Packers Stock Report: A Good Bye Could Prevent 'Goodbye, McCarthy'

After six games of wildly varying results, can this coaching staff use the bye week to bring out the best in the 2018 Packers?

The league schedule can sometimes be cruel to teams regarding the timing of the bye week. It’s unintentional, but that doesn’t make it fair, either. Week 4 is the earliest possible option, which forces a team to play 13 consecutive weeks thereafter. A Week 12 bye, the latest in the season, is better but not by much.

With that said, the Packers’ Week 7 rest date seems to come at the perfect time for this team. Injuries have begun to accumulate, and an extra week may be exactly what the Packers need to get Randall Cobb, Bryan Bulaga, Geronimo Allison and Jaire Alexander back on the field, plus allow cornerback Bashaud Breeland a chance to make his Packers debut.

A 3-2-1 record at the break feels a bit unsatisfying, but all of Green Bay’s goals remain on the table in a division that is very much winnable for all four teams. The Packers have yet to play a complete, three-phase football game, and at different points through the first six games, fans have had apocalyptic meltdowns about play-calling on offense, big plays on defense and a historically bad kicking performance.

Despite all that, there have been flashes of brilliance. Young cornerbacks Kevin King, Jaire Alexander and Josh Jackson have covered very well when healthy. Likewise, the Packers’ rookie receivers, forced into action earlier than desired, have been very successful. And Aaron Rodgers, despite playing below his peak, is on pace for 32 touchdown passes and three interceptions.

Stock Rising: Buy! Buy! Buy!

Davante Adams: This isn’t exactly a buy-low surprise, but Adams is just so damn fun to watch, and he’s finally starting to get a little more recognition as an elite receiver. He’s yet to have a monster statistical season, so it’s easy for fans of other teams who don’t see his work as often to downplay Adams, but his 2018 totals are trending toward ridiculous.

The 26-year-old is on pace for 125 catches, 1,485 yards and 16 touchdowns. Single-season franchise records in all three categories are within reach (112 / 1,519 / 18). What may be more impressive is the consistent manner with which Adams has produced, catching at least five passes in every game so far this season.

Fans who’ve been paying attention the last few years aren’t surprised that No. 17 is producing like this, but his status in the league is rising. It’s always fun to watch a local favorite blossom into a national star.

Mike McCarthy: Hey, now here’s a buy-low stock! So many fans are simply done with McCarthy, with many calling for the veteran coach to be canned immediately if the Packers had failed to achieve a comeback victory against San Francisco Monday night.

Listen, I get it. McCarthy can be very frustrating, and I’ve simply run out of excuses for the continuing Aaron Jones situation. And while the Packers’ stubborn head man likely won’t be reinventing the offense, he showed some new wrinkles on Monday and will have a chance to reassess the team during the week off. Even Bill Belichick has said that it takes a coach six games to know what his team is, so McCarthy should be able to conduct a full self-scout and will have time to make some tweaks.

Moreover, McCarthy’s teams have traditionally surged down the stretch. Despite a near-.500 record in November games, the Packers have been 39-17 (0.696) under McCarthy in regular season games in December and January. Even if the team falls to 3-4-1 after two extremely tough road games against the Rams and Patriots, it’s plausible to foresee a very strong finish (maybe 4-1?) by the Packers in December (Arizona, Atlanta, @Chicago, @NYJ, Detroit).

It may take McCarthy longer than we’d like to adjust and improve, but that doesn’t mean he can’t or won’t do it. He tends to do his best work once the tundra has frozen. Besides, there’s exactly zero chance the Packers make a coaching change mid-season.

Kyler Fackrell: Yes, I’m serious. The much-maligned linebacker made some big plays down the stretch against the 49ers. While Fackrell remains dead weight as a pass rusher, it seems coordinator Mike Pettine has discovered that Fackrell isn’t terrible in coverage, and he made some key reads and open-field tackles Monday night.

Don’t get me wrong—expectations are still relatively low. But while it’s easy to get excited when good players become great (ex.: Adams), it can be almost as valuable when bad players become adequate.

Stock Falling: Sell! Sell! Sell!

Traditional pass rush: The trio of Clay Matthews, Nick Perry and Reggie Gilbert simply hasn’t done enough to bother opposing quarterbacks. Each member of that trio has just 1.5 sacks on the season, but more importantly there is no consistent outside pressure.

