Confessions of a Polluted Mindset - Yes Virginia...
The Weekly Packers Brain Drain from Jersey Al.
By JerseyAl
...there is a Santa Claus - As improbable as it was, the Packers got every single gift on their Christmas list this weekend. Now they are left with just three make-the-playoffs wishes for the New Year - is there a Packers Genie with a lamp out there somewhere?
Never again - OK, the Packers were in super-aggressive mode yesterday, which I can understand. Hell, I can even endorse trying a fake punt from your own 20 yard line. But for the first fake punt tried under LaFleur, the plan you come up with is trying what amounts to a wedge or sneak play with your 5'10" 185lb. safety "powering" into the scrum? Are you kidding me? That had to be the worst fake punt idea we've ever seen actually get tried.
Coincidence? - Whether it be cause and effect or other circumstances, there's no denying the Packers' run defense and DL play overall was much better after Dean Lowry had to leave with an injury. Slaton and Wyatt sure appreciated the snaps and did some good things. Now with Lowry on IR, Packers fans (including myself) will get to see if their longing for more Wyatt/Slaton snaps was on target.
Too Bad Tua - I was already planning some "Tua had money on the Packers" jokes after he threw three straight interceptions in the fourth quarter. But now hearing that he's in the concussion protocol makes this not funny at all. The Dolphins are egregious failures in managing their quarterback's health. I'm sure Tua always wants to play in the worst way, but that doesn't mean you have to listen. If there's any doubt, you keep him out.
Kohou who? - Since when do undrafted rookie CBs get so much pass interference leeway from officials? His hands were all over receivers all game and it was just allowed to happen. It's hard to say which was most obvious, but since it resulted in him getting an INT, I'd have to go with the two handed push of Lazard in the end zone.
Seeing Red - For the last two seasons, when the Packers have a big play that comes up short of being a TD, instead of being elated they're so close, my reaction is anger. Why? Because my initial gut feeling is that they will end up having to settle for a field goal. The perfect example is the Nixon kickoff return. I was so pissed he didn't score because my expectation was they would now only get 3 points. hate that this is how I react, but it's not really my fault. The Packers just have a way of making things harder than they have to be once in the red zone.
Savage Return - Listening to a variety of post-game interviews, whenever Darnell Savage was mentioned, the gist of the comments was, "he did what he was supposed to do." reading between the lines, it kind of confirms what we all noticed here - Savage was just making a bunch of wrong decisions back there, resulting in busted coverages and big plays. Hopefully, he's learned his lesson.
Ja Ja Ja Jaire - Is Jaire Alexander the most fun interviewee in the league? I just love his personality.
I was going to share the quotes from this Jaire postgame interview with Pam Oliver, talking about his interception, but there’s really no way to properly convey it in words.
So, just watch: pic.twitter.com/MdSvvpzx0w
— Kassidy Hill (@KassidyGHill) December 25, 2022
__________________________
"Jersey Al" Bracco is the Editor-In-Chief, part owner and wearer of many hats for CheeseheadTV.com and PackersTalk.com. He is also a recovering Mason Crosby truther. Follow Al on twitter at @JerseyalGBP.
Comments (94)
Lphill
December 28, 2022 at 06:31 am
A Wally Pipp moment for Wyatt, if anyone gets it.
Mr_Bill_H
December 28, 2022 at 07:12 am
Not that hard of a get, now is it?
Doug_In_Sandpoint
December 28, 2022 at 09:27 am
Doubt Wyatt could sing backup for Gladys Knight if that’s what you mean. Also doubt he’ll play in the next 2,130 games, but here’s hoping for a long career.
JerseyAl
December 28, 2022 at 09:51 am
well done.
NickPerry
December 28, 2022 at 06:36 am
Fake Punt... So is that the ST Coordinators play design or Matt LaFleur's? That was the absolutely worst play design for a fake I've seen. To be honest, I could go another 5 years or so without seeing a fake if that's the best they can come up with. As far as the design goes I guess it doesn't matter. MLF signed off on it, saw them practice it, so he KNEW what it looked like. I'm curious though...Did it actually work in practice so well they thought it would in a game?
Coincidence?...Nope, not a coincidence. That was just a case of watching a player who is significantly better than Lowry doing what they drafted him to do. Wyatt may have started off slowly but we're starting to see WHY he was a 1st round pick. I mean good for TJ too, but it's Wyatt I'm ready to see a whole lot more of.
Seeing Red .... I understand Al's frustration in the redzone. The last two seasons the Packers have totally SUCKED in the redzone, but this season it's even worse. No Davante yet Rodgers continues to throw the ball when running it would probably be more effective, at least IMO. But Rodgers has that ego where he HAS to feed his stat line or at least try. Run the damn ball...PLEASE!
Tua... This whole thing with Tua is horrible. This is what, the THIRD time this season where he was on the field when he shouldn't have been. Playoffs or no playoffs, winning or not, the number one thing has got to be the safety of these players. IMO safety for the players is third at best in Miami.
