The Cleft Crusty Ongoing Season Blog

[Cleft Crusty]

My erstwhile compatriot at the UrinalScented wrote in his evaluation of the Bengals loss:

"Judged purely by point spreads, this was the Packers' worst upset loss in eight years. A 9-point pick Sunday, the last time they fell as a larger favorite (10 1/2 points) was against Atlanta in November 2001."

Crusty has an observation that Mr. McGinn seemed to have overlooked. Remarkably, in both games a plyaer wearing the same number in the defensive backfield got knocked out. Sunday it was Nick Collins and on that blustery November day it was LeRoy Butler. Butler severely damaged his shoulder late in a fantastic career and would never again play at Lambeau - or anywhere else.

[Fritz]

I feel like the gong of doom has been sounded with that last post, Cleft.

And how was Bart Starr a vindictive bastard, anyway? This Detroiter would like to hear that story.

[chain_gang]

Cleft, Is our poor offensive line play in pass protection,the result of having smaller more athletic lineman for our ZBS? With Clifton's injury, our starting Tackles seem to be on the small/light side Colledge(308) and Babre(305). Whereas Clifton(320) and Tauscher(318) were about about the standard in the league. Both of the Tackles Colledge and Babre looked like they were just overpowered in the past 2 weeks. Would it be a better idea to have Rodgers rolling out more, like Denver did with their QB's for so many years?

[sharpe1027]

Cleft,

First Question: What is it about LBer and FBs that make them such excellent special teams players?

Second Question: Why are our LBers and FBs lacking this important trait?

[Cleft Crusty]

Cleft,

First Question: What is it about LBer and FBs that make them such excellent special teams players?

Second Question: Why are our LBers and FBs lacking this important trait?

Blocking and tackling, with speed and athleticism are the qualities for good teams players (other than gunners). LBs and FBs should have those skills. Discipline helps a lot too, and Clefty thinks that was in short supply last Sunday.

[Cleft Crusty]

Cleft, Is our poor offensive line play in pass protection,the result of having smaller more athletic lineman for our ZBS? With Clifton's injury, our starting Tackles seem to be on the small/light side Colledge(308) and Babre(305). Whereas Clifton(320) and Tauscher(318) were about about the standard in the league. Both of the Tackles Colledge and Babre looked like they were just overpowered in the past 2 weeks. Would it be a better idea to have Rodgers rolling out more, like Denver did with their QB's for so many years?

At least at Tackle, the Size issue isn't as important as technique. Clifton has good technique and pretty good feet (movement), but he's getting up there in years. Colledge and Barbre - well, what kind of experience do they have? Another technique lineman have to have at the edges is the ability to get hands on the defender and punch him good in the chest and keep hands on him. Tauscher was really good at this. Barbre struggled mightily with that against Chicago, and Colledge against Cincy.

Rodgers may roll out more - not necessarily by scheme - but as part of running for his life. Clefty noted that at least one sack and some pressure was Rodger's fault in the Chicago game in that Rodgers could see the pressure coming from Barbre's side and didn't step up quickly enough. He improved on this in the Cincy game and was avoiding the rush from the right side of the line. However losing Clifton was too much - Rodgers basically turned into a piece of salami in a Bengal sandwich.

[Cleft Crusty]

I feel like the gong of doom has been sounded with that last post, Cleft.

And how was Bart Starr a vindictive bastard, anyway? This Detroiter would like to hear that story.

I'll have to check my notes, but recollection tells me that Starr would cut off reporters who were critical in the press. Not answer questions, might have even cut off access to the locker room. I will check my notes on that last one - I don't want to be overly harsh towards Starr. But he was a terse man, temperamental man as coach. I suppose anyone would be if they lost that much, and made as many poor personnel decisions in the draft.

Here's a Clefty open question: How many GM's careers have been made or broken based on their decision at the QB position?

[MichiganPackerFan]

Here's a Clefty open question: How many GM's careers have been made or broken based on their decision at the QB position?

All of them?

[pbmax]

Here's a Clefty open question: How many GM's careers have been made or broken based on their decision at the QB position?

All of them?

At least Brian Billick got a Super Bowl trophy first.

[Fritz]

So Thompson's fate is tied to Rodgers?

[MichiganPackerFan]

So Thompson's fate is tied to Rodgers?

I would think so

[Cleft Crusty]

HI Folks,

Sorry I missed the post game chat. Clefty dozed off before the game started and didn't wake up until Kurt Warner was running for his life in Arizona. But I recorded the game on my betamax.

A lot of wasted words will be written about the game coming up next Monday, and Clefty will probably write some of them. But before those words get written, Clefty has to tell Packer fans (remind them, that is) that they are very lucky to have a talent like Rodgers at QB. When you look across the Packer offense and ask which players actually change the game, Rodgers is the only guy. He's a blue chipper. Sure Driver can make a play here and there - so can Jennings. They are good pros. But Rodgers is a game changer. He throws an accurate deep ball, makes plays with his legs, and has an iron will self-control to not make the careless, killer interception. He might end up getting knocked around pretty good in Minnesota - their defense is that good and the Packer O-line is that bad. But Rodgers - along with Woodson on defense - are the two Great Players on the Packers and can turn a 7-9 or 8-8 team into an 11 win team that might have a shot at winning their division. It's exciting to watch, even for a Crusty old semi-retired reporter.

[Harlan Huckleby]

But Rodgers - along with Woodson on defense - are the two Great Players on the Packers and can turn a 7-9 or 8-8 team into an 11 win team

they are obviously the two best players on the packers, but more realistically they can turn that 7-9 team into an 8-8 team. They can't fix problems at O-line and safety.

IF Clifton comes back before too long and Barbre gets better with experience, then maybe we can have a playoff year.

I too fell asleep watching the game.

[Cleft Crusty]

Well Folks, the Packers Steelers Superbowl is upon us. Clefty has a couple of things to look for in the game:

1) The Steelers will test the Packer secondary early, trying to get their speedster Wallace lined up over Woodson. But it matters not who he lines up over - the Steelers want to give that deep shot a try - perhaps catch the rookie right away...

2) Much more likely: Steelers will go no-huddle every time the Packers trot out Green on running downs. The difficulty here is that the Steelers probably have to sacrifice a run blocker so that they can run three wide receiver sets, but that extra blocker is Spaeth, who is only a so-so run blocker. Make no mistake, Pittsburgh loves to pass the ball, and they can be much more effective if Green is in there trying to stop the run. With two weeks of prep, the Steelers have to know that the no-huddle is the one thing the Packer D has consistently struggled with, and while they aren't the best offense suited to run it, it may give them an edge and force the Packers out of their favorite run-stopping sets.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Cleft,

What do you think about pro football games on late thursday nights? I know you are mostly a highschool ball fan now, and the late night interferes with your sleeping schedule as well as that of the young athletes.