Game Notes: Something's gotta give
There's an obvious lack of accountability, consistency, and discipline. Top to bottom, the Packers are not a good football team right now.
*sigh*
At what point is enough for you? At what point do those of you sadistic readers who love being inflicted such emotional pain every Sunday yet, still remain optimistic, finally declare it the end for Mike McCarthy in Green Bay?
I, personally, will never call for another man's firing. But something desperately needs to change. There's an obvious lack of accountability, consistency, discipline; whatever. Top to bottom, the Packers are not a good football team right now. I don't know if they have been at any point this season. Maybe that one time they played well for 30 minutes against the Chicago Bears. Other than that, it's been a rough ride week-to-week.
Sunday night wasn't much different. I'm fending off a migraine -- fitting, right? -- as I write this, so forgive me if I ever, at any point, lose my patience and don't sport the enthusiasm to go back and redirect my bitterness elsewhere by editing everything. The rough draft copy of this week's Game Notes is what you're going to get.
Aaron Rodgers has not been good -- and he knows it.
Rodgers either doesn't trust his receivers -- which would seem practical considering its almost an entirely new group he's playing with this season -- or that collarbone injury last season really reconfigured his quarterback DNA. He threw 43 passes Sunday night against the New England Patriots and only mustered 259 yards. The missed throws on his end continued, which has been a trend all season.
15 touchdowns and one interception for Rodgers this season -- and it's a "bad" year for him. That says a lot about the kind of play we've come to expect from him and the kind of play he's bestowed upon the citizens of Green Bay. But whatever the Packers are doing on offense right now, it just isn't working, and it's not accommodating his style.
If there was one thing Rodgers was adamantly upset about during his post-game presser -- aside from how poorly he felt he played -- it's that he didn't get the ball to Davante Adams as much as he wanted to in "clutch situations." Whether that's a result of the scheme -- which, to McCarthy's credit, hasn't been terrible on numerous occasions this season and players have been schemed open -- or Rodgers just passing up underneath routes for bigger plays elsewhere remains to be deciphered.
If it's stale, it's stale.
The message McCarthy is trying to preach to his roster could be stale at this point. Of course, none of us know this because none of us are actually in the locker room or on the practice field preparing for these games that the Packers seem to shoot themselves in the foot in. From an outsider's perspective, this team lacks any sense of discipline, and that's fairly obvious. Coming out of a timeout with 12 men on the field? Are you kidding me?
While all of the blame doesn't rest on McCarthy's shoulders, because Rodgers is absolutely at fault too with some of his recent shortcomings, the two just don't seem to be meshing anymore. That's coming from someone who has endorsed McCarthy for years.
A star is born?
Ending this on a positive note, fifth-round rookie receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling could be the next great receiving target in Green Bay.
Overreaction? Probably. But we've had enough doom and gloom on this week's Game Notes for me to get away with this unscathed, so leave me alone.
Against the Patriots, Valdes-Scantling recorded his second 100-yard game of the season -- or, his second 100-yard game in his last three games -- and did so on three catches. He's become the deep threat the Packers' offense needs to bust wide open, and that was shown on the 51-yard completion in the first minute of the third quarter. He has the speed and the smooth hands to take the top off seemingly any defense.
Rodgers said after the game that he told Valdes-Scantling that he was going to come back to him in the third quarter after a drop from the rookie in the first half. It didn't take long for that to happen.
__________________________
Zachary Jacobson is a staff writer/reporter for Cheesehead TV. He's the voice of The Leap on iTunes and can be heard on The Scoop KLGR 1490 AM every Saturday morning. He's also a contributor on the Pack-A-Day Podcast. He can be found on Twitter via @ZachAJacobson or contacted through email at [email protected].
Comments (87)
Duper7
November 05, 2018 at 11:11 am
I actually went to the trouble to reactivate my account to post. Long time reader and like y'all, a Packer fan for life. This season has indeed been trying, but the intent of this post is to buck the trend I see in most of the Packer blogs: GET RID OF MIKE MCARTHY!!! @$^*(*&(! I strongly disagree. There are issues in this young team, yes. No disagreement there and many will point out all these out in reply. Give it time, folks. Many have pointed out the leadership challenges MM has faced over the years with admiration. He's still the same man and leader. Ok, pile on.....
LeotisHarris
November 05, 2018 at 11:46 am
I like Coach McCarthy. I think he's not the same man, or the same Super Bowl-winning coach,he was in 2010. There's no way he could be either of those. The meltdown in Seattle and tragic loss of his brother almost immediately after took a huge toll on the man. You can see it in his physical appearance now. We saw it in the self-doubt when he relinquished play-calling duties after that loss in Seattle. And we see it most glaringly now in how he's surrounded himself with like-thinkers who bring nothing new to the table. He's burned out. He's human. He's running on rote memory and cliches. He keeps trying the same things over and over, but the things that used to work do not work now.