Packers2020
December 28, 2022 at 08:40 am
Do you really think it's all AR not running the ball? He is not Peyton Manning. He does not call the plays. The play calling against the Dolphins was not great. Can AR audible? Absolutely but I did not hear a ton of audibles, especially down in the red zone.
I personally think it's more on ML than we think.
JerseyAl
December 28, 2022 at 09:55 am
no one here knows what the breakdown is, but any time you hear "run solution", RPO, or two minute offense mentioned, Rodgers is in control.
MainePackFan
December 28, 2022 at 07:10 pm
Al, you're right, no one knows, though many seem to think they do. As always thanks for the article :)
MainePackFan
December 28, 2022 at 07:14 pm
All plays work if they are executed by the players being tasked with the job. Certainly ML shoulders a big part of the blame, but one can't help but notice when all 11 don't do their job, ML seems to suck more as a coach ; )
Leatherhead
December 29, 2022 at 12:26 pm
Most plays work if they are executed. Not all.
MainePackFan
December 29, 2022 at 03:17 pm
I stand corrected LH : )
Oppy
December 28, 2022 at 08:41 pm
Packers run more RPO than any team in the league, by a wide margin, according to numerous NFL outlets and film room junkies.
Since we all know how RPO's are structured we should have an appreciation for why so many fans think maybe AR checks out of the run more than he should.
Now circle back around and start applying some logic to a few things we've known about Rodgers for over a decade, like in MM's offense, every play had a run/pass check built into it, Rodgers had complete autonomy to manipulate every play with at the line adjustments from protections to routes, and also the authority to wholesale check out of the current play call and audible to any play in the offense that the current personnel on the field supported. What did MM say every time the post-game press asked him about why the RB's weren't getting enough touches or yards? "We need to have better Balance. We need more rushing attempts." Here's a big hint- when your QB has total control of the offense, is the face of the NFL, but also is sure he's the smartest guy in the room, and a 'complicated fella' who is hyper-sensitive to criticism, this is coach speak for "hey, Aaron, stop checking out of run plays so much every week" without calling him out in front of media.
Interestingly, LaFleur has fielded the same types of questions over his short stay in GB as well, and answers much like MM did for a decade. Coincidence? Well, I guess if you don't like talking about the 800 lbs gorilla in the room, sure.. it's coincidence.
Edited because I don't need to be so ornery.
Bure9620
December 29, 2022 at 03:27 am
RPO or run check? A check presnap is very differrent from the RPO, most notably, the offensive line is actually run blocking during the RPO, Rodgers just pulls it down and throws to the one option.
Oppy
December 29, 2022 at 05:24 am
The question is if Rodgers is moving plays away from a run too often or if it's the playcaller calling too many pass plays. It doesn't matter if he's checking out of run or executing a pass out of a RPO; The decision to pass rather than run was made by the QB. That is the point- it's not the play caller neglecting run selection. The only reason I bring up RPOs is because someone always counters with "no one knows what the play called was, so how do you know if it's Rodgers or LaFleur neglecting the run", with RPOs it's the one time you are 100% certain the play has a run element by design every time you line up; therefore, if you aren't running the ball out of the RPO, that's 100% a QB-driven decision.
Bure9620
December 29, 2022 at 12:10 pm
I see your point, I half agree. It is a QB "decision" but it is dictated by how the defense plays it because the offensive line is only run blocking on an RPO, so the defense dictaes what the QB HAS to do, it's not as much of a decision but a read. If a QB reads this wrong..RPOs can actually be a disaster.
Oppy
December 29, 2022 at 05:28 pm
Since the OL is already run blocking on an RPO, wouldn't it stand to reason that handing the ball off would, by the numbers, be the favorable course of action for more than half of the snaps?
Wouldn't it also stand to reason that since Rodgers would reasonably have the 'respect' of the defense as a prolific and dangerous QB that defenses wouldn't generally commit to all-out run defense (load the box) with exception to only the most obvious rushing downs or situations?
I don't think these are unreasonable assumptions. If these are reasonable assumptions, one could come to the conclusion that we'd expect to see far more hand offs out of the RPOs than passes I would think.
Yet... numerous games where it we seem to continually pass out of RPOs and neglect our talented backfield in terms of rush attempts.
Unless defenses don't honor Rodgers as a great QB- or at least, they view our ground game as a bigger threat than our passing attack.. I would expect to see more runs out of our RPOs. And if defenses aren't honoring the pass game with Rodgers at the helm at this point in the season... maybe all the more reason to lean on the run.
Packers2020
December 30, 2022 at 02:52 pm
Oppy,
Here are the amount of run attempts from every game this season:
Vikings- 15
Bears- 33
TB- 24
Patriots- 33
Giants- 20
Jets- 19
Washington- 12
Bills- 30
Detroit- 21
Cowboys- 37
Titans- 19
Eagles- 20
Bears 29
Rams- 32
Dolphins- 18
If your theory is correct that AR is audibling out of runs or choosing passes more often on RPO, then how are we having attempts in the 30's in 5 of the games, in the 20's (high 20's at times) in 5 games, and 3 games very close to 20 carries. It looks to me like AR is running the ball more at times depending on what the defense is showing.
