Author Topic: Green Bay sucks  (Read 68251 times)

packrat

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Re: Green Bay sucks
« Reply #795 on: December 15, 2015, 07:25:39 pm »

  John Middlekauff
✔  ‎@JohnMiddlekauff 
From '03 through this year Julius Peppers has missed 2 games with injury. I repeat 2 games. One durable SOB


6:17 PM - 15 Dec 2015

packrat

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Re: Green Bay sucks
« Reply #796 on: December 15, 2015, 07:34:11 pm »

Here’s a look at the rest of the impending unrestricted free agents and their chances of return to the Packers next season. We’ll put their chances of returning into three categories: likely, unlikely and 50-50.

Defense

B.J. Raji: The nose tackle started strong but his play has tapered off late in the season. However, after missing all of 2014 with a biceps injury, he has missed only one game this season. There wasn’t a big market for him the last two times he’s tried free agency. Chances of returning: 50-50

Letroy Guion: He was on the verge of a long-term deal last offseason before his arrest in February. Instead, he just did a one-year deal. Playing out of position at defensive end instead of nose tackle, he has not gotten back to his level of play from 2014, although he did come up with a key run stop on third-and-1 in Sunday’s win over the Cowboys. He would come cheaper than Raji. Chances of returning: 50-50.

Mike Neal: The outside linebacker is finishing up a two-year, $8 million deal he signed during his first foray into free agency. His big-play production has been slightly less in his last two seasons (7.0 sacks) when compared to the two years right before his last contract (9.5 sacks). He has seemingly overcome durability issues from early in his career. Chances of returning: 50-50.

Nick Perry: The Packers declined the fifth-year option on the former first-round pick, making him eligible for free agency this offseason. He had a productive stretch with 3.5 sacks in three games before he missed the Week 6 game because of shoulder and hand injuries. He hasn’t been as effective since. Like Neal early in his career, Perry has had trouble staying healthy. Chances of returning: 50-50.

Casey Hayward: Once considered a ball-hawk cornerback, Hayward hasn’t had an interception since Week 10 of the 2014 season even though he has come back healthy and played every game following offseason foot surgery. Hayward is a solid slot cover man but considering how deep the Packers are with Sam Shields, Damarious Randall, Quinten Rollins, LaDarius Gunter and Demetri Goodson, Hayward’s best chance to be a full-time starter next season is likely elsewhere. Chances of returning: Unlikely.

Sean Richardson: After a second neck injury in four years, the backup safety is likely done in Green Bay and perhaps in the NFL. Chances of returning: Unlikely.



James Starks has been an essential part of the Packers' running back rotation, and the team would love to have him back next season. Jeff Hanisch/USA TODAY Sports

Offense

James Starks: He’s not a starter but is the perfect complementary running back to Eddie Lacy and has gotten over his early career injury woes. Chances of returning: Likely.

Don Barclay: The Packers like him as a utility offensive lineman. With 22 career starts at right tackle, perhaps there’s a team who would be willing to give him a shot at a full-time job. Chances of returning: 50-50.

John Kuhn: Just when it looked the fullback was being phased out, he played a season-high for snaps against the Cowboys. Chances of returning: 50-50.

Andrew Quarless: After missing most of the season with a knee injury, there’s unlikely to be much of a market for the backup tight end. The only question is whether the Packers will want to move on because they need to improve at this position. Chances of returning: 50-50.



Scott Tolzien: Perhaps there’s a team out there who might give him the chance to compete for a starting job. With rookie Brett Hundley looking like a promising prospect, the Packers might be OK with just keeping one backup quarterback on the roster. Chance of returning: 50-50.

James Jones: In pinch, he was a good pickup after Pro Bowl Jordy Nelson went down, especially considering that Ty Montgomery has missed two months because of his ankle injury, but there’s a reason he’s been cut by the Giants and Raiders. Chances of returning: Unlikely.

Special teams

Mason Crosby: At 86.4 percent on field goals, the veteran kicker is on track for his second-best season. The Packers were loyal to Crosby during his 2012 slump, and he seems to like kicking in the cold weather. Chances of returning: Likely.


Most of these guys probably won't be back.

« Last Edit: December 15, 2015, 07:35:54 pm by packrat »

Grizzlybear34

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Re: Green Bay sucks
« Reply #797 on: December 17, 2015, 06:04:31 am »
Before Gould missed the string of kicks, Mason Crosby had his own case of the yips a few seasons ago.  The Packers were wise to keep him, and the Bears would be wise to keep Gould.

packrat

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Re: Green Bay sucks
« Reply #798 on: December 17, 2015, 07:30:30 pm »
I agree with you 100%, GB34.  Gould is a very good kicker in a simple slump, like Crosby was.

packrat

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Re: Green Bay sucks
« Reply #799 on: December 17, 2015, 07:41:03 pm »
Chuck from Port Washington, WI

McCarthy yesterday talked about the importance of play sequencing. Play sequencing! If you think plays and their selection and sequencing aren’t an integral and important component of winning NFL games, then you really don’t fully understand the game of pro football and your column is more for entertainment of the ignorant than education of them, or maybe you are ignorant of this vital aspect of pro football and it is why you are not and never were or will be a successful NFL championship head coach, such as the four who have rolled through Green Bay, the latest of whom still resides there.