I don't think he's gutless, or the game has passed him by. I think he needs a break to recharge. The break he didn't get after those losses. Grief is a motherfucker, and is doesn't go away. Not with riches, or over-eating, or wins and losses. Coach McCarthy needs some R & R.
Point-Packer
November 05, 2018 at 11:52 am
Hey Duper7, make sure to have a plastic tube extend from your mouth to the surface. One of the challenges of having your head in the sand is the lack of oxygen to the brain.
TheBigCheeze
November 05, 2018 at 05:12 pm
Leotis Harris.......which is why he needs to go.....like Motley Crue said...."Don't go away mad....just go away".
GoPackGo99
November 05, 2018 at 11:49 am
13 years......1 championship 2 HOF QB's.
The same ole tired act has well, grown old. In the NFL your either getting better or you're getting worse. WE are certainly not getting better.
This is NOT all on McCarthy, but his message and lack of creativity on offense will end his reign in GB. I'm a "be careful for what you wish for" kinda guy because their is no guarantee our next Ball Coach wont be a Ray Rhodes or Mike Sherman, but its over.
Sadly, I vote to evict Mike McCarthy.
Leatherhead
November 05, 2018 at 12:02 pm
I agree with you. There is no doubt in my mind that whoever replaces McCarthy is probably not going to be as successful as he's been. I also think that there's a lot of football to play yet. If we win 3 or 4 in a row a lot of people here are going to be looking for recipes on how to serve crow.
dobber
November 05, 2018 at 12:09 pm
"If we win 3 or 4 in a row a lot of people here are going to be looking for recipes on how to serve crow."
You'll have to make that 7 (or 8) of the next 8, but gladly.
TarynsEyes
November 05, 2018 at 12:09 pm
Win 3-4 in a row....how do you like your crow served.
Point-Packer
November 05, 2018 at 12:51 pm
Not a chance in hell GB wins 3-4 in a row. Are you watching the 2011 season or 2018? I'm not even confident GB will beat the hapless Dolphins on Sunday.
dobber
November 05, 2018 at 12:52 pm
Last I checked, the Dolphins have at least a little hap.
Point-Packer
November 05, 2018 at 12:57 pm
True, and they did destroy the Falcons. Something that GB has zero chance of doing. Home or away.
TheBigCheeze
November 05, 2018 at 05:22 pm
old school...."There is no doubt in my mind that whoever replaces McCarthy is probably not going to be as successful as he's been"..........what a ridiculous statement.......you can't POSSIBLY know that.....not to mention the grammatical error.......if "there is no doubt in your mind".....then there is no "probably".......
ollie418
November 05, 2018 at 01:40 pm
Piling on...
MM has no clue. Sloppy, sloppy sloppy. Grab, grab, grab!
Deactivate your account again! Just kidding!
ILPackerBacker
November 05, 2018 at 11:17 am
WOW. I get the headache, maybe waiting to write might help.
Blame Rodgers. Easy, tendy, fashionable.
Watch the game. Adams had two opportunities to make tough catches, catches a real # 1 makes. He failed. They were not drops they were not catches. Exactly like he failed v the queens and lions.
Blame Rodgers.
if Adams made the 4 catches and nothing else changed then you say Rodgers is the MVP of a 6-2 team. Get real. Pay attention.
MVS had 6 targets but was over 100 yards. Adams 40 yards in 9 targets. Cobb 24 yards in 6 targets. Those were quick fast timing patterns. They did not work.
MVS worked. he needs snaps not Cobb. he needs targets not Adams. Adams has established who he is a # 2 on the high side. Not a 1.
Blame Rodgers but don't watch the recievers.
Leatherhead
November 05, 2018 at 12:14 pm
I'm not going to blame Rodgers, but he's currently ranked 20th in QB rating. That's not the best in the league, it's not elite; it's average. He's mostly been an average QB this season.
I remember when the previous QB would have legions of fans who routinely brayed "He's still a Top 5 QB when he wasn't Top 5 in any statistical category and hadn't been for years.
Here is Rodgers rankings right now:
QBR : 20th, behind Russell Wilson and ahead of Matthew Stafford.
Adjusted yards/attempt: 7th, ahead of Wentz and behind Matt Ryan
TDs: 15th, behind Trubisky and ahead of Cam Newton.
Look, I love Rodgers. I thought his stretch run in 2016 was as good as I've ever seen any QB play, ever. But he was hurt last year and he's been playing injured this year and he's 35. I know the story we like is the one where he plays great until he's 40 like Brady, but he's not Tom Brady. He might not even be Drew Brees in that regard. He might be more like Peyton Manning or Marino or Joe Montana. Still a pretty good QB, but not a guy you can win with unless you have a dominant defense.