JMO from what the data is showing.
Coldworld
December 28, 2022 at 09:57 am
We should have called a timeout when they left their big guys in for that play. The question for me is why they did. It’s not like we have called fakes so not a tendency. Did something tip them off or were they just going to go all out to block anyway? Either way, it should have been aborted.
jannesbjornson
December 28, 2022 at 12:33 pm
A simple check out of the play by Leavitt was required, The protocol should have been emphasized during the practice run. These fails go to the top of the decision tree.
Thegreatreynoldo
December 29, 2022 at 04:25 am
I think the outrage over Tua is a knee-jerk reaction. If he had no symptoms, then he had no symptoms. If you are suggesting that every player who bangs his head should be thoroughly checked immediately, so be it, but think how long that might take to be done by a professional. Every helmet to helmet hit qualifies, and linemen get hit in the head often. If a check can be quick, say a couple of minutes, that might be reasonable. Otherwise, I think you're saying that football is just too brutal and ought to be banned.
Here is an except from an article written by a Miami sportswriter:
"Critics might argue that if McDaniel cares so much about Tagovailoa, he should have noticed something was amiss around halftime. No. Sitting just a few feet from the podium post game, I found Tagovailoa to not only appear fine and alert, but in somewhat better spirits than expected considering he’d suffered his fourth straight loss. He began and ended by wishing everyone a merry Christmas, answered every question and took full responsibility for the defeat.
He seemed like Tua."
It is possible for symptoms to appears hours, days, or decades later. I don't agree with you or Al.
BirdDogUni
December 29, 2022 at 04:30 am
Well said James.
Bure9620
December 29, 2022 at 06:06 pm
Agreed. The knee jerk is mostly from those whom have never played a contact sport. There are grades of concussion, if Tua had a minor it is actually possible to not know you have one. Happened to me in hockey. Next shift my minor became a major. Granted, these guys have team docs on the sideline and way more resources so maybe they SHOULD have known, its not that simple. People seem to want to assume something was being hidden....
GregC
December 28, 2022 at 06:50 am
I've seen that fake punt play work, when the ball is snapped to the upback for a run up the middle. It's all about catching the defense by surprise. My question is why the Packers did not call it off when they saw that the Dolphins had a wall of defenders in the middle of the line. Or did the Packers have reason to believe that those defenders would leave a big gap for Leavitt to run through? Whatever the reason, it was pathetic. Credit to the defense for limiting the damage to 3 points.
PackyCheese500
December 28, 2022 at 07:11 am
They should have run outside zone, especially when it was only 2 yards to go. That’s what Campbell did in the Lions Vikings game
PackyCheese500
December 28, 2022 at 07:12 am
I would add something else: Why(att) was Wyatt not getting more playing time before? He is clearly better than Lowry, both in the pass rush and in run D. His motor is excellent. This is the player we drafted in May, and he probably just needed to get used to the NFL.
I would like to see more of Slaton as well. He had some nice run stopping moments. Even Jonathan Ford, our 350 lb NT, should be mixed into the DL rotation, I think, especially on early and obvious running downs to see what he can do, especially against the run.
I said the same thing for the fake punt. Why run up the middle with a 190 lb safety? Just run outside zone and you’ll get the two yards.
Here is one possible reason for our red zone failure: Passing so much in the red zone. It’s 2nd and goal: We just ran Jones for a 4 yd gain, and we’re on the 5 yard line. Should we pass it, or should we run it with either Jones or Dillon? And if you’re going to pass, design a better play. And if it fails, just throw the ball away! Anyway, What I’m trying to say is run the ball more in the red zone or design better, more deceptive plays.
PeteK
December 28, 2022 at 07:57 am
I'll add to that, immediately rifle it in to a receiver, there were players open.
JerseyAl
December 28, 2022 at 09:58 am
As for your first question, my take is that Lowry will always maintain GAP control - he'll be where he's supposed to be. Wyatt, because of his athleticism, is (at least for now) more of a free-lancer. He's looking to be disruptive, which can take you places you're not expected to be. Personally, I would just live with that and also play Slaton more for pure run-stopping, but I'm not the DC.
Coldworld
December 28, 2022 at 10:10 am
Lowry’s gap control has not ever been consistently effective unless it’s against pass only offenses. This is a justification for him that was old long ago. Reliability that’s ineffective isn’t a strength.
Lowry rarely created pressure, he lives off others around him. He thrives most when others are full out disrupting and drawing attention—typically in obvious passing situations. Wyatt actually can make things happen. It may not be a sack, but it’s enough to make teams hesitate knowing he may burst through quickly. Lowry doesn’t offer that. Nor does Lowry have Slaton’s power or quick first step.
Oppy
December 29, 2022 at 05:40 am
"Lowry rarely created pressure, he lives off others around him. He thrives most when others are full out disrupting and drawing attention—typically in obvious passing situations."
I don't think Lowry is a plus player. I wasn't thrilled when he was extended and resigned over the years.. but you have to realize that the prototypical role of a 3-4 DE isn't to create pressure, it's to keep a guard or tackle engaged so the 'backers are kept clean so they can either penetrate and make the disruptive play or get to the ball carrier unimpeded.
