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Originally posted by MadtownPacker
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Agree with Mad above, first of all. You get the ball back that many times on turnovers and all you can get out of it is six points? Rodgers was okay, nothing more. He missed a wide-open Lazard on a red-zone play in which he opted to throw to the back of the end zone to Adams who was clearly heading out of bounds as he caught it. Lazard was in the front of the end zone, nine yards in front of Adams, wide open. So he was in Rodgers's field of vision. Also, on that third-and-goal throw at the end of the game to Adams - you look at the reply with the camera that's behind Rodgers, and it's clear he had a pretty good chance to run the ball into the right corner of the end zone. Instead he threw it to a double-covered Adams. Sheesh.
LeFleur should be crucified for this game. The team was not ready from the opening bell. The play calling was horrible - he suffered the same mistake that MM used to make - the run doesn't work right away, so he abandons the ship. And he did find two things in the running game that worked: first, the old 49ers sweep, which I think he ran twice in the first half, both picking up nice gains. Then he started using Dillon after Jones was hurt, and he was the most effective back on the field. But LeFleur kept calling passes, and worse yet, lots of side-to-side stuff that didn't work much. The play call on the second Jones fumble was a terrible one. Jones was never going to get that first down, not never. Anyway, why did The Flower not keep using the old SF sweep play? Man, once he gave up on the run, Tampa just pinned its ears back. And his call - not going for it on fourth down - made zero sense. Why would you pass on that opportunity? Do you want Aaron Rodgers to have one shot at a touchdown and if successful, another one-play shot at a two-point conversion, or do you want to give the ball to Tom Brady against your defense, which was hapless for much of the day? What a stupid, stupid call.
King was horrible, just horrible. There is just zero excuse for letting a wide receiver get behind you at the end of the half when your entire job is to keep the guy in front of you. King was bad all day, just all day long. A dollar short and a day late.
Pettine was also terrible in preparing this defense. How many times did they get the Bucs into third-and-long situations, only to give up a long, long completion? It was evident early on that the Packers' fronts could get no pressure on Brady, so why did he only blitz very occasionally, and that later in the game? Sure, Brady could burn you, but he was burning this defense because he had all day to throw.
Zadarius Smith was lousy. Gary was a non-entity. Only Kenny Clark played well, and he played really well. Actually, against the running game, Dean Lowry played well, too. But Z Smith was invisible. He's supposed to be a big-play guy, but he was invisible.
Jaire Alexander was wonderful. What a player.
MVS played a good game.
Tonyan was okay, but he dropped a key third down pass from Rodgers in the second half. I think it was one of the attempted drives after one of the interceptions. Tonyan makes that grab, and they have a chance.
I have been rooting for Encylopedia St. Brown, but the two-point conversion drop was inexcusable.
So many mistakes, all piled up on top of one another. Makes me sick. Because Brady wasn't really all that great, either. The minute they pushed the pocket on him, he was throwing lolly pops up in the air in the second half. Again, where was Pettine's adjustment to get more pressure on Brady?
The Tampa Bay defense was great. Aggressive and fast. They really do close fast. You'd think Jones was about to pop one, when suddenly he was down on the ground.
JK Scott needs to be replaced. His first punt, when they needed something, was 38 yards. What a pud.
Special teams were their usual sucky selves, even with first stringers playing. Couple of big kick returns put Brady in good position.
Aaron Jones played a poor game - two fumbles, and the second was a dagger.
Mercedes Lewis played well.
Jamal Williams demonstrated that he's a nice second fiddle, but that's about it.
Poor Rick Wagner. The guy's knees are shot, and the Tampa DE took advantage of Wagner's immobility.
What really sucks is that if this team had played even okay, they'd be in the SB. Adams dropping a TD pass in the first half, so they have to settle for a FG instead of tying it at 14? King's inexcusable mistake at the end of the half? LeFleur's abandoning of the run altogether?
If they'd played pretty well and lost, well, it would hurt. But they played a terrible, terrible game. Sure, TB had something to do with it, but mostly the Pack just kept shooting themselves in the foot. And I hope LeFleur does some soul searching about his play calling in rematch games.
What a poop stain.
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