Heroes & Goats

[pbmax]

RE: Slocum and the popup kickoffs....

I'm guessing he's played through various scenarios and was doing tests. The hunch - given the coverage unit is 5 yards closer - if you give them 4.5-5 seconds, they can get to the 25 and engage with goal of having the opponent start inside their 20. We'll have to see if other teams try this on Sunday...

Are the few yards and possible fumble worth the risk of a TD or injuries? I have to presume they know the answer.

I'm definitely not a Slocum fan or apologist. STs have been our Achilles Heel for too long and wouldn't mind new leadership here.

Pop up kickoffs were OK by me. Like a punt to the sideline, it kills return chances in exchange for a few net yards. Better than starting them at midfield.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Wells was very good. I'm worried about Clifton. I don't see that he has it right now.

I think he held up on pass blocking, but he is not much on the run.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Pop up kickoffs were OK by me. Like a punt to the sideline, it kills return chances in exchange for a few net yards .

I think more teams will be practicing and using pop-up kicks, they make a lot of sense.

[Cheesehead Craig]

If Hawk gets goat status then so does Bishop. Bishop couldn't tackle and really wasn't all that impactful.

[mraynrand]

I was not impressed overall with Finley's (lack of) blocking. He whiffed on a few.

On one sack, he had no friggin' clue who he was supposed to block. He just jammed into the line like a fool. He has to be better than that. That's all mental. He had another gaffe where Rodgers had to tell him where to line up. He needs to get his head out of the igloo and onto the field when he's blocking.

[mraynrand]

Pop up kickoffs were OK by me. Like a punt to the sideline, it kills return chances in exchange for a few net yards. Better than starting them at midfield.

Yes. But only if you can't kick it out the back of the end zone.

[imscott72]

If Hawk gets goat status then so does Bishop. Bishop couldn't tackle and really wasn't all that impactful.

How does Hawk get goat status? I thought he was around the ball all night, and that PI call was absolute horseshit. That was an amazing game saving play. I thought Bishop had a pretty poor game, as did Shields..

[pbmax]

Yes. But only if you can't kick it out the back of the end zone.

Yeah, I am not sure why we haven't seen that from Crosby yet. He would seem to have the leg, but he has consistently been 8 yards deep and that is it.

[pbmax]

How does Hawk get goat status? I thought he was around the ball all night, and that PI call was absolute horseshit. That was an amazing game saving play. I thought Bishop had a pretty poor game, as did Shields..

No blitz pressure (though on tipped pass) and he whiffed in the flat on Sproles (?) and that was the tackle Collins and Williams collided on.

[imscott72]

Yeah, I am not sure why we haven't seen that from Crosby yet. He would seem to have the leg, but he has consistently been 8 yards deep and that is it.

Meh, 8 yards deep is good enough. 90% of the time they aren't going to bring it out when you kick it that deep.

[RashanGary]

The other rookie TE (who's supposedly the special teams demon) was inactive since he's dinged up. Hopefully when he comes back, our special teams will become good.

6'2", great hands (I know, he's been out of rhythm so far, but great hands in college). 245 lbs. . .

Looks like MM has plans to use him as an H-back. Kind of a flexible player. If he gets into the groove on offense, having him and Finley on the field (Finley made some really good blocks) could turn into a very unpredictable package.

[Cheesehead Craig]

How does Hawk get goat status? I thought he was around the ball all night, and that PI call was absolute horseshit. That was an amazing game saving play.

I saw some comments about Hawk being a goat in the thread but Bishop seemed to be getting a pass on his crummy play.

I watched Hawk's PI play and I think I see where the officials are coming from. When Hawk first starts his jump, his left arm clocks Sproles in the head. THat's what I think the official called.

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d822118e8/Packers-commit-penalty-in-end-zone

[imscott72]

No blitz pressure (though on tipped pass) and he whiffed in the flat on Sproles (?) and that was the tackle Collins and Williams collided on.

I think you guys are being too hard on him. I don't know how many times they blitzed him, but thought he was fairly solid in coverage. Sure he whiffed one tackle, but so did a lot of guys. He was in the backfield a lot. Goat status is too harsh imo. I was really disappointed in Shields and Bishop more than anyone.

[Harlan Huckleby]

There was no pass rush, the Packers kept sending multiple rushers up the middle and Saints O-linemen seemed to easily pick everything up. Who is at fault for that? The blitzers? Dline? Capers?

As MM would say, "we'll get that cleaned up."

[RashanGary]

Cobb has a similar game to Jennings. Smart, good route adjustments, smooth, quick hands, fast, quick, natural. . . . I'm a big Jennings fan, thought there was slim chance he could be Jennings good. Now I wonder. Do we have two Jennings?

Cobb actually looks a little better shaking tackles. That's a great slot characteristic. Jennings is so dynamic outside, has a little more size. . . . I don't know. . . . Hard to put limits on Cobb right now. Jennings uses his body so well for a guy his size. Goes up and gets the ball like he's 6'3", shields defenders like he's 220lbs. . . I like Cobb with the ball in his hands as much as Jennings in the small sample. Jennings sets a high bar as a complete WR though.

Similar to Jennings but a little different. Looks like we have a star though.