Postgame thread - Pack vs Vikes

Post #1 » by **ReasonablySober** » Sun Nov 9, 2008 10:56 pm

Nothing like a tough loss to really bring down your Sunday. Ugh.

Left tackle, if it wasn't before, needs to be the #1 need this offseason. Clifton and Tauscher were good ones last season, and both look terrible at the moment. Clifton in particular was painful to watch and I place this loss at his feet. Aikman was pissing me off. Rodgers, a couple occasions maybe held the ball a little longer than you would like. But he was running for his life from Allen. Rodgers wouldn't even have a second to set up in the pocket before he'd have to take off.

Grant averaged 4.7 ypc and looked to have lanes to run through all day. He was only handed the ball 16 times. The last two weeks McCarthy has made the decision that they weren't going to be able to run against Tennessee and Minnesota even before the games had started. Consequently, Rodgers was getting drilled and the Packers haven't been able to put together long drives.

Balls2theWalls, that's why Nick Barnett is in there and Desmond Bishop isn't.

Starting position killed the Packers in the first three quarters, again, getting back to the offense not being able to complete a long drive. I'm not going to get on the defense for failing at the end. They were on the field the entire game.

Right now, we have to have our five best D-Backs out there on almost every play. Our front four is sad. OT or DT or DE. Take three in the first two rounds next April.

rilamann · Post #2 » by **rilamann** » Sun Nov 9, 2008 11:04 pm

DrugBust wrote: Our front four is sad. OT or DT or DE. Take three in the first two rounds next April.

Yup and then sign a couple solid ones in free agency.The Packers are pretty solid everyhwere else on both sides of the ball just gotta get both lines solidified this offseason.

Post #3 » by **MickeyDavis** » Sun Nov 9, 2008 11:32 pm

Taush is a free agent after this year and there are no signs of signing him to an extension. It may happen but for now TT seems to not want to do so. Clifton has one more year so if we replace him we won't take a huge cap hit. The rest of our line is garbage too. Here is a good link to the Packers contracts:

http://cappage.timesfour.com/

Right now we are about $7.4 million under the cap.

Although certainly our line sucked, Rodgers played today like I expected him to play in game 1. He was way too slow in making decisions, under pressure or not. Hopefully he rebounds next week in a make or break game.

Changing punters was one of the worst decisions TT has made.

Hawk continues to be just a guy. Certainly not the #5 pick in the draft. But he's signed for 3 more years.

I can't believe Popinga led the team in tackles with 11, he seemed to be whiffing at everything. Bishop with 9 tackles surprised me too. After the horrid first play he performed better. I don't think Barnett makes that play on Peterson on 4th down.

MadCityBucky · Post #4 » by **MadCityBucky** » Sun Nov 9, 2008 11:38 pm

Same old story on both sides of the ball.

Poor pass protection, dumb penalties, no pass rush, horrible tackling, horrible rush defense.

I said this in the GT, the Packers have the worst biltz schemes ever. Every single blitz is picked up perfectly by the other team, meanwhile our offensive...well you know the story

LUKE23 · Post #5 » by **LUKE23** » Sun Nov 9, 2008 11:39 pm

Very upset by the playcalling overall on both sides right now. Last week against the Titans, I felt like once we got in the redzone that we were just content to play for three points (tons of those dumpoff passes to Jackson just meant to make it a shorter FG). Today, if you're going to only throw a little two yard short slant to Driver on 3rd and 7, you might as well just run the goddam ball instead. I'd rather throw to the sticks, try and pick up the first down and basically end the game for sure, and live with the consequences if the pass was incomplete. A 52 yard FG is a not a gimme regardless of conditions, I never would "play for" a 52 yarder in that situation.

OL is a massive joke, and this has to come back to TT if anything does. Clifton is on his last legs, which probably isn't on TT, but the fact that Colledge is horrendous and Spitz and Wells are just "there" is on him. Enough of this small college project junk on the OL, we need some true, blue studs there.

Next week is a must win game. If we lose next week I'm 100% in draft/tank/offseason/free agency mode.

aaprigs311 · Post #6 » by **aaprigs311** » Sun Nov 9, 2008 11:43 pm

Frost better get cut this week or I'll cut him. (With a switch blade disguised as a comb)

Post #7 » by **MickeyDavis** » Sun Nov 9, 2008 11:48 pm

Bob Sanders needs to go.

