A Decade of Wasted Opportunities

[MadtownPacker]

Yes it is but I had to get the apologists worked up cause whenever Brett throws a pic, it's the coach's,WR's,sun,noise level,Oline's,did I mention WR's,fans,....fault,never Brett's.

If you recall the interview after the playoff loss to the Rams when Favre was asked how he felt about throwing 6 picks, Favre stated ""Nothing's inconceivable to me," Favre said. "I could have thrown eight had we gotten the ball back, you know.".

Doesnt sound like he needed any apologists to me.

[esoxx]

We had our chance against Denver, and we didn't carpe diem. That's on Holmgren, not Shermy. All Shermy did was bust his nads trying to get us to the promised land. Holmgren was there and didn't take advantage of it.

LOL

This just in. Holmgren won a Superbowl here.

THAT SUPER BOWL LOSS WAS ON MANY MORE PEOPLE THAN HOLMY.

Where were the defensive adjustments; heck, did our DL even show up ? I have a hard time with people blaming Holmy for that loss; he tried lecturing us against overconfidence, but bottom line IMO was the players believed they had it made (per the media) and didn't come ready to play.

Our defense was horrible all day long that day.

B

You're right B. The defense was abysmal that day, especially the run defense. Sieve like. Then we catch a break and TD has to sit out for a quarter of the game but still couldn't capitalize.

The blame I give to Holmgren in that game is not sticking with the run game. Levens was just gashing the Broncos early in the game. They were an undersized front and could not handle it. He got a bit cute trying to pass too much and burn the blitz. I know Harry Sydney has repeatedly said the offensive coaches were steamed when they didn't ride Levens more that game b/c they couldn't stop him.

Regarding Sherman, what I find hard to believe is he couldn't even guide them to the NFC Championship Game w/ Favre, that O-line and Ahman Green at the height of his game. It is sad more damage wasn't done these past 10 years.

[Creepy]

What I rememeber most is the final time GB had the ball. Favre back, Freeman on a crossing pattern and he drops it. The look showed he had a good chance of taking it into the end-zone. Instead GB ends that same series with a 4th down incompletion. I don't think Holmgren made a mistake, I just belive too many things went wrong for GB to win.

1. Sean Gilbert going out in the first series
2. Holmgren activating a new DB (believ it was Haynes, but not sure) and leaving a third DE out of the game. He was more worried about Elways arm than his Davis' legs.
3. Having to move (can't remember his name) to DE though he was a DT and they just kept running sweep after sweep after sweep at him.
4. Not running Dorsey enough, even though he was tearing the Broncos apart.
5. Freeman dropping an almost assured TD on the final drive.

GB had what it needed to win the 97 SB, they just didn't make the right decisons, and when it mattered made the bigger mistakes.

[mraynrand]

I know Harry Sydney has repeatedly said the offensive coaches were steamed when they didn't ride Levens more that game b/c they couldn't stop him.

Especially on two occasions:

1) when the Packers got the ball at midfield tied 24 all, they should have rode Levens into the end zone. Their D was whipped and they needed to control the ball. When Favre overthrew Freeman on a deep out, the drive sputtered

2) On the final drive, Favre was tossing swing passes to Levens and no one was covering him. Inexplicably, Holmgren started tossing the ball downfield. Denver was pretty much playing prevent with a bunch of d-backs hurt and the short dump off pass was wide open, time and again. If that was on Favre, so be it. But they could have gotten closer dropping off to Levens. Then they could have taken shots at the end zone.

[cpk1994]

All Shermy did was bust his nads trying to get us to the promised land. Holmgren was there and didn't take advantage of it.

Please! You Sherman apologists are grasping at straws. Do you forget trading up to get BJ Sander? How about the drafting of Johnathon Lee? Donnell Washington? Trading 2 picks for R-Cal Truluck? Signing Hardly Nickerson? Should I givve you more examples. Face it, Sherman totally destroyed the depth of the team, but thats okay to people like you becasue he "bussted his nads to get us to the promised land". God, you you love Sherman so damn bad, why don't you put on a Texans hat and move to Houston so you can continue to kiss his ass. You also seem to forget that part of the reason the Pack was this far under the cap was because of the new CBA.

