Falcons Post-Game

[Newz]

Yeah, the defense gave up 37 points but we won. Sunshine, rainbows and puppies!

Yeah, we suck. Might as well just stop trying this year. Rev up the tank, IMO.

[humanrefutation]

We gave up 37 points because Brad Jones was out there for some reason.

[HKPackFan]

We gave up 37 points because Brad Jones was out there for some reason.

He came in on the dime packages. But maybe its all part of capers genius plan to make our defense look super crappy so come playoff time we surprise our opponent when they least expect it!!

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[glenn]

Yeah, the defense gave up 37 points but we won. Sunshine, rainbows and puppies!

Why does it have to either be sunshine/puppies/rainbows or suicide watch? Why not something in between? Maybe something like Stylish Ikea Monkey.

[Kerb Hohl]

Yeah, the defense gave up 37 points but we won. Sunshine, rainbows and puppies!

Of course nobody is encouraged, but every week is a new one? Shields was coming off of a concussion and Julio is really good. I don't know if anyone is expecting to throw a shutout against a playoff opponent or Buffalo but the defense has played much better at times.

[Newz]

Yeah, the defense gave up 37 points but we won. Sunshine, rainbows and puppies!

Of course nobody is encouraged, but every week is a new one? Shields was coming off of a concussion and Julio is really good. I don't know if anyone is expecting to throw a shutout against a playoff opponent or Buffalo but the defense has played much better at times.

Slip ups like this happen to every good team in the NFL. Hell, they happen to every NFL team. It's the NFL, that's just the way it is.

The Packers have as good of a chance as anyone to win it all this year. It's just a matter of:

1. Will Rodgers be playing at his best?
2. Will the defense be playing at least reasonable football?
3. Can be avoid fluke/unlucky turnovers?

If we can do those things we will win it all. If we can't, we will lose. That's really all there is to it... the same thing applies to pretty much every team that has a legitimate shot at winning.

[Ron Swanson]

Patriots got smoked and allowed a pretty average/low-scoring Kansas City offense to put up 40+ points on them. Broncos then got blown out by New England and allowed 40+. Seattle is the only top team I can think of that hasn't been blown out, yet they've already lost 4 games and haven't scored more than 38 points all season.

What do people honestly want? The best offense in the league paired with Seattle's defense? Keep living in a fantasy world...

[rilamann]

I think it was just a case of the Packers getting up 31-7 and let up a little and played some guys who normally wouldn't have gotten snaps or as many snaps had the game but more competitive going into the 2nd half.

Plus Atlanta is actually not a terrible team.IMO they're a little better than their record.

When the Packers were serious they did jump on them 31-7.

[trwi7]

Yeah, the defense gave up 37 points but we won. Sunshine, rainbows and puppies!

Yeah, we suck. Might as well just stop trying this year. Rev up the tank, IMO.

Where did I say that? I only posted that because of all the people who were posting that they weren't concerned about the defense and anybody who was was basically an idiot. Because it's not like we've ever had a reason to be concerned about the defense.

[Newz]

Yeah, the defense gave up 37 points but we won. Sunshine, rainbows and puppies!

Yeah, we suck. Might as well just stop trying this year. Rev up the tank, IMO.

Where did I say that? I only posted that because of all the people who were posting that they weren't concerned about the defense and anybody who was was basically an idiot. Because it's not like we've ever had a reason to be concerned about the defense.

I think spazzing out about a bad half of defense after what we have done all year is just a knee jerk reaction, honestly.

No, I don't think we are immune to a defensive collapse in the playoffs. I also don't think that the Seahawks or any other team in the NFL is immune to collapsing. It wouldn't shock me if some team hung 40+ points on us out of nowhere and we lose a game because of our defense.

But every team has flaws, every team in the NFL is prone to a collapse. The Packers are no different than the other teams... just that we have a smaller chance for that collapse to happen and a bigger chance to cover up a defensive collapse because of how good our offense is.

We're still one of the best teams in the league... even if the Falcons scored some points after we blew them out to start the game.

