One Final Look At the Bears Game - Packer 38 - Bears 17

One thing about sports, every game has it's unique story!  The 1st game of the Bears - Packers for 2014 was no different!!!  Some interesting facts?

1 - No Punts!!!  The SECOND time in NFL history!  That is crazy! So, what does this say?

GOOD NEWS - Packers Offense was rolling!
BAD NEWS - Packers defense was rolling backwards!

Packer Drives
Drive 1 - 6 Plays - 89 yards - TD
Drive 2 - 10 Plays - 63 yards - TD
Drive 3 - 7 Plays - 61 yards - TD
Drive 4 - 8 Plays - 50 yards - FG
Drive 5 - 6 Plays - 35 yards - TD
Drive 6 - 4 Plays - 9 yards - TD
Drive 7 - 8 Plays - 59 yards - missed FG

2 - Packers Franchise Win #700!  Packers have long history & MANY wins!

3 - Aaron Rogers, became Aaron Rogers!!!
     22 for 28 and 302 yards and 4 TD's!  A QB Rating of 151.2!

4 - Turnovers - Packers 0 - Bears - 2 (This turned out to be BIG)

Next up - Minnesota Vikings!

Bears! 2014?

What can we expect from the 2014 version of the Bears?

1 - QB Cutler? Talent? Yes  Will he will the big one?  No.  But, can he win Sunday - Yes.  So, how will we stop him?  Frustrate him!  Knock him down!  Confuse him!  Rattle him!  He is easy to read!  Even at home, you can tell in his face when he quits!  GET IN HIS HEAD!

2 - Wide Receivers - Marshall is hurt, but Bennett & Jeffrey are VERY dangerous.  Must make plays & be athletic!  Fight for balls!  Disrupt their patterns!  Watch for TE's in the Red Zone!  Must have Williams & Shields bring their "A" games!

3 - RB's - Forte - No runs over 15 yards!  And watch for screen passes!  And make the first tackle!

4 - Run against the Bears from 7!  Lacy MUST run for 100 yards!  Why?  Of course, first to beat the Bears!  But, more important, this is game #4 & the Packers have not proved they can do it!

5 - Spread the ball around!  Catches by many receivers.  Spread it around!  How about this possible Box Score:

Nelson - 4 catches - 70 yards - 1 TD
Cobb - 3 catches - 65 yards - 1 TD
Adams - 3 receptions - 50 yards
Boykin - 2 receptions - 40 yards
Lacy - 3 receptions - 45 yards
Starks - 2 receptions - 30 yards
Harris - 2 receptions - 35 yards - 1 TD
Rogers - 3 receptions - 40 yards - 1 TD
Quarless - 2 receptions - 25 yards

Totals - 24 receptions - 400 yards - 4 TD passes!

I'm sure Aaron would LOVE to see this!!!!

Let's see the Offense finally breakout!!!

Time To Focus on Game #4 - Chicago Bears!

OK, the Pack has 1 Win & 2 Loses, one game out of first place!  So, now what?

The Chicago Bears!

Did you see the McCarthy  press conference today?  Here it is - McCarthy Press Conference.

First, what signals do we get from Coach McCarthy?

1 - He does not look happy
2 - He does not sound happy
3 - HE IS NOT HAPPY!

I did not hear a lot of good answers.  The offense is bad!  The Seattle Detroit games were terrible & the Jets game was a Jordy Nelson show.  So, what is next?  What does this humble Packer fan suggest?

1 - Use the pass to set up the run!  We need to see if the REAL Aaron Rogers is here!  And, I would use Kuhn in the backfield more to cover for the O-line!  I would also get DuJuan Harris more involved!  We need to use his abilities!  Cobb needs some big plays! And, Rogers needs to run when he is in trouble!

2 - Defense?  Will we have Matthews?  Run the 4-3 defense, the personnel seems to play better!  The athletes we have at defensive end & outside linebacker seems to play better!  And of course, get in Cutler's face!!!  I love seeing that frustration!!!!

