Gut Reactions: Week 5
Aaron's gut reactions to the crushing loss to the Colts.
By PackerAaron
- This team just isn't very good right now.
- The injuries didn't help matters but there's no way, up 21-3, the Packers should have lost this game.
- Bryan Bulaga continues to struggle with speed off the edge.
- Aaron Rodgers continues to look much more like the 2009 version of himself than the 2011 version.
- Alex Green showed me something.
- So did Mike Neal.
- The Packers had absolutely no answer for Reggie Wayne. None. Williams, Woodson, Burnett, zone, man, nothing worked.
- Mike McCarthy, with a 21-3 lead, refused to run the ball. I'm all for #whyrunwhenyoucanwin - but the point is to use that passing game to grab a lead, which they did, and then hold it, which they couldn't due to their heads being up their asses in the passing game.
- Some of that has to do with having to go without Jennings all game and Finley for most of it.
- That said, it should not be that hard to adjust to those losses.
- Speaking of adjustments, it's nice to see the return of the slant play.
- And speaking of plays the Packers don't run very often, McCarthy's offense feels completely stale. Nothing new week in, week out.
- I was surprised how discombobulated the offense looked once Benson went out. In a short time, he's become and important piece.
- The front seven on defense got absolutely worked today.
- So did the secondary.
- I guess that means the entire defense looked pretty poor.
- Too bad sacking the quarterback is now illegal or Perry would have had another sack.
- This team dropped at least three interceptions. Have to close the deal there.
- I said above this team isn't very good right now. The good news is they have time to improve.
- Because they certainly need to.
- It doesn't get any easier with a trip to Houston looming. The Colts are one of the league's worst teams. The Texans are one of the league's best.
- Going to be a long week.
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Comments (128)
October 07, 2012 at 04:14 pm
I love Aaron Rodgers, but right now he is bad. Blaine Gabbert bad. You are right, he just refuses to look for the checkdown, and it's costing the team a great deal. The outcomes of at least two games might be different if he did not feel the need to go for the home run every play.
A lot of guys on this team need to look in the mirror and ask themselves if they are giving their best effort. Because if they all had, they don't lose to the Colts, who are not a good football team.
Plenty of time to bounce back. But it needs to start now.
October 07, 2012 at 04:50 pm
Blaine Gabbert bad is been stretching it a bit far, isn't it? He's been nowhere close to THAT bad. But he HAS been bad for his standards. And that IS costing the team. But he's not the only one. No adjustments by MM. Our completely one dimensional offense has been caught up to by defenses around the league as shown by the fact that Rodgers was once again our leading rusher. Can't have that.
October 07, 2012 at 05:17 pm
Blaine Gabbert bad may be hyperbole, but Rodgers has not been good this season. We joke about Jay Cutler, but except for the game against us, he's been better than Rodgers, as has Christian Ponder. Think about that for a minute.
But you are right, there's a lot of blame to go around, including the coaching staff. Do they miss Philbin, or has Clements' promotion to OC left a hole at QB coach that McAdoo is not prepared to fill? I don't know, but we're about a third of the way through the season now, and it's time to figure this shit out.
October 07, 2012 at 06:19 pm
jason wilde had asked that same question to aaron about the offense missing philbin. he said he would have to answer that question in a few more weeks. i have a feeling that that's a huge part of the equation
October 07, 2012 at 06:44 pm
There seems to be a problem at times with AR, the Offense and for that matter the D in the 4th quarter. The O shuts down in the second half, relies on the D to get it done (which, this year they're not in three games). Playing with fire all too often and this goes back to 2008. They should have won this by ten points.
Don't know if this is due to the scheme or what. Perhaps POC has an answer.
October 07, 2012 at 04:16 pm
For the first time this season the thought crossed my mind that this team might not make the playoffs.
Also, what does Shields have to do to get a PI call to go his way?
October 07, 2012 at 04:22 pm
XLV looking more and more like a fluke streak.
October 07, 2012 at 04:27 pm
We won the Superbowl despite Mike McCarthy, not because of him.
Ted Thompson stocked this team full of very good players.
Mike has never been able to have this team mentally ready to play. It's been a problem his entire tenure.
October 07, 2012 at 04:38 pm
That's just madness. We put up the second most points ever last year thanks to MM's offense.
October 07, 2012 at 04:57 pm
And the special teams have greatly improved too.
Thanks to Ted.
October 07, 2012 at 06:54 pm
Good players? Good players don't give up this many points in the D. Good linemen block more consistently for their mobile QB (hate to think of what happens to a drop back passer). Good receivers don't drop passes and manage to fight off physical defenders. Maybe an off year and a good draft position is what this team needs.
October 07, 2012 at 04:53 pm
...or it's just hard to duplicate that kind of success in league with the NFL's kind of parity.
But yes, your theory is equally valid.
October 07, 2012 at 04:22 pm
This is the worst humiliation since the Favre/Queens game where our answer for JARED ALLEN was to move DARRYN COLLEDGE out to LEFT TACKLE.
I was calling for Rodgers to be benched part way through the 4th.
Here's what cost us IMO:
1: Patented Mike McCarthy Lull.
2: Arodge holding the ball for 8 seconds looking deep when it's not there.
