No days off: Mike McCarthy locked on scouting Rams during Packers' bye week
-- The Green Bay Packers may be getting ready to dive into their bye week, but the work doesn't stop for Mike McCarthy.
The Packers' head coach had players in the building early Tuesday morning before freeing them up for their week off. But he immediately went right to work on the Los Angeles Rams, the Packers' next opponent.
"I’m on to the next step. I’m on to self-scout, across the hall, the Rams," McCarthy said on Tuesday. "I understand what the next four games look like, but they don’t mean anything outside of the Rams because that’s the next game."
The head start approach taken by McCarthy is certainly ideal for a team preparing to enter the rigorous stretch of opponents that the Packers are. They'll be in Los Angeles after their bye week, followed by a trip to New England. From there, they'll play in Seattle and Minnesota in two of their next three games.
"We’ll get a chance to work this week, get a head start on those guys. But we’ve got a lot of work to do on ourselves, and that’s really where the energy will go."
The Packers escaped the San Francisco 49ers by the skin of their own teeth Monday night, knocking off a team quarterbacked by C.J. Beathard 33-30 to improve to 3-2-1 on the season. Things didn't really quick for the Packers offensively until late in the fourth quarter after enduring a dry spell for a majority of the game.
They also put up over 500 yards of total offense for the second straight week -- except in last week's loss to the Detroit Lions, the Packers only managed 23 points. This week, however, they finally broke 30 for the first time in 2018.
The abundance of yardage and inability to reflect those totals on the scoreboard is one of the things McCarthy will likely emphasize during the bye week, among other things.
"You look at all six weeks. You look at everything," McCarthy said. "It’s more the things within the statistics. It’s the little things, the mannerisms, the tips. We have across the hall, we’ll do that where the offense will coach the defense when they get back for an hour and a half on Monday.
"We know the things we’ve done well. We know the things we haven’t done well. You work on that every day. It's how you're going to tweak this or adjust that to get better."
If those statistics were any significantly worthwhile metric, the Packers wouldn't have much to worry about as they venture into their bye week. They currently rank fourth in the league in total yards per game, fourth in passing yards per game, 17th in rushing yards per game and are tied for 15th in points per game. The latter two categories, of course, could use some work.
Above all else, the Packers can use the bye week to get healthy on both sides of the ball.
Both starting wide receivers, Randall Cobb and Geronimo Allison, were battling hamstring injuries and were inactive Monday night. The Packers' likely plan was to give them an extra week's of rest to rehab along with the bye week to ensure they're at 100 percent by the time they're back in the facility.
A pair of cornerbacks, No. 17 overall pick Jaire Alexander and the recently-acquired Bashaud Breeland, were also inactive against the 49ers. Alexander has a groin injury and Breeland has been dealing with a hamstring injury for the past two weeks, prolonging his debut with the team.
The Packers dropped winnable games during the first six weeks of the season, heightening the sense of urgency as they cross the bye week threshold and into the dungeon that is their upcoming slate of foes.
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Zachary Jacobson is a staff writer/reporter for Cheesehead TV. He's the voice of The Leap on iTunes and can be heard on The Scoop KLGR 1490 AM every Saturday morning. He's also a contributor on the Pack-A-Day Podcast. He can be found on Twitter via @ZachAJacobson or contacted through email at [email protected].
Comments (28)
Packer Dave
October 17, 2018 at 08:00 am
Great time to have a bye week. Defense needs to do some soul searching and I think we'll see a better product going forward. Hopefully MM comes back with more short passes and Aaron Jones. Would be nice to see Kumerow get involved too.
fthisJack
October 17, 2018 at 08:46 am
Kumerow is coming off the PUP?
dobber
October 17, 2018 at 09:18 am
I've seen no word on that, yet. Barring an injury, is there a spot for him in the WR group? I can't imagine that the Packers will make it through the season without a season-ending injury to a WR, but the window on reactivating him will close.
Fire_Gute
October 17, 2018 at 11:36 am
He's on IR, not pup. There is no window after the 8 weeks he has to be out
dobber
October 17, 2018 at 12:46 pm
You are correct...
