porky88
  • porky88
  • Veteran Member Topic Starter
9 years ago
The early returns on the 2014 Green Bay Packers don’t look good. The Packers have played 12 quarters this season. As a team, I believe they grade out positively in three quarters, neutral in one, and negative in eight. The level of play currently exhibited by the Packers isn’t good enough to win the NFC North, let alone the entire conference.

Green Bay’s defensive effort on Sunday would be good enough for a victory on most days, but a paltry seven points from the offense spoiled the effort. The Packers held Detroit’s high-octane offense to 10 points, forced three turnovers and sacked Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford twice. They also committed fewer penalties and held Calvin Johnson to less than 100 yards receiving.

There is the preferable notion following every defeat suggesting a team shot itself in the foot. Failing to execute a game plan properly is another popular excuse. There are problems that go beyond simple execution, though. It starts with the coaching and crosses over to the field.

The Packers are underachieving right now. Nowhere is that more evident than on offense, where quarterback Aaron Rodgers is averaging 232 passing yards per game. That puts him on pace for about 3,712 for the season, which would be the lowest of his career as a starter. Meanwhile, running back Eddie Lacy is averaging a deplorable 38 rushing yards per game, putting him on pace for just 608 for the season.

The offense was the No. 1 reason for off-season optimism. The idea that Rodgers would have a potent running game behind him had many believing this could be the best offense of the Mike McCarthy Era. Other issues - namely the offensive line - are contributing to Green Bay’s decline, but the onus is on your star players to perform at a high level.

In the cases of Rodgers and Lacy, that’s not happening.

Turning Point

As poorly as Green Bay’s offense played, the Lions were clinging to just a five-point lead early in the fourth quarter. Facing a pivotal third-and-2, Detroit put the ball in running back Reggie Bush’s hands. Second-year safety Micah Hyde failed to contain the outside, allowing Bush to explode around the edge and score a 26-yard touchdown. It was the only touchdown of the afternoon for Detroit’s offense, but it was enough to seal victory over the rival Packers.

Unsung Hero

Detroit defensive coordinator Teryl Austin deserves immense credit for his game plan. He had the secondary shadow wide receiver Jordy Nelson for much of the game with an extra defender, while relying on the pass rush to disrupt Rodgers. His plan worked well. Rodgers was off with a couple of his throws and none of the other receivers found any holes in Detroit’s coverage.

Dud of the Game

Point the finger at the passing game, which let the Packers down. While it starts with Rodgers, the receiving corps also is accountable. Specifically, receiver Randall Cobb failed to deliver when the team needed him most. He caught just three passes for 29 yards against a banged up secondary that didn’t put a whole lot of emphasis on him. In the midst of a contract year, many (myself included) feel Cobb could be a key component in Green Bay’s offense for many years to come. Perhaps it’s time to re-examine his long-term value to the team.

Looking Ahead

The Packers need to find a compliment to Nelson. You can’t drop Rodgers back as much as McCarthy does and expect the team to win relying on just one big play threat. The obvious solution is that Cobb plays better, but McCarthy needs to call a better game.

Last year, Lacy had 20-plus carries in 10 of the 15 games he played in. He's averaging just 12 carries per game this year, an unacceptable amount given his talent.

Lacy is not the type of runner that will gash a defense for five yards on a consistent basis. He’s a bruiser. He’s going to get better as games progress. The more carries he gets, the more he’ll wear down a defense. McCarthy would say Lacy’s lack of touches has to do with the team’s slow starts. Fumbling on the first drive doesn’t instill confidence in a coach, either. Even so, McCarthy has to stick with his bell cow.

Patience is the key to being a good play caller and McCarthy’s lack of patience with Lacy is exposing Rodgers to an early-season beating behind an offensive line in flux.

Luckily, next week McCarthy has an excellent opportunity to right the ship against a Chicago defense that is highly vulnerable against the run. A heavy dose of Lacy complimenting Rodgers is the key to beating the Bears. It’s also the key to the rest of the season.

Hey guys, please visit Row12.com  for weekly articles done by myself on college and fantasy football. We also have a great staff of writers that cover just about every major sport.
RaiderPride
9 years ago
12 and 4.

