The Packers are going to lose (predictions)

[Carolina_Packer]

Anyone catch an episode of Hard Knocks on HBO?

It was a documentary on the Chiefs preseason in River Falls. I watched that and I was pretty sure that they were going to suck and suck big this year. Anyone else get the same vibe?

We've both been playing some inspiring football lately but they are very beatable. If we lose I have a feeling it will be a heart breaker.

Yeah, it was well done. Herm is good on TV. No doubt once his coaching ends he might be a talking head. Very articulate, charismatic.

Look, it's the NFL, so the margin for being good or bad or winning/losing is often razor thin. Respect everyone, fear nobody. Why would we wet ourselves against anyone? It's not a cockiness, it's the confidence that says if they do what they are capable of doing and not beating themselves, then they can have a positive outcome.

[Carolina_Packer]

Poopy is actuall decent near the line of scrimmage, keep him there, please.

I agree. He might be better than decent. It's time to just stick Hawk at SLB and keep him there. Let Poppinga do what he does well and have Hawk do the rest. It's a support role, but Hawk has a long career. He'll have his chance to get back on the weak side or middle at some point. Right now we need to win and get teh best team going into the post season this year. Poopy covering TE's isn't going to work.

Anywhere you put Poppinga, he's less than decent. At the line, he's still confused, constantly runs into the back of the DLs on blitzes and stretch runs, and still has trouble being decisive about anything - which more often than not leaves him doing nothing, and doing nothing too late to boot.

You don't move Hawk around, ask him to change his role and learn another position because Poppinga sucks. You find a new linebacker that doesn't suck.

Skin, and anyone...has Poppinga maxed out his talent or do you think there is a higher ceiling? Do you see improvements from last year to this year? Do you see improvements from the Eagles game to now?

[RashanGary]

You don't move Hawk around, ask him to change his role and learn another position because Poppinga sucks. You find a new linebacker that doesn't suck.

Little late for that, don't ya think? Should we just stick Poopy on Gonzo and hope for the best?

[Maxie the Taxi]

Look, it's the NFL, so the margin for being good or bad or winning/losing is often razor thin. Respect everyone, fear nobody. Why would we wet ourselves against anyone? It's not a cockiness, it's the confidence that says if they do what they are capable of doing and not beating themselves, then they can have a positive outcome.

Your comment borders on the profound. It's why I hesitate to make predictions. When it comes right down to it, winners and losers in football are determined by four factors:

1) Playmakers -- Each team has a number of guys who are difference-makers, who can change the course of the game by making an exceptional play. Obviously, the team that starts the game with the greater number of playmakers has an edge.

2) Performance -- Players are human. They may be "up" for a game or "down." They may perform flawlessly or make mistakes. This is why teams practice and have coaches. The coaches job is to prepare players to be "up" for the game and to perform without mistakes.

3) Environment -- The environment of each game is different. Grass vs turf. Fans can be sedate or boisterous. Stadiums can be loud or not so loud. Officiating may be good or uneven. All of these can affect performance.

4) Luck -- The ball is oblong. A crazy or fortuitous bounce here or there might make the difference between victory or defeat. Performance can control luck to a certain extent. A kicker can take ball bounce out of picture by kicking it through the end zone or out of bounds. A defensive lineman can bat a ball into the air. However, in the end the ball will bounce as it will at any particular moment.

Which of these factors is most important? My money is on Performance. A well-coached, confident, disciplined team that doesn't beat itself has an edge that is difficult to overcome, especially in the long run. In the short run, Environment and Luck can take their toll.

Who's going to win in Kansas City? I don't have the faintest idea.

[cpk1994]

Who is going to score touchdowns for the Chiefs?!?

GONZO could kill poopinga and bigby.

LJ is going to be 110% coming off the bye. He'll be a monster.

Just like Gates (better than Gonzo) and LT did, right?!? Will he kill Barnett and Hawk, then? It's called game planning. The Packers won't have Poppinga on Gonzalez very often. I don't think Gonzalez will score at all. He'll have his catches because they will go at him a lot, but I don't think he'll be a huge factor in the results at all.

Gonzalez can't carry Gates jock. LJ can't carry LT's jock. Id worry about Rivers well before I worry about Huard. KC is a poor mans San Diego. Pack beat San Diego. I expect the Pack to beat KC. My prediction: Green Bay 21-10.

[Partial]

Who is going to score touchdowns for the Chiefs?!?

GONZO could kill poopinga and bigby.

LJ is going to be 110% coming off the bye. He'll be a monster.

Just like Gates (better than Gonzo) and LT did, right?!? Will he kill Barnett and Hawk, then? It's called game planning. The Packers won't have Poppinga on Gonzalez very often. I don't think Gonzalez will score at all. He'll have his catches because they will go at him a lot, but I don't think he'll be a huge factor in the results at all.

Gonzalez can't carry Gates jock. LJ can't carry LT's jock. Id worry about Rivers well before I worry about Huard. KC is a poor mans San Diego. Pack beat San Diego. I expect the Pack to beat KC. My prediction: Green Bay 21-10.

Agreed completely. I was being sarcastic

KC isn't that great. We have a better front 7. They won't be able to run but on the other hand I doubt we will either. If they want to sit in cover 2, then spread them out. Go 4 wide with Donald Lee on the line. Overload the zones. Mix up crossing routes with some Posts and Seams.

My theory on the cover 2 is the best way to play it is to attack it.

