2018 Green Bay Packers Season Thread: 6-9-1: Mike McCarthy Fired, Philbin Interim HC

[RollieTime]

How is Jones (number 45) not ejected for the Falcons when he did a clear hit to the head of one of our lineman in the scuffle after Rodgers was hit going to the ground? The Packers have gotten the short end of the stick all season and how a cheap shot like that wasn’t called blows my mind.

[homer]

That was a nice pass to Cobb.

[pacopete4]

How is Jones (number 45) not ejected for the Falcons when he did a clear hit to the head of one of our lineman in the scuffle after Rodgers was hit going to the ground? The Packers have gotten the short end of the stick all season and how a cheap shot like that wasn’t called blows my mind.

 

This. If that other idiot we cut got ejected for what he did then so should 45. The NFL is all over the place with just about all of their rules. At least if they were consistent with their stupidity, I could understand it a little bit.

[young guns]

I don't know if it's just because Atlanta is that bad, but this team looks different.

[homer]

I don't know if it's just because Atlanta is that bad, but this team looks different.

 

I worry they'll finish 3 -1 or something and then hire Philbin.

[young guns]

I don't know if philbin would be a good coach, but I'm worried about a 3-1 finish because a top 10 pick would look soooooo good right now.

[MrTPlush]

If they had any intention of giving Philbin a chance to keep the job I think the Packers woukdnhave said something. If they dominate most of the remainder of the season...I mean...why not give him a chance, potentially?

[PeaveyFury]

Because those results would largely be against worse teams than the Packers- Atlanta, the Jets, and Detroit should all end up picking ahead of Green Bay next Spring. If they win all four convincingly, though, including at Chicago, I'm sure they'd at least consider the idea.

[homer]

Also I am guessing Philbin wouldn't want to just be named HC the day his buddy was fired. Regardless of how ridiculous it is they need to pay lip service to the search even if they think Philbin is the guy.

[nodakfan17]

For the record, I don’t hate the idea of Philbin coaching the team next year if they win out, but I’d like for them to consider other options too. On the plus side, their chances of retaining Pettine probably go up with hiring Philbin permanently.

[OldHeidelberg]

Nice to have a fun win again. I don't think Philbin has much of a shot, they will want a fresh coaching staff not just an MM disciple who will likely retain a lot of the guys they have.

 

Since we actually won a game and the NFC is so mediocre I checked what it would still take for us to sneak in the playoffs. Pretty easy since tie breakers for us only matter with the Vikes and they own it. Basically we need the 3 7 loss teams(Panthers,Eagles,Wash) to lose once and the loser of tonight's game to lose 2 of their last 3. Seahawks have Cards and Niners left but Vikes have Bears, Dolphins, and @Lions. The Vikings season has been a disappointment and a loss tonight could send them on a skid, that's basically our only realistic shot assuming we win out.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

If they had any intention of giving Philbin a chance to keep the job I think the Packers woukdnhave said something. If they dominate most of the remainder of the season...I mean...why not give him a chance, potentially?

 

They did. Murphy said he was an honest candidate for the job. He would not go that far with Pettine would asked. Blowing smoke possibly, but he did say it.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

If they had any intention of giving Philbin a chance to keep the job I think the Packers woukdnhave said something. If they dominate most of the remainder of the season...I mean...why not give him a chance, potentially?

 

They did. Murphy said he was an honest candidate for the job. He would not go that far with Pettine would asked. Blowing smoke possibly, but he did say it.

 

He had no other choice. There's no way he can tell the media that Philbin is going to serve as interim HC, but is not a candidate for the long-term role.

 

I think if they manage to win out, Philbin would be a strong candidate to get the job. I don't know if that would be a good thing.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

He could have said he didn't want to comment on it, like he did with Pettine.

 

I'll be very surprised if he's the HC.

[FVBrewerFan]

Whoever made the call on the first Julio Jones catch should be fired today.

 

What I haven't heard much about though, two fouls on Rodgers that weren't called. First, his helmet was grabbed and twisted. Technically not facemask, but I'm 90% sure you can't grab a player by the helmet opening- it's basically the same thing as facemask. Then, on a scramble a player comes and nails him leading with his helmet. As announces said, I don't think it was late but he did lead with his head. They kept saying shoulder, but it was clearly helmet. That's even how it looked live.

 

I get officials are human, but every week there's more than one huge mistake- even when they review.

[homer]

Facemask I agree with, the other call was fine. The guy had already started diving before Rodgers started his slide.

[FVBrewerFan]

Facemask I agree with, the other call was fine. The guy had already started diving before Rodgers started his slide.

 

Yes, that part was fine. But you still can't lead with your helmet, which he did.

[homer]

Facemask I agree with, the other call was fine. The guy had already started diving before Rodgers started his slide.

 

Yes, that part was fine. But you still can't lead with your helmet, which he did.

