Two Minute Drill - Clock Management

[4and12to12and4]

I thought the Packers played an extremely good game, and MM's playcalling would have been fine if we could've continued getting plus yardage out of run plays as in the first half. If he didn't run it at all and Brett would've thrown a couple stupid picks in the third quarter, while we were ahead, naysayers would've said why abandon the run, when we have had success with it in the first half. I thought MM called a good game. You can't have 4 turnovers and expect to beat a team as good as the Bears, or ANY team for that matter. Even Dallas BARELY beat Buffalo because of it's turnovers. Tillman did a good job stripping JJ twice. JJ, after getting cussed out, held on to it well after that and continued good catches with no drops. He's a rookie. He's learning.

We dominated this game offensively against a very good defense and showed we are not pretenders, and why we are in 1st place. I predicted a loss here. The Bears just needed this game too badly. I personally am glad we lost it like we did, and didn't get our asses handed to us, like I expected.

Between this game, the Philly game, and the Chargers game, we can beassured that our Packers can hang in there with the best in the league this year, a far cry from last year, when we only beat mediocre to bad teams. I like the way we look, and I think our ground game will come around. I don't know about you guys, but I'm stoked that we are 4-1, two games ahead of Chicago right now. I didn't expect this.

This week will be a challenge, the Redskins really look tough, especially defensively, and the Bears get the Vikes. I don't like the possibilities here. We need to win, cuz the Bears probably will. Go Pack.

[4and12to12and4]

BTW, if the ref gives us 2 more inches, MM's the smartest guy on the planet there, so quit Monday morning quarterbacking him on the call. I will say that when he challenged it, I was pissed, but when they moved the ball back I was suprised. I think MM was thinking if we didn't get this call, the game was over one way or another. I didn't think so, but, who knows.

As far as the two minute drill, i was shocked at the way they ran it, one thing I've always counted on with our Favre led teams all these years has been very efficient 2 minute drills. Hell, even at the end of the first half, Favre did a wonderful job to get us in field goal range, and was even pissed off that MM used that last timeout because they were so quick to the line, he was gonna spike it two seconds later. Oh, well, this is all bullshit anyways we lost due to four turnovers, period. All this is circumstancial, we should've been up by 14 points when all this shit was going on. I still think, all in all, good game plan, good execution, and enjoyable game right to the last second against a formidable opponent. I'm proud to watch the Pack play this year, I couldn't say that last year.

[The Leaper]

Jones isn't so much better than Martin that it changed the offense.

I would beg to differ. Martin is OK...but Jones has far more ability to make plays on the very slant routes that we basically saw disappear from the equation when Jones went to the bench.

Jones IS the key to our offense right now. He opens up the sidelines for Jennings, and prevents Driver from constantly bearing the brunt of going over the middle. Believe me, I was one of the biggest guys questioning Jones' impact in 2007. I was wrong...his impact on the passing game is enormous, even if his stats are merely good.

Plus, Favre seems to have more confidence in Jones.

[Bretsky]

What was the run/pass ratio in the second half?

Wasn't it almost even.....like 12 passes to 9 runs ? The way we ran that was about five too many.

[Bretsky]

Jones isn't so much better than Martin that it changed the offense.

I would beg to differ. Martin is OK...but Jones has far more ability to make plays on the very slant routes that we basically saw disappear from the equation when Jones went to the bench.

Jones IS the key to our offense right now. He opens up the sidelines for Jennings, and prevents Driver from constantly bearing the brunt of going over the middle. Believe me, I was one of the biggest guys questioning Jones' impact in 2007. I was wrong...his impact on the passing game is enormous, even if his stats are merely good.

Plus, Favre seems to have more confidence in Jones.

I agree; Martin is a #4/#5 WR. When Jones or Jennings are out we miss them

[Harlan Huckleby]

ya, but game changing? nah.

You're talking about Jones catching 3 passes or Martin catching 2.

[Bretsky]

ya, but game changing? nah.

You're talking about Jones catching 3 passes or Martin catching 2.

I really think Jones is a strong step up from Martin
Just like route running wise Jennings is a step up from Jones

Game changing ? I think GB's offense is much more challanged if they lose any of their top 3 due to the dropoff after

[The Leaper]

ya, but game changing? nah.

You're talking about Jones catching 3 passes or Martin catching 2.

