Winners and Losers quick Take

[Deputy Nutz]

winners

James Jones, Jones is still not a finished product, but he is far from the 6th or 7th round draft choice that all the experts tabbed him as coming out of San Jose St. Jones once again led the team in receptions with 6, and in yards with 80. Jones did have a fumble recovered by Jacksonville. Jones has good to superb hands, catching the ball with his hands away from his body, he also goes and gets the ball at the highest point, and fights the defender for the ball.

Bubba Franks, He only had one catch, but it was for 25 yards. On the catch he was able to stretch the middle of the field and catch the ball on the run. He was also able to keep his feet and gain 10 yards or so on his own. Franks is only 29 years old, and hasn't aged himself out of the starting spot like some think. He is more focused this year and I give credit to McCarthy for taking away the starting position from him and making him earn it back.

Brett Favre, Brett completed 70% of his passes for 130 yards, and once he found his chemistry with his receivers, he was able to complete 7 passes in a row to drive the Packers into the redzone and a field goal..

Desmond Bishop, Bishop may had been out of position, but he made up for it with his hit on Reggie Williams. Bishop led the Packers in tackles with 5

Losers
Offensive line, The interior on the starting line was beaten badly in all phases of the running game. They were pushed off the line of scrimmage and never even had the chance to finish their blocks. Travis Lefew looked like an absolute failure at right tackle for most of the night giving up two sacks and almost taking out his own teammate with a diving tackle during Martin's interception.

Ingle Martin, Most likely the Packers are going to cut him after his performance tonight. He didn't have a lot of time but he threw three passes with one of them being an interception that was returned for a touchdown. He looked uncomfortable in the pocket and didn't seem to be able to create anything on his own. The Packers will most likely part with Martin, and either sign another QB or sign Paul Thompson to the practice squad.

Tyrone Culver, couldn't run with a tight end down the middle of the field on a 3rd and goal from the 30. Most likely he is out as the 4th safety and opens an even wider door to Aaron Rouse and Marquand Mannuel.

[cpk1994]

Re: Winners and Losers quick Take

winners

James Jones, Jones is still not a finished product, but he is far from the 6th or 7th round draft choice that all the experts tabbed him as coming out of San Jose St. Jones once again led the team in receptions with 6, and in yards with 80. Jones did have a fumble recovered by Jacksonville. Jones has good to superb hands, catching the ball with his hands away from his body, he also goes and gets the ball at the highest point, and fights the defender for the ball.

Bubba Franks, He only had one catch, but it was for 25 yards. On the catch he was able to stretch the middle of the field and catch the ball on the run. He was also able to keep his feet and gain 10 yards or so on his own. Franks is only 29 years old, and hasn't aged himself out of the starting spot like some think. He is more focused this year and I give credit to McCarthy for taking away the starting position from him and making him earn it back.

Brett Favre, Brett completed 70% of his passes for 130 yards, and once he found his chemistry with his receivers, he was able to complete 7 passes in a row to drive the Packers into the redzone and a field goal..

Desmond Bishop, Bishop may had been out of position, but he made up for it with his hit on Reggie Williams. Bishop led the Packers in tackles with 5

Losers
Offensive line, The interior on the starting line was beaten badly in all phases of the running game. They were pushed off the line of scrimmage and never even had the chance to finish their blocks. Travis Lefew looked like an absolute failure at right tackle for most of the night giving up two sacks and almost taking out his own teammate with a diving tackle during Martin's interception.

Ingle Martin, Most likely the Packers are going to cut him after his performance tonight. He didn't have a lot of time but he threw three passes with one of them being an interception that was returned for a touchdown. He looked uncomfortable in the pocket and didn't seem to be able to create anything on his own. The Packers will most likely part with Martin, and either sign another QB or sign Paul Thompson to the practice squad.

Tyrone Culver, couldn't run with a tight end down the middle of the field on a 3rd and goal from the 30. Most likely he is out as the 4th safety and opens an even wider door to Aaron Rouse and Marquand Mannuel.

