One thing that has been consistent during the Mike McCarthy and Ted Thompson era has been an unwillingness to adjust during seasons, and it has burned them before. So, it’s very unlikely that they will do anything drastic that I’m suggesting, but that doesn’t mean staying the course is the correct decision.
Yes, it is only one game against the defending Super Bowl champions at the toughest venue in the NFL, but the problems the Packers had on Thursday were highly predictable to anybody who has been paying attention. Their defense will not look nearly as bad against the middling offenses of the NFL due to exceptional talent at outside linebacker and cornerback, but when they play the elite teams you can expect more of the same if they do not improve up the middle.
The hole in the middle of Green Bay’s defense was the size of the Grand Canyon on Thursday like it has been for years. Letroy Guion was let go by the Vikings for a reason, and ended up going backwards way more often than not Thursday. The one time he actually got some penetration in the backfield he whiffed on Marshawn Lynch.
The biggest issue I have had with Thompson during his Green Bay tenure has been his unwillingness to add a veteran towards the end of camp or during the season to fill a need. I’m not talking about spending big in free agency. Ron Wolf was the master of doing this, and Thompson has had success the few times he has done it with Mark Tauscher and Howard Green.
Thompson should get Ryan Pickett on the phone right now and see where he is physically. Pickett doesn’t fit the new mold that the Packers are looking for along the defensive line, but last year he was still more than capable of commanding a double team and holding up to it. They do not need their nose tackle to be a pass rusher with all the other talented pass rushers they employ. What they do need is somebody to hold up against the run.
The inside linebacker position might be an even bigger problem. Right after the draft this year I wrote a post wondering whether the inside linebacker position this year would be like safety last season. The position that everybody and their mother’s knew was a problem, yet was not addressed at all. That looks like it will be the case unless changes are made.
Jamari Lattimore looked fairly solid in his four starts last year and Sam Barrington had a heck of the preseason. It’s not like the Packers do not have options to replace Brad Jones. Jones had a brutal game Thursday where he missed as many tackles as he made, dropped an interception and had two killer penalties in pass coverage. He did not look like he belonged on an NFL field. A.J. Hawk was not much better and even looked like he might have lost a step that he could not afford to lose, but they are pretty much stuck with him.
Lattimore would provide a lot more energy and athleticism than Jones. He also packs more of a punch when he tackles, which is something the Packers desperately need right now.
The other huge problem Thursday was that Derek Sherrod had an absolutely horrible second half. Sherrod was OK in the first half, but ruined it all with two horrendous plays that resulted in sacks that ultimately put the game away. Even though Bryan Bulaga should not be out long and might even play Sunday against the Jets, it is hard to rely on Sherrod again if he is called upon. Giving free agent right tackle Eric Winston a look would certainly not hurt.
It is doubtful that any of these things will happen if history repeats itself. Even if they do not happen they will most likely beat the Jets. The Jets have a brutal secondary and an improving but mistake prone quarterback. They face an uphill battle with the Packers having ten days off and needing the game badly. Their best chance is to get a ton of pressure on Rodgers and rattle him, which could be possible with their stout defensive line.
Even going beyond Sunday the Packers should still win the division if they do not make these changes. The Bears looked like the same old Bears yesterday, and it’s still hard to trust the Lions even with a new coach. The Vikings are on the upswing but probably still a year away. However, if the Packers want to have any chance to reach the top of the NFL mountain again keeping status quo will not get it done.
——————Matt Bove is a writer at PackersTalk.com. PackersTalk.com. You can follow him on twitter at @RayRobert9.
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16 responses to “Packers Should Be Proactive With Changes”
TT/MM believe Hawk and Jones are good. End of story.
The problem is that this team looks good when it practices against itself or plays the dregs in meaningless pre-season games. When it plays real teams in real games, it becomes clear that most of the All-Universe players we’ve anointed to hoist the Lombardi Trophy are, in fact, pretty pedestrian.