<<tips hat>>
Thegreatreynoldo
October 18, 2018 at 05:30 am
Edited: I figured out what was meant. Davis or Kumerow can be activated any time after Week 8. That means in time for week 9 or week 17.
Grimbo
October 17, 2018 at 08:05 am
Have a suggestion to fix the Packers: let Aaron Rodgers call ALL the offensive plays. He already calls his own plays in the 2-minute and Pack is best in the world at 2-minute. We have a great general in Rodgers, he is in the trenches facing the enemy, why not let him take total command? Bart Starr in his day called his own plays. I know that’s different times and they did not have technology. But who says it can’t still work today?
Tundraboy
October 17, 2018 at 11:19 am
Sure it could work. Matter of trust . If you dont trust Rodgers at this point in his career, there's a real problem. If you can't trust Rogers who are you going to trust and if it's a matter of McCarthy or Rogers,well ...
dobber
October 17, 2018 at 09:20 am
In part, it would be very difficult for ARod to completely call his own game if he can't command personnel groups and substitutions on-field. He'd still be locked into whatever personnel he's given...which really isn't any different from what he's doing now.
J0hn Denver's Gavel
October 18, 2018 at 10:49 am
Humans have utilized technology throughout their entire existence. Technology is not defined as electronics or communication devices, rather a means to an end.
Definition:
Technology is the collection of techniques, skills, methods, and processes used in the production of goods or services or in the accomplishment of objectives.
Bart Starr utilized technology.
Bearmeat
October 17, 2018 at 08:44 am
So MM is looking at the Rams, eh? What's he looking at, how to beat them, or why they get so much more out of their talent? I hope both!
Hawg Hanner
October 17, 2018 at 09:02 am
McCarthy looks to me like he is burned out and needs some time off.
PAPackerbacker
October 17, 2018 at 09:27 am
MM always says they have work to do yet when game day comes it's the same old same old. Going into the bye gives the injured players time to heal. But it will take a lot more than having them back to win. It starts with the coaching and game preparation. Playing 60 minutes of smash mouth, in your face football is what will win against the playoff caliber teams. Falling behind then playing catch up the rest of the game is not a successful game plan, especially against the next 4 or 5 opponents after the bye week. Go! Pack! Go!
Turophile
October 17, 2018 at 02:23 pm
Smash mouth football is undisciplined football. Sure it SOUNDS great, but the Packers need better execution, not wilder play. I'd rather see a really good form tackle that stops an opponent dead, than a blow-up attempt that might miss or get a penalty.
I'd like to see a better first half as well, and that is doable, not a surety, but doable at least.
Finally I'd like to see a pass rush..............but that is a bit deeper into dreamland than the others. Chances are it will take until after the next draft to alter that.
dobber
October 17, 2018 at 02:41 pm
I agree with the sentiment of smash mouth football: that you're going to out-physical (play harder than) your opponent. I don't think that equates to playing undisciplined ball, but we've seen teams that can't separate the two. Jim Schwartz's Lions teams were awful in that regard...taking dumb penalties that took them out of games.
Play fast. Play hard. Be assignment sure. That's what we've been asking for from the Packers for years. They're getting faster...
jh9
October 17, 2018 at 09:32 am
We've seen this movie too many times...
MM will have his plan for the Rams. It might work for the first few series and maybe the first half. But when McVay makes his adjustments rendering MM's "plan" ineffective, MM will not counter McVay's move. MM will stick with his plan and the Rams will win easily.
PAPackerbacker
October 17, 2018 at 08:15 pm
That's what he does. Can't make adjustments as the game progresses. That's why they are always playing catch up football. And AR has to be the one to get them back in the game. I'd like to see more hurry up offense when they play the Rams. Keeping them off balance and unable to make substitutions should keep the Packers moving the sticks and give the Rams less opportunities on offense.
