More Banjo - Packers vs. vikings

[run pMc]

On the INT where Watson got hurt, that wasn't on Love either. Watson and Musgrave ran their routes very close together. The LB who had Musgrave was able to peel off and make the play which both injured Watson and became an INT. https://x.com/i/status/1840779755773104575

Also, on the 4th down play where Love threw deep to Wicks in the end zone, Wicks should have come down with the ball. The ball hit him in the shoulder pad. https://x.com/i/status/1840564404389023823

Not saying Love was great, but his receivers weren't doing him many favors.

I think that was more on Love than you make it to be. Usually the backer takes the TE (musgrave) down the seam, leaving a nice window for Watson. The LB kept eyes on the QB and made a great play. If Love waited a split second longer he would have noticed the Musgrave had the backer beat up the seam because he was peeking. Really was a combo of Love being rusty and the LB making a good play. The timing on the receivers might have been a little off but there was still room.

Also, Andy Herman posted this - the Vikings had some pretty good pass pro schemed up, where every DL was basically getting a chip and a block, buying Darnold enough time to survey the field. Not having Jaire or Valentine certainly didn't help, but the Vikings were well prepared -- at least to start.
IDK what 2nd half adjustments were made, but the defense allowed 3 points, so something worked.

Kenny Clark and Rashan Gary have been too quiet this season so far.

2-2 after 4 games; I'm not too worried but would have loved to beat the Vikings at home. At this point the preseason rust should be gone, the penalties should (in theory) start to diminish, and Love's timing and reads should improve. Lotta football yet, and they aren't out of it.

Jayden Reed is pretty good.

Very worried about the kicker. Missing from inside 45 yards is Carlssonian, and we can't have that. Making just one of those FGs changes the complexion of the game. And yeah, I'd like to see how MIN does when they are down 10 points early in 3Q.

I continue to be on Aaron Jones injury watch. Watson's injury sounds like it will be a couple of weeks. This wasn't his fault, let him heal up. Watson with fresh legs midseason could be fun.

[red]

the flower said after the game he figured watson would miss a week

however its now been confirmed to be a high ankle sprain where guys usually miss 6-8 weeks

and this is watson we are talking about, so he's probably going to miss the season

[Fritz]

At this point I'm more concerned about the defense than the offense. I think the offense will come together, but the defense . . . that's concerning. I don't know if I hear "gaping hole" more on porn sites or on Packer broadcasts these days.

[sharpe1027]

We're number #1 in turnovers. We complained about Barry's passive defense that didn't take enough risks. Do we now we now complain because we give up too many big plays and should play more sound defense?

It's hard for me to keep up with the latest trends!

[Fritz]

We're number #1 in turnovers. We complained about Barry's passive defense that didn't take enough risks. Do we now we now complain because we give up too many big plays and should play more sound defense?

It's hard for me to keep up with the latest trends!

I don't think that when it's an obvious passing down and the opposing QB has all day to throw that that's happening because Half-Assley is taking too many risks. Darnold was not a big rushing threat, so it's not like they had to rush in this ultra-disciplined way like with a running QB. So why couldn't they apply pressure?

I am NOT asking for Joe Barry's defense. At all. I am asking why this system, which is supposed to free the rushers to get upfield, isn't getting it done on that count.

[sharpe1027]

Packers are 9th in sacks.

[ThunderDan]

Packers are 9th in sacks.

It helps to get 8 sacks in 1 week.

[sharpe1027]

It helps to get 8 sacks in 1 week.

Yes. We still had two sacks against the Vikings. Not exactly an outstanding showing, but you can't expect 8 every week against good teams. Especially when you look at how much they were utilizing Jones. They ran more times than they passed.

[red]

pass rushing isn't just about the sack #s

[bobblehead]

I'm old and must've missed the rule change where a muffed punt recovery is not a touchdown? Crazy sequence to get that score.

Matt LaFleur got flagged for a 15-yard penalty for basically telling the refs to go fuck themselves.

Aaron Jones kept out of the end zone.

Nixon's blitz-sack-fumble on Darnold was quite enjoyable.

Its been the rule for awhile. Unless the player gains possession you can't advance it. I think the rule is the same for kickoffs which is why you can't advance an onside unless opposition were to gain complete possession and then fumble it somehow.

[bobblehead]

Mostly though I'm wondering what the hell happened to the vaunted defensive end depth. Can't tell you how many times I heard Wayne Larivee say "Darnold back. He's looking . . . looking . . . still looking . . . "

All this crap about being turned loose, get upfield, free us to do our thing, blah blah blah. WTF is wrong? Rashan Gary's done it before, but right now he's doing nothing. Smith is Smith. Van Ness does not seem to be developing - is he going to be a dud? Enagbare playing like a third-stringer. The only way they get pressure seems to be via blitzing.

They didn't adjust to a non running QB. They were still collapsing the pocket as if to contain him...Sam Darnold....contained. The dude is genetically contained so they needed to use a few inside moves.

[Patler]

Some interesting pass-rush tidbits I found:

- The Packers rank last in the NFL in ESPN's pass rush win rate metric.
- Rashan Gary has the Packers' worst PFF pass rush grade, with one sack and no QB hits.
- Since Week 14 of 2023, Gary has one sack, six hits, and 24 hurries.

[CaptainKickass]

Muff rule is not new. Can't advance a muff. Just doesn't happen very often.

Its been the rule for awhile. Unless the player gains possession you can't advance it. I think the rule is the same for kickoffs

I stand corrected. You and the mailman have delivered. Only a fumble recovery can be advanced by the kicking team. I somehow thought it was different for punts vs kickoffs but my research says they are the same.

[Fritz]

Some interesting pass-rush tidbits I found:

- The Packers rank last in the NFL in ESPN's pass rush win rate metric.
- Rashan Gary has the Packers' worst PFF pass rush grade, with one sack and no QB hits.
- Since Week 14 of 2023, Gary has one sack, six hits, and 24 hurries.

Wait . . . if Rashan Gary continues to underperform, does that mean I can dig up my old posts about him being a horrible draft pick, and crow about that?

I'd prefer that he gets going and plays like a demon and I can pretend I thought he was great all along.

If they can't get to Statue Stafford next week without blitzing extensively, then they're worse than we thought.

[sharpe1027]

pass rushing isn't just about the sack #s

Agreed. The Queens were leaning heavy on Jones and the Packers were short handed in the secondary. The DB issues might have limited their ability to blitz. They might have been focused on containing Jones (hard to convince me they were very worried about Darnold running).