Packers 23 Falcons 34: Game Balls & Lame Calls
By jasonperone
The Green Bay Packers started out looking like they weren't worthy of being the first team to oppose the Atlanta Falcons in Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday night. They tried to make a game of it late but the Falcons were probably glad it was the Packers, once again, visiting their (new) building.
Coming in, the Packers were without both starting offensive tackles but their problems extended well beyond that by night's end. The game, and more players were lost for the Packers and on they move to week three licking wounds of all varieties.
Game Balls
Aaron Rodgers
300 career touchdown passes gets a spot here. Rodgers wasn't brilliant or perfect, but he made a few Rodgers-esque plays as he does and reached a big milestone.
Kevin King
King looked like a guy who was Green Bay's first pick in this past draft. One of few bright spots on the night, King made a nice, athletic pass break up and came up and closed on a big tackle in the backfield. Both were welcome sights and King will only continue to grow in this defense.
Ty Montgomery
Run hard, play hard. Ty brings it almost every time he touches the ball. Regardless of the scenario, Montgomery runs like he has something to prove and gain. He had a nice short catch and tough run for a late touchdown.
The Packers offense needs more guys like Montgomery, it appears, after watching this game. Toughness isn't just a defensive need.
Clay Matthews
1.5 sacks on the night for Matthews. No small feat for any player but Matthews needed this one to remind everyone he's still a factor despite questions about his durability and effectiveness.
Lame Calls
Mike McCarthy
McCarthy knew he'd be without key offensive linemen coming into this game. His game plan was to stick to what they do when they're healthy and hope that Aaron Rodgers could pull a rabbit out of his hat. No such luck. A very predictable product on the field by McCarthy's bunch and the Falcons defense had most of the answers to the test.
McCarthy was also flagged for harping at the official about a penalty called on a pick play. He had a valid gripe but it was just a lame attempt to get on the refs when it was his own team who needed the tongue lashing.
I'm already prepared for the reminders about how good McCarthy has been for this team over the last decade plus. That doesn't mean he can't be criticized when his team fails to rise up and perform in a tough spot. And this team certainly did not do that in this game.
Martellus Bennett
Bennett looked a step behind and dropped too many balls. He's still getting his footing in this offense and will likely find his way, but too many mistakes in an important game.
Pass Defense/Dom Capers
King's nice pass break up aside, this unit is still too slow and lost against a really good offense. Maybe it's just against the Falcons that the Packers struggle, but the Falcons are probably going to be there when the Packers want to advance after this season and they'll have to have an answer.
The pass rush was anemic. Matt Ryan had time to pack a lunch and do his laundry in the pocket. Mike Daniels' absence allowed Atlanta's front to focus on Matthews and Nick Perry and the Packers had no alternatives.
Run defense was most affected by Daniels' absence and the ball carriers were't touched until they were beyond the line of scrimmage. That won't get it done against a fast scheme.
Julio Jones and Mohammed Sanu were on another planet and ran around all night with the ball in their hands as a result. They had a combined ten catches for nearly 200 yards. Damarious Randall was no match. Safety help was either not called for in the zone coverage or it didn't arrive on time.
It's too soon to say this defense failed to turn a corner this year and keep up with a faster opponent but this game produced little good tape. No interceptions for the second-straight game didn't help either. The defense as a whole had a chance to save the day but instead came in confused and befuddled by the same offens they've now faced three times in the past 12 months.
Tackling
Too many missed tackles, mostly on Devonta Freeman. You can try to excuse being out-played and out-schemed but there's no excuse for missed tackles.
Others to mention
- The offensive line was going to be shorthanded and challenged coming in. Kyle Murphy held up OK but the line overall looked overwhelmed. Sacks, bad snaps and penalties were aplenty. Injuries challenge any team but they can't be without their two preferred tackles much longer
- Speaking of injuries, need more space in the training room! Mike Daniels, Jordy Nelson and Kentrell Brice were lost early in this one. Randall Cobb and Davon House joined the party later on. Say whatever you want about health issues being about luck or unavoidable. These are the things the derail a promising season
- Aaron Rodgers was running around all night and threw a few dimes (touchdown pass to Devante Adams). But I didn't care for the backwards pass that turned into six points for the defense. He has to be aware and either throw it away or tuck it in and live to play another down
- Blake Martinez plays faster than he appears and quietly had a decent game a second-straight week
- In the end, this only counts as one loss, but it was one that will very likely figure when the postseason rolls around
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Jason is a freelance writer on staff since 2012 and also co-hosts Cheesehead TV Live, Pulse of the Pack and Pack A Day podcasts. You can follow him on Twitter here
Comments (165)
TKWorldWide
September 18, 2017 at 06:43 am
GB is likely not as good as they showed vs. Seattle and not as bad as last night. Injuries and mistakes. Turn the page.
NickPerry
September 18, 2017 at 06:28 am
The SF 49ers did almost the exact same thing to Seattle's Offense yesterday so I'm not as excited about last weeks win as I was say Saturday night.
Injuries, mistakes, turn the page. Amen to that!
RCPackerFan
September 18, 2017 at 06:59 am
I'm not concerned at all. The only thing that concerns me is the injuries. As long as none of them are long term I think we will be ok.
Might need to bring Francois back though.
L
September 18, 2017 at 10:11 am
...or sign C.Ringo from off of the Lions Practice Squad?
Maybe they drop OL Pankey to make room for Ringo or RJF if they believe Bakhtiari and/or Bulaga will return for week 3. Then look to resign him to the Practice Squad.
RCPackerFan
September 18, 2017 at 12:03 pm
Yeah, I like Ringo to. I just wonder if they would sign him or not?
I can see them dropping Pankey perhaps. But it would all depend on if they think Bakhtiari, Bulaga, and Spriggs can play.
Maybe they look to IR someone too. If Spriggs injury is really bad maybe they IR him?
freddisch
September 18, 2017 at 07:19 am
They are as bad
NickPerry
September 18, 2017 at 06:26 am
Game Balls... Well you took the only few positives from this game Jason so there's not much left to add in "Game Balls".
I thought Cobb had a nice game until that play in the end zone.
Montgomery...After the first drive I thought McCarthy actually paid attention to the way NE used James White in SB and was using Monty in the same way. Rushing, receiving, TD!!
King...He deserves to be on the field, DEFINITELY in front of Randall for sure. Play him now, let him get his lumps and bumps and by seasons end he might be ready to slow Jones down at least.
Lame Calls....Mike McCarthy.... Just like I said above, Montgomery is active and on the field on the Packers TD drive. The very next drive we see Jamal Williams who IMO has been unimpressive. WHY can't McCarthy stick with what works until a defense stops it? McCarthy always stops it for them or in this case stuck Williams out there.
Randall.... His groin was 100% and he still CAN'T COVER. The first thing Atlanta did was find Randall and put Jones on him. Now I get Jones is the best in the NFL, but can't Randall even stay in the same zip code as Jones? Before you get upset and say he was covering Julio Jones STOP, he couldn't cover Sanu either. Randall was equally inept covering Sanu as he was Jones and again, no injury to blame it on. He's the Packers #4 CB at best.
Injuries.....Never have I watched a team in ANY sport so snake-bitten by injuries year in and year out. Groin, Hamstring, Quad, these are all "soft tissue" injuries aren't they? So what's the deal? Is it the way they warm up? Stretch? UGH!!
I'm not blaming the officials. Yes there were some bad calls, terrible calls even but the Packers got those calls last week. The home team always does.
RCPackerFan
September 18, 2017 at 06:46 am
I pretty much agree with most of it.
Though I don't blame McCarthy really. What more can you do when your down to your 3rd/4th string OT and a guy who never played OT for them before.
'I'm not blaming the officials. Yes there were some bad calls, terrible calls even but the Packers got those calls last week. The home team always does.'
