Author Topic: Green Bay sucks  (Read 74345 times)

Pekin

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Re: Green Bay sucks
« Reply #15 on: September 11, 2015, 08:10:32 pm »
I am going to go with the all the Packer fans already own a Rodgers Jersey thing.  Still it is surprising.

packrat

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packrat

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Re: Green Bay sucks
« Reply #17 on: September 11, 2015, 08:45:03 pm »
Joe from Bloomington, IN

“I think it’ll be a clash of the Packers’ balance between run and pass vs. the Bears’ ability to impose their will with the run.” Vic, without Datone Jones and Letroy Guion, do you think conditioning might play a factor in stopping the run later in the game?

Yes, and that’s why I believe time of possession will be important on Sunday, especially in a season opener, when players will be seeing their first full-game action.

packrat

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Re: Green Bay sucks
« Reply #18 on: September 11, 2015, 08:46:41 pm »
Matt from Lincoln City, OR

Who is the player to watch on Chicago’s defense?

Pernell McPhee is Vic Fangio’s Aldon Smith, Lamar Lathon or Kevin Greene, Pat Swilling. Typical of a 3-4 coordinator, they almost always have a star linebacker. McPhee was signed in free agency to be that star linebacker.

packrat

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Re: Green Bay sucks
« Reply #19 on: September 11, 2015, 08:48:16 pm »
Dan from Houston, TX

Thanks for ending the preseason, Vic. What’s going to happen this weekend?

Two rivals are going to come at each other with everything they have. The Packers are intent on a fast start. The Bears are intent on taking the first step in rebuilding. I expect each team to be committed to running the ball and controlling the clock, because that’s the best way to stop the run, especially in the fourth quarter when the game is on the line. It’s supposed to be sunny and 70 in Chicago on Sunday. That’s not hot, but the sun stays high in the sky at this time of the year, and I think the Packers will draw from their experience in Pittsburgh a few weeks ago. Aaron Rodgers is usually the difference-maker for the Packers, and I expect him to be the difference-maker this Sunday, but winning this game begins with stopping the run.

packrat

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Re: Green Bay sucks
« Reply #20 on: September 11, 2015, 08:50:25 pm »
Carrie from San Jose, CA

I’ve greatly enjoyed reading the column through the offseason, but I’m ready to stop reading about practice and player evaluations and start reading about games.

I’m ready to begin writing about games again. I don’t know what happened to cause such scrutiny of the 53rd roster spot this year, but I’ve never seen the sensitivity for final cuts as acute as it was this year. If you want those guys back, go get them. They usually remain available to the teams that released them. Does everyone understand the Packers got a compensatory pick for losing James Jones in free agency, and then got Jones back a year later? Now, the Packers have Jones and the pick. That should instill great confidence in the Packers’ personnel department and the team’s philosophy for managing its roster.

packrat

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Re: Green Bay sucks
« Reply #21 on: September 11, 2015, 08:51:45 pm »
Caleb from Eau Claire, WI

Vic, do you view Matt Forte as more of a threat running the ball, or catching it out of the backfield?

I’m more concerned about him as a runner because you can scheme to stop him as a pass-catcher, but if he’s gashing you between the tackles, you’re getting whipped up front and it’s difficult to scheme that without committing more people to the line of scrimmage.

packrat

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Re: Green Bay sucks
« Reply #22 on: September 11, 2015, 08:52:35 pm »
Cris from Sachse, TX

Vic, when can we start worrying about Richard Sherman?

Never heard of him.

packrat

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Re: Green Bay sucks
« Reply #23 on: September 11, 2015, 08:53:44 pm »
Tyler from Orlando, FL

Vic, I don’t understand how players can choose to hold out and not play in games. Aren’t these players under a contract to play? Why can’t the Seahawks just sue and force Kam Chancellor to play?

Maybe Judge Berman can rule on that.

packrat

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Re: Green Bay sucks
« Reply #24 on: September 11, 2015, 08:56:42 pm »
Matt from Madison, WI

Do you agree today’s college quarterbacks aren’t as prepared for the NFL as those of the past? This reminds me of something you said about, I believe, Terrelle Pryor. It seems like the best college quarterbacks are really just the best athletes, but that doesn’t always translate to quarterbacking skills in the NFL once the athleticism of all players starts to level out.

