Lift up your cup to 7-4 the rest of the year!

[MadtownPacker]

Packers are currently 3rd in the NFC in points scored and 7th in points allowed. They are only one game behind the NFC leading Bears and Falcons in terms of record, and they have lost two road games by a total of 6 points to the aforementioned Bears and 3-2 Redskins, a .700 combined winning percentage for those two teams. No shame in that.

Statistically speaking they are well positioned for a possible playoff run.

Injuries will be key to the remainder of the season. The team is slightly underperforming preseason expectations, but not drastically. The sky is not falling.

So could it be coaching that is the issue?

How you doing BTW.

[superfan]

Superfan I don't mean to be following you around but everywhere I look you're bringing it with solid facts and logic. Informative and much appreciated.

Sorry, vince, I'll try to get back to the basics and focus more on bitching and complaining than analysis. "We'll get that fixed."

Optimism and sound analysis. Preperation.

That's why Superfan is 'ripping it' this season in the Pro Pick'em. He's 'the man'. I would venture to say that at this time. There isn't a more successful Pro analyst in all of the NFL sites, then our guy, Superfan.

An amazing record to date. A Packerrat.

Kudos.

The Pick'em success has been more luck and instinct than anything, very little prep work. I'll enjoy it while it lasts. If I was actually betting on those picks that record would probably be reversed. That's usually how it goes - as soon as you think you have it figured out and put money on the line, the luck turns on you.

So could it be coaching that is the issue?

How you doing BTW.

Doing relatively solid, nice to see you around here again.

I don't think the relatively disappointing 3-2 record can be blamed directly on coaching, or any other one thing for that matter. When the point differential is only 3 points, there are dozens of things that could be identified that, if they had gone differently, could have made a difference in the outcome.

Bears - James Jones fumble in the 4th quarter that magically sat about a foot from OB without going out. Team record 18 penalties, perhaps the most damaging was Burnett's PI on the final drive. Blocked FG. Giving up a punt return TD. Awful pass protection by the OTs. Failing to convert a turnover into points. Failing to hold the Bears to a FG at the end of the half. TD pass to Finley wiped out due to holding penalty on Tauscher.

Redskins - Two missed FGs, the last one by a matter of inches. Interception in OT. Losing Finley, Lee, Pickett, Matthews. Dropped passes. Three second quarter drives that combined totaled 10 plays and -1 yards. Failing to cause a turnover. Failing to convert on 4th down at the Washington 1 yard line. Converting 2 of 13 3rd downs. Failing to stop 3rd and 18 on the 2nd quarter drive that ultimately lead to a Washington FG.

Rewatching the games would probably produce even more factors that ultimately contributed to defeat. Not to mention injuries to Harris and Grant - having those guys healthy should result in at minimum a 3 point swing.

Some of these issues could certainly be attributable to coaching - such as lack of commitment to running game, penalties, poor special teams, and some questionable play calling and challenges. But there are too many other factors, and too narrow margins of defeat, to hang it all on the coaches.

[Joemailman]

Some of these issues could certainly be attributable to coaching - such as lack of commitment to running game, penalties, poor special teams, and some questionable play calling and challenges. But there are too many other factors, and too narrow margins of defeat, to hang it all on the coaches.

I agree it's hard to place everything that's happened on the coach. They're 3-2. Could easily be 5-0. Or 1-4. Yet if they were 5-0, MM would be no better a coach than he is at 3-2. He's put this team in a position where they had a chance to win every week. Some things, like fumbles and field goal attempts that hit the uprights a coach cannot control.

Nice sig. Any idea who Harv was referring to?

[superfan]

Really like this:

...They're 3-2. Could easily be 5-0. Or 1-4. Yet if they were 5-0, MM would be no better a coach than he is at 3-2. He's put this team in a position where they had a chance to win every week. Some things, like fumbles and field goal attempts that hit the uprights a coach cannot control.

Being in a position to win every week is about all that can be reasonably expected. The head coach in particular seems to get too much credit for success and too much blame for losses, in any sport.

What if Cowher was on the sideline for the two losses this year? Would the outcomes have been any different? Impossible to say. Pretty certain there would have been more of a commitment to the run game, thus completely changing the flow of the games. But the guy standing on the sideline has absolutely zero impact on whether Jones fumbles or holds on to the ball, or Crosby hits his last FG an extra foot to the right.

I think the only way to really evaluate coaching is to look at trends over time. In that regard a case can be made against McCarthy and his staff in regards to penalties and challenges, and Slocum in regards to special teams. And we had plenty of film back in the day to get a decent idea of Schotty's skills as a coach, or lack thereof.

Nice sig. Any idea who Harv was referring to?

BJack. I believe it also could be an accurate description of SkinBasket.

[The Leaper]

So far, we are finding it difficult to win on the road...and we have quite a few tough opponents left on the road. While I don't think 7-4 is impossible, I'm guessing it would be slight odds.

9-7 will make the playoffs in the NFC this year, so Green Bay only needs to go 6-5 the rest of the way to earn a playoff spot IMO (while hoping that the Redskin loss doesn't come back to haunt us in terms of tiebreakers).

[The Leaper]

Thompson's steady hand in acquiring talent put this team in a position where they had a chance to win every week.

Fixed.

Sorry...but McCarthy getting outcoached in the 2nd half by other coaches who make far better halftime adjustments isn't putting us in a position to win. The fact that our roster is vastly more talented top to bottom that most teams we will play is what gives us that chance.

McCarthy is a mediocre coach...and his record against teams with a record similar or better than his team's bears that out. He can beat the pansies (Buffalo, Lions) but gets kicked in the teeth by teams with smarter head coaches and at least respectable talent (Bears, Redskins).