I understand everyone wants every player on the line to be a play maker, but the reality is football is a game of sacrifice and there will always be guys who have a role where they do 'the dirty work' so others can make the play.
I'm not defending Lowry here, I have always thought the Packers could find better. That being said, Lowry's position isn't intended to be a pressure producing role typically in this style of defense. Plenty of room for criticizing Lowry for lack of anchor etc, but if he rarely creates pressure but lives off the pressure created by others around him, he's probably just doing what he's supposed to be doing.
Coldworld
December 29, 2022 at 09:26 am
I was referencing what Lowry gets plaudits for. You are correct in your summary if the prototypical role for the position. However, Lowry is really not good at that. He gets in the right spaces but he doesn’t get it done effectively and the ILBs are seldom left clean in the run game. If he was good at that beyond being where he’s supposed to be, we wouldn’t have been having this discussion consistently.
PackyCheese500
December 28, 2022 at 10:35 am
I don't think that when lined up as a nickel DT Lowry does so. He is too light to be a 3-gap player, and some of that falls on the coaches. He should only be used as a 4-gap D-Lineman.
Lowry also gets pushed back too much. Slaton and Wyatt don't as much
LambeauPlain
December 28, 2022 at 01:26 pm
Last year, Lowry proved me wrong...he helped the team. This year, I am back to thinking I am right. He should be a back up. Next year he will play in another uniform.
Dean is a try hard guy but giving him snaps over Wyatt is horrible management. Imagine where Wyatt would be today had he been allowed work off the rookie errors weeks ago.
Oppy
December 29, 2022 at 06:02 am
I think you mean mean technique, not gap? When talking about 'number-gap', you're talking about player responsibility, When you talking about Technique, you're talking about where a player lines up.
When you talk about linemen being 2 gap linemen, you are typically saying they are playing over the top of a OL and need to protect the gaps on both sides of that OL. Example, your nose tackle is lined up over the center, and he is responsible for anything that comes through the "A" gaps- that is, the gaps on either side of the center- between either guard. If you say 3-gap, that would suggest he'd also be responsible for anyone coming through one of the "B" gaps as well- between the outside of one of the guards and the tackle. That's not feasible. A lineman has either 1 or 2 gap responsibilities.
When talking about technique (which I think is what you really are talking about) you are talking about where the defensive lineman lines up. "0 tech" is lining up directly over the Center. "1 tech" is lining up on either outside shoulder of the center. "2i tech" is lining up over the inside shoulder of the guard, 2 tech is lining up directly over the guard, 3 tech is lining up on the outside shoulder of the guard, etc and so forth.
PatrickGB
December 29, 2022 at 12:30 pm
👍🏻
jannesbjornson
December 28, 2022 at 12:40 pm
Rodgers' placement of the out to Watson could have been a better target, as Watson got a bit twisted and lost his steps. Would have been a TD. The team doesn't have a bonafide TE threat for the gold zone. The TE release scheme to Big Dog was a perfect example of keeping it simple, fundamental football.
Oppy
December 29, 2022 at 06:16 am
Generally speaking, Rodgers throws to exact points in space based on where he expects players to be based on the play call and the expected route to be run. It's not necessarily a strength of his to make on-the-fly adjustments to his ball placement based on where the target actually is on the field.
In my opinion, this is part of the reason Rodgers has massive trust issues with his WRs. It's why he demands such perfection from their route running and timing. It's why if people actually observe the play on the field without the "It's Aaron freakin' Rodgers" lenses on, you start to see that a lot of passes end up behind the WRs on crossing routes instead of hitting them in stride. On the majority of his standard issue throws, he's throwing on almost pure muscle memory. He knows he will put the football exactly at this spot at this moment 95% of the time. He's not making adjustments to that throw. It's automatic. He's not throwing to the WR. He's throwing to a spot, and he expects the WR to be there, at that exact moment.
There's a lot of throws every week that could be a lot more productive if Rodgers was adjusting the throws to lead his targets (especially on routes crossing the middle of the field.) A good number of throws are behind the WR which breaks their stride and inhibits YAC production. I suspect this is because the WR isn't exactly where Rodgers expects them to be, as opposed to Rodgers just having deteriorated to the point where he can't consistently hit a WR in stride on a crosser.
crayzpackfan
December 28, 2022 at 03:47 pm
He's the NFL rock version of Quiet Wyatt. I think these Packer coaches are slow to understanding and evaluating their talent.
Nate-1980
December 28, 2022 at 06:07 pm
Yeah drafting a guy in the first round to leave him on the bench hasn’t made sense the whole year, especially when the run defense has sucked.. I really think Matt L is losing it with all these dumb decisions..
Oppy
December 29, 2022 at 06:23 am
DL draft picks are typically considered to take the most time to develop into NFL level starters (outside of QBs perhaps) because for the great majority of young men it takes between 1-3 years to develop the level of strength necessary to really compete against NFL OL in double teams at the NFL level.
