Packers @ Vikes - Postgame

[trwi7]

Grant got stuffed three times, once from the 1.
Six times he rushed for four or more yards. On a seventh he rushed for six and it got called back.

Grant did fine last night.

Maybe I'm just mad because he could get so much more yardage than he does. The guys on WSSP were just talking about this. There were oppurtunities for him to get even more yardage but the guy can't put a move on anyone and falls down pretty much on first contact. I hate that about him.

[ReasonablySober]

I never wanted Grant back after that first season. Tender him and if he wants to play out his contract until he could become an UFA, fine. But the deal to RG and then failing to get an impact runner to replace or supplement him is one strike I hold against Thompson.

If I was gonna go into the offseason with a list of needs, it'd be

1 - LT
2 - Impact runner
3 - DBs

I'd franchise Kampman and trade him for a mid 2nd.

1 - Bryan Bulaga - Iowa
2 - Patrick Robinson - FSU
2 - Adam Ulatoski - Texas
3 - Myron Rolle - FSU
4 - Keiland Williams - FSU

Two tackles, two DBs, one sleeper runner that I've been keeping an eye on since he was a freshman.

[MickeyDavis]

The screen pass to Grant was a shocker. Where the hell has that been? Is Grant that bad of a receiver that you only use it a couple of times a year?

[Wade-A-Holic]

What's wrong with Hawk? He played well last night.

He did, but he's way to inconsistent. He was slow and beaten often a week ago.

[xTitan]

The word was that Smith was too much of a "gambler" on defense. I don't know, maybe he was. But I figure Woodson was out there with him every day in practice and he knows a little bit about playing defensive back. And if he's calling out Thompson for letting Smith go I'll believe him.

If you read exactly what Woodson said he called him out (along with the coaching staff I am sure) because Smith knows the defense....which means Rouse, Bush, and yesterday Martin are all clueless as to there duties.

[El Duderino]

What's wrong with our guard and center situation? The answer is nothing and, honestly, Barbre has done an admiral job since that first start of his. He could be upgraded, though. No doubt.

LT is a complete and utter mess, though.

The guard and center positions aren't terrible, but it's a mediocre group. Yea Spitz was playing guard instead of center, but he got beat badly a few times yesterday and it's not like he's a special center either. Colledge is a solid guard, but he's nothing special either. Maybe Sitton will develop into a really good interior lineman, but it's to early to answer that. Then you have a dreadful situation at tackle which obviously is the biggest problem on the line, but there isn't a really top notch player anywhere on the line.

Safety depth issues get on my nerves also. We saw last year that there was garbage behind Bigby and Collins, yet little was done to address this besides bringing in Smith who they chose to cut.

I like that Ted prefers to build through the draft, but there is nothing wrong with having some veterans as backup depth at positions like OL and safety, not every backup needs to be a younger developing player.

Capers probably should have blitzed more, but we've seen a big lesson on preseason games where offensive coaches/lineman/quarterbacks haven't game planned vs our 3-4 defense compared to the regular season when they have. It's amazing how often since the Bears games that opposing QB's sniff out our blitz calls pre-snap and adjust protection to thus block the blitzes well. Palmer did it with ease and Favre did yesterday, especially in the first half. He'd do a hard count, see who was coming, and then shift protection.

Lastly, we look yet again to be a finesse football team. We rely on big plays to put points on the board, but to often look less physical than teams we play.

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

I was just thinking about that Yahoo article and man that article basically predicted the Packer game perfectly by looking back to the 49er/Chiefs game.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=A ... &type=lgns

[eagle13]

DEFENSE –
Pretty darn good job against AP.

Agreed Kampman is being wasted. He is much more effective at DE. Capers said he’d scheme to players’ strengths. Well?????

So either trade him for picks OR use him as DE.

IF we keep him as we will probably do. Then I suggest…

Use 3-4 as base D 1st down and short yardage downs.
I’m for starting LBs = Matthews, Bishop, Hawk, Chillar
Trade Barnett for a 3rd.
Kamp plays DE on passing downs & #1 reserve LB (Chill slides).