3: Perry getting robbed of a sack/fumble.
4: Phantom PI against Shields.
5: Losing Benson.
6: Losing Raji.
7: Finleys drive killing drops.
8: MM's gutless policy of never taking a shot at the half. He as always, just ran out the clock.
On the other hand, we lost Finley, which imo helped us with Williams coming in and making some catches. Also, Green showed us what he can do if he gets a seam.
Ok, add in two very ugly misses by Crosby.
October 07, 2012 at 06:32 pm
Benching Rodgers?
You're serious, right? Have you taken a look at what the alternative would be?
October 07, 2012 at 08:56 pm
Rodgers should have jumped in on defense. Maybe he could have been the guy to stop Reggie Wayne. The defense and Capers lousy scheme lost this game, not Rodgers.
October 07, 2012 at 04:26 pm
Coaching staff and players should be ashamed of themselves. Absolutely noexcuse for that pathetic display in the 2nd half. Crosby has yet to kick a FG when the game is on the line with time running out, that kick wasn't even close. The coaches had the deer in the headlights look in the 2nd half and just flat out dropped the ball. Our secondary is horrible, I think they would have problems covering my son's Pop Warner team. Rodgers has regressed and seems to have forgotten how to throw the ball away. All around failure by the Packer organization today.P.S. Get rid of Finley while we can, while not a bust he just doesn't contribute.
October 07, 2012 at 04:32 pm
Uh..pretty sure Crosby kicked a game winner in his first NFL game. Might wanna remember that.
October 07, 2012 at 05:55 pm
He did indeed make that one against Philly in his first pro game. Things were looking great. Since then, i think he's missed 100% of his game-on-the-line, last-second kicks.
Still, a 50+ yarder is not a gimme, even in a dome.
October 07, 2012 at 06:03 pm
Except for the Giants game last year in the regular season.
October 07, 2012 at 06:13 pm
He made a game winner against the NYG last year too.
O-fer today. :(
October 07, 2012 at 04:27 pm
Wow. That was awful I can not even begin to describe. I have been a fan since I was 5 , since 1962 and this was the most pathetic disgusting performance ever. Up by 5 after saving some face in the second half and let Colts walk down the field!!!!! Can they ever stop anyone anymore on 3rd down!!!!!!!!!!!. That was the big problem last year and it is now. I almost feel ashamed to be a fan right now. Embarrassing, Embarrassing,Embarrassing,Embarrassing,
Embarrassing
October 07, 2012 at 04:47 pm
C'mon, really. Worst loss since 1962? Guess Superbowl 32 didn't bother you that bad.
Today was bad, but worst loss - really? That's just knee-jerk sensationalism. Jeez. Lay off grandpa's cough medicine for a minute.
October 07, 2012 at 04:58 pm
Sorry I just got over that one. But in that game they had an excuse, their D was tired from being on the filed all day and the san diego sun. Today there is no excuse with the talent they have. I will need more than cough syrup!!!!
October 07, 2012 at 04:27 pm
Add that it must be a league rule that only the Packers abide by to throw a 5 yard pass over the middle in the 2 minute drill and waste a precious timeout.
October 07, 2012 at 04:28 pm
2-4 is a distinct possibility. Actually after today, I would have to say it's a likelihood. Gonna be tough to dig ourselves out of that hole... Thankfully we still have 5 division games.
And yeah... Sacks are now apparently illegal. I have no idea what a defensive player is supposed to do anymore. Goodell's game is beginning to suck. At moments it resembles football... But it's not.
GBP 4 LIFE
October 07, 2012 at 04:44 pm
you can count on a close game in STL -- which won't favor the Packers.
A very real possibility is that the Packers are 2-5.
October 07, 2012 at 04:52 pm
Yep... Didn't want to think that far ahead. But going into this road trip, Indy was the team I was least worried about.
October 07, 2012 at 06:07 pm
I was sure we'd destroy Indy. I loaded my fantasy team with Packers this week looking for a big day. That sure as hell didn't happen. I doubt that we'll be favored to beat anyone this year.
October 07, 2012 at 08:20 pm
I played my dad this week, he had Jones... Luckily, I had Cruz :-)
October 07, 2012 at 04:29 pm
Plusses: Mike Neal. Alex Green. Nick Perry. Chris HayWard.
October 07, 2012 at 04:31 pm
The Packers are 4-1. Refs stole ths one as blatantly as they did in Seattle. What a joke of a season.
October 07, 2012 at 04:35 pm
They robbed us, but we should have had plenty of cushion.
Shouldn't even have been close.
October 07, 2012 at 04:55 pm
Can't agree with this. The refs stole the SEA game, but they didn't cause our second half performance.
October 07, 2012 at 05:04 pm
Come on, now. Bad calls to be sure, but those two bad calls don't account for dropped INTs, missed field goals, A-Rod looking deep too often, and strange play calling/game management.
October 07, 2012 at 04:32 pm
Casey Hayward on Wayne nice match,maybe Woodson could learn something.M.M. run between tackles,outside has not worked for 3 years.Give Boykin a shot,Double D is Double Done.Mason,shame on you.M.M.nice screen in 1st quarter ,you need to call it more than once every 2 years
October 07, 2012 at 04:35 pm
Only good news was Green. Love Woodson but he drives me nuts when he always has his back to the dam play and never looks for the ball. And on that long pass, I think it was to Wayne, when he just sat back for god knows what reason (announcer said he was jumping a route!)
