nerdmann
11 years ago
ESPN 

“Our special teams in a number of areas was about as good as we've played in our time there in Green Bay, and Randall is a big part of that,” McCarthy said at the Scouting Combine on Friday. “I hope he’s not playing next year. That’s really the responsibility of the rest of the skill players in the locker room. He’s someone who spent a lot of time this time last year developing packages for him, as far as putting him in the backfield and so forth. I prefer not to play him on special teams. We’ll let time answer that.”



So much for "not playing scared."

Cobb played 635 snaps last season on offense and another 138 on special teams for a total of 773 over 15 games. The game he missed, in the Week 17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, was a result of an ankle sprain he suffered on a kick return the previous week. Cobb has three touchdown returns in two seasons on special teams, but he will enter 2013 as arguably the Packers' top offensive playmaker. That status almost requires a transition on special teams.



If we were gonna start "playing scared," couldn't we have done so sooner, before we put a rookie on punt returns during a key playoff game. /endofbitchsession.
“Winning is not a sometime thing, it is an all the time thing. You don't do things right once in a while…you do them right all the time.”
doddpower
11 years ago
You see it as "playing scared." I see it as just managing risks. Special teams are for the bottom of the roster guys, not arguably the number 1 offensive weapon. Honestly, I'd almost be OK with no chances ever taken on special teams so long as they don't turn the ball over. I know that's a bit extreme, but I'd prefer starting at the 20 yard line every drive than turn the ball over and never even give the offense a chance. Currently, the Packers receiving group is still formidable, but without Jennings they don't have the same depth as last season.
steveishere
11 years ago
It isn't like Cobb was all-world and irreplaceable as a returner last year. If he was the best returner in the NFL or something then maybe it could be considered "playing scared" but he hasn't really been all that special on returns outside of a couple here and there. Not to mention kick/punt returns are such a small aspect of the game. It's not worth the risk for what he brings to offense.
doddpower
11 years ago

It isn't like Cobb was all-world and irreplaceable as a returner last year. If he was the best returner in the NFL or something then maybe it could be considered "playing scared" but he hasn't really been all that special on returns outside of a couple here and there. Not to mention kick/punt returns are such a small aspect of the game. It's not worth the risk for what he brings to offense.

Originally Posted by: steveishere 



And as we've seen with D. Hester, trying to do too much with a player can often limit them to some extent at what they originally did best.

nerdmann
11 years ago

You see it as "playing scared." I see it as just managing risks. Special teams are for the bottom of the roster guys, not arguably the number 1 offensive weapon. Honestly, I'd almost be OK with no chances ever taken on special teams so long as they don't turn the ball over. I know that's a bit extreme, but I'd prefer starting at the 20 yard line every drive than turn the ball over and never even give the offense a chance. Currently, the Packers receiving group is still formidable, but without Jennings they don't have the same depth as last season.

Originally Posted by: doddpower 



Mike's words, not mine.
“Winning is not a sometime thing, it is an all the time thing. You don't do things right once in a while…you do them right all the time.”
Zero2Cool
11 years ago
"Our special teams in a number of areas was about as good as we've played in our time there in Green Bay and Randall is a big part of that. I hope he's not playing next year. That’s really the responsibility of the rest of the skill players in the locker room. He's someone who we spent a lot of time this time last year developing packages for him, as far as putting him in the backfield and so forth. I prefer not to play him on special teams. We'll let time answer that." - Mike McCarthy.

So, we finally hear what we all (most of us) wanted to hear and we're gonna chastised him for it? Perhaps he has had time to think things through, things such as you know the number one WR most surely leaving, thus, making Randall Cobb more valuable?

You don't want your coach saying "yeah next season we will take him off special teams because we do not expect Greg back" because that tells you he's thinking of NEXT SEASON and not NEXT GAME.

C'mon people ... get with it or get a spanking!
UserPostedImage
wpr
  • wpr
  • Preferred Member
11 years ago
I can live with Cobb being pulled off ST. I rather expected it this upcoming season. Returns tend to be done by the guys who are not starters or heavily involved in the offense. I am a little surprised that Mike said so now before the draft.
UserPostedImage
Porforis
11 years ago

And as we've seen with D. Hester, trying to do too much with a player can often limit them to some extent at what they originally did best.

