"CRITICAL OFFSEASON"...sniff sniff....Change is in the Air

[woodbuck27]

If a coach has a crock-pot and his job is to make chicken salad out of chicken-shit, well, I'd call that a crock-of-shit. Ask any chef, he can make something taste better, but he's not going to win any awards without the right ingredients. Give one cook a pile of frozen perch, and another one fresh lake perch caught within the last 12 hours, and whether you're the better cook or not, you're going to lose with the lower quality fish. The NFL isn't about making something taste better, it's about being the best. The Packers just don't have the best talent.

And let's face it, when everyone is so damn good at what they do in the NFL, it takes some good breaks too. Credit to SF for Kaepernick, Willis, J Smith, A Smith, D Gholston, Gore, Crabtree, etc. . . . . They have studs, and they got them on their own account. But Willis could have lost his career the same way Collins did, and we could both be in the same boat right now. One year is just that, one year. A GM has to be good year after year after year and like TT says, "the proof will be in the pudding" or crock-pot, or whatever the fuck analogy you want to use.

I was waiting for you to post your reaction and my compliments JH !!

That bluntly honest post deserves one thing:

[Rutnstrut]

I would like to see the Packers focus on becoming a more physical team that can pound the ball and stop the run when needed. I would like the focus to be on the front 7 and OL. I would also like to see a power back picked high. Would not mind the back from Alabama at all. He runs hard!

Part of me wonders if we've seen another evolution of the game in the past few years. The dominating offenses of the Packers and the Saints have caused some NFC teams to respond. Look at how Seattle, SF, NYG are all built. These teams are built on tough, nasty defense and a solid running game. These teams are constructed in such a way that they can out muscle the late 2000s Mike McCarthy and Sean Payton teams. Any thoughts?

You don't need a solid running game when you have Arod, at least that is what many on here have said.

[Smidgeon]

Silverstein gets an "F" for proposing a theory, then supporting it with facts.
He proposed that TT has leaned away fron acquiring physical players, then identifies four acquired in the last two years that do appear to be physical types. Unfortunately, all four had their seasons impacted greatly by injuries.

For some reason, the Packers can't seem to catch a break on defense with the health and performance of players:

Justin Harrell comes on board with some very interesting skills and natural gifts, but never gets on the field due to injury after injury.

Johnny Jolly shows a real presence on the DL, a performance many people said was worthy of the Pro Bowl, and he gets himself suspended, apparently for life.

Tramon Williams has a year that causes people to mention him among the best cover-corners in the league, then has an injury that completely takes away his style of play last year, and seemed to change him even this year.

Nick Collins developed to the point of meriting mention with the best safeties in the game today, and has his career ended by mere inches on a freak injury.

Davon House looks like the all-around CB the defense needs for a while in preseason, and goes down to injury that takes away his role.

Desmond Bishop waits years, then finally makes a real physical impact as a starter, gets injured and now has to be considered a question mark for next year.

Mike Neal, another high draft pick, loses two years of development to injuries, then gets himself suspended for the start of this season.

Nick Perry, another first rounder, hardly has a chance to make an impact his rookie season before going on IR. Unfortunately, the better part of a year's on-field experience in converting to LB is lost.

Sam Shields up and down career seems to reach a new level, and he loses a big chunk of his first season as a starter to injury.

Clay Matthews' ongoing hamstring concerns finally cost him significant playing time this year. This has been a continual issue since his rookie year, what will the future bring for him?

Manning, Smith, McMillan all could have had larger roles this season, but circumstances denied them their opportunities.

The defensive roster just can't seem to develop the cohesion it needs.

Good post. Reminded me that there is/was a lot of talent on D. But you're right, the cohesion just hasn't had a chance.

[Bossman641]

If San Fran had the injuries we had and we had the injuries they had, it would have been an interesting match up.

I honestly think how well we did through the season with the talent we had on the field is amazing. There's a lot of teams out there who wouldn't even compete if they had the names go down that we did. I mean seriously, take away all SF's RB's, half their line, remove their safety and corner for most of the year, take out half their LB's and half their back ups on the DL and see how they turn out.

+1

SF relies on 9-10 players heavily on defense with another 4-5 getting <20 snaps a game. And they basically had injuries to none of them.

[woodbuck27]

I'll post this info. on this thread as well because this news conference will (maybe) give us valuable insight.

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_/id/52340/bbao-arguing-to-keep-dom-capers

" Coach Mike McCarthy is scheduled to meet with reporters Tuesday at 5 p.m. ET.

Assistant coaches will follow. I'm not sure if there is anything to be read into the timing of their availability, but generally speaking, teams don't put assistant coaches in position to speak publicly if their futures are truly in question. " Fr. LINK above

GO PACK GO !

