Before You Dismiss - Just Consider This

[bobblehead]

M3 definitely thinks this a majority of the time. But there are many examples* of him bypassing that thought process and doing something creative on offense. If the Rams alarm him enough, I expect something different.

The problem will be concern for Rodgers life and limb. While he is unusually unwilling to commit TE and RB to chip, he will take hugely limiting steps to protect an injured Rodgers.

* Any game versus the Patriots, Williams Wall Vikings, Falcons playoff

The weirdness is when he sees a defense that SHOULD be vulnerable (but survives with a ferocious pass rush) and then gets crushed until he adapts (any Giants game before that 2012, CK era 49ers, Seattle including 2014 playoffs).

I expect something totally different and I will paste this post in the game thread later.

MM pisses me off because when he pisses on himself hard enough to get fired he goes on a streak. I expect we win today and actually go on a tear and become the darling "sexy sleeper" to make the super bowl. Monty will catch screens, Jones will get the bulk of the carries, and ARod will be dominant out of play action. I think we line up 5 WR (4+Graham) and then pull Cobb to the backfield for at least 5 carries this game. You will see creativity and wonder where it has been all year and who that team we saw for the first 7 weeks was?

Yes, MM is nothing if not the ultimate cockroach and he will win today to save his job. He will be smug by the playoffs....probably make the NFCC again before he finds a way to stubby himself into a heartbreaking loss.

[bobblehead]

With Donald and Suh, they can rush with 4 and flood the back with coverage.

I'd consider a few shorter routes in case they jam receivers or go heavy blitz. I'd expect the Rams D to counter with ways to slow things down enough to pressure Rodgers.
Also, I think keeping the Rams offense off the field is the best defense, whether that be with runs or passes. (aka the Indy-era Peyton Manning defense)
You'd think someone capable of completing 60-70% of his passes would be able to complete enough to move the chains. No shame in dumping off to a RB like Jones if they can break a tackle and turn a 2 yd checkdown into a 12 yard run.

And this is why you will see more running than normal and several screen passes. Once the 2 fatties are tired we will start to look deep.

[Bossman641]

If Packers wide up with 4/5 wr every down they need to use the short passing game as an extension of the running game. Just one I'd like to see us throw checkdowns until the other team stops it.

[texaspackerbacker]

That's what they've been doing. You like the results?

I can't say I like the overall results, and no, I won't give the blame to the O Line - they do suck, but they've tended to suck in better times too, virtually never giving Rodgers Brady-quality time to throw. The problem this year and last year has been defense.

What I do like is letting Aaron be Aaron (and I mean Rodgers, not Jones) - letting his mobility provide time for receivers to get open. You guys who like the quick throws can have your way 50 or 60% of the time. You guys who like runs mixed in can get your way maybe 10% as a change of pace. But on around 30 or 40% of the snaps, I want to see Rodgers throwing it down the field - or scrambling or throwing it away if nobody gets open.

With 2 weeks to heal, I think we may see plenty of that today, and if our D can hold the Rams under 40 or so, I think we outscore them.

[pbmax]

I'm so confused. We're bitching constantly about MM not using his second-best offensive weapon in Aaron Jones, that they don't run the ball enough to give him opportunities, yet we're also supposing that MM should come out passing, passing, and passing.

So which is it?

Well, we are fans Fritz, so its situation dependent. Kinda quantum in a way. The criticism exists in two superstates, until an event is observed and then one position/criticism registers.

On the other hand, the best offense would be dominated by Jones, even if they are passing and M3 is just running out of shotgun. He should double the snaps of Williams and Monty. Right now, last two games he has started, they are running too close to equal.

I read somewhere that Monty started versus the Rams and played 3 series, they score 10 points and he was 7 carries for 46 yards. Monty comes in to play TB and its a short drive. Didn't really get going again until Jones goes 33 yards for a TD.

McCarthy wants to send the TE out on a route, not the back. If there is pressure from five, the back stays in. If Jones is the back, there is a higher chance the QB gets hit. Its understandable. So he needs to change the offense a little bit (mostly protection) to keep Jones in the game.

If the non-scripted part of the game was lights out, I would not maintain this. But the normal offense has been terrible. Right now, Jones in the lineup with whatever adjustments need to be made for protection.

[Fritz]

Well, we are fans Fritz, so its situation dependent. Kinda quantum in a way. The criticism exists in two superstates, until an event is observed and then one position/criticism registers.

On the other hand, the best offense would be dominated by Jones, even if they are passing and M3 is just running out of shotgun. He should double the snaps of Williams and Monty. Right now, last two games he has started, they are running too close to equal.

I read somewhere that Monty started versus the Rams and played 3 series, they score 10 points and he was 7 carries for 46 yards. Monty comes in to play TB and its a short drive. Didn't really get going again until Jones goes 33 yards for a TD.

McCarthy wants to send the TE out on a route, not the back. If there is pressure from five, the back stays in. If Jones is the back, there is a higher chance the QB gets hit. Its understandable. So he needs to change the offense a little bit (mostly protection) to keep Jones in the game.

If the non-scripted part of the game was lights out, I would not maintain this. But the normal offense has been terrible. Right now, Jones in the lineup with whatever adjustments need to be made for protection.

I have often read that blocking is mostly about willingness. Can Jones be taught to block? Does he not want to? If the guy could or would block better there would be no discussion of who should play.

[Pugger]

Different people taking those two points of view.

I'm with those who favor the passing, passing, passing, and I mean down the field a significant share of the time, not this quick throw pseudo-running game crap.

As for Aaron Jones, maybe they could use him just a bit more, but really, he should be a change of pace back - splitting time with Williams and Montgomery.

If Jones was better at picking up blitzers he would play a lot more. I hope he can improve in this area quick.

[pbmax]

I have often read that blocking is mostly about willingness. Can Jones be taught to block? Does he not want to? If the guy could or would block better there would be no discussion of who should play.

Willingness is one part. Understanding where he needs to be is the other. It took Brandon Jackson three years to master the where and when. By then, he was calling out protections.

The other thing here, and the one that Packer Twitter points to more often than we do here, is that he was an awful receiver out of the backfield last year. Lots of drops. Probably plays a role too.

[texaspackerbacker]

I'm coming around to the point of view that Jones is a better RB than Williams, but there still should be maybe a 60/40 or 70/30 rotation between the two. And more importantly, the Packers HAVE TO BE an extremely pass first team - using running plays mainly as a change of pace.

[Sparkey]

I think it is more awareness, in regards to blitz pickups. You can't think about what to do or you will be late. It has to be reactionary and that only comes with practice and repetitions.

[Patler]

The other thing here, and the one that Packer Twitter points to more often than we do here, is that he was an awful receiver out of the backfield last year. Lots of drops. Probably plays a role too.

He also catches the ball awkwardly and adjusts to the throw awkwardly even when he does catch it, not giving himself a chance to get moving quickly after securing the ball. This was highlighted Sunday when he sort of twisted his body without moving his feet to make a catch. It caused him to come to a dead stop, and he was tackled in the open field by the only defender in the area. The announcer commented about it being a good throw, but an awkward adjustment by Jones, not giving himself a chance to avoid the tackler in the open field. That play could have gone a long way with a more natural receiver.