Bench Finley and let Williams play!!!
October 07, 2012 at 04:36 pm
Missing the obvious?
1. Joe Philbin is gone. No more multiple wide receivers open, fighting for AR12's attention. Same plays, same routes against known cover 2 = Computer analysis and game tape that tells you AR12's progressions and how to cover. No apparent adjustments in the passing game (you can't call deciding to run alittle more often with Benson a passing game adjustment). Our routes have not progressed to include the over the middle catches that Jennings used to make and that Cobb does only on rare occassion. I hope it changes when a healthy Jennings comes back but I think it is more philosophy than personell.
2. JEFF SATURDAY IS ATROCIOUS. Think about why the Colts would offer him a FRONT OFFICE JOB/RETIREMENT when they had a ROOKIE QB coming rather than help Luck to transition with a brilliant center. HE HELPS NOONE. HE GETS ZERO PUSH. HE DOES NOT MAKE IT TO THE SECOND LEVEL ON SCREENS OR DRAWS. He IS the LINE PROBLEM BECAUSE HE CANNOT HELP (believe me, I'm not absolving Bulaga, Newhouse and Sitton for their episodic breakdowns).
3. Teams have learned to be physicial with our WRs off the line and PLAY DEEP. Only Nelson gets off the line of scrimmage and is open in the first 10 yards. Rodgers eyes are always looking for the HRs of last year. IMPORTANTLY, he refuses to take the underneath throws early on. Third down? Up top...incomplete...Punt.
October 07, 2012 at 04:36 pm
Oh, and I hope Finley heals quickly... So we can trade his ass. I'll settle for a 7th rounder... He needs to leave. Like yesterday. All of his "freakish talent" that I'm still waiting to see isn't worth jack-squat. Trade him while we can... That's what Ol' Fitzy says.
October 07, 2012 at 04:58 pm
Stone Hands. And he wants to be paid as a top TE?
October 07, 2012 at 04:59 pm
At the end of the line, his blocks SUCK. No effort, no heart.
The 5 yard loss to James Jones a game or so back was due to Finley not being able to block a DB.
With a size advantage against most defenders he's got to position himself where he can catch and shield against a defender breaking up the catch.
How many times is he "motioned" by Rodgers from some spot to another -- as if he doesn't know WTF the play is, or where he should be?
Last game he caught a ball and then stumbled around for a few more yards -- seems like a world-class athlete would have righted himself and ripped off a 20 or 30 yard gain.
It seems like if it's "his" number being called -- whereby he can act like an idiot after a catch -- you get him involved. If not, good luck -- it's 10 on 11.
October 07, 2012 at 05:09 pm
I would agree. Coach Bear Bryant used to say, Son, your potential is going to get me fired." This is a "what have you done for me lately" occupation. He only causes match-up problems if he's a viable and reliable target, both of which he is not. He's simply not worth the baggage. Time to cut our losses with him.
October 07, 2012 at 06:37 pm
I thought Finely, TE, was the guy to set all standards at his position.
WOW, was I wrong-wish him luck.
October 07, 2012 at 04:50 pm
Jeff Saturday is not the problem on the O Line. Or with the team. Period.
October 07, 2012 at 04:57 pm
The Packers have had two fantastic offensive performances……the Bears and the Saints. It’s no wonder those are the only two victories of the season. There is no excuse for not being patient with the football. The first half was all patience in the passing game. For example, the TD to Cobb was a Flanker Drive. That is a staple WCO play. All areas of the field were attacked in the first half….short and intermediate. The second half was just the opposite. The majority of 2nd down plays ended up putting us in to 3rd and long because we ran and threw vertical routes. Clearly Mike McCarthy has not figured out what everyone else has and that is he is an impatient play-caller Now, how much of that is on Rodgers….I can’t say, but, it is abundantly clear McCarthy and/or Rodgers are their own worst enemy. Everybody loves big chunk plays and touchdowns but those things can’t be forced, otherwise bad things happen and this is the proof. Now don’t get me wrong…the defense needs to do better but in their defense (no pun intended) they spent an awful lot amount of time on field in the second half because the offense had a plethora of 3 and outs….and that is simply unacceptable.
I said it during the Super Bowl season and I’ll say it now. Mike McCarthy is a poor game manager in that he is either slow to recognize how defenses are playing his offense and when he does have a solid plan going in and it is working he completely strays from what works. Unless McCarthy fixes this the Packers will not be going to the playoffs. Feel free to disagree but the book has been out on how to beat the Packers for some time and it feels like McCarthy hasn't even bother to pull it off the shelf and read it himself.
October 07, 2012 at 05:01 pm
My problem with McCarthy is that his teams are NEVER, ever, ever mentally ready to show up and play 60 minutes of football.
Dude needs to hire a sports shrink to consult. Or something.
Last year was the first season an MM team didn't have to first verge on elimination before they suddenly pulled it together to squeak into the playoffs.