 

I dunno. Doesn't look that way to me really. I thought it was a good no call. This was one of those instances where it would have been impossible for him to not lead with his head. I don't think he used the helmet as a weapon or anything.

 

[tmwiese55]

I give the late hit/lead with the head play a pass too because he has no idea where Rodgers is gonna slide so how is supposed to move his head without knowing that. The other one, yea I don't know how a ref who's job is to watch the QB misses that. You basically can't even touch a QBs head at all anymore, let alone the grabbing and twisting like that.

 

What's crazy is that if they'd simply beat crappy AZ they wouldn't really be in a bad playoff position at all. That's ignoring all the other stuff this year, just win that one game vs a bottom 3 team at home.

[MrTPlush]

I don't give the hit on Rodgers a pass. He launched himself and lead with his helmet...a pretty clear tackle (or spearing) the NFL has tried to get rid of. I could see giving him a pass if he dove and tried to, you know, use his arms...but he did not. He turned, launched, and pretty much became a spear tucking his arms in. The first thing that hit Rodgers, a helmet straight into his shoulder.

 

There was no attempt of a real tackle.

[KeithStone53151]

Regarding the Rodgers slide play, that guy had obviously started diving at Rodgers...but I also don't think he made an effort to minimize the impact to Rodgers and he should have. In fact, I think he adjusted to hit him harder after the slide motion had started. He had enough time to bring his hands out or adjust his body even slightly to try and minimize the contact. Also defensive players are smart enough to have an idea of when a QB is likely to slide. ALSO, his teammate coming over to congratulate him for his big hit on a sliding QB. I can understand it was probably in a gray area of whether it was a foul...but that's some classless football right there. I'm glad the offensive line jumped in to defend him the way they did.

[FVBrewerFan]

It's not a matter of whether we think it "should" be a penalty. I'm not sure myself if that type of play should be a penalty or not. But that's not the point. According to the rules, and how they're calling it this year, that WAS a penalty.

 

I'll say again, please take the too early/too late out of it. That's also not the point. He led with his helmet, drove into Rodgers with it. That is a penalty. In fact, a just such a penalty was called against Atlanta later in the game.

 

It's just ironic that QBs are the primary reason all these rules exist, and Rodgers got hit illegally twice without any calls. Both in the open field where it was easy to see.

[tmwiese55]

But if you lead with your shoulder your head has to go somewhere, if the guy slides it moves where you'll hit and now your head might hit. It's impossible to remove your head from the situation. Its a real tackle attempt if Rodgers doesn't slide as he'd be hitting him in his legs. This is exactly what makes it so impossible to try and enforce or 'make safe'. Guys are running full speed and all of a sudden the offensive player changes course and boom you're the bad guy. To me it actually looked like he was trying to turn his body to have his shoulder be the lead but then Rodgers slide past him and it looks bad, the TV announcer actually said the same. Though I do grant what FV just said, by the letter of today's rules he did hit with his head first. I guess I'm just saying I don't think he intended anything dirty and that it only became that way due to the slide.

 

I'm fine for throwing the book at blatantly intentional stuff but things like this what is the defender supposed to do. I could see an argument that he should know Rodgers will slide, like he almost always does therefore just take it easy and let him do it. But if that's Wilson or Newton he has to tackle him. so no we expect defenders to change what they do based on the other QB. It's just impossible to make it all safe.

[KeithStone53151]

It's not a matter of whether we think it "should" be a penalty. I'm not sure myself if that type of play should be a penalty or not. But that's not the point. According to the rules, and how they're calling it this year, that WAS a penalty.

 

I'll say again, please take the too early/too late out of it. That's also not the point. He led with his helmet, drove into Rodgers with it. That is a penalty. In fact, a just such a penalty was called against Atlanta later in the game.

 

It's just ironic that QBs are the primary reason all these rules exist, and Rodgers got hit illegally twice without any calls. Both in the open field where it was easy to see.

 

Hard to argue with any of that. Great points. A number of friends that are fans of the queens or bears blame Rodgers broken collarbone for the crackdown on roughing the passer calls and the mild rule changes...yet it seems we have been generally screwed over on the majority of these types of calls this year.

 

I personally am a bit more annoyed at what kind of (expletive) would cheap shot a sliding qb like that...regardless of whether it is technically legal or not. The ESPN segment "Jacked up" was pulled off the air for a reason, that isn't how football is played anymore. If I had my way, I'd try filtering thugs like that Falcons player(and the guy who celebrated his dirty hit) out of the game before I'd worry about incidents like the Kareem Hunt.

[KeithStone53151]

Honestly, this adjustment is no different than the adjustment guys have to make when they deal with a runner going out of bounds. Heck even if it's a RB or WR and you crush them, it's going to be 15 yards if they are 1 step out of bounds. Defenders should be smart enough to use their head and understand the situation a bit better. And I wholeheartedly disagree with his intentions once he noticed the slide. I firmly believe he tried to make the hit even more punishing once he realized it.