Post St. Louis Rams Game Chat With Cleft Crusty

[Cleft Crusty]

Hi Folks, Cleft Crusty here. Time to chat. I've made my way down to the bowels of Lambeau Field where my 28K dial up modem, provided free of charge by my newspaper, is up and running. It was awfully quiet as I made my way through stunned fans. Will you guys make some noise on the forum or is the "season over" as I heard many claim as I passed through the atrium?

[BallHawk]

Why do we fumble so much?

[MJZiggy]

Hi Cleft,

This isn't the first time in the last few years we've come out of the gate 1 and 4. Is there any hope for a turnaround?

[Brainerd]

Who will be cut this week?

Why is Sanders still the DC?

When will TT and his handpicked staff admit they are rebuilding?

Who will be the HC, OC and DC when the Packers start winning again?

[Cleft Crusty]

Why do we fumble so much?

You've got a rookie RB, who was drafted late, cut, ended up at the worst team in the NFL, and was traded for with a RB (Gado) who hardly played in college, and fumbled in the pros as well. Was it Thomas Paine or the musical group Rush that claimed "You don't get something for nothing."

[retailguy]

cleft.

Will we make a trade before the 17th?

[Fosco33]

Hi Cleft,

This isn't the first time in the last few years we've come out of the gate 1 and 4. Is there any hope for a turnaround?

From packers.com

A return to the NFC Championship slipped painfully through the Packers' fingers in 2003. Donovan McNabb led the Eagles to a come-from-behind, 20-17 overtime win to end an emotional Packers run in the Divisional playoffs.

The loss snapped a memorable five-game winning streak. The stretch included changes to three of the most-revered records in Packers history (Forrest Gregg's 33-year-old consecutive-games streak, broken by Favre; Jim Taylor's 41-year-old season rushing record, Green; and Don Hutson's 58-year-old career scoring mark, Ryan Longwell). One day after the death of his father, Favre turned in the best game of his career, throwing for four TDs in a 41-7 win at Oakland. Then, Green Bay captured an improbable division title in the last two minutes of the season, when Arizona upset Minnesota and the Lambeau Field crowd broke the news to the Packers. Green Bay was in position to pass the Vikings thanks to its 7-2 record after the bye.

Green spearheaded the best running offense in Packers history, as the club captured nearly every franchise rushing mark. Favre led the NFL in TD passes a fourth time to tie a league record, throwing 19 of his 32 scores with a broken right thumb.

Adding to the hallmark of Sherman's tenure, the Packers overcame more adversity in 2004 to finish 10-6, winning a third straight division title. After an emotional kickoff-weekend win on a Monday night at Carolina, the defending NFC champion, Green Bay dropped four straight, its roughest start (1-4) since 1991.

[Brando19]

Cleft...
Will Favre be benched at some point in the season to play Rogers?

[MadtownPacker]

Cleft - Is this one all on Favre?

[Cleft Crusty]

Hi Cleft,

This isn't the first time in the last few years we've come out of the gate 1 and 4. Is there any hope for a turnaround?

Not really. If you look at years past where the Packers have turned it around, there were skill players that emerged (2000), or schedules that got easier (2004). I can't see any skill players emerging anywhere on the Packers roster, and their schedule gets tougher, except for 3-4 games in December. Plus, Favre is the most talented guy on the team, and you can see what happens when he has a rough stretch. The Packers grind to halt on offense. Perhaps you have some leaves to rake, a driveway to coat, etc.?

[Cleft Crusty]

Cleft - Is this one all on Favre?

He takes some blame, sure. Mostly for poor passing in the second hal;f. But without him, do you think they come back? Also, he didn't fumble in the first half, and he didn't drop passes late. The final play on which he fumbled, he had 2 seconds before he was hit. Little came on a stunt and neither the RB out of the backfield, nor Tony Moll recognized the stunt and shifted to help. Perhaps the play call - leaving Favre in the pocket - could be questioned.

[Cleft Crusty]

Cleft...
Will Favre be benched at some point in the season to play Rogers?

I think you'd have to be sure that A-rod was better. he's never shown it on the field, and unless he's playing lights out in practice, why would you do it? Favre, hurting from a neck injury still runs the team very well, and can make most of the throws.

[Brando19]

Hi Cleft,

This isn't the first time in the last few years we've come out of the gate 1 and 4. Is there any hope for a turnaround?

Not really. If you look at years past where the Packers have turned it around, there were skill players that emerged (2000), or schedules that got easier (2004). I can't see any skill players emerging anywhere on the Packers roster, and their schedule gets tougher, except for 3-4 games in December. Plus, Favre is the most talented guy on the team, and you can see what happens when he has a rough stretch. The Packers grind to halt on offense. Perhaps you have some leaves to rake, a driveway to coat, etc.?

Dolphins, Cardinals, and Bills....those are our next 3 games. All three are beatable teams for us. I predict we'll end up 4-4 after the Bills game. Thoughts?

[Cleft Crusty]

cleft.

Will we make a trade before the 17th?

As far as I can tell, the Packers have no value to trade and no interest from other teams in anyone they have. Who would you trade? What could you get?

[Brando19]

cleft.

Will we make a trade before the 17th?

As far as I can tell, the Packers have no value to trade and no interest from other teams in anyone they have. Who would you trade? What could you get?

I believe we should trade Manuel and a draft pick for a good player in secondary.