No one is saying Jones is the one making the game changing plays Harlan. The point is that Jones operates in a way that makes the other WRs more effective.

I think the 2nd half on Sunday night more than proves that point.

[The Leaper]

What was the run/pass ratio in the second half?

Wasn't it almost even.....like 12 passes to 9 runs ? The way we ran that was about five too many.

Yeah, but 8 or 9 of the passes came in the last 2:00. That really shouldn't be factored into the equation...there is no run/pass issue in that instance.

I sure hope we had more than 21 plays in the second half.

[HarveyWallbangers]

On our first drive, we had a long kickoff, passed it once to Wynn for 13 yards. Then, we ran it three times--getting stuffed on 3rd and 1.

It's hard to argue with this. Chicago was giving a pass look. We had success in the first half, and ran it for 9 yards on our first 2 runs. Then, we got stuffed.

The second drive, we ran for 5 yards on 1st down and then ran for no gain on 2nd down. Favre then threw his interception.

It's hard to argue with this. After getting 5 yards on 1st down, it's not a bad call to run it again.

The third drive, we ran it 3 times for 8 yards and punted.

This is the one I had a problem with. Stuck with the run too long, and got too conservative after Favre threw the interception.

After the third drive, we threw it 9 out of 11 times--even before the final drive where we went almost exclusively to the pass.

Hard to argue with this either.

I think it's a little blown out of proportion. I think McCarthy had a really bad series after Favre's interception, but he came out running the ball a bit. Not a bad idea. He was having success, he was leading, and the Bears were playing for pass still. After the bad series, he went back almost exclusively to the pass.

[gbgary]

What was the run/pass ratio in the second half?

Before the last drive of the second half, the Packers ran a total of 15 plays, nine of them being runs for a total of 19 yards and zero rushing first downs in the second half.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Actually, we ran 21 plays before the last drive. We ran 10 times and passed 11 times. I broke it down above. Outside of the drive after Favre's interception, it makes a lot more sense.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Kind of interesting. Favre runs the two minute drill. From what I can gather, up to the point where Favre was tapping his feet, it was on him. After that, it was on Spitz. I think if you take the plays where he tapped his foot multiple plays and hike it on the first tap, we're in a lot better shape. Probably able to run a couple of more plays.

Q: Jim of Minneapolis - What was the deal with the last drive against Chicago? It seemed very conservative...was that a result of the plays called or the options that Favre choose? He looked shell-shocked and didn't seem like the normal agressive, "we can do this" Favre.

A: Tom Silverstein - Favre took the blame for not running the two-minute drill with a sense of urgency. I think some of it had to do with having a new center. Spitz needed time to read the defense and make line calls. At least once Favre was stomping his foot signaling for the snap and it didn't come. I think Favre was being kind when taking the blame.

[Maxie the Taxi]

Kind of interesting. Favre runs the two minute drill. From what I can gather, up to the point where Favre was tapping his feet, it was on him. After that, it was on Spitz. I think if you take the plays where he tapped his foot multiple plays and hike it on the first tap, we're in a lot better shape. Probably able to run a couple of more plays.

Q: Jim of Minneapolis - What was the deal with the last drive against Chicago? It seemed very conservative...was that a result of the plays called or the options that Favre choose? He looked shell-shocked and didn't seem like the normal agressive, "we can do this" Favre.

A: Tom Silverstein - Favre took the blame for not running the two-minute drill with a sense of urgency. I think some of it had to do with having a new center. Spitz needed time to read the defense and make line calls. At least once Favre was stomping his foot signaling for the snap and it didn't come. I think Favre was being kind when taking the blame.

Harvey, I might be dense, but I still don't understand the foot-stomping stuff. Are all the players supposed to be looking at Favre's foot or at the ball in order to tell when the play starts. That sounds dumb. Crap, they're at home. It's a pass play. Why not just yell out "hike" and get on with it?

Plus, it also seems dumb that the QB has to wait for the center to "read the defense and make line calls." Crap, it's a pass play. Just block somebody already.

If this is the way our two minute drill is run at home, imagine the way it will run on the road. Silverstein is right. Favre was being generous. Neither he nor Spitz were to blame. The buck should stop at McCarthy for designing this god-awful system.

[Partial]

Players watch the ball, center watches the foot. When his foot pumps, center snaps ball, play executes.