[rilamann]

Good post Newz.

As nervous as a playoff match up with Seattle makes me,if Seattle's defense became unraveled at Lambeau vs Aaron Rodgers and the Packers' offense and the Packers scored 40+ and won the game easier than we expected I wouldn't be shocked by that either.

I wouldn't go into the game expecting that to happen but if it did I wouldn't be shocked by it.

The Packers have done enough to prove that they are legit this season and I don't think that bad half vs Atlanta is a cause for concern.

[El Duderino]

I think it was just a case of the Packers getting up 31-7 and let up a little and played some guys who normally wouldn't have gotten snaps or as many snaps had the game but more competitive going into the 2nd half.

Plus Atlanta is actually not a terrible team.IMO they're a little better than their record.

When the Packers were serious they did jump on them 31-7.

I don't believe that guys on the defense "let up" or anything like that as an explanation for Atlanta scoring so many points in the second half. I thought there were a few factors

1. Capers pulled a big brain fart by playing way to much single high safety and blitzing in the second half. Atlanta's only chance to get back in the game was via big plays to preserve clock. Jones was eating alive our secondary, and he did the same the week prior vs a better Arizona defense, he should have been doubled teamed nearly every snap in that second half and thus forcing Atlanta to score quick with other players. Hell, after the game even Jones said he was shocked at how often he was being singled covered.

2. A few guys simply made really bad decisions on big passing plays. On that long 75 yard play to Jones right after halftime, first Tramon foolishly bit badly on a double move when getting burnt deep can't be allowed up 24 and then Burnett took a brutal angle which allowed Jones to run for another 45 yards instead of being tackled around the 50 yard line. On the 22 yard TD, Shields defended that play as if Julio was on his fantasy team and he badly wanted the points.

3. The pass rushed sucked vs a bad Atlanta O-Line. Speaking of the pass rush, Mike Daniels is a hard guy to figure out. Unlike the rest of our defensive lineman who pretty much all suck as pass rushers, Daniels is actually skilled in that regard, but for whatever reason in some games he is mostly irrelevant. Hard to figure out why given he always plays hard.

4. Even though the Packers offense did score 13 points in the second half, most possessions weren't long time consuming drives.

[El Duderino]

Good post Newz.

As nervous as a playoff match up with Seattle makes me,if Seattle's defense became unraveled at Lambeau vs Aaron Rodgers and the Packers' offense and the Packers scored 40+ and won the game easier than we expected I wouldn't be shocked by that either.

Seattle is a low blitz team. What they thrive on defensively is their front four and linebackers being able to stop an offense from being able to run the ball and in turn getting teams in 3rd and 6-10 plus yards to go situations. Then they often can get pressure without having to blitz to go along with that great secondary.

So to me, if the Packers do end of facing Seattle in the NFC title game, the most important unit in deciding who wins very well could be our offensive line. If Seattle's defense mostly stuffs our running game and can get fairly consistent pressure only rushing four, it's going to be very tough to score in the high 20's, much less in the 30's or 40's.

[HKPackFan]

I think it's not necessarily we are predicting the end of the world and are dying, but for me at least I see this as a chance to be a really special year for a few reasons:

#1) No NFL team looks unbeatable, they all have their warts. There are a few elite teams but even they can be beaten and the Pack is in that Elite group.
#2) Pack is relatively healthy heading into the last stretch of the season, haven't been able to say that in a long time.
#3) The Packers offense finally seems to have reached that other level..The perfect Balance. If you take away the pass and get into that "Cover 2" which used to be our kryptonite, now we just run the ball and bust that open. Our Oline is playing consistent in both the run and the pass.

For those reasons it seems like this could be a really special year and the Pack has a legit shot at the SuperBowl.

So me personally, I just don't want the Defense to BLOW IT! So I get concerned and nervous when I see the pass rush become ineffective and the secondary full of holes.

