After A Slow Start To The Season, What Will The Packers Do

Just finished watching the ESPN view of what is wrong with the Packers and they have no clue!!

1 - Did not mention the defense was missing three defensive backs - Burnett, Bush, & Hayward.

2 - Matthews went out of the game early in the first half on defense.

3 - By the end of the game, NO running backs!  Starks injured, Franklin injured, Lacy did not play, and the full back Kuhn out.

4 - Finley gets hurt early in the game!

5 - Turnovers!!!  Ross, out kick returner is cut!  Fumbles go back to last year!

The EXPERTS at ESPN mentioned none of this!!  Instead, the mentioned the Rogers & McCarthy blow up!  Sometimes I think our EXPERTS just are NOT EXPERTS!  And there should be a channel for the average fan!!!  Anyone have a few extra million to start one?  I have the name.......

The Fan

Now, what must the Packers do??

1 - Stay Healthy!!  This I have no control over, BUT weight truing, warm ups, stretching, something must be analyzed!!  This is McCarthy's JOB!

2 - Offense - How about a few new plays?
     a - To stop the pass rush - play action, draw plays, screen plays, do we have any in the play book.
     b - Attack the middle of the field with passing game!!!
     c - Stay focused on running game & use our three headed monster - Lacy - Starks - Franklin
     d - No turnovers!

3 - Defense - Starters all there!!
     a - Front 4 PRESSURE THE QB!!!!
     b - Create Turnovers
     c - Hold other team under 20 points!
     d - Play an entire game

4 - Special Teams
     a - NO TURNOVERS!
     b - Cobb must fill in until we find someone!
     c - Crosby - keep making field goals!

After the bye week the next 5 games -
Lions
Ravens
Browns
Vikings
Bears

Must win at least 4 of 5!!!

Packer Lose To Bengals, But Packer Buddies Trip To Cincinnati A Success!

As a football fan, following your team is always an emotional roller coaster!!  This weekend was one of those roller coaster rides!!

The drive out to Cincinnati starter on Friday - Lancaster, PA to Canton, Ohio!  Saturday we spent 7 hours touring Football Hall of Fame!  As a Packer Fan, this was a great day, but as a football fan even a GREATER day!

The history of professional football is an amazing story!  With the NFL forming in 1920!

             

Of course, great Green Bay Packers to read about were evident throughout the hall!

The Packer Buddies had a great visit!  If you are a football fan - A MUST SEE!!!

Phil, Bill, & Jim at Football Hall of Fame!

Then, Sunday on to Cincinnati for the Packer game!

The tough Packer loss, 34-20, to the Bengals (we will discuss later!) was hard to watch!  BUT, the trip to see Paul Brown Stadium was great!  The stadium was EASY to get to!!!  Interstate 71 takes you downtown & right to the stadium!  Parking ($25) was right bedside the stadium!!

Even with the loss - a great day!!

PackerBuddies Head to Cincinnati from Lancaster, PA!

Road Trip!

Friday - Leave Lancaster, PA for Canton, Ohio!

Saturday - Tour The Football Hall of Fame

Sunday - At the Packers vs. Bengals Game

Monday - Back to Lancaster, PA

This should be a great football weekend!  The PackerBuddies were at the Packer & Washington game last week (I had a wedding to go to)  This week we are on the road to Cincinnati to cheer for our Packers!

This is another NFL stadium I will be able to check off my "Bucket List"!

Hamstrings And The Green Bay Packers!

What is an epidemic?

From my computer dictionary:

epidemic |ˌepiˈdemik|nouna widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time: a flu epidemic.• a disease occurring in such a way.• a sudden, widespread occurrence of a particular undesirable phenomenon:an epidemic of violent crime.
Well, I'll go with, "widespread occurrence of a particular undesirable phenomenon"  That fits!!!