The offense is their own worst enemy with sacks, penalties, fumbles, dropped passes, etc. I can't blame all that on Rodgers, or McCarthy. It's a team effort, and if this team quits stopping itself, it'll win some games this year. I'm confident of that.
TarynsEyes
November 05, 2018 at 12:17 pm
The only stat that matters with Rodgers is.... he's 3-4-1.
SoCalJim
November 05, 2018 at 07:40 pm
^^^ this
fastmoving
November 05, 2018 at 12:15 pm
AR is to blame, thats for sure. everyone can see that and that does not even factor the 20 % of TC in.
that team is build around AR and it goes where he goes. and we got a good roster.
CheesyTex
November 05, 2018 at 09:13 pm
Did anyone watch the O-Line play (or lack thereof) on the right side?
It was striking to see Brady clean for most of the night and #12 harassed on virtually every pass play, mostly over offensive right side.
IMO it is still the weakest link on the team.
flackcatcher
November 06, 2018 at 12:11 am
Rodgers had plenty of time to complete his throws in rhythm, that is not the offensive's lines fault. The under was open, but he kept going for the big over the top strike which was not there. That is a on going concern on this blog in comments.
zoellner25
November 05, 2018 at 11:20 am
One of our wins came on a miracle from Arod (Bears) and one came against the Bills. Need I say more?
MM is finished. The offense, the discipline, the stupid penalties........on and on and on and on. That's all on him.
Leatherhead
November 05, 2018 at 12:16 pm
It was McCarthy's fault that Montgomery fumbled? And Jones? It was McCarthy's fault that the officials don't know what roughing the passer is?
Seriously?
TarynsEyes
November 05, 2018 at 12:21 pm
Yes..Ty's error is the fault of coaching/discipline.
Yes...Coaching again told Matthews to do same knowing it would be flagged.
No,,,Jones fumble happens.
2 out of three on the wrong side is not good.
Point-Packer
November 05, 2018 at 12:55 pm
agreed
4thand10
November 05, 2018 at 11:24 pm
But he was right there in it with the Rams, Can’t say the Vikings are a better team either. We knew with the necessary changes that there would be rough patches. They made some nice moves this year to bring in players...I don’t think Mack would have gotten them there either...not with 3 ROOKIE WRs . The Saints handed it to Kansas the other night. It’s the NFL you just never know. Although I wish the would have given Nelson a 1 more year deal. There was an opportunity to grab some FA WRs...but would knows if the would have played well....just how it goes
Bearmeat
November 05, 2018 at 11:27 am
Season will be over soon. Fire MM. That is all.
Most of us here knew that this was a two year rebuilding process.... and the roster has more talent now than any GB roster since 2014 IMO. But the next coach needs to be able to reign in Rodgers, just like MM did with Favre in 06/07.
splitpea1
November 05, 2018 at 11:44 am
Agree: the offense needs to be redesigned, the defensive roster will continue to be turned over, and it really shouldn't be so difficult to find a special teams coach who can communicate the proper procedures in any given situation.
TarynsEyes
November 05, 2018 at 11:44 am
" I, personally, will never call for another man's firing."
You would do well in the FO of the Packers as this is the mindset that has aided and abetted in the crimes against the fans and the pride that should be 'Title Town'
We have endured the TT years of bad drafts, false development, bad resigns, no FA of any value, complacent play calling, low level coaching, support for below average players and coaches, etc, and because of the inability to demand those who fail to be fired, cut,released.
One SB under the Rodgers era has been denied by many as to being a failure, although being a crime of incredible magnitude, and yet the opening of this article is...
" I, personally, will never call for another man's firing."
Next week,if the Packers win against Miami, we'll be back to reading how the Packers have a chance for a playoff spot or even to win the great award of Division Champs and getting sent home again without a SB will be deemed a success and the retaining of MM is OK.
Cowherd nailed it about Rodgers...I look at Rodgers in the presser and I see...Jay Cutler.
fastmoving
November 05, 2018 at 12:04 pm
cowherd has no idea from football and only needs a couple of viewers. just stir some controversy. guy for the brainless armchair HCs like you.
If you cant see that AR is off I understand your posts of the last 2 years way better.
the WR/TE are pretty good and bail him out more often than not. Brady has nothing compared to our group.
if I read you, I see DeMarcus Russell
Point-Packer
November 05, 2018 at 12:48 pm
Right on the spot Taryn. The homer GB Packer news media deserves a huge part of the blame. Go back all the way to last year and you have Nagler talking about how if MM were let go today, he would be scooped up by another team in 10min. I've wanted MM gone going back to 2013 and yet it took till this season for the intrepid sports media to determine that MM is a below average coach? Amazing. Its been as obvious as giving Aaron Jones the damned ball for awhile. The game has past him by.
