Post game thoughts - Week 3 - Chargers

[ReasonablySober]

Best win in years. Probably the best since the home playoff win against the Seahawks.

I was feeling optimistic coming into this one. I thought that Merriman would be a non-factor and if Favre continues to throw the short passes and let the receivers do their thing, we could move the ball. Both proved to be the case, as Favre carved up a defense that doesn't amount to much if they aren't in the offensive backfield. By my count, Favre was knocked down once all game, this happening on a Phillips sack in the 2nd half when Brett held the ball too long on a second down.

Kudos to the offensive line. They've gotten markedly better each week and this week I think, had they gone to it, they probably could have run the ball effectively too. That was one of my only gripes the entire game; the running game is going to have to be working for the success of this team to continue. By abandoning it to the point of not even running when you're on the one foot line or you're going empty backfield on 3rd and short is simply ridiculous in my opinion. We got away with it today because Charger MLBs are average at best and the OLBs like to crash. But against a 4-3 teams with competent MLBs, they'll be happy to rough up the WRs at the line and take away the middle of the field with their WLB and MLB.

Unlike the games against the Giants and Eagles, I didn't see defenders in the offensive backfield on runs, really ever. Jackson had a couple of nice runs and was mostly good for three to four yard gains when given the chance. It's not like the running game was dominant or anything, but it was a serious improvement over what we've seen for the first two weeks of the season.

The reason we got away with it today was because of the passing game, obviously. Brett had time to throw and was able to pick apart a pretty shoddy pass defense all day. Driver was amazing. Caught everything and made some serious plays after the catch. All the WRs did, in fact. Jones simply doesn't go down after first contact. He's a guy that needs to be gang tackled. It's absolutely incredible to see. For this being Jennings' first time on the field this season he obviously hasn't missed a beat. The catch and run with two minutes left in the fourth may end up being the biggest play of the season.

So long as we continue to use the short, West Coast style passing game I can see the Packers winning a lot of games.

The defense actually disappointed me quite a bit today, and that's with shutting down the best RB of all time on the ground. Rivers got a load of time to throw and maybe even more than Favre, he carved the defense up. We had absolutely no answer for Gates. Not a corner, safety or LB on our roster could cover him. But he wasn't the only one open all day. Craig "When the hell did I become a Florida State Linebacker" Davis got open on the outside, and Vincent Jackson abused our older, slower and smaller CBs. The Packers were lucky as hell Rivers missed open targets on key 3rd downs in the second half. I was holding my breathe every time he went back to pass in the 4th quarter.

On a better note, Mason Crosby came up huge today. I don't know if the wind was howling in Lambeau, but he absolutely boomed every kickoff. I thought this ended up being a very underrated storyline in the game. They've got an electric set of returners. Keeping them at the 20 to start their drives was huge. I can't remember the last time I saw a Packer kicker boom the ball so consistently deep.

More to discuss, but maybe later. The Family Guy Star Wars episode is on and judging by the opening five minutes it's gonna be awesome.

Another week, another record for Brett. Again, I'll end with one of these

[jligon]

On a better note, Mason Crosby came up huge today. I don't know if the wind was howling in Lambeau, but he absolutely boomed every kickoff. I thought this ended up being a very underrated storyline in the game. They've got an electric set of returners. Keeping them at the 20 to start their drives was huge. I can't remember the last time I saw a Packer kicker boom the ball so consistently deep.

I wondered the same thing about the wind but he kicked it into the end zone all day in both directions. And I don't remember their kicker doing the same.

I'd like to see us run a few more times too. I was happy that our backs typically provided at least a couple yards or more per run today. We were rarely stopped at, or behind, the line of scrimmage.

As much as I'm loving the way Brett's playing more under control this year, those short line drive passes over the middle into traffic make me nervous. I especially don't like that call on 4th and goal from 1 foot line.

Are their receivers that great or was our coverage that bad today? I'm thinking more the former, as we had them covered pretty well most of the day but they continued to come up with the receptions anyway. Rivers made some incredible passes and the receivers made some equally incredible catches. Still seems like we should have been able to do something to contain Gates a little more.

Didn't realize how much we missed Jennings until he was back out there. Our top three receivers could end up being something pretty special this year.

Stopping Tomlinson on 2nd and 5 and forcing the incomplete pass a down later with 2-1/2 minutes to go was huge. We don't see any of that final two minute magic if not for those stops.

With virtually every other game in the league going the way that most Packers fans would want them to, this has turned out to be quite a great day!

