Packers 2016 - Injuries, Injuries, and a Few More Injuries!

I went back over the Injury Reports for 2016 games!  Here is the Raw Data:

A few numbers:

35 players on the injury report so far (Still have 5 more games)

 8 Hamstrings

 3 Concussions

 3 Groins

 7 Knees

 4 Ankles

 3 Shoulders

The injuries that concern me the most?  Hamstrings & Groins!  These are usually, NONE CONTACT injuries & the speed guys, receivers & d-backs suffer the most!  Weight training, stretching routine, game delays, timeouts, & practice & game schedules!  SOME IS NOT RIGHT!

Whatever the issue, injuries seem to hurt the Pack ever year!  

What do you think?

Why Do We Play The Game?

Thirty-two teams start the NFL season for one reason & one reason only - A Super Bowl Win!

So, where are we as of November 29, 2016?

NFC North Division Standings
Detroit 7-4
Minnesota 6-5
Green Bay 5-6
Chicago 2-9

Division Leaders
NFC East - Dallas 10-1
NFC North - Detroit 7-4
NFC South - Atlanta 7-4
NFC West - Seattle 7-3-1

Wild Card Leaders
New York Giants 7-4
Washington - 6-4-1
Tampa Bay 6-5
Minnesota 6-5
New Orleans  5-6
Green Bay 5-6
Philadelphia 5-6

The task at hand - simple WIN!

Packer Drives
1 - TD (10 plays - 75 yards)
2 - TD (9 plays - 75 yards)
3 - Punt (12 plays - 43 yards)
4 - End of Half (1 play - kneel down)
5 - FG  (5 plays - 57 yards)
6 - TD (13 plays - 58 yards)
7 - FG (17 plays - 82 yards)
8 - End of Game (2 plays - kneel down)

Eagle Drives
1 - TD (11 plays - 81 yards)
2 - Punt (6 plays - 36 yards)
3 - FG (13 plays - 64 yards)
4 - Interception (7 plays - 25 yards)
5 - FG (11 plays - 43 yards)
6 - Punt (7 plays - 24 yards)
7 - Downs (5 plays - 19 yards)

Packers offense was "spot on!"  Long drives, and finishing with points!

Eagles - one turnover, two punts.

Defense, played well enough to win.  They played well AT THE END of the game!  They MUST
get healthy for the Packers to have a chance!

So, next up?  The Texans!

Go Pack Go!

What Do You Say To A Team That Is 4 Wins, 6 Losses & 6 To Play?

Simple!  Here are some things I would say:

"We have 6 more games this season, a lot of you are playing for your job"

or to our defense........

"The last 4 games we have given up 33 points, 31 points, 47 points, & 42 points.  That WILL
STOP this week!"

or to our offense........

"We will NOT be conservative!  This week is a playoff game!"

or to Clay Matthews.........

"Either stick your hair under your helmet or cut it.  It's time to be a football player"

or to Ha Ha Clinton Dix(2014), Datone Jones(2013), Nick Perry(2012), Bryna Bulaga(2011).....

"Ha Ha, Datone, Nick, & Bryan you are ALL #1 draft picks, PLAY LOKE IT!

or to our Packer Fans........

"We apologize for the past 4 weeks, this week will be different!"

and, Aaron Rodgers.........

"Aaron, I do not care what is happening in your family life, the Packer Family NEEDS you,
lead this team to victory!"

Pride

Effort

Attack

Or as Vince would say: "Winning is habit. Unfortunately, so is losing."

Packers Eagles - What To Watch?

First, the 1st Quarter!

Body Language?

Effort??

Wouldn't it be nice to see the offense come out "smoking!"  The Eagle defense is playing well this year:

Eagles - 8th in yards per game - 334.6 yards
Eagles - 4th in points per game - 18.6 point/game

It is a defense run by coordinator Jim Schwartz!  Ex-Lions head coach!  He knows the Packers!  He knows Mike McCarthy!  He know Aaron Rodgers!  Will be TOUGH to beat!

On offense, the Offensive Coordinator is Frank Reich!

Frank Reich, is from MY old high school - Cedar Crest High School - Lebanon, PA!

Love this part of the BIO!
A native of Freeport, NY, Reich attended Cedar Crest H.S. in Lebanon, PA. He played collegiately at the University of Maryland from 1981-84 where he backed up Boomer Esiason before earning the starting job as a senior in 1984. As a senior, Reich rallied the Terrapins from a 31-0 deficit to defeat the Miami Hurricanes, 42-40. At the time, Maryland’s victory over Miami marked the greatest comeback win in college football history and is now only second to Michigan State’s 2006 35-point comeback over Northwestern.