Yes, Rodgers is an average QB this year. GB's WR corpse as a unit is average. GB's TE unit is average. If you think "they are pretty good and bail him out" you're watching a different game. How many times has Jimmy Graham "bailed Rodgers out" this year? Zero. In fact, he's dropped great balls he should have caught. GB's WR's rank 7th in drops this year. 7th. So don't give me this BS about Rodgers having some elite team around him. He doesn't. The O-line minus Bakh is a sieve. Rodgers was under pressure almost half the time he dropped back last night. And then you have a coach who won't even put the ball in the hands of one of the league's rising stars in Jones and instead decides he wants to watch Jamal Williams find the closest wall to run into head first.
Rodgers is not having a great year. Probably partially due to the injuries and perhaps age. But certainly in large part due to the fact he has horrendous leadership from his coaching a sub part caste around him. And then there's the defense..
LeotisHarris
November 05, 2018 at 04:51 pm
I think we can all agree playing with a corpse is wrong, as is the caste system.
Besides that, yes, I blame Nagler for just about everything.
TheBigCheeze
November 05, 2018 at 05:44 pm
Leotis.....LOL.....I caught that, too....I wasn't sure if those were misspellings, or a play on words......
Allen Taylor
November 05, 2018 at 01:18 pm
I take everything Cowherd says with a pinch of salt he is just after viewers.
One time he mentioned his top 10 most famous sports stars in the world.
Half of the people on the list People in the UK do not know (unless you are a NBA/NFL fan) I only know Cowherd as he keeps poping up on my timeline.
That is how silly Cowherd is.
TarynsEyes
November 05, 2018 at 01:22 pm
Lay off the salt...it's likely the reason you can't accept Cowherd being right..not always...but very often with Rodgers and the Packers.
Allen Taylor
November 05, 2018 at 02:03 pm
Cowherd talks trash for viewing figures.
He says things he knows nothing about people in the uk (like i said already) do not know any of the people on his top ten most famous sports stars list.
I am thankful we do not have him on uk tv (only see him popping up on my timeline)
LeotisHarris
November 05, 2018 at 04:58 pm
Seems like those Dale Carnegie courses are really paying off for you, Taryn!
Community Guy
November 05, 2018 at 11:44 am
hey, all you "fire McCarthy" guys..
i feel your pain, and i am not a MM apologist.. my question is: who then? after McDaniels dissed Indy after making an agreement with them: i don't trust him. who can coach Rodgers? the list must be very short. i feel lost for a solution.
4thand1
November 05, 2018 at 11:47 am
Only guy I see is Bellicheck.
Doug Niemczynski
November 05, 2018 at 01:00 pm
Your too funny. Bilichek could take you and mold you into a hall of famer.
Bilichek has the midas touch. Give him any player in his system and your golden.
Packers better start looking for some nee blood for Head Coach.
John Harbough or maybe OC for Patiots..dunno...
TarynsEyes
November 05, 2018 at 11:49 am
I'll roll the dice on any young guy than to continue with what we're getting. Sure the next guy may not do better but the ' We have Rodgers ' will remain with the next guy, so what is there to lose except the chance to stop losing.
Leatherhead
November 05, 2018 at 12:18 pm
Yes, rolling the dice is a good way to manage a billion dollar corporation.
Did you ever look and see what happened to the teams that fired Marty Schottenheimer? They got worse, in some cases, real bad.
The Packers have one of the best organizations, top to bottom , in the NFL. We had a change at GM, and we had some restructuring, and we're in a tough stretch.
But I'm not down with "rolling the dice". Tell me who we're ditching McCarthy for, and why you think they'll be better.
TarynsEyes
November 05, 2018 at 12:32 pm
You do know that even if the dice rolls a craps with a new HC, the organization will still be a billion dollar one....they're to big to fail and the NFL won't let that happen.
MM is a like the baby who's parents ( Front Office ) ignore how many times the diaper has been soiled and fear the stink if/when they change it.
Doug Niemczynski
November 05, 2018 at 01:02 pm
Can I be Head Coach?
I'm already a Head Case!
SpudRapids
November 05, 2018 at 01:40 pm
Rodgers will chew up some young guy and spit him out
HankScorpio
November 05, 2018 at 02:33 pm
Maybe. Maybe not. I was going to say that MM handled Favre ok. But that was a stalemate, at best. MM did get Favre back to playing good football. But after 2 years, MM had enough and wanted Favre gone, at least in part because he knew what he had in Rodgers.