Players not plays! Well they have tried this and I say it is Players AND plays! And the man coming up with them is just out dated plain and simple. It is time for some fresh plans from a new DC. If they keep Capers again this year the Packers can plan on being a 8-8 team again.
TT/MM believe Hawk and Jones are good. End of story.
The problem is that this team looks good when it practices against itself or plays the dregs in meaningless pre-season games. When it plays real teams in real games, it becomes clear that most of the All-Universe players we’ve anointed to hoist the Lombardi Trophy are, in fact, pretty pedestrian.
After watching the ALL-22 a few things became clear:
Letroy Guion played WAY better than national pundits state. Guion made the exact same amount of plays Raji would’ve made but for $3 million less. Both Guion and M. Daniels wore down by the 4th quarter due to a stagnant offense.
Brad Jones replaced Nick Barnett and became Nick Barnett 2.0. Lacks aggression/ tackles 5-7 yards down the field/Only makes plays against lesser competition/ lacks instincts/ go on and on… He simply cannot “stack & scrape” across the line.
Richard Rogers cannot run inline run block. Words cannot express how bad his run blocking has been since the preseason. For some reason pundits have convinced packer nation he’s an average run blocker. 7 plays he was blown off the block after he engaged. Rogers needs time in the weight room and it won’t happen this year. Calling Ryan Taylor!
Corey Linsley may be the permanent center from here on out. Keyword maybe.
J. Peppers has no interest in run defense but he still brings the juice when it comes to pass rush. Capers needs to play N. Perry on obvious run downs and Peppers on pass plays. Nick Perry is a powerful man and he made it clear on film. Simple solution.
Mike Neal is an enigma. One minute he makes a play the next he’s gets engulfed by a Tight End. Too good to release not good enough to start
A.J Hawk how many times can you watch film and say wow he’s slow.
Josh Sitton is the 2nd best interior lineman in the league. And it’s been that way for 3 years.
Players not plays! Well they have tried this and I say it is Players AND plays! And the man coming up with them is just out dated plain and simple. It is time for some fresh plans from a new DC. If they keep Capers again this year the Packers can plan on being a 8-8 team again.
*Jones didn’t replace Barnett Desmond a Bishop did*
After watching the ALL-22 a few things became clear:
Letroy Guion played WAY better than national pundits state. Guion made the exact same amount of plays Raji would’ve made but for $3 million less. Both Guion and M. Daniels wore down by the 4th quarter due to a stagnant offense.
Brad Jones replaced Nick Barnett and became Nick Barnett 2.0. Lacks aggression/ tackles 5-7 yards down the field/Only makes plays against lesser competition/ lacks instincts/ go on and on… He simply cannot “stack & scrape” across the line.
Richard Rogers cannot run inline run block. Words cannot express how bad his run blocking has been since the preseason. For some reason pundits have convinced packer nation he’s an average run blocker. 7 plays he was blown off the block after he engaged. Rogers needs time in the weight room and it won’t happen this year. Calling Ryan Taylor!
Corey Linsley may be the permanent center from here on out. Keyword maybe.
J. Peppers has no interest in run defense but he still brings the juice when it comes to pass rush. Capers needs to play N. Perry on obvious run downs and Peppers on pass plays. Nick Perry is a powerful man and he made it clear on film. Simple solution.
Mike Neal is an enigma. One minute he makes a play the next he’s gets engulfed by a Tight End. Too good to release not good enough to start
A.J Hawk how many times can you watch film and say wow he’s slow.
Josh Sitton is the 2nd best interior lineman in the league. And it’s been that way for 3 years.
