D in my mind is definitely the most important one.
-
Bob, I really didn’t have in mind the backup discussion when I made that remark. Though I think Flynn, if given the opportunity, can be a very competent backup. My point is just that a lot of people questioned Rodgers durability, as well as his thoughness, and he’s proven he has both. We’re accostumated to Favre, and actually my guess is that if Rodgers learned anything from Favre, is exactly his though, play-through-pain approach…

PackersRS said in November 24th, 2009 at 6:22 pm

RS- you are right, if anyone could teach AR how to play through injuries it would have been Favre.

greenbaypackerbob said in November 25th, 2009 at 2:02 pm

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