According to Pro Football Focus, Kenny Clark and Mike Daniels are still getting it done inside, however, with Clark garnering a pass rush rating of 90.1. Both Clark and Daniels are among the top 14 interior linemen in total pressures, so even a small uptick in the play of the outside linebackers could really allow this defense to soar.

Until then, however, Pettine will have to cook up exotic schemes to generate pressures from different looks.

The Aaron Jones situation: I’m usually incredibly patient about these kinds of things, and I try very hard not to have the arrogance to assume I know more than a 13th-year head coach. But as I said earlier, I’ve simply run out of possible explanations. Give Aaron Jones the damn ball.

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Matt Kelley is a staff writer for Cheesehead TV. He can be found on Twitter via @hustleandheart1

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Comments (52)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
Skip greenBayless's picture

October 17, 2018 at 11:29 am

Glad you mentioned Fackrell. His tackle and tight coverage on that late series in the game was instrumental in the great Packers victory. He's definitely making some plays lately and people are starting to notice. Something is going on there.

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TarynsEyes's picture

October 17, 2018 at 11:33 am

" Traditional pass rush. Sell,Sell,Sell."

I sold that stock long ago when most were still buying high....I figuratively made a fortune.

" Kyler Fackrell.Buy,Buy,Buy."

As I one time fan with expectations higher for him than most had, I would caution any huge purchase as chances of him being the team mover,your investment will grow old and at best even on return.

" Davante Adams.Buy,Buy,Buy."

He isn't as expensive as Apple yet but his stock can't afford a down hit the same way. He's a solid earner though but be wary of how much you invest.

" McCarthy.Buy,Buy,Buy."

This sounds like bad info is being taken seriously the same way as Kevin Bacon in Quicksilver and lost every ' hope ' his family held.

Synopsis....If you're already highly invested..don't buy more. If you considering a big investment, buy a little and hope for a ' Divisional ' return at best which may keep you hopeful again next season, unless no changes made from the broker.

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4thand1's picture

October 17, 2018 at 12:40 pm

You watch to many movies.

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TarynsEyes's picture

October 17, 2018 at 01:57 pm

Perhaps...but I use all resources to learn and get perspective,weigh pros and cons, urge original thinking etc, unlike the walking dead of followers.....you know.

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bodei1newbie1's picture

October 17, 2018 at 11:46 am

mccarthy has to be more innovated with his plays for 13years it's been the same old stuff and i hate to say this about ted but wow thanks for some of your draft picks and the other 98 sucks big time (THANKS TED)

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Leatherhead's picture

October 17, 2018 at 11:59 am

Would this be the same old stuff that regularly has us as a top offense, in the playoffs, as division champs, and 4 trips to the NFC Championship game in 10 years, along with the Super Bowl?

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Razer's picture

October 17, 2018 at 12:32 pm

So past accolades are good enough for you? You are fine with the performance and execution of this offense - this defense? After 10 years, you don't have an expectation that this offense led by Rodgers and called by McCarthy should be a well oiled machine.

Like you OldSchool, I waited through the 25+ years until we contended for anything. I am anxious that we are wasting the best years of a great QB. Last year Ted Thompson was let go because of his performance because it has resulted in significant holes on this team. If this team doesn't straighten up and we fail to make the playoffs, I can see the same fate for Mike McCarthy.

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Leatherhead's picture

October 18, 2018 at 10:47 am

I'm fine with being 3-2-1 right now, yeah. We've taken some historically bad Official Bonings, our QB has been so hurt he couldn't practice, and we're relying on rookie WRs who will only get better.

The 10 years stuff....look, I coached high school football in Texas for a while. Every year is different, every team is different, every game is different.

The M3/Rodgers offense is one of the best in the league every year, and it is again this year. I'm not worried one iota. Titles are not won in September and October and I expect that they'll start to execute better as the season wears on.

Ted Thompson was reassigned to a less-demanding role where he could concentrate on what he's best at: PERSONNEL. The "holes" on the team stuff is crazy. Any guy that we released from our Gameday 45 (with the exception of Brown, perhaps) would immediately be signed elsewhere. This is a very, very good roster. You don't get to have Pro Bowlers, backed up by potential Pro Bowlers, at every position. Every single guy on offense is at least average and many of them are above average. On defense, Lowry-Clark-Daniels-Matthews-Perry-Fackrell-Martinez-King-Brice-Dix-Gilbert are all here because of Thompson's acumen.

