You're the GM; What's Your Move?

[Smidgeon]

It seems to be getting even worse. They struggle with average performances by Rodgers, even though his average may be higher than the common QB's. He needs to be at the top of his game, even against mediocre teams. There was a time when RBs and WRs were brought in off the street because of injuries, and the offense didn't seem to skip a beat. There were seasons when they used something like 5 or 6 RBs, or 8 - 10 WRs and the offense still produced. Penalties, sacks or other negative yardage most often was a bump in the road, not a barricade for that drive. Now it seems that any negative play kills a drive. They often seem to struggle even with a first or second down incomplete pass. (Maybe I'm just forgetting when adversity has been overcome.)

When was the last time the Packers offense "clicked" for almost an entire game? I am happy now to see it run smooth for two of the four quarters. Something is stale, but is it because of the overall plan (McCarthy) or the at line changes/decisions and overall execution (Rodgers)? Are there indeed more "little plays" to be had, and does he focus too much on the big plays. Is the Packers average time from snap to throw so long because of design, or because Rodgers knows he can extend plays for ever and therefore disregards the shorter stuff?

Valid questions. My take is that QBs are super hard to find. So you get a coach who doesn't let Rodgers do the Rodgers thing, like M3 did with Favre. Good coaches are easier to find than good QBs.

[deake]

Rodgers is the offense, so the slow starts are a result of Rodgers needing a few games to get up to speed as he doesn't get that chance is pre-season. Once Rodgers gets going the defense just comes along for the ride. Not sure how a change in coaches would help unless the new guy would have Rodgers playing in pre-season.

[gbgary]

i knew it was blasphemy but as i mentioned before the draft i'd have traded Rodgers to cle for their number ones and as much other draft loot as possible, drafted mayfield and b. chubb or ward, and signed a shit-load of free agents with the cap money (like the rams did) and start the rebuilding process now while remaining competitive (maybe more so) rather than tread water like we have been and will be for the next couple of years while Rodgers is still good. since that didn't happen, and they choked on the Mack deal, i'm just kind of a meh and looking forward to the next draft. Gute has shown he might be better than ted in that dept at least.

[mraynrand]

^^^ Just FYI, there was no way in hell Cleveland was trading for Rodgers. Dorsey had dream situation as GM. The QB he wanted was right there, ready to be plucked, he had the number 1 and number 4 pick, plus a whole collection of later picks, good defensive personnel, and tons 'o cap space. Why take on an older fragile QB and give up all that?

[gbgary]

^^^ Just FYI, there was no way in hell Cleveland was trading for Rodgers. Dorsey had dream situation as GM. The QB he wanted was right there, ready to be plucked, he had the number 1 and number 4 pick, plus a whole collection of later picks, good defensive personnel, and tons 'o cap space. Why take on an older fragile QB and give up all that?

yeah maybe...who knows? a hypothetical was posed so i answered. should an older fragile qb be given the biggest contract in nfl history?

[mraynrand]

yeah maybe...who knows? a hypothetical was posed so i answered. should an older fragile qb be given the biggest contract in nfl history?

It's risky, as we've already seen. And I heard second-hand scuttlebutt that Dorsey actually said what I wrote about the GM spot and the QB pick (but not about Rodgers). It's up to the accused to prove me wrong.

[Harlan Huckleby]

4. (con't) More Draft priorities, this time not forgetting the offense:

1. pass rush
2. OT
3. Safety

Those two top priorities are the toughest positions to address. So nothing to be done now (I know you aren't pining for action.)

[pbmax]

Those two top priorities are the toughest positions to address. So nothing to be done now (I know you aren't pining for action.)

You do need to get a little lucky. No team can afford two top of the market FA pass rushers at the same time. And to be guaranteed something in the draft, you need a Top 10 pick.

But you should be able to find one JPP or Strahan and then a Justin Tuck (3rd round). Then you mix and match other marginal pass rushers and count on the two very good ones to open lanes for the 2 average guys. Packers might be half way there because teams are already double teaming Clark and used to double Daniels. But no one is getting home regularly.

[pbmax]

Wilde was on the radio today talking about why the short passing game disappeared after the Bear second half and he made the point that teams know Rodgers is banged up and immediately move to take the short stuff away. This doesn't look a whole lot different that what the 49ers would do, play man short and keep safeties back.

Which is where scheme comes into play. Alex Smith, Goff and Foles aren't slinging it far down the field but somehow their OC find ways to scheme guys open. I had a video the other day from the Rams that had 3 guys in motion just to get a defense susceptible to a HB dive. Stubby hasn't caught on that he needs to adjust more. if he remade his offense to be more multiple in the same way he went hurry up in 2012-13, it could be done.

But he is stuck with occasional stacks of 2 receivers, no motion and lots of passes behind the LOS. It was a revelation to see him rush a mesh in preseason (two receivers cross each other in middle of find while running shallow crosses). It doesn't need to be that complicated. Peyton Manning set records in an offense that was 95% 11 personnel (1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WR).

[George Cumby]

Fire M3. Pettine as interim. If that works, great. If not you have the jump on the Christmas rush. Time to fish or cut bait.

[Teamcheez1]

We are 1-1-1. If I am Gute, I do nothing. I have 13 games left at which point a decision will be made.

[texaspackerbacker]

All this stupidity about firing McCarthy ...... it ain't gonna happen; it shouldn't happen.

I'll stop way short of calling him an offensive genius, but he does a fairly good job of maximizing the wins with what he has - the GOAT QB and mediocrity pretty much everywhere else. The hyper-caution thing when we have a lead is annoying at times, but it wins games - and that is, after all, the bottom line.

I'm not very enthusiastic at all about Pettine after 3 games. However, hopefully he is good enough to win with.

Hell yeah, Gute, do nothing - nothing major anyway, and win those 13 or so games. He seems to be doing a decent job of playing "small ball" in the free agent market.

[mraynrand]

The defense is behind the eight ball. They had to ditch Randall and Rollins both, lost Burnett, and Ha Ha's performance questions - that's a huge personnel loss and failure. Even with signing Williams and drafting defensive backs, injuries to King, Jones, and even Burks has really hurt their ability in coverage, even with some solid effort from the rooks.

This year looks more like 2006, like I feared in the off-season

[bobblehead]

1) Fire stubby at end of season unless we win the damn super bowl. Get a coach who knows that RB aren't glorified pass blockers and TE's should be multi functional. Seriously, Mercedes is best blocking TE in the league and has what? 15 snaps?

2) Draft BPA at all times. Period.

3) selectively use FA to fill roster holes as best we can. Don't need studs in FA, just fillers. TT's last year he did this very well except Bennett is a complete prick. Evans was a nice signing. I liked Quinton Dial, wouldn't mind him back.

4) Cut the chaff at WR. Adams is our #1, now fill in with cheap guys who do their jobs. Allison, Kumerow. Guys like that who aren't sexy, but do the job.

[mraynrand]

Exxon-Valdez-Scantron will be a stud