[El Duderino]

Kudos to the offensive line. They've gotten markedly better each week and this week I think, had they gone to it, they probably could have run the ball effectively too. That was one of my only gripes the entire game; the running game is going to have to be working for the success of this team to continue. By abandoning it to the point of not even running when you're on the one foot line or you're going empty backfield on 3rd and short is simply ridiculous in my opinion.

Eventually the team needs to be able to run the ball better,but i like how McCarthy called the game except at the goal line.I can't read the mind of McCarthy,my guess is though he saw we would need to put a decent amount of points up to win and for the most part,running the ball was just a waste of a down.

Instead of usually putting the team in 2nd and 7-8-9-10 situations by running on first down,McCarthy figured his best chance to keep moving the chains was at least three chances throwing the ball after each first down.I agree with the strategy,odds are high on most running plays with this group of backs/line at this time is looking at a 1-2-3 yard gain.

One of the best qualities a coach/play caller can have IMO is the ability to accept the talent that's on hand and call a game to maximize that talent.Currently our line has shown little to no ability to open holes on most running plays since the beginning of preseason and our running backs group is one of the worst if not the worst in the NFL.Some coaches might be stubborn and say,i wanna run the ball and i'm gonna run regardless if it's working.If McCarthy had taken that approach today,i think we lose today by wasting to many downs on likely unproductive runs.

With all that said,i don't like going empty backfield the 6 inch line.I do wonder if McCarthy simply is gunshy after how piss poor we were last season at running on 3rd/4th and short last year and the run game looks even worse this season.

[crkone]

Rivers didn't have that much time. He made quick throws and his receivers stepped up. I think they were lucky on a lot of those catches too. Jarret Bush got abused a few times and was out of position, so that was part of the problem. The touchdown throw over Al Harris was a great pass with good coverage. I like everyone thought the goaline empty backfield play was boneheaded. Maybe McCarthy wanted Favre to get his touchdown throws in. I just hope it doesn't happen again.

[paulpressey25]

a) I think is was inexcuseable not to have a running package in during the fourth on that first and goal from the 1-yard line....before the penalty. Those are running downs.

b) I thought the defense played well. Personally I think the Chargers got damn lucky.....that first TD throw and catch was perfection. One-half inch the other way and Al Harris breaks that up. Also, in the third quarter opening drive, the Packers had them on third and long and Rivers throw up that jump ball the receiver came back on for the big gain.....SD couldn't sustain that type of passing game perfection.

c) I'm not quite sure what Favre's got going on here....he's looking like 1995 Favre.....quite amazing to see and watch.

Do I want to give him a ton of credit? Sure. But I also think we may have two developing pro-bowl type receivers in Jones and Jennings. Both guys are playmakers....this offense is reminding me of the run and shoot that Warren Moon ran with Haywood Jeffires, etc, back in the late 80's and early 90's. But we've got a defense.

[eagle13]

Agree with DB we gotta run better if we are going to have continued success - otherwise teams will figure how to defend short pass and with no run game Brett will have to chuck long and then as we all know INTS become more of a problem.

I agree with all it was crazy to have no back and to not run at all on goal-line.

I agree with Dude that if we had run more = GB loss.

I also agree that had SB passed more = more possible SD wins.

Gates was held to only 2 receptions in 2nd half. In 2nd we covered him and pretty much took him out of game. GREAT D ADJUSTMENT.

[eagle13]

c) I'm not quite sure what Favre's got going on here....he's looking like 1995 Favre.....quite amazing to see and watch.

Do I want to give him a ton of credit? Sure. But I also think we may have two developing pro-bowl type receivers in Jones and Jennings. Both guys are playmakers....this offense is reminding me of the run and shoot that Warren Moon ran with Haywood Jeffires, etc, back in the late 80's and early 90's. But we've got a defense.

PP you just don't get it. Can't give credit. Even a great WR doesn't get much chance to look great if QB can't get pass to him. Put our guys with Rex Grossman and see if they do as much. Brett's been dead on.

I agree our WRs look great. TEs have surprised. Perhaps biggest deal is fewer dropped balls. Just what Brett or any QB needs.

[ReasonablySober]

I can't remember if I posted it or not, and I know that this may end up starting another Moss debate (if it does lets take it to another thread), but I think Thompson right now is on cloud nine because the Packers have shown they can move the ball through the air without Randy Moss.

After the Giant game, I remember thinking that this is what Thompson envisioned when he assembled this roster around Brett. A defense that could shut down an opposing offense (they at least took the Chargers out of their running game) and an offense that controls the ball with high percentage pases. I still to this day believe that the Moss thing was lip service meant to placate Favre. Thompson never wanted to give Brett an excuse to go up the field where Favre's most likely to throw picks. It's why he didn't go after him harder. He could have sent Oakland a 4th round pick at any point during the offseason. To his luck another team jumped in and got him instead.