Since'61
October 17, 2018 at 09:32 am
Just self scout the first half, especially on defense and play four full quarters instead of just 2. As for the offense give the ball to Aaron Jones and start the game with the 2 minute offense. Scouting done. Now go beat the Rams. Thanks, Since '61
J0hn Denver's Gavel
October 18, 2018 at 10:52 am
well played, my thoughts exactly.
Doug Niemczynski
October 17, 2018 at 09:43 am
I'm just glad it's a bye week.
PackfanNY
October 17, 2018 at 09:45 am
I hope he is taking a serious look at the defense and how he hopes to slow down Todd Gurley. If they give the same poor tackling, passive performance they gave against the 49'ers they are going to literally run over the Packers.
I sure hope he figures something out as I will be heading out to LA for the game and that will be a hell of a long ride back if they aren't at least in the game.
ShanghaiKid
October 17, 2018 at 12:22 pm
I’m not joking when I say this, I expect Todd Gurley to run for 250+ yards. Did anybody see what he did to Denver’s D? I mean my god he is a man child. The packers let Matt Brieda and Raheem-nobodyfreakingknows-Mostert run for 148 on them. It’s going to be a tough game to watch.
cheesehead1
October 17, 2018 at 10:22 am
Our D still cannot get it done. Poor performance against SF and overall IMO. Maybe coach Pettine just doesn’t have enough talent to work with? It’s getting tiresome hearing how our D tightens up in the second half. Means nothing when you’re giving up 24 or 28 in the first half.
LambeauPlain
October 17, 2018 at 11:23 am
I agree. Unlike Capers, Pettine does have great skill to adjust to the flow of the game and move his players around to maximize their performance. But the D talent is not good enough to start strong and control at the start.
Of the front 7, the only keepers in my view are Clark and Martinez....maybe Lowery but he doesn't get many snaps because the invisible Daniels plays most of the game but does very little.
I have high hopes for Burks, but geez...he was gashed in coverage and mauled in the run game on Monday.
Hopefully Gute sees the weakness in the front 7 and trades for some help before the deadline. He could probably get Shane Ray (OLB Broncos) for a mid round 2019 draft pick...and he would instantly become the best EDGE on the Packers.
LambeauPlain
October 17, 2018 at 11:11 am
I was believing Pettine's D had the arrow pointing up as they became more familiar with his strategy.
Monday was their worst performance of the year. CMIII and Perry have to be the most overpaid millionaires in the NFL. $10-15 Mil each to make 1 tackle and 3 batted balls respectively per game? There was nothing coming from the Packers EDGE game. Just pathetic!
M. Daniels has been invisible while Kenny Clark has been nearly unblockable. Is Daniels still hurt?
And while the tackling had been below average, on Monday it was atrocious! CMIII actually missed an open field tackle by almost 5 yards. He looked silly. He was not alone. Arm tackles, whiffs, and just a lot of quitting after contact. I saw a lot of guys standing around or jogging while watching someone else try to make the tackle.
With a reputation of being a "tough guy", Pettine has a D that is anything but.
Tundraboy
October 17, 2018 at 11:16 am
Time to scrub the scrub brush.
ILPackerBacker
October 17, 2018 at 02:30 pm
This self scout is just a load of crap for bad reporters and writers to waste time with.
The eye ball test of ANYONE sees Jones does not have the run total needed.
Brice has been a disaster as S in passing situations yet not once has there been an attempt to use someone else for him.
EVS has improved the WRs yet would not have gotten a snap outside 2 injuries.
Many of the issues in GB are very clear and obvious and the biggest is pretending only the 'coaches' are smart enough to figure them out and only after a week worth of work. That's total crap. If they don't know 6 weeks in then they shouldn't have the jobs ... who wouldn't like to tell their boss....give me a week to figure out why I don't have my work done.
TXCHEESE
October 17, 2018 at 04:04 pm
Watching the defense in most of the first halves this season, it looks as if they're still in practice mode. After the first couple of plays, they're not flying to the ball. It has taken until it's too late, or almost too late, before they play with any urgency.
Offensively, they have to start running the ball. In the second half on Monday there was ample opportunity and time left to get the running game a chance on first and/or second down, which would have kept them out of so many third and longs.