Bure9620
December 29, 2022 at 03:36 am
Why was Amari Rodgers returning kicks rather than Keisean Nixon?? The difference is so stark and this coaching staff stuck with Rodgers so long, through 7 fumbles, it really leaves more questions. Is there not a bigger coaching blunder than not understanding what you have? Not understanding who is best where and who can do those tasks the best? The coaching staff's job is to maximize the players talents and to put them in the best positions on the field for success.....There have been many failures to do so this season.
Most of us knew Rodgers was not the guy in training camp for gods sake...
Return_To_Sanity
December 29, 2022 at 12:42 pm
Bassaccia has to take the blame for Amari Rodgers. He coached Nixon LAST YEAR so for him to still have no idea the kind of weapon Nixon is thats totally on him.
Bure9620
December 29, 2022 at 01:07 pm
And MLF
Bure9620
December 29, 2022 at 01:07 pm
And MLF
Coldworld
December 29, 2022 at 02:53 pm
I’d agree if it was not so pronounced a trait from his HC. I couldn’t find any prior reference to Bisaccia having this issue. I think its called HC interference.
Return_To_Sanity
December 29, 2022 at 12:41 pm
PC, you hit the nail on the head with the red zone failures: too much passing. The main difference between this team and the 2019 team is 16 rush tds by aaron jones. He got those 16 tds that year because they ran the shit out of the ball in the red zone. They dont do that anymore for reasons i cant explain. Its cost them a handful of games.
Savage57
December 28, 2022 at 07:18 am
The way outcomes aligned for the Packers on Christmas weekend was almost enough to make me start believing this thing just might be possible. One of the keys to success is being able to grasp opportunity when fortune presents it. They have the chance to reestablish order in the universe on the first day of the new year.
It didn't get much bandwidth, but IMO Adrian Amos played the quietest, and maybe most important game I think I've seen from him in his time with the Packers. I counted eight plays where Amos was the last line of defense and he rose to the challenge on every one of them, keeping big plays from becoming massive, game changing ones.
Coldworld
December 28, 2022 at 10:31 am
I thought Amos played very well. For those who point to the long TD assigned to him, all I can say is Amis has never been that type of player. He’s not lightning fast, a CB athlete playing safety and he never has been.
That in turn illustrates why Barry’s use of safeties makes everyone bad. Ford is more like Amos. Neither have great deep coverage skills (though Ford is fast), so you need to keep one deep against real speed or play Savage (as we did through injury). Savage was actually good! Why? In my view because we let him do what he is for once. Him being able to do that helped Amos be himself too. Amazing.
Why does Barry insist that Amos must be a Savage type and Savage an Amos regularly? I accept that it would be ideal to combine the 2 and have two really fast, assignment sure safeties who could cover and tackle. Ideal and reality are not close; who does have 2 such safeties? One is rare. The result is that he’s making them all worse than they should be. It’s this kind of nonsense that disqualifies him as a coordinator.
It’s very similar to LaFleur continuing to base his O around Cobb/Lazard despite the evidence that they won’t carry the load. Lowry over Wyatt, Amari over Nixon. We don’t learn from our mistakes or play on the field. That’s coaching that makes winners into losers.
Play your best players and as far as possible to their strengths not their weaknesses. If player is not good enough, try someone different or change the design, don’t just persist with the inadequate. If it’s not working, see if the guy who has flashed can produce more overall. If you don’t have player options, adjust the scheme to ameliorate the difference between what you are asking if them and what is realistic to expect. It’s as true of players as coaches under this regime.
jannesbjornson
December 28, 2022 at 12:46 pm
Five L's in a row should have scraped some of the calcified game plan out of the grey matter, but the lack of vision puts them on the roulette wheel, trying to stay in the hunt.
dobber
December 28, 2022 at 01:26 pm
"I thought Amos played very well. For those who point to the long TD assigned to him, all I can say is Amis has never been that type of player. He’s not lightning fast, a CB athlete playing safety and he never has been."
My recollection was that the corner passed Hill off and there was a tremendous amount of open space and one player in green behind him. That's a no-win for most safeties.
Leatherhead
December 29, 2022 at 12:40 pm
Amos was a part of two long plays. On The Whiff, Amos didn’t even try to engage the runner. He could have at least tried to shove that midget into the runner.
On the second, I agree he was in a bad spot , and I also think Ford was late arriving. Ford was replaced by Savage after that, which leads me to believe that the coaches were unhappy with him.
I don’t expect Amos to return for next season.
Coldworld
December 29, 2022 at 02:58 pm
He’s extremely unlikely to be back. The important question is whether he’s better than the coaching permits him to be and if so whether that’s going to continue with any replacement.
Thegreatreynoldo
December 29, 2022 at 04:30 am
Agreed, though PFF didn't. I think in the snap count article I counted 6 tackles made by Amos a dozen or more yards downfield, and then quickly indicated that I was not dissing Amos. He came up to limit the gain and made good tackles. All-22 might change my mind, but I haven't gone back and re-watched this game.