Here's the deal: Thompson was the NFL Executive of the Year twice. The team he handed off to Gutekunst was better in virtually every respect than the team he inherited from Sherman. The demands of the position became too much for him at the end and so we got a new GM. That's how things work.

Holes? I'd like to have a better safety, but that's a hole that we helped create by releasing Burnett. The thinking was that Jones or Brice could do the job, and Brice is doing the best he can because Jones can't cover well enough for us to put him on the field. The season-ending injuries to Ryan and Wilkerson don't help. Neither does it help when Alexander and King are missing games.

Thompson was a damn good GM, one of the best this organization has every had and a damn sight better than the Vikings, Bears, or Lions have ever had.

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SpudRapids's picture

October 17, 2018 at 03:33 pm

You all suffer from recency bias... How about McCarthy switching Montgomery to running back when they had all those injuries? He caught 10 passes the week after McCarthy moved him? is that not innovation? name another NFL coach that moved a receiver to running back mid season and had that running back put up a stat line of 162 rushing yards and 2 TDs

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Skip greenBayless's picture

October 17, 2018 at 04:01 pm

I think Mike McCarthy is the Rodney Dangerfield of NFL coaches. The guy simply gets no respect or very little. I think it stemmed early on when they hired him. He was a no name guy on a 49'ers team that was the worst in the league at that time. When they announced him as the Packers head coach, everyone said what? who? I don't think he's ever been able to get fans to forget that or overcome that no matter how many wins he has under his belt. Fans will always say he won because of Favre and now because of Rodgers. He should be held in higher esteem from his fan base but for some reason he's not. Kind of sad to be honest.

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TKWorldWide's picture

October 18, 2018 at 06:02 am

Part of it comes from the way he sounds when he talks.

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Lphill's picture

October 17, 2018 at 11:49 am

Strange as it might seem I actually think MM is saving A Jones for the more difficult opponents , maybe he does not want to have too much film on him for lets say the Patriots and Rams, I always felt MM digs deeper into his playbook for particular teams.

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Razer's picture

October 17, 2018 at 12:18 pm

If losing to lesser teams like Washington and Detroit and barely squeaking by lesser teams Chicago and San Fran fulfills your long range goal, then saving Aaron Jones is a great strategy. I get it that we don't want to burn out your studs (Clark and Daniels) by Thanksgiving - but - you got to win the games.

Ultimately, McCarthy and this offense have been under performing. Leaving talent on the bench is probably the lesser of the evils. It is beyond me how this offense isn't blowing up the teams that we have faced with or without Aaron Jones.

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Leatherhead's picture

October 18, 2018 at 11:04 am

Spreading the work load around to the running backs early in the season and keeping everybody healthy seems like a solid strategy to me.

Versus SF: 8 carries for 41 yards, including 3 good runs and 5 that gained little or lost yardage. One pass attempt where he tripped over his own two feet trying to catch a ball that hit him in the numbers. That's 9 opportunities for 41 yards, or 4.67 yards/touch

Williams......who wasn't hurt during training camp or suspended to start the season......had 6 carries for 29 yards and a catch for 10. That's 39 yards in seven touches. (5.8) with no negative plays.

I get that you love Jones flashiness and speed. There's a helluva lot more to being an NFL RB than that. IF at some point, Jones shows that we're a better offense with him on the field, then fine, he should get the bigger part of the work load down the stretch. He hasn't proven that yet.

This "under-performing" offense is in the top ten in yards, first downs, and the percentage of drives resulting in scores. We've had a QB who is injured and not practicing and with Cobb and Allison on the bench, the only receiver on the roster that Rodgers has ever thrown a pass to is Adams. Do you think that makes any difference at all?

And look at the competition we've had: The Bears and Redskins are ranked #2 and #4. The Lions and Bills are #11 and #13. The only below average defenses we've faced have been Minnesota and SF....and we hung 30 on them. Do you know how many teams in the Top 13 defenses the Rams offense has faced? 1!!

Our only common opponent was Minnesota. We scored 29 on them, and held them to 29. The Rams scored 38 and allowed 31.

This offense is fine. You're going to see. Relax.

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Leatherhead's picture

October 18, 2018 at 11:04 am

Spreading the work load around to the running backs early in the season and keeping everybody healthy seems like a solid strategy to me.