Of course they went on to have yet another "MM Lull" in the playoffs.
October 07, 2012 at 05:40 pm
No, it's just that you only notice it when they lose. How about the time we went on the road against the top seed in the playoffs and absolutely murdered them?
October 07, 2012 at 07:32 pm
No, I notice it even when we lose.
Yes we went on a streak in the playoffs that year. But not before sucking repeatedly, to the point of verging on elimination.
October 07, 2012 at 05:04 pm
"it is abundantly clear McCarthy and/or Rodgers are their own worst enemy"
YES
"Mike McCarthy is a poor game manager in that he is either slow to recognize how defenses are playing his offense and when he does have a solid plan going in and it is working he completely strays from what works"
YES
But he won a Super Bowl and the QB is a MVP -- now what's gonna change ????
October 07, 2012 at 05:14 pm
Either McCarthy/Rodgers put their pride and visions of 70's Oakland Raider vertical pass game football aside or this team will be no better than 7-9.
October 07, 2012 at 06:38 pm
Right on Paul! The superbowl run was indeed a "magic carpet ride" and so was the 15-1 ride last season. In fact last year we won atleast 5 games we had no business winning. I think its the law of averages catching up to where this team's actual talent level is. That said, exceptional coaching could always make the difference. NY Giants were down by 2 touchdowns today, but they came back to win big. Bill Belichick has made a career out of getting the most of his average talent (what has BenJarvisGreenEllis done after leaving the Patriots?)
October 07, 2012 at 07:08 pm
Paul, is MM or AR not working to set up the long ball? It is their bread and butter play and shouldn't be abandoned altogether. Shouldn't they be working to wear down the opposing D and when opportunity comes, then take the long shots. Doesn't seem there is a progression to create the situations they want in the 4th quarter, at times, and they end up in these stalls.
October 07, 2012 at 10:19 pm
Glorious...Big chunk or explosive plays in the passing game can come in a variety of ways. It can come in the form of a long ball (pass in flight over 40 yards) or it can come on a 8 yard shallow cross with RAC yardage. Either way, it's big chunk. My contention with McCarthy is how he choose to move the ball in the passing game. Vertical stems are fine but there has been a lot of soft underneath zones that have not been exploited by McCarthy and Rodgers. I contend it has more to do with their impatience. They are not content with simply taking the 10 play drive to move the ball. They'd much rather score in 4-6 plays from 70-80 yards out and that simply doesn't happen all of the time. With this approach in the 3 losses, the Packers have put themselves in 3rd and long situations far too often. The Packers, or any team for that matter, are at their best when they have 3rd and 4-6...manageable down situations. A lot of the 3rd down situations can be attributed to the 2nd down play calling. The second half was atrocious in terms of the 2nd down offense. I hate to keep bringing up the 2010 season but let's face it. The offense found its stride against New England. It was a very West Coast centric offense that utilized short game and controlled underneath coverage with the RBs. John Kuhn had a nice game that night. This team will go as far as McCarthy's patience will allow it. Unfortunately, I don't see him changing. He made the change after San Fran and it showed against the Bears, with the big shot coming on the TD pass to Driver after the D was set up. He reverted to vertical passes the entire first half against Seattle and changed up to a more WCO centric plan in the 2nd half. It worked....but a little too late. Against the Saints, he took the short stuff again. It worked (although Capers was certainly not helping things). And finally, today, he did a complete 180 from what happened in Seattle. He used stick routes and crossers in front of Rodgers (Cobb TD) and we moved the ball. The 2nd half saw nothing but vertical seam routes and back shoulder throws.... We didn't level their defense and make them cover all levels, short, intermediate and long. The Colts played a steady diet of Cover 2 and 2 Man with some man free sparingly. McCarthy needs to tuck his pride away and start calling games to win. If Rodgers throws for 200 with 2 TDS and we have great 3rd down efficiency each game I'll gladly take that because that means we're moving the ball and controlling the clock.
October 07, 2012 at 04:58 pm
Does this team realize that millions of fans take 4 hrs out their weekends to watch them? That 2nd half was the most pathetic embarrassing excuse for effort I can remember. Terrible. It's like they just expect to be handed the division and a SB berth. They suck right now. And which defense are we really? The one that destroyed cutler or the one that got their brains beat in today?
October 07, 2012 at 05:02 pm
exactly
October 07, 2012 at 05:02 pm
The D needs to start getting some of those INTs.
There were far too many this week, just as there were last week.
But overall, I'm not worried about the defense.
October 07, 2012 at 05:00 pm
Seasons over. At Texans, Giants, Bears, Lions, and Vikings. 8 and 8. Need to cut some people this offseason. DD, Finley, Woodson, and Pickett.
October 07, 2012 at 05:01 pm
Casey played well, Perry got robbed. Other than that our team is gawd awful. Who woulda thunk it? I dont even wanna watch the rest of these fn games today. Texans beat us by 14. Embarassed..
October 07, 2012 at 05:03 pm
It's either a run or a bomb downfield. It's not a crime to dink and dunk your way down field,after all that's what teams have been doing to us. We should be killing teams like this and if I hear one more player or coach saying "we got to get better" I swear,I'll go nuts. This team ain't going nowhere. Sorry I'll take that back,it is going somewhere and that's down the tubes fast!!!
