Foxsports take on Packers season

[channtheman]

Interesting how they factor in some luck and what I was saying earlier how we caught everyone when they were their hottest it seems. What's everyone's take on this?

If you want to read the other ones the link is posted below.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/8990392/2008-was-a-total-letdown-for-these-five-teams

2. Green Bay Packers

Robin Williams needs to throw his arms around Aaron Rodgers and tell him "it's not your fault" over and over again until the pain of 2008 subsides.

Rodgers has thrown 25 touchdowns to 13 interceptions and posted a 91.4 QB rating. In the red zone he has thrown 17 TDs and zero picks, posting a 105.5 rating. But there's no getting around the fact that a team that went 13-3 last year with Brett Favre at the helm has 10 losses heading into Week 17.

If it's not Rodgers' fault, who or what is to blame for the Pack's 1-7 record in its last eight games?

The defense has been decimated by injuries, the schedule has been brutal and lady luck has been taunting them on a weekly basis.

Green Bay lost corner Al Harris and defensive end Cullen Jenkins to injuries in September and linebacker Nick Barnett went down in early November, which helps explain how the Pack were strafed for 110 points in one leaky three-game stretch.

On Oct. 19 the Packers beat the Colts to head into their bye week at 4-3. November would feature games at Tennessee, Minnesota and New Orleans. Those three teams are a combined 17-4 at home this season (the Saints also won a "home" game in London).

The Packers lost in OT at Tennessee and by a point in Minny when Mason Crosby's last-second field goal attempt scraped wide.

After the defense was humiliated in the Superdome in a 51-29 loss, the Pack came home to lose a 35-31 heartbreaker to a Carolina team that was in the midst of winning seven out of eight games. Even the Texans, who would beat Green Bay the following week, were in the midst of a four-game winning streak. The Packers just seemed to have a season-long knack for catching everybody at their hottest.

A blocked field goal in Chicago — in a game Green Bay dominated — led to loss No. 10. That game was a perfect microcosm of the Packers' season. Rodgers played very well in sub-zero conditions. The Packers had 325 total yards to the Bears' 210. The Packers led by 11 in the second half. The Packers lost.

[texaspackerbacker]

Interesting how they factor in some luck and what I was saying earlier how we caught everyone when they were their hottest it seems. What's everyone's take on this?

If you want to read the other ones the link is posted below.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/8990392/2008-was-a-total-letdown-for-these-five-teams

2. Green Bay Packers

Robin Williams needs to throw his arms around Aaron Rodgers and tell him "it's not your fault" over and over again until the pain of 2008 subsides.

Rodgers has thrown 25 touchdowns to 13 interceptions and posted a 91.4 QB rating. In the red zone he has thrown 17 TDs and zero picks, posting a 105.5 rating. But there's no getting around the fact that a team that went 13-3 last year with Brett Favre at the helm has 10 losses heading into Week 17.

If it's not Rodgers' fault, who or what is to blame for the Pack's 1-7 record in its last eight games?

The defense has been decimated by injuries, the schedule has been brutal and lady luck has been taunting them on a weekly basis.

Green Bay lost corner Al Harris and defensive end Cullen Jenkins to injuries in September and linebacker Nick Barnett went down in early November, which helps explain how the Pack were strafed for 110 points in one leaky three-game stretch.

On Oct. 19 the Packers beat the Colts to head into their bye week at 4-3. November would feature games at Tennessee, Minnesota and New Orleans. Those three teams are a combined 17-4 at home this season (the Saints also won a "home" game in London).

The Packers lost in OT at Tennessee and by a point in Minny when Mason Crosby's last-second field goal attempt scraped wide.

After the defense was humiliated in the Superdome in a 51-29 loss, the Pack came home to lose a 35-31 heartbreaker to a Carolina team that was in the midst of winning seven out of eight games. Even the Texans, who would beat Green Bay the following week, were in the midst of a four-game winning streak. The Packers just seemed to have a season-long knack for catching everybody at their hottest.

A blocked field goal in Chicago — in a game Green Bay dominated — led to loss No. 10. That game was a perfect microcosm of the Packers' season. Rodgers played very well in sub-zero conditions. The Packers had 325 total yards to the Bears' 210. The Packers led by 11 in the second half. The Packers lost.

Like I have been saying .........

[packrat]

no-no-no--it has to be all TT and MM's fault as the Pack has only worse to look forward to in the future

[sheepshead]

Yes it is the general managers fault for not signing the top 8 free agents over the last three years.

[DonHutson]

Complaining about the schedule is for losers. All these teams were on hot streaks? Tough shit. If you want to be the best, you beat whomever they put in front of you.

If the schedule was a primary reason the Packers aren't a contender, then they never were one in the first place.

[RashanGary]

Complaining about the schedule is for losers. All these teams were on hot streaks? Tough shit. If you want to be the best, you beat whomever they put in front of you.

If the schedule was a primary reason the Packers aren't a contender, then they never were one in the first place.

