2016-2017 Green Bay Packers Thread

[pacopete4]

With no disrespect to the Lambeau Leap Forum, there just is not enough traffic there to make a discussion worthwhile. I was hoping to keep this similar to what the Bucks thread has become for Packers talk.

 

This team is 4-2 and has not exactly played all that well this year. Could this be one of those seasons like the Super Bowl run where things just start to click? I have heard a lot of talk about replacing McCarthy but I feel as though that would be a huge mistake. Packers fans are pretty spoiled when it comes to winning seasons, Super Bowls, QB play, ect...

[tmwiese55]

I agree, Pack fans are extremely spoiled and don't appreciate how much goes into being a perennial contender. It's not as easy as, you have Rodgers so anyone can do it. Churning through coaches/gms is a recipe for things to fall apart. Unless there is some kind of institutional or locker room type problem going you shouldn't rush to just fire after losing a couple games. They've been through this before and righted and end up in a good spot for the playoffs. I mean, everyone is freaking out because they've lost two games but they lost to two really good teams. If they would've lost to Chicago, then I'd have been fine with going into panic mode. Atlanta is also good so really can't freak out if you lose on the road.

 

This year though it really seems like which players can come back from the massive amounts of injuries they have and how soon they can come back. I'm sure they'll end up in the playoffs though and then anything can happen, especially if Rodgers gets back to his old self. Before all the injuries I actually thought they were finally onto something on D, hopefully the get enough guys back healthy.

[rwa12]

I heard an interview with Mike Lombardi, who pointed out the vanilla feel of the Packers offense. His point was that, due to TT's aversion of free agency and trades, the Packers are left to build solely through the draft. In doing so, your team is inherently younger, so you can't roll out advanced concepts as you would with a veteran team. He also knocked TT for his draft only philosophy, likening it to the stock market. You may have success in stretches without diversifying, but ultimately it will likely fail.

[tmwiese55]

I don't know, looking around the league the teams that consistently buy big name free agents are usually losers. It obviously just worked for Denver though. I don't disagree that one or two here or there couldn't hurt but if anything teams like Pitt, GB and NE build from within more than anyone and they're three of the most consistent winners. Obviously their QB situations help, but due to very expensive QBs you have to manage the salary cap differently.

 

I also agree with the assessment on the O last year and this year. From what I know of their O the routes are all reads so swapping out two crafty veterans with great chemistry like Jennings/Driver who were always on the same page for two young guys has to have really slowed things down. Also hurts when they have had to put Cobb in the backfield due to never getting a good 3rd receiving back, so it puts another young WR on the field. That could've been an area to add someone, or of course probably could've just drafted one in the 5th round like James White or similar. Good to see starting with the Detroit game that they finally brought back more of the slants/crosses. And obviously last game they had to get very creative, hopefully they stick with a lot of no huddle. And short easy throws have won NE 4 super bowls so why not do more and more of that.

[pacopete4]

The Packers just need to realize they have to transition from a deep ball team into a more short and intermediate team. Get the ball into the receivers hands and let them get some YAC!

[fondybrewfan]

I think if they stick to the approach from last week that will be fine. They probably need to throw 50 times a game.

 

That being said someone somehow needs to stretch the field a bit; but eventually teams will over commit to the short passing routes and the deep game should open up.

 

They are going to need to score some points this week; with the banged up secondary going against Julio Jones it might be a bloodbath back there.

[jerichoholicninja]

Packers fans are crazy spoiled. I myself am not a Packer (I don't have a favorite team, I just like football). I really don't like watching Packer games with my friends or family because if they're not winning by two touchdowns "the team sucks" and "they're not winning a Super Bowl with these guys so who cares."

 

The draft only philosophy has really hurt them. Same as baseball, you build through the draft and fill in the gaps with free agents. While Thompson fills in the gaps with 6th round picks who barely belong in the league. His free agent signings have turned out pretty good though: Woodson, Saturday (until injury), Peppers, and Cook (jury's still out but once healthy I think he'll be a big help to the offense). Really surprised they actually traded for Davis instead of going with a practice squad running back and converted wide receiver as is their MO.

[fondybrewfan]

It does seem that they big money FA contracts in football barely work out; but football contracts are also rarely guaranteed beyond a couple years so you can just cut bait.

 

Its one thing not wanting to pay for the Tier 1 free agents; its quite another to not bother with the 2nd or 3rd tier guys either. And like you said the few times the Packers have gone to FA it has gone pretty well. Plus the Packers as we know them now probably aren't the same if Reggie White had never signed.

 

Packer fans have been spoiled; but I think virtually everyone would agree that only winning 2 Super Bowls with 25 consecutive years of Rodgers and Favre would be a colossal disappointment.

 

I am fine with McCarthy but unless your Belicheck I think eventually a head coach just loses there hold on a team and its best just to move on. You don't just fire him with no good alternative though.

[MKE81]

I don't buy the "can't roll out advanced concepts" with this team given Jordy and Cobb are in their 9th and 6th years. Adams, Abby, Janis in 3rd years. Lacy in 4th year. Ty is in his 2nd year but he's also very intelligent. How many seasons need to go by before advanced concepts are installed? The defensive secondary is beat up with top 3 DBs injured but they've been playing solid. The offensive game plan has not been good. It was terrible last year and it's carried over. This team has tremendous talent on the offensive side and their skill sets aren't being utilized to the best of their abilities.

 

Packers fans are spoiled. And they are annoying and unappreciative, generally speaking. I say this as a Packers fan.

[LouisEly]

The biggest issue I've had is TT's refusal to part with late round picks (6th-7th) to shore up positions of need during the season. Over the last few years some big names have been traded for 6th/7th round picks (Vernon Davis, Jared Allen, etc.), and the Packers have usually had the cap space to add players with bigger contracts.