I'm not blaming them either, but the turning point in the game was the horrible offensive PI on Bennett. They were still in the game at that point. They had a little over a minute left in the half down by 10. They just hit a play that got them to midfield, and it got called back on a horrible call. Even if they don't do anything after that play, they go into halftime down by 10 vs 17. If they get into field goal range and make it they go into half down by 7. Huge difference from being down by 17.
Those types of plays should be able to be reviewed. That was the game changing play and it was all based on the official.
To pour salt on the wounds they called another one on Allison which took a TD away, and didn't call one against Atlanta right before halftime.
rdent
September 18, 2017 at 07:49 am
The league looks at the tape for the officials in games and if deemed inadequate they will sit that crew for next week and that crew should be sent back to school!
dobber
September 18, 2017 at 07:54 am
Oh good. That will make last night's outcome better...
rdent
September 18, 2017 at 10:09 am
I understand but at least they can be held accountable for calling a bad game, if that's any consolation.
RCPackerFan
September 18, 2017 at 08:19 am
I understand that they do that. Like Dobber said though it doesn't change the horrible call during the game. Which that was the turning point in the game.
Bennett's block is legal within 1 yard of the LOS, why can't that be a review-able/challenge-able play? That way they get that call right the first time.
rdent
September 18, 2017 at 10:08 am
Thats why ref crews get sat so they don't make b.s. calls and botch games like that next time, I know you are frustrated and it doesn't change anything for the team that got screwed but in a perfect world refs should not determine the out comes of games but hey its not a perfect world, imo GB got away with pi last week.
RCPackerFan
September 18, 2017 at 12:25 pm
yeah, in all honesty refs shouldn't impact the game. I'm not saying the Packers lost because of that bad call but it definitely was the turning point in the game.
I think the play on Graham should have been PI, but that equaled out with non call on Adams play too.
The problem with the Bennett play was 2-3 plays (or however many plays) after that the Falcons TE did the exact same thing to the Packers in the end zone and didn't call it. That only added to it.
Finwiz
September 18, 2017 at 12:32 pm
I'm here to tell ya, GB didn't lose this game because of the refs.
There were at least 2-3 pass interference penalties that weren't called.
Sour grapes to blame the refs. Blame the D, not the officials.
RCPackerFan
September 18, 2017 at 01:06 pm
I didn't say they lost because of them. Just that the bad call was the turning point in the game...
rdent
September 19, 2017 at 08:02 am
The ref who threw that flag had no business doing so, he was far out of position to even see the line of scrimmage.
RCPackerFan
September 19, 2017 at 08:17 am
exactly right.
He was 30 yards from the ball. Horrible call made by a guy way to far away.
L
September 18, 2017 at 10:15 am
"...why can't that be a review-able/challenge-able play?"
I wonder if that'll be something that can be challenged in the future?
RCPackerFan
September 18, 2017 at 01:02 pm
I really hope they start making some of these officiated plays review-able. I get you don't want to make everything review-able, but a play like that where if he is within a yard from scrimmage can be reviewed, why not allow it.
Tundraboy
September 18, 2017 at 07:43 am
"WHY can't McCarthy stick with what works until a defense stops it? McCarthy always stops it for them or in this case stuck Williams out there."
Exactly NP. I can't take him anymore. What other coach does this nearly EVERY game and why? IMO it also seems to set us up for a bad call whenever we have put ourselves in a position where we have to make a play.
rdent
September 18, 2017 at 08:07 am
Simply just BAD coaching, last week the time outs and poor clock management AGAIN, this game imo made a mistake by deferring the kick off, Atlanta drove right down the Defenses throat thus destroying their confidence right off the bat and once again not going with and not sticking to what works It seems week after week McCarthy puts his team at a disadvantage, it makes me wonder who's side is he on? It's like he does it on purpose to make himself look like a great coach but it usually blows up in his face. Isn't it a coaches job to put your team in a position to succeed instead of putting the team at a disadvatage? Smh!
Tundraboy
September 18, 2017 at 09:57 am
Exactly. There is never a week where I think we have a coaching advantage. Never. I might believe when we are facing difficult odds that there is a 50/50 chance that he will have a good game plan, such as Seattle in 2014, Dallas last year, but his lack of in game adjustments, negates that. He does keeps team on an even keel,but he is a weak link.
I fear his screw ups more than I do a player's. Maybe more so because a player can be benched.
croatpackfan
September 18, 2017 at 08:07 am
NIck, it is really enchanting how Packers fans are facinated with Julio mJOnes. Yes, he is top WR in NFL, maybe the best, but surely in top 3. Still he is not tha one who killed the Packers. Muhamed Sanu is the guy. He was 3rd down man who moved the chains in 90 % of long distance 3rd downs. And he was always alone as ghost in the space...
I read some questions why Packers did not put Davon House on Julio Jones and why not put Kevin King on Julio Jones. Packers did both. And still you saw only 2 catches Julio did when he was covered by Randall. Davon was lost man. He was staying still while Freeman was entering end zone in the first half. He was staying alone on the left side of the field while Sanu was ranning from his coverage to another side of the field and Randall was traying to cover him. Davon stood there like he was observer, not the player...
DB played bad, except Morgan and Ha-Ha, but they didn't have their the best games, too.
When we are talking about rookies, McCray, King and Jones played well, Murphy showed that he can be swing back-up tackle, Cobb played well and that is that.
What I missed the most is team tackling we saw against Seattle. I was so happy thatz finally saw Packers D who tackles ball carrier with 5, 6, 7 players... That was missing in the last night game...
NickPerry
September 19, 2017 at 04:42 am
Jones caught 2 passes against Randal for like 60 yards!!! That was all Capers and Whitt could take he played Jones so terribly they TOOK HIM OFF Jones. House at least slowed Jones down.
TKWorldWide
September 18, 2017 at 06:48 am
King looks good.
MAYBE Dom is only putting him in situations he is ready for. (Watch out; that would actually be giving DC some credit.)
MAYBE Dom thinks King isn't ready for a larger role. (Hell, I don't know and neither do any of us.)
BUT! The early returns on King are very encouraging.
rdent
September 18, 2017 at 08:12 am
But Randall continues to be a huge liability.
Gman1976
September 18, 2017 at 09:15 am
MAYBE maybe right, but I want the best players out there. King on Jones & Rollins in the slot at the start would have been much better.
TKWorldWide
September 18, 2017 at 12:17 pm
Maybe!
Or maybe when Dom called "zone tiger brown outside leverage omaha", King, instead of fulfilling his assignment, would've said "Huh?" while an Atlanta receiver blew past him for an 86 yard touchdown.
Maybe, maybe not.
But I agree King looked good last night.
Spock
September 18, 2017 at 03:37 pm
TK, LOL. King played well most of the game, but the announcers (who were bad for the most part) did point out that on an early play Julio was wide open because the rookie, Jones, totally got faked out on a play where Ryan missed how open Julio was. As far as I could see that was the ONLY play that King messed up. Impressive for a rookie. I agree with a lot of people here: let him play NOW. Better he misses some plays early and is READY for the playoffs!
flackcatcher
September 18, 2017 at 05:45 pm
Announcers were in preseason mode too. King looked good when green bay was in man coverage, but in zone or combo looked lost out there. Kid needs playing time, that's all. Randall was a step slow, he usually very quick on his back pedal, not last night. Might be suffering from post concussion, I question why he was out there last night after getting his bell rung in the season opener. Ready or not, with the injuries, looks like King and Jones will get more playing time next week after all.
RCPackerFan
September 18, 2017 at 06:57 am
Game Balls:
King - He had a hell of a showing. I don't think its a stretch to say he maybe our best CB already. Though I do want him to line up on the LOS every down.
Montgomery - He is our x factor on offense. We need to get him the ball everywhere.
Mathews - He was really the only player that was being disruptive.