Checkout the Packer website:  Casey Hayward Still Out

Packers CB Casey Hayward has been ruled out for the third straight week to start the 2013 with a hamstring injury, so the earliest Hayward could see the field this season will come after next week’s bye.

“He just tells me he’s making progress,” Head Coach Mike McCarthy said. “He had a similar injury. This one wasn’t supposed to be as bad as when he hurt it the first time, the day before he came back for training camp, so he’s making progress.”

Hayward missed the first three full weeks of training camp before returning to practice, but then he aggravated the hamstring when he tried to play in the third preseason game vs. Seattle, on Aug. 23. He has not practiced since.

Also missing practice on Wednesday were CB Jarrett Bush (hamstring), FB John Kuhn (hamstring), RB Eddie Lacy (concussion) and TE Jermichael Finley (toe). Finley was on the report last week and rested the toe at times and then still played in the game on Sunday.

S Morgan Burnett (hamstring) practiced on a limited basis, but in the portion of the workout open to reporters, he was doing jog-thru work on the scout team, so he may be held out until after the bye week as well.

DE Johnny Jolly is also listed on the injury report with a neck injury, but he was a full participant in practice.

That is 4 Packers - Hayward, Kuhn, Burnett, & Bush!

I think we have a problem?  Warm up routine, strength training, drills....
SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT!!!

Bengals vs Steelers - What Do The Packers Need To Do?

Game over - Bengals 20 Steelers 10!

First, Steelers are still tough, but not very good.

Bengals?

Additional Bengal Offensive Notes:
As we expected, the MAN is AJ Green. This Bengal wide receiver is for real!  Running game is dangerous, but not extreme.  Green-Ellis & Bernard must be taken seriously!  The QB - Dalton is beatable, pressure him & stop the running game!

Additional Defensive Notes:
Tough Defense!  The front line is GOOD! Most of the night they only rushed 4!  They run a 4-3, and the D-line put on enough pressure, so they could drop 7 in pass coverage!  The LB's & D-backs are good, but can be beat!  I think the key is the Packer O-line against the Bengals D-line!

Home field looks like an advantage too.  Packers must bring the A Game!!

Early Score Prediction?

Packers 31 - Bengals 17

Packers Set To Play Third Game - Bring on The Bengals!!

It will be another tough match up for game three - Cincinnati Bengals!  And tonight the Bengals play the Steelers on Monday Night Football!  This is the second opponent in a row that will have one less day of preparation against the Packers!

So, here is my early look at the Bengals before I watch the game tonight!

Bengals Offense
Danger?  AJ Green - wide receiver!  He is strong & fast!  The Bengals 2011 top draft choice, was the top vote getter for AFC wide receiver!! Tied for second with 11 TD's and fourth in receptions with 97 in the AFC!!  Must contain - not repeat of what Boldin did for the 49ers!!!

QB - Andy Dalton is in his third year & has led the Bengals to the p[layoffs!  Not a flashy QB with crazy numbers, but each year has shown improvement!  And HE IS A RED HEAD!!!

RB - BenJarvus Green-Ellis.  Has one of my favorite first names - BENJARVUS!  Since coming over from the Patriots has been a steady performer for the Bengals.  HAd over 100 yards rising last year and is a above adequate NFL running back!

The rest of the offense is I think very good - offensive line, tight end Jremaine Gresham, receivers Sanu & Tate all make the Cincinnati offense something not to take lightly!

Bengals Defense
Bengals have a very good experienced defense.  A combination of experience & youth!  From the Cowboys - Corner - Terence Newman, from the Steelers - linebacker, James Harrison.  And maybe the most consistent player nose tackle - Domata Peko!

More to come!

Packers Get First Win Over Redskins!

Packers Win!   Packers Win!   Packers Win!   Packers Win!

Time to Look at my Packer Goals for Game #2 versus Redskins!


Offense

1 - Running Game - PLEASE give us a 100 yard running back!!!
YES!  FINALLY!!!