October 07, 2012 at 05:04 pm
Packers are 4-1. Refs screwed them today almost as blatantly as Seattle. Your ire is unwarranted unless directed toward the officials. That's all.
October 07, 2012 at 05:19 pm
Are you on drugs? What offense were you watching in second half?? Either Woodson needs to learn to turn around and look at ball or bench him,you could call holding/interference on every pass he defends.He has seriously lost a step and a half
October 07, 2012 at 05:20 pm
Hey guy, you're going to single-handedly give Pack fans a rep for whining. The Packers had one game taken from us by incompetent refereeing -- that's it.
The Pack lost this game today. To keep stating that the referees stole game after game is like an equal-but-opposite deal re: what a troll like cow42 does.
October 07, 2012 at 05:43 pm
Bullshit. I'll admit there were two calls specifically that had me asking WTF? but mostly our team laid an egg the second half. Offense had no control of the clock and defense couldn't stop Luck from throwing all over them and get off the field. So no, the refs didn't cost the team the game. Any assertion to the contrary is, well, misguided at best.
October 07, 2012 at 05:09 pm
We were up 21 to 3. Refs didnt lose this game..the players n coaches in green did.
October 07, 2012 at 05:16 pm
Raji was missed in the second half far more than most would have believed. Woodson is now too predictable to surprise anyone. There is a bunch of good stuff above. I agree with the comment about Saturday being a liability. I agree that the passing game is messed, and it starts with the QB's head and the routes.
October 07, 2012 at 05:29 pm
Can you say Joe Philbin
October 07, 2012 at 06:09 pm
Joe Philbin's absence is not the issue. Remember, he was there for the Super Bowl run when prior to their game in New England, I was saying the same things. He was also there last year when the Chiefs beat the Packers and when the Giants beat the Packers in the playoffs. Teams know how to defend the Packers and it has much more to do with the patience of McCarthy and Rodgers than it does with Philbin being gone.
October 07, 2012 at 06:13 pm
His son died prior to Giant game,offense has not been the same,and yes i know about K.C. game,maybe was a let down like when Pack lost to 0-12
Indy team year they won S.B
October 07, 2012 at 08:59 pm
They didn't win the SB that year. Denver took it to us and I still say the refs screwed us in that game - Interference on Brooks before the first Broncos INT - Holding on Denver (left DE) on the 20 yd Terrell Davis Run to the one yard line before the last Bronco TD.
Am I still bitter over that loss?
Yes, as I said after the Seattle game, this is an 8-8 team.
There is no other explanation for the drop off in Rodger's game except drugs and women. I wouldn't be surprised if the headline in the AM paper says that Rodgers will be checking into rehab. It is the only explanation that makes sense to me. Nothing else does, maybe Rodgers has a twin that is playing QB while he vacations in Maui. I might believe that too.
October 07, 2012 at 05:19 pm
I'm not sure what the deal is with Crosby.
Seems like some of his extra points are adventures.
On more that one occasion, I've heard announcers say something like: "he just got that in the upright" whether an XP or FG.
I'm not trying to be mean, but it just seems like he sprays it sometimes -- not $3mil/yr material to me...
October 07, 2012 at 05:27 pm
Needs to make presuure/clutch F.G.s,cant remember last game he had to make game winner withunder 30 sec left
October 07, 2012 at 05:27 pm
That bad call on shields gave them more momentum I agree but it wasn't the reason for the loss. Also Rodgers didn't even try to motivate the team he was just sitting down looking like Cutler.
October 07, 2012 at 05:41 pm
I'm a vigorous defender of 12, but I noticed that too. Just sitting down, kind of sulking.
October 07, 2012 at 05:28 pm
Arron Cutler??? Yikes
October 07, 2012 at 05:35 pm
Just about have given up on Finley,needs a babysitter like Dez.Cause he is a baby on the field,pull out the pacifier and play,cry,cry,cry
October 07, 2012 at 05:45 pm
Saturday is awful. Very often Rodgers can't step up in the pocket because Saturday has been shoved backwards. Rodgers then becomes vulnerable to outside pressure. Bulaga could do a better job, but i don't think he was the main problem today.
October 07, 2012 at 07:07 pm
The o-line has issues, but if you are a quarterback in the NFL and hold the ball for >5 seconds on any given play, you don't get to blame the O line if you get sacked.
Rodgers made rookie mistakes today. The clock mismanagement at the end of the game made me think of Flynn and the confusion against the Pats in 2010.
October 07, 2012 at 05:48 pm
Finley....The packers most over rated under achieving player on the roster
October 07, 2012 at 05:57 pm
Look at Yahoos home page now "Prized rookie survives vicious illegal hit"
October 07, 2012 at 06:13 pm
What a load of crap! Non story
October 07, 2012 at 06:15 pm
i agree
October 07, 2012 at 06:01 pm
McCarthy was out coached again. Just like he was against the 49ers and Seahawks.
The offense, even without Jennings, should be able to score against a pathetic secondary missing it's best corner.
Finley and Nelson were complete non-factors, like they have been all year.
