Official NFC Playoff Standings Thread - 7 Weeks To Go

[MadScientist]

Whether we make the playoffs or not is irrelevant; b/c, even if we do, we'll be bounced quickly.

We're headed in the right direction I think... but things need to happen.

1) Fire Stubby at seasons end.
2) Hire a competent McVey/Nagey type offensive coach.
3) Hit on that fairly high 1st round pick we will have
4) See continued development from Alexander, Jackson, A. Jones, and the Wrs.
5) Jettison the dead weight contracts of Perry, Matthews, and Cobb; and, use that freed up cap space to sign the best FA LB on the market.
6) Get rid of Fackrell and Ryan - start a complete rebuild at LB.

That's a big list, but it's doable.

First 4 are doable, or at least reasonable. Getting rid of Matthews and Cobb are likely. Peri may deserve the ax, but the cap savings is small so they will probably keep him and hope they can get something out of him.

Fackrell has 8 sacks in 10 games. He may have his faults, but those numbers says he stays. Ryan probably goes unless he's cheap depth. There is a limit to how much they can do in one year.

[pbmax]

Whether we make the playoffs or not is irrelevant; b/c, even if we do, we'll be bounced quickly.

We're headed in the right direction I think... but things need to happen.

1) Fire Stubby at seasons end.
2) Hire a competent McVey/Nagey type offensive coach.
3) Hit on that fairly high 1st round pick we will have
4) See continued development from Alexander, Jackson, A. Jones, and the Wrs.
5) Jettison the dead weight contracts of Perry, Matthews, and Cobb; and, use that freed up cap space to sign the best FA LB on the market.
6) Get rid of Fackrell and Ryan - start a complete rebuild at LB.

That's a big list, but it's doable.

You forgot to mention getting rid of Martinez.

[call_me_ishmael]

Packers aren't playing for 2018 or 2019 in my opinion. Not to say they aren't important, but I think they know they realistically don't have a roster capable of Super Bowl in 2018 and won't in 2019 either. Name of the game is flip the roster over completely for a young and powerful 2020 and 2021 squad.

[wist43]

You forgot to mention getting rid of Martinez.

A team can get by with Martinez if he has players around him who are more talented than he is. Right now, we don't have those players.

Where has Burks been?? I'm glad he hasn't been in the lineup, but why?? Don't keep up with happenings the way i used to.

If Burks doesn't show improvement next training camp, I'd toss him too.

[Joemailman]

A team can get by with Martinez if he has players around him who are more talented than he is. Right now, we don't have those players.

Where has Burks been?? I'm glad he hasn't been in the lineup, but why?? Don't keep up with happenings the way i used to.

If Burks doesn't show improvement next training camp, I'd toss him too.

He has a lot to learn about playing the run as a LB. Packers have played teams recently tha run the ball well and often. Might see him more this week against the Vikings.

[wist43]

He has a lot to learn about playing the run as a LB. Packers have played teams recently tha run the ball well and often. Might see him more this week against the Vikings.

He's terrible against the pass too.

[mraynrand]

Where has Burks been?? I'm glad he hasn't been in the lineup, but why?? Don't keep up with happenings the way i used to.

If Burks doesn't show improvement next training camp, I'd toss him too.

He got beaten like a drum on that first Patsies drive, and lost his job. I saw him on a milk carton the other day.

[denverYooper]

After all the trouble and bad beats, they are a game out of the wildcard. Bears have 7 wins, so Packers are 3 full behind.

Defense has gotten better despite losing Ha Ha and Wilkerson. Fackrell makes a real difference, a large one if he can keep it up and is not just good for some matchup wins.

The offense would be 25% better if it stops shooting itself in the foot (turnovers and penalties).

McCarthy has belatedly realized Jones needs to start. Now the only obstacle is to use him without forgetting him.

Red zone needs a scheme fix. This is the least hopeful front.

Rodgers getting healthier should mean his play picks up.

Not saying its going to happen, but stranger things have. Watching the Bears Vikings game and neither of those teams is ahead of what the Packers should be able to do. They have already shown they can beat the Bears, Vikings, Rams and Seahawks. Who is there to fear except internal malfunction?