2 - Passing Game - more of the same!
YES!  And even MORE!

3 - Sacks - 2 or less!
NO - 4 Sacks given up!

4 - Some big plays!  40 yard run & 40 yard pass play
Pass - Rogers to Jones - 57 yards
And a bunch of other 20-30 yards pass plays & some nice runs by Stark!
YES! All in all enough BIG plays!

5 - NO TURNOVERS!
NO - But only one, and it was a great effort! Jones fumbles at goal line!

Overall, a success for the offense!!

Defense

1 - Passing Yards - keep the Redskins under 300!!!
YES - Griffin had 320, but it was junk & irrelevant yardage!

2 - Rushing - keep Morris under 100 yards
NO - Morris had 107, again mostly at games end!

3 - 4 or more sacks
NO - only one sack!

4 - Force 2 or more turnovers
NO - only one turnover!

5 - Big plays - no plays over 40 yards
NO  Griffin to Garcon 44 yards
And a few other plas under 40 yards

Special Teams

1 - Kick Returns  MUST BE BETTER! Start at the 20 yard line or better!!!

2 - NO TURNOVERS!
YES!

3 - Field Goals - 75%
Yes!  one for one

4 - No returns over 40 yards
YES!

5 - One special teams TD!

NO!

Overall, I think special teams was a draw - Redskins had a few more mistakes with penalties!

The game overall - Offense was a success, but we need more from the defense & special teams!

Does It Matter What Your Defensive Line Looks Like?

OK, one of my issues with the Packers the last few years is what the defensive line looks like!  Take a look at this picture of the Packers defensive line:

Unless this is goal line defense, I think we are in trouble!

This is where I would like to see, Neal, Jones, and Perry up front on more mobile situations!  Athletes!

Packer's 2013 Schedule Will Quickly Tell Us How Good We Are!!

The 2013 Schedule is not for sissies!  First three games, 49ers, Redskins, & Bengals will tell us if the Packers are a playoff team!  The first game against the 49ers was a measuring stick that showed some strengths & weaknesses.

First home game! The Packers MUST defend Lambeau Field!  Here are some numbers:

1 - All Time Packer Home Field Record - 123 - 41 - 0  Percentage - .750
2 - Post Season All Time Record - 9 - 4 - 0  Percentage - .692

Offense

Packers had 13 offensive drives - and 5 were 3 and out!!  Not good enough!  Must change field position and control the game better!  Also, give the defense a break!!  28 points was adequate, but the three and outs really hurt!!

Defense

Really missed Burnett & Hayward out there!  Too many open receivers!  And 412 yards!  NOT GOOD!!  Thought the intensity was good & the front seven held their own!  It was great seeing Johnny Jolly on the sideline becoming a leader!  Hope he continues to shine!

Special Teams

Punting was great!  Kick offs by Pack was great! No big returns given up and Packers had none of their own, not good!  No field goal attempts!  Pack Kick Returns - bad decisions!!

Hope we see some improvement!!

Packers Versus Redskins - First Home Game!

Time to focus on the Redskins!  What needs to happen in week 2?

Offense

1 - Running Game - PLEASE give us a 100 yard running back!!!

2 - Passing Game - more of the same!

3 - Sacks - 2 or less!

4 - Some big plays!  40 yard run & 40 yard pass play

5 - NO TURNOVERS!

Defense

1 - Passing Yards - keep the Redskins under 300!!!

2 - Rushing - keep Morris under 100 yards

3 - 4 or more sacks

4 - Force 2 or more turnovers

5 - Big plays - no plays over 40 yards

Special Teams

1 - Kick Returns  MUST BE BETTER! Start at the 20 yard line or better!!!

2 - NO TURNOVERS!

3 - Field Goals - 75%

4 - No returns over 40 yards

5 - One special teams TD!

