Naysayers - What does it Take for you to Drink the Kool-Aid?

[TheRaven]

As it soley is not one bad preseason game that has me down on the team, it would take more than one good preseason game to get me back on board. I still think the team could run for a 7-9, 8-8 year, which to me is marked improvement and not bad. So I am not totally down on them. But it would take a ton to get me thinking this team has any sort of playoff or division title aspirations.

[HarveyWallbangers]

If they did these things over the next couple of preseason games, I would take a small chug of the Kool-Aid:

1) Run the ball for at least 4 yards/carry.
2) Protect the QBs A LOT better.
3) Force turnovers on defense.
4) Ryan and Cundiff show they deserve to be on the roster.
5) Ahman Green gets and stays healthy.
6) Greg Jenning shows he is for real (e.g. no more drops).

[pbmax]

Run the ball consistently. That will make the passing game effective, even with marginal talent behind Driver.

And that will take pressure off the defense and change field position and TOP battles. Maybe then the D can get off the field.

[MJZiggy]

I actually have not stopped sipping my beverage, but all it will take is to see some steady improvement and those who panic easily will come around. Coach said it; Wells said it; Gado said it. They just need to stop thinking so much and lose the hesitation. Give Brett another couple tenths and things will open up more. It wasn't all bad and a lot of what went wrong is fixable. I didn't see them be completely blown up. I saw them make mistakes and there's a difference.

[GBRulz]

Amen, sista...

[jack's smirking revenge]

Coach said it; Wells said it; Gado said it..

Easy to say. Not so easy to do. Reacting vs. thinking is a change in mindset that typically can't happen overnight. That's why the game slows down for rooks in their second year. We'll see where this thing goes. If steady improvement means they're improved by week16, does that make criticizing the team now a bad thing? Some players may not show improvement until the end of the year and, by that time, we may be out of the hunt.

I guess the real question is this: what are the expectations of a Kool-Aid drinker?

I think the whole team will be better by week16 and we'll be out of the playoff race, division race. Does that qualify me as a Kool-Aid drinker or a pessimist who just is too hard on the team because "they make mistakes"?

tyler

[ahaha]

Why the hell not drink the kool-aid? It's early and this team is filled with young talent. Everybody is so down after ONE stinkin' preseason game. WHAT?! How can you evauate a team with a new coach, a new blocking scheme, who could possibly start 4 rookies, after one bad PRESEASON game. Try betting on the NFL based on preseason performances and see how much money you make.

This is the time of year to be optimistic.

We have plenty of areas, on this team, where drastic improvement is possible. Due in part to youth and inexperience in the scheme.

I'm drinking a big pitcher of Lime Kool-Aid, loaded with sugar. I still see the Packers as a possible 9-7 to 11- 5 team!!!

[MJZiggy]

The mistake lies in trashing your expectations of an entire season based on one stupid preseason game where half the team was playing their first NFL action ever against an excellent defense. Yes, in this instance many times you have mistakes. The mistake is in deciding now that because it sometimes takes time for things to gel that it is impossible for this team to come together until the whole season is gone. That could happen, but to say that it will now is just silly. This is a good time to sit back and see how they respond as a team and to see if they do manage to trust themselves a little more next week and if they do, then perhaps they'll grow further the following week and by the Chicago game, they're somewhat better and by midseason they're kicking ass all over the field. It's not ridiculous to think that either could happen. It is ridiculous to assume that one or the other definitely will. That's why they play the games.

[HarveyWallbangers]

It's not just one preseason game. Jack's been down on them since before this game. I had my doubts before this game, but I was being an optimist. I just see the same situation as last year arising. I predicted 7-9, so I haven't changed my opinion that much, but I was hoping to hear more positives from training camp, and I was hoping to watch a better opener.

[Rastak]

It's not just one preseason game. Jack's been down on them since before this game. I had my doubts before this game, but I was being an optimist. I just see the same situation as last year arising. I predicted 7-9, so I haven't changed my opinion that much, but I was hoping to hear more positives from training camp, and I was hoping to watch a better opener.

The game against Cincy will be a great test. Starters usually go longer in preseason week 3 . They are a solid team and should provide a good test as to how the OL and defense are playing.