Lame Calls:
Officials - The call against Bennett completely changed the game. That was the turning point. I wouldn't have a problem with it if it was an actual penalty but it wasn't. The refs blew it. Plain and simple.
Injuries - The biggest reason why they lost was injuries. Going into the game without their starting OT's, i actually thought they played pretty well. Then to lose Daniels and Nelson very early in the game. They arguably lost their #2,3,4,5 best players for this game. (Daniels, Bahtiari, Nelson, Bulaga). That changes what you can do.
Hopefully none of these injuries are long term.
Randall - He was terrible last night. I'm not saying he is done as a player or anything like that. But he had a bad game. King looked so much better.
Bennett - While he had some good blocks. His 57 dropped passes last night were bad. Really bad. His blocking has definitely been an asset but he needs to pick it up in the passing game.
Jake Ryan - He looks very, very slow on turf. He can be exposed on a faster surface. I hope Capers recognizes this in future weeks.
rdent
September 18, 2017 at 08:19 am
I wouldn't count on Capers to do anything but continue to roll out lame and outdated schemes. And to continue to put Randall on the field isn't helping.
SpudRapids
September 18, 2017 at 09:09 am
Lame and outdated schemes?!?!?! The Nitro package is something that's new and innovative taking a safety and putting them in at MLB. Mike Daniels is the key to that defense and losing him contributed greatly the defense's poor performance. Get over your emotional turmoil and come back to reality on Capers.
rdent
September 18, 2017 at 10:32 am
Spud, spoiler alert, a version of the Nitro is nothing new and certainly not something Capers created, for your information the Seahawks have been doing it with Kam Chanceller for years Capers copied it and called it "Nitro." So Spud don't talk smack to me unless YOU know what you're talking about.
SpudRapids
September 18, 2017 at 12:06 pm
Ok so if you're so privy to the most innovate scheme's out there who in the league is a new innovative coach that has these magical schemes?
rdent
September 19, 2017 at 08:12 am
Not Capers. There are a handful of good DC's out there but they all have jobs,unfortunately Capers still does.
jeremyjjbrown
September 18, 2017 at 11:57 am
There shouldn't be a roster spot for any ILBs that get outrun by Matt Ryan. Ryan runs like an offensive lineman.
RCPackerFan
September 18, 2017 at 01:07 pm
He looked good last week but was exposed this week.
He is the good mudder type of ILB you need for December football.
Christopher Gennaro
September 18, 2017 at 05:09 pm
Then play him against the bears or at home, this continued believe that is anything more than hawk lite, is nuts. Our defense is quick, in most areas, but inside lb. Both are character guys and Blake is not a complete liability in coverage. Dom does he need to go yes, but for me its because we are a draft and develop team, and his system takes time to learn, right away you put the defense on their heels. Sometimes less is more and knowing after watching diggs burn randall last year with no safety help, what did you think would happen? I'm happy we at least got 1 win in the last 2 weeks. On to week 3
Tundraboy
September 18, 2017 at 07:39 am
Spot on. Another awful performance, injuries aside, that this team has hanging like an albatross each year. MM gives us a huge embarrassing one each year to rally behind the rest of the season. Great teams lick their chops each year against us. Sick of these on National TV. This team has tons of talent, pride and nastiness not so much.
freddisch
September 18, 2017 at 07:22 am
If you have a new stadium opening make your first opponent is Green Bay
NickPerry
September 19, 2017 at 04:23 am
This comment is right on yet disliked. LOOK at the Packers record on Sunday Night Football, ESPECIALLY against good teams. They've been run out of the building by the Saints in 2014, Denver and Arizona IIRC in 2015, somebody lat year (Not going to look but it happened), Christ the LOST to the Bears on Brett Favre night. The Packers are awful on Sunday Night Football!!
TB comment is right on. Those who disliked it need to face the facts. I'd be happy if the Packers weren't on National TV at all during the year.
Nerd
September 18, 2017 at 07:15 am
If we're "ALL IN" for a SB this year, can we at least stretch our hammies? I mean really. Completely avoidable.
Nerd
September 18, 2017 at 07:17 am
The scrub tackles held up. The defense got some stops AND got pressure on Matt Ryan. The offense disappointed as it often does.
Yet another nationally televised embarrassment by Mike McCarthy.
RCPackerFan
September 18, 2017 at 07:30 am
Lose by 11 points without your starting OT's (which drastically changes what you can do on offense), losing your best offensive weapon and your best defensive player very early in the game and its and embarrassment?
Lets not forget to mention that the changing point in the game was on a horrible call with a minute left in the first half. They also had another 4 points taken off the board when they called yet another Offensive pass interference penalty against the Packers.
Nerd
September 18, 2017 at 08:15 am
it was a lackluster performance.
RCPackerFan
September 18, 2017 at 08:21 am
I will agree with that.
To me though. Considering the circumstances it wasn't an embarrassment.
fthisJack
September 18, 2017 at 08:17 am
don't blame the refs. the Packers defense looked exactly like last years defense. couldn't stop the run or the pass and NO pressure at all on Ryan and a ton of missed tackles. i've been saying for several years that this defense needs a new DC. how does Capers have a job after all the defensive debacles in the past 10 years? half of Rodgers career has been wasted because of this horrific defense and it will continue until Capers dies of old age.
RCPackerFan
September 18, 2017 at 08:29 am
The refs bad call was the turning point in the game. I'm not blaming them for the loss. Just saying that the OPI on Bennett changed the game.
There were to many missed tackles, and to many mental mistakes as well as physical mistakes. How many dropped passes were there?
Add that with the injuries to our best players, and it was to much to overcome.
The only thing that concerns me is the injuries to key players.
rdent
September 18, 2017 at 08:29 am
RC, lets not forget the game was over at half time, again! Atlanta let up but ran the clock at will, sugar coat this all you want but again GB got their asses handed to them by a team with superior talent and superior coaching.
RCPackerFan
September 18, 2017 at 08:31 am
True. But that was due to the refs bad call... Lets not forget that until that horrible call they were down 17-7. They got the ball to midfield with a minute left. Its a completely different game if they are down 17-7 at half time. And with the way they moved the ball there they could have easily got into FG range at the very least. If they go into half time 17-10 or 17-14 its a completely different game in the 2nd half.
dobber
September 18, 2017 at 08:43 am
Yes, but if a s#!t call takes you out of a game, it either happened in the closing minutes or you weren't likely to win in the first place. It's hyperbole, I know, but the Packers needed to stay even or play from ahead in this one. Once down even only 10 points, it felt like 30.
Tundraboy
September 18, 2017 at 10:23 am
Yes. As you often post. Ding, Ding. when you are e balkconstantly on your heels it's hard to Sq rn to th
Going away from what worked, more Ty and holding top was the only way we had a chance keeping up with the way the D played. We needed to score at every opportunity.
The atrocious tackling was the toughest thing to watch. But I guess it's hard to swarm to the ball when you are always on your heels.
RCPackerFan
September 18, 2017 at 10:11 am
I'm just saying that, that was the game changing moment. There are always 1-2 moments in a game that is a turning point. Well the biggest turning point was when they called that bad one against Bennett. They essentially moved the ball from the 50 yard line to the 5. That was the biggest game changing moment in the game.
There is a huge difference being down 3,7,10 points vs being down 17.
rdent
September 18, 2017 at 10:38 am
Dobber I agree don't want to play from behind here which is why I questioned. McCarthy's decision to defer on the opening kickoff although now I doubt it would have made a difference.
HankScorpio
September 18, 2017 at 08:32 am
Yeah, the game was over at halftime, Just like the Super Bowl.
rdent
September 18, 2017 at 10:45 am
Hank, very amusing but in the SB you had the Pats and Bill Belichick ,last night you had the Packers once again porus D and "can't make in game adjustments" Mike McCarthy.
jeremyjjbrown
September 18, 2017 at 11:59 am
I keep reminding myself that if you take away that BS penalty and Rodgers backwards pass then the game was a tie. Of course you can't takenthat stuff off, but normally those kinds of things aren't happening.
