What is needed for you to enjoy, have fun watching the Packers?

[Joemailman]

Is it my imagination, or had Raji done absolutely nothing since the story came out a few weeks ago about him turning down an 8 million per year offer from the Packers? If he is intent on going into free agency, you would think he would at least be motivated to impress the other GM's in the league.

[bobblehead]

To sum up the thread, we all want to see guys who we aren't quite sure about show us if they belong or not. We are all prepping for next season (although we still have about a 10% shot at the playoffs). We want to see things that give us hope for next year.

[pbmax]

Much easier to tell who can play when the team is struggling and performances are uneven. Can lead you to overvalue players who freelance though. I enjoy rebuilding, esp. when its not from scratch which would be true for this team.

If they do get eliminated, I don't expect M3 to toss out the backups until late. But I will enjoy watching them more than the starters.

[Rutnstrut]

For me the difference between the teams of the 70's and 80's and now is that back then we had MUCH lower expectations. Those teams were terrible, and we just never expected a lot. We have been accustomed to a decent team for a while now, so seeing this bad is quite a shock. While IMO the writing has been on the wall with TT's complacency and refusal to go after free agents. I think a losing season and a total house cleaning, from TT down would be the best thing for this team. Of course the TT/stubby sack jockeys will respond by saying how great they both are.

[Rutnstrut]

Is it my imagination, or had Raji done absolutely nothing since the story came out a few weeks ago about him turning down an 8 million per year offer from the Packers? If he is intent on going into free agency, you would think he would at least be motivated to impress the other GM's in the league.

Not your imagination, but he's done pretty much nothing all season. He's a worthless, overpayed, POS.

[Joemailman]

For me the difference between the teams of the 70's and 80's and now is that back then we had MUCH lower expectations. Those teams were terrible, and we just never expected a lot. We have been accustomed to a decent team for a while now, so seeing this bad is quite a shock. While IMO the writing has been on the wall with TT's complacency and refusal to go after free agents. I think a losing season and a total house cleaning, from TT down would be the best thing for this team. Of course the TT/stubby sack jockeys will respond by saying how great they both are.

So let me get this straight. Because we have high expectations, you want to get rid of the people who are responsible for us having high expectations? This team has had 4 straight playoff appearances and one Lombardi Trophy and you want to clean house because we might miss the playoffs after our QB got hurt? If the Packers were to can TT and MM, the rush by other teams to sign those guys would look like Walmart on Black Friday. Or Thanksgiving I guess.

[pbmax]

Not your imagination, but he's done pretty much nothing all season. He's a worthless, overpayed, POS.

This is untrue. He was doing a fine job of occupying blockers and allowing LBs to run for a tackle unimpeded earlier this season. And he was essentially taken off the pass rush nickel to save reps, so its hard to ding him for a low sack total.

What has gone wrong since is not entirely his fault, though his answer isn't helping. Pickett is not holding up to double teams well this year. Raji has gotten too comfortable with one on one blocking and not made teams pay with good leverage, forcing teams to double him.

But worse has been the revolving door at LB, as a parade of ILBs and OLBs have made a hash of whatever opportunities they get. They are not all clean looks, but they have had opportunities.

The resulting catastrophe has led to Raji free lancing and jetting into backfields. He does occasionally make a play, but more often he simply leaves an open gap behind him.

[Rutnstrut]

So let me get this straight. Because we have high expectations, you want to get rid of the people who are responsible for us having high expectations? This team has had 4 straight playoff appearances and one Lombardi Trophy and you want to clean house because we might miss the playoffs after our QB got hurt? If the Packers were to can TT and MM, the rush by other teams to sign those guys would look like Walmart on Black Friday. Or Thanksgiving I guess.

In short yes, IMO this team is terrible even if Rodgers didn't get hurt. He doesn't play defense, and that's the biggest weakness on this team. Some shit should come down on TT/stubby for not firing Capers last year, for putting all their eggs in one basket QB wise, and for also not getting some free agent talent. Say what you want about free agency being a folly, but it looks pretty successful in Seattle. There needs to be some big changes, yet there won't be.