If you take away Moss and instead go with WRs that will go over the middle and make plays after the catch you decrease the likelihood of an interception while still leaving open the chance for explosive plays.

Take yesterday for example. Favre completed passes for 22, 26, 46, 23, 24 and 57 yards. None of them were what you'd consider high risk passes. They were simply nice, high percentage throws that were made into big plays by the WRs. None were the over-the-top tosses that Moss specializes in.

So long as Brett continues to take the slants, digs, ins and comebacks I think you'll see plenty of explosiveness out of this offense. What you won't see are the picks thrown right to the hands of the defenders.

[xTitan]

Just get the damn ball to Jennings more....in the JS online article after the game he says he gained separation all day and was wondering when Favre was going to start using him...Jennings is a star in the making, he can catch a short pass or slant and take it the distance or he can just beat his man downfield....I have huge expectations for that playmaker...I see alot of Steve Smith in his game. To me Jennings is the type of player who can tilt the field.

[paulpressey25]

We'll have to see if Brett can keep this up...I hope he does.....

But if he had this in him all the time the last five years, none of us would have ever made the over the hill postings......

It seems clear to me that Favre needs short-pass playmakers like DB said above....and TT has now delivered those guys to Brett. And TT has delivered a defense to Brett, so he no longer has to try and outscore everyone......probably the last thing Favre needed was Randy Moss running 40 yard post patterns and then talking with Favre about how he needs more touches.....Favre is back in his early Holmgren offense and it's sad now how obvious it is that is where he needed to be all along.

BTW...I don't think anyone has opened up the can of worms about how our QB reportedly took a timeout on his own so that he could have McCarthy possibly challenge the no TD call at the goal line on that pass that would have set the TD record. We didn't need that timeout....had SD on the run and should have set right up with a RB package to punch it in.

[El Duderino]

Take yesterday for example. Favre completed passes for 22, 26, 46, 23, 24 and 57 yards. None of them were what you'd consider high risk passes. They were simply nice, high percentage throws that were made into big plays by the WRs. None were the over-the-top tosses that Moss specializes in.

So long as Brett continues to take the slants, digs, ins and comebacks I think you'll see plenty of explosiveness out of this offense. What you won't see are the picks thrown right to the hands of the defenders.

I really hope it continues to work because both Jennings/Driver are very good at catching slats and finding seams to run after the catch.The one thing that has been a very pleasant surprise though is Brett has been extremely accurate on those slants.The last few years Favre has missed on quite a few which ended up getting tipped and intercepted.

We are throwing alot of those quick slats,my only fear on them is Brett not being as accurate and/or DB's starting to jump those routes which lead to straight up picks or deflected balls.

As for if we had Moss and it maybe would have lead to more picks via Brett trying to force balls to his new toy,that was the only big fear i had in trying to acquire Randy.While many of you were more worried about him being a distraction or us not having pieces that would make it worked,IMO you guys overplayed those two angles for various reasons.I do agree though that it was very possible that when rushed heavy,Brett could revert to old ways and start throwing up high balls praying Moss worked his magic on those type of passes.

We'll never know how things would have worked with Moss and i still think he should have been acquired him,but i do agree with AYT,it's done and i've finally tired of talking about it for the most part.Minds won't be changed and he won't be here,no point in arguing anymore about it.I'm just enjoying the start,if we were 1-2 or 0-3,draft talk might be starting to some degree.

[jligon]

Just want to point out again how great our O Line was at giving Brett time to throw. Not only was he not sacked often but he wasn't pressured often either. And the one sack I remember was actually (most likely) a good decision by Brett as he was about to fire one up long, when he reconsidered.

I love the fact that Brett is throwing to a variety of targets. And a TE to throw to always makes a big difference. I think having almost equal confidence to throw to three or four guys is preferable to having one go-to guy. I think the crux of the Moss debate was those thinking he'd add another target to give us that variety of options vs. those that felt he'd demand to be the go-to guy.

[jligon]

...probably the last thing Favre needed was Randy Moss running 40 yard post patterns and then talking with Favre about how he needs more touches...

That's been one of my primary arguments against Moss' coming here. I'm certain that Brett's still capable of putting up numbers like Jon Kitna did yesterday...but I'm also certain that he's capable of equaling Kitna's interception, 3 fumbles, 9 sacks and a loss.