Another season goes by the boards, Rodgers another year older...

[texaspackerbacker]

The heart of the problem IMO is the O Line. It was mediocre at best when healthy, and it's horrible now with the injuries. They got a helluva lot more credit than they deserved in better times, as Aaron Rodgers made it all happen with his escapability and ability to throw on the run. Now, with slightly lesser receivers, it just ain't happening. Also, the Denver game exposed sort of a myth that if teams put a max pass rush on Rodgers, especially with blitzes, he would destroy them. In reality, though, blitzing is only a small part of the problem. Most of the time, 4 or even just 3 linemen can easily beat our O Line and put extreme pressure on the QB. If that all wasn't enough, there very seldom are holes for our RBs to run - more often than not, any running success comes from bouncing away from our stacked up O Line.

The team has slowly deteriorated in a lot of ways, masked by Rodgers' ability. The total rejection of the idea of significant free agents along with the lack of success in high round drafting has left us where we are now, and a lot of it maybe was predictable - the draft picks I mean.

[beveaux1]

An article that says what many on this board have been saying:

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/nfl-winners-and-losers--aaron-rodgers-far-from-from-his-mvp-level-040548539.html

[George Cumby]

The heart of the problem IMO is the O Line.

This, plus talent erosion.

And Olivia Munn.

[red]

An article that says what many on this board have been saying:

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-sh...040548539.html

thats a damn good article

[wist43]

What's most disheartening is that we're looking on the downside for at least a couple of years - Rodgers will be what, 34-35 by then, and Jordy 32-33.

Given TT's approach, the problems that ail this team are simply too many to fix within a season or two. I've never like their approach to how they roster the OL, and MM's meek approach run blocking; dunderdummy is dunderdummy - no fixing that guy; the soft DB's; the poor tackling; on and on...

[pbmax]

I agree with tpb. Elsewhere, I maintained this was the best team in football at the end of the 2014 season. And I don't see the talent having fallen that far off.

The one exception is O line. They need a tackle prospect in the worst way. To replace Bulaga, even if contractually that doesn't happen in 2016, then to be his backup. And they probably need one to push Bach. Ideally, Bach is the backup in two years. They also might need a Guard, but I like Walker and would be willing to give him another year.

I think Barrington will be enough with Matthews at ILB, but another of those would not hurt either.

[Joemailman]

Defensively the Packers are decent and will probably be a bit better next year. Offensively, they need to restock the offensive line. Barclay, Walker, and maybe even Bakh should be playing Guard. They may have 6 picks in the 1st 4 rounds of the draft. 2 of those picks need to be Tackles. They need to increase the team speed at the offensive skill positions. Packers went into 2015 with 5 RB/FB's on the roster, 4 of whom tipped the scales at 230+. Their fastest RB is Starks. They're going to need to hope that Jordy returns as Jordy, and that either Adams or Monty can do the job. Still, they need another WR who defenses have to respect deep. Richard Rodgers has shown why many were surprised that the Packers took him in the 3rd round. Those who had him graded as a 6th round prospect were right. He has good hands but is slow. They need a TE who can threaten the seam even if he's not a "complete" TE.

[Maxie the Taxi]

I'm not ready to concede this season quite yet.

We all know the Packers' personnel weaknesses which have to be addressed in the off season. Joemailman put his finger on them. Personally, I think TT is going to have to rethink his aversion to free agency to fill some of the gaps (Peppers is a good start). Perhaps Arizona and Carolina demonstrate the new way to go. They haven't been shy about signing vets to fill holes and help them down the stretch, vets like Freeney, Rucker, Gresham, Iupati, Ginn, Tillman, Tolbert and Olsen. Plus, they've emphasized speed at skill positions in the draft (esp. Arizona) which IMO the Packers lack.

Just as TT and Stubby garner high praise when things are going well, they are going to have to accept the lion's share of criticism if things end badly this season. Just as TT is gonna have to broaden his horizons, Stubby is going to have to rethink some things, namely the no huddle offense and his coaching assignments, let alone playcalling.

But for now, I want to concentrate on the rest of this season. I found Arod's comments after yesterday's game interesting and encouraging. More or less he said they'll pull things together when it counts. One of the strengths of Stubby's teams -- and Arod is a big part of that as the team leader -- is the ability to produce when their backs are against the wall. A lot of these guys are seasoned vets who have the ability to kick it up a notch or two during the playoffs, when the slate is cleaned and everybody starts from zero. I'm thinking there's a pretty good chance this might happen this year. They may not have the talent to go all the way, but I don't expect any more blowouts either.

[pbmax]

^ That's kinda funny because just by reading them, haven't seen the video, I took his comments about 'showing up when it counts' to be too little too late.