Coldworld
December 29, 2022 at 09:32 am
PFF looks at the deep completions. In a sense that reasonable in terms of position, but, as Dobber noted, that’s not always the case when you look at what the player was asked to do in context and what he did that PFF doesn’t necessarily rate as highly, because it’s time definition differs from that of the team. PFF ratings require some caution and context.
T7Steve
December 28, 2022 at 07:50 am
Yes, start to get some push up the middle. With Wyatt/Reed, Slayton/Ford helping, Clark can continue his December dominance.
Last week against a pretty good (less Darnold) Rams' line they ran the ball well in the red zone. I believe the early injury to Nijman made them back away from running in Miami. I think they should have kept at it to make the Dolphins defend them honestly. The entrance of Newman really effected the right side of the line all the way to the center. If Bakh is ready to play, I hope Tom can play the right tackle spot if Nijman isn't ready to go.
Coldworld
December 28, 2022 at 10:03 am
We weren’t really running before Nijman went out. I think we planned to exploit their secondary, which is weak, perhaps further encouraged by knowing Jones was very limited. We only started to run more once Watson went out. We won’t use Doubs or Toure aggressively and Lazard and Cobb were not getting open with Watson not drawing coverage—a persistent reality LaFleur ignores. We really need to limit snaps where both Cobb and Lazard are on the field together and add some more suddenness.
I agree that, if Nijman can’t go, the hope would be that we can move Tom. Alternatively, if Bakh can’t play, maybe they prepare Walker or Jones if fully recovered from mono. I think they are too willing to go with known inadequacy over untested potential. As we know, a persistent trait of LaFleur teams.
jannesbjornson
December 28, 2022 at 12:51 pm
Doubs needs to be schemed for the red zone.
Coldworld
December 28, 2022 at 03:00 pm
Toure was very good at finding space in the end zone in pre season too and showed off top notch body control to extend his catch radius. Yet we persist with not using or planning for either. Again, vision and imagination is lacking. We try the same few things over and over with the same players. Eventually one does catch a D out, but it’s darn rare.
Nate-1980
December 28, 2022 at 06:21 pm
Very good points cw, Lazard looks like he’s not even trying out there and looking towards the off season.. He has no fight in him on interceptions or if the ball isn’t perfect, I’ll be glad when he leaves next year and don’t think the packers should sign him, even for the minimum, he’s just taking up a roster spot..
Coldworld
December 29, 2022 at 09:22 am
You can’t back away from what you have not established. The only real sign of commitment to the run came after Watson was hurt.
croatpackfan
December 28, 2022 at 08:00 am
On spot as always, Al!
Only one remark.
"I'm sure Tua always wants to play in the worst way, but that doesn't mean you have to listen."
That was many of us saying when ACR were playing "injured" (was he?) with broken thumb on his throwing hand. What those fans, including me was heard that ACR is so competitive and so keen to play, that Packers decision was right.
I agree with your claim "The Dolphins are egregious failures in managing their quarterback's health." And I now knows other franchise who failed in the same "protocol". So, first we should clean our yard, before we should calling others for their yard full of garbage.
TheKanataThrilla
December 28, 2022 at 08:38 am
Whereas I agree with the premise of the argument that Rodgers likely should have been sat because of the thumb injury, I find it a very different level of extremity from the Tua situation. Yes, we were risking Aaron's health with the thumb, but when it comes to concussions what the Dolphins are doing with Tua is egregious in the potential for long term harm. From what we know about CTE and athletes suffering from multiple concussions somebody needs to step in and save Tua from himself. The NFL also needs to be better with stepping in especially when there is a concussion history of the player.
croatpackfan
December 28, 2022 at 09:50 am
OK. Please, provide a list of injuries for which it is not necessary to protect players. Also, include in that list all the broken bones that you think are not important when deciding whether to protect the health of the players...
Rarescope
December 28, 2022 at 10:23 am
I'm not sure what level of American news you get in Croatia, but head trauma in former NFL players makes the news fairly regularly here. For your reading pleasure:
https://www.npr.org/2021/12/14/1064130612/phillip-adams-nfl-player-kille....
https://en.as.com/nfl/what-are-the-most-famous-cte-cases-in-nfl-history-n/
That's... a little more severe than a sore thumb.
Coldworld
December 28, 2022 at 10:59 am
Just as a technical point, it’s not yet been confirmed that Tua has a concussion or when it occurred. The original buzz was fan supposition. Neither Tua nor anyone supposedly saw it suggested any sign or symptom until he referenced some symptoms that could be consistent with sustaining a concussion quite a lot later, but these also could be from other causes. However, given the particular concern the team immediately placed him in the protocol—they have done that once before when he turned out not to have concussion. The Dolphins are pretty much in a PR hole over the handling of Tua’s initial concussion.
There was a new independent neurologist at the game to watch for signs who apparently didn’t have the concerns the one watching the Packers/Rans game did and immediately triggered the protocol for Watson. Once the protocol is triggered it must be seen through and it takes several days to get an indication, as we saw with Watson. Tua started later, so may take longer. Until then, there’s an awful lot of speculation that’s as yet unsupported by anything.
