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

[LouisEly]

I agree with Oldsnapper that the OL is bad. I don't even consider Linsley average. The amount of hurries that 90% of QBs would have been sacks, Rodgers escapes out of the pocket. (To throw the ball away end result) There have been quite a few plays I seen Linsley didn't even touch a DL moving to double team only for a late up the middle blitz or likely lb spy to come right up and disrupt the play.

I get that the Pro Bowl is mostly a popularity contest, but Linsley hasn't been around long enough and isn't a household name enough where he gets named essentially the 3rd best center among 16 NFC teams simply because of popularity. He is above average.

 

And I'd argue that you have no idea what the line calls were for those plays and who was responsible for who, and that if you watch enough other teams/games you'd see the same thing as much if not more.

[pacopete4]

Linsley not good? Oh come on now.

[bjkrautk]

I get that injuries have forced him to shuffle a lot of lineups, but one positive from this season may well be that we're in our last 2 games of Ron Zook coaching special teams.

 

16 weeks and we still don't have someone who can return kicks without screwing up.

[homer]

Or cover kicks

[pacopete4]

Zook is basically stealing money at this point.

[nodakfan17]

Zook is basically stealing money at this point.

I came on BF to complain about Zook, but you beat me to it. Still a fun game, though. Always good to get the W.

[trwi7]

We, for no reason lost 4 spots in draft position today and that is literally the only thing I take away from this game.

[pacopete4]

We, for no reason lost 4 spots in draft position today and that is literally the only thing I take away from this game.

 

Yep. I know some will say draft position doesn’t matter but it can, it really can. It’s not just about round #1. ALL picks become just a bit more valuable.

[xisxisxis]

They should have promoted Zook to IHC when they fired McCarthy... That would have guaranteed a better draft position... I know letting coaches go mid-season is pretty rare, but if anyone deserves NOT to have a job it's Zook...

[nodakfan17]

Wouldn’t it be nice to play the other AFC East teams 6 times per year like the Patriots?

[OldHeidelberg]

When we fumbled the kickoff and went down 35-20 I was like fine at least we will get a higher pick. But in the end on 4th and goal and when the Jets were in TD range I was as nervous as ever and really wanted the win. We only get one more game until the off season, I guess I always want them to win even if there is nothing to gain. In this case at least we saw Rodgers use his wheels and lead them to a win, his struggles with accuracy has actually been the worst part of the season as that could have long term negative affects on the teams chances. But he played well and showed why he is still a huge weapon.

 

We haven't been here that much recently but I would bet all poor teams fans have some talk about how the team should tank but there were plenty of Packer fans there yesterday who paid for tickets to see Rodgers play and got their money's worth. I just don't think teams can treat games like preseason games and the NFL rightfully discourages it, other then maybe sitting Rodgers and Adams you have to play most guys anyway and I am sure they want to play. The Saints could choke in the first round and gain us a few spots with their pick, now that's something I can root for.

[JohnBriggs12]

Forget the few spots in the draft. It's far more important to get Rodgers head on straight feeling confident heading into the offseason regardless of who is coaching. A win like yesterday coupled with a good performance against the Lions next week could help a lot. I think a lot of the uneasiness going into this season for Rodgers was the result of missing most of 2017 due to injury and him feeling not quite as invincible nor confident heading into a year when he had to deal with a bunch of new receivers. Then came the knee issue. For this team to rebound to a playoff team next year, it's going to take Rodgers being back at or close to the top of his game, and that starts between the ears.

[nodakfan17]

Along those same lines, I think starting all 16 games is another mental hurdle to be cleared for Rodgers. At the same time, I don’t put a lot of stock in the chemistry being built over the last few weeks because a new coach is going to come in and put their own stamp on the team.

[GAME05]

All game I was simultaneously hoping they'd win and hoping they'd lose.

 

But mostly was interested in seeing Darnold play. Sometimes high-pick QBs just don't have that magic yet the team gets committed to them for a few years like TB and Jameis Winston. But I thought Darnold looked good and could well be a good QB in the League. Seemed like he moved around the pocket really well and didn't immediately think "Run with it!" whenever there was the slightest pressure, like a lot of young QBs do. Obviously the Giants got an immense talent at RB, but it's sure harder to find a good QB, especially with Eli clearly losing it and with no superstar QB prospects in this year's draft class.