[RashanGary]

When it comes to the OL, Aaron Rodgers holds the ball and our running backs suck. Sacks will be up, run yardage will be down. And since our run game is so horrible, it compounds by making ARs coverages that much more difficult to throw against. . . .

Get an average to above average running back and our OL looks much better IMO. Also, with the way James Jones and Jordy Nelson block, along with the way Boykin and Ross block. . . Going forward, if we have a good RB (not even great), the ability of us to run both inside and on the edge open up, along with the coverages Aaron sees getting more friendly.


We desperately need a RB that isn't awful and at least one probowl to all pro player on defense. Get those two parts and we're a different team. Aaron isn't a dynamic runner. He's more of a scrambling thrower. We need a legit runner on this team if our offense is going to have the flexibility it will need to attack the tougher defenses.

Oh, and we need both speed and tackling on defense (something that really only comes with star LB's/safeties and the rare corner.) The new QB's need to be accounted for with speed, and it can't come at the expense of toughness. Tough task, but it's a tough league, and that's what TT signed up for. There are great players who possess everything. Clay, Collins, Willis, D Gholston, Ed Reed, OJ Mayo, Earl Thomas, etc. . . There are others, I'm not familiar with every young star player around the league. But there are guys who can do it all. They're rare, but the rare players are the ones that win SB's. We need another one, a guy who would have gotten to Kaepernick when he ran and put a fucking lick on him he would never forget. TT's job isn't done after one SB. He's a damn fine GM, but he has to keep doing it, he has to do more if we're going to win another SB.

And say what you want about the NFL being safe and all that. Greg Williams said it best when he said, "affect the head." It's not something most people relish, but it's true. Make a guy sick with one hit and the whole game changes. Affect the head. Gholston put a late hit on our little running backs head that made my bells ring. Those are the hits that change the game. Those hits don't affect one play, they affect every play there after. Affecting the head on one play affects the game on every play. The NFL has been played that way for a long time, and whether or not anyone admits it, big hit awards are still handed out, and the culture of lighting mother fuckers up is still alive and well. We don't have guys who light mother fuckers up, and as such, Kaepernick got to play cocky and free. He needed a helmet in his spine or some awkward weight twisting the fuck out of his knee and ankle to make him think twice. Say what you will, but it's true. This isn't volleyball.

[woodbuck27]

Hey JH...Re: a decent RB

I'm thinking what Ray Rice means to the Baltimore Ravens.

The rest of it !

Have you ever thought of writing for a film Director like Quentin Tarantino? That loss to the 49ers stuck a shit load of anger inside of you. I'm so impressed with your candor that I'm shaking.

[Bretsky]

When it comes to the OL, Aaron Rodgers holds the ball and our running backs suck. Sacks will be up, run yardage will be down. And since our run game is so horrible, it compounds by making ARs coverages that much more difficult to throw against. . . .

Get an average to above average running back and our OL looks much better IMO. Also, with the way James Jones and Jordy Nelson block, along with the way Boykin and Ross block. . . Going forward, if we have a good RB (not even great), the ability of us to run both inside and on the edge open up, along with the coverages Aaron sees getting more friendly.


We desperately need a RB that isn't awful and at least one probowl to all pro player on defense. Get those two parts and we're a different team. Aaron isn't a dynamic runner. He's more of a scrambling thrower. We need a legit runner on this team if our offense is going to have the flexibility it will need to attack the tougher defenses.

Oh, and we need both speed and tackling on defense (something that really only comes with star LB's/safeties and the rare corner.) The new QB's need to be accounted for with speed, and it can't come at the expense of toughness. Tough task, but it's a tough league, and that's what TT signed up for. There are great players who possess everything. Clay, Collins, Willis, D Gholston, Ed Reed, OJ Mayo, Earl Thomas, etc. . . There are others, I'm not familiar with every young star player around the league. But there are guys who can do it all. They're rare, but the rare players are the ones that win SB's. We need another one, a guy who would have gotten to Kaepernick when he ran and put a fucking lick on him he would never forget. TT's job isn't done after one SB. He's a damn fine GM, but he has to keep doing it, he has to do more if we're going to win another SB.

And say what you want about the NFL being safe and all that. Greg Williams said it best when he said, "affect the head." It's not something most people relish, but it's true. Make a guy sick with one hit and the whole game changes. Affect the head. Gholston put a late hit on our little running backs head that made my bells ring. Those are the hits that change the game. Those hits don't affect one play, they affect every play there after. Affecting the head on one play affects the game on every play. The NFL has been played that way for a long time, and whether or not anyone admits it, big hit awards are still handed out, and the culture of lighting mother fuckers up is still alive and well. We don't have guys who light mother fuckers up, and as such, Kaepernick got to play cocky and free. He needed a helmet in his spine or some awkward weight twisting the fuck out of his knee and ankle to make him think twice. Say what you will, but it's true. This isn't volleyball.