Crosby again showed why many Packer fans don't trust him when the game is on the line.
Rodgers was inconsistent like he has been all year. He made some great throws and some plays with his legs, but holding on to the ball too long put them in some really bad spots.
October 07, 2012 at 06:04 pm
We will beat the Texans next week. Keep those heads up boys and girls!
October 07, 2012 at 07:35 pm
MM teams do play up or down to their competition.
October 07, 2012 at 06:09 pm
Players I hope are not on the team in 2013: Finley, Crabtree, Driver, Saturday, Saine, Woodson, and Hawk. TT needs to go to work.
October 07, 2012 at 06:14 pm
Hawk having good year you have the rest spot on
October 07, 2012 at 06:55 pm
Agreed that Hawk has played the run better than I can ever remember. Unfortunately, the NFL is a passing league and he has hardly played the past 2 weeks. Too much $ for so little production.
October 07, 2012 at 06:09 pm
All this negativity !!!
Must be a Nagler blog. LOL.
Fans need not worry. The 'bloggists' will convince all (in the coming week) that all is fine with GB & the 2-3 record is just a mirage.
October 07, 2012 at 06:29 pm
All will be fine once this coaching staff gets back to playing intelligent football. Until that happens it will be a sub .500 year. This team goes as McCarthy goes. It really is that simple. He says the right things after the Seattle loss and hones the offense to take advantage of how every team has played the Packer offense....soft Cover 2 and 2 Man, by attacking the soft middle...short and intermediate, thus opening up the vertical game when they start to creep. Unfortunately, Dom Capers played soft zone and made that game closer than needed. Today, we see plenty of nicely mixed coverage and pressure and had success and McCarthy starts well by throwing shallow crosses and stick routes with some slants but then looks in his locker room and believes he sees Cliff Branch and Fred Biletnikoff and decides to force Rodgers to hold the ball for eternity on 2nd down resulting in sacks, incompletions and long 3rd down situations. This is the essence of Mike McCarthy. He hung his defense out to dry today. Just look at the T.O.P.
October 07, 2012 at 07:07 pm
With Vikings and Bears winning today, the train might have already left the station - to use MM's famous words. Latest reports say that Benson is wearing a boot which most likely means he is out for the Texans game. For a wild card spot we need atleast 10 wins and I don't see how they can get another 8 wins from the remaining 11 (the only gimme team left is Jaguars)
October 07, 2012 at 07:36 pm
Don't forget about the stretch runs! Those fucking stretch runs! Sorry for the language.
But I mean, yeah, the strenght of both our OL, our RB corps is to run through the middle. And we weren't running many PA boot plays. And the way the defense was playing called for more draws, and when we used it it worked.
But let's run stretch to our left!!!
October 07, 2012 at 08:30 pm
I know... Drives me nuts man.
October 08, 2012 at 12:04 pm
Ok thanks Cow42. I thought you were gone till Thanksgiving. I guess it's Canadian Thanksgiving. Everyone knows You and Cow are one in the same.
October 08, 2012 at 12:41 pm
I'm not close to being cow42. I'm not nearly as emotional. ---
However, cow42 (at this time) sure is looking abit smarter than most who post here (especially you). Sorry, but go back & read your own posts. Not very impressive.
October 07, 2012 at 06:23 pm
Why do opposing wr's(Wayne) get open all day,
could someone please tell Capers to double team this guy!
This team has problems all around!
Can't block, did I say the OL can't block!
Can't contain the edge on running plays!
DB's to soft, can"t tackle!
Coaching staff-players all to blame!!!!!
21-3 at halftime----WOW- and lose?
UNFu&*INGBELEIVABLE!
October 07, 2012 at 07:41 pm
They did play Marshall this year with coverage underneat and on top at almost all times...
October 07, 2012 at 06:53 pm
Luck was on the side of the Colts.
Give the kid a lot of credit. We sat back in coverage at the end and he took off on a run or delivered it under our 12 yard drops. We went after him and he looked for number 21.
We don't get home rushing 4 against good teams. And teams find our safeties and LBs when we site back in coverage. Welcome to the NFL.
(with apologies to the group Chicago)Saturday(is a walk) in the P ark, Every day's the Fourth of July. Saturday in the Park, I think I'm gonna cry. Where is Sampson Genus?
October 07, 2012 at 07:07 pm
I agree Rat, but not with the part of your better teams!?
I guess going worst to first, my bad!
Indy not your better teams---YET
Unless we are that bad!
October 07, 2012 at 06:57 pm
Ready to bail on this season. I know Wayne had a good game and the Packers are unlucky this year and just got beat by some phenom named Luck wearing a horseshoe helmet. Superstition notwithstanding, this team is bad. It's not great, it's not good, but they aren't terrible. I guess that makes them bad. Realistically, I think they go 6-10. Partly coaching, partly personnel. Clements is not as good as Philbin. Capers time may be up too -- they're not good at getting turnovers anymore. McCarthy to me has never been a great coach -- just average. Think about it -- is McCarthy a football genius like Belicheck, Coughlin? He's not even as talented as Mike Tomlin or Sean Peyton. Can't make adjustments, and he and Clements can't seem to figure out how to play against two deep safeties. I guess that has something to do with not being able to run the ball or lack of commitment to the run. They need to cut ties with Finley, Jennings needs to get healthy or they need to find an A-list receiver. Saturday is done. Driver is done. Rogers is rapidly regressing, and I fear he is going to be the Roger Maris of football. This is a youth league, Thompson understands this typically. It's early, but I feel like the 2012 draft will be remembered as a bust. Bears and Viqueens (!) are 4-1. Here's to a better 2013!