Passing downs I use nickel 4-2-5 with -
Kamp & Jenks at DE and Jolly & Raji at DT. We know Kamp & Jenk can pass rush. We’ve never seen Raji & Jolly let loose to rush paired together at DT. IF one of those fat boys can’t cut it, then Wynn showed ability in preseason so maybe its Kamp & Wynn at DE and Jenks & either Jolly or Raji at DT.

Matthews & Chillar at LB in nickel. Both are good at both blitz & coverage. So blitz one & other covers interchangeably.

Then rush 5 often – switch up between a LB or DB. Sometimes blitz 2 – either both LBs or 1 LB & 1 DB or 2 DBs.

That would get more pass rush than we have now. It would keep some surprise. And Kamp would get more sacks than he does now.

OFFENSE
I love Rodgers. He has flaws but those can be fixed. Has great tools, poise & toughness.
Grant was OK.

As we all said it’s the non-existent pass blocking.
Barbre also gave up 1 sack & a couple hurries.
Nothing to do but pray Clifton & Tauscher can find the fountain of youth for one more season.
Afraid Mark is going to leverage for more & TT will cheap out & Tausch will end up in KC.

NEXT OFF-SEASON
Must get
starting LT = must be #1 pick or quality FA.
1 CB – perhaps #2 or #3 or FA.
At least 1 S – maybe 2 depending on Collins signing or not.

Possibly also need a starting RT – if Barbre fails to improve – then that could be College or 2nd or 3rd rd pick or lesser FA.

[Jollay]

What's wrong with our guard and center situation? The answer is nothing and, honestly, Barbre has done an admiral job since that first start of his. He could be upgraded, though. No doubt.

LT is a complete and utter mess, though.

The guard and center positions aren't terrible, but it's a mediocre group. Yea Spitz was playing guard instead of center, but he got beat badly a few times yesterday and it's not like he's a special center either. Colledge is a solid guard, but he's nothing special either. Maybe Sitton will develop into a really good interior lineman, but it's to early to answer that. Then you have a dreadful situation at tackle which obviously is the biggest problem on the line, but there isn't a really top notch player anywhere on the line.

Safety depth issues get on my nerves also. We saw last year that there was garbage behind Bigby and Collins, yet little was done to address this besides bringing in Smith who they chose to cut.

I like that Ted prefers to build through the draft, but there is nothing wrong with having some veterans as backup depth at positions like OL and safety, not every backup needs to be a younger developing player.

Capers probably should have blitzed more, but we've seen a big lesson on preseason games where offensive coaches/lineman/quarterbacks haven't game planned vs our 3-4 defense compared to the regular season when they have. It's amazing how often since the Bears games that opposing QB's sniff out our blitz calls pre-snap and adjust protection to thus block the blitzes well. Palmer did it with ease and Favre did yesterday, especially in the first half. He'd do a hard count, see who was coming, and then shift protection.

Lastly, we look yet again to be a finesse football team. We rely on big plays to put points on the board, but to often look less physical than teams we play.

Exactly. Sorry DB, as I said in the other thread, I don't buy that Colledge is anything more than slightly above average, even at guard. I just don't buy our line is full of promising young players and its just one position causing this disaster.

Sitton has more upside, but I don't see how anyone can argue that Colledge and Spitz have been anything significantly better than average. I guess we HAVE to retain one or both though.

A Vet presence might have worked to stabilize things alot better, and I'm not talking Duke Preston. TT has had four plus years to stabilize this line and still hasn't.

[Rockmaninoff]

Yeah, DB has been pimping Colledge for the longest. I never understood that. The guy is bad at any position.

Just like I didn't understand Luke23 when he said that the offensive line would be a strength this season.