Originally Posted by: doddpower 



Cobb was never Hester on special teams, and Hester isn't what he used to be. And that being said, Cobb is quite a bit better on offense than Hester was, although maybe that's just a result of better people around him than Hester (then again, that's also an argument for Cobb reserved for offense).

Regardless, while I see some value in comparing the two situations, Cobb and Hester are NOT equivalent. If we were in a situation like we were in 2010 I think where our options to return punts were Tramon Williams or random WR, absolutely keep Cobb in there. But while Ross muffed one in a big game, he's shown explosiveness and field vision as well. At least give the kid some more chances. And if he stinks it up in the preseason, I'm sure we'll see Cobb in there again assuming someone else doesn't raise eyebrows.
PackerTraxx
11 years ago
Seems like common sense to me with Gregg most likely gone.
Why is Jerry Kramer not in the Hall of Fame?
+1
macbob
11 years ago

Seems like common sense to me with Gregg most likely gone.

Originally Posted by: PackerTraxx 



Agreed, plus I liked the flashes that Jeremy Ross showed last season. Just give him a full off-season practicing as the team's kick/punt returner and full season before putting him in that position in the playoffs... :-"
UserPostedImage
Similar Topics
Users browsing this topic
    Fan Shout
    Martha Careful (1h) : Congratulations
    Zero2Cool (8h) : Boom. Student Loan. $0.00. Only took about 20 years.
    Zero2Cool (14-Apr) : Packers DT Kenny Clark: New defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley will 'allow us to be way more disruptive'
    Zero2Cool (12-Apr) : Saints have agreed to terms on a contract with former Packers wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown.
    beast (12-Apr) : No, but of it's for legislation, then half of the country will find it evil, not good, whatever it says....
    Mucky Tundra (12-Apr) : Draft is still 2 weeks away. UGH
    dhazer (11-Apr) : Does anyone know of a good AI generator to create letters of Support for legislation?
    Zero2Cool (11-Apr) : Gordon "Red" Batty retires as equipment manager
    Zero2Cool (10-Apr) : Sounds like that's pretty certain now.
    Zero2Cool (10-Apr) : Packers "at" Eagles in Brazil. Week One
    dfosterf (10-Apr) : Va' Fazer As Malas Va' !
    Zero2Cool (9-Apr) : Mark Murphy tipping us off?
    Zero2Cool (9-Apr) : “We’re either the first- or second-most popular team in Brazil.”
    Zero2Cool (9-Apr) : Christian Watson got married. Wife better be careful with those hamstrings!! 😂😂
    dfosterf (9-Apr) : Those poor bastards
    Zero2Cool (8-Apr) : Falcons have signed former Packers CB Kevin King, who has been out of football since 2021.
    dfosterf (8-Apr) : Collectively, we need to spend more time in what we have, when analyzing ostendible needs and historical proclivities
    dfosterf (8-Apr) : I say he is better than so many of these draft picks
    dfosterf (8-Apr) : Question of the week for me: Has anyone besides me done any deep dive into the potential of Alex McGough, our 3rd string qb?
    Zero2Cool (8-Apr) : Or in Tunsil's case, something gets released day of draft or day before lol
    Zero2Cool (8-Apr) : Seems every year someone does something pre-draft.
    dfosterf (8-Apr) : Falling down drunk. The draft board
    dfosterf (8-Apr) : Allright! Potential character guy/f#×k up pickup in D'Vondre Sweat!
    Zero2Cool (7-Apr) : Go Badgers!!!
    Martha Careful (6-Apr) : Go Boilermakers!!!
    Martha Careful (5-Apr) : Diggs has not stepped up in the playoffs and has a high cost
    beast (5-Apr) : Probably not going to let Diggs walk away unless he's horrible... but according to reports he also might not be as good as he used to be.
    beast (5-Apr) : The 25th pick in the draft has been an offensive player since 2017, 2 TE, 2 WR, 1 RB, 1 OC
    Mucky Tundra (5-Apr) : Odd, why give up a 2025 2nd Rounder for him if you're just gonna let him walk?
