Where Has Dougherty Been?
By PackerAaron
Nice column from Pete Dougherty today about starting quarterbacks struggling in their second year, and I agree with a lot of what he has to say. But the bit below about Rodgers holding the ball too long made me do a double take here at my desk (emphasis mine):
Anybody who follows the Packers closely knows it’s been a problem that wasn’t evident last year, when he was sacked 34 times.
I'm not sure which games Pete and his group of apparitional Packer observers were watching in 2008, but this problem was quite evident last season. Obviously, Pete has not joined the growing trend of Packers beat writers who read CHTV with regularity, because if he had he would have read about this issue with Rodgers quite some time ago. ;)
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Comments (9)
October 14, 2009 at 08:22 am
I think you are right, but for whatever reason the problem is way more pronounced this season.
PackerAaron
October 14, 2009 at 08:30 am
Agree to some extent. Interesting though that my post from last season was written after the game in MIN as well. It's just a tough place to play...
October 14, 2009 at 08:41 am
A lot of the problem this year can be related to Jennings blowing off some steam yesterday. He is saying he's not getting the ball enough. "I'm going deep all the time and Aaron is on his back. We have to change the scheme because our QB doesn't have time for the long ball" (paraphrased from WSSP broadcast yesterday). I have to believe he is saying the play calling is at the root of the problem. And if it is, can MM be far behind?
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He mentioned the 14 dropped balls as well. I assume he knows his contribution to that number.
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He is saying what a lot of people have said in one way or another in the Blogosphere since last year. The talent on the O line is not suitable for the ZBS and 5 or 7 step drop pass protection. It is now mandatory that MM change the current philosophy and play the game as his talent dictates.
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That would be the true "West Coast" ball control passing game. Utilize the ability of Driver, Jennings and Finley to run after they have the ball and control the flow of the game (Kind of like the first drive in the Queenie game). 2 or 3 long passes a game will sufice, thank you.
October 14, 2009 at 08:51 am
I would rather he hold it and take a sack sometimes than throw it up for grabs.
I do think in general he holds it a little too long. I think he is trying to hit a big play everytime. Sometimes a 4 yard dump off to a TE isn't a bad thing.
October 14, 2009 at 11:09 am
The Dougherty line in question could also be a typo. It's not like they have editors who check the copy these days.
October 14, 2009 at 01:54 pm
Ron, I'm with you. McCarthy needs to change up the offensive scheme. The zone blocking is not working, and we are trying the deep ball way too much. Packers were the best team in the NFL with YAC a year or two ago. Short passes to open things up and let Jennings and Driver use their running skills to get more yards. Also, use the run!!! Grant had 4.6 yards a carry against Minnesota, but McCarthy only utilized him on 11 carries.
October 14, 2009 at 02:44 pm
Dougherty had two nice pieces in the last few days--the other one being about how the Pack needs to get some free agents:
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http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20091011/PKR07/91011036/1058...
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Yes, I know this is like beating a dead horse, but he got some very good quotes from a few scouts. I'll also take this opportunity to state once again that Rodgers' holding the ball is clearly secondary in importance to the lack of protection. I'm heading back to the internet wasteland known as Juneau County, so I won't be back online until game day. Go Pack! 18 straight!
October 15, 2009 at 05:01 pm
I'd like to see the Packers go more WCO. You can still hit the big plays, but you do it with YAC and using the shorter passes to set up the deep balls.
I'd also like to see more screens and whatnot.
However, I have no problem with Rodgers or Woodson. They are very good players, and if they do something wrong, they will correct it.
October 15, 2009 at 06:15 pm
Another thing about this "holding onto the ball too long" situation is that in the past few games, MM has been talking about how "the QB needs to be able to make plays with his legs."
The week before he said that there are about 5 plays per game where the QB has to make plays with his legs.
Now he's getting down on Rodgers for holding onto the ball too long?
Just get him some protection.