Thegreatreynoldo
December 29, 2022 at 04:46 am
Kudos for pushing back. I warn you, it is easier to take the high ground on this issue. It is easier to think the neutral neurologist is a buffoon, callous, or complicit with an evil large corporation along with Tua's coaches and teammates.
Oppy
December 29, 2022 at 06:32 am
Imagine what it's like when you see that Rodgers is a problem.
mrtundra
December 28, 2022 at 08:15 am
I agree that Kohou was handsy all game long, especially on Lazard, in the end zone. No flags. We are kind of getting numb to the non calls as the announcers chime in with "The refs are letting them play." BS. At risk of sounding like a vikings fan, the refs can make sure they make those calls, or not, but they had better do it both ways. Regarding Wyatt, I think all he needs is a chance to play more snaps. Now, with Lowry on IR, he will get that needed playing time. Perfect timing with Kark coming to Lambeau. I foresee a purple stain on Wyatt's jersey, and on Lambeau field, this Sunday. GO PACK, GO!!!
T7Steve
December 28, 2022 at 09:34 am
I think we don't want these called too closely, but the one in the end zone was horrible. I saw a bunch of replays where the Packers (Douglass especially) were getting handsy too, that weren't called. Been seeing allot of hands pushing off by the receivers this year too.
As you say, "as long as it's even", it's ok. Seems like against the Packers it's always a call or a non-call on a big play.
Rarescope
December 28, 2022 at 10:32 am
Douglas is on record last year saying that DBs pay attention to what the refs are calling as a gauge as to what they can get away with and adjust their play accordingly. FTR I couldn't have been happier to be wearing my Douglas jersey on Christmas day, but I disagree with it being fine as long as the refs treat each team equally. I don't recall ever hearing about anything in the NFL rulebook that says once we're at the end of the season and getting into playoff mode DPI is no longer a penalty and the refs should just "let them play."
Just an idea, but I think that with the restrictions on the number of challenges a coach can make that we already have, everything should be reviewable - including non-calls.
Coldworld
December 28, 2022 at 10:51 am
I’m fine if it’s consistent but it needs to be so between crews/games not just within one. Todays WRs have it too easy in my view—I still regret the demise of true bump and run that made a catch both a battle and an achievement. If you want to get the ball get open or be more physical.
Douglas is supposedly smart and he’s right. I remember us in the past playing like saints while the other team manhandled us continuously. A certain game against Tampa comes to mind particularly. You play to what is being officiated if you are smart. I am glad Douglas is.
There are limits, obviously, but if Lazard wants to thrive he’s got to be able to use his size and strength in the end zone more effectively. Part of that is expecting and learning how to overcome contact—such efforts actually tend to highlight the foul and get it called anyway. He’s really not been good at that this year.
crayzpackfan
December 28, 2022 at 03:59 pm
Coldworld - "I still regret the demise of true bump and run that made a catch both a battle and an achievement" I remember when we finally go over on the Niners in our 96 Super Bowl run. We absolutely smashed their receivers at the LOS and our D-Line got home making Steve Young wish he became a lawyer. we smothered everyone that year with our D-Backs.
jannesbjornson
December 28, 2022 at 08:00 pm
Unfortunately, the New Rules have hand cuffed the DBs. I would play press cover and let the safeties flow to the ball w/out limitation and take the penalty before giving up the big pass play. Barry's version is waving the White Flag.
Doug_In_Sandpoint
December 28, 2022 at 09:22 am
“That had to be the worst fake punt idea we've ever seen actually get tried.” Al, I think you are missing the brilliance of the play call. MLF was certain our D would rise to the occasion, so he put the fake on film. Now the Vikings will spend all week scheming against the fake on 4th down inside our own 20. They’ll probably put 11 on the line and not even put a returner back. They will not have any time to practice anything else this week. MLF 3-dimensional chess…
JerseyAl
December 28, 2022 at 09:59 am
your comments are on fire today!
crayzpackfan
December 28, 2022 at 04:02 pm
Doug - If Nathaniel Hackett called that fake punt 4 weeks ago, he would have been collecting unemployment, well, 4 weeks ago.
marpag1
December 28, 2022 at 09:56 am
If the Packers get in, they will almost certainly be the 7 seed.
The Vikings are almost certainly going to be the 2 seed.
The 2 seed and the 7 seed play on wildcard weekend.
If the Packers can sneak in and then dump the Queenies for a one-and-done... oh, how glorious, my friends! Oh, how glorious!
JerseyAl
December 28, 2022 at 10:01 am
Dream scenario!
PackyCheese500
December 28, 2022 at 10:39 am
if we win out, the Vikings will finish at best 13-4. The 49ers will need to lose one more game for the Vikings to secure the #2 seed, against either the Raiders or Cardinals.
marpag1
December 28, 2022 at 02:47 pm
Don't wreck my dream, buddy. This needs to happen. ;)
Oppy
December 29, 2022 at 06:41 am
I couldn't wait for the Packers-Bears NFC Championship game back during the 2010 run.
The idea of stealing the Halas Trophy from the sweaty mitts of Bears fans on their home field was perhaps even more enticing than the fact it would mean we were advancing to the Superbowl for me.