    Zero2Cool (4-Apr) : Texans to let Diggs be free agent in '25
    buckeyepackfan (4-Apr) : 49r's aign RB Patrick Taylor.
    Martha Careful (4-Apr) : Reversion to the mean would indicate we will keep it
    Zero2Cool (4-Apr) : It's also been utilized in a trade in 14 of the past 20 years
    Zero2Cool (4-Apr) : The 25th pick in the draft hasn't been made by it's original holder since 2016.
    Mucky Tundra (4-Apr) : Gotta imagine that Green Bay vs Houston will be a primetime game this upcoming season
    Zero2Cool (3-Apr) : No. Kill QB. No worries. 😁
    Mucky Tundra (3-Apr) : Diggs, Collins, Dell and Schultz is gonna be tough to cover
    Zero2Cool (3-Apr) : Stefon Diggs' trade will not be processed as a post-June 1 designation, so that is just over $31 million in dead cap this year.
    Zero2Cool (3-Apr) : Bills trading WR Stefon Diggs to the Texans in exchange for a 2025 2nd-round pick. (via @rapsheet)
    beast (3-Apr) : Using Patterson as RB and RB/WR tweener... so I think they also signed Patterson as a 3rd down RB, not just a kick returner as articles are
    beast (3-Apr) : I think PFT missed the real Steelers/Patterson connection, Steelers new OC Arthur Smith has been Patterson's head coach the last 3 years
    wpr (2-Apr) : It has Martha. I was stunned when I was in HS to learn Iowa was still playing half court BB in the 70's.
    Martha Careful (2-Apr) : Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese...women's sports has come a long way. GREAT TO SEE!!
    Martha Careful (31-Mar) : Happy Easter everyone. I hope you all have a great day.
    dfosterf (28-Mar) : Maybe
    Mucky Tundra (28-Mar) : Yes
    Zero2Cool (28-Mar) : No.
    Mucky Tundra (28-Mar) : End of a Degu-era
    dhazer (28-Mar) : Steelers sign Patterson because of new kickoff rule interesting
    Zero2Cool (28-Mar) : Former #Packers TE Josiah Deguara is signing a 1-year deal with the Jaguars, per source.
    Please sign in to use Fan Shout
    2023 Packers Schedule
    Sunday, Sep 10 @ 3:25 PM
    Bears
    38 - 20
    Sunday, Sep 17 @ 12:00 PM
    Falcons
    24 - 25
    Sunday, Sep 24 @ 12:00 PM
    SAINTS
    18 - 17
    Thursday, Sep 28 @ 7:15 PM
    LIONS
    20 - 34
    Monday, Oct 9 @ 7:15 PM
    Raiders
    13 - 17
    Sunday, Oct 22 @ 3:25 PM
    Broncos
    17 - 19
    Sunday, Oct 29 @ 12:00 PM
    VIKINGS
    10 - 24
    Sunday, Nov 5 @ 12:00 PM
    RAMS
    20 - 3
    Sunday, Nov 12 @ 12:00 PM
    Steelers
    19 - 23
    Sunday, Nov 19 @ 12:00 PM
    CHARGERS
    23 - 20
    Thursday, Nov 23 @ 11:30 AM
    Lions
    29 - 22
    Sunday, Dec 3 @ 7:20 PM
    CHIEFS
    27 - 19
    Monday, Dec 11 @ 7:15 PM
    Giants
    22 - 24
    Sunday, Dec 17 @ 12:00 PM
    BUCCANEERS
    20 - 34
    Sunday, Dec 24 @ 12:00 PM
    Panthers
    33 - 30
    Sunday, Dec 31 @ 7:20 PM
    Vikings
    33 - 10
    Sunday, Jan 7 @ 3:25 PM
    BEARS
    17 - 9
    Sunday, Jan 14 @ 3:30 PM
    Cowboys
    48 - 32
    Saturday, Jan 20 @ 7:15 PM
    49ers
    21 - 24
    Recent Topics
    1h / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

    14h / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

    21h / Random Babble / Martha Careful

    15-Apr / Green Bay Packers Talk / dfosterf

    15-Apr / Green Bay Packers Talk / dfosterf

    12-Apr / Random Babble / Nonstopdrivel

    12-Apr / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

    11-Apr / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

    10-Apr / Green Bay Packers Talk / dfosterf

    8-Apr / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

    5-Apr / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

    5-Apr / Green Bay Packers Talk / bboystyle

    4-Apr / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

    4-Apr / Green Bay Packers Talk / buckeyepackfan

    4-Apr / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

    Headlines
    Copyright © 2006 - 2024 PackersHome.com™. All Rights Reserved.