That is how the regular season ends up for Green Bay. NFC Champions. A trip to the Super bowl.

This team will bounce back.


Edit: By the way... Thanks for taking the time to post this very well written post Porky. Top Notch Read.
""People Will Probably Never Remember What You Said, And May Never Remember What You Did. However, People Will Always Remember How You Made Them Feel."
nerdmann
9 years ago
The offense netted -2 points. It is erroneous, imo to say they "scored 7 points."

The problems on offense are diagnosable. They have been discussed ad nauseum.
“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.”
DarkaneRules
9 years ago
Great post!
Circular Arguments: They are a heck of an annoyance
RaiderPride
9 years ago

The offense netted -2 points. It is erroneous, imo to say they "scored 7 points."
The problems on offense are diagnosable. They have been discussed ad nauseum.

Originally Posted by: nerdmann 




Nerd... I have read your game day chat posts more often than I wanted to actually. Usually your spur of the moment posts consist of phrases like: "Fucking Looser." Fucking waste of talent." and other counterfeit currency in a bankrupt vocabulary.

So... Mr. Nerdman. Now you have found a thesaurus. With that thesaurus you can now paste in words like Erroneous and Diagnosable. And my personal favorite... (The Latin Phrase) "Ad nauseam." Which you miss spelled in a horrifying way.

Nerdman... Just be yourself, do not try to be someone you are not.

Just type.. "The fucking offense eats cow sperm, and did not score 7 points."

That would be the Nerdman I remember and love. : )