Captain Erv · Post #8 » by **Captain Erv** » Sun Nov 9, 2008 11:49 pm

Extremely disappointing loss, even though we probably didn't deserve to win anyway. It definitely hurt when three of your losses are for a combined seven points, but good teams find ways to win close games. Rodgers had his struggles today, but the offensive line continues to do him no favors. Our lack of protection basically stymies our five-wide set which is what made us so successful last year. TT is going to have tighten his grip on the wallet next summer and MM might need to revise the playbook.

I'm not giving up on this season yet, but if we are going to make a run it obviously needs to start next week. Our schedule is extremely favorable with the exception being the game at Solider Field later. However, our inability to stop the run and protect our quarterback won't lead us very far.

rilamann · Post #9 » by **rilamann** » Sun Nov 9, 2008 11:56 pm

I realy thought this was going to be the week the Packers maned up and put things into high gear and made their move to establish themselves in the division.Obviously I was wrong as the Packers overall didnt realy come to play today and now find themselves in 3rd place in the north.

I had a feeling that with the Pack now being healthy and being on somewhat of a roll (I thought) with a big win over the Colts & a moral victory hanging with the Titans on the road and actually outplaying them despite the loss this was the time the Pack would wake up and make their big move with games vs the Vikes & then the Bears.

Today it seems like they ecspecially the o-line took a few steps back,our o-line is garbage.

The frustarting thing is that if this team had even a decent o-line we'd be pretty damn good.

Kerb Hohl · Post #10 » by **Kerb Hohl** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 12:29 am

Maybe I am in the minority here but was that "illegal forward pass" call that gave them a safety made up?

Wasn't around for the game thread so maybe there is an explanation.

Please show me in the rule book where throwing the ball underhand is illegal.

El Duderino · Post #11 » by **El Duderino** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 12:48 am

I know it will seem a minor thing given all that happened in the game, but if McCarthy was just going to play for the FG there and not a first down, i really wanted him to try and center the ball before kicking the FG. Crosby was looking at a 54-55 yard FG before the pass to Driver that gained 2-3 yards, that pass put the ball on the hash which makes a very long kick a little tougher.

Either way, we were lucky to even be in that game, we got flat out dominated in the trenches on both sides of the ball. It was ridiculous. Yet another penalty fest. The front four painfully needs pass rushers. Linebackers were terrible. We have a group of supposedly run stuffing DT's who can't pass rush, yet they aren't holding up vs the run either. The offense was horrific except for some good runs. Rodgers struggled even with all the pressure and the OL couldn't pass block at all.

Even with such a disaster, 1st and 10 at the Vikings 40 with two minutes left after a gift 20 yard gain to Driver. Get one first down and game is likely over, failed miserably. This team has some nice playmakers and a great secondary, but overall it's soft and wilts vs physical teams because it's so weak on both lines.

Post #12 » by **MickeyDavis** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 1:05 am

I don't understand the illegal forward pass call at all. If anything it was intentional grounding (and I don't think it was that either). Underhand passes are legal. As far as I know an illegal forward pass is what's called when the QB is over the LOS.

Post #13 » by **Jollay** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 1:24 am

After the game I heard somewhere it was ruled grounding, so I don't know why they said illegal forward pass if they did...

MajorDad · Post #14 » by **MajorDad** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 1:27 am

good luck with that idea of Tt signing a couple of FA offensive linemen in the off season. We all know that's not going to happen. the Packers will build through the draft! it doesn't matter how much money the pack has under the cap. that doesn't mean Tt is going to spend it.

I'm going to ask the question that nobody thought of before. I was kind of biased against TT even before the favre debacle.

What happens if the jets make the play-offs despite favre having a mediocre/bad year and the packers miss the play-offs despite a solid statistical year from Rogers? Who takes the fall? obviously, mc Carthy and Tt were right in their assessment that Rogers was better than favre. however, Not making the play-offs with a better statistically Qb means finger pointing at other parts of the packers - mainly coaching and bad drafting and personnel decisions by TT. TT's stubborness to save money and not be a big player in free agency is costing the packers. I' m still wondering why he felt compelled to switch punters. brohm is a nice future Qb, but he wasn't what the packers needed in the second round. and neither was Jordy. TT had to know KGB was finished last March, but he stuck with him. So, if the packers don't make the play-offs, does Tt fire his good buddy McCarthy? as the scapegoat to save himself?

