Who is to blame?

[3irty1]

I don't think anybody will argue that Ted Thompson has assembled a deep and talented roster. The Packers have shown the ability to be elite on both sides of the ball. His approach was a welcome change from the Mike Sherman era but with the success of the Bears and Vikings during the TT era using opposite tactics in building their respective teams leaves some of us craving the "big move." Given the lack of success against our division rivals its hard to argue that our way is the best way. Especially when in an NFC North that is ready for the taking, Thompson lets Lynch slip away while Minnesota makes a move for Randy Moss to fill their injury void at WR.

Mike McCarthy is a personality that fits the organization perfectly and is one of the brightest offensive minds in the game. His multiples offense can seemingly score at will when it absolutely must in order to keep the game close but also can play down the competition. He does a good job of creating an offensive game plan and gets his team to finish the season strong. The only thing seemingly consistent with his teams is the inconsistency. On a micro level the penalties, lack of running game, and poor offensive line play are not what Green Bay fans have come to expect after the last two decades under the other Mike's. On a major level Packer fans have been conditioned to expect at least a winning record and a playoff berth which was nearly automatic under the previous Mike's. McCarthy has been a relative roller coaster.

Who if anyone should the Packers look to upgrade? I'm not looking for responses like "McFatty's playcalling sux!!!11." Seriously, what specifically needs to change?

[Bretsky]

It goes without saying IMO that the special teams units have been miserable the past two years. On NFL Network one of the players interviewed was noted their coach always use to say if they can excel on special teams that might be good for an extra 2-3 wins.

IMO you can put us at a Negative Two

Slocum is tops on my list of the really poor coaches.....and heck.......I'm not sure who the really good ones are anymore

I've always felt that our QB coach may be the most overqualified coach per the position he's covering on this team. I still like Dom and Kevin Greene.

How many coaches on this squad have a shot to be head coaches in the not so distant future ?

[Cheesehead Craig]

While I like the build through the draft mentality, I do believe that we are at the point where another big FA needs to be brought in. Who that would be I don't know. We need that big playmaker (read pass-rushing DL or OLB) to get this team over the hump. We have pretty good depth due to the solid and numerous draft picks the past few years. What is needed is another blue-chip talent and paying for it is a must. Granted I realize that those could blow up in our face, but at this point it's a risk that must be taken.

So I would say that TT's approach needs to be adjusted. Not overhauled, just adjusted.

[Joemailman]

I see a situation where McCarthy and Philbin allow the opposition to determine what the Packers do offensively. Some teams make a commitment to running the football. The Packers allow the opposing defense to determine if the Packers will run the football. The Packers have a group of receivers who are, or were, the best in the league at YAC. Yet the Packers have practically abandoned the slant because opposing defenses have made moves to try to take it away. The Packers have no offensive identity, because their offensive identity is determined by the defensive staff of the opposing team.

[3irty1]

It goes without saying IMO that the special teams units have been miserable the past two years. On NFL Network one of the players interviewed was noted their coach always use to say if they can excel on special teams that might be good for an extra 2-3 wins.

IMO you can put us at a Negative Two

Slocum is tops on my list of the really poor coaches.....and heck.......I'm not sure who the really good ones are anymore

I've always felt that our QB coach may be the most overqualified coach per the position he's covering on this team. I still like Dom and Kevin Greene.

How many coaches on this squad have a shot to be head coaches in the not so distant future ?

Agreed. There is truly no reason to keep slocum around. I'd extend the blame for special teams to Thompson. He keeps a pile of TEs, LBs, FB's, on the roster because that body type is believed to be the most useful on special teams but our list of quality special teams specialists is limited to our gunners Bush and Shields and Crosby depending on who you ask. While our division rivals are thriving on special teams specialists including two electric return men, reliable punting game, and solid kickers.

I'd like to add Bennett to the list of solid coaches. We've seen steady improvement from all RBs that have joined the Pack.

[Sparkey]

The Packer offense has become a "jack of all trades, master of none"

[Freak Out]

I heard a stat today from Dilfer on ESPN that GB has had 17 4th quarter possessions and 1 TD to show for it.

Rodgers? M3?

[pbmax]

I heard a stat today from Dilfer on ESPN that GB has had 17 4th quarter possessions and 1 TD to show for it.

