More Banjo - Packers vs. Colts

[texaspackerbacker]

I always preferred speed backs. I'm pleased with the Jacobs signing and probably drafting Lloyd, but I hope they don't stray too far from using speedy breakaway threat RBs. LaFleur seems to be compensating very well by using Reed. Melton, etc. as runners.

[Patler]

That wasn't even Gute's experiment. Those were Ted Thompson picks. And even then, they drafted a bigger back in Jamaal Williams a round before Jones.

... and another, Devante Mays, two rounds after Jones.

[run pMc]

So I guess a lot of people on the internet were down on MLF for running the ball so much? Personally, I didn't mind it -- was kind of fun seeing the Packers on the right side of some smashmouth football for once. They were sometimes doing that with Indy having 8 men in the box lol.
Once Indy put 9 in the box in the second half and shut it down I thought they maybe needed to switch it up a little, but still didn't have much to complain about.

I thought it was a reasonable game plan that was well executed - with the exception of a couple penalties and a fumble.

[texaspackerbacker]

Like McCarthy used to get criticized for, LaFleur played not to lose, and sure enough he didn't lose. I'm hoping to see Love play, and a healthy dose of normalcy. If Willis does start, though, I'd like to see more passing, but bottom line, they need to win - which again means playing not to lose.

[Bretsky]

So I guess a lot of people on the internet were down on MLF for running the ball so much? Personally, I didn't mind it -- was kind of fun seeing the Packers on the right side of some smashmouth football for once. They were sometimes doing that with Indy having 8 men in the box lol.
Once Indy put 9 in the box in the second half and shut it down I thought they maybe needed to switch it up a little, but still didn't have much to complain about.

I thought it was a reasonable game plan that was well executed - with the exception of a couple penalties and a fumble.

They are complete idiots. The goal was to win and this was IMO the best work MLF has ever donek. Brilliant game plan. Lots of motioin and movement to keep the D off balance against the run and pass game. It was just brillians.

I am STILL baffled, completely, (maybe somebody heard something) that Jonathon Taylor did not play in the 4th quarter. I think they reported it was a situational decision. That was absolute idiocracy.

[Joemailman]

They are complete idiots. The goal was to win and this was IMO the best work MLF has ever donek. Brilliant game plan. Lots of motioin and movement to keep the D off balance against the run and pass game. It was just brillians.

I am STILL baffled, completely, (maybe somebody heard something) that Jonathon Taylor did not play in the 4th quarter. I think they reported it was a situational decision. That was absolute idiocracy.

Apparently they don't see him as part of the passing game, which was going to be their focus in the 4th quarter. Still, I'm sure the Packers were glad to not see him out there.

Taylor's underperformance in the passing game is relevant here. He had a dropped pass earlier in the game and his pass protection has never been stellar. At the same time, Taylor had an 18-yard catch in the game as well. He has also been a major factor as a receiver in the past, catching a career-high 40 passes for 360 yards in 2021.


Steichen didn't specifically attribute his personnel decisions to Taylor's passing-game performance, but he did say the emphasis on passing late in the game informed his lineup decisions. "In that fourth quarter, we were throwing the football," he said. "We weren't really scheming up passes for the running backs there in the fourth quarter when we were throwing it. So, we had [Sermon] in there and I thought he did a good job."

Edit: On the McKinney INT, Quay Walker got in on a blitz and forced a high throw. Taylor was in a position to pick him up, but did a poor job. Maybe that was a factor.

[George Cumby]

So I guess a lot of people on the internet were down on MLF for running the ball so much? Personally, I didn't mind it -- was kind of fun seeing the Packers on the right side of some smashmouth football for once. They were sometimes doing that with Indy having 8 men in the box lol.
Once Indy put 9 in the box in the second half and shut it down I thought they maybe needed to switch it up a little, but still didn't have much to complain about.

I thought it was a reasonable game plan that was well executed - with the exception of a couple penalties and a fumble.

The QB school guy, O'sullivan?, I forget, anyway, he RAVED about how brilliant the game plan was and how it put Malik in a position to succeed.

Next level coaching, IMHO.

[run pMc]

Agree with others I thought it was a good game plan and was well executed. You can't make a backup QB throw the ball 30 times, especially when they haven't been in town long. Plus Indy could not stop the run. It speeds up the game, keeps Richardson & Taylor off the field, gives your team lots of confidence.

I thought Taylor must've gone out with an injury. The fact they chose to play Sermon over Taylor is baffling. It must've been the blitz pickup? I know MLF basically pulled Musgrave vs. PHI bc of the interception and 12 man on field penalty... still, GB could NOT stop Taylor, not using one of your best players because of a blitz pickup is a weird one. At least 4 of his 12 rushes were for over 10 yards; they could have just run the ball and had more success than throwing it.


I guess in that light, coaching (good by MLF, bad by Steichen) was the difference in the game?