*Jones didn’t replace Barnett Desmond a Bishop did*
Give Barrington and Lattimore a shot to start. I’m tired of these slow, soft ILB’rs who get exposed every game aginst any solid opponents. I’m still really pissed that we didn’t trade up for Ryan Shazier in the draft. The guy has played like Superman for the Steelers. We need a guy who is going to be a fast “seek and destroy” backer. We need a guy who can run with TE’s down the seam and carry them thru zones. Can anyone imagine AJ Hawk or Brad Jones running with Vernon Davis, Gronkowski, or Jimmy Graham?!Oh wait…..neither can I. Until we address this, these guys are going to get punished on the ground. Mike Pennel should get more reps at NT. He’s massive and a mean SOB on the field. Daniels needs to put up or shut up. His jabbering all of season about being a “nasty defense” made it all the more humiliating when he got his butt kicked in the opener. In fairness, #12 and the offense looked like dog food as well. That might have been Rodger’s worst game as a starter? I smell 9-7 again:( Oh, and for those of you who are sleeping on the Lions & Vikings…..my advice is not to!
Give Barrington and Lattimore a shot to start. I’m tired of these slow, soft ILB’rs who get exposed every game aginst any solid opponents. I’m still really pissed that we didn’t trade up for Ryan Shazier in the draft. The guy has played like Superman for the Steelers. We need a guy who is going to be a fast “seek and destroy” backer. We need a guy who can run with TE’s down the seam and carry them thru zones. Can anyone imagine AJ Hawk or Brad Jones running with Vernon Davis, Gronkowski, or Jimmy Graham?!Oh wait…..neither can I. Until we address this, these guys are going to get punished on the ground. Mike Pennel should get more reps at NT. He’s massive and a mean SOB on the field. Daniels needs to put up or shut up. His jabbering all of season about being a “nasty defense” made it all the more humiliating when he got his butt kicked in the opener. In fairness, #12 and the offense looked like dog food as well. That might have been Rodger’s worst game as a starter? I smell 9-7 again:( Oh, and for those of you who are sleeping on the Lions & Vikings…..my advice is not to!
The present lineup and playbook will not get it done this year. Seattle is probably the best in the NFL, but other elite teams could just bring the same test. If I were any one of the coaches I would be concerned and scared. The fans are getting very restless and tired of the same old thing. Count me as one of them. Remember Woody Hayes? Gone, gone, gone.
The present lineup and playbook will not get it done this year. Seattle is probably the best in the NFL, but other elite teams could just bring the same test. If I were any one of the coaches I would be concerned and scared. The fans are getting very restless and tired of the same old thing. Count me as one of them. Remember Woody Hayes? Gone, gone, gone.
Ted Thompson likes to stockpile draft picks, that’s how he fills out his rosters every year without spending FA money. That’s also why the Packers CAN’T get over that defensive hump they need to be a top level team. They can compete with anybody on offense provided McCarthy realizes his mistakes and adjusts when it’s not working. Problem is, Thompson has missed out on some better talent for his defense by NOT using a pick here and there to move up for a player he knows won’t be there at GB’s turn. Ryan Shazier or Chris Borland could be playing in green/gold instead of Carl Bradford, he’s missed other opportunities for some top-tier “D” players that are now top level players. IF he’s not gonna dip into FA here and there to make this defense better, then it’s time to start moving some picks for some BETTER choices. Trading some picks and finishing with 3-4 quality players instead of 7-8, most of whom likely won’t be playing in a season or two, seems like a better option than what he’s done.
Ted Thompson likes to stockpile draft picks, that’s how he fills out his rosters every year without spending FA money. That’s also why the Packers CAN’T get over that defensive hump they need to be a top level team. They can compete with anybody on offense provided McCarthy realizes his mistakes and adjusts when it’s not working. Problem is, Thompson has missed out on some better talent for his defense by NOT using a pick here and there to move up for a player he knows won’t be there at GB’s turn. Ryan Shazier or Chris Borland could be playing in green/gold instead of Carl Bradford, he’s missed other opportunities for some top-tier “D” players that are now top level players. IF he’s not gonna dip into FA here and there to make this defense better, then it’s time to start moving some picks for some BETTER choices. Trading some picks and finishing with 3-4 quality players instead of 7-8, most of whom likely won’t be playing in a season or two, seems like a better option than what he’s done.