[mission]

you guys are hilarious!

i agree that there are definitely some things going against us and i wouldnt be completely surprised to see a KC victory this week but come on!

in week three everyone was talking about KC being the worst team in the league (literally!) and they might not even win a single game and "OMG LJ IS HORRIBLE"... so they win a couple close games against average teams and that tone has completely changed. such a fickle group in general.

[superfan]

Gonzalez can't carry Gates jock. LJ can't carry LT's jock. Id worry about Rivers well before I worry about Huard. KC is a poor mans San Diego. Pack beat San Diego. I expect the Pack to beat KC. My prediction: Green Bay 21-10.

Completely accurate analysis, yet somehow KC beat San Diego rather handily. Such is the NFL.

[Green Bud Packer]

[quote="Partial"][quote="cpk1994"][quote="Partial"][quote="JustinHarrell"]

KC isn't that great. We have a better front 7. They won't be able to run but on the other hand I doubt we will either. If they want to sit in cover 2, then spread them out. Go 4 wide with Donald Lee on the line. Overload the zones. Mix up crossing routes with some Posts and Seams.

My theory on the cover 2 is the best way to play it is to attack it.

Do middle screens,play-action (if they're running for positive yards)and draws work against cover two?

[SkinBasket]

Skin, and anyone...has Poppinga maxed out his talent or do you think there is a higher ceiling? Do you see improvements from last year to this year? Do you see improvements from the Eagles game to now?

I think he's reached his ceiling, but it's hard to tell where that is due to his inconsistent play. I gave him the benefit of the doubt after that abysmal season last year because some made the argument he still wasn't fully recovered from his surgery. And early this year, he did look improved. After the first couple weeks, however, it looks like teams have figured out how we're trying to hide his deficiencies and are attacking his non-existent coverage skills and his indecisive movement in space.

Some people here seem to think he plays well at the line, and I just don't see it. I see a guy overrunning plays or running into the backs of his DL, and not getting the job done (pressures, sacks, or TFLs) when he does somehow find himself in the backfield.

I hope we find a way to end the Poppinga experiment next season, because I think the hole he creates in our defense is effecting other players as they are asked to cover for his deficiencies instead of being able to trust the guy next to them and play to their potential.

[RashanGary]

I hope we find a way to end the Poppinga experiment next season, because I think the hole he creates in our defense is effecting other players as they are asked to cover for his deficiencies instead of being able to trust the guy next to them and play to their potential.

There is a very simple solution. From what I understand it's part of good coaching 101. It's goes something like this: put players in position to succeed.

Poppinga has done a good job at the line. He's a good tackler and he does a good job taking on blocks. He does an awfull job covering TE's. The simple solution is to stop having him cover TE's. The solution is to stick him on the weakside and look for something new next year.

[Bretsky]

I hope we find a way to end the Poppinga experiment next season, because I think the hole he creates in our defense is effecting other players as they are asked to cover for his deficiencies instead of being able to trust the guy next to them and play to their potential.

There is a very simple solution. From what I understand it's part of good coaching 101. It's goes something like this: put players in position to succeed.

Poppinga has done a good job at the line. He's a good tackler and he does a good job taking on blocks. He does an awfull job covering TE's. The simple solution is to stop having him cover TE's. The solution is to stick him on the weakside and look for something new next year.

I don't think it's quite as easy as you dictate here. If it was Sanders would have already done that. The offensive game plans are meant to expose Poppinga in coverage. Send the TE in motion; devise plays that make him cover if at all possible. Short from committing a safety to the TE on every play I don't think it's as easy as stated above.

[RashanGary]

I don't think it's quite as easy as you dictate here. If it was Sanders would have already done that. The offensive game plans are meant to expose Poppinga in coverage. Send the TE in motion; devise plays that make him cover if at all possible. Short from committing a safety to the TE on every play I don't think it's as easy as stated above.

Good point. It seems like the only options to cover his weakness are replacing him or moving him to the middle. Moving him to the middle requires too much screwing around and is not worth the hassle for a below average player. See ya poopy.

Imagine if we landed Willis <drooling>

[cpk1994]

Who is going to score touchdowns for the Chiefs?!?

GONZO could kill poopinga and bigby.

LJ is going to be 110% coming off the bye. He'll be a monster.

Just like Gates (better than Gonzo) and LT did, right?!? Will he kill Barnett and Hawk, then? It's called game planning. The Packers won't have Poppinga on Gonzalez very often. I don't think Gonzalez will score at all. He'll have his catches because they will go at him a lot, but I don't think he'll be a huge factor in the results at all.

Gonzalez can't carry Gates jock. LJ can't carry LT's jock. Id worry about Rivers well before I worry about Huard. KC is a poor mans San Diego. Pack beat San Diego. I expect the Pack to beat KC. My prediction: Green Bay 21-10.

Agreed completely. I was being sarcastic

KC isn't that great. We have a better front 7. They won't be able to run but on the other hand I doubt we will either. If they want to sit in cover 2, then spread them out. Go 4 wide with Donald Lee on the line. Overload the zones. Mix up crossing routes with some Posts and Seams.

My theory on the cover 2 is the best way to play it is to attack it.

I was trying to get at JH for what he was saying about how the Packers were going to lose becuase of Gonzalez and LJ with their matchup problems. Just simply pointing out that JH is completely ignoring the fact that the Chargers presented the same matchup issues and had better players to boot, but still the Packers won.