And......
While Reich was rarely pressed into action during his nine years backing up Kelly, the former signal caller was called upon in the 1992 playoffs after Kelly sprained his right knee in the regular-season finale and was forced to sit out the first two rounds. Despite having only attempted one pass in a postseason game prior to the 1992 season, Reich made his first postseason start in the 1992 Wild Card round and engineered the greatest comeback in NFL history. With the Bills trailing the Houston Oilers by 32 points early in the third quarter, Reich orchestrated five second-half touchdown drives, four of which were capped by touchdown passes, and led a game-winning field goal drive in overtime to defeat Houston 41-38

The best part!  Big comeback wins!!

The Packer Defense - OUR defensive coordinator, Dom Capers, is coaching for his job!  What a pathetic year.  I know we have injuries, but, C'mon Man!

Can we stop a rookie QB, with average receivers & banged up running backs?  Time will tell!

Time To Focus On The Future Of The Packers

Another Loss.  Another game where the Packers Defense was terrible.  Another game when the offense was OK, but not enough.  Another game where this fan question the leadership from Mark Murphy, to Ted Thompson, to Mike McCarthy.

The game? Redskins 42 - Packers 24.  42 points, unacceptable.

Capers Defenses the past few years gives up BIG numbers!  Example:

Running back - Kelley - 24 attempts - 137 yards - 3 TD's!  Who the heck is Kelley?
Wide Receivers - Garcon - 6 receptions - 116 yards - 1 TD
& Crowder 3 receptions - 102 yards - 1 TD
Quarterback - Cousins 20 for 31 - 375 yards & 3 TD's  WOW!

Clay Matthews - 1 tackle - 0 Sacks

McCarthy's Offense - Another slow start - 1st quarter:
3 Drives
Drive #1 - 3 & out - yards gained 0! Punt
Drive #2 - 3 & out - yards gained 2! Punt
Drive #3 - 3 & out - yards gained 7! Punt

That is 9 yards for Quarter 1?  WOW!

Aaron Rodgers - 26 for 41 for 351 yards & 3 TD's

My first recommendation for 2017 - Rodgers in & Matthews out.

More to come!

What Will The Packers Do This Week?

When a team struggles, watch the body language.  When a team has a losing streak, how do they respond?  What to expect this week against the Redskins?

First, look at last year?  January 10, 2016
Packers 35 - Redkins 18

Packers, Rodgers 21 for 36 for 210 yards - 2 TD's and 0 interceptions
Redskins, Cousins 29 for 46 for 329 yards - 1 TD and 0 interceptions

Packers, Lacy 12 attempts 63 yards - 1 TD & Starks 12 attempts 53 yards - 1 TD
Redskins, Morris 11 attempts for 50 yards - 0 TD & Thompson a attempt for 25 yards - 0 TD

Packers, Jones 7 receptions for 81 yards - 0 TD & 4 receptions for 48 yards - 1 TD
Redskins, Reed 9 receptions for 120 yards - 1 TD & Thompson 8 receptions for 89 yards - 0 TD

So, this year, the Redskins are playing well & Packers, not so much!

What MUST happen?

On defense, WOW!  Hold the Redskins under 24 points?  NO BIG plays.  Cover DeSean Jackson & keep running backs Kelley & Thompson under 100 yards total!  Biggest concern, tight end Jordan Reed - he hurt us last year!  Play a great 4th QUARTER!

On offense, BE AGGRESSIVE EARLY!  Pass first & run second!  I REPEAT!  PASS FIRST & RUN SECOND!!!  Jared Cook COULD be back!  If so, let's see Cook at 8 receptions - 80 yards - 1 TD!
Starks back at running back 15 carries 80 yards & MORE important 5 receptions for 60 yards!

Special teams!  NO long runs  by Redskins & NO fumbles by Packers!!!!!!

One Last Look At Titans Game (This Is All I Can Take)

I always analyze the Drive Charts & The Drive Charts for the Titans game was very hard to stomach, in fact I needed to take my stomach medicine!

Titan Drives:
1- TD
2- TD
3- TD
End Quarter 1

4- TD
5- Punt
6- TD
7- Downs
End 1st Half

8- Punt
9- TD
End Quarter 3

10- Punt
11- FG
12- FG
13- Punt
14- End of Game

Packer Drives:
1- Punt
2- Punt
3- Punt
4- TD
5- FG
6- TD
7- Interception
8- TD
9- FG
10- Downs
11- Interception
12- Punt
13- Downs

So, Titans first 4 drives - TD & Packers first 3 Punts?  Could you begin a game any better -as far as the Titans?  NO! Basically, the Packers were smacked down right out of the locker room!  In fact, the Titans first play, a 75 yard TD run - you kidding me!  Unacceptable!

I do not care what the coaches say, the players say, YOU JUST HAD YOUR BUTTS KICKED!

And, the trend is downward!

Last three games?
Falcons 33 Packers 32
Colts 31 Packers 26
Titans 47 Packers 25

Trend?