Since I doubt DeShone Kizer gives a potential new HC the same leverage that Rodgers gave MM, it will be up to Rodgers to accept the new voice or not. 2 years ago, I would not have questioned his willingness to do so. But I see more of bad Favre in Rodgers with each passing year.
Thegreatreynoldo
November 06, 2018 at 05:57 am
GB has about $450M in annual revenue. It receives about 57% of that from the NFL: it need not do anything (except exist) to earn that part. It probably doesn't need tons of success to earn most of the $199M from it got from local revenues either.
Yes, it is a billion dollar entity, but choosing a new HC isn't going to put its existence at any risk.
splitpea1
November 05, 2018 at 11:49 am
I don't trust McDaniels either. Besides, just because he's a great play caller doesn't mean he'll be a great head coach. We'll have to wait and see what the other options are.
zoellner25
November 05, 2018 at 11:50 am
I would've said Kyle Shanahan 2 years ago after he abused us in Atlanta. Now, I don't know honestly.
Rossonero
November 05, 2018 at 11:58 am
Our future head coach is someone that's not even on our radar yet.
Keep in mind that Mike McCarthy was not exactly a hotshot coordinator in 2005 with the 49ers.
In 2005, despite having a better record than the 2–14 Texans and 3–13 Saints, statistics site Football Outsiders calculated that the 49ers were actually, play-for-play, not only the worst team in the NFL in 2005, but the worst team they've ever tracked.
San Francisco's 1,898 team passing yards in 2005 were the lowest such total in the decade of the 2000s.
Then we hired McCarthy and all scratched our heads.
Obviously, he was a great coach for us -- we won a Super Bowl and went to the playoffs 8 times. But did we get to the playoffs because of Mike McCarthy or was it in SPITE of him, with Rodgers making miracle plays?
A combination of bad drafting, little to no participation in free agency, his stubbornness to hold onto Dom Capers and uncreative play calling all have contributed to his imminent demise.
TommyG
November 05, 2018 at 02:50 pm
I had to go back and read up on this. Wow is all I can say. So, with past success at bringing in a coach from a lousy team, and that coach being a former OC, I suppose it is Todd Haley time!
GoPackGo99
November 05, 2018 at 12:00 pm
THAT is a fair point. I'm a "time for MM to go" guy, frankly have been for 3 years now. He's a good coach, but he's not the same guy we hired.
Look at Sean Payton in NO. He and MM were hired at same time, both have 1 SB. However, Sean has continued to evolve!!! His playbook changes, his formations constantly change, AND he utilizies his offensive weapons in EVERY possible capacity.
Now, I do have just enough trust on Gute to find us a Ball Coach who isn't a complete train wreck. OK, just a small sliver of trust.....BUT change is needed and a new message needs to be delivered.
If I'm the GM- we are scouting the QB's in this years draft. You win with Rookie QB contract deals.......time to press Rogers to play better, play smarter, take what the D will give you. OH, and dont run naked boots......
Rossonero
November 05, 2018 at 12:16 pm
Great comparison with Sean Payton. Same with any other head coach that's been around since then. Even for Bill Belichick. He's had injuries, salary cap, busted draft picks too, but he finds a way.
To be fair, Belichick is also GM, so he's enjoyed control over the roster that McCarthy never did, but Belichick also happens to be a pretty damn good GM too. Can't say with any guarantee that McCarthy would be just as talented.
But the essence of leadership IS managing change. The NFL is always changing, just as the world is. At some point, Mike McCarthy decided he was "highly successful" such that he didn't need to change anymore.
Whenever someone decides in their career -- in any endeavor -- that they've learned enough, then it's time for them to take on a new challenge in a new role, or in a new company. For MM, that new challenge will be with another team.
HankScorpio
November 05, 2018 at 02:37 pm
"Look at Sean Payton in NO."
Payton's 7-9 record in 4 of 5 seasons from 2012-2016 might suggest that MM is in a similar lull that can be turned around. I'd rather not wait to find out in that is true
Bearmeat
November 05, 2018 at 12:20 pm
It doesn't matter. We're in the business of winning super bowls, and MM is not going to get us there. We know this. ARod has how many years left? We need to roll the dice.
Lare
November 05, 2018 at 02:13 pm
The biggest problem with replacing McCarthy is Mark Murphy.
First of all, Mark Murphy will not fire McCarthy, he took the ability away from the GM position so that it couldn't happen. Look how long he stuck with TT long after everyone else on the planet could see how far he'd fallen. Regardless the outcome of this season, all we'll get is excuses and promises that next year will be better.
The soonest McCarthy will leave is when his contract expires. And even then, if Murphy is still in charge your choices are going to be between Pettine, Philbin or Whitt. I would hope for Pettine or Whitt simply because they would have to hire an OC. And that shouldn't be so hard, look to the offensive coaching staffs of the top 10 offenses in the league without a star QB.