Well, they would have to sign another QB becuase if you cut Martin and put Thomson on PS, you only have two QB's on the roster.

[swede]

Re: Winners and Losers quick Take

Losers
Ingle Martin, Most likely the Packers are going to cut him after his performance tonight. He didn't have a lot of time but he threw three passes with one of them being an interception that was returned for a touchdown. He looked uncomfortable in the pocket and didn't seem to be able to create anything on his own. The Packers will most likely part with Martin, and either sign another QB or sign Paul Thompson to the practice squad.

Well, they would have to sign another QB becuase if you cut Martin and put Thomson on PS, you only have two QB's on the roster.

Favre and someone to hold the clipboard. By my count that's two and there is no rule that says we have to carry three.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Re: Winners and Losers quick Take

Well, they would have to sign another QB becuase if you cut Martin and put Thomson on PS, you only have two QB's on the roster.

Many teams are moving to two QBs. Really, does Ingle or Thompson give us a better chance of winning a game than WR Holiday--who was a QB at Notre Dame? Either way, we're screwed if it gets to the emergency QB. I'm with Nutz.

[Bretsky]

Re: Winners and Losers quick Take

Well, they would have to sign another QB becuase if you cut Martin and put Thomson on PS, you only have two QB's on the roster.

Many teams are moving to two QBs. Really, does Ingle or Thompson give us a better chance of winning a game than WR Holiday--who was a QB at Notre Dame? Either way, we're screwed if it gets to the emergency QB. I'm with Nutz.

Martin and Thompson are wasted roster spots; keep two

[packrulz]

That hit by Bishop was sick, I love that type of hitting, I think Hodge is gone, his knees and legs are too skinny.

[Fritz]

Ah, how things change! I was wringing my hands when TT picked James Jones in the 3rd round. James Who? From where? What about all those guys I read about on my little internet sites? Argh!

Now, Jones looks like he'll be the real deal, with time.

Same story, opposite ending, with Abdul Hodge. I was totally jacked when TT grabbed him in the third round. A great value pick (whatever that is)! What a steal! And now...he may not even make the team.

Methinks lots of us fans, me included, overestimate ourselves vis a vis the draft.

However, Brandon Jackson looks just okay. No, he had little room, but still, he didn't do much on his own.

Man, they better figure out how to run the ball.

[The Leaper]

I will also admit I was wrong on Jones. I liked his potential long term, but I really thought it was going to take him longer to adjust to the NFL. He still is making a lot of rookie mistakes, but he has shown an ability to make a contribution in 2007.

While I would like to run the ball, if a team gives us the pass then we have to take it. Running the ball for the sake of running the ball is pointless. Jacksonville was playing an aggressive run defense in this game with their LBs...clearly not because they were scared of our attack but to prepare themselves for the season. If a team comes out and does that, McCarthy has to be able to immediately see it and attack the middle of that defense repeatedly through the air. When we did that, we marched down the field twice behind both Favre and Rodgers. Our need for a strong TE was clear last night.

Our running game is never going to get anywhere as long as our passing game poses little threat 10 yards or more downfield.

[Partial]

While I would like to run the ball, if a team gives us the pass then we have to take it. Running the ball for the sake of running the ball is pointless. Jacksonville was playing an aggressive run defense in this game...clearly not because they were scared of our attack but to prepare themselves for the season. If a team comes out and does that, McCarthy has to be able to immediately see it and attack that defense repeatedly through the air. When we did that, we marched down the field twice behind both Favre and Rodgers.

Our running game is never going to get anywhere as long as our passing game poses little threat 10 yards or more downfield.

Not really. Even when we came out with two receivers they kept a nickelback in. Consequently, we tried to spread them out with 3-4 receiver sets quite a bit.

It isn't easy to run on a team like Jacksonville. Like the Vikings, it can be done if you set-up the run with the pass. Not many teams can go out there and just pound away against them. Very few teams have an offensive line good enough to succeed in that.