Answer To My Last Blog Entry - No, But Maybe

Most years, at 4 wins & 5 loses, the Packers would be outside looking in!  Now, here is the Standings in the NFC North:

Detroit          5-4
Minnesota    5-4
Green Bay    4-5
Chicago        2-7

One game out of first place!

Remaining Games?

@ Redskins
@ Eagles
Texans
Seahawks
@ Bears
Vikings
@ Lions

If you go on how these teams are playing, the Packers end up  5 Wins & 11 Loses

So, what must happen?

Get healthy - starters

RB - Eddie Lacy - out for the year
G - TJ Lang - ?????
T - David Bahktiari - ?????
C - JC Tretter - ?????
TE - Jared Cook - ?????
LB - Clay Matthews - ?????
CB - Sam Shields - probably done for year
CB - Damarious Randall - ?????
ILB - Jake Ryan - ?????

If you are counting, that is 9 starters out of 22!  Plus many subs are hurting!

Can the defense stop any body?

Can the offense forget the run and just past first, run second!

Right now, if I were a betting man, and what I have seen so far, the Packers are NOT
a playoff team.  May be approaching that time to see what other players can do?

Next up, Washington Redskins.

Packer vs Titans, Can The Packers Make a Run?

Here we go Packer Fans!  Do you sense the urgency?  Do you see that look in the players eyes!  Do the coaches seem fired up.  Will the Packers win a game on the road?  Will we have a healthy running back?  Will Aaron Rodgers display a fire and lead the team for an offensive explosion?

Well, my gut says NO!  Hope I'm wrong!

Why so pessimistic?  The past year & a half!

One player, Mike Daniels, seems to be the only player truly "pissed"!

We need a few more "pissed off" players!

To win:

1 - Packers D must stop the run
2 - Packers D contain Mariota!
3 - Score 30 points
4 - NO TURNOVERS

We do this &

Packers 31 - Titans 24

Can The Packers Improve, Next Up The Titans

At 4 wins & 4 losses, the Packers are an average football team.  Why is that?

Injuries

Inconsistent Offense

Bad Defense

And, sprinkle in some Special Teams issues?

Offense vs the Titans?

Total defense the Titans are ranked 16th.  Passing defense 20th. Rushing defense 10th.

Since we have NO running backs, PASS AARON PASS!  Montgomery is doing an adequate job, and we continue to tryout running backs! (How did we get here!)  And KEY - Red Zone Offense!  Here is where McCarthy may lose his job!  His creativity on offense inside the 20 is terrible!  Crossing patterns, pick plays, back shoulder fade patterns(where has this been?)  We need a BIG game from Aaron!

Titans Offense vs Packer Defense

Titans total offense is ranked 8th(Pack is 16th), Passing Offense 22nd & Rushing Offense 3rd!  144 yards per game!  Packer Rush Defense is still ranked #1!  BUT   BUT, remember the Cowboy game?
Demarco Murray ranked 2nd in the league with 807 yards!  MUST BE STOPPED!

And Special Teams?  NO MORE LONG RUN BACKS!  When you use your young guys as starters, and move new guys from the practice squad into special teams - BAD things happen!

The Pack NEEDS a win, in fact 2-3 in a row would be nice!  Only one game out in the NFC North!  If, this season is to be saved, MUST start this weekend!

Go Pack Go!

Back From Golf Vacation & Same Old Packers

OK.  I'm "Packered Out"!  We are half way threw the season 4 Wins - 4 Losses.

We are an average football team!  That promise early in the year is fading, fast!

What has happened?

Problem One - Injuries!

Amazing!  Starters?

CB - Same Shield
CB - Damarious Randall
LB - Clay Matthews
TE - Jared Cook
RB - Eddie Lacy
C - Corey Lindsley

Problem Two - Defense

Over the past few years, when the Packers need a stop, it does not happen.  Especially, at
the end of the game!  The big high draft choices - Datone Jones & Nick Perry, average at best.
Pass russ?  Below average at best.  A championship defense? Average at best.

Problem Three - Offense

Aaron has shown signs of waking up.  At times, the receivers look good.  Running backs - all injured!
That is the starter, the back-up, & the back-up to the back-up!  Offensive line has been steady.  Tight End, Jared Cook, one game!   Offense, missing the run game, trying to tread water!

Problem Four - Coaching

Just one time, what Coach McCarthy show some emotion!  He just seems to analytical!  He just seems to be too accepting of states quo.  And, the staff, maybe we have lost some good ones?

Problem Five - General Manager

Ted, retire.  We need a fresh look at personnel!  And, I'm tired of his press conferences!  Ho-Hom!

Do I seem frustrated!  Yes!  Do I seem upset?  I am!  Can the Packers turn it around?

Time Will Tell!

Go Pack Go!