OrganLeroy
September 18, 2017 at 12:09 pm
They were down 17 points at the half, they were NEVER in this game. Losing by 11 points is a result of Atlanta taking it's foot off the gas, not some remarkable comeback attempt.
Curt
September 18, 2017 at 07:23 am
The biggest problem with the Bennett PI call was that it came from 25 yards away from the play from an official who had no ability to see the line of scrimmage. He had no way of seeing the play from that far away and when you can't see something you aren't supposed to throw a flag.
RCPackerFan
September 18, 2017 at 08:03 am
exactly right. It was a terrible call that changed the game.
rdent
September 19, 2017 at 08:16 am
And a very late call at that, I hope the league sits that crew for a couple weeks, they looked as bad as those replacement refs several years ago.
pacman
September 18, 2017 at 08:19 am
I was looking for this comment before posting the same. The call also came VERY late in the play. There's a line ref just for this purpose. There is no way that call could be made that far away to judge the 1 yd distance.
Either the fix was in to have Atlanta win anyway or the refs had to make up for a bad call in GB's favor last week. I can't see this one any other way.
Either way, these calls are going to lead to penalties being reviewed by replay too. As annoying as it is, you might as well get it right.
MM probably saw the replay and realized that nothing he could do was going to help his team so might as well try to rile them up. Personally, certainly in hindsight, I think he should have kept at it and got ejected to make the point of how bad a call that was.
Other than that, it's a bit hard to judge the Packers with 4 starters out but that should not have affected how bad the secondary was in letting Atlanta receivers get open.
dobber
September 18, 2017 at 08:24 am
"MM probably saw the replay and realized that nothing he could do was going to help his team so might as well try to rile them up. Personally, certainly in hindsight, I think he should have kept at it and got ejected to make the point of how bad a call that was."
Given the timing of it, when he knew the worst it was going to cost him was a touchback on the KO, it certainly seemed contrived, didn't it?
jeremyjjbrown
September 18, 2017 at 12:06 pm
yep
Gman1976
September 18, 2017 at 09:19 am
"Either the fix was in or..." I hate comments like that. Just makes me move on to the next comment.
egbertsouse
September 18, 2017 at 07:24 am
Clay showed up last night. I'm beginning to see why the Hoodie let Bennett go. Randall and Rollins are not injured and are awful but Ted may have struck gold with King. I still wish Dom would retire.
rdent
September 18, 2017 at 10:48 am
Egbert,why would Capers retire when he can continue to get away with rolling out the same old dog shit schemes and still have a job, no pressure on him! Edit please don't bring up the Nitro, Capers did not invent it.
HankScorpio
September 18, 2017 at 07:34 am
The score was 7-7 after one quarter. The Packers started out being very competitive.
Disaster on offense in and out of the half changed the game. Avoid the disaster and that's a different game. Since the disaster was bad turnovers by Rodgers, a guy that is famously careful with the ball, I believe things can be very different if these two teams meet down the road this year.
I get that it was not exactly pleasant to watch but geez, it's September. Can we all just step away from the ledge?
dobber
September 18, 2017 at 07:57 am
In the end, the scoreboard said the Falcons were 11 points better than the Packers last night...they were probably 20 points better than the Packers last night. The TOs were killers. Good teams get those in key spots and turn them into points. Atlanta is a good team.
We'll start to hear the lamentations of "well, if we could only get them off turf and on grass at Lambeau..." soon, a la the Doughboys of the 90s. The bottom line is that Atlanta has the better team regardless of surface.
I'll admit, it's early and these teams are going to grow and change over the course of the remaining 14 games. I take heart in the fact that the Packers tend to be slower starters and fast finishers (at least in the regular season). Cinci (who might be the worst team in the league right now) and Chicago give the Packers a chance to get their heads on straight. The Packers SHOULD be 3-1 in a couple weeks, which should be good for at least a share of the division lead at that point. I think it's important to be the lead dog in that race as much as possible.
But in the end, I'll finish with these two thoughts...
1. The Packers are averaging 20.5 points in their first two games.
2. RRod was the 2nd TE on the field later in last night's game and not Lance Kendricks.
Andrew Lloyd Peth
September 18, 2017 at 08:18 am
I noticed that. I wondered if Kendricks was hurt, but I didn't see anything.
OrganLeroy
September 18, 2017 at 12:13 pm
While Kendricks has a better all around game than Rogers, RR has much better receiving skills and since they couldn't run the ball, I'm guessing RR was out there for the passing game.
dobber
September 18, 2017 at 12:30 pm
"While Kendricks has a better all around game than Rogers, RR has much better receiving skills..."
I wouldn't agree with that. But something's clearly not right with Kendricks. Maybe he's nicked up. Maybe he's just not getting in tune with the offense---but you'd think a vet like him would get there with all the time he's had to prep. Whatever the case, he's just not seeing the field very much.
Razer
September 18, 2017 at 08:56 am
Well said Dobber. The better team won. The question for this team is whether it can get better than Atlanta by season's end. At this point, I can only hope that a healthy team may have a fighting chance.
OrganLeroy
September 18, 2017 at 12:17 pm
Personally and sadly, I just don't think this defense can get better. Randall & Rollins I had hoped would revert back to the potential they showed as rookies, this was a big test for them and while I knew we couldn't contain Julio, they still failed overall in this test. Perry can't be shut out like that because we have NO TALENT behind Perry & Clay so both have to produce for this defense to be successful, can't just have one of them having a good game. The offense will recover even if Jordy sits longer and even if the OT's sit longer, I believe that. It's still the defense that's the weak link.
Finwiz
September 18, 2017 at 12:29 pm
>>It's still the defense that's the weak link.<<
It's really as simple as this! It all starts right there.
Andrew Lloyd Peth
September 18, 2017 at 08:15 am
So far this season, Martellus Bennett has caught 47% of the passes targeted at him. The rest of the team has caught 73%.
That is staggering. Toss in his idiotic penalty in the Seattle game, and he has been flat-out awful, a few good blocks notwithstanding.
Martellus needs to leave his activism at the gate and get his head in the game. It's a free country, but he's not being paid to be an activist; he's being paid to be a Packer.
As I've written elsewhere, if Martellus can't respect the country, can he at least respect the helmet? Please?
jasonperone
September 18, 2017 at 08:54 am
ALP, Bennett didn't play well, clearly I agree as he got a Lame Call in this one. But "can't respect the country?" In what way? Holding up a fist during the anthem isn't a disrespect to the country or the flag. He's nowhere near the "activist" that his brother is or that some others in the league are.
Perhaps he doesn't have as much left in the tank as was hoped when he signed. He blocked well last week and got hosed with the pick call yesterday so he's not God-awful, he was just not great.
Andrew Lloyd Peth
September 18, 2017 at 03:56 pm
Jason, holding up a "Black Pride" fist when the National Anthem is being played is definitely a show of disrespect to the nation. Bennett believes the nation which is being honored by that anthem is mistreating people of the race in which he has chosen to proclaim pride--happens to be his race.
C'mon, let's not ignore what is obvious here.
All of that is his right, but that doesn't make it a good thing to do. Put it in context: This guy also despises the current President, and I'm about 99.9% sure he deeply resents all Wisconsinites (half the fanbase) that helped vote this President into office.
Bennett knows full well he is offending that half of the fanbase which voted for America's current President and supports law enforcement. He is willfully--and I believe, happily--offending millions of people watching his football game. There is NO WAY someone can do that without it occupying some of their thoughts and focus. No way.
And again, I would say this regardless of which side Bennett takes. He could be waving a "Make America Great Again" sign while wearing an NRA cap, and I would say the exact same things.
Will Bennett improve? Absolutely! And his blocking has been strong.
But he has seriously damaged this team for the first 2 weeks while offending millions of people who just want to cheer for him...