Versus SF: 8 carries for 41 yards, including 3 good runs and 5 that gained little or lost yardage. One pass attempt where he tripped over his own two feet trying to catch a ball that hit him in the numbers. That's 9 opportunities for 41 yards, or 4.67 yards/touch

Williams......who wasn't hurt during training camp or suspended to start the season......had 6 carries for 29 yards and a catch for 10. That's 39 yards in seven touches. (5.8) with no negative plays.

I get that you love Jones flashiness and speed. There's a helluva lot more to being an NFL RB than that. IF at some point, Jones shows that we're a better offense with him on the field, then fine, he should get the bigger part of the work load down the stretch. He hasn't proven that yet.

This "under-performing" offense is in the top ten in yards, first downs, and the percentage of drives resulting in scores. We've had a QB who is injured and not practicing and with Cobb and Allison on the bench, the only receiver on the roster that Rodgers has ever thrown a pass to is Adams. Do you think that makes any difference at all?

And look at the competition we've had: The Bears and Redskins are ranked #2 and #4. The Lions and Bills are #11 and #13. The only below average defenses we've faced have been Minnesota and SF....and we hung 30 on them. Do you know how many teams in the Top 13 defenses the Rams offense has faced? 1!!

Our only common opponent was Minnesota. We scored 29 on them, and held them to 29. The Rams scored 38 and allowed 31.

This offense is fine. You're going to see. Relax.

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Leatherhead's picture

October 18, 2018 at 11:04 am

Spreading the work load around to the running backs early in the season and keeping everybody healthy seems like a solid strategy to me.

Versus SF: 8 carries for 41 yards, including 3 good runs and 5 that gained little or lost yardage. One pass attempt where he tripped over his own two feet trying to catch a ball that hit him in the numbers. That's 9 opportunities for 41 yards, or 4.67 yards/touch

Williams......who wasn't hurt during training camp or suspended to start the season......had 6 carries for 29 yards and a catch for 10. That's 39 yards in seven touches. (5.8) with no negative plays.

I get that you love Jones flashiness and speed. There's a helluva lot more to being an NFL RB than that. IF at some point, Jones shows that we're a better offense with him on the field, then fine, he should get the bigger part of the work load down the stretch. He hasn't proven that yet.

This "under-performing" offense is in the top ten in yards, first downs, and the percentage of drives resulting in scores. We've had a QB who is injured and not practicing and with Cobb and Allison on the bench, the only receiver on the roster that Rodgers has ever thrown a pass to is Adams. Do you think that makes any difference at all?

And look at the competition we've had: The Bears and Redskins are ranked #2 and #4. The Lions and Bills are #11 and #13. The only below average defenses we've faced have been Minnesota and SF....and we hung 30 on them. Do you know how many teams in the Top 13 defenses the Rams offense has faced? 1!!

Our only common opponent was Minnesota. We scored 29 on them, and held them to 29. The Rams scored 38 and allowed 31.

This offense is fine. You're going to see. Relax.

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Leatherhead's picture

October 17, 2018 at 11:57 am

Fackrell was never as bad as his critics suggested.
For a 3rd year guy, on a bargain rookie contract, who plays as much on defense and special teams as he does.....you've got to have guys like this on the roster. And he stays healthy enough to activate

The Aaron Jones situation: I've grown weary of this. It is a very long, hard season and you need contributions from everybody. You would say "I know he was hurt as a rookie, and again in training camp, and then he was suspended for two games, but we should give Jones the bulk of the work and tell Monty and Williams that they can sit down now."

I think this is nuts. Compare Jones and Williams last game, for example. 8 carries and one target for Jones for 41 yards. 6 carries and 3 targets for Williams for 39 yards. He had a 10 yards reception whereas Jones tripped over his own two feet trying to catch a ball that hit him between the 3 and the 3.

Williams is a bigger and better blocker. He can catch passes. He punishes the defense. Jones is faster and breaks longer, more exciting runs. He also has more negative runs.

I think in a long season, it makes a lot of sense to spread the work around. If everybody is healthy after Thanksgiving, and one guy is just more productive, then we should give him the majority of the work. And despite how much you'd like to believe, Jones has not yet PROVEN he's that guy. He's had some nice runs, yes. I hope he has more. But he's not "clearly better" than Williams or Monty at this point.