Bearmeat
November 05, 2018 at 02:33 pm
I disagree. Assuming GB does not make the playoffs, MM will be gone. There will be HOWLS of outrage if he is not. And you've got to think that Gute wants to hire his own guy sooner rather than later.
That said, I don't think you're wrong about Murphy's hesitance to fire a super bowl winning coach who has a street named after him in town. The top article on CHTV has an awesome paragraph about how Murphy screwed the whole "re-organization" of the personnel office up.
4thand1
November 05, 2018 at 12:02 pm
We can all speculate, bitch and complain, whine, get pissed off, give up and punt. The bottom line is this team sucks. We cannot win at an elite level and screw any "moral victories", wins and losses are what count. When the Pack lost to shitty teams like the lolions, and Wash, the season was over.
Grimbo
November 05, 2018 at 12:11 pm
Look at the difference in game plan patriots vs. packers. The hyper-speed first series, flee-flicker, double lateral, 225 WR at RB, back to hyper-speed when packers are forced to change up defensive personnel. Patriots: highly innovative. Packers: stale as 2 week old dry toast. Our head/offensive coaching is not going to win games in this league.
Rossonero
November 05, 2018 at 12:12 pm
Mike McCarthy is in command and is accountable for whatever the team does or fails to do. Leadership 101.
While Ted has a role in the team's demise, McCarthy still needs to have them prepared to execute for four quarters.
This team is unprepared, undisciplined and underachieving in ways I'd thought I'd never see. We'll play a good quarter here or there, but never a complete game.
According to NFLpenalties.com, we have 58 penalties through 8 games. That's about 7 per game!
This feels eerily similar to Dom Capers last year: he is past his prime and being out-coached. The Patriots dug deep into their bag of tricks last night and McCarthy's so-called "scrubbed playbook," was just lip service to the fan base.
The rest of the NFL has figured him out long ago.
It's hard to pinpoint when the NFL began figuring him out, but 2015 is when it feels like the offensive struggles reared its head.
I remember in the 2014 victory over New England, it was one of the finest games McCarthy has called or coached. Last night McCarthy looked confused and befuddled, wondering as if this was a bad dream or was really happening.
I appreciate everything he's done, but it's time to turn the page before we waste the rest of Rodgers' career.
jww061356
November 05, 2018 at 12:13 pm
I'm kind of at a loss...I don't want change just for the sake of change, but there is alway some young hotshot out there, and with an aggressive GM now, may be we can put a few more pieces in place. And GB would be an attractive offer to anyone....Rogers, up and comers on both sides of the ball, an aggressive GM with 45 million in cap space next year. I say when you're scouting for the draft, keep an eye open for coaches, too. And someone does need to reign Rogers in, too.
Rossonero
November 05, 2018 at 12:17 pm
Our future head coach is someone that's not even on our radar yet.
Keep in mind that Mike McCarthy was not exactly a hotshot coordinator in 2005 with the 49ers.
In 2005, despite having a better record than the 2–14 Texans and 3–13 Saints, statistics site Football Outsiders calculated that the 49ers were actually, play-for-play, not only the worst team in the NFL in 2005, but the worst team they've ever tracked.
San Francisco's 1,898 team passing yards in 2005 were the lowest such total in the decade of the 2000s.
Then we hired McCarthy and all scratched our heads.
Obviously, he was a great coach for us -- we won a Super Bowl and went to the playoffs 8 times. But did we get to the playoffs because of Mike McCarthy or was it in SPITE of him, with Rodgers making miracle plays?
A combination of bad drafting, little to no participation in free agency, his stubbornness to hold onto Dom Capers and uncreative play calling all have contributed to his imminent demise.
HankScorpio
November 05, 2018 at 01:36 pm
"But did we get to the playoffs because of Mike McCarthy or was it in SPITE of him, with Rodgers making miracle plays?"
The answer is YES!!! MM did a tremendous job for a good long while. But he's like Andy Reid in those final few years in Philly. It's just not working anymore.
Much like TT. Who was also very good early but exited a few years too late.
FAN24583
November 05, 2018 at 09:06 pm
just how is MM a good HC? what does he actually do that makes him this great genius?
Roadrunner23
November 05, 2018 at 12:24 pm
I like Mike McCarthy, he has been a steady Captain of the Packers Ship. However his expiration date is close at hand. I will say that he has an almost complete new coaching staff and should have also replaced the indignant Winston Moss and Special Teams failure Ron Zook.
But Big Mike's time is up and his message is stale.
FIRE McCARTHY!
Razer
November 05, 2018 at 12:34 pm
This roster is getting turned and will need to endure missed plays and mistakes. Our secondary is totally new from 2 years ago and surprisingly it is better. Defense still lacks enough talent and depth to make us a contender BUT it is not the real problem.