3 - WIN!

What did Aaron Rogers say today?

He sounds R-E-L-A-X-E-D.  But, I would like to see these number:

1 - 3 TD passes
2 - throw for over 300 yards
3 - NO INTERCEPTIONS!

Or could it be this?

Analyzing the Packer Offense In Loss To Lions

OK, time to analyze the Packer Offense!  On a VERY simple note - 7 points!

ARE YOU KIDDING ME!

Packers 1st Quarter
4 offensive series

1st Series - fumble second play, Detroit returns for TD!

ARE YOU KIDDING ME!

No, not kidding

Series 2 & 3, ended in punts

Series 4 - a TD!

Quarter ends Green Bay 7 - Detroit 7
Time of possession - GB - 7:06 & Detroit 7:54

Packers 2nd Quarter
2 offensive series (ONLY 2)!!!!

1st Series - Safety  - 2 point for Detroit!!!

ARE YOU KIDDING ME!

2nd Series - A nice 10 play drive, ending in a SACK!
Time of possession - GB - 4:28 & Detroit 10:32 - NOT GOOD!!!

Packers 3rd Quarter
2 offensive series (ONLY 2)!!!!

1st Series - 6 plays and PUNT

2nd Series - 10 plays & punt!

Time of possession - GB - 6:27  & Detroit 8:33 - NOT GOOD!!!

Packers 4th Quarter
1 offensive series (ONLY 1)!!!!

ARE YOU KIDDING ME!

1st Series - 9 plays, Rogers missed Rogers for TD - 0 Points!!

Time of possession - GB - 3:46  & Detroit 11:14 - NOT GOOD!!!

ARE YOU KIDDING ME!

The last period - 1 Offensive series & the Time of Possession is not acceptable!!

Wow! Packers Lose to Lions 19-7! Aaron Rogers Humbled Again!

The past 2-3 years we have been told Aaron Rogers is one of the top 5 QB's in the League!

We have been told our running game will be better!

Did we win a super bowl in 2010 season?

What has happened the past few years?

The 2013 season was injury packed! - 8-7-1 Division Champs! - Lost to 49ers in playoffs

The 2012 season  11-5 Division Champs - Lost to 49ers in playoffs

The 2011 season 15 - 1 Division Champs - Lost to Giants in playoffs (Favre's last pass!)

2010 season - 10-6 Super Bowl!!!!!
Lost to Bears, Redskins, Dolphins, Falcons, Lions, Patriots.  AND STILL WON THE

SUPER BOWL!!!

So, it can be done!  Teams can get better! How to we get better?  Look at this play, the safety, after we had a nice interception!

The Eddie Lacy Safety!

I see two things on this play!
1 - Rookie TE Rogers CANNOT block!  He gets pushed into the end zone!!  Terrible effort!!
2 - Lang pulls??? WHY?  WHY ON GOALLINE??  Lions LB blitz's into his area
and BING Lacy tackled in the end zone!!!

Bad blocking!  Bad play call?

Eddie Lacy Fumble!

I see one thing!  Eddie Lacy hit his own man & fumbled! CANNOT happen!  As in last week, Rogers fumble on fist play of game!  This week, Lacy fumbles on second play!  WOW!

You improve one play at a time!  You work for perfection.  You are ready to START the game!

Now, how will they do next week - and the BEARS!

Stay tuned for more analysis!

Next 3 Games - Lions - Bears - Vikings!!!

Here we go, buckle up!  We have the Lions - Bears - Vikings!!  We will focus on the Lions!

Last year a Home win - 22-9!  And, an away loss - 40-10!

Last year at Home -
Aaron Rogers - 20 for 30 for 274 yds & 1 TD
Eddie Lacy - 23 carries 99 yards
Calvin Johnson DID NOT play for Lions!