Daniels had a bad game, Peppers had an awful game, Shields had a bad game. The game wasn't lost because of these 3 guys, but they sure didn't help. We can't let good QB's have a field day on us, and if one star player is destroying our defense I'd like to see our coordinator make some moves to correct things and take away that star player. Not just continue down the same path and make adjustments like putting Brad F'in Jones in the game and switch to House and say, "Well I've done all I can!"

Why not some double teams or knocking Jones around at the LOS just to do SOMETHING to give extra attention to a player who's become a single wrecking ball over the entire defense. It's just a red flag and cause for concern.

I think 2011 defense left a bad taste in everyone's mouth and no one wants to repeat that. We need at least an average defense and our stellar offense to win the SuperBowl. At least average, not 2011 bad giving up 400 yards a game or whatever it was.

Agreed sometimes the defense falls asleep or puts their foot off the gas pedal or whatever. The pass rush was good in the first half and caused an INT, but it was pathetic (minus clay) in the second half. Why???

Hopefully the D moves on and it's a valuable lesson and the D gets back to what they did against the Patriots. It's just concerning to see some Jekyll/Hyde with the Defense, and we have a very strong shot this post-season just don't wanna blow it.

[rilamann]

I think it was just a case of the Packers getting up 31-7 and let up a little and played some guys who normally wouldn't have gotten snaps or as many snaps had the game but more competitive going into the 2nd half.

Plus Atlanta is actually not a terrible team.IMO they're a little better than their record.

When the Packers were serious they did jump on them 31-7.

I don't believe that guys on the defense "let up" or anything like that as an explanation for Atlanta scoring so many points in the second half. I thought there were a few factors

1. Capers pulled a big brain fart by playing way to much single high safety and blitzing in the second half. Atlanta's only chance to get back in the game was via big plays to preserve clock. Jones was eating alive our secondary, and he did the same the week prior vs a better Arizona defense, he should have been doubled teamed nearly every snap in that second half and thus forcing Atlanta to score quick with other players. Hell, after the game even Jones said he was shocked at how often he was being singled covered.

2. A few guys simply made really bad decisions on big passing plays. On that long 75 yard play to Jones right after halftime, first Tramon foolishly bit badly on a double move when getting burnt deep can't be allowed up 24 and then Burnett took a brutal angle which allowed Jones to run for another 45 yards instead of being tackled around the 50 yard line. On the 22 yard TD, Shields defended that play as if Julio was on his fantasy team and he badly wanted the points.

3. The pass rushed sucked vs a bad Atlanta O-Line. Speaking of the pass rush, Mike Daniels is a hard guy to figure out. Unlike the rest of our defensive lineman who pretty much all suck as pass rushers, Daniels is actually skilled in that regard, but for whatever reason in some games he is mostly irrelevant. Hard to figure out why given he always plays hard.

4. Even though the Packers offense did score 13 points in the second half, most possessions weren't long time consuming drives.

You're over-thinking this,the Packers let up and naturally probably lost some focus and intensity in the 2nd half.

The Packers looked pretty damn solid on both sides of the ball in the first half in building that 31-7 lead,I don't think the team/coaching staff suddenly forgot how to play/coach in the 2nd half.

I think some of that is a mental thing but especially when you're a Super Bowl contending team and have a chance to do something special you kind of go into a preseason mentality when you're up big on a team late in the season.Obviously you play to win and the Packers did in the 1st half but do you really think a team that has a serious chance to win the Super Bowl is going to use their best plays and have their top players go balls out and risk injury once they're up 31-7 on a 5-7 team?

If Clay for example pulled his hammy on an exotic blitz when we were up 31-7 and was out the next few weeks and it put a dent in our Super Bowl chances MM would be burned at the stake.

Once the Packers got up 31-7 the mentality in the 2nd half was lets just get this game over with and stay healthy,there wasn't a ton of intensity and strategy going on the Packers part.

[trwi7]

There isn't a chance in hell they let up. You're just making excuses for the defense playing like ****.

[El Duderino]

You're over-thinking this,the Packers let up and naturally probably lost some focus and intensity in the 2nd half.