Agreed. I do think there is something to them being better than their record based on how everything panned out. If they can't do better than this during a brutal schedule with a couple injuries than it wasn't going to be a championship year no matter what.

Here are some hidden benefits to the tough season:

1. Jennings and Kampman are going into the final years of their contracts. One year early is about typical for the current front office to renegotiate. Neither made the probowl during the down year. Both are clearly that caliber of player but not making takes one piece of leverage away from their agent and makes locking up both a higher probability IMO.
2. Sanders and Stock may be fired
3. It will open some front office eyes to some of the key problems on this team.
4. I think it will motivate many to work harder as they know jobs will be on the line this offseason.
5. McCarthy seems to be sliding into a lax, family lifestyle and rumor has it, he's got a little social clique that he's running with. Um, coach, you get paid millions of dollars to coach football. I'd say keep football damn near the top of your to do list. Humbling McCarthy could be a hidden benefit.
6. There is a higher chance at drafting a playmaker in the top 10

Now this has to turn into a great offseason. The front office has to get better. The coaches have to work harder and the players have to get in better shape. Losing one year isn't the end of the world, but you have to react well and get things in line. This is a big test for this entire team. It's time to prove their worth.

[Bretsky]

Complaining about the schedule is for losers. All these teams were on hot streaks? Tough shit. If you want to be the best, you beat whomever they put in front of you.

If the schedule was a primary reason the Packers aren't a contender, then they never were one in the first place.



:knll: :bclap:

[Badgerinmaine]

Interesting how they factor in some luck and what I was saying earlier how we caught everyone when they were their hottest it seems. What's everyone's take on this?
I think the article hits the nail on the head.

[Bretsky]

Complaining about the schedule is for losers. All these teams were on hot streaks? Tough shit. If you want to be the best, you beat whomever they put in front of you.

If the schedule was a primary reason the Packers aren't a contender, then they never were one in the first place.

Agreed. I do think there is something to them being better than their record based on how everything panned out. If they can't do better than this during a brutal schedule with a couple injuries than it wasn't going to be a championship year no matter what.

Here are some hidden benefits to the tough season:

1. Jennings and Kampman are going into the final years of their contracts. One year early is about typical for the current front office to renegotiate. Neither made the probowl during the down year. Both are clearly that caliber of player but not making takes one piece of leverage away from their agent and makes locking up both a higher probability IMO.
2. Sanders and Stock may be fired
3. It will open some front office eyes to some of the key problems on this team.
4. I think it will motivate many to work harder as they know jobs will be on the line this offseason.
5. McCarthy seems to be sliding into a lax, family lifestyle and rumor has it, he's got a little social clique that he's running with. Um, coach, you get paid millions of dollars to coach football. I'd say keep football damn near the top of your to do list. Humbling McCarthy could be a hidden benefit.
6. There is a higher chance at drafting a playmaker in the top 10

Now this has to turn into a great offseason. The front office has to get better. The coaches have to work harder and the players have to get in better shape. Losing one year isn't the end of the world, but you have to react well and get things in line. This is a big test for this entire team. It's time to prove their worth.


GREAT POST :!:

[bobblehead]

Complaining about the schedule is for losers. All these teams were on hot streaks? Tough shit. If you want to be the best, you beat whomever they put in front of you.

If the schedule was a primary reason the Packers aren't a contender, then they never were one in the first place.

True, but pointing it out along with other factors is relevant. Bottom line is this, we had a down year. We are probably better than our record, but by no means a superbowl contender. There is a reason there is only one every year, its hard to do.

I think a tad of good luck and a player or two aquired would do wonders....but it has to be the right player and the right luck.

[Partial]

Complaining about the schedule is for losers. All these teams were on hot streaks? Tough shit. If you want to be the best, you beat whomever they put in front of you.

If the schedule was a primary reason the Packers aren't a contender, then they never were one in the first place.

Not only that, but they play in the NFC North. I really don't feel bad that they played a "tough" conference. Considering how far the Jags sunk, it wasn't a very difficult out of conference schedule at all. They caught the Colts at a time when they were down in the dumps. The only tough game they played was Tenn imo.

[Partial]

What is this social clique surrounding M3?

[gbgary]

1. Jennings and Kampman are going into the final years of their contracts. One year early is about typical for the current front office to renegotiate. Neither made the probowl during the down year. Both are clearly that caliber of player but not making takes one piece of leverage away from their agent and makes locking up both a higher probability IMO.



i think if the Packers use that tactic both will be gone...especially Jennings. if they want to keep them then they need to make it known in the strongest terms because if they don't...someone else will. the Packers have plenty of money and everyone knows it. Jennings will soon see what the Packers intentions are for making the team stronger and if he sees cost-cutting, money-saving bullshit he'll go and i, for one, won't blame him.

[The Leaper]

With the pending elimination of the salary cap, this will be a VERY interesting offseason in terms of guys with 1 year left on their deal.

They won't be signing anything too quickly IMO.