October 07, 2012 at 06:58 pm
I believe this team has talent, BUT, can MM, TT and coaches light this fire?
Lets hope so!
October 07, 2012 at 06:58 pm
Poorly coached never prepared no fire no adjustments need a new staff but MM gets another year unfortunately
October 07, 2012 at 07:00 pm
Do you remember the film on Green when we drafted him?? Killer out of the backfield on screens. We ran 1 screen today. In the 2nd half as they sent the house time after time, wouldn't a screen or 2 been helpful in slowing down the pass rush?? Isn't playing to a guys strength a reasonable strategy?? Speaking of playing to a guy's strength, I love what Benson brings to this offense, but I hate him running outside. He simply isn't fast enough to get to the edge...he belongs between the tackles.
October 07, 2012 at 07:36 pm
Agreed, whole heartedly.
October 07, 2012 at 08:32 pm
Agreed, top to bottom.
October 07, 2012 at 07:03 pm
So I don't have to go to bed being a pessimist....Really encouraged by the way our young DBs are playing. With the exception of the "phenomenal leap" Burnett is supposed to have made, Hayward and McMillan look like the real deal, albeit young. Also Neal looks like he will be teaming with Worthy and Daniels before long. Walden looked resurrected.
October 07, 2012 at 07:07 pm
***Current Playoff Picture***
Atlanta(*) and Minnesota have byes
(*) Home Field Advantage through playoffs
Wildcard round
SF travels to AZ
and
CHI travels to PHI
Good News:
Packers have at least a one-half game edge over DET, TB, CAR, and NO. Also, they edge WAS in the tie-breaker.
Bad news:
DAL, SEA, NYG, STL all have one fewer losses than GB.
In summary, we're smack-dab-in-the-middle of the "still alive" category !
October 07, 2012 at 07:54 pm
Oh cool! When did they start playing the playoffs in October?
Heavens to betsy! It seems like nobody on this site has ever gone through a 16 game season before!!!
October 07, 2012 at 08:04 pm
Don't get snarky with me!
From the looks of it, every game going forward is going to be a fight-for-life, sudden-death, win-or-go-home game.
So, yeah. Playoffs in October... for this team.
PS:
I don't make this shit up:
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/standings/playoffrace
October 07, 2012 at 08:30 pm
I happen to agree with you pkrNboro. This season is quickly taking the path of the 2010 season. We lost to teams like the Redskins and Dolphins. McCarthy eventually made adjustments but it was almost a little too late. The end result was a championship BUT....the difference this year is that the Packers will not sneak up on anyone. Teams know how to defend this offense and it seems Capers has a tendency to go soft too often. While the Jaguars may look like a gimme on the schedule in reality there are no gimmes for this team. I will go out on a limb and say that if the Packers are below .500 come the bye week they will not make the playoffs. Mark it down.
October 07, 2012 at 08:56 pm
I wouldn't say it's snarky any more than I'd say it's unreasonable to panic over a 2-3 team. Look, I hate the loss too, but I'm not even close to concluding that this team can't dig its way out and fight for a championship (and really, they don't have to 'dig' very far anyway). People saying that McCarthy doesn't know what he's doing...that Rodgers isn't any good...that the Super Bowl win was a fluke? That's nuts! I'm going to enjoy every moment of this season - even the rough times, because I really happen to like this team. And I don't think I have to be pissy about them just because they struggle at times.
October 07, 2012 at 09:10 pm
Some are panicking. I am not. HOWEVER....it is clearly obvious that changes need to be made now. Next week is truly a must win. I don't believe this team has the mental fortitude to overcome a 2-4 start. 10-6 might get you in the dance...11-5 will. They are going to have to dig and start right now. They play some VERY good defensive teams. Giants, Arizona, Texans, Vikings, Chicago. They already have 3 losses and judging by the way McCarthy is calling this offense, could lose these five easily. That would make them 8-8 at best. I'm not panicking but it is clear the Packers have got a lot of work to do if they want to make the playoffs. I, for one, am very skeptical that they will. Next Sunday will tell the tale of this coach and this team.
October 07, 2012 at 07:16 pm
Agreed- Hayward and Neal look encouraging.
Hope they can kick some ass!
I think this D is going places, wish I could say the same about the OL.
October 07, 2012 at 07:20 pm
Receivers can't separate? Whats up?
October 07, 2012 at 07:27 pm
My guess is that it becomes very hard to separate when DCs know what you're gonna run.
October 07, 2012 at 07:26 pm
THIRD!!!33!!3
Jayme Snowden
October 07, 2012 at 07:47 pm
"Too bad sacking the quarterback is now illegal or Perry would have had another sack."