...and THAT is absolutely because of his agenda, and his lack of respect for good people who just want to root on the Green and Gold, but have committed the unpardonable sin of disagreeing with Martellus Bennett.
You can excuse and rationalize this all you want, Jason, but I think Martellus is an angry man who has divided his focus and doesn't care how many good people he hurts.
dobber
September 18, 2017 at 04:08 pm
We may disagree on this, but...
Social Justice >> NFL game
Perhaps #80s performance is as well explained by the fact that he got his ring last year?
Finwiz
September 18, 2017 at 04:27 pm
Oh for Christmas sakes dude.....
Fine - be a social justice advocate/warrior, but do it on your OWN TIME!
Don't dishonor the veterans that died to give him the right to play football, and earn millions, and not have to live in a communist or imperialist nation.
When the national anthem plays, you are pledging an allegiance to the flag, the country and the fallen. It's not the time for your social protest.
Do that on Twitter or other social media after the game. There's plenty of people that will listen to your every word, and swallow the big sheet sandwich like cotton candy!
I'm starting to fear this was a huge mistake, to sign an outspoken player like this. I was worried about it, but I thought the performance would be worth the headache.
Andrew Lloyd Peth
September 18, 2017 at 05:18 pm
Dobber, Martellus is being paid for "NFL Game," not "Social Justice." What's more, half of his audience whom he's willfully offending while they just want to cheer for him...
...are helping write his checks.
I also believe his views on social justice are heavily and racially skewed against evidence, but I won't go into that here. Suffice it to say, while I apply equal standards fairly, asking all players on any socio-political side to show compassion for their fanbase, Martellus willfully hurts others through open bias and disrespect.
I seek to hurt no one. Martellus wants to hurt many, as he lashes out in anger from his personal bias.
It's offensive. It has affected his play while needlessly hurting the feelings of millions of good people.
His focus will improve--how can't it?--but it is perfectly clear that this man values his personal anger over people.
In short, he's not a good person, and I tire of the silly excuses offered for him.
jasonperone
September 18, 2017 at 04:30 pm
Fair points ALP and thanks for being rational about it and not letting this spiral out of control. We both agree in that we want to see 80 do more and do better for this team
Andrew Lloyd Peth
September 18, 2017 at 05:16 pm
Thanks, Jason. I appreciate your thoughtfulness.
I have no intention of beating this drum all season, or even all week.
But I believe it needed to be said, and I'm only responding to a few responses here.
Martellus is hurting the feelings of precisely the people whose feelings he wants to hurt--and that's an awful lot of people.
But Packer fans come from many ideologies, and I believe we desperately want to leave those wars behind and unite behind our Green and Gold once a week. I wish Martellus cared enough about people to share this desire.
In my view, he absolutely does not.
Grandfathered
September 18, 2017 at 09:39 pm
ALP: Shut the Front Door. Lets, see Bennett, a black man, in a country where black men get killed routinely by cops in dubious circumstances, without a single cop prosecution, hold up his "black pride" fist. And you say this is "definately a show of disrespect to the nation"; "despises the President and resents all Wisconsinites, offending one half of the fanbase"; "willfully and happily offends millions of people"; seriously damaging the team"; "willfully hurts others through open bias and disrespect"; "v;lues his personal anger over people"; "hurt the feelings of an awful lot of people";
and, get this, "Martellus is a very angry man".
Ummmm... no. No one is offended, Who gives a crap what he thinks of the president, and it has nothing to do with anything. His fist has not damaged the team, you're the only one who is "hurt", and frankly, you sound like the angry man.
Andrew Lloyd Peth
September 19, 2017 at 06:54 am
No one is offended?
That is a remarkably cold-blooded thing to say. Many people are offended. Very, very many. You just don't care about their pain, since you disagree with them--the pain of people who disagree with you, in your eyes, doesn't exist.
That's what our society has come to. No wonder someone like Martellus feels fine doing what he does.
Now, you speak of wrongs committed against black people in America. Fair enough--I love all people equally, and race means nothing to me. But since you make racial injustice such a point, I'll respond with a simple fact:
The average black person in America is 10 times as likely to kill a white person than the other way around.
This is based on FBI statistics taken over a 5 year period from 2010-2014. While making up 62.7% of the population, white people (including cops) killed 980 black people in that time. Meanwhile, though only comprising 13% of the population, black people killed a staggering 2181 white people.
Those numbers didn't spike in one year, either--they remained fairly level, and are no doubt similar today. By those hard numbers, the average black person is an unbelievable 973% more likely to kill at white person as the average white person--including cops--is to kill a black person. In other words, 10.73 times as likely.
This is due to cultural factors--there is nothing different between the races. Those numbers were likely reversed 60 years ago. But if you tell ANY group--white people, black people, Muslims, Germans, Japanese, ANY GROUP--that their rage is justified, then you unleash the worst elements of that group to do great harm.
That is precisely what we see today, and people like Martellus are leading the way.
You speak of black people being killed by cops, but cop-on-black shootings are actually slightly below the percentages represented by black people in crime rates. In other words, the group committing the most crimes has the most fatal interactions with police, but not at a higher rate per crime than other groups. So even that number doesn't favor your position.
So tell me, does Martellus care about the 10-1 social injustice resulting in 2181 murders being committed against white people by only 13% of the population? Those 2181 people aren't just inconvenienced like his brother was--they're dead, Grandfathered! Does Martellus care that he helps stoke the fires of "justified" rage producing such incredibly unequal levels of hate and murder?
Do you care?
I'm not an angry man. I'm a loving man, who wants people to stop thinking race and start thinking of shared humanity. But people like Martellus spewing justifications for rage produce terrible things, and that deeply saddens me. Those 2181 people will never draw another breath.
Do you care about the 10-1 imbalance? Do you, Grandfathered?
Andrew Lloyd Peth
September 19, 2017 at 05:51 am
No one is offended?
What a joke.
Finwiz
September 19, 2017 at 08:48 am
@Grandfathered:
I have a big problem with this post, and take major offense.
Leave the racial discussion out of the critique of the game
If you have an ax to grind, I'd take it elsewhere, if it were me.
If anyone sounds angry here, it would be you?
Anger manifested in the form of your interpretation of social injustices.
Do the right thing, and delete the post.
Andrew Lloyd Peth
September 19, 2017 at 09:41 am
Well said, Fin.
Grandfathered brought race to the discussion, making race-based claims. I countered with numbers.
Now, let's hope that ends the discussion altogether.
jasonperone
September 19, 2017 at 10:36 am
I'm going to suggest we end it regardless. I'm not trying to censor anyone or take sides. You all have a right to your take on the situation and again, I applaud that no personal attacks were made. I just don't want to see it taken there.
While agreement doesn't have to be the end goal, it's clear there won't be any among us all. Let's get back to Packers football and agree that we all want to see this team succeed.
Grandfathered
September 19, 2017 at 11:53 am
My apologies. I though that the comments by ALW were over the top, but I should not have responded with over the top comments myself. Players have been using their NFL stardom to make social and religious statements,( for example, Tim Tebow and his Christian antics), yet no complaints. I thing it was a mistake to bring the topic up, and I should have let it end.
Thegreatreynoldo
September 20, 2017 at 05:04 am
"Christian Antics." Sheesh.
MarkinMadison
September 18, 2017 at 09:51 am
That take has as much legitimacy as blaming Aaron Rodgers' problems on Olivia Munn.
rdent
September 18, 2017 at 10:51 am
They broke up so they will have to put blame on someone else this year.
MarkinMadison
September 18, 2017 at 12:10 pm
See! That's why he's playing so bad. They broke up!
dobber
September 18, 2017 at 12:32 pm
Seems like in 2015 when Nelson was out and the offense was so blah that we were BEGGING ARod to break up with Olivia Munn...