Captain Erv · Post #15 » by **Captain Erv** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 1:34 am

MajorDad wrote:good luck with that idea of Tt signing a couple of FA offensive linemen in the off season. We all know that's not going to happen. the Packers will build through the draft! it doesn't matter how much money the pack has under the cap. that doesn't mean Tt is going to spend it.

I'm going to ask the question that nobody thought of before. I was kind of biased against TT even before the favre debacle.

What happens if the jets make the play-offs despite favre having a mediocre/bad year and the packers miss the play-offs despite a solid statistical year from Rogers? Who takes the fall? obviously, mc Carthy and Tt were right in their assessment that Rogers was better than favre. however, Not making the play-offs with a better statistically Qb means finger pointing at other parts of the packers - mainly coaching and bad drafting and personnel decisions by TT. TT's stubborness to save money and not be a big player in free agency is costing the packers. I' m still wondering why he felt compelled to switch punters. brohm is a nice future Qb, but he wasn't what the packers needed in the second round. and neither was Jordy. TT had to know KGB was finished last March, but he stuck with him. So, if the packers don't make the play-offs, does Tt fire his good buddy McCarthy? as the scapegoat to save himself?

I don't think anyone should take the fall. Rodgers is having a better year than Favre pretty much in all facets of the game. MM's play calling has been sub-par and maybe TT could have spent a little more cash, but no one comes to mind.

I will argue to the death that the Packers would be 4-5 with Brett Favre as our quarterback. The Jets aren't that good anyway, look at their schedule, it's ridiculously easy. I'll gladly take a 2nd round pick and playoff drubbing for the Jets.

Obviously this season will be a disappointment should we not make the playoffs, but at the end of nobody is going to take "the fall." TT will shoulder the blame from the crazy Favre fans, but that is about all.

TheGhostDog · Post #16 » by **TheGhostDog** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 1:58 am

Bring back Larry Beightol.

Post #17 » by **MickeyDavis** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 3:29 am

I thought we had moved past the Favre talk, it really isn't relevant anymore. TT should take the blame for the stupid punter move and for both of our lines being crap and to me that's a pretty big deal. But it has nothing to do with Favre.

Post #18 » by **MickeyDavis** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 3:34 am

Here is a good synopsis on the illegal forward pass call.

http://www.profootballtalk.com/2008/11/ ... ings-game/

Post #19 » by **paulpressey25** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 3:36 am

I always felt this was going to be a transition year.....never had hopes for much of anything.

Get Rodgers experience along with the young skill position guys. Then re-load in the draft and FA for next season based on what you find out you are missing this season.

I agree that our offensive line sucks, but I'd also like to see us get a real running back. Either a stud player like Peterson or Chris Johnson or an all-purpose guy who can also catch tons of passes. A-Rod needs a playmaker back there in some form.

xTitan · Post #20 » by **xTitan** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 3:47 am

The fall will be taken by 2 entities, Bob Sanders will be let go and righfully so. The other major change that will take place is that the zone blocking scheme will go away, I am surprised they kept the scheme when they have an offensive tackle who simply refuses to cut block and the guy who ran it (Jeff Jag) left the program.

I don't ever want to hear McCarthy, Sanders, or any other coach ever say again this is a physical team, that is a lie, this is a finesse team who has a lot of talent at the skill positions but lacks O-Line talent and has an awfully weak front seven. This game was pure domination from both lines of scrimmage, Rodgers had 2 seconds to throw and Gus had all damn day (which tells you how much he really sucks), I could not believe how many times Spitsz was whipped by Kevin Williams, add that to his blown block on the last screen pass against the Titans and you have an awful lineman. I think some changes are in order, I want to see more of Sitton, he might be a raw rookie but he is very physical and has a nasty streak. I also believe it is time to sit Clifton and see if you can deal him in the off season, he is become bad in front of our eyes. The front seven on defense is pathetic, no pass rush at all and the running game speaks for itself. I am probably more angry about the embarrassing play of the linebackers more than anything, none of the LB's are playmakers, not one. No LB knows how to blitz, which simply amazes me, I want to see what some of the guys can do for a different D-Coordinator before GB has to bail on all of them.

I think some major changes need to be made right now, would like to see at least 2 position moves and possibly a demotion for Bob Sanders, he just is not a quick thinker or strategist.