[Iron Mike]

We had our chance against Denver, and we didn't carpe diem. That's on Holmgren, not Shermy. All Shermy did was bust his nads trying to get us to the promised land. Holmgren was there and didn't take advantage of it.

LOL

This just in. Holmgren won a Superbowl here.

THAT SUPER BOWL LOSS WAS ON MANY MORE PEOPLE THAN HOLMY.

I'm gonna blame it all on Gabe Wilkins!

[mraynrand]

I'm gonna blame it all on Gabe Wilkins!

If you're picking one guy to pin that loss on, you've made a fine selection.

[mraynrand]

BTW,
That drop by Freeman on the final drive wasn't a guaranteed TD, and the pass was behind him - but he should have caught it.


ALSO, how many think Holgren would have gone for two if the Packers had scored a TD to make it 31-30. IF they had scored, and Holmgren had gone for 2, that would have been the most exciting play in Superbowl history.

[Bretsky]

Oh, but I think it was a TD; the CB covering Freeman had fallen down if memory serves me right. I think it was a free ride from there.

THEN AGAIN, Denver would have had time to come back for the winning field goal, and the way our D played they probably would have.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Actually, I remember Freeman being covered well on that play. It's a pass that Favre had to try to thread in there, and they just missed. If anybody has video of that game, I'd like to know what is fact.

[Bretsky]

Freeman was well covered until the guy lost his footing; the ball was a bit behind Freeman and I think it hit him in the shoulder pad. If the pud would have caught it with his hands we'd have been fine.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Freeman was well covered until the guy lost his footing; the ball was a bit behind Freeman and I think it hit him in the shoulder pad. If the pud would have caught it with his hands we'd have been fine.

Funny! My recollection is that he was tightly covered. The DB slipped as Freeman was diving for the ball. I remember the ball going off Freeman's fingertips--not off his shoulder pad. Now, I want to know what actually happened.

[Noodle]

Thanks for the always helpful observation, SC. But the question was why Favre isn't dangling two rings. I give credit to Holmgren for No. 1, but I think he bears a big burden for not getting No. 2.

A lot of stuff has to bounce your way to even get into the SB, and my point was that if you're fortunate enough to get there, then you've got to seize your opportunity.

The Pack didn't do that against Denver, a team that most observers would have said at the time we should've beaten, and I've never gotten over that lost opportunity.

[packerpete]

I have a video of that game, I have not been able to make myself put the fucking thing in the VCR since the game ended.

I still have that goddam tape, I may never play that fucking thing.

Gabe Wilkins is the biggest pussy that ever lived. He got a few cut blocks and he ran to the sidelines with a fake boo-boo. Darius Holland was over his head with that pansy Seth Joyner behind him in run defense on our right side. Goodbye fourth SB title, Hello first loss in a Championship game since 1960.

The Packers had to let Wilkins go after the way he quit on his teammates in that game, he wouldnt have gotten out of the locker room alive the next season. Besides, I think that destroyed his confidence too, look at how he became completely invisible with the 9ers.

That said, I still place a great deal of blame on Holmgren for being a distraction by answering questions about his uncertain future all during the 2 week lead up to the game. That prick was just trying to build his image for other teams to increase his price and reputation instead of getting his team ready and keeping them focused. Then he played 98 trying not to lose, not trying to win, just to guarantee he would get a fat offer. The team won in spite of him that year, not because of him. I appreciate what he did for GB, but I hate what he did in the end.

I also remember quite a lot of calls going against the Pack including an obvious interference call that wasnt made on Freeman, then Favres pass went past him and was intercepted in the first half.

I had friends over to watch the game and they left because they thought I was going to kill something. I wouldnt have actually killed anything except maybe Wilkins if I could have reached him.

Thanks for dredging up this vile bitter piece of history, anyone wanna talk about that Jerry Rice fumble, or a debacle in Philadelphia while we are at it?

[Bretsky]

Freeman was well covered until the guy lost his footing; the ball was a bit behind Freeman and I think it hit him in the shoulder pad. If the pud would have caught it with his hands we'd have been fine.

Funny! My recollection is that he was tightly covered. The DB slipped as Freeman was diving for the ball. I remember the ball going off Freeman's fingertips--not off his shoulder pad. Now, I want to know what actually happened.

Ah, just take my word for it