Our Run Game

[retailguy]

The number of snide comments you've made about Thompson all offseason and even after these victories is too numerous to post. When people call you out on your opinion, you act like a persecuted, innocent victim.

All week before the San Diego game, you said Green Bay had little chance to beat them. You even made a snide comment to ziggy after she stated that she thought we could contain Tomlinson. After we did win and contained Tomlinson, you mostly whined about was how our run game stunk and how well Rivers did--and said we can't keep it up without a running game. No mention about how wrong you were that we could contain Tomlinson. Little about what a great and unexpected victory it was. Same thing after the Eagles game. Same thing after the Giants game. Same thing after the Vikings game. Now that they are 4-0, you say there are some positives, but you won't judge them at all until the end of the year. How convenient.

Don't be too proud to man up and take responsibility for your opinion.

BTW, is it that hard to figure out how we are winning? We are getting good play from our defense, good play from our special teams, and exceptional play from our QB and receivers (and the OL in pass protection).

Ok, now that you have chastised me, do you (A.) want to talk about football, or (B.) are you trying to tell me that you DO NOT want to talk about it.

I've said VERY LITTLE since the start of the season until yesterday, and yes, I did not think this team could beat San Diego. So did thousands of others, yourself included. SO WHAT? I've put up with more snide comments from Ziggy than you'll ever see, so, the fact that I responded is more than just me being an ass, she can hold her own with that "holier than thou" demeanor.

FWIW - I don't really understand how they are winning. The sum of the parts is greater than the individual, because, other than FAVRE, very little stands out to be exceptional. A lot looks solid, so, I guess being a pessimist (whatever), I'm looking at, or trying to, look at what doesn't seem so solid and trying to understand what makes it solid, or at least solid enough to keep winning..

I told you, and everyone else, I'll take responsibility for my views. I'm still here. I could've left, or I could've just banned your ass and talked with someone else... So, when you're done bashing, for some stupid reason still, I'd really like to hear your opinion.

[Zool]

Turnover Ratio is +3 right now, and i believe 3 of the 4 INT's are in the 4th quarter. Play good D, dont turn it over, and keep the game close. Normally teams do it with a pounding running attack, but I'll take the short passing and 1.5 yard runs just to keep the LBs honest.

[packrulz]

The RB's have been nicked up, so I really don't blame the lack of a running game on the ZBS or the OL, injuries are the problem. Wynn is powerful but not that fast, Grant might be able to help out but needs more experience in the ZBS. Philly, the Giants, San Diego, and Minn all had a respectable DL, so I'm not suprised they were tough to run against. The Bears have a tough DL and a banged up secondary, so I expect more of the same and I'm hoping to escape with another win. Jackson and Morency should be good to go after the bye, think how much better the Pack might be, and they're already winning without them. Like Harvey, I'm enjoying the positives, going into the season I thought the Pack could easily be 0-4 or 1-3 right now. The WR's are stepping up, (even though Brett has to chew out James Jones now and then), special teams are playing much better, and the D is becoming a force to be reckoned with. I've noticed how Brett discusses with MM on the sideline, looks at photos of the defense, and talks with his receivers about what's going on in the game. I didn't see much of that when Sherman was the coach, he's more involved because he's allowed to be, he can call audibles and often does like on his record breaking TD pass to Jennings. MM is more focused on what is going on on the field and willing to adapt to win the friggin game, which is all that matters! The running game worries me, but I think it'll come around when our RB's get healthy, after the bye we'll see if they can run the ball.

[cheesner]

Re: Our Run Game

Why does it take coaches, who are assumed to be smarter than we are, longer to realize the simple truth? As an example, most of us here knew KGB could'nt stop the run. We saw how he could never hold the point of attack and was always pushed aside like a rag doll. We saw it, so why did'nt our coaching staff?

Most of us saw Manuel was horrible yet he went into training camp as the starter. Valuable time was lost giving him 1st team reps. Another example of our staff being a tad slow.

Now we come to our run game, or lack of it. Yes we're 4-0 and it has'nt hurt yet, but again just like in the above examples, the great majority of us know it's only a matter of time. Only a fool would believe this problem is gonna get better. The ZBS is a failure. It's a mute point to debate why, it's just time to accept it and move on. Now it would be one thing if this season was a waste and we needed to stick with it in hopes of being better next season. We all know this is'nt the case and with the way Brett and our D is playing, sticking with what does'nt work is foolish and could waste a golden opportunity.

How did I miss this thread?