I remember Mike McCarthy commenting a few years ago on how much more prepared quarterbacks are coming out of college nowadays. Hey, Coach McCarthy is an expert on quarterbacks – I am in awe of what he’s done with Scott Tolzien and Brett Hundley – but I thought to myself, “Coach, I completely disagree.” I watched college games last weekend and the play I saw nearly every team run over and over was what I call the drop-back-and-run play. The ball was snapped to the quarterback, he hesitated one count and then ran with it. That’s grooming? It’s tragic a player of Pryor’s overwhelming athletic ability is struggling to find a place in the NFL. He’s one of the best athletes I have ever seen, and I can’t help but wonder what a player of his talents could become if a team committed to his development. That’s why I favor an increase in practice-squad roster sizes and emphasis. That’s the developmental league we need. I favor a roster of 20 practice-squad players, new rules governing the movement of its players, and a separate coaching staff for the practice squad. I don’t think the NFL can count on college football to provide game-ready talent any longer. College football is facing too many limitations of its own.

packrat

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Re: Green Bay sucks
« Reply #25 on: September 11, 2015, 08:58:49 pm »
Nolan from West Salem, WI

Vic, who do you think will be the kickoff returner come Sunday?

Ron Zook said it’ll be Ty Montgomery.

packrat

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Re: Green Bay sucks
« Reply #26 on: September 11, 2015, 08:59:55 pm »
Craig from Brookfield, WI

I get that we should not look past the Bears. This game has me nervous! But would Coach Vic consider holding Cobb out, even if he could play, for a few series and see how the game goes? If we’re in control from the start, Cobb rests for another week. If we are not in control after, say, a quarter, Cobb goes in.

That kind of ambivalent approach doesn’t work; it lacks commitment. If the doctor says the player can go, it’s go time. Managing pain is what a true pro does, and Cobb is a true pro.

So, not  all Packer fans are confident playing the Bears.
« Last Edit: September 11, 2015, 09:09:48 pm by packrat »

packrat

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Re: Green Bay sucks
« Reply #27 on: September 11, 2015, 09:01:18 pm »
Chris from Superior, WI

My high school teacher said if the Packers go 2-14 in a season and those two wins are against the Bears, it was a good year.

Your high school teacher is wrong. You know, my inbox is full of this kind of rivalry talk. I can almost hear Frank Broyles saying, “It’s a border war, Keith.” I get the feeling this is supposed to be the pro football version of Florida-Georgia, but where’s the cocktail party, if you know what I mean? I’m still new to this rivalry. Maybe this is the year.

packrat

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Re: Green Bay sucks
« Reply #28 on: September 11, 2015, 09:03:10 pm »
Paula from Anaheim, CA

How can the Packers improve this year as a team? In your answer you wrote, “Be as good as last year’s team; that’ll be good enough. And then finish.” First, how could you possibly be satisfied with a team that isn’t constantly striving to improve? Good enough isn’t! You can always get better. Every player, every coach, every columnist and every guy who sells popcorn should have a goal to improve every single day. If they do this, they have strengthened their chances of finishing. If they don’t, finishing is a matter of luck. Alen wrote a question that sincerely and reasonably asked for your opinion on a topic within your area of expertise. Your answer looks as though you were unable to think of a way the Packers can improve, or didn’t want to take the trouble of providing a clear analysis. I enjoy the column and your wit, but this response was humorless and lazy and not consistent with your usual excellence. Thank you.

Little nervous, huh?

packrat

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Re: Green Bay sucks
« Reply #29 on: September 11, 2015, 09:06:03 pm »
Andy from Cologne, Germany

Vic, you watched Mike Tomlin’s press conference? Headset problems? This never gets old.

I was in bed long before the conclusion of the game, but I couldn’t stop laughing in the first half when Al Michaels let it be known to the TV audience the Steelers coaches were listening to the Patriots’ radio broadcast of the game.  As soon as I saw league people scrambling behind the Steelers’ bench, I knew it was the headsets. I had long been writing about this issue in this column. This is nothing new to me. It’s just now it’s humorous. Get ready for “Headsetgate.”