Last year at Detroit -
Matt Flynn - 10 for 20 for 139 yds, 0 TD, and an interception!
Eddie Lacy - 10 carries 16 yards
Calvin Johnson 6 receptions, 101 yards & 1 TD for Lions!

So, what will 2014 bring!

1 - Packers MUST get 15-20 carries for Lacy - 80-100 Yards - 1 TD
2 - Rogers - 250 yards, 2 TD's! NO interceptions!
3 - Hold Calvin Johnson to under 100 yards & 0 TD's
4 - Win the turnover battle
5 - 2 BIG played on special teams
6 - 3 Sacks or more!

The offense is still using a rookie at center & a sub at right tackle.  Davante Adams seem to make a move to become receiver #3!  We MUST get Rogers or Bostick to step up at TE!!!

The defense showed some improvement! Big turnover, holding the Jets to 3 points in second half!  Latimore seems to be the answer for now at ILB.  House & Bush are pressing for playing time & Hyde & Clinton-Dix are gaining valuable experience! Peppers & Mathews are finding a balance & the D-line is starting to change the image of the defense!

We will see more growth?  Time will tell!

Packer Buddies Help Packers Win Home 2014 Opener!

Yes, you read that correctly!  WE HELPED!!!  Phil, Terry, Bill, & Jim pulled off a PERFECT weekend to help Green Bay win their first game of the 2104 season!  And you may say, how do fans win games!!!  Here we go!

$$$$$$$$$$$ - as fans we buy the tickets, WE buy water at the game at $4.50 for 20 ounces, WE go through the gift shop a buy gift for our grand children, WE cheer LOUD when the other team has the ball, WE sing the National Anthem, WE spend $$$$ at the local eateries, WE stay at local hotels, WE fly the jet planes, WE rent cars, WE sometimes BOO bad play (BUT NO MUCH IN GREEN BAY!), WE buy ice cream at Culvers, WE read Packer sports pages, & WE even do a BLOG dedicated to our beloved Packers!!

All the $$$$$ allows the Packers to exist.  Players to get paid.  Employees to get paid!

So, there we help!

Now, how did the Pack win?

1 - They stayed focused!  Fumbled the first offensive snap of the game Jets score!  Down 21-3, the Packers did not give up.  Field Goals(although the fans did not all agree) kept us close!

2 - My turning point?  Down 21-9, Packers intercept the Jets at their own 3 yard line!  The Packers drive 97 yards in 1 minute 52 seconds to end the first half down 21-16 to the Jets!  THAT WAS BIG!

3 - DEFENSE- yes DEFENSE!!!!!  Second half holding Jets to 3 points!!!!

4 - AND, Jordy Nelson!  Of the 53 players on the roster, Jordy Nelson may be the key to the Packers of 2014!  And on "old timers day", he off all Packers links the present team to the past(sorry John Kuhn!)

Lambeau Leap - Cobb scores 2 BIG TD's and a BIG 2 point conversion!

Jordy Nelson - WOW! 209 yards!

And of course, the NEW Lambeau Leap statue with the Packer Buddies!!!

Phil, Jim, Terry, Bill, & Bob!!!!

Packer Buddies Head To Green Bay!

Here we go!  The Packer Buddies are headed to the home opener!  Packers vs Jets!

First Goal!  HAVE FUN!
We always do.  Win or lose, we enjoy the visit!  One of the Buddies, Phil, was born & raised north of Green Bay!  He is the local expert!!!!  Two of the buddies, Terry & Bill, are LONG time Packer fans, who deserve ALL the credit turning me from the "Darkside!" (I was a Cowboy fan, that is another story)  And we enjoy it all!  People we meet!  Eating in the local eateries!  Drinking some local beer(or wine for Bill)!  And of course, Lambeau!

Second Goal!  Add to our experience!  This is trip number - 20 for me!!!! (7 away, 12 home)  One of the Packer Buddy goals is to visit other venues!  Although NOTHING compares to Green Bay!!!

