More Banjo: Week 15 @ Chicago

[pbmax]

Since all we're left with is thinking of next year, I wonder, since I did not get the game here, if anyone can say anything about the performances of Mt. Adams, Josh Jackson, and Josh Jones yesterday. We need two of those three to really pan out if we're hoping this will be a one-season rebuild. Also, did Oren Burks play at all?

Adams had a couple of moments. He's kinda a square peg in a round hole right now. He's best when fast off the snap and penetrating. But that doesn't help the Packers LBs especially when they are in the small ILB nickel (Josh Jones). He needs to play bigger at times, but the athleticism is there. He should be able to rush the passer. Pure one gap instincts.

Josh Jackson missed a tackle I still don't understand. He fell off the guys back like he was shot in the back. He and Jones don't do as well going sideways or backwards as others do. I don't think he collected a penalty though. He was the dime CB if I am not mistaken (Jaire, Breeland, Brown ahead of him).

Jones looked more sure footed deep. But as ILB he jumped into the wrong run fill gap twice and helped the Bears score one TD and one big gain. He needs the starters out there on the line. In a very veteran move gave an unsatisfactory public display to Brown when Brown failed to carry his receiver deep in the corner of the end zone and they allowed the Bears go ahead TD. The good news is that I think he was correct.

Very much like SPRIGGS and FACKRELL, you see him get better. But man is it slow. He hasn't been hitting too many people. I think he is thinking too much.

Tank suggested Pettine's defense looks exactly like Capers, but I don't think that is the case at all. They can be had and have no pass rush, but there is no question the backend is more disciplined this year. Giving Whitt total DB control might have been the best decision M3 made in his last year.

The guy who might be the real find this year is Brown. He could be Allen Rossum, though I don't know if he returns kicks. He quick and short and would be a great depth guy to backup Alexander and play box and 1 on Tarik Cohen.

[gbgary]

Trubisky aint worth all that much. That's why they brought in Mack. They know they have to win with defense and an 'efficient' offense.

he's pretty good now. in two years he could be a lot better. he pretty much did whatever he wanted yesterday.

[mraynrand]

he pretty much did whatever he wanted yesterday.

I apparently watched a different game

[gbgary]

I apparently watched a different game

20/28 for 235 and 2 td's and a rating of 120.4. he showed escapability. that's pretty good to me.

[Rutnstrut]

Its always funny when you think signing FAs and playmakers is a 100% shot and never has any downside or fallout.

You always read people's comments about FA and other team building avenues as all in that way. My take is most are pissed that TT refused to even give other avenues much of a chance. Sure FA isn't 100% but as we have seen, draft and develop is far from 100% also. Ted's absolute refusal to do what it took to put the needed pieces around Rodgers is failure, pure and simple. Now from years of carrying the team, and injuries Rodgers may be broken beyond repair. Once again, thanks Ted. Say there is no Rodgers. What did Ted ever do?

[Rutnstrut]

Sure, but they're being super smart with how they use him. He threw deep twice yesterday and completed one for 23 yards. Packers threw deep 10 times and completed 2 for 44.

They don't need the deep game to win; Packers do.

Why do the Packers need the deep game to win? They haven't tried winning with the run/short, medium game. They refuse to try it.

[pbmax]

You always read people's comments about FA and other team building avenues as all in that way. My take is most are pissed that TT refused to even give other avenues much of a chance. Sure FA isn't 100% but as we have seen, draft and develop is far from 100% also. Ted's absolute refusal to do what it took to put the needed pieces around Rodgers is failure, pure and simple. Now from years of carrying the team, and injuries Rodgers may be broken beyond repair. Once again, thanks Ted. Say there is no Rodgers. What did Ted ever do?

He would have drafted more QBs from higher draft slots because the team would have been worse.

Favre plays for Green Bay in 2008 and 9.

[pbmax]

Why do the Packers need the deep game to win? They haven't tried winning with the run/short, medium game. They refuse to try it.