[Smidgeon]

I enjoy watching the Packers regardless. The only time I shut off a game early is when the game goes into kneel down at the end. I'm a fan, win or lose.

But the one thing I'm watching for is, I think, central to why the defense has regressed:
Who on defense is going to develop into the next star? Nobody has stepped up into the Woodson/Collins vacuum. And except for Perry when he's rushing from the right side, no defensive player seems to have taken it to the next level. They're talented, but not special (the Claymaker excluded, of course). I think this is why the defense looks bad. Nobody can predict where a player's plateau is. You can hardly blame that on T2. You get lucky or you don't. And you can't blame that on the coaches either (although you can blame all the missed assignments consistent across different personnel packages on them). So who's going to take the next step? It's not Hayward this year. Hopefully he comes back next year without significant damage. Who will it be? Options are DJones, Daniels, Perry, Shields...and that's about it.

Fingers crossed.

[woodbuck27]

I enjoy watching the Packers regardless. The only time I shut off a game early is when the game goes into kneel down at the end. I'm a fan, win or lose.

But the one thing I'm watching for is, I think, central to why the defense has regressed:
Who on defense is going to develop into the next star? Nobody has stepped up into the Woodson/Collins vacuum. And except for Perry when he's rushing from the right side, no defensive player seems to have taken it to the next level. They're talented, but not special (the Claymaker excluded, of course). I think this is why the defense looks bad. Nobody can predict where a player's plateau is. You can hardly blame that on T2. You get lucky or you don't. And you can't blame that on the coaches either (although you can blame all the missed assignments consistent across different personnel packages on them). So who's going to take the next step? It's not Hayward this year. Hopefully he comes back next year without significant damage. Who will it be? Options are DJones, Daniels, Perry, Shields...and that's about it.

Fingers crossed.

Solid Post with a focus on 'reality and now'.

Yes ..... what do we really have in terms of 'the new blood'?

PACKERS !

[Pugger]

In short yes, IMO this team is terrible even if Rodgers didn't get hurt. He doesn't play defense, and that's the biggest weakness on this team. Some shit should come down on TT/stubby for not firing Capers last year, for putting all their eggs in one basket QB wise, and for also not getting some free agent talent. Say what you want about free agency being a folly, but it looks pretty successful in Seattle. There needs to be some big changes, yet there won't be.

We were 5-2 before Rodgers got hurt. Yup, just terrible.

Seattle isn't paying their starting QB diddly squat so they can afford to dabble in FA.

[Pugger]

So let me get this straight. Because we have high expectations, you want to get rid of the people who are responsible for us having high expectations? This team has had 4 straight playoff appearances and one Lombardi Trophy and you want to clean house because we might miss the playoffs after our QB got hurt? If the Packers were to can TT and MM, the rush by other teams to sign those guys would look like Walmart on Black Friday. Or Thanksgiving I guess.

No shit. Fans like Rutnstrut think FA is the panacea to all of our ills.

[Freak Out]

I need the team to exist. Sure I want a SB every year but know that is not happening.

[Patler]

Some shit should come down on TT/stubby for .... putting all their eggs in one basket QB wise,

Actually, they didn't. They had a veteran backup QB, just like everyone argued they should the last couple years. Unfortunately, Wallace got hurt before it could be determined if they were right or wrong in having him there.

[Pugger]

Actually, they didn't. They had a veteran backup QB, just like everyone argued they should the last couple years. Unfortunately, Wallace got hurt before it could be determined if they were right or wrong in having him there.

A lot of people keep forgetting about that. We'll never know if Wallace would have eked out a couple of wins during this trying time but he had to be better than a grass green fresh off the PS QB or a noodle-armed guy who couldn't secure a backup job in Seattle, Oakland or Buffalo.