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Ian's picture

October 17, 2018 at 02:56 pm

Why the dislikes? Jones is really exciting but also allowed untouched pressure to reach Rodgers twice on Monday. Allowing an OLB straight to the QB is a negative yardage play on Jones and a potential aggravation of Rodgers knee. Between that and the drop, he has proven he cannot be a three down back yet. Monty and Williams both are far more consistent in the passing game (receiving and blocking). Jones ceiling is undoubtedly higher, but he should be on the bench if he cannot protect and catch when needed.

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jeepingmakooi's picture

October 18, 2018 at 12:32 pm

I disagree with the Jones call. He is clearly more explosive then Williams. Yes willaims is a grinder.. and Monty is a pass catching back for sure... Jones isn't that bad at pass blocking as you think he is... PFF actually had him ranked higher then Williams.

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Randy  Reinfeldt's picture

October 17, 2018 at 12:22 pm

Packers need to fire McCarthy at the end of the season regardless of their finish. He wasn't a proven Head Coach and should have never been hired In the first place. If Gruden or Parcels had been hired we would have 5 more trophies in the case by now. His lack of balls to fire Capers after 2 loser defense systems shows he can't make a decision to help the team. His inability to get rid of his high.school style football playbook is wasting talent. Give Aaron Jones the F@cking Ball and take the load off Rogers. Put Montgomery back at Wide Receiver in the slot until Cobb is healthy. Trade Mathews/Perry and draft some talent at OLB.
Hire Lincoln Reily from OK to Coach the team and watch the offense explode and the trophy case fill up!! Jmo

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4thand1's picture

October 17, 2018 at 12:42 pm

Chucky? Banana fanna fo -ucky.

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Since'61's picture

October 17, 2018 at 01:07 pm

Parcels turned down the Packers job at one point and Gruden is really tearing it up with Raiders. Try to keep up. Thanks, Since ‘61

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jeepingmakooi's picture

October 18, 2018 at 12:34 pm

Who is gonna be available though? You think licoln Riley is just gonna hope on the next plane and take.over and innovate and it will be an automatic turn around.? Growing pains man... I'm not happy with some of the play calling either.. but this isn't Madden..

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jeepingmakooi's picture

October 18, 2018 at 12:34 pm

Who is gonna be available though? You think licoln Riley is just gonna hope on the next plane and take.over and innovate and it will be an automatic turn around.? Growing pains man... I'm not happy with some of the play calling either.. but this isn't Madden..

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Roadrunner23's picture

October 17, 2018 at 12:29 pm

McCarthy and staff are going to:

A. Roll their sleeves up and self scout
B. Watch endless miles of film
C. Critique each others coaching work
D. Spend 20 hours a day at 1265 Lombardi
E. Eat two tons of delivery pizza
F. Feed all of the info into their Super Computer

Conclusion: Pad Level

Go Brewers!

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Razer's picture

October 17, 2018 at 12:34 pm

Too funny. Indeed - Go Brewers!

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4thand1's picture

October 17, 2018 at 12:47 pm

They're so far in the past, their super computer is an adding machine, pencil with a big eraser, and a notepad. oh, and a projector without sound.

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4thand1's picture

October 17, 2018 at 12:44 pm

I think when MM and JP start watching the Rams game film, there heads will explode.

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Since'61's picture

October 17, 2018 at 01:22 pm

As I posted on another thread yesterday, MM would be considered the premier head coach of his era if not for Belichicken, who was on his way to being fired again when Bledsoe was injured and Brady saved him and the Pats from oblivion.

About 2 weeks ago I asked who our bloggers would prefer as the Packers HC since MM was hired and I received one nebulous answer about a younger coach with a modern playbook. So while many complain about MM no one can name a legit replacement. Remember BB and Coughlin are unavailable since they were hired before MM and unavailable during his tenure.

In the real world, especially my world, you can’t just identify a problem without an actual viable solution or a series of viable solutions. The other reality will be that the day will come and you will long for the time when MM was the Packers Head Coach.

At some point we as fans need to realize that after Aaron Rodgers and maybe 3-5 other players MM is and has been playing with a pretty weak roster. You can blame him for the results, which his fine, that comes with his job, but to be fair his roster has not been very good since the 2010 SB. Again, which HC besides the unavailable BB or Tom Coughlin, would have done better with the Packers roster since 2011?
Thanks, Since ‘61

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JohnnyLogan's picture

October 17, 2018 at 01:52 pm

Always hate this particular argument in a forum, "Who would have done better?" To paraphrase Johnny Cochran, "If you can't name a name than you must retain." There are a ton of coaches that the coaching community is familiar with but we are not. McCarthy has had 13 years. Time for a change. To whom?... how the hell do I know?... that's for Murphy and Gute, to find and decide, not someone who posts on a forum.

