Should M3 rest the starters?

[MadtownPacker]

Beside, the last two games allow for playoff kisses of death to DET and CHI. Just ask Lovie.

[channtheman]

Beside, the last two games allow for playoff kisses of death to DET and CHI. Just ask Lovie.

I was just thinking this. If we have a chance to knock the Bears and the Lions out of the playoffs, you'd have to be a fucking idiot to rest starters and let them in.

[mission]

I was just thinking this. If we have a chance to knock the Bears and the Lions out of the playoffs, you'd have to be a fucking idiot to rest starters and let them in.

The best part is we can spend all season saying "we had nothing to play for" all offseason... but after beating them.

[Joemailman]

Play the starters until you have a sizable lead. Then fire Slocum.

[channtheman]

Play the starters until you have a sizable lead. Then fire Slocum.

This.

[King Friday]

I'd rather see us rest people the next two weeks...then all hands on deck (if near full health) the last 2 weeks. Coasting into the playoffs by letting up the last couple games is a poor choice, but some down time in weeks 14/15 in non-conference games seems smart to me.

[George Cumby]

Play the starters until you have a sizable lead. Then fire Slocum.

+2

[mraynrand]

Play the starters until you have a sizable lead. Then fire Slocum.

funny

[Upnorth]

So if the starters play we can fire Slocum? Seeing as it is Wednesday, LET EM PLAY! (then do as Joe says)

[RashanGary]

I say rest guys who are slightly injured that would play in a playoff game. Otherwise, business as usual.

I'd play guys a little less. . . . Maybe cut back on 20% of Raji, Woodson, Matthews, Jennings, Finley. . . . Maybe bring Starks back a week late. Same with Hawk or Bishop if they're not quiet ready.

If you decide you want to take some abuse off the OL, do it at the end of the game and take Rodgers out too.

I don't see any benefit in not playing guys. There is a sharpness / groove thing that happens. Not playing, I don't think that's good for anyone. Playing a little less for four weeks so you're strong enough to get a good heavy lift in on Tuesday to keep your weight on. . . . That's never hurt anyone.

There is this thing called a winning mentality. . . . Some coaches really buy into it. MM is one of those coaches. Something tells me his foot is going to be to the floor until they kick him off the track.

[RashanGary]

One thing you might see. . . . . A much lighter load during the week, then balls to the walls on Sunday. There is more than one way to allow a football player to get some strength back. Practice is nice, but it's nothing like the real life tune up that happens every Sunday.

After further thought, I'm going to say foot to the floor, the usual precautions and then don't drive guys so hard during the week. Sundays are special. You don't start a culture of half-assing it on Sunday. Taking care of your body is one thing. No NFL team is run by retards. All teams take care of their guys during the week. Not trying to win. . . . That's sacrilegious.

And if you are going to take some stress off during the week, make damn sure everyone knows every minute they're at work they're preparing to win. No half-ass, we got this thing locked up attitude, not at any point. Never. On Sunday, call the game like it's personal. Have an edge. Make it matter. . . . .

There is this magical line that just can't be crossed in competitive sports. Not showing up on Sunday is a patent encroachment. "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing." "You play to win the game." "We have our foot to the floor and we're not letting up."

I think McCarthy will work this thing out just fine. I don't think not trying to win is a concept he could even grasp.

[Harlan Huckleby]

I don't think not trying to win is a concept he could even grasp.

It is not so cut and dried. You're trying to win - the Super Bowl. That is 100% the focus. Just because you have some backups playing in a regular season game doesn't mean you don't try to win the game.

Even within a game, you don't play your best defensive lineman on 100% of snaps. Its not like you aren't playing to win the snaps he is out. Its a question of strategic pacing. Same deal with resting players during playoff run.

[pbmax]

I think McCarthy will work this thing out just fine. I don't think not trying to win is a concept he could even grasp.

It is not so cut and dried. You're trying to win - the Super Bowl. That is 100% the focus. Just because you have some backups playing in a regular season game doesn't mean you don't try to win the game.

Even within a game, you don't play your best defensive lineman on 100% of snaps. Its not like you aren't playing to win the snaps he is out. Its a question of strategic pacing. Same deal with resting players during playoff run.

We have already seen both his impulse and his considered decision previously. Immediately after clinching the 2007 Division (after a loss to the Bears, wasn't it?) McCarthy was asked about the next (now playoff meaningless) game versus Detroit and he answered that he was playing to win like it was any other regular season game. He thought it dangerous to change the mindset when you have not accomplished your main goal.

Every paper, commenter and fan picked up on this and many (including McGinn) predicted this was a rash statement. While they did not have to abandon the game, some measures of caution would be wise. McCarthy later backed off his statement a bit and indeed for that Detroit game, those nursing injuries were ruled out (Woodson I think, among others) and those with chronic issues (Clifton) played until there was a lead or possibly the plan was the first quarter/half (it was old Detroit, having a lead at the end of the 1st Quarter was almost inevitable).

McGinn credited this substantial change in emphasis to Thompson, but since they got to the NFC Championship game, there is no reason to doubt McCarthy will repeat it.

[Smidgeon]

We have already seen both his impulse and his considered decision previously. Immediately after clinching the 2007 Division (after a loss to the Bears, wasn't it?) McCarthy was asked about the next (now playoff meaningless) game versus Detroit and he answered that he was playing to win like it was any other regular season game. He thought it dangerous to change the mindset when you have not accomplished your main goal.

Every paper, commenter and fan picked up on this and many (including McGinn) predicted this was a rash statement. While they did not have to abandon the game, some measures of caution would be wise. McCarthy later backed off his statement a bit and indeed for that Detroit game, those nursing injuries were ruled out (Woodson I think, among others) and those with chronic issues (Clifton) played until there was a lead or possibly the plan was the first quarter/half (it was old Detroit, having a lead at the end of the 1st Quarter was almost inevitable).

McGinn credited this substantial change in emphasis to Thompson, but since they got to the NFC Championship game, there is no reason to doubt McCarthy will repeat it.

Didn't he keep both Kampman and Driver out for that game? I think Driver was upset that his consecutive games with a catch streak was cut off--or something like that.

[vince]

Too much time without experiencing competitive game speed is not a good thing going into the playoffs. Achieving the ultimate goal requires that the team be as sharp as possible going into the playoffs. They'll play their starters throughout until/unless a game is out of hand as they normally would pull guys in that situation.

Plus, having the opportunity to potentially end the Bears' and Lions' seasons is icing on the cake.