Negatives

[Patler]

I figured we might as well have a counterpoint to the "Positives" thread. Some are new, some are old but are now becoming real obstacles. Identify the fundamental things you have seen that are a concern as the team moves forward. Some of mine:

- This is not a physically tough team right now. It routinely comes out on the short end of physical play. The O-line gets shoved around, the receivers are not standing up to physical play and, while playing better, the defense still seems to get "out toughed", yielding extra yards to running backs time and time again after initial contact.

- Bulaga may not be the player we thought he had become. He has not played particularly well in any of the three games. He sure has not been the borderline all-pro people thought he was. He looks a fraction slow, and is even getting beaten on power moves by rushers who should not have a strength advantage on him.

- MM had an off-season to adjust the offense to counter what defenses had learned to do against the Packers. There were even vague references to the new looks they would have. But, other than the creative uses of Cobb, we have not seen anything to counter defenses focused on taking away the long plays. A gimmick play to Cobb now and then will not get it done. NFL scemes are ever evolving and changing. MM had done it in the past, but right now seems caught in the ruts of what worked so well for three-fourths of the year last year.

- MM seems to have lost all confidence in anything except a fast strike offense. He just can;t seem to help himself, and by and large the failure of the slow developing passing plays have cripppled drive after drive.

- Rodgers has not demonstrated the patience the commentators claim he has. Can he stay with a steady diet of runs and short passes until defenses commit to stopping them? It doesn't seem so.

- Cobb is a fumble machine on kicks. He can score a TD on any punt/kick, or give the ball right back to the opponent

[Bossman641]

I agree with you regarding the physical play of the O, but disagree on the D. They may not be the Ravens, but they have made huge strides from last year. Lynch is a tough runner who is going to fall forward. To hold him to 98 yards on 25 carries, with a long of only 9 is an accomplishment. Even Shields made a few nice tackles.

The offensive philosophy needs to be readdressed. Rodgers and MM are caught looking for big plays. Until the other teams show they will stop it I'd dump the ball off to the RB's for 5-6 yards at a time.

Where is Alex Green? At least give him a few chances to catch the ball out of the backfield and see what he can do.

[pbmax]

I am concerned about Bulaga, he has had lapses in each game unlike last year where he was almost unnoticeable.

The D line, unless in base and while Raji is at nose is going to yield yards when asked to 2 gap. They aren't going to dominate in the run game and in this, they have not replaced Jolly or Jenkins versus the run. Merling and Wilson might be able to, but are so limited, they aren't on the field enough to impact it. That said, of all concerns on defense, the run game is last on my list. As long as they don't bleed big runs and can keep the average close to 4, they will get to play pass defense and sub packages. Improved pressure and a healthy backend will close that deal. They did this versus Forte and Lynch and almost did it with Gore as well.

Mostly worried that Rodgers looks like early 2009 version of himself. Not sure if its by design or if he is holding the ball too long, but everything about the pass game versus two deep looks tentative. Could it be Rodgers disinclination to throw into coverage, and then he holds the ball looking for something more open? Possibly. But it cannot be that complicated. No one is playing exotic coverage here. It has to be covered in the playbook.

I think we are seeing growing pains with McAdoo and Clements. And with the cycle of game film, I would expect a new approach eventually, but mostly after the 4th game. But this seems an opportunity lost with a 10 day gap between games. I think Patler has a point that McCarthy was really counting on an up tempo offense being a counter to what he was likely to see this year.

But what is clear is that he is seeing something that more resembles 2009 than 2011. And he needs to get the offense and Rodgers aligned first. He needs an adjustment similar in nature if not in execution to the changes before the Cowboys games in 2009.

[Patler]

I am concerned about Bulaga, he has had lapses in each game unlike last year where he was almost unnoticeable.

The D line, unless in base and while Raji is at nose is going to yield yards when asked to 2 gap. They aren't going to dominate in the run game and in this, they have not replaced Jolly or Jenkins versus the run. Merling and Wilson might be able to, but are so limited, they aren't on the field enough to impact it. That said, of all concerns on defense, the run game is last on my list. As long as they don't bleed big runs and can keep the average close to 4, they will get to play pass defense and sub packages. Improved pressure and a healthy backend will close that deal. They did this versus Forte and Lynch and almost did it with Gore as well.

Mostly worried that Rodgers looks like early 2009 version of himself. Not sure if its by design or if he is holding the ball too long, but everything about the pass game versus two deep looks tentative. Could it be Rodgers disinclination to throw into coverage, and then he holds the ball looking for something more open? Possibly. But it cannot be that complicated. No one is playing exotic coverage here. It has to be covered in the playbook.

I think we are seeing growing pains with McAdoo and Clements. And with the cycle of game film, I would expect a new approach eventually, but mostly after the 4th game. But this seems an opportunity lost with a 10 day gap between games. I think Patler has a point that McCarthy was really counting on an up tempo offense being a counter to what he was likely to see this year.

But what is clear is that he is seeing something that more resembles 2009 than 2011. And he needs to get the offense and Rodgers aligned first. He needs an adjustment similar in nature if not in execution to the changes before the Cowboys games in 2009.