""People Will Probably Never Remember What You Said, And May Never Remember What You Did. However, People Will Always Remember How You Made Them Feel."
yooperfan
9 years ago
Great job on the recap Porky!
Win or loose you provide a good read.
I thank you for that, keep up the good work.
Fan Shout
Zero2Cool (11h) : Chase Young to sign $13M contract with Saints
Zero2Cool (11h) : Yosh to Panthers what noooo. Wait he didn't do crap
wpr (18-Mar) : I say that he is technically HER BIL as he married her sister. I checked it out, he's considered my BIL as well. Sad.
Mucky Tundra (18-Mar) : wpr, I assume its your BIL via marriage to your wife? If so, I can figure out where the smarts in the family went ;)
wpr (18-Mar) : Mucky my B-I-L is Bare Stupid. I could write a book.
Mucky Tundra (18-Mar) : As a teenager in Rockford IL I would get heckled by adults in public for wearing GB gear
Mucky Tundra (18-Mar) : if you think the online ones are bad, try *living amongst* them
Mucky Tundra (18-Mar) : Never doubt wprs loyalty. Poor guy is surrounded by Bears fans in Northern IL
wpr (17-Mar) : pass Martha. Thanks for the invite though.
Martha Careful (17-Mar) : blog * as the same ugly Illinois colors were adopted by the Baer
Martha Careful (17-Mar) : WPR, perhaps you should be joining the Bears fans blog has the same ugly Illinois colors were adopted by the Bears
Mucky Tundra (17-Mar) : Ah a fellow U of Illinois hater. I can respect that though I imagine it's for different reasons
Zero2Cool (17-Mar) : BTW. I didn't catch the game. I just hate Illinois.
Mucky Tundra (17-Mar) : They're your Big Ten Chumps and you will like it!
Zero2Cool (17-Mar) : No, not for the record. Referee's handled that BS. Orange team was trash ass
Mucky Tundra (17-Mar) : *Your* Big Ten Chumps for the record
Zero2Cool (17-Mar) : No, not Big Ten Champs. IL is big ten CHUMPS
wpr (17-Mar) : Big Ten Champs
wpr (17-Mar) : !!!
wpr (17-Mar) : INI
wpr (17-Mar) : ILL
Martha Careful (17-Mar) : Wisconsin with an outstanding on in the men’s Big Ten basketball tournament. Let’s hope it continues in the NCAAs
Zero2Cool (17-Mar) : Almost like taking QB in 2020 even if you don't need one is good move.
Mucky Tundra (16-Mar) : 2021 QB Draft class looking like a real clunker
Mucky Tundra (16-Mar) : A conditional 6th rounder? I remember Bears fans arguing they'd get a day 2 pick at worst lol
dfosterf (16-Mar) : So I got the no extension part right and the have to wait on the CW physical wrong
Zero2Cool (16-Mar) : Bears are trading Justin Fields for a 2025 6th-round pick that goes to a 4th-round pick based on playtime, per sources.
Zero2Cool (16-Mar) : Former Packer Jarrett Bush opens Wisconsin’s first blow dry bar in Green Bay
dfosterf (16-Mar) : If the Bears are not doing a deal with Washington, they also cannot trade Fields until Williams physical with them. All hail Caleb Williams!
dfosterf (16-Mar) : The talent is undeniable, but the (advertised) haul is obscene.
dfosterf (16-Mar) : If the Bears are cutting a deal with the Commanders, in either scenario, cannot happen until williams passes a Commanders physical
dfosterf (16-Mar) : My guess is no to the Fields extension, but yes to the trade back with the Commanders.
dhazer (15-Mar) : I think the Bears do a Love extension and they will trade out of the 1st pick and take the haul
Martha Careful (15-Mar) : that might make sense
Zero2Cool (15-Mar) : Justin Fields to Steelers?
Zero2Cool (15-Mar) : Kenny Pickett. Eagles. Done.
Zero2Cool (15-Mar) : They can claim best two WR tandem.
Mucky Tundra (15-Mar) : Aaron Donald retiring
dhazer (15-Mar) : Campbell signing with 49ers
dhazer (15-Mar) : I love how the Bear Fans are now claiming they have the best skill players in the NFC North lol
Zero2Cool (15-Mar) : Vikings made a move to get a 2nd first round pick
Mucky Tundra (15-Mar) : That's a not a bad deal for the Bears
Zero2Cool (15-Mar) : Bears have traded for WR Keenan Allen sending Chargers a fourth rounder.
Martha Careful (15-Mar) : *signs
Martha Careful (14-Mar) : MLB Devon White science with the Eagles
Mucky Tundra (14-Mar) : But that was before FA started
Mucky Tundra (14-Mar) : Dhaze, I thought Kurls would be their #1 target when I read that he was an Amos comp (jack of all trades guy)
dhazer (14-Mar) : I would like to see the Packers target 2 more FA still available Kamren Curl Safety and Chase Young edge
Martha Careful (14-Mar) : wow...didn't see that coming
Zero2Cool (14-Mar) : AJ Dillon re-signing with Packers.
Please sign in to use Fan Shout
2023 Packers Schedule
Sunday, Sep 10 @ 3:25 PM
Bears
Sunday, Sep 17 @ 12:00 PM
Falcons
Sunday, Sep 24 @ 12:00 PM
SAINTS
Thursday, Sep 28 @ 7:15 PM
LIONS
Monday, Oct 9 @ 7:15 PM
Raiders
Sunday, Oct 22 @ 3:25 PM
Broncos
Sunday, Oct 29 @ 12:00 PM
VIKINGS
Sunday, Nov 5 @ 12:00 PM
RAMS
Sunday, Nov 12 @ 12:00 PM
Steelers
Sunday, Nov 19 @ 12:00 PM
CHARGERS
Thursday, Nov 23 @ 11:30 AM
Lions
Sunday, Dec 3 @ 7:20 PM
CHIEFS
Monday, Dec 11 @ 7:15 PM
Giants
Sunday, Dec 17 @ 12:00 PM
BUCCANEERS
Sunday, Dec 24 @ 12:00 PM
Panthers
Sunday, Dec 31 @ 7:20 PM
Vikings
Sunday, Jan 7 @ 3:25 PM
BEARS
Sunday, Jan 14 @ 3:30 PM
Cowboys
Saturday, Jan 20 @ 7:15 PM
49ers
Recent Topics
7h / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

16h / Green Bay Packers Talk / dfosterf

17h / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

18-Mar / Around The NFL / Mucky Tundra

16-Mar / Random Babble / Martha Careful

16-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / TheKanataThrilla

15-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / dhazer

15-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / dfosterf

14-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

14-Mar / Random Babble / Zero2Cool

14-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / dfosterf

13-Mar / Random Babble / Zero2Cool

13-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

13-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

13-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

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