This is why I'm not around anymore. I said that the O-line would be the Achilles heel, the linebackers were an unsettled group, and the corners are getting old. And I got slammed for it. Oh well. Don't listen then.

They need to run a 4/3 hybrid, with Kampman's dropping into coverage occasionally from off of the line. Another pearl for you to tarnish.

[Wade-A-Holic]

Yeah, DB has been pimping Colledge for the longest. I never understood that. The guy is bad at any position.

Colledge isn't a standout, but he's fine at left guard.

[LUKE23]

I said the OL would "be a strength"? Doubtful.

Seems like you're a TT hater that would rather be right than have the Packers win, and you enjoy telling people you are right. Don't worry, there are a ton of "Packer fans" like you all across the state.

I'm going to try and not sink to that level when the Bucks are a ton worse than you say this year.

[rilamann]

Allen Barbre is terrible.

He makes Tony Mandrich look like a first ballot hall of famer and he makes every Defensive end that he faces look like Reggie White.

And no im not being sarcastic and I think anyone who has watched the games would agree.

I wouldn't go quite that far with Colledge but I will say that if we had a division 1 o-line he wouldn't be starting.

[Wade-A-Holic]

I've gone back and looked at a lot of the game from last night and Barbre probably graded out as our best lineman.

[rilamann]

I've gone back and looked at a lot of the game from last night and Barbre probably graded out as our best lineman.

Im going to go over the game again myself and 90% of my focus will be on the o-line. but just based on watching the game live Monday Night a tackling dummy would have graded out as our best linemen had it been out there with those clowns.

Im not judging by one play but one play I did take another look at was the sack and Rodgers fumble on our first drive and that sack & turnover happened because Barbe had his head so far up his ass he forgot he was on a football field and needed to block the guy in front of him.Didn't help that Colledge whiffed as well.

[El Duderino]

I've gone back and looked at a lot of the game from last night and Barbre probably graded out as our best lineman.

Im going to go over the game again myself and 90% of my focus will be on the o-line. but just based on watching the game live Monday Night a tackling dummy would have graded out as our best linemen had it been out there with those clowns.

Im not judging by one play but one play I did take another look at was the sack and Rodgers fumble on our first drive and that sack & turnover happened because Barbe had his head so far up his ass he forgot he was on a football field and needed to block the guy in front of him.Didn't help that Colledge whiffed as well.

Yea, i couldn't believe how Jaws/Gruden watched that replay multiple times, yet all they did was rip Colledge and credit Allen for the sack/fumble even though it was Edwards who blew right past Babre on that play and forced Rodgers to turn right into Allen. Granted, Colledge certainly got beat on that play, but it was Edwards blowing by Babre that was the main cause for the resulting fumble.

That said, with all the disasters that happened in protection after that via whiffs by Colledge and Spitz on the left side of the line, i stopped paying attention to Babre and maybe he rebounded from that first drive killing whiff. I did DVR the game and was going to watch it again, but i just couldn't do it and instead hit delete.

[ReasonablySober]

I believe the word I used to describe Colledge was 'solid', which is exactly what he and Spitz are at guard and center. I'm not saying, nor have I ever said, that they're standouts or full of promise or whatever else you want to put on me. But I don't think that they need to be replaced now or in the near future. Tackle is an entirely different story.

As for Sitton, to be honest I haven't watched him play but I don't remember a lot of pressure coming from the right side in the last couple games.

[Wade-A-Holic]

:crazy:

I believe the word I used to describe Colledge was 'solid', which is exactly what he and Spitz are at guard and center. I'm not saying, nor have I ever said, that they're standouts or full of promise or whatever else you want to put on me. But I don't think that they need to be replaced now or in the near future. Tackle is an entirely different story.

As for Sitton, to be honest I haven't watched him play but I don't remember a lot of pressure coming from the right side in the last couple games.

He got whipped on one play that I remember on Monday night, but other than that he was fairly steady. Again, all our success running the ball was on the right side and Grant had some pretty gaping holes to run through on a few occasions.