[rickh150]

Why many starters were going last week I'll never know...kinda like leaving your 4th grade basketball starters in when down (or up) by 20 in the 4th quarter. Actually, it's worse because we are talking about a violent game where key cogs could be wiped out for the following year on a wrong move of the knee. Murphy letting it go is crazy caving to Rodgers desire to play. Get a clue.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

It's pretty hard to push the narrative of holding everyone accountable and then give Rodgers the last month off because the team stinks.

 

Rodgers is a well-paid employee of the Packers. He should be on the field when he's healthy. You can't just bench Bakhtiari, Adams, Rodgers, Alexander, Clark and anybody half decent because the playoffs are out the door. It's a terrible message to send.

 

I think this is another case where people get a little too Madden-esque and forget about the reality aspect of all this. I don't think this has anything to do with caving to Rodgers. I would argue caving is giving him a month off, like how they let Brett Favre show up for the season on Sept 1.

[Jenkins5]

It's pretty hard to push the narrative of holding everyone accountable and then give Rodgers the last month off because the team stinks.

 

Rodgers is a well-paid employee of the Packers. He should be on the field when he's healthy. You can't just bench Bakhtiari, Adams, Rodgers, Alexander, Clark and anybody half decent because the playoffs are out the door. It's a terrible message to send.

 

I think this is another case where people get a little too Madden-esque and forget about the reality aspect of all this. I don't think this has anything to do with caving to Rodgers. I would argue caving is giving him a month off, like how they let Brett Favre show up for the season on Sept 1.

 

Spot on. Makes zero sense to me the outrage of letting guys play. An injury may happen & that is always a worry but I don’t believe in benching guys week 17 with top seed sealed nor do I when you are out of playoff race. The later just sends a terrible message to team, fans, and really everyone. Brees, Big Ben, Rivers, and so on have all been eliminated like us before.... those teams didn’t bench everyone. Brees still went out there. Big Ben still went out there.

 

Quitting is an infectious mindset. It builds losers. Telling your team that simply cause you aren’t in playoffs they need to give up and all starters must be benched is wrong mentality. Build momentum to finish. Build confidence. Let young receivers keep working with ARod to learn. Go into off-season on a good note & build on it with new coaching staff. These guys are paid an outrageous amount of money to do a job.... let them do that.

[Jenkins5]

People act like packers have played terrible football all season. They lost only 2 games by more than a 1 score game. Redskins & Patriots by 14. They just couldn’t finish. This isn’t a terrible team. Injuries destroyed their strongest part of defense (dline). DBs were a young JV team for most of the year but grew. Having Tramon as your starting FS after never playing there his whole career says a lot. Fackrell had 9.5 sacks (never saw that coming) but Perry per usual was out most season & Clay is old.

 

Offensively injuries on line hurt. Cobb & Allison were out most of season throwing all those young guy into the fire.

 

He have holes for sure but with a few moves & a good draft, we should be competitive again next year.

[rickh150]

Rodgers still isn't 100% healthy. No debate there, right? You are rolling the dice here with his 2019 when they are legit title contenders again. Of course, the coach wants him playing. He wants the job in 2019. This is when Murphy should be pulling another overreach and sit Rodgers down if the coach is thinking about his own hide. Why stop now?

 

Also, Rodgers could have played in the final game last year....... but didn't. Why? Health concerns and because primarily, we were out of playoff contention. Where were all these heartfelt speeches for quitting on the team then? It made perfect sense last year to sit him ( and others) for the last game. It would make sense this year too. Let the young guys and backups get their shot.

 

Quitting on the team? I think I could turn that right back on you with this: you don't trust your 2nd and 3rd string to get it done? Who is quitting on whom? Sorry all those in denial and all those millenials who don't know what it is like to not have the Pack in the playoffs. This is what is called for when the playoffs are out of reach. It's like another preseason game. Let's see what some of these other guys have or don't have during actual NFL game competition. Going same ol, same ol, is a wasted opportunity to see some young, 2019 contracted players play a bit more and an unexcuseable NEEDLESS RISK to harm key players for 2019 and our Super Bowl hopes.

 

Get a clue, Green Bay.

[rickh150]

It's pretty hard to push the narrative of holding everyone accountable and then give Rodgers the last month off because the team stinks.