Thegreatreynoldo
September 19, 2017 at 03:21 am
Jason, Bennett was bad in game one and he was awful in game two, though I still love him knocking the crap out of Reed on a chip and leak. I see the potential he gives to our offense. Still, he's been terrible overall. First 6 targets, no receptions, 4 drops (2 drops negated by penalties). [I don't have any problem with Bennett sticking his fist up in the air - if the NFL is going to play the national anthem thereby injecting that into the game, a variety of reasonable responses should be anticipated.]
It was the combination of Bennett being a true dual purpose TE and Monty's versatility that caused me to think our offense might be incredible. I think that still probably happens if the OL holds up.
jasonperone
September 19, 2017 at 10:24 am
MB hasn't been very good. He had one catch that was significant more because of when it happened vs. how. I hope he can at least become as productive as we hoped which means more in the red zone vs. on the way down and in the middle of the field. That's just not his strength or at least not anymore. That's where they're hoping Kendricks can pick up the slack. 13 snaps isn't going to do it though. With MM, the offensive game plan changes weekly and I don't know enough about the upcoming D's to know if we should expect more, same or less of these TE's
rdent
September 19, 2017 at 08:34 am
Why didn't NE resign him?
HankScorpio
September 19, 2017 at 09:15 am
It's not just NE. The Packers are Bennett's 5th team.
fastmoving
September 19, 2017 at 05:19 am
what leads you to believe Martellus does not respect our country......for me its just the opposite.
Im sure you would wish its 50/50 but its more like 70/30 right now, thanks to the smart guy who talks as funny and kind of twisted like you. And Im sure just a real small part of your 30 procent feeling offended by Bennetts actions. Actually he does next to nothing.
Whatever you try to make out of it. Seems to me you only looking for something to throw your wisdom around a little bit.
Thanks for AR12 in so many ways................
and BENNETT IS ONLY A FOOTBALL PLAYER, who has too much drops at the moment. nothing else
Andrew Lloyd Peth
September 19, 2017 at 06:52 am
Read my responses above, fastmoving. No, Martellus does not respect our country, nor does he care what damage he causes, or who he hurts.
Bennett shows no desire whatsoever to be "ONLY A FOOTBALL PLAYER," your efforts to downplay his actions notwithstanding. He wants to offend good people--millions of them--and he is happily succeeding.
And you, no doubt, enjoy it as well. That's your choice, fastmoving. My choice is to respond to the public person making a public statement.
dobber
September 19, 2017 at 09:41 am
The fist-raise gets almost no news coverage. Thanks to Kaepernick, players making gestures during the anthem are mostly old news.
Zapato
September 18, 2017 at 08:19 am
Really getting tired of Mike McCarthy's Packers walking into games where they really need to be competitive and laying a big stinking egg. Seriously, they had eight months to figure out how to approach this team and all we got was deja vu all over again!
rdent
September 18, 2017 at 08:52 am
Dobber said it and so did I, better team and imo better coaching. I know it is hard to come to grips with when we are fans but the reality of it is that there are just better teams out there and Atlanta is one of them.
Finwiz
September 18, 2017 at 11:00 am
The Packers are not in the same zip code as ATL at this point.
Can't play with those guys.
The player quality has deteriorated and the offensive and defensive schemes have become antiquated.
I no longer think it's just better players that are required.
There's deeper problems here.
We weren't any more competitive in this game than we were in the playoff loss last year. Somebody in management, either Thompson, McCarthy or Capers has failed to do their jobs and adjust.
SpudRapids
September 18, 2017 at 09:12 am
Ding Ding Ding... winner of overreaction after week 2 goes to Finwiz
Finwiz
September 18, 2017 at 11:00 am
OK smart guy - tell me where I'm wrong. You seem to have all the answers, so please enlighten me as to WHY I'm incorrect, knowing we have now lost to them 3 times within 12 months, the last 2 by blowouts.
You have the floor, please tell me how anything has changed since Feb. 2017.
I'll be waiting.
SpudRapids
September 18, 2017 at 10:11 am
"The Packers are not in the same zip code as ATL at this point.
Can't play with those guys." Packers lost 33-32 in the regular season last year... when the Packers are healthy they can play with them, that is only happened 1 out of the last 3 times
"The player quality has deteriorated and the offensive and defensive schemes have become antiquated." - The player quality has deteriorated is just a generalized statement and seems like a emotional overreaction to me, as for the schemes, the nitro package isn't antiquated and Capers blitzes get home when he has his talent available to him. Mike Daniels is the key to the defensive pressure has he pushes the pocket into the QB. As soon as he went down I knew the D was in trouble
"I no longer think it's just better players that are required.
There's deep problems here." - The deep problem comment is what spurred my post to call it an overreaction. This was an electric environment for Atlanta and we were without many stars... let's start talking about deep problems when were halfway through the season
"We weren't any more competitive in this game than we were in the playoff loss last year. Somebody in management, either Thompson, McCarthy or Capers has failed to do their jobs and adjust." -Can't make adjustments without star personnel.
rdent
September 19, 2017 at 08:43 am
The loss of Daniels is not the reason the D looked so bad.
rdent
September 18, 2017 at 10:55 am
Finwiz, well said, poor drafting and sub par coaching, a deadly combination
Finwiz
September 18, 2017 at 11:10 am
There's a lot of the fan base that doesn't want to face the facts.
They just go to Lambeau on Sunday, drink beer and sing "roll out the barrel" and the "I don't want to work" song. They're good with that.
No pressure on management to change, and you have Capers hanging around for 5-6 years past football retirement age because nobody cares.
A heck, why bother.
It's time for some changes around here.
There won't be any Super Bowl this year.
If they would have been competitive, in a close game, and lost by a field goal with an adequate defensive showing that would have told me we've made progress.
Instead, it was a repeat of the NFC championship.
I know what i saw, and it tells me we can beat the crappy teams, but aren't in the same league with the elites.
Listen - it hurts, and I don't like it, but I face the facts.
dobber
September 18, 2017 at 12:36 pm
From the wishful thinking department: This Packers defense actually looks a lot like Atlanta from last year. A lot of younger guys, athletic guys, getting into the mix and playing significant snaps. They got pushed around early (as their stats from last fall reflect) but gelled toward the end of the season to support a pretty potent playoff run. I don't think that's completely out of the realm of possibility.
al bundy
September 18, 2017 at 10:43 pm
I have the sunday package and watch as many games as I can. Not a pure fan any more having suffered 45 years of ineptitude with the Lions and I agree with you completely. This is no longer about injuries, or missed tackles.
Told my wife no matter who you bring in for the O line that person has played in college and high school and knows fundamentally your job is to block. If your good, coming in on day one may not matter and if you suck, two seasons wont make you better.
The two guys we brought in as replacements were available for a good reason, they were cheap and available and that is the mantra that this teams admin lives by, cheap ball.
The fans deserve a hell of a lot more than this. The people on this board deserve more than this. Our pass defense is horrid again, year four and counting. This is on Ted T and the admin. Poor tackling players who avoid contact, and lack speed.
al bundy
September 18, 2017 at 10:33 pm
Totally agree
Spock
September 18, 2017 at 04:08 pm
Zapato, It was the second (2nd) game of the season! ALL the teams are still trying to figure out where they are. "they had eight months to figure out how to approach this team". Seriously? And how, exactly, did MM know who would be on his team for this game? Yeah, maybe he could of had an idea on how to approach this but (again) injuries and new players certainly would not have of made any "pre-planned" approach go out the window anyway. This is why NFL coaches who have winning percentages (there aren't many) as good as McCarthy are coveted. As fans it's easy to 2nd guess the coaches, but let's get real here: The game plan CAN'T be made months in advance. This isn't Madden. McCarthy is a good coach. In my opinion not as good as Holmgren because Holmgren was IMHO the best Packer coach to make savvy half-time adjustments, but to say he had 8 months to come up with a game plan is just not realistic.
flackcatcher
September 18, 2017 at 06:00 pm
Forget it Spock, it's Cheesehead town.
al bundy
September 18, 2017 at 10:47 pm
Yes and by the second game we have what ten guys injured some of them more than likely multi game injuries. Look this team lacks playmakers in general so when one or two of them get hurt, wow it really hurts.