The Packers looked pretty damn solid on both sides of the ball in the first half in building that 31-7 lead,I don't think the team/coaching staff suddenly forgot how to play/coach in the 2nd half.

I think some of that is a mental thing but especially when you're a Super Bowl contending team and have a chance to do something special you kind of go into a preseason mentality when you're up big on a team late in the season.Obviously you play to win and the Packers did in the 1st half but do you really think a team that has a serious chance to win the Super Bowl is going to use their best plays and have their top players go balls out and risk injury once they're up 31-7 on a 5-7 team?

If Clay for example pulled his hammy on an exotic blitz when we were up 31-7 and was out the next few weeks and it put a dent in our Super Bowl chances MM would be burned at the stake.

Once the Packers got up 31-7 the mentality in the 2nd half was lets just get this game over with and stay healthy,there wasn't a ton of intensity and strategy going on the Packers part.

I don't buy this and if anyone is over-thinking things i think it's you and others who believe the same thing. It sounds a lot like fan and media talk instead of actual players who are out on the field.

It's one thing when say a really good college football team is playing some badly overwhelmed team from a much lesser conference, i can buy some players "letting up" or getting bored to a degree when up by 30-40-50 points with still a half to go.

For Packer players though in that Atlanta game, they all fully understood just how crucial winning that game was. They also know better than any fans from experience that big leads can vanish into something potentially scary if they behave how you claim by socalled letting up, especially against a team with some weapons.

Hell, barely two minutes into that second half it was suddenly a 31-14 game because Tramon foolishly bit on a double move and Burnett took a bad angle on Jones after the catch. Four minutes later it was only a two score game.

As for not using exotic blitzes to protect the health of players, i don't even know what that is supposed to mean. First of all, Capers was blitzing more than he should have IMO given the score. That's one reason why Jones kept getting single covered for in turn big gains. The defense didn't go into some mostly Cover 2 scheme with few blitzes, as it should have. Besides that, there are no certain type of defensive play calls which add more risk to the health of players. Clay spent most of that second half rushing the passer from multiple places and chasing guys sideline to sideline full speed as he always does.

To me, that second half came down to simply

1. Ryan and Jones playing great.

2. A couple of bad decisions in the secondary on long gains to Jones which kept Atlanta in striking distance. If for example some want to say Shields was "letting up" as to why he badly blew coverage on the 22 yard TD, then explain why he chased Jones down from all the way on the other side of the field on that 75 yard reception while still up 31-7?

3. Most importantly, Capers being to aggressive instead of being to vanilla. The clock is your best friend up 24 and with a Packers QB who never turns it over. Stop blitzing a lot. Keep both safeties back and ALWAYS keep a safety back on the side Julio Jones lines up.

[HKPackFan]

I saw a great video by Leroy Butler in the X's and O's edition this week on jsonline. He looked at 2 defensive plays where Julio burned the Packers and showed how the coverage called was OK, but in both cases the ILB's were f'in it up. They weren't playing cover 2 properly, and they were biting on the wrong routes. He pointed Clay, Barrington and Brad Fing Jones all screwing up.

I think this goes back to us having the worst ILB core in all of football. I also think it's been mentioned in another thread, try Richardson out as the Dime ILB, he can't possibly be worse than Brad Jones.



I also want to point out, Holy CRAP Does Sam Shields have wheels. OMG, that mother f'er can run!!!!

Usually NFL players in WR and DBs are all pretty fast so while some outrun others, it's split second in speed difference, but I've never seen a player running full stride seemingly heading into the endzone (an elite WR as well), and have a DB from the middle of nowhere explode onto the screen and chase down a guy. OMG, I have not seen speed like that in a long time.

I mean sure an eddie lacy type of back can get run down, but an Elite young WR running full stride on a bomb getting chased down out of nowhere!?!? That was simply amazing. OMG does that man have speed.

I think Al Davis woke up from the grave and probably called up Reggie Mckenzie after that play.



I just check and it says Julio Junes 40 time was 4.39! He's under 4.40!!! Yet Shields 4.26! OMG, he really showed that 4.26 speed. DAMN!!