Rodgers? M3?

I think they are up to two TDs now.

[3irty1]

The Packer offense has become a "jack of all trades, master of none"

Agree for sure.

We have enough offensive plays to play a triple header. Makes you wonder how they'd do if they practiced one game worth of plays 3x more.

[red]

special teams

fat ass mcgeee(m3)

and a-rod

i watched rodgers closly yesterday. IMO he has regressed big time. he's holding the ball way too long looking for the home run, and he seems to only be locking on to one receiver at a time and not going through his progressions and not picking up obvious blitzes

i think i got mctubby figured out. you just have to listen to him one time to figure out this is not a very bright man, yet he thinks he's the smartest man in the room. i have a feeling the even though he's as dumb as a rock, he is completely unwilling to listen to anyone else who might actually hold an answer to one of our many problems

i think instead of getting someone with a brain that can think and adjust on his feet to run the team, we have the epitome of the fat dumb jock running the team.

he is in waaay over his head as a head coach, but he's just too stubborn and stupid to know it. he has to go for this team to take the next step

special teams speaks for itself. they got their asses kicked by what was considered the worst ST in football yesterday. so what does that say about us

[denverYooper]

The Packer offense has become a "jack of all trades, master of none"

Agree for sure.

We have enough offensive plays to play a triple header. Makes you wonder how they'd do if they practiced one game worth of plays 3x more.

I'm on board with this. They might be complicating themselves out of games right now. No better example than last week when they failed to ride BJack.

The only benefit I can see is if everything starts clicking soon and they can run circles around people. I am not holding out hope at this point though.

I felt like the D was scaled back quite a bit yesterday to pretty vanilla compared to what they were running a few weeks ago. They didn't get pressure but they didn't kill themselves either. They just tried to make tackles and limit big plays.

[Pugger]

If Rodgers has regressed, then I place the blame on MM and the other offensive coaches. Rodgers has been getting the crap beat out of him so it is no wonder he is getting skiddish back there. I would too. MM is no Einstein for sure but the entire offense starts up front so the biggest culprit in this mess IMO is Campen.

[3irty1]

Don't buy the "McWhatever is stupid" argument. If he's shown anything in GB its that he's at least a great offensive mind. His philosophies are truly bleeding edge. I question ability to run a practice but his game plans are truly top tier. I'm also impressed with the majority of his play calling. If anything he may be too cerebral, he's always probing for exploits and mismatches when "cramming it down their throats" is just what the Dr. ordered.

I still think he's one of the better coaches in the league and to anyone who would disagree I'd ask: Would you rather have the coaching staff of either of our division rivals?

[Packers4Glory]

what needs to change? Someone has to hold the players accountable and get the dumb penalties in check.

2. a real commitment to special teams. ST seems to be an after thought in the MM TT era.

This team is plagued by stupid penalties and horrific special teams play.


That and they need to upgrade the O-line.

They also need to commit to the run, even if its not entirely effective in a ypc sense. they need it to run it to keep the defense honest and to make play action more effective. Also to run more plays/time on the clock because the defense is getting flat out worn out and beat up playing so many plays and minutes per game. We need to start winning some time of possession or at least even it up more so its not so one sided.

[digitaldean]

If Rodgers has regressed, I'd say it's been minimal. The short throw for the INT yesterday, definitely his fault, plus the pass to Nelson in the red zone (6 inches shorter we probably have a first down or TD).

But the drops by Jones and Nelson are horrible. Bulaga can keep Orakpo at bay during the Wash. game, but Wake ate him up. Then MM gives Bulaga ZERO help.

Overall, the offense as a whole is playing subpar. Substandard blocking when they do try running it. Inconsistent results, mainly due to lack of commitment and execution. Yes, having Grant out hurts a ton. Hall didn't help a lot in the pass protection end either.

Special teams are abyssmal. Look at the Queens game yesterday. If Harvin doesn't return that KO for a TD, NO WAY does Minny beat Dallas. (even though Dallas can't seem to get out of it's own way). Masthay should be replaced immediately. Only bright spots from him were the inside the 20 kicks. Otherwise, he was hitting 1 iron line drives, especially in OT. KO coverage was lousy to start with, but with the injuries we now even more scrubbier players on the ST.

Get Swain out on the returns. Bench Nelson from the return team.