This game is very similar to the 49er game.  A mobile quarterback.  A physical defense.  A playoff team.  The NFL is very predictable, if you turn the ball  over, winning is difficult.  If you cannot run the ball & you cannot stop the run, winning is difficult.  If you do not bring intensity, winning is difficult.

To me, this is a big season for the Pack, McCarthy & Rogers.  Is the McCarthy system working?  Is Aaron Rogers one of the best QB's of his era?  The 2013 season will help answer these questions!

NFL Teams Take On the Character From Their Head Coach - The 49er Head Coach is An Idiot

True character comes out in many ways! A day after the Packer-49er game, Coach Jim Harbaugh of the 49ers would not let it go.  Matthews hit was a penalty and I'm sure a 49er player NEVER had a late hit out of bounds.  The "drama queen" Harbaugh sited a hits by Emlen Tunnel from the 1950's.  He loves the drama!

So, we have a physical 49er team that plays hard nosed football, which is fine!  I would love to see the Packers play with more of a chip ion their shoulder!  But, NO showmanship of the agitator Harbaugh.

Coach McCarthy said,

“I have no idea what his intent is,” he said, referring to Harbaugh. “I addressed Harbaugh’s comments in the team meeting, and as always we’ll stay above it.”

Football is a violent, intimidating sport.  It is meant to be played hard!  Sometimes a hit is not good, as Matthews hit on the sideline.  But it is VERY irresponsible for a head coach to add the the fire.  Jim Harbaugh is a good football coach, but as I pointed out earlier................

The 49er Head Coach is An Idiot!!!!

Proof is a coaching video where Coach Harbaugh tells coaches how to hike the ball to a quarterback!  Listen how he describes it!  I will tell you what Coach Harbaugh is!!!

Jim Harbaugh coaching how to snap the football to a quarterback.

Defense Gives Up Over 500 Yards In Game One Loss To 49ers!

OK.  We have one game to look at.  Some quick observations:

1 - We lost
2 - Defense Gives up over 500 yards
3 - Packers TWO turnovers - 49ers ZERO turnovers
4 - NO running game for Packers
5 - Held 49ers to 90 yards rushing

Now, let's look at some of my goals for the year, from my Blog - Sept 3
Offense
1 - Rogers sacked twice - That was acceptable
2 - No plays over 40 yards - Not Good
3 - Two turnovers - Not Good
4 - Injuries - Will see later
5 - no 100 yard rusher - Not Good

Defense
1 - Only two sacks - Not Good
2 - 49ers one play over 40 yards - That was acceptable
3 - 49ers NO turnovers - Not Good
4 -  Injuries - Will see later
5 - 49ers no runner over 100 yards - That was acceptable

Special Teams
1 - No turnovers - That was acceptable
2 - No great punt or kick returns - Not Good
3 - No field goals - No comment
4 - No 49er long returns - That was acceptable
5 - No defense TD's - Not Good

Results loss!

Offense scored 28 points, but running game was pathetic & passing game inconsistent.  Few penalties at bad times & FIVE 3 & outs!  Rookie tackles were adequate, but running the ball was an issue.  Offense played good enough to win!

Defense, not as ugly as last year, but over 500 yards!  They created no turnovers.  Lack of pass rush & wide open receivers seemed to be an issue all day!  I would still consider the 49er Quarterback a rookie and with these stats - 27 for 39, 412 yards, 3 TD's unacceptable!  Defense did not play well enough to win!

Special Teams - Punter Masthay had a good day 6 punts averageing 46.2, two returns for total of 8 yards!  Crosby no field goal attempts.  The problem was kick returns!  Starting positions after kick & punt returns - None in SF territory - All in Green Bay - yard lines - 20, 18, 20, 20, 4, 13, 38, 22, 31, 20, 24, 9, & 20!  Not good.  Special TEams did not play good enough to win!

Will spend one more day analyzing the 49er game.

More Packers Suffer Hamstring Issues????

