2016-2017 Green Bay Packers Thread

[MrTPlush]

The two things that really plagues this team consistently is having black hole positions and not enough depth. I think they have found and brought in enough difference making talent to be a really good team. I think they have found good players in the draft. However, to me, it seems there is always an area that is just brutal. At one point it was the RBs, then the OL, then the TEs, then the ILBs, and then the CBs. Sure Thompson fixes those holes by getting some good players(Lacy/Clinton Dix/etc.), but by the time they spend so many resources into it they neglect a different position or neglected getting depth for other positions.

[patrickgpe]

I'd love the move if it wasn't so obvious. Good break for us and the running game.

 

yet its a move that TT typically doesn't make. normally when players go down he fills out the roster with undrafted free agents and practice squad players. Its like he almost has figured out that his job is on the line.

[hurricanecrush]

The two things that really plagues this team consistently is having black hole positions and not enough depth. I think they have found and brought in enough difference making talent to be a really good team. I think they have found good players in the draft. However, to me, it seems there is always an area that is just brutal. At one point it was the RBs, then the OL, then the TEs, then the ILBs, and then the CBs. Sure Thompson fixes those holes by getting some good players(Lacy/Clinton Dix/etc.), but by the time they spend so many resources into it they neglect a different position or neglected getting depth for other positions.

I agree. I have been a huge TT fan since the beginning and maybe his biggest apologist but this is my biggest issue and TT refuses to address needs anywhere besides the draft. I'm a huge draft and develop fan and don't scream for them to sign high priced FAs since they are so volatile but what I would like TT to do is replace the last few spots on the roster with mid level FAs or aging vets that don't require you to break the bank. There were a couple of years where our safeties were terrible and it would have been nice to bring a stopgap guy like a Jim Leonhard type until we drafted and/or developed someone else. Those guys aren't going to be stars but they have more experience and it keeps you from having to throw young guys to the wolves.

 

As far as MM, I believe he is a good coach and will have success somewhere after he is done here but it doesn't seem like his message is getting through anymore and it's time for a change.

 

Ideally, I'd like to see TT retire so we can start the Eliot Wolf era and let him make the decision on MM.

[FVBrewerFan]

I have been a huge TT fan since the beginning and maybe his biggest apologist but this is my biggest issue and TT refuses to address needs anywhere besides the draft.

 

Problem isn't his refusal to use FA. His problem is he hasn't drafted well the last few years. Same thing happened to Ron Wolf, only Wolf realized it was time to step aside.

 

One prime example is TT's fascination with the West Coast, drafting so many players (especially early round picks) from USC,UCLA, Stanford, etc. You can't tell me the best player available was from those schools so many times.

 

Ever since the NFL has had a salary cap, it's been critical to have players who play great early- during their first contract. The Packers used to be outstanding in that regard, but not anymore. Name a position group other than QB, and it simply hasn't gotten any better the last few years.

[pacopete4]

Lang and Ryan out this weekend already. Doesn't help the cause at all. Wonder if Matthews will be available?

[MrTPlush]

Lang and Ryan out this weekend already. Doesn't help the cause at all. Wonder if Matthews will be available?

 

That is the plan and I'd fully expect him to play.

[davego]

Time for Clay to move back inside?

[superfly]

Basically every season since 2010 they have constructed a roster good enough to win the SB

 

What team could got 11-5 or 12-4 when missing their top 3 CBs, best pass-rusher, and top 2 RBs. Plus countless other injuries to starters throughout the year. Maybe the Patriots I guess as long as Brady is healthy but that's about it.

 

First part I'm quoting from you is a pretty strong indictment of MM. 5-6 years with a roster good enough to win the SB and never did. Or even MADE it to the SB. Lost at home in the playoffs at least twice I can remember in that stretch. Lost to the Seahawks in a game that should have been won. I know, you can't win the SB every year. But MM hasn't really even knocked on the door since the SB they won.

 

Your other comment, straw man. I never heard anyone expect a 12-4 season with the injuries they've had.

 

What about the 200 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns allowed to Colin Kaepernick in a playoff game? Or the Larry Fitzgerald meltdown in overtime where they completely lose a HOF'er in coverage and then proceeds to dodge and outrun about 7 Packer defenders down to the endzone? The injury excuse is BS, every team is full of them this time of year. Under MM's tenure there has been plenty of regular season winning, but when the playoffs come it is underachievement central. MM can't coach in big game situations, and has a pretty long history of it outside of 2010.

[pacopete4]

How much is to believed with this Rodgers/family story and how much has it affected his play over the past couple of seasons? It's no ones business really but you know it is going to be talked about until he begins to play like the old Aaron.

[pacopete4]

Vikings and Lions win. Makes tonight all that much more important.

[MrTPlush]

No actually the injury excuse isn't BS. Every team does not have their top 2 RBs, 4 of their top DBs, starting TE, one of their biggest playmakers on defense, and multiple lineman all out on any given week. Yes teams deal with injuries all year, but not to so many major components and not in such quantity weekly.

 

A few of those guys not injured and we aren't giving up 30+ points a week and we would be pulling out close wins when instead we are losing them.

[pitchleague]

Well, two three-and-outs to start things off. Not great . . .

[MrTPlush]

And there goes another defensive back.

[MrTPlush]

Grab the fork and start cheering for the losses to pile up for a Top 10 pick. Not going to compete with 4th string defensive backs.

[stalton]

Old Mother Hubbard's Cupboards are bare indeed

[DHonks]

Just amazing the injury luck. I'd love for the NFL to adopt the MLB injury/roster policies. The guys are just too big and strong today, so injuries are worse.

 

-Eliminate practice squads. Give teams a 65 man roster.