Just curious..............thoughts on Steven Jackson ? Word leaked we almost traded for him once. The Rams are going to try to unload him and I don't think they'd get much. He's around thirty but when healthy still looks pretty good.

The Rams would also be a great fit for Jennings...........

[red]

Just curious..............thoughts on Steven Jackson ? Word leaked we almost traded for him once. The Rams are going to try to unload him and I don't think they'd get much. He's around thirty but when healthy still looks pretty good.

The Rams would also be a great fit for Jennings...........

jackson will be 30 when next season starts, and we all know what happens to running backs once they hit that magic 30 mark. plus the guy has a ton of wear on those tires.

i wouldn't mind picking him up, but i don't know if i would trade much for him

[Smeefers]

Just curious..............thoughts on Steven Jackson ? Word leaked we almost traded for him once. The Rams are going to try to unload him and I don't think they'd get much. He's around thirty but when healthy still looks pretty good.

The Rams would also be a great fit for Jennings...........

If we don't sign Jennings, he's going to be an unrestricted free agent. Can't trade those fella's. I suppose we could franchise tag him and trade him, but we've been talking about a franchise tag situation for the last 3 years. I'm not buyin it until I see it.

Steve Jackson? I love Steve Jackson, but there's no reason to pick him up at the end of his career. Only way I take him is if we dump Benson and get Jackson at the league minimum.

[Bretsky]

I really think it's a no brainer to tag and try to trade Jennings. Worst case...we get him for the year. But I'd be a bit surprised if a hungry team like the Rams wouldn't throw us a 2nd or 3rd for him. Better than nothing or waiting TBD next year

[woodbuck27]

+1

SF relies on 9-10 players heavily on defense with another 4-5 getting <20 snaps a game. And they basically had injuries to none of them.

and...I'd add this:

Six (6) of those 9-10 defensive players were chosen to go to this years Pro Bowl. Along with three (3) more from their offense.

Two legitimate Packer Pro Bowl selections were Aaron Rodgers (playing at < 100%) and Clay Matthews (Getting back into playing shape but not fully up to speed because of his hammy).

Legitimate Pro Bowl Players:

49ers = 9 Vs Packers = 2

[ThunderDan]

and...I'd add this:

Six (6) of those 9-10 defensive players were chosen to go to this years Pro Bowl. Along with three (3) more from their offense.

Two legitimate Packer Pro Bowl selections were Aaron Rodgers (playing at < 100%) and Clay Matthews (Getting back into playing shape but not fully up to speed because of his hammy).

Legitimate Pro Bowl Players:

49ers = 9 Vs Packers = 2

Fun you don't mention that Jeff Saturday made the Pro Bowl for the packers.

[woodbuck27]

Fun you don't mention that Jeff Saturday made the Pro Bowl for the packers.

I posted the names of our two 'legitimate' Pro Bowl players.

THE GREEN BAY PACKERS Jeff Saturday was selected to the Center position as a backup to starter Max Unger of the Seattle Seahawks.

Green Bay had (3) selections to the 2013 Pro Bowl:

Pro Bowl Roster by team:

Green Bay Packers (3) selections:

Aaron Rodgers, Quarterback (out due to injury)

Jeff Saturday, Center (Backup) and Clay Matthews, outside linebacker (Backup)

San Francisco 49ers (9) selections: * Denotes a Starter:

NaVorro Bowman, inside/middle linebacker (Backup) and Frank Gore, RB (Backup)

* Dashon Goldson, FS; * Mike Iupati, G; * Aldon Smith, OLB; * Justin Smith, Interior Lineman;* Joe Staley, Tackle; * Donte Whitner, SS and * Patrick Willis, inside/middle linebacker.

[ThunderDan]

I posted the names of our two 'legitimate' Pro Bowl players.

THE GREEN BAY PACKERS Jeff Saturday was selected to the Center position as a backup to starter Max Unger of the Seattle Seahawks.

Green Bay had (3) selections to the 2013 Pro Bowl:

Pro Bowl Roster by team:

Green Bay Packers (3) selections:

Aaron Rodgers, Quarterback (out due to injury)

Jeff Saturday, Center (Backup) and Clay Matthews, outside linebacker (Backup)

San Francisco 49ers (9) selections: * Denotes a Starter:

NaVorro Bowman, inside/middle linebacker (Backup) and Frank Gore, RB (Backup)

* Dashon Goldson, FS; * Mike Iupati, G; * Aldon Smith, OLB; * Justin Smith, Interior Lineman;* Joe Staley, Tackle; * Donte Whitner, SS and * Patrick Willis, inside/middle linebacker.

So a process that can selected an "illegitamate" player from the Packers couldn't do the same with one of the 49ers?

Not meaning to bust your chops but until the NFL does away with the fan vote counting for 1/3 of the formula the Pro Bowl may not represent the best of the best in the NFL.