So you are smarter than the Packer coaches. You are much better at spotting football talent. These same coaches/management that signed Barnett and Kampman to extensions, promoted Jenkins and Bigby to starting positions, and felt content with Jennings/Driver/Jones as our WR corp are incompetent. Most of these moves received much objections by the far superior intellectual posters such as yourself at this site.

Perhaps it isn't a matter of football intelligence as it is just plain old intelligence and common sense.

So, you have detected that the Packer run offense leaves much to be desired. I can only imagine the many hours you have dedicated to film study of the first 4 games to come to this conclusion.

Let me ask you this, do the Packers have an opportunity to improve their personnel at this point? Realistically, of course not. Would it be better at this point to rip on your players or publicly give them a vote of confidence?
Common sense would say you make the best of what you have.

[cheesner]

FWIW - I don't really understand how they are winning.

The way I see it is that TT has filled the roster with a lot of young players who have a lot of potential and a lot of desire. This is beginning to translate onto the field. It appears that the team has been very lucky in some of these games, but I am of the belief that you make your own luck. Constantly being in position and playing smart/aggressive football, puts you in a position to take advantage when your opponent makes a mistake.

[Deputy Nutz]

Turnover Ratio is +3 right now, and i believe 3 of the 4 INT's are in the 4th quarter. Play good D, dont turn it over, and keep the game close. Normally teams do it with a pounding running attack, but I'll take the short passing and 1.5 yard runs just to keep the LBs honest.

Turnover ratio!!!! Tough defense in the 4th, yes! Big game changing plays, yes!

You don't have to be perfect or even good in all facets of the game. Sure you need to improve the run game, but when you can complete 70% of your passes against good run stuffing teams your coaching staff is ahead of the game. The Vikings knew the Packers were going to throw all day long, and the Pack were still successful.

[Noodle]

No way the Bears can stop our passing attack if Favre continues as he has with the short stuff. Do folks realize how incredibly destroyed the Bears secondary has been by injuries? They lost both starting CBs and their starting safety. Where would we be if that happened to the Pack?

So I think we can use the same formula, again assuming that Favre stays as sharp as he has.

I worry, like everyone else, about down the road. But the fact is we can't go to a power running game, as we don't have the OL personnel to do it. My hope is that they don't panic and just work like hell in practice on getting their ZBS stuff down.

I also worry a lot about Clifton in the running game. I know his job is to protect Favre's blind side, period, but man he has been brutal. For example, Driver's reverse might have gotten something, but Clifton just whiffed his block down field.

[MJZiggy]

Just a question, but when's the next time we face a good run defense? I'm pretty sure Washington doesn't have one, nor Denver (who apparently can run but not stop the run...). Panthers? Cowboys? Who do we play next that is good at stopping the run?

[HarveyWallbangers]

The Bears--when they have Tommie Harris.

[MJZiggy]

The Bears--when they have Tommie Harris.

But he's not playing this week, right? So who's next up beyond them?

[run pMc]

EVERY team (well, except for NE) has holes.

I agree GB's running game has problems. I think the OL is not playing consistent and that happens when you have young players.

I hope GB gets the run game going soon. Favre is a freak of nature, but at his age his arm might fall off if he has to throw 45 times a game all season.
(Knock on wood that he doesn't develop tendinitis in the elbow.)

Getting Morency back in the lineup might help, and the young guys have shown flashes. The coaches will get these guys straightened out. Hey, we could be talking about Herron right now if he wasn't on IR.

[TheRaven]

I could've left, or I could've just banned your ass and talked with someone else

Wow, you didn't abuse your mod position. Congrads.

[HarveyWallbangers]

The Bears--when they have Tommie Harris.

But he's not playing this week, right? So who's next up beyond them?

He played last week, and McGinn said in his column that he should be back to full strength this week.

[RIPackerFan]

Just looking at the notes from the Bears practise - it looks like Briggs did more harm than good by playing last week - can't even sprint:

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/huddleup/2007/10/tillman-briggs-.html

Sorry Bears fans. Your team is still banged up.

Charles Tillman (ankle) and Lance Briggs (hamstring) ran sprints on the side while the rest of the team practiced Tuesday. And neither player looked great running, although Tillman was a little more fluid with his motion than Briggs.

Nathan Vasher (groin) continues to sit out practice, but the surprise addition to the no-practice list was safety Brandon McGowan. It's unclear when McGowan got hurt, but he played a lot against Detroit this past weekend. The Bears already lost two safeties for the season in Mike Brown (ACL) and Kevin Payne (broken arm), and a third -- Adam Archuleta -- is practicing with a broken right hand.

Tommie Harris (knee) was on the practice field but his participation was limited through the first 15 minutes.