As much of the late-bloomer, 'magic carpet ride' of a team that 2010 squad was.. I just don't feel the same way about this 2022 team.
I just don't see this team making noise in the post season if they make it in. Despite what is quickly becoming a league wide narrative.. I don't think this is a dangerous team. Too much dysfunction. They are not in sync. I don't think this week's game vs. MIN goes particularly well, and I certainly don't want to see the Vikings in the post season.
I'm actually of the mind set that if we do squeek into the playoffs, please just don't let us get bounced by the vikings.
brenner
December 28, 2022 at 10:14 pm
Don't see the niners losing any of their remaining games so they'll take the 2 seed.. wouldn't it be awesome to knock off the niners wildcard weekend? Almost better than beating the Vikings.
splitpea1
December 28, 2022 at 11:23 am
Seeing red: The most vexing aspect of this offense is the lack of a power running game when they need it the most, like short conversions and deep inside the red zone. The Packers are going to be settling for a lot more field goals until this gets fixed.
T7Steve
December 28, 2022 at 12:31 pm
That's all on the play calling for the O-line! Our backs only need a little crease to get to the next level. We haven't been able to keep the same five for more than two weeks at a time. Even then after two weeks you could see the difference in YPC.
jannesbjornson
December 28, 2022 at 01:06 pm
Taylor should be part of the picture, as well as Deguara. The fireball to Cobb should have worked on Rodgers' sack, but he may have seen the safety/CB poaching? Dump it...
canadapacker
December 28, 2022 at 06:28 pm
You have to have a bulldozer type of Oline to have successful push most of the time. We have more of a pass blocking - zone scheme blocking on the run game than a big Oline. It is too bag Caleb Jones - 6 9 - 370 pounds got mono - because he could have been brought in on those plays. Remember when the Bears used the Fridge Perry on offense.
With Dillon and Jones we should have no issue scoring in the red zone - but we have total lack of inventiveness and play calling - running it from the 10 for 5 yards and then a pass is called for a sack - run it up the guts again - if stoned then at least is only 5 yards from paydirt. Too many times plays like that .
PatrickGB
December 29, 2022 at 12:43 pm
Caleb is reportedly down to 330lbs. Yet I like the idea.
crayzpackfan
December 28, 2022 at 04:05 pm
All I wanna know from everyone here is, regardless of elimination or not, should our DC be replaced? I say yes.
MilwPackFan
December 28, 2022 at 07:19 pm
Even if we win the Super Bowl, yes, he should be replaced.
bjkdad44
December 28, 2022 at 11:15 pm
Eeeeeeyep!
Hematite
December 29, 2022 at 06:52 am
Yes!
Since'61
December 28, 2022 at 07:54 pm
Fake punt was a terrible call and even worse execution. Put the defense is a very tough spot. Fortunately they held the dolphins to an FG.
Most of us here have been calling for more snaps for Wyatt and Slaton since early in the season. Now with Lowry on IR we'll get a chance to see our DL without a weak link.
As for the CB and DPI this was the second consecutive game a DB wrapped himself around Watson to prevent a TD and no DPI call was made. The non call on the pass to Lazard was just as obvious but the officials let that go as well. I hope the Packers are sending tapes and screaming at the league for each of these non calls. It's just another new low in the level of officiating. They are either throwing a flag on every play or they are allowing a free for all.
Seeing Red. The Packers do not appear to have any plan for how to play once they get into the Red Zone, especially when they are inside the 10. They need to use Dillon and Mercedes Lewis more often once they are inside the 10. Dillon to pound their way in and Lewis who they can high point a pass and he can make the play even if he is covered. Now with Watson coming on they can also throw a high pass to him since he is 6'5". The Packers just don't seem to use their weapons as effectively as they can. They leave too many points on the field and this may come to hurt them if they do reach the playoffs improbable as that may be. bottom line the Packers are going to need every point they can get in the games ahead and into the playoffs if they get that far.
Jaire is a great character and a great Packer. It would be great if he can return to his 2020 form.
Great job again AL. Thanks, Since '61
canadapacker
December 28, 2022 at 09:13 pm
Definitely a lack of inventive play on offense and dedication to things like pounding Dillon with a big online and the odd jet sweep and the fakes. Lafleur for his second season so don't blame Adam's being gone. The NFL has a refereeing consistency issue and not just with us. Douglas has been too handsy and deserved the penalty and probably cost us that game. I don't understand teams keeping players on the roster if they take too many obvious PI on long passes or 15 yards hits out of bounds
Tundraboy
December 28, 2022 at 11:54 pm
Seeing Red! It's contagious. I find myself way too often , and especially this year. Twisted and contorted watching a big play end at the 5 yard line. Knowing full well now it will most likely will end up 3 plays and a FG. Never thought I would wish we were further out and would have a better chance than goal to go!
Alberta_Packer
December 29, 2022 at 12:52 pm
No coincidence that the run defense improved with Lowry out and Wyatt and Slaton in. Lowry reminds me of a streetcar; large - quite durable - one-directional - relatively slow and immobile when off the track. Reminiscent of D-linemen 50 years ago.