If this was a unique situation I would agree with you but we are talking only game two and were going down in flames with injuries.
TarynsEyes
September 18, 2017 at 08:19 am
Clay showed up vs his cousin. Let's see what happens next week and week after etc.
Perry was inactive...no he wasn't but how does last week going against a 1st time,1st game ever guy inspire Perry supporters compared to this game.
Your top pass rush linebackers need to be able to compensate for a loss of player, Daniels, not awarded excuses .
Don't give touch credit for the late scores as Atl could have scored more and allowed the Packers some hold your head up play time.
croatpackfan
September 18, 2017 at 08:21 am
Nick Perry was constantly doubled (that is why Clay was so active!)...
Andrew Lloyd Peth
September 18, 2017 at 08:29 am
True. Perry was especially focused on with Daniels out.
Perry's fine. He's the real deal.
dobber
September 18, 2017 at 08:59 am
Cue taryn response...
SpudRapids
September 18, 2017 at 09:13 am
You've really regressed on this site to only posting negative comments about Perry
LASVEGAS-TOM
September 18, 2017 at 12:21 pm
Hey Tarynfor12, Well, once again I had the game figured right. I thought there was a good shot at the 1st half. I made the bet Friday night. Had I known both our tackles were out, I would have stayed away from it. Had we been completely Healthy, I would have made the same 1st half bet. I thought it was a lock until I found out Sunday they were out. That was Bad enough, but then to play without Daniels@#$#@.
Randle & Rollings are Terrible, (I mean PATHETIC). Our 3rd String is better. I'm surprised we played as well as we did. I want to give the Game Ball to Bryan Bulaga. I wanted to cut our losses on him, & had him on a bus out of town 3 years ago. I'm tired of paying him for standing on the sideline. In all of Division 1, there has to be someone who can take his place.
I hope all you Non-Betters heard Al Michaels mention the Over last night. Isn't it Amazing how, with a 56 1/2 Over (Which I can kick myself for not hedging my 1st half bet) The score winds up 34 - 23.
I think we lost 6 players last night including Nelson, Cobb, & Daniels. If they don't get healthy fast!!, AR is going to get hurt. I've asked numerous times, "Who is the Conditioning Coach" We just seem to have too many 1st line players hurt, year after year. We just started the season???
LVT
Thegreatreynoldo
September 19, 2017 at 03:47 am
Clay didn't line up against his cousin. He played against Atlanta's back up RT (after the starter got concussed on the 1 yard TD run putting Atlanta up 7-0). I certainly hope Clay can put up some stats against a back up.
Mack owned Kenny Clark and anyone else on the DL. Perry was a focus of the Atlanta scheme.
croatpackfan
September 18, 2017 at 01:38 pm
Game balls:
1. Back-up OT
2. Ty Montgomery
3. Kevin King
4. Clay Matthews
Near the GB: Morgan Burnett, Aaron Rodgers 300 TD, Randall Cobb
Lame calls:
1. Referees
2. Davon House
3. Damarious Randall
4. Matry Bennett
5. Tackling
6. Aaron Rodgers - he should have enough experience not to throw that INT and that side throw (I think it was another bad call from Referees because ball was thrown toward line of scrimage, not much, but stilll!)
MarkinMadison
September 18, 2017 at 08:25 am
1. This offense usually starts slow. I don't know why it should this year given all of the returning players at WR, but it does.
2. As soon as I saw that Bakh and Bulaga were out I wrote on Nagler's Facebook broadcast, "we're screwed." Yeah, Murphy and McCray weren't horrible, but don't kid yourselves, it had a big impact.
3. Why the heck did we not see more 2 TE formations? Jordy and your starting tackles are out? Why on earth not?
4. Atlanta is to Green Bay what San Fran was when Kaep was playing well under Harbaugh. Not sure how this puzzle gets solved. My hunch is we will have to see King grow to the point that Randall is no longer on the field.
Andrew Lloyd Peth
September 18, 2017 at 08:31 am
We tied up targets giving help to the young tackles. You're dead right; it had a big impact.
dobber
September 18, 2017 at 08:41 am
2. I was encouraged by the fact that McCray made it through the whole game and wasn't a total train wreck. I thought sure he'd get buried early and that they'd have to play Pankey and move Murphy back to the right side. McCray might make Don Barclay expendable...although he might not turn out to be much better in the long run. You're right, though: ARod was under duress most of the night and it seriously impacted the offense, but the rush was coming from everywhere.
3. They did play two TEs for a significant part of the second half, but after Cobb got hurt, they didn't have much choice. Kendricks didn't play much at all, it seemed. The other noteworthy thing is that it appears that Davis is the clear "#5 WR" (whatever that means) and logged most of those snaps late in the game over Janis. I'll be curious to see the snap counts when they come out.
4. King will force the Packers to grow with him from here on out, I think. He was credible last night and will have his growing pains, but he's as good as anyone else we saw out there and has the athletic traits to make up for his green-ness. Rollins just can't run with these guys, and Randall, who for all of his athleticism SHOULD be able to run with some of these guys, just gets lost. I think the "Randall-outside-CB" experiment is pretty much over. He'll still make some plays, but he needs to be playing safety or in the slot role, exclusively. He's probably not good enough to earn many snaps at S on this roster.
MarkinMadison
September 18, 2017 at 09:54 am
3. Sorry. I tuned out in the 3rd Q.
Thegreatreynoldo
September 19, 2017 at 03:52 am
Dobber, we just disagree on the OTs. AR had time, he just didn't trust that he had time. Now the run blocking was bad in both games. Bakh or Taylor might be our best run blocking OL. I think we're going to run left a lot.
rdent
September 18, 2017 at 08:56 am
Bench Randall, King is a rookie but even so he is an upgrade over Randall on any day.
NitschkeFromTheGrave
September 18, 2017 at 08:26 am
@ Nerd,??? "The defense got some stops AND got pressure on Matt Ryan" ????
What Freaking game were you watching??????????
croatpackfan
September 18, 2017 at 09:06 am
To remind you. They held Falcons on their second possession, for example.
dobber
September 18, 2017 at 08:26 am
I think we're due for a GBU column after last night's game...
jasonperone
September 19, 2017 at 10:26 am
Get at Al and Zach on the Twitter (@JerseyALGBP and @ZachAJacobson) and lobby to bring it back!!!!!
Lphill
September 18, 2017 at 08:26 am
I agree King and Jones need to play, it seems the Packers have their rookies take baby steps when other teams insert their early rounders from the get go, let them play it will only make them
Better .
HankScorpio
September 18, 2017 at 08:36 am
I agree. Get them both on the field, asap.
Better for those rookie mistakes to happen in Sept/Oct than Dec/Jan.
dobber
September 18, 2017 at 08:47 am
If Brice misses any time with his injury, Jones will get his chance. Getting that "baptism by fire" will go better against the Bengals and the Bears than the Falcons. Jones will make mistakes, but at least he'll make them at 100 mph with his hair on fire...
Gman1976
September 18, 2017 at 09:26 am
Couldn't believe that King didn't start. Always play your best players against the opposing team's best players.
dobber
September 18, 2017 at 09:46 am
"Always play your best players..."
Could've stopped right there.