 

Yes, every once in a while you might get a Corey Williams or a Mason Crosby or a James Starks, but for every one of those guys you get five Rickey Elmore's, Brennan Curtin's, Craig Bragg's, Kennard Backman's, and Caleb Schlauderaff's.

[patrickgpe]

well he finally did give up a 7th for a need, but i agree i think its time to get a new coach and promote elliot wolf to GM. the packers have been stagnant for a few seasons now and Rodgers is now on the wrong side of 30. the fact that they got caught with NO running backs on Thursday is grounds for firing alone.

[pacopete4]

well he finally did give up a 7th for a need, but i agree i think its time to get a new coach and promote elliot wolf to GM. the packers have been stagnant for a few seasons now and Rodgers is now on the wrong side of 30. the fact that they got caught with NO running backs on Thursday is grounds for firing alone.

 

 

So fire a coach that won, and won handily, without having a legitimate running back? Feels more like a poor GM and a very good coach.

[patrickgpe]

Obviously i am not blaming McCarthy for any personal decisions, My reasons for McCarthy is because the offense has become very predictable and stagnant and it has been like this for atleast 1.5 years. the 2 weeks they played a good or great defense they did absolutely nothing and they cannot beat up the bears every week.

[rwa12]

They were losing, and would have lost to the Bears, had Hoyer not been injured. They beat Matt Barkley, beating him tells you nothing about a coach, only losing to him does.

[patrickgpe]

i agree, my point was that they would have lost to 80% of the league playing like they did last week. Atlanta has a terrible defense and i am sure the offense will look good on sunday but i shutter about how they will play defensively.

 

its another Ted thing, they have no freaking cornerbacks. I know you cannot account for all of your RB's to go down and 1/2 your cornerbacks, but he could have atleast tried to make the davis trade before the cowboys game or something.

[rwa12]

Sorry Patrick, my comment wasn't directed at you, but the previous poster. I agree that TT seems to set a roster in the summer, and stick with it. I'm never a proponent of spending wildly in FA, but smart small moves can pay off. Additionally, if you think your team is a Super Bowl contender, you have to make moves to steady the positions like CB. Knile Davis is something at RB, but not sure he is an answer.

[nate82]

Not a Packers fan but they need to move Matthews back to a pass rusher. He is not your typical linebacker and he is rather poor in coverage compared to his pass rush abilities.

 

Of the games I have seen the Packers are missing Matthews pass rush on defense.

 

As for their offense Cobb is an overrated WR and Nelson is their only threat right now at WR. They are missing a TE which the offense that they run is a key part to it. Without a pass catching TE their offense will continue to struggle.

[pacopete4]

Not a Packers fan but they need to move Matthews back to a pass rusher. He is not your typical linebacker and he is rather poor in coverage compared to his pass rush abilities.

 

Of the games I have seen the Packers are missing Matthews pass rush on defense.

 

As for their offense Cobb is an overrated WR and Nelson is their only threat right now at WR. They are missing a TE which the offense that they run is a key part to it. Without a pass catching TE their offense will continue to struggle.

 

 

I think Cobb is only overrated if people feel he should be running go routes and making big plays. Get the ball in his hands like Edelman, ect... and he's electric. Problem is Rodgers, other than last game, has been very stubborn and does not want to throw in rythym but hold the ball as long as he can and hit the deep ball. Not a realistic offense.

[jerichoholicninja]

Slightly off topic but thanks Green Bay for not playing Ty Montgomery and most likely costing me a win over my wife this week.

[MrTPlush]

I honestly thought the Packers should have let the Falcons score once it go down to 1:30 left. They weren't stopping the Falcons and it was pretty obvious. Rodgers was red hit all night. Give him the ball back and give him time to get into field goal range. Oh well.

[superfly]

I'm not sure what happened, but something clicked on Rodgers last week in the 2nd half, and it continued today. He looks like he's back to MVP ARodge zinging the ball all over the place & running for first downs. Hopefully it continues because I can see us making a deep run in the playoffs as our guys get healthy. Whatever transpired prior to the 2nd half last week was downright painful to watch and it really looked like Rodgers might have been past his peak.

[fondybrewfan]

If they can get the key defensive guys healthy I think they should be fine long term. They have 3 very winnable games coming up and hopefully they take at least 2 of them.

 

The progress of the offense has been a big positive in the last 6 quarters. That they were able to play that well this week with no running game and two of their top 4 WR's out was pretty impressive.

 

Yesterday was tough; I just never had a good feeling that the defense could get a stop there at the end. The secondary is short handed and Ryan was getting rid of the ball so quickly that the pass rush couldn't get there

[MrTPlush]

They are a Super Bowl caliber team if they can get some of their secondary guys back. Having your Top 3 guys out is a recipe for disaster. Honestly I was pretty impressed with how they did considering the circumstances. It was bad as expected, but at least they gave Rodgers a chance to win a shoot out. How the offense played considering all the injuries was amazing. No running game at all, but Rodgers did what he had to do. Unfortunately the coin flip finish didn't fall our way.

[tmwiese55]

I honestly thought the Packers should have let the Falcons score once it go down to 1:30 left. They weren't stopping the Falcons and it was pretty obvious. Rodgers was red hit all night. Give him the ball back and give him time to get into field goal range. Oh well.

 

Or at least called timeout once ATL got the first down before the score. would've had close to a minute instead of 30 seconds.

[pacopete4]

On the final drive, other than the first down pass, Rodgers went back to being win it all with one pass again. Should've dinked and dunked their way to at least the 50, using their timeouts before taking deeper shots. Plenty of time with 30 seconds left and two timeouts from your 25.