More Banjo: Week 7 vs Bears

[Fritz]

Here are my thoughts on the game and the season:

1. Jeff Janis played ahead of Ty Davis - he's passed somebody on the depth chart! Hooray!

2. The announcers - was it Boomer Esiason? And Deion Sanders, too - kept slathering over Rodgers and blaming the wide receivers. Nobody's open, they said. Look at the replays. Well, when I looked at them, sure, I didn't see anyone standing alone. But I saw receivers with a step on defenders. And didn't everybody used to worship at Rodgers's feet for "throwing guys open"? I distinctly remember that as one the the traits that made him so good. But now it's the receivers' fault. I don't get it. Rodgers still can move around the pocket, better than anyone. But all this back-foot throwing - he's missing lots of passes, and what a bunch of pussy announcers for continuing to nibble and lick at Rodgers's berries. He missed Adams twice, missed Cobb twice, I think, and on that 44 yard pass intereference, a well-thrown ball would've meant a touchdown. In other words, the stuff Rodgers used to do, he isn't doing - at least as far as his accuracy. I think, as I said elsewhere, that he's lost confidence in his ability to fire a strike into a narrow window.

3. I was one of the many Packerrats complaining bitterly when Sitton was cut. But Sitton missed the game, and nobody's talking about Lane Taylor - which means he's doing just fine. Let's all eat some crow here. Speaking of eating crow...

4. Bretsky? How 'bout that Fresno Fraud???

5. Okay, lots of bitching about Thompson not having running back depth. Okay. Really? Nobody has running back depth after the top two go down. And that running back depth we wanted? That was supposed to be a third-down, guy-out-of-the-backfield-who-can-catch guy. So even if the Packers had that guy, he would be as useless as a bronze tit on first and second down. So let's be realistic about how much Ted's at fault here. Who - realistically - was he supposed to have ready?

6. The Bears still suck.

[SkinBasket]

2. The announcers - was it Boomer Esiason? And Deion Sanders, too - kept slathering over Rodgers and blaming the wide receivers. Nobody's open, they said. Look at the replays. Well, when I looked at them, sure, I didn't see anyone standing alone. But I saw receivers with a step on defenders. And didn't everybody used to worship at Rodgers's feet for "throwing guys open"? I distinctly remember that as one the the traits that made him so good. But now it's the receivers' fault. I don't get it. Rodgers still can move around the pocket, better than anyone. But all this back-foot throwing - he's missing lots of passes, and what a bunch of pussy announcers for continuing to nibble and lick at Rodgers's berries. He missed Adams twice, missed Cobb twice, I think, and on that 44 yard pass intereference, a well-thrown ball would've meant a touchdown. In other words, the stuff Rodgers used to do, he isn't doing - at least as far as his accuracy. I think, as I said elsewhere, that he's lost confidence in his ability to fire a strike into a narrow window.

I think they were just countering McGinn's hit piece on Rodgers from this past week. But I'm not sure, because I didn't read it.

I agree that Rodgers needs to get a little more brave, but really, these receivers are not doing their job. You can blame lack of speed, lack of skill, poor position coaching, poor play calling, or whatever, but in 56 passing plays, often with 4 or 5 WRs on the field, they broke open, what... twice? Three times?

And for every time Rodgers misses, there seems to be a drop.

So yes, Rodgers could be more accurate and more adventure-prone. But for the most part, I agreed with the voices last night. We have an alleged embarrassment of riches at the position, but we ain't spending any.

[Zool]

I think they were just countering McGinn's hit piece on Rodgers from this past week. But I'm not sure, because I didn't read it.

I agree that Rodgers needs to get a little more brave, but really, these receivers are not doing their job. You can blame lack of speed, lack of skill, poor position coaching, poor play calling, or whatever, but in 56 passing plays, often with 4 or 5 WRs on the field, they broke open, what... twice? Three times?

And for every time Rodgers misses, there seems to be a drop.