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Skip greenBayless's picture

October 17, 2018 at 01:56 pm

I would vote for Luther or Dobber.

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dobber's picture

October 17, 2018 at 02:22 pm

Bring back the triple option!!!

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Skip greenBayless's picture

October 17, 2018 at 02:50 pm

lol I agree Dobber. By the way, how the hell is Hayden doing these days?

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TKWorldWide's picture

October 18, 2018 at 06:08 am

@ dobber:
3 yards and a cloud of dust, baby!!

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Since'61's picture

October 17, 2018 at 06:24 pm

I’ll second the nomination for Dobber. He gets a cookie for every victory. Thanks, Since ‘61

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dobber's picture

October 18, 2018 at 07:41 am

...and sometimes I fart after wins.

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Skip greenBayless's picture

October 17, 2018 at 01:53 pm

Very well said Since 61. Just glad we won as all we would be reading for the next two weeks is the constant calls for MM to be fired.

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Since'61's picture

October 17, 2018 at 06:33 pm

Thanks Dash. It might be MMs time to go but I would rather get through the season first. Even better would be to get him several more good players and see what the results are. But according to many there are plenty of top 5 coaches out there waiting to be hired.

There must be a very good head coaching tree out there that I am not aware of. Thanks, Since ‘61

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fthisJack's picture

October 18, 2018 at 08:15 am

MM is that one that hung onto Capers for 5 years too many. also to his buddy Slocum who was equally as bad. i believe they would have had another SB in 14 if Capers was not the DC. that loss to Seattle is squarely on him!

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Since'61's picture

October 18, 2018 at 09:19 am

fthisjack - totally agree on the 2014 NFCCG. You can't give up a 12 point lead with less than 4 minutes to play. Capers defense fell apart far too often. I wanted him gone since the 2013 season. Thanks, Since '61

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egbertsouse's picture

October 17, 2018 at 02:16 pm

I’m just sick and tired of the Groundhog Day aspect of McStubborn’s tenure. For all of you who are happy with winning the division (usually crappy) or otherwise sneaking into the playoffs only to do a one-and-done, more power to you. Every year it’s slow start with moribund offense followed by crap defense followed by AR playing lights out followed by miracle win followed by an ass-kicking in the playoffs. Give me something different, even if they totally suck some years. If I want to watch the same thing all the time there is always Scooby Doo. Every episode the crook would have gotten away with it except for those meddling kids!

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Turophile's picture

October 17, 2018 at 04:16 pm

It's a straw horse argument. No fans, I repeat NO FANS, none, zero, zip, are happy 'just sneaking into the playoffs and exiting early'. We all want them to go further. The real difference between you and others is that they have a better idea of just how difficult it is, to reach the SB.

Yes those slow starts are frustrating to us all, especially when you are in the middle of that scenario, but the Packers often turn things around later on, a kind of reverse-Vikings. You may get the same again this year (bumped out in the playoffs), but then sometimes you get the 2011 season and win a SB.

Those things don't happen often to any team not called New England. It's hard to win a SB, even if you have an elite QB, and it's even harder when you are drafting late each year for, well, forever.

You have been lucky to still be watching football time and again, when 20 other teams have already ended their season, but you don't appreciate it. Remember, when you spin a coin that has already landed heads four times in a row, it doesn't mean the next spin must be a tail, or must be another head......it can fall either way, and that way could be the next superbowl.

I also strongly suspect that if the Packers were to 'totally suck for several years' you would be a front runner in longing, begging, to get back in the playoffs. That 'totally suck' scenario just might happen post-ARod, don't be wishing it on us early. You think you are badly off when you have no shoes - until you meet the guy with no legs.

PS Props to Matt Kelley for a killer headline.

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Barazinho's picture

October 17, 2018 at 08:56 pm

NE's last 2 superbowl wins were gifted choke jobs. And they get 5-6 gift wins every year courtesy of the AFC east. They're good, but they've had help.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

October 18, 2018 at 05:19 am

I don't think it is a strawman argument, Turophile. I completely believe that there is a significant section of the fan base that is fine with just making the playoffs.

