Rodgers' Status

[woodbuck27]

The biggest punch in the face out of all of this has been the pure pathetic play of the defense. You'd think after Rodgers went down against Chicago, the def. players would just know that, "Hey, we gotta step up, we might not have a 1 to 2 TD lead in this game." It was clear during the Eagles game that this defense needs Rodgers more than Rodgers needs them.

The way I see it right now :

There are too many defensive players that seem far removed from being truly determaned to playing with grit ...that don't have pride and commitment to the Green Bay Packers and the teams fans.

TT has to get focused on removing all of the 'deadwood' from the roster and right the ship.

I'm just sick of all the rationalizations I read ....those are simply poor too lousy excuses.

With six games left in our schedule. I'm right here now.

The writing is on the wall and the Green Bay Packers are doomed not to make the playoffs this season.

By seasons end we'll all know where the blame for that lies and it shouldn't all be blamed on too much adversity to overcome.

Such rationalizations (lame excuses) mean ZERO moving forward.

NFL teams that are winners have to be built or determined on the ability to overcome adversity. Those teams have a clear depth of talent and toughness both physical and mental. That's on first the GM and his draft team and after that the teams coaching and conditioning staff.

PACKERS!

[denverYooper]

The biggest punch in the face out of all of this has been the pure pathetic play of the defense. You'd think after Rodgers went down against Chicago, the def. players would just know that, "Hey, we gotta step up, we might not have a 1 to 2 TD lead in this game." It was clear during the Eagles game that this defense needs Rodgers more than Rodgers needs them.

I have a new theory about defense: there are maybe 5 great defenses and a whole bunch of other defenses that range from mediocre to bad depending on a handful of plays. The Packers are definitely not in the top 5 and they were making those plays earlier in the season but are not these last few games. Usually, "that" play seems to be a 3rd and medium/long, and it comes down to tackling a guy short of the marker.

[Fritz]

The biggest punch in the face out of all of this has been the pure pathetic play of the defense. You'd think after Rodgers went down against Chicago, the def. players would just know that, "Hey, we gotta step up, we might not have a 1 to 2 TD lead in this game." It was clear during the Eagles game that this defense needs Rodgers more than Rodgers needs them.

Here, here. It's this. I know there are injuries on the defensive side, too - Perry, Hayward, Shields the last game, Jolly - but I expected a better effort than the slow, uninspired play we've seen since Rodgers went down.

I can't tell you how much I am disappointed in this defense.

[denverYooper]

I thought the opening of the Baranczyk/Cristl column indicates maybe a bit of what's going on with the D:

Over the past three games, all losses, the Green Bay Packers have played from behind a total of 136 minutes, 42 seconds. In their previous four games, all wins, they played from behind a total of 7 minutes, 24 seconds.

The clock and the score aren’t the only factors that dictate defensive strategy. Down-and-distance and offensive formations do as well. But one can safely conclude from the huge disparity in those numbers that the Packers are doing much more reacting than attacking on defense

TBH, I don't know if they were an "attacking" defense with Rodgers's front running, but I think his absence has changed the way that teams are playing the Packers and they have not fully adjusted.

[denverYooper]

Complain all you want about the defense, but they're not going to turn into the 49ers this year. If Rodgers is out for the rest of the year and the defense is left to compensate, they might become a stronger unit because they'd have to.

The offense has not put points on the board and has turned the ball over 6 times in the 3 games since Rodgers has been out. Their redzone problems, present earlier in the year with Rodgers, are heavily magnified with the backup QB in the game.

[pbmax]

I have a new theory about defense: there are maybe 5 great defenses and a whole bunch of other defenses that range from mediocre to bad depending on a handful of plays. The Packers are definitely not in the top 5 and they were making those plays earlier in the season but are not these last few games. Usually, "that" play seems to be a 3rd and medium/long, and it comes down to tackling a guy short of the marker.

I agree but would add this: the Packers have a specific set of weaknesses and strengths. With injuries in the secondary, their coverage can have trouble with size AND with communication. Without injuries, their front seven can get enough pressure to help the backend (attacking will help though the number of big plays conceded will go up as well).

If Shields is not hurt, then two of the communication/scheme errors don't happen (Nicks catch with TWill and Burnett colliding and the Randle pass over Hyde).

If the Packers pressure in the first half like the second half, those passes might be off target.

[pbmax]

The offense has not put points on the board and has turned the ball over 6 times in the 3 games since Rodgers has been out. Their redzone problems, present earlier in the year with Rodgers, are heavily magnified with the backup QB in the game.

Its a fair point and bears repeating. The offense, specifically the QB but also the running game, left more to be desired than the defense versus the Giants.

[denverYooper]

I agree but would add this: the Packers have a specific set of weaknesses and strengths. With injuries in the secondary, their coverage can have trouble with size AND with communication. Without injuries, their front seven can get enough pressure to help the backend (attacking will help though the number of big plays conceded will go up as well).

If Shields is not hurt, then two of the communication/scheme errors don't happen (Nicks catch with TWill and Burnett colliding and the Randle pass over Hyde).

If the Packers pressure in the first half like the second half, those passes might be off target.

Good addition.

[Pugger]

Its a fair point and bears repeating. The offense, specifically the QB but also the running game, left more to be desired than the defense versus the Giants.

When Aaron is in there defenses can't stack the box like NY did last week. They smartly decided to make Tolzien beat them. The run blocking wasn't all that hot so that didn't help matters either.

[run pMc]

Well, if anyone was guilty of taking the level of QB play for granted over the last 20 years, I don't think it will happen again.


Barclay still hasn't practiced, which worries me because Newhouse vs. Robison is not an ideal matchup, and with EDS still gimpy that running game is gonna have trouble.
It's going to come down to not turning the ball over, forcing a couple of TO's from Freeman/Cassel/Ponder (probably Freeman), and the defense showing up to gang tackle Peterson.

[woodbuck27]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/10006261/leslie-frazier-says-minnesota-vikings-start-christian-ponder-qb?ex_cid=espnapi_public

Vikes to start Christian Ponder

By Ben Goessling | ESPN.com ... Updated: November 20, 2013, 2:40 PM ET

" Frazier cited Ponder's previous success against the Packers as the reason for sticking with him over Josh Freeman and Matt Cassel.

He played his only turnover-free game of the season in a loss to the Packers on Oct. 27, and threw for three touchdowns in the Vikings' Week 17 victory over the Packers to clinch a playoff spot last year.

That was Ponder's only win over the Packers, though."

GO PACK !

[woodbuck27]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/min/minnesota-Vikings

2013 OVERALL NFL RANKINGS

PASSING YDS - 206.2 or 25th Overall ... RUSHING YDS - 111.5 or 17th Overall

OPP PASSING YDS - 280.1 or 29th Overall ... OPP RUSHING YDS - 111.6 or 14th Overall

So how does MM game plan Vs them?

GO PACKERS !

[Joemailman]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/m...nesota-Vikings

2013 OVERALL NFL RANKINGS

PASSING YDS - 206.2 or 25th Overall ... RUSHING YDS - 111.5 or 17th Overall

OPP PASSING YDS - 280.1 or 29th Overall ... OPP RUSHING YDS - 111.6 or 14th Overall

So how does MM game plan Vs them?

GO PACKERS !

Stop Peterson and kick Jennings in the nuts.