The way to run on them is to spread them out and keep them defending the pass. Then you should run outside on them. I'd run right at Hayward. He's better against the run than a KGB but still the weak-point in terms of run defense for the Jags.

[Packnut]

Run Game

Can't score points without being able to run the ball. I hope everyone who kept stating all off-season about how our run game would be fine was paying attention last night. There is a reason why teams pay RB's an un-godly amount of cash. It's one position where being cheap does'nt work.

It look's like the whole ZBS is turning into a huge mistake. At least with a Pro type power game, you can gain a couple of yards with a small push. We don't even have that now. Jackson is'nt the kind of back that can make defenders miss.

Easy to predict our offense now. Same ole stuff. Good running defenses will shut us down. Favre will be forced to throw 30+ times and with teams not respecting the run and in-experienced WR's, the picks will come and then we can hear all about how it's the QB's fault from the ignorant. We should be getting used to this script.......

Thank God for our D, cause they will determine our success this season.

[The Leaper]

Not really. Even when we came out with two receivers they kept a nickelback in. Consequently, we tried to spread them out with 3-4 receiver sets quite a bit.

I know they kept in an extra DB...but it seemed to me that they did that to ensure the LBs left in there could concentrate almost entirely on the run game. That was why our pedestrian TEs started exploiting the middle of the field in the 2nd quarter.

If the LBs aren't going to bother watching behind them, we have to attack them there somehow...with TEs or slot WRs.

[Spaulding]

Can't believe I'm saying this but I agree with Packnut.

Defense looks lights out and passing game decent (pray DD is out only short while) but the running game has been disappointing to say the least. Only bright spot has been the ability to push the one yarders into the end zone for six.

[The Leaper]

Re: Run Game

Can't score points without being able to run the ball. I hope everyone who kept stating all off-season about how our run game would be fine was paying attention last night. There is a reason why teams pay RB's an un-godly amount of cash. It's one position where being cheap does'nt work.

Jacksonville is an elite run defense. Few teams post 4 yards a carry against that defense.

RB is also a position where most teams hold on to anyone worth a damn. The only guys available in free agency are typically about 12 months away from retirement. I suppose we could have traded for someone, but it would've come at a very high price.

We were up 10-0 at half against the Jags first team...even when we began to liberally substitute in the 2nd quarter and despite our inability to gain more than 1 yard on a run.

When you have a defense to rely on, it is more important to avoid turnovers than anything else...more important even than a successful run game.

[cpk1994]

Re: Run Game

Can't score points without being able to run the ball. I hope everyone who kept stating all off-season about how our run game would be fine was paying attention last night. There is a reason why teams pay RB's an un-godly amount of cash. It's one position where being cheap does'nt work.

It look's like the whole ZBS is turning into a huge mistake. At least with a Pro type power game, you can gain a couple of yards with a small push. We don't even have that now. Jackson is'nt the kind of back that can make defenders miss.

Easy to predict our offense now. Same ole stuff. Good running defenses will shut us down. Favre will be forced to throw 30+ times and with teams not respecting the run and in-experienced WR's, the picks will come and then we can hear all about how it's the QB's fault from the ignorant. We should be getting used to this script.......

Thank God for our D, cause they will determine our success this season.

I agree. Lets just cut Brandon Jackson and give up. Write the Packs record down as 0-16 and lets look forward to 2008.

[Ballboy]

I agree the run game looked bad....but if over the course of an entire game, we would've been able to run the ball. Your right, MM saw what the defense was doing and went to the pass, that would've weakened the LB's and forced the DL to run straight upfield instead of pushing to stop the run. I really have NO problem with Brett thowing 30 times a game. Lets face it, if we are going to make the playoffs and win a few in the playoffs, it will be Brett that takes us there.

Isn't the theory behind the West Coast Offense and the reason Walsh won SB's is the quick 3-5 yard pass with the hopes of breaking on the same as a 3-5 yard run with the hopes of breaking one? We are still taking time off the clock to rest the defense?