[jack's smirking revenge]

The mistake lies in trashing your expectations of an entire season based on one stupid preseason game where half the team was playing their first NFL action ever against an excellent defense. Yes, in this instance many times you have mistakes. The mistake is in deciding now that because it sometimes takes time for things to gel that it is impossible for this team to come together until the whole season is gone. That could happen, but to say that it will now is just silly. This is a good time to sit back and see how they respond as a team and to see if they do manage to trust themselves a little more next week and if they do, then perhaps they'll grow further the following week and by the Chicago game, they're somewhat better and by midseason they're kicking ass all over the field. It's not ridiculous to think that either could happen. It is ridiculous to assume that one or the other definitely will. That's why they play the games.

One "stupid" preseason game showed us A LOT about the 2006 Packers--the coaching, the new schemes, the youth, the talent level, the preparation. Mini camps and training camps happen so games like the first preseason game don't happen, where 70% of the game was a laughable attempt at competing. These guys are PROFESSIONAL football players and coaches. Most have done this thing their whole lives. Yes, we have 12 rookies that we drafted, and we have some walk-ons, but that doesn't make up half of the team. What didn't work on Saturday night?

1. The Offensive line. At all. 20 yds rushing by Rodgers is not a good night by any stretch. Also, we gave up 5 sacks. A new scheme was put into place by Jags. It has been taught since the first mini-camp, probably even before then. Thus, five to seven guys have had three to four months to get to know the scheme. The first preseason game should be the test of what they learned. By all accounts, they failed. They've also had three to four months to work on chemistry together. The starting line looked LOST and unsure on Saturday.

2. The Kicking game. Cundiff got 3 points, but Ryan averaged 40 yds and Sander 30+. We need better production!!!!

3. The Running game. See point 1 above.

4. The D Line. 2 sacks, little pressure from the starting line and we allowed Turner to both score a TD AND come close to a 5 yard average.

5. The Secondary. No turnovers, allowed Rivers to have a great night against our D, completing 71% of his passes for 169 yards and allowing him to throw for a score.

So....it's not ridiculous to think that this thing can't turn around a bit. It's very possible that it will and I'm hopeful of that. It's the first preseason game and, yes, stranger things have happened. But I was told to be optimistic last year. JSO pounded that into me. I'm not falling for that this year.

Reality: they're a 4-12 team until proven otherwise.

tyler

[wist43]

There's just too much conspiring against this team to expect that they'll be successful this year.

Hopefully they can learn and build along the way this year, and maybe we can get close to 8-8 next year.

I'm beginning to think that M3 is in over his head.

[jack's smirking revenge]

There's just too much conspiring against this team to expect that they'll be successful this year.

Hopefully they can learn and build along the way this year, and maybe we can get close to 8-8 next year.

I'm beginning to think that M3 is in over his head.

What do you mean by "conspiring"? Interesting comment that I hadn't heard before.

tyler

[HarveyWallbangers]

I'm beginning to think that M3 is in over his head.

Based off one preseason game with a roster that you have been saying is incredibly inferior?

[woodbuck27]

This is a very very good football team with a ton of talent that is trying new things in the preseason. We will have Green back by the third game and he will be in mid season form by the bears game.

We have Jennings and Gardner playing well.

Gado, Green and Hendo gotta love that.

TEs that are going to be solid to great this year.

Favre wanting to go out on top

Rogers looks solid

D line is getting some preasure

Harris is getting used to actually having to play since carroll isnt on the other side

carroll didnt get flaged for interference

We cant stop the rush up the middle, HOWEVER we still can run bootlegs and sprints.

Collins and Manuel will gel and SCARE WR to drop the ball

We are in the NFL north


LINE UP THE SHOTS FOLKS THE KOOL-AID IS FLOWING!!!!!!!!!

There is nothing like a Tony Oday loooooong drink of Packer
Kool - aid.

Two weeks ago, Tony was for me.

Like a Jim Jones command speech, and me wanting to roll in the jungle - flashback !

To - Tony Oday Kool-aid.

It's alot better than that vinegar taste in my mouth.

GO PACKERS ! HOLD THE FAITH !! Till it's gone !!!!