This Packer fan is on a hamstring alert!  Is it just me, or is there a hamstring epidemic in Green Bay!  The latest news -

Hamstrings make Morgan Burnett, Brad Jones questionable

What?  It seems to me the Packers suffer from a HUGE amount of hamstring issues!  As a former football & Track coach this is a concern!  So I started my research - going to Google -

Take a look yourself!  A lot of hamstring issues! 21 hamstring injuries listed today, check out the latest at: NFL Week One Injury Report.

Packers - 3 out of 4 listed are hamstring injuries!

Some teams are not very good about being upfront when listing injury reports.  The Packers seem to be one of the most honest.  My concern, the Packers seem to be having injury issues the last few years & hamstrings are one.  So, this year I will be tracking injuries each week - Stay tuned!

What To Look For As The Packers Begin The Season?

Here are several keys that I will be looking for this season as the Packers try to win another Super Bowl!

Offense
1 - Sacks!  We the two new tackles protect Rogers? No more than two sacks per game.

2 - Big Plays!  How many plays over 40 yards will the Packers have this season?  And the key is how many over 40 yard running plays will the have!!!  Goal - one running play over 40 yards, passing three.

3 - Turnovers - average no more than 1 per game?

4 - Injuries - How many games will we have all 11 starters that start the season?  Bulaga does not count! Goal - 12 of 16 games.

5 - 6 games with a back running for over 100 yards.

Defense
1 - Sacks! At least 3 per game! (Last year we had 47 for the year)

2 - Big Plays Stopped. Two plays over 40 yards ONLY!  Running or Passing.

3 - Cause 3 turnovers per game! (Last year we had 18 interceptions & 8 forced fumbles)

4 - Injuries - How many games will we have all 11 starters that start the season?  Goal - 12 of 16 games.

5 - Hold opposition running backs under 100 yards.

Special Teams
1 - No turnovers!

2 - Three kickoff or punt return for over 40 yards

3 - 75% field goals made

4 - Hold opponent to no returns over 40 yards.

5 - 1 defensive or special team TD per game.

I will track this for every game this year!

Final Roster - Packer 53

In my previous blog I made predictions, here is what I said:



First, the easiest - Special Teams - 3
Kicker - Mason Crosby
Punter - Tim Masthay
Long Snapper - Brett Goode

Not bad 100% right!  That was easy!

Defense - 26
Corners - Tramon Williams, Sam Shields, Casey Hayward, Devon House, Jarret Bush, Micah Hyde
100% right!
Safeties - Morgan Burnett, MD Jennings, Jerron McMillian, Chris Banjo
100% right!
Outside LB - Clay Matthews, Nick Perry, Jamari Lattimore, Terrel Manning, Nate Palmer
One wrong - Manning out - Mulumba in
Inside LB - AJ Hawk, Brad Jones, Robert Francois, Dezmon Moses
One wrong - Moses out - Barrington in
DT - BJ Raji, Ryan Pickett, Johnny Jolly
100% right!
DE - Dante Jones, Mike Neal, CJ Wilson, Mike Daniels
add Boyd

Offense - 23
QB - Aaron Rogers, Vince Young
One wrong - Young out - Coleman in (Totally fooled!!)
RB - Eddie Lacy, Jonathan Franklin, James Starks, Alex Green
Green out (Kind of fooled!)
FB - John Kuhn
100% right!
WR - Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, James Jones, Jarett Boykin, Jeremy Ross
100% right!
TE - Jermichael Finley, Andrew Quarless, Matthew Mulligan, Brandon Bostick
One wrong - Mulligan out - Taylor in
OT - David Bakhitari, Marshal Newhouse, Don Barclay
100% right!
OG - Josh Sitton, TJ Lang, Greg Van Roten
add Taylor
C - Evan Dietrich-Smith
100% right!

Practice Squad - 8
Coming Soon!

Not bad!  I missed on about 4 and a couple additions!  Look out Ted Thompson!   Still thing we should have kept Young!   The other decisions look good!