See Andy Reid's playoff history to know why going deep successfully, at least on occasion is necessary. A good defense can take away your favorite things and make you earn it another way.

That is why the Packers, who could throw short and in the middle (Jennings, Finley, Quarless, Cook) at one time and run occasionally (Grant, Starks, Lacy) could be so dangerous. You get to do that to teams scared to death of the deep sideline passing game.

[bobblehead]

You always read people's comments about FA and other team building avenues as all in that way. My take is most are pissed that TT refused to even give other avenues much of a chance. Sure FA isn't 100% but as we have seen, draft and develop is far from 100% also. Ted's absolute refusal to do what it took to put the needed pieces around Rodgers is failure, pure and simple. Now from years of carrying the team, and injuries Rodgers may be broken beyond repair. Once again, thanks Ted. Say there is no Rodgers. What did Ted ever do?

I call bullshit. Everyone from Charles frickin woodson to Jahari Evans says you are wrong and TT did use FA when he deemed it worthwhile. I will admit, he didn't give Albert Haynesworth a record deal.

[Rutnstrut]

See Andy Reid's playoff history to know why going deep successfully, at least on occasion is necessary. A good defense can take away your favorite things and make you earn it another way.

That is why the Packers, who could throw short and in the middle (Jennings, Finley, Quarless, Cook) at one time and run occasionally (Grant, Starks, Lacy) could be so dangerous. You get to do that to teams scared to death of the deep sideline passing game.

I for sure agree you have to have a certain number of deep plays in each game. But that shouldn't be your only play, and it pretty much is. It would be different if it was successful more than not.

[mraynrand]

Why do the Packers need the deep game to win? They haven't tried winning with the run/short, medium game. They refuse to try it.

what PB said. But I was mostly comparing the two teams - by 'deep game has to work' I also mean the Packer have to have an explosive offense that can score more because their defense is marginal. Chicago can routinely win games scoring 17-20 points becasue their defense can dominate.

[pbmax]

what PB said. But I was mostly comparing the two teams - by 'deep game has to work' I also mean the Packer have to have an explosive offense that can score more because their defense is marginal. Chicago can routinely win games scoring 17-20 points becasue their defense can dominate.

That is the other thing to remember about Rodgers and this offense. As dysfunctional as it seems, they are 7th in DVOA, 9th in passing and 4th in rushing, They stink in the red zone which is killing them and being blow average on 3rd down isn't helping the defense or the scoring.

So a down year for the Packers offense is pretty average for the League. Packers are 15th in scoring at 23.7 points per game. A career bad year for Rodgers at this point means he is probably only the 10th best passer.

[Iron Mike]

Once the Bears have to pay their QB they won't be able to keep all those goodies on defense either.

I'll go on record as saying that will happen before Trubisky is off his rookie contract. A lot of those young D players are gonna want to get payed, also, so Chicago will have to spend some $ on those guys, or lose them to free agency. Seattle, anyone? And Chicago lacks the draft picks to reload, so I think their window of opportunity will close FAST.

[Pugger]

he's pretty good now. in two years he could be a lot better. he pretty much did whatever he wanted yesterday.

Any competent NFL QB will look like that when he isn't pressured much at all.

[Joemailman]

Since all we're left with is thinking of next year, I wonder, since I did not get the game here, if anyone can say anything about the performances of Mt. Adams, Josh Jackson, and Josh Jones yesterday. We need two of those three to really pan out if we're hoping this will be a one-season rebuild. Also, did Oren Burks play at all?

Mt. Adams played 16 out of 60 snaps. He didn't stand out to me although the stat sheet has him for 3 total tackles and 1 QB hit. Jackson player 67% of defensive snaps. He had 5 total tackles and a fumble recovery. He had 1 bad play where he failed to wrap up after a short completion which turned into a 30 yard gain. Josh Jones looked okay playing close to line. However, he played a very lax zone on a play in end zone which resulted in easy Bears touchdown. Oren Burks had 0 defensive snaps and 20 ST snaps.