-50 gameday active players

-introduce a DL (like 60-day DL), where players must miss a set number of games (minimum of 2 or 3), but can allow the team to sign a replacement player to the roster

-invest in a real minor leagues. Make it 8 teams (4 NFL teams per minor leaguer squad) in the US and Canada. Each team gets 8 players for the team, with the rest of the spots filled by the NFL personnel/scouting department. \

[MrTPlush]

I'm not sure if making actual minor league teams does anything. Then your injury replacements are probably getting injured playing. I wish there was a better way to replace injured players with passable replacements, but the reality is there just isn't that much quality depth sitting around not on active rosters. It sucks and it's just the way the game goes. Sometimes your season is ruined by harsh injuries across the board. The Packers aren't the first one to have this issue.

 

I'd love to sit here and rip apart Capers for his play calling, but honestly what is he suppose to do? His DBs can't cover for more than a few seconds and the pass rush isn't going to get there every time. What an idiot for having so much man coverage today, but then again rushing 3/4 of the defense and hope they get there was probably the only way to win.

 

Just a dissapointing season to watch as another game filled with injuries every other play.

[MrTPlush]

I will say I was totally shocked the other day when I learned a team can only bring back one player from the IR in a season...why?!?!? No wonder ratings are down. How does that even seem logical? Sure makes me want to watch football when I learn the Packers can only bring back Shields OR Lacy, but not both even if they are both heathy. NOT.

[Baldkin]

I will say I was totally shocked the other day when I learned a team can only bring back one player from the IR in a season...why?!?!? No wonder ratings are down. How does that even seem logical? Sure makes me want to watch football when I learn the Packers can only bring back Shields OR Lacy, but not both even if they are both heathy. NOT.

 

It's to prevent abuse of injured reserve, and the hiding of talent there. To prevent teams from putting mostly-healthy guys on IR and just calling them back up when they are needed.

 

IR is meant to be for season-ending injuries, not as a disabled list to be used to avoid circumventing the 55 man roster limits.

[NeedMoreFans]

This season is Exhibit A as to why the idea to expand the regular season to 18 games is a bad idea. Lots of star power is out for the year, teams like the Packers can barely field a competitive team, there have been bad games to watch, and TV ratings are down.

 

Coming into the year, the Packers had the 3rd youngest team in the NFL, behind LA and Cleveland. I know there's a lot of benefits to having a young team, but this year should prove that maybe that should not be a badge of honor every year. It's been absolutely brutal to watch.

[craigharmann]

It's been absolutely brutal to watch.

 

Yep. That's why I quit about halfway through the third quarter. I hadn't quit on a game since the Ray Rhodes debacle. But it was that bad. Even with an absolute gift of a call on Jordy's TD, they looked out of sync on offense and D.....they had their moments. I don't know if I can watch another game. I'll have to watch the Texans, because I am a fan of them as well, but at this point, I'd have to say the Texans have to be the favorite against the Pack. And I hate saying that. But as awful as Osweiler is, he has a decent shot against that D. Jeez. I guess I have to go back to the Rhodes year and expect them to lose, which is a pleasant surprise when they win. This sucks.

[superfly]

I will say I was totally shocked the other day when I learned a team can only bring back one player from the IR in a season...why?!?!? No wonder ratings are down. How does that even seem logical? Sure makes me want to watch football when I learn the Packers can only bring back Shields OR Lacy, but not both even if they are both heathy. NOT.

 

Vikings are the same way with Peterson and Matt Kalil. It has nothing to do with ratings down (temporarily).

[MrTPlush]

I will say I was totally shocked the other day when I learned a team can only bring back one player from the IR in a season...why?!?!? No wonder ratings are down. How does that even seem logical? Sure makes me want to watch football when I learn the Packers can only bring back Shields OR Lacy, but not both even if they are both heathy. NOT.

 

Vikings are the same way with Peterson and Matt Kalil. It has nothing to do with ratings down (temporarily).

 

injured players=worse teams=less people watching=ratings down

 

So yes, it definitely aids to the poor ratings. When healthy players can't come back because only one can return from IR and teams aren't just going to keep them on the roster for weeks injured that is not good entertainment.

[pacopete4]

Capers doesn't have much to work with this year because of injuries but I would still like to see a change in defensive coordinators in the off season. Couple that with TT hopefully stepping down (and assuming a scouting role) and allowing Elliot Wolf to take the reigns. This would be a big plus for me in the offseason.

 

I would also like to see if the Packers could trade Matthews or just move on from him all together. No reason to spend $10-$12 million on a guy that is rarely available and disappears a lot of the time. Invest in the OLB position as the interior Dline is very good. I also am sick of our poor safety play. Those two just have too many mistakes to be counted on.

[FVBrewerFan]

Not buying the injury excuse. Shields, Randall, and Lacy being injured all year is a legit reason why I don't expect them to win a SB. But it's not a good reason for them to be playing uninspired football and heading towards a 6-10 record.

 

As fans, we can think they're too beat up to do anything. The problem I have is the players believe it. No excuse for that, they need to go out and play inspired, confident football every week. That's a coach's job. They have failed to handle adversity, as MM always preaches.

 

Yea, the corners are a big problem, but it's not all on them. They have their top 4 safeties, and they have not helped shore up the secondary. No consistent pass rush, even though countless high draft picks have been spent on pass rushers.

 

Which leads me to GM. The Packers simply don't have the quality depth they once had. I mean there IS another CB on the roster, Hawkins. If he's not playing now, why is he even on the roster? You keep 2 RBs, one fat and one old. Could go on and one with the roster construction.

 

Just venting, I fully expect TT and MM to be back next year, with Capers being the sacrificial lamb for this debacle.