I’ll cry all night.


Another goofy fan .

packrat

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Re: Green Bay sucks
« Reply #800 on: December 17, 2015, 07:48:28 pm »
Dave from Hayward, WI

Vic, game planning by matchup seems to answer the players, not plays question very well. What is the relationship between matchups and scheme?

How a coach utilizes his personnel is the coach’s true genius. The best coaches see talents otherwise hidden in a player, and they plan and scheme to utilize those talents in creative ways. Coach Capers is doing it this year with Datone Jones. Once those hidden talents are identified, plugging them into the scheme is easy. These coaches can draw you up a play on a cocktail napkin. Plays are for Maddenites. Fitting players into those plays is what separates coaches from fans who think they’re coaches. It’s all about matchups, which is what I refer to as scheming personnel. When you scheme personnel, you use players to defeat plays. That’s why it’s players, not plays.


Believe it.

packrat

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Re: Green Bay sucks
« Reply #801 on: December 17, 2015, 07:51:47 pm »
Caleb from Eau Claire, WI

Vic, what causes changes at the line, generally speaking? Is it the QB changing what he sees as a potentially negative play, or is it him attempting to create a bigger play?

It could be both of those things, but adjustments at the line of scrimmage are commonly the result of where the strong safety and the true middle linebacker are positioned. The strong safety often defines the coverage, and the true middle linebacker dictates blocking assignments. Old-school football: Look through the middle linebacker to the strong safety and you should know where every defensive player on the field is.

packrat

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Re: Green Bay sucks
« Reply #802 on: December 17, 2015, 07:53:28 pm »
Greg from Danbury, CT

Vic, three teams will be over the cap in 2016. What’s the deadline for these teams to get their cap in order before the NFL intervenes?

The salary cap is in force 365 days a year, but the next year’s contract stipulations begin applying to that year’s salary cap on the first day of the league calendar year, which coincides with the start of free agency and trading.

packrat

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Re: Green Bay sucks
« Reply #803 on: December 17, 2015, 07:56:24 pm »
Eddie Lacy voted FedEx Ground Player of the Week

Posted 2 hours ago

Packers RB wins online vote after 124-yard outing

Pekin

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Re: Green Bay sucks
« Reply #804 on: December 17, 2015, 08:10:08 pm »
packrat if play calling doesn't matter then why did McCarthy take it back over?

packrat

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Re: Green Bay sucks
« Reply #805 on: December 17, 2015, 08:16:16 pm »
Andrew from Sacramento, CA

I’m going to the game on Sunday. It’s supposed to be pouring rain, windy and cold. Are we in for a gritty, classic, late-season ballgame?

I can see the seagulls now, gathering near the players’ feet as they huddle, the air heavy with moisture from the bay and thick with the sound of that haunting song, the Packers’ white jerseys bearing an occasional mud stain from the Coliseum turf that always seems to be wet, just as another team’s white jersey’s bore those mud stains a long time ago. It’s the same mud, just different teams playing in it. I guess Al Davis really wasn’t watering the field, but I think he enjoyed the accusation he was, and it always made for a good story, which is most important. Everything about that place is dark and heavy and damp, all of which aptly describe the press box of my youth. One more time we’ll meet, and then we’ll say goodbye.

packrat

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Re: Green Bay sucks
« Reply #806 on: December 17, 2015, 08:24:23 pm »
packrat if play calling doesn't matter then why did McCarthy take it back over?

That's not exactly what he said.  He said the important thing was players performance, not schemes
« Last Edit: December 17, 2015, 08:26:03 pm by packrat »

Pekin

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Re: Green Bay sucks
« Reply #807 on: December 17, 2015, 08:42:42 pm »
Of course players have to perform but the coaches have to put them in the best position to perform.  It all goes hand in hand. 

For instance you do not run into the strength of a 9 man front.  However if the dime package is in and their best run stuffing Dt is taking a breather it may be a good time to run.

Play calling matters.  It isn't the only thing but it most certainly matters.

dallasbear

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Re: Green Bay sucks
« Reply #808 on: December 18, 2015, 11:26:02 am »

Coaches can control the play called but not the play execution.

packrat

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Re: Green Bay sucks
« Reply #809 on: December 18, 2015, 04:24:56 pm »
I certainly agree with those points.

In the case of GB,  they were in a good old fashioned slump.  I doubt there was much difference in the play calling  but the team felt comfort of the previous calls by MM put them back in the old frame of mind.  After all, GB won the first six straight games before the enigmatic slump.