But it would be more than welcome. I think they do have it in them to be much more efficient on offense. They need Bach to be back though. Barclay cannot man LT against a good pass rush.

[Maxie the Taxi]

^ That's kinda funny because just by reading them, haven't seen the video, I took his comments about 'showing up when it counts' to be too little too late.

But it would be more than welcome. I think they do have it in them to be much more efficient on offense. They need Bach to be back though. Barclay cannot man LT against a good pass rush.

I haven't seen the video either. Maybe it was nothing but a throwaway line. But I like to think these guys are pretty savvy. I don't think too many of them would have bet the farm on going into Arizona and winning. I think a lot of them went in thinking they'd give it a shot but if things went south it wasn't the end of the world. Even if this kind of reckoning is totally subconscious, it exists nevertheless, despite the fan noise. Arod's been there before. He knows the score. He knows what is required to make a run in January and what this team is capable of. I bet he and a bunch of other vets on that team actually believe that if they go back to Arizona in January the outcome will be different. And they might be right. Based on last year's experience alone, it might be the only edge they have over greener, more talented teams.

[hoosier]

I might have hear the we'll show up when it counts line as hopeful a month ago, but at this point the needle is pointing in completely the wrong direction. Not only did they just get their asses kicked for the second time in a season (when's the last time that happened to a Packer team that went on to do anything in the postseason?) but their problems on offense are compounded by an offensive line that is beaten up. The injured are not going to recover quickly and their replacements have proven they are not up to the task. I see a one-and-done team unless they play at Washington, in which case I would give them a decent shot to wait until the second round before losing.

[Cheesehead Craig]

I haven't seen the video either. Maybe it was nothing but a throwaway line. But I like to think these guys are pretty savvy. I don't think too many of them would have bet the farm on going into Arizona and winning. I think a lot of them went in thinking they'd give it a shot but if things went south it wasn't the end of the world. Even if this kind of reckoning is totally subconscious, it exists nevertheless, despite the fan noise. Arod's been there before. He knows the score. He knows what is required to make a run in January and what this team is capable of. I bet he and a bunch of other vets on that team actually believe that if they go back to Arizona in January the outcome will be different. And they might be right. Based on last year's experience alone, it might be the only edge they have over greener, more talented teams.

I just don't like the attitude of "we'll turn it on when we need to" that it seems they say. That type of mentality is just asking for trouble.

Add in that they have had consistent issues for the past 3 months that they've been saying they need to fix. Those types of issues don't just suddenly get fixed because it's January and playoff time. If they aren't fixed by now, they aren't going to be in 2 weeks time either. It isn't just a bad game here or there that one can just wipe away. It's a 4-5 record since week 6, with one win due to a completely lucky break (Detroit). I just don't believe that the Packers can just "turn it on", not this year. The offense could do it that past 3-4 seasons, but this iteration of the offense can't do that and I think Rodgers is wrong in thinking that way, or at least commenting on it that way.

[Joemailman]

"This was a playoff-style game for us and we obviously played terrible," Rodgers said. "But we’ve won a lot of games here. When you play long enough you’re going to be on the wrong side of this sometimes. But I have confidence in those guys and myself that when it matters for all of the marbles we’re going to show up."

I saw the PC live. I think this was Rodgers trying to sound calm and assured at a time when things seem to be falling apart. I liked his demeanor more than I have in a while.

His comments above are at the 8:00 mark of the video. http://www.packers.com/media-center/...4-4472fe6f28a9

[Fritz]

I might have hear the we'll show up when it counts line as hopeful a month ago, but at this point the needle is pointing in completely the wrong direction. Not only did they just get their asses kicked for the second time in a season (when's the last time that happened to a Packer team that went on to do anything in the postseason?) but their problems on offense are compounded by an offensive line that is beaten up. The injured are not going to recover quickly and their replacements have proven they are not up to the task. I see a one-and-done team unless they play at Washington, in which case I would give them a decent shot to wait until the second round before losing.

As I said on another thread, I did not know - until last night, it seems - whether this team was gritty and tough and all the tough times would toughen this team for a run, or whether the offense just wouldn't manage to get its head out of its collective ass and they'd be one and done.

Now I think I know. The defense is solid but not special, as are the special teams. But MM refused, early on, to commit to the run, and the passing game just isn't working. Starks can't stop coughing it up, Rodgers can't stop shrugging and looking disgusted, and the receivers can't stop dropping the ball.

At this point, this team would be better off against the Skins on the road than the Seahawks or Vikings at home, and there's no sure bets they can win even one playoff game.

I'll be rooting and watching but I'm not optimistic.

[pbmax]

^ At one point in the first quarter, it was 8-2, run versus pass. At a certain point running wasn't much of an option. And the best runner was out of the game after the first play of the second half.