[Joemailman]

So far, we are finding it difficult to win on the road...and we have quite a few tough opponents left on the road. While I don't think 7-4 is impossible, I'm guessing it would be slight odds.

9-7 will make the playoffs in the NFC this year, so Green Bay only needs to go 6-5 the rest of the way to earn a playoff spot IMO (while hoping that the Redskin loss doesn't come back to haunt us in terms of tiebreakers).

Last year it took 10-6 in the NFC to make it. I suppose 9-7 is possibly enough to make it because the worst teams in the NFC aren't as bad as they were last year. Therefore, the records of the top teams may not be as good. If it does come down to 9-7 though, tie-breakers may well come into play. The Packers can't afford many more NFC losses.

[Tarlam!]

Superfan I don't mean to be following you around but everywhere I look you're bringing it with solid facts and logic. Informative and much appreciated.

Sorry, vince, I'll try to get back to the basics and focus more on bitching and complaining than analysis. "We'll get that fixed."

Geez, that made me laugh! BOMNF!!!!

[Fritz]

"Sorry, vince, I'll try to get back to the basics and focus more on bitching and complaining than analysis. "We'll get that fixed." Wink"

Your pad level is too low. Come on now. Can't you play with a higher pad level like the rest of us street FA signings?

[woodbuck27]

Go take you unfounded cynicism elsewhere!

Eli Manning and the Giants suck and are in a tough division
Atlanta?! We will destroy them.
NE no deep threat or running game.
The Lions!? Really the Lions will beat us? You are a moron for this pick, not a moron in real life you seem cool, but this pick could be made by Chunk in the Goonies!
MN is a fing MESS. Favre will not finish the season and their secondary couldnt stop a JV squad.
the Bears are clicking but they have Cutler...that should be enough for them to come back down to earth.

This team has not lost that much to injuries as everyone is complaining about. Really where is the huge drop off? TT built a solid fing roster that can handle some set backs

I take it that tirade was directed at me. I have been called a lot of things...cynical moron is a new one.

1. I live here in ATL and watch this team. They are better than you are giving them credit for.
2. How much did we beat Detroit by at HOME???
3. I don't believe the Giants suck. Are they Great? No, but they don't suck.
4. NE is at home and I believe that gives them the edge.

I still think this team...the way they are playing...is closer to 7-9 or 8-8 than they are to 10-6. I guess McCarthy could pull his head out of his playcalling ass and this team could start playing like the team everyone expected but I don't see it. I hope I'm wrong but I don't see it. So, I guess we will have to agree to disagree.

And I won't call you a kool-aid chugging moron for not seeing my point of view.

You are calling me a kool-aid chugging moron!!! BAN THIS MAN!!! hehe

You are wrong. Flat out wrong. If this team goes LESS than 10-6 Ill cheer for the bears in the playoffs.

Well that's a wee tad extreme isn't it? Cheering for da Bears is really tossing yourself into the cave.

If MM doesn't pull his head out of his ass and straps on what he has to work with he'll lose the dressing room.

He has to design his game plans to utilize what he has. What TT has allowed him. He has to engineer an offensive attack that utilizes a running game and sets up the pass. Too much pass means clock control for any team that has a decent running game.

Either that or he continues the pass happy offense and pours thaton for most of the plays and goes then with a wish and a prayer. Until he runs into a real team with a real 'D' and he gets walloped. Aaron Rodgers gets picked.

WE can scream play calling all day long, but at the end of the day we win only iif OUR OL can make our offense work on the ground. Clock control! It's now a wait and see for our 'D'. So 'pour on the offense' for the entire game and if the running game is working stay with that to get inside 'the Red Zone'. We need to control the clock more. We need faith in our running game or TT has to do something to fix that, next season.

This is a wait and see season. Lofty projections of us and Super Bowl doesn't see that done or make it happen.

TT and MM have to make that happen. I'm not seeing it and I want to see moves that give that a REAL chance. As fans lets try to get real.

GO PACKERS!

[woodbuck27]

Packers are currently 3rd in the NFC in points scored and 7th in points allowed. They are only one game behind the NFC leading Bears and Falcons in terms of record, and they have lost two road games by a total of 6 points to the aforementioned Bears and 3-2 Redskins, a .700 combined winning percentage for those two teams. No shame in that.

Statistically speaking they are well positioned for a possible playoff run.

Injuries will be key to the remainder of the season. The team is slightly underperforming preseason expectations, but not drastically. The sky is not falling.

So could it be coaching that is the issue?

How you doing BTW.

Not good Mad.

It's been one MF crazy year to date 'just relying' on pure analysis. That should work and it hasn't to date. I believe it will come back to that but I'm getting out of touch early....but still time as my goal is at least TOP TEN.

Superfan is heads and shoulders out there over by far most so called EXPERT analysts to date. He's got some magic recipe that noone else has. The real deal. I've watched his results over five seasons and he's been banging on the door and finally he's the man.

Noone will touch Superfan in our Pro Pickem this season. That's not the real deal. There can be 'only'one champion. Everyone else has to look at their position and have faith that will improve. It's TOP TEN baby! That's where you wanna be.

I'll be there when the smoke clears, Mad. That... or my head shaking will set up looking forward to next season.

[Tony Oday]

well 7-3 the rest of the year

[mmmdk]

well 7-3 the rest of the year

I say 3-7 rest of the way - bet on it.

[Tony Oday]

well 7-3 the rest of the year

I say 3-7 rest of the way - bet on it.

Well I am a fan and actually cheer for my team to do well and am optimistic in my outlook

[Joemailman]

Pretty good chance they get Matthews, Pickett and Neal back next week. The season can still be salvaged, but the offense needs to get in gear.