Our offense, which should be the strength of this team is the part that is totally under performing. Rodgers should be able to march this team, control the clock and score enough to cover for any other deficiency. Both he and McCarthy are not stepping up when the team needs the leadership.
As mentioned in the article...
...or Rodgers just passing up underneath routes for bigger plays elsewhere remains to be deciphered...
Rodgers moaning about not getting the ball to Davante Adams tells us that he will pass up most options in favor of his downfield targets. If it isn't MM calling bubble passes to Cobb, its Rodgers scrambling until someone gets open. We are past mid season and these two ego maniacs are waiting for the offense to find an identity or a rhythm or God-knows-what.
So disappointing!
Point-Packer
November 05, 2018 at 12:50 pm
WR bubble screen on third and long? No way! I bet the Pats didn't see that one coming.
Bure9620
November 05, 2018 at 12:53 pm
I was at the game. Patriots fans continually telling me, "you guys have talent and athleticism but make lots of mistakes." Even after all of the ridiculous mistakes and missed opportunities we still had a chance on a nice drive, 17-17, Jones fumbles. Patiots fans knew and we knew, that was it. The crowd erupted knowing they will pounce on the Packers. So dispiriting. Hard team to watch.
LambeauPlain
November 05, 2018 at 01:04 pm
Pats have the 25th ranked D in the NFL this year but are 6-2 because Belichick demands discipline, accountability, and the right people on the bus in the right seats.
MM does not adjust his game plan to the strengths of his O players to best take advantage of the opponent.
For example, his O line was better than the Pats front 7 in the run game, but not necessarily in the pass game, even as the Pats DBs were a weak link on paper.
So what does MM predictably do? Pass 43 times for 5.7 yards per play and run only 25 times but still chewed up 4.7 yards per.
I am sure the Pats were completely fooled! They brought pressure on Rodgers all night long and made #12 look very average.
flackcatcher
November 06, 2018 at 12:23 am
Over half the calls in any NFL game plan are RPOs. How many calls McCarthy made were runs, and how many did Rodgers change at the line out of. At least two of the bubble screens to Cobb were probably RPOs. How many more, well this is Aaron Rodgers we're talking about, that should answer that question.
LambeauPlain
November 05, 2018 at 12:54 pm
MM preaches accountability then goes out for a 90 second surly post game presser and could find no fault with 43 pass plays averaging 5.7 yards while running only 25 times but averaged 4.7 yards.
At least Rodgers patiently answered all questions and blamed himself for poor play.
The defense gave the Pack a chance to win...again...but again NO HELP from the OLB group. These 4 duds racked up a COMBINED 4 assisted tackles and 1 solo.
Who coaches up the OLBs? Oh yeah...Winston Moss. He was so great coaching up the ILBs like Hawk and Jones, MM made him Assist. Head Coach and gave him responsibility for ALL LBs. He's now back to only coaching the OLBs to lighten the load for him.
But he's still Assistant HC. He must have pictures of MM.
But he fits right in with Ron Zook and the now departed Capers.
HankScorpio
November 05, 2018 at 01:29 pm
MM is overly loyal to under-performing assistant coaches. That's been obvious for years (see Capers, Dom)
LeotisHarris
November 05, 2018 at 08:16 pm
And they are overly loyal to him as they know he will help them advance their careers by giving them opportunities to grow professionally, opportunities for which they are not qualified or ready. Edgar Bennett was our OC last year FFS! I believe he coached WRs the year before. Follow the progressions of Tom Clements, Alex Van Pelt and others up the coaching ladder. Where are those men now? EB's coaching WRs in Oakland. The other, I don't know. Philbin went on to fails a a HC, as did McAdoo.
I think there are true quality assistants in GB. Joe Whitt and Winston Moss, for sure. Others I think are synchopants MM brought in so he would continue to be the Worlds Tallest Dwarf. That talking bicep of a QB coach is the prime example. Shouldn't he be teaching middle school phy ed somewhere? And, Ron Zook? That goober should be on the sidelines at a JUCO.
FAN24583
November 05, 2018 at 09:00 pm
Dumb and Dumber...
Guam
November 05, 2018 at 12:59 pm
I am not ready to see MM gone yet, but I am edging closer game by game. Too many undisciplined plays, too many bonehead penalties and too little imagination on offense have me very concerned.
The only thing holding me back is the lack of talent and experience on the roster. Too many people only see a HOF QB and think we should be SB contenders. With the trades of Montgomery and HHCD, we only have six players on our roster from the 2012 through 2015 drafts. That's five starters and one reserve out of 36 draft choices. This on a "draft and develop" team that generally eschewed free agency during that time period. We are short on talent and depth and that is not MM's fault.