To add to the 25% offensive p despite being promising rookies who have made some plays, ESB and sometimes MVS are a hair off on offensive sync. IF they get more consistent and predictable, especially on 2nd reaction plays AND M3/Rodgers don't shy away from 2nd half Jones, it's not hard to see the offense improve near the end of the year.

I also hope Tonyan sees more snaps. That guy has wheels and hands.

Remember when their problem was that the offense was a bunch of plodders? That's not the problem now. They're still re-adjusting to their new talent.

[denverYooper]

This week then is pretty much a must win

If we beat the queens, then we pretty much control our destiny

If we lose, we’re 2 games back with 5 to play

Agreed.

They can lose 1 more this year and still be in the hunt, but the 1 they lose can't be the Vikings.

[Smidgeon]

To add to the 25% offensive p despite being promising rookies who have made some plays, ESB and sometimes MVS are a hair off on offensive sync. IF they get more consistent and predictable, especially on 2nd reaction plays AND M3/Rodgers don't shy away from 2nd half Jones, it's not hard to see the offense improve near the end of the year.

I also hope Tonyan sees more snaps. That guy has wheels and hands.

Remember when their problem was that the offense was a bunch of plodders? That's not the problem now. They're still re-adjusting to their new talent.

Honestly, I'm tired of the second reaction stages as if they're a part of the game plan. When is "run around and try to get open if the original routes don't work" a viable offensive strategy? Instead of practicing that regularly, practice new schemes/plays. That run around wildly and pray for a play worked when the defense wasn't expecting it. Now they are, just like now it's rare to catch the defense substituting players for a free five yards.

There are innovations on this team. The problem is that they stick with the ones that were effective in the past too long instead of finding something new. Not only are the mid game adjustments slow, the year over year ones are slower.

[pbmax]

A team can get by with Martinez if he has players around him who are more talented than he is. Right now, we don't have those players.

Where has Burks been?? I'm glad he hasn't been in the lineup, but why?? Don't keep up with happenings the way i used to.

If Burks doesn't show improvement next training camp, I'd toss him too.

Patriots drove him right out of the lineup.

[pbmax]

To add to the 25% offensive p despite being promising rookies who have made some plays, ESB and sometimes MVS are a hair off on offensive sync. IF they get more consistent and predictable, especially on 2nd reaction plays AND M3/Rodgers don't shy away from 2nd half Jones, it's not hard to see the offense improve near the end of the year.

I also hope Tonyan sees more snaps. That guy has wheels and hands.

Remember when their problem was that the offense was a bunch of plodders? That's not the problem now. They're still re-adjusting to their new talent.

All true. I should have also said that the 3rd down efficiency has to pick up, which is partly scheme but also Rodgers. So I would slot it as just behind red zone improvement as likely to happen.

[Joemailman]

Honestly, I'm tired of the second reaction stages as if they're a part of the game plan. When is "run around and try to get open if the original routes don't work" a viable offensive strategy? Instead of practicing that regularly, practice new schemes/plays. That run around wildly and pray for a play worked when the defense wasn't expecting it. Now they are, just like now it's rare to catch the defense substituting players for a free five yards.

There are innovations on this team. The problem is that they stick with the ones that were effective in the past too long instead of finding something new. Not only are the mid game adjustments slow, the year over year ones are slower.

The "run around and try to get open if the original routes don't work" worked reasonably well when you had Jordy and Cobb who knew exactly what to do if the original play broke down. But now you have 2 rookies out there who, like most rookies, just aren't there yet. Coaching is all about putting players in situations where they can be successful. The offensive braintrust, and that includes Rodgers, are not doing that very well.

[pbmax]

Extended offense also works better with healthy and unnervingly accurate Rodgers playing. Now he can’t avoid rush as well.

[Joemailman]

Extended offense also works better with healthy and unnervingly accurate Rodgers playing. Now he can’t avoid rush as well.

Will the legendary chip on his shoulder prevent him from accepting that he needs to do some things differently as some of his athletic skills decline?