So yes, Rodgers could be more accurate and more adventure-prone. But for the most part, I agreed with the voices last night. We have an alleged embarrassment of riches at the position, but we ain't spending any.

Part of the issue is the slow WRs, part of that is on Stubbs not adjusting formations, part of that is on Rodgers (until the second half lastnight) not willing the ball to his receivers hands like he used to do at will.

The first half was a lot of pro set with 2 wide, a TE with a hand in the dirt, Rip at FB and Monty at RB. With a secondary as beat up as Chicago's was, stack 3 wide often. Look at the 3rd TD when the rub caused 2 DBs to go with the same WR because they weren't communicating well. That could be bread and butter right now.

[Maxie the Taxi]

5. Okay, lots of bitching about Thompson not having running back depth. Okay. Really? Nobody has running back depth after the top two go down. And that running back depth we wanted? That was supposed to be a third-down, guy-out-of-the-backfield-who-can-catch guy. So even if the Packers had that guy, he would be as useless as a bronze tit on first and second down. So let's be realistic about how much Ted's at fault here. Who - realistically - was he supposed to have ready?

A bit of hyperbole there. Up until this year the Packers themselves had a fairly capable 3rd string RB. Wasn't that Crockett before he got injured? And there were others before him. And obviously Kansas City had not only a 3rd string RB on the roster, but a 4th stringer: Knife Davis. I didn't check but a think just about all NFL teams carry a 3rd RB on the roster and then another on the practice squad.

And as far as a "guy-out-of-the-backfield-who-can-catch guy," he doesn't have to be next to "useless." Monty himself destroys that argument. And do I have to bring up guys like David Johnson and even Jordan Howard who is still listed on the Bears depth chart as their 3rd string RB. Guys like Howard were available in the draft and plentiful as free agents.

I think TT and Stubby reasoned Monty was their guy who could step in. Whether that makes sense is a whole nother issue.

[Fritz]

A bit of hyperbole there. Up until this year the Packers themselves had a fairly capable 3rd string RB. Wasn't that Crockett before he got injured? And there were others before him. And obviously Kansas City had not only a 3rd string RB on the roster, but a 4th stringer: Knife Davis. I didn't check but a think just about all NFL teams carry a 3rd RB on the roster and then another on the practice squad.

And as far as a "guy-out-of-the-backfield-who-can-catch guy," he doesn't have to be next to "useless." Monty himself destroys that argument. And do I have to bring up guys like David Johnson and even Jordan Howard who is still listed on the Bears depth chart as their 3rd string RB. Guys like Howard were available in the draft and plentiful as free agents.

I think TT and Stubby reasoned Monty was their guy who could step in. Whether that makes sense is a whole nother issue.

Dann straight it's hyperbole! This is Packerrats, baby!

You do undermine your own argument - they did have a solid third stronger. He got hurt, Crockett did.

[Maxie the Taxi]

Dann straight it's hyperbole! This is Packerrats, baby!

You do undermine your own argument - they did have a solid third stronger. He got hurt, Crockett did.

And TT didn't replace him...And that's the issue...just saying.

[Harlan Huckleby]

A bit of hyperbole there. Up until this year the Packers themselves had a fairly capable 3rd string RB. Wasn't that Crockett before he got injured? And there were others before him. And obviously Kansas City had not only a 3rd string RB on the roster, but a 4th stringer: Knife Davis. I didn't check but a think just about all NFL teams carry a 3rd RB on the roster and then another on the practice squad.

And as far as a "guy-out-of-the-backfield-who-can-catch guy," he doesn't have to be next to "useless." Monty himself destroys that argument. And do I have to bring up guys like David Johnson and even Jordan Howard who is still listed on the Bears depth chart as their 3rd string RB. Guys like Howard were available in the draft and plentiful as free agents.

I think TT and Stubby reasoned Monty was their guy who could step in. Whether that makes sense is a whole nother issue.

Boom! Good smackdown.