Finwiz
September 18, 2017 at 08:53 am
Lame Calls:
1.) Dom Capers defensive scheme has to go, and since HE himself can't learn any new tricks, it's time for ALL sportswriters in the state of WI start asking questions every single week about what's considered acceptable level of performance out of this team. Ask the questions at every single available press conference and find out WHO can fire the guy, and what they consider acceptable. No more excuses
2.) Whomever is the strength and conditioning coach needs to be fired immediately, and somebody up there needs to go back to the drawing board and come up with a NEW conditioning program. Since they don't play these guys at game speed during preseason, there's no possibility to condition them that way. Therefore somebody needs to come up with a new conditioning program that mimics game conditions and movements, because all these soft tissue injuries are completely ridiculous and unacceptable.
It's time for some big changes in Green Bay. Unfortunately these won't happen until after Jan. 2018, but the press needs to start holding this management staff accountable now.
LASVEGAS-TOM
September 18, 2017 at 01:37 pm
AGREED 100%
LVT
hybridauth_Facebook_100004084225446
September 18, 2017 at 09:30 am
WTH ! That wasn't a pic play wake up NFL ref's !!!!!!!
Finwiz
September 18, 2017 at 09:37 am
It was a pick play - sorry, intentional or not, Bennett wasn't looking at the QB, even acting like he was looking for a pass. That one play wouldn't have made a difference anyway.
LASVEGAS-TOM
September 18, 2017 at 03:13 pm
For what it's worth, IMO Jarrod Cook was a MUCH BETTER PLAYER. We should not have let him go!!
LVT
Finwiz
September 18, 2017 at 03:33 pm
Not sure about that one yet. Why?
Because Cook missed what, 7 games, and part of another, or 2.
So far Bennett has suited up for 2 games, but the jurys still out.
LASVEGAS-TOM
September 18, 2017 at 04:02 pm
Finwiz, It's early, I agree, but Bennett already reminds me of Finley. It looks to me like Bennett can't catch a cold. Cook was at least a Great Receiver.
LVT
al bundy
September 18, 2017 at 09:35 am
Not blaiming the "team" for anything. they are what they are. They played and lost to a better team.
I do agree with Nate Wright the analyst who said basically the Org relies of Favre and Rogers to carry the load and figures if they put up 35 and the d can keep it under that they win, attitude. Thus this team has not had a top ten d in 15 years under TT.
He also said TT has not particpated in free agency enough to solve team problems and that too probably lead to games like last night.
I mean if you have someone playing up to their abiity and they are not that good, blame ted.
Finwiz
September 18, 2017 at 09:38 am
Excellent post. Exactly right - they basically don't care if they have a top ten defense because they actually think they always have a chance with an above average offense.
Thegreatreynoldo
September 19, 2017 at 04:20 am
Again, you assert as fact something that is false, and then build an opinion off of it. GB had the following team defense rankings by pts/gm:
12th in 2015;
13th in 2014;
11th in 2012;
2nd in 2010;
7th in 2009;
6th in 2007;
11th in 2003 (not a TT team though).
Looking at the draft capital expended, it seems to me that GB wants to improve its defense. TT just isn't all that good at drafting defensive talent. Drafts:
2017: 2 seconds, a third and a fourth;
2016: 1 first, a third, two fourths;
2015: 1 first, a second, a fourth;
2014: 1 first, a third, a fourth;
2013: 1 first;
2012: 1 first, 2 seconds, 2 fourths
2011: 1 fourth;
2010: 1 second, 1 third;
2009: 2 firsts;
2008: 1 second, 1 fourth
2007: 1 first, 1 third
2006: 1 first, 1 third, 1 fourth
2005: 1 second, 2 fourths.
Flow49
September 18, 2017 at 09:53 am
If the Falcons played a road game with out both starting tackles, no Julio Jones and both D tackles out (I count Daniels at least 2 of the falcons interior dline ) pretty sure They'd struggle to beat the browns. Just a little perspective for the sky is falling sentiments.
Flow49
September 18, 2017 at 09:55 am
Also they still played a crappy game and deserved the loss. It can be both the two ideas are not mutually exclusive
RCPackerFan
September 18, 2017 at 10:27 am
exactly right.
People need to keep it in perspective.
I actually feel pretty good about the team even after the loss. My biggest concern is the injuries.
Cartwright
September 18, 2017 at 10:49 am
With McCarthy perceived as a soft coach and all these soft tissue injuries occurring more than usual for most teams, I'm wondering if some of these guys are jakeing it, but that can't be right? No way no how.
Since'61
September 18, 2017 at 12:22 pm
Game Balls:
Monty is our best offensive weapon and MM/AR need to get him the ball more often.
Kevin King did well in his first outing. He should have been on Jones from the beginning of the game.
McCray and Murphy did OK although they could not hold their pass blocks as long as Bakh and Bulaga.
Cobb - another solid performance until he injured his shoulder.
MM - I'm going against the grain here but I was pleased to see MM standing up for his players and getting after the officials on their ridiculous OPI call against Bennett
Lame Calls:
The officials for their ridiculous OPI calls among others. It's very rare that I believe the officials impact a game's outcome but last night they did.
Injuries - too many guys hurt. I wonder if the new surface in that stadium was an issue given the number of quads and hamstrings injured last evening
Randall and Rollins poor coverage and poor tackling
Bennett - I figured that he would be targeted often, especially early in the game but he didn't make the catches. He did block well however.
Rodgers two turnovers. He could have avoided both. I have rarely put a lame call on Rodgers and he played well, probably as well as could be expected without starting OTs and Jordy, but he used rarely seen poor judgement on both turnovers.
Thanks, Since '61
Archie
September 18, 2017 at 02:46 pm
Well, things went as I expected, no difference from last year i.e., MM lays another egg. Game proved to be very profitable personally.
I have been saying this for years now, until we rid ourselves of TT/MM/DC, nothing is going to change. Too bad for AROD and too bad for Packer fans. Then again, most Packer fans support these azz-clowns so they are getting exactly what they ask for.
dobber
September 18, 2017 at 03:10 pm
I'd all but forgotten about the "azz-clowns"!
Good to have you back, archie...
Duneslick
September 18, 2017 at 04:16 pm
Where was Kendricks ? Did he play at all. Why was Rodgers ahead of him.
It is important to be good at the end of the season. Make the playoffs and then have the best team at that point.
With that in mind King, both Jones's, Hawkins, Davante Mays, and when healthy M Adams and Biegel need to get in the game so they can get some experience.
They will be better if they are needed later in the year because of injuries and also may move up in the depth chart or start.
jasonperone
September 19, 2017 at 10:28 am
Kendricks played 13 snaps on offense. Rodgers had 10. Not sure why the 2 TE set wasn't used more in this one. May have had something to do w/ protection, changes on the O line, point deficit, etc. Week to week it's a different story with how they match up and it's only wee 2 so I'm not thinking there's any issue w/ Kendricks
Spock
September 18, 2017 at 04:20 pm
Lame, The Falcon's player (Poole?) with the fake "cramp" or whatever stopping the Packers momentum with the "injury" that allowed the Falcon's D to get over being gassed. At least the announcers made it pretty clear what a joke that was! Amazing how he was laughing and fine on the sidelines and back in after sitting out a play. I wish the NFL would do something about this, as it does affect the flow of the game and IMHO is "cheating". Just my two cents on that issue.
Oppy
September 18, 2017 at 05:18 pm
The tackling was atrocious, to be sure.
LASVEGAS-TOM
September 18, 2017 at 10:48 pm
Can someone out there tell me what kind of surface GB practice's on everyday. Is the Don Hutson Center grass or Artificial turf?
Is it possible that this is the Root Cause for the injuries every year? Is GB so use to that nice soft grass, that when they get to Artificial Turf, they're not use to it & it's harder to tackle on. I'm assuming last night was Artificial Turf. Am I wrong?
Did I have too much Champagne today, or does anyone think it's the surface's & not the conditioning? I think I might have had too much to drink, but if anyone agrees, please reply.
LVT
jasonperone
September 19, 2017 at 09:59 am
The surface in the Hutson Center is a turf of some kind. Not sure how closely it matches fields around the league and no idea if that correlates to the soft tissue injuries that pop up