Bulaga simply doesn't look like the same player. I can't figure it out. Is he nursing an undisclosed injury? Doubtful, because he hasn't missed practices. He looks stiff one play, slow the next.

Are the replacement officials interfering with the Packers plans? MM has mentioned several times that the slowness in getting the ball set, the many flags and constant discussions and debates between officials after a play has taken away the effectiveness of what they want to do with no-huddle.

Unlike many, I don't get too concerned about true coverage sacks. Normally Rodgers steps up a little, and the loss in yardage isn't all that much. My bigger concern is that Rodgers looks hesitant, indecisive. Is there really no place to throw the ball?

[Patler]

I agree with you regarding the physical play of the O, but disagree on the D. They may not be the Ravens, but they have made huge strides from last year. Lynch is a tough runner who is going to fall forward. To hold him to 98 yards on 25 carries, with a long of only 9 is an accomplishment. Even Shields made a few nice tackles.

I acknowledged the defense is playing better, and individuals like Shields and Hawk especially, but its not just what they did against Lynch that prompted my comment. Its their overall toughness, whether due to individuals or schemes. It's almost an attitude as much as anything. Too many plays drag on because they engage the ball carrier, but don't get him down. Half yard here, full yard there. Seldom do they hit a guy and drive him back, or take him directly down. Too many scrums. Perhaps better than last year, but still a long way to go.

[Joemailman]

The play of the WR's has been a huge disappointment. The only receivers who came to play last night were Jones and Finley. If Jennings wants to be paid like Larry Fitzgerald, he better start playing like him. If Finley had dropped the pass in the end zone that Driver did last night, we'd probably have about 5 anti-Finley threads going right now. The season is close to being on the line. The "Great Packer Receivers" need to start showing up.

[Patler]

The play of the WR's has been a huge disappointment. The only receivers who came to play last night were Jones and Finley. If Jennings wants to be paid like Larry Fitzgerald, he better start playing like him. If Finley had dropped the pass in the end zone that Driver did last night, we'd probably have about 5 anti-Finley threads going right now. The season is close to being on the line. The "Great Packer Receivers" need to start showing up.

Yet Finley did have one drop, didn't he? Or was it two? Where was Finley for most of the night? Even the announcers asked that early in the second half. Nelson did nothing. Jennings did little. The three big names were taken out of the game almost completely.

[mmmdk]

Yet Finley did have one drop, didn't he? Or was it two? Where was Finley for most of the night? Even the announcers asked that early in the second half. Nelson did nothing. Jennings did little. The three big names were taken out of the game almost completely.

Pass/catch was defended on Finley...but wait there's a job for you as a replacement ref in the NFL - they don't see shit either. The rest of the post I agree 100% with.

[Patler]

Receivers have to defeat the coverage, and if you are a top receiver in the league you should do it on occasion even against the good cover guys. You know, "make a play", even if not a spectacular one. Finley did have one or two, and Jennings had the reception and "run" to the goal line. Nelson did little of nothing. Jones probably stepped up the most.

[mmmdk]

Receivers have to defeat the coverage, and if you are a top receiver in the league you should do it on occasion even against the good cover guys. You know, "make a play", even if not a spectacular one.

Cornerbacks have to cover the routes, and if you are a top cornerback in the league you should do it on occasion even against the good receiving guys. You know, "make a play", even if not a spectacular one.

[mraynrand]

- This is not a physically tough team right now. It routinely comes out on the short end of physical play. The O-line gets shoved around, the receivers are not standing up to physical play and, while playing better, the defense still seems to get "out toughed", yielding extra yards to running backs time and time again after initial contact.

At the end of the first half, I would have agreed about the offense. At the end of the game, I disagree. Stubby did a great job of getting his guys to come out in the second half and physically beat the crap out of the Seahawks.

[Patler]

At the end of the first half, I would have agreed about the offense. At the end of the game, I disagree. Stubby did a great job of getting his guys to come out in the second half and physically beat the crap out of the Seahawks.

Ya, but that was just a single half. They got shoved around pretty good by the 49ers, and even by the Bears in spite of winning. We'll have to wait to see where it goes from here. Build on the second half of last night, or revert back to the first ten quarters of the year?

[Freak Out]

Rodgers looks far to tentative....he could be suffering from shell shock considering how many times he was sacked last night. Some of it was his fault by not throwing the ball away on occasion, but holy shit it was like the Packers were playing the Rams of the 60s and 70s.

[Smidgeon]

- Bulaga may not be the player we thought he had become. He has not played particularly well in any of the three games. He sure has not been the borderline all-pro people thought he was. He looks a fraction slow, and is even getting beaten on power moves by rushers who should not have a strength advantage on him.

I was wondering about Bulaga after one of the other games, but I chalked it up internally to just an off game.

I now wonder if he'll be the Sitton of last year. We find out afterward he was struggling with injuries all year. He isn't cutting it right now. Hopefully his second half performance is the norm.

[denverYooper]

I was wondering about Bulaga after one of the other games, but I chalked it up internally to just an off game.

I now wonder if he'll be the Sitton of last year. We find out afterward he was struggling with injuries all year. He isn't cutting it right now. Hopefully his second half performance is the norm.

If that's the case, they should have sent more help to his side earlier. Or at the very least ran at his side to back off the crashing DEs.