Comments on: What We've Learned

By: ACDC84

ACDC84 — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 03:51:35 +0000

As the head coach MM is officially in charge of the entire team, but from a practical standpoint, the defense is 100% in the hands of Capers, as it should be. MM’s offense put up 36 points (and should have made an easy FG) against a good defense. I have my issues with the play-calling, but MM did NOT lose the PIT game.

By: Erik

Erik — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:19:05 +0000

I don’t think it is too much to ask when teams like the Vikings, Colts, Saints, Chargers, Steelers and others have all played lights out against play-off teams this year. It’s happened multiple times this year, so I don’t know what your definition of “very often” is, but I am willing to agree it doesn’t happen a lot, but it does happen.

And for the Packers it’s only happened once: against Dallas.

In order for them to get to the Super Bowl it needs to happen three more times this season alone. That’s why I’d like a little more reassurance they can do it.

By: Jersey Al

Jersey Al — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 00:59:33 +0000

Penalties do matter, just like any bad mistake, when they come at inopportune times. TD pass gets called back for holding, etc. Penalties keep games closer than they should be and give the other team opportunities to beat you. But it is true that talented teams can overcome penalties. I guess that means the Packers are talented. Surprise!

By: Greg C.

Greg C. — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 21:30:21 +0000

I was not assuming that you don’t enjoy watching the games. I just said that if my standards were that high, I would not enjoy watching them. That’s just me.

Why would you expect the Packers to play lights out against a playoff caliber team? That doesn’t happen very often in the NFL. Playoff caliber teams are the ones that are hard to beat in the first place. I think the win against Dallas was their most impressive win. The defense played lights-out in that game, although the offense was a little sluggish. The win against Baltimore was also impressive.

By: Mr. Bacon

Mr. Bacon — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 19:19:10 +0000

Actually Greg, the only penaltys that really do matter are Off. Holding in your own endzone, and Def. Pass Interference in your endzone. Thoose ones are killer, everything else can be conqured by Rodger’s passing attack.

By: Erik

Erik — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:26:38 +0000

Perhaps I am being too hard on them, especially with the Steelers and Ravens. But I’m not convinced that barely beating the 49ers is enough for the Packers to play more than one extra game at the end of the year. I want to see more than a handful of signs against teams like the Lions and Seahawks that this team can seriously make a run in the playoffs deep. I don’t think that’s too much to ask at all; to see them play lights out against a playoff caliber team.

And despite your, for whatever, assuming I dislike watching games, you are, of course, dead wrong. I look forward to Sunday every week to cheer on the team. But being hopeful and being realistic are not opposed forces.

By: Greg C.

Greg C. — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 16:34:53 +0000

I think the Packers have looked well-coached during the second half of the season. Unless you are playing a crap team like the Seahawks, it is difficult to dominate an NFL game for four quarters. The opposing team is usually going to make a run at you. That’s what I was getting at when I wrote about counterpunching. The Packers did not “almost lose” to the 49ers and Ravens. They let those teams back into it (losing Kampman and Harris was a big factor in the San Francisco game), but they slammed the door when they needed to.

We finally have a team that can shut the door on opponents in the fourth quarter, and now fans are complaining because they don’t do well enough in the third quarter. I think you are setting a standard that is way too high. If my standards were that high, I would not even enjoy watching the games, but to each his own, I guess.

By: Erik

Erik — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 15:33:49 +0000

I have always had a good amount of support for the work Ted Thompson has done. He’s been very good about making some good personal moves for the most part. Sure he “missed” some big name signings and like every GM, has a fair share of draft mis-steps. But look at Rodgers, Woodson, CM3 and more for examples of gutsy moves that paid off.

I am still not a fan of McCarthy or his style of coaching. He is a good offensive mind, but his ability to get his type fired up and ready to play and focus is severly lacking. No where was that more clear than the second half of this season. While a lot of haters will point to the 4-4 stretch as proof that McCarthy is awful, you don’t need such easy pot shots to show that McCarthy is lacking.

It’s how the Packers almost lost games against San Francisco, Baltimore and did lose to the Steelers. It was because of a lack of focus and execution. When the team needs it, McCarthy doesn’t seem to be able to get it out of them. Flat third quarters gave more than a fair share of us high blood pressure on Sundays.

If he can fix that I’ll be on the McCarthy bandwagon, until then I’ll just jog behind it.

By: Asshalo

Asshalo — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 15:22:40 +0000

I’ve always thought thompson was good not great, it’s just this past draft has really put him over the edge. It will be interesting to see how he handles the abundance of free agents this year though.

“Just as the team held together during last year’s 6-10 debacle” Last year was a complete decent, hence the blowing up of the defense. The players definitely believe in McCarthy, I just don’t have faith in his game-time decision making.