Also, too bad playing corner back is now illegal or Sam Shields would have not been called for some phantom pass interference plays
October 07, 2012 at 08:43 pm
Good point. Welcome to Obamas Ameri.... Err, I mean Goodells' NFL.
October 07, 2012 at 10:57 pm
Word.
October 07, 2012 at 08:42 pm
Food for thought. The Packer offense replaced exactly 1...count it 1 player in the offense from last year. That being Jeff Saturday. The receiving corp is the same. The TEs are the same. The FB is the same. The RB situation is the same (possibly better with the addition of Benson) and a healthy Green and hopefully Starks. The QB is the same. Besides Jennings injury, what is the problem? A team has to be better than 1 player (with the exception of QB). When you assess the way the offense has played you can only come to one conclusion and it is obvious. So please stop with the "Saturday sucks" mantra. He's the same guy who snapped against Chicago and New Orleans okay. The problems are much larger than protection. Let's start with abolishing the back shoulder throws (aka. fade stops) to be the go to play in our offense. McCarthy better come to the realization that games are not won on yardage and style points. I'll gladly take the 5 yard completion over the middle or on a check down or flanker drive if it means we move the ball or keep the offense out of 3rd and forever. Tuck the pride away Mike. This is about winning games and not how "explosive" the offense looks while doing it. Efficiency counts for a whole lot more.
October 07, 2012 at 08:43 pm
Rodgers and McCarthy get in the Ugly for the game. Pathetic play calling and horrid execution by Rodgers. That's first time I've ever said that. Rodgers needs to stop resting on his laurels (sp?) and play. Take the first down you jackass! He has been dogshit this year for his standards or maybe he's content with one MVP and a bunch of broken dreams.
As for McCarthy, other than the one playoff run and a fun 13 games he's been completely outmatched by good teams, even some bad ones. We've seen it since he started: his idea of the vertical passing game doesn't work!!!
October 07, 2012 at 09:54 pm
Am I the only one that noticed how big of a liability Woodson was? How many penalties on him today? Dropped int, a step behind on everyone. The offense put up enough points, the d couldn't do anything but get beat.
October 07, 2012 at 10:00 pm
I just don't think the sky is falling. The Packers had one bad half and it cost them the game. Mistakes were made, but the Colts offense also made some pretty impressive plays. Everybody's ragging on the Colts because they were bad last year, but that was not an incompetent team that stumbled their way to a win over the Pack.
Overall, there is obvious defensive improvement compared to last year. As Woodson and the older guys are slipping a bit, the young guys will come on as the season progresses. The offense is struggling but I don't think they're in the panic mode that us fans are. I have confidence that they'll figure it out. I see a 11-5, 10-6 team and a playoff competitor this year.
October 07, 2012 at 10:09 pm
Reggie Wayne put on a WR clinic on how to destroy the Packers secondary on the Colts last series. Luck was looking right at Wayne every time he dropped back to pass. We all saw it and I`m sure many of us were screaming this at our TV`s as well. How come the Packers weren't adjusting to stop him?
If this secondary doesn't get it together soon I can just see the headline on the back page of the NY Post on the day after they play the G-Men. The Massacre at MetLife!
October 07, 2012 at 10:26 pm
If anybody wants an indication if this is about Mike McCarthy's approach to offensive play calling the game against Houston should be very telling. The Texans run a 3-4 and he is a pressure coordinator through and through. You don't have to keep track of snaps like me but just sit back and get an overall feel for how much he sends pressure and instead chooses to play split field coverage (Cover 2 or 2 man). If you see a lot of the latter....you will know that the book has been written.
October 07, 2012 at 10:44 pm
One good thing, now that my expectations have been lowered, I can relax and enjoy the rest of the season.
October 07, 2012 at 11:24 pm
Look at the players comments after the game, they all say something to the tune of "we didn't play up to our potential" This is such a narcissistic line of thought it makes me want to vomit. How about you give the opposing team some credit that they lined up and smacked you in the mouth. Since last year against KC we have had this mentality that the only team that can be Green Bay is Green Bay. Through the first five games I have determined that the teams beating Green Bay is the opposition, not Green Bay. What made this worse is the supposed "blown call" on MNF. OMG get over it, if you wanted to beat your opposition knock the ball down, there were worse calls during the NO game so replacement refs were not the problem. This team has such an inflated ego that it is hurting them and it seems to be apparent that MM can't reign that in. Also Dom Capers needs to go, that passive "aggressive" style of defense hasn't worked in the NFL since 1997.
October 07, 2012 at 11:54 pm
I think our top coaching tier has incredible inflexability. This team could well be 2-6 at half way. Not positive.
October 07, 2012 at 11:29 pm
We can't get too glum. McCarthy teams usually have trouble starting. Last year was an aberration. The Pack looked awful at the start of 2010. That turned out pretty well. As for this being "the worst loss since God knows when," please. The 26-0 loss to the Bears in 2006 was one of the most disheartening games of my life as a fan. This was merely disappointing.
Embarrassing losses are part of McCarthy's signature. But he beat the Bears when it counted the most and then won the Super Bowl. As much as I hate the way he puts together an O-Line, this system has worked before. I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
October 08, 2012 at 04:05 pm
I was at that bear game. Tough way to spend a Christmas day. If I'm thinking of the right one???