McCarthy's Playcalling

[Fritz]

Wow. I just read the post-game pages of the game thread, and I am amazed at the criticism of McCarthy.

I thought that this was some of the best play-calling he's done all year, maybe ever. He mixed things up - the third down play calls were quite good, I thought. Jennings had a drop on the first drive that would've put the ball on the Philly 25 and of course James "Iron Hands" Jones dropped what looked like a touchdown pass. Those two plays alone cost the Packers at least six points.

My only disappointment was with the very end of the game play calling. After running on first down on that last possession, I really wanted a play action pass to get a first down. However, it is still hard to fault MM for running when Philly had no timeouts. So while I wish MM had been slightly more aggressive on that last drive, had he done so and had Arod thrown an incomplete, there's more time for Vick, so I get his logic.

I just thought MM really called a fine game tonight. Helped, of course, by the fact that he had a running game.

[gbgary]

he's getting better. he only sucked in the forth quarter.

[Cheesehead Craig]

Does this count as a close win even though it was 5 pts? I mean usually a close, gritty, gutty win only happens in 4 point games but wondering if we can make an exception in this case.

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

he's getting better. he only sucked in the forth quarter.

I agree with this. I liked how we were sticking to the run early in the game, but I expected some creativity in the 4th.

[packerbacker1234]

Does this count as a close win even though it was 5 pts? I mean usually a close, gritty, gutty win only happens in 4 point games but wondering if we can make an exception in this case.

You would have to think it counts, simply because philly was driving and had us back on our heals, making us nervous Vick was going to come through. Than Williams wins his one on one in the endzone for the pick. It has to be considered a "close win" just given the fact it took a intereception to seal the game.

[Fritz]

So if MM goes for some passes late in the game and they fall incomplete and clock is stopped, giving Vick more time, then he's criticized for not being smart enough to run the ball when Starks was having such a good game. I don't get you guys sometimes.

[gbgary]

So if MM goes for some passes late in the game and they fall incomplete and clock is stopped, giving Vick more time, then he's criticized for not being smart enough to run the ball when Starks was having such a good game. I don't get you guys sometimes.

nothing should have changed in the forth quarter. he got run happy and this put too much pressure on the d.

[esoxx]

The second half of the game day thread proved people were either drunk by that point or already retarded.

[MJZiggy]

So if MM goes for some passes late in the game and they fall incomplete and clock is stopped, giving Vick more time, then he's criticized for not being smart enough to run the ball when Starks was having such a good game. I don't get you guys sometimes.

When your mind is already made up you only look for that which validates your already formed viewpoint. With some here, he will never be right.

[RashanGary]

I thought it was a great called game too. I loved AR's game too. He's never been a game manager really but today he managed the game masterfully. It will open other things up too. ATL is setting up nicely I think.

[Cheesehead Craig]

So if MM goes for some passes late in the game and they fall incomplete and clock is stopped, giving Vick more time, then he's criticized for not being smart enough to run the ball when Starks was having such a good game. I don't get you guys sometimes.

+1. Thought he did a great job.

[packerbacker1234]

nothing should have changed in the forth quarter. he got run happy and this put too much pressure on the d.

Nothing really did change. Rely on what got you to where you were in that game: Effectiveness running the ball, and defensive shut downs.

That is really what got us where we went, despite Rodgers playing so well. Sure, in what we ran for most th year it makes since to throw and it and try to score, but ask the packers how that has donefor them all season in tight games. Hasn't worked out too well. This time, it worked.

We won. We have a chance to beat atlanta next week. I'm not too upset about anything.

[gbgary]

Nothing really did change. Rely on what got you to where you were in that game: Effectiveness running the ball, and defensive shut downs.

That is really what got us where we went, despite Rodgers playing so well. Sure, in what we ran for most th year it makes since to throw and it and try to score, but ask the packers how that has donefor them all season in tight games. Hasn't worked out too well. This time, it worked.

We won. We have a chance to beat atlanta next week. I'm not too upset about anything.

you forgot about the three touchdown passes by rodgers. i'm not upset either but if that final ball had been caught for a touchdown i bet the tune would be very different.

[Joemailman]

Does this count as a close win even though it was 5 pts? I mean usually a close, gritty, gutty win only happens in 4 point games but wondering if we can make an exception in this case.

Nope, this was a blowout. Don't tell me you were nervous!

[pbmax]

Does this count as a close win even though it was 5 pts? I mean usually a close, gritty, gutty win only happens in 4 point games but wondering if we can make an exception in this case.

Gritty, maybe. We will have to check with some lunch pail people on that. But it wasn't close, not when you win by 5 points going away.