How much of the current poor play is on the coaches and how much is on our young and inexperienced players is not clear to me. I want to see how much the young players develop during the rest of the season before I make that judgement.
HankScorpio
November 05, 2018 at 01:22 pm
"I am not ready to see MM gone yet, but I am edging closer game by game."
Last night was my tipping point where I went from thinking he did more good than bad to the other way around.
LambeauPlain
November 05, 2018 at 01:15 pm
I am certain Gutekunst knows that while the Packers are just a few plays away from being 5-3...he also knows they are just a few plays away from being 1-7 and one of the worst teams in the NFL.
He knows they are one of the most penalized and mistake prone teams in the league.
That is all head coach stuff.
FAN24583
November 05, 2018 at 08:57 pm
True - they do not respect or fear McCarthy - When have you ever witnessed the Patriots rough the punter on 4th and 21? No discipline...
LeotisHarris
November 05, 2018 at 09:38 pm
I get your point, man. I do. You weren't being literal, but I went to nflpenalties.com and searched for roughing the kicker penalties on the Patriots. By season. Stats going back to 2009 show no roughing the kicker penalties. None. Zero.
Here's your challenge: when was the last time the Patriots were called for a roughing the kicker penalty?
HankScorpio
November 05, 2018 at 08:58 pm
Something's gotta give all right. They can start by figuring out how to get something out of the $10 mil they are paying Randall Cobb to be on the other end of $30 mil QB Aaron Rodgers.
Place the blame where ever you want. But it neatly sums up the current state of the team. Coming into the season, the expectations were all over the map. After a promising week 1, the more pessimistic expectations appear far more accurate. While the failures have been numerous and systemic, there is no duo that has given less bang for the buck than Rodgers to Cobb.
mcduff67
November 05, 2018 at 02:09 pm
MM & A-Rod are not compatible, it is evident in the QB's performance , he is not a happy camper. what do you do? Make changes that are obviously needed. All of the nay-say'ers cannot fix it, wanna-be coaches come a dime a dozen. 11-4-1 is a distant dream, the season is in the hands of the brain-trust, may it be successful ???? My fingers are double crossed......
Atlanta Packers Fan
November 05, 2018 at 02:46 pm
It's the play calling! First and goal, 3 passes every time! Aaron Jones is a stud and needs the ball 18 times a game. I can predict 80% of what McCarthy is going to call. If I can, imagine what a coach that studies the Packers!
Barazinho
November 05, 2018 at 02:52 pm
Rodgers is clearly not happy. At the beginning of the second half, they showed a sideline shot where Rodgers was talking/barking at McCarthy, and Mc didn't respond - it didn't seem like a positive interaction. I think people who suggest that Rodgers isn't checking out of bad play calls onto something - it's passive-aggressive sabotage by Rodgers.
FAN24583
November 05, 2018 at 03:01 pm
All of these ok but who then if not MM really? This a pathetic argument for keeping a coach that cant stop his players from running into the punter or making crucial uncessesary roughness penalties and has no creativity and a stale game plan on mostly evrt big game he has no trick plays or imagination. Have you watched a saints or rams or eagles game?? Just curious??
LeotisHarris
November 05, 2018 at 08:21 pm
Yes. I've watched the Rams. I've watched the Eagles. I watched the Saints play yesterday.
AgrippaLII
November 05, 2018 at 03:37 pm
The Packers become stagnant under McCarthy for the last few years. It's time for a fresh start.
PatrickHelms
November 05, 2018 at 05:20 pm
That fumble was the turning point in this game. It was an awesome game right up until that point despite all the injuries and bad refs. I really thought this was gonna be ours. Besides all that has already been written about failure to adjust, predictable play calling and a so so AR, one thing that stands out to me is how Belichick actually takes charge and goes over to the bench to talk to his guys. He wasn't yelling at them either, he was coaching them as they made mistakes too. I don't ever see MM taking the time to go over and talk to his bench or Arod when he is missing the open man or making bad throws. How can a team be fired up if the coach isn't going to light that fire.
jfreier
November 05, 2018 at 05:20 pm
Eh my wife and I have given up on the Pack. We went to the damn Buffalo game and watched the offense struggle. We went to the 49er game and wondered, WTF? We're also going to the Atlanta game, I thought that this would be our chance to finally beat them. Not anymore. We're getting our heads around the fact that the Packers stink once again, and we need to focus more on the stay at the American Club and enjoy our time there than look forward to a competitive game against a team that has had our number. Now every team has our number. Just wait for the eff ups, give our offense enough rope to hang themselves, and laugh as we score less than 24 points over and over and over again. The offense has become so tedious to watch, it's virtually unwatchable. I scream every time I see the play clock wind down to .5 seconds. Meh what's the point.