Moreover, I think there is a significant section that would be fine with Capers still being the DC and Thompson as the GM.

I think a lot of people don't think GB can compete in free agency because it's cold here, or the town is too small, or blah, blah.

I also remember the pre-Alvarez days when it was conventional wisdom that Wisconsin would never really be a powerhouse because it couldn't recruit with the big boys.

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Turophile's picture

October 18, 2018 at 03:35 pm

perhaps the mistake is thinking about a fans satisfaction as a binary 'is', or 'is not' happy.

A sliding scale for fans works better. For example, mid-point on the satisfaction scale for hitting the playoffs, rising to 75% for getting to the Conference finals and 85-100% for reaching the superbowl (% dependent on whether it was won or lost) .

In other words, while getting to the playoffs generates a degree of satisfaction, it rises for each step the Packers advance.

While some may have been happy to keep Ted, few indeed were the voices to keep Capers, especially when it was known that Pettine was the new DC.

The reluctance to go to cold Green Bay is real, but it varies between players. Some hate the idea, and to some it means nothing. Some may even enjoy the small city vibe, especially if they came from a relatively isolated and small community.

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Lphill's picture

October 17, 2018 at 03:35 pm

Bill Cowher and any offensive coordinator he chooses. Packers would be Champions .

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Since'61's picture

October 17, 2018 at 06:41 pm

Bill Cowher has no interest in returning to coaching. Most importantly there is not one NFL head coach in league history who has won an SB and then moved to another team and won another SB with a different team. None, zero, zip. Look how great Gruden is doing in Oakland. Thanks, Since ‘61

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TXCHEESE's picture

October 17, 2018 at 04:24 pm

Bill Cowher? Are you kidding. Have you seen how well Chucky is doing in Oakland after laying out of coaching for 10 years. The only thing Cowher would manage to do is spit on the mike like a WWE actor, when he's throwing his players under the bus.
Many fans on this site whine about McCarthy, but typically his teams begin peaking in November and December, when you want to be playing your best football. You get in the playoffs and you are going to have a real chance with a healthy A-rod and hopefully a somewhat healthy team.
Sure the Rams are hot right now, but they're lack of success in previous years, landed them extremely high in the draft for multiple years. They didn't draft Goff and Gurley in the late twenties. If I remember right, those same hot Rams were one and done in the playoffs last year.

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stockholder's picture

October 17, 2018 at 05:44 pm

Headache: The one way sign pointing down is now pointing up.

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Doug Niemczynski's picture

October 17, 2018 at 07:36 pm

It was nice to see:
1. Screen pass to J. Williams -10 yards
2. Over the shoulder throws and comeback throws to MVS and EQ.
3. Decent usage of all 3 RB
4. Davante Adams -Shine on
5. Mason C.- Get back to fundamentals
6. J.Graham - Get intensified!
7. A. Rogers keep his MVP composure
8. Jmon moore catch a ball
9. Kendricks caught 2!!
10. Aaron Jones doin his thang!!
11. Some bootlegs
12. Nick Perry BLOCK 3 passes. I like him on that side of the field.
13. B.Martinez-Was fired up!!
14. J.Jackson and K. King played SOLID!
15. M.Daniel & K.Clark held their ground
16. K.fackerall played SMART!!
17. HaHa Keeps trying to satisfy ..FF!!
18. T. Williams showing leadership
19. C . Matthews keepin that motor goin
20. Offensive/ Defensive line played hard.

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Doug Niemczynski's picture

October 17, 2018 at 07:39 pm

Only problem is now after the bye. The games are going to be very hard games.
Good news is if we can stay healthy we will be a better team.

As for MM? We shall see what happens at years end.

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Bure9620's picture

October 18, 2018 at 06:55 am

I realize the thing to do now is get on McCarthy for being stale and predictable, and he yes DOES deserve blame for not having his guys ready. But, lets be honest, his offense IS working, there are guys open and guys schemed open, Rodgers just passes it up. I counted 2 occasions where MVS was WIDE open against SF and 3 against DET. I mean like no one within 5 yards and Rodgers holds it. He has to let it rip. Getting tired of people saying "Rodgers holds it because nobody can get open, we need Jordy." That is pure bullshit, the film does not lie. Take the first down Aaron, move the chains.

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