 

Rodgers is a well-paid employee of the Packers. He should be on the field when he's healthy. You can't just bench Bakhtiari, Adams, Rodgers, Alexander, Clark and anybody half decent because the playoffs are out the door. It's a terrible message to send.

 

I think this is another case where people get a little too Madden-esque and forget about the reality aspect of all this. I don't think this has anything to do with caving to Rodgers. I would argue caving is giving him a month off, like how they let Brett Favre show up for the season on Sept 1.

 

Whole month? Just the last two weeks. We had a shot until we lost to the Bears.

[Jenkins5]

No winning this one, all I can say.... thanks Mark, Joe, ARod, and rest of starters for not being cowards & playing the what if game about the fraction of a percent of serious injuries that will impact next season. Giving fans something enjoyable to watch at Lambeau unlike the preseason game some want.

 

Thanks for having a clue! Davonte.... go get your 2+ catches 133+yards and 2 tds! Set all receiving records in GB! (Sure Kizer could get you there).

[OldHeidelberg]

While I agree healthy starters shouldn't sit out regular season games I will say I wouldn't mind seeing Kizer get some work, it would help with off season planning to see if he has developed into a reliable backup. We just got burned assuming Hundley could play. If Philbin announced before the game that Kizer would play the second half I don't see that as tanking and from a fan perspective might make the game a little more interesting.

[BillScottCanRake]

If Rodgers were healthy and the line hadn't already given up 50-ish sacks I think there would be little debate about Rodgers playing. Seeing what happened in Week 1 and what we all thought had just happened to the season, I think there is plenty of room to argue he shouldn't be playing.

 

But Rodgers isn't healthy. He received a new injury against the Bears. The line has been surprisingly ineffective this year. And Rodgers habit for holding onto the ball in search of big plays has been in full effect this year. He doesn't run as effectively as he did in the past. All of those things probably make the risk of Rodgers getting hurt higher than normal.

 

I also wonder what a Rodgers injury would do to the coaching search? I know guys generally follow the money, but the Packers job is way less attractive if Rodgers can't play in 2019. The same thing with regard to potential FAs. I am sure some would sign with Green Bay no matter what, but any chasing a ring will think twice about signing if Rodgers misses 2019.

 

I don't think sitting Rodgers is a no-brainer. But a really good case can be made the Packere are risking 2019 and beyond trying for a 7th win which in the grand scheme of things doesn't mean anything. For a team which realistically always has lofty aspirations (playoffs, win the division, Super Bowl, etc), this seems like an unnecessary risk for no reward.

[OldHeidelberg]

Rodgers shoulder is probably hurting but I think(hope) that it is like many other recoveries from major injury and just needs time to get back to 100%. He seemed healthy last week and they certainly weren't shy about shutting him down last year, I doubt he is at much risk of re-injury. I see he is on the injury report(knee/groin) though, interestingly enough practically every player we have of value is either on the report or IR.

 

The oline has been a surprising negative this year, a lot of the 3rd down sacks are predictable and are often not from holding the ball too long, just free blitzers and stunts getting on Rodgers before he even gets to his second read. Like a lot of things in the later MM years, it seems teams have figured us out and we don't adjust very well.

[BillScottCanRake]

Rodgers sack numbers come from a lot of places. Free rushers and poor offensive line play are factors. Calling plays with long developing routes on third and short is an issue. Chemistry and trust with receivers (EQ and MVS in particular) is an ongoing issue. And Rodgers holding the ball has been an issue at times. Regardless of the issue and whose at fault, Rodgers has been sacked 48 times this year (and Kizer twice) and taken more hits than he usually does. I am amazed he's been able to play every game this year watching him take some of the shots he has. He's only been sacked more then 36 times in a season 4 times, and only once since 2013 when he was sacked 46 times in 2015. 48 sacks is a lot for a guy who turned 35, missed time with a collarbone injury last year, and a knee injury earlier this year.

 

With Rodgers 2019 cap number being about 26 million dollars and the 2019 cap being between 185 and 190 million dollars, he accounts for about 13% of the Packers cap next year. We seen he's nearly irreplaceable from a productivity standpoint, but he's also a significant portion of the cap to be not playing when the games matter.

 

Like I said, sitting Rodgers is not a slam dunk. And I enjoyed watching him play last week against the Jets. But I'd understand and support it if the Packers shut him down. I am excited about what 2019 can bring; I just want Rodgers to be a part of it.