Third Goal & MOST important!  HELP THE PACKERS WIN!  And how do we do this, being mere fans?  First, we are all STOCKHOLDERS!  Next, CHEER LOUD we the Pack needs us!  And last, support the team in good & bad times!!!

So, here we go:

Saturday:
Fly out of Baltimore
Land in Milwaukee
Rent car & drive to Green Bay
Sunday:
GANE TIME
Monday - reverse of Saturday!!!

Last year, 2013,  at Baltimore Game!

What Will The Packers First Home Game Show Us?

OK,  the Packers first Home Game of 2014!  And, other firsts?

OK, let's start with the Field - Lambeau Field!  I was lucky enough to see the field before all the BIG renovations!!!  And this year more!!!

The statues of Curly & Vince are moved!

The Pro Shop is BIGGER & BETTER!

Lambeau Leap Statue!!!!

OK, the field is ready, next blog entry - THE FANS!

Are The Packers As Bad As They Looked In A 36-16 Loss to Seattle?

It was not the way to start a season!  A humbling defeat to last years Super Bowl Champs!  So, where do the Packers go from here?

I was really amazed at the poor effort:

1-players

2-coaches

3-more injuries

Let's take injuries first:

Missing before game - JC Tretter Center & BJ Raji nose guard.  If you believe in building strength from the middle out, this is critical.  Tretter, looked OK, but has not started a game.  He is hurt, Lindsley, a PURE rookie starts in the first game, against Super Bowl champs, in the loudest building in NFL!  I thought he really wasn't too bad, but had to change the game plan.

Bulaga goes down early, and Sherrod was shaky!  Feel bad for Bulaga, last three years a disaster!  Sherrod #1 pick 2011, Bulaga #1 pick 2010. WOW!  NOT GOOD!  Rogers, TE, a rookie starting(NOT GOOD) gets hurt early!

Brad Jones is not that great at ILB, and has been hurt.  We are really stressed at Inside Linebacker!

OK, defense.  This years team. d-line all new starters - Jones, Daniels, & Guion.  More athletic, but raw!  Against the Seahawks, had issues against the rust(Lynch over 100 yards) & NO PASS rush, or even push!  Peppers, new to the system.  Hyde & Clinton-Dix, new to starting and Ha Ha just a rookie!  Defense should get better!

Offense.  WOW! Really embarrassed!  Rogers(and McCarthy DID not throw 1, I SAID 1 PASS IN SHERMAN"S AREA!  NO GUTS!  And now Sherman is even cockier!  Did you see his comment to Rogers after the game!  Rogers looked like a little boy at the play ground who just got his ass kicked by the school bully!  NO passes even tried to to right side ALL NIGHT!  That is one on one on the right, and that leaves the 49ers with 6 defenders covering 5 Packer eligible receivers!

No running game!  No passing game.  And turnovers.  Not a great offensive start.  The Seahawks do have the BEST D in the league, so too early to panic (I think!)

2 - Coaching?  Wow!  This has me worried the MOST!  All year to plan attacking Seahawks & NOT very creative!  Tried to establish the Rush, just was not happening.  Therefore, play action passes are not effective!  Cobb & Nelson had some success, but not enough.  McCarthy at times looked like a deer in headlights.  No rhythm established.  First two drives were OK, but not easy!  

Packer Drives

#1 - Punt

#2 - Punt (But, Seahawks fumbled)

#3 - TD (But, after fumble, got ball on Seattle 34!)

#4 - Field Goal - Was their first good drive

#5 - Punt  End of first half!

#6 - Interception!!

#7 - Gave up on downs at Seattle 41 - giving them good field position

#8 - Packers give up safety!

#9 - TD - Was second good drive!

#10 - Punt

So, 2 of 10 drives were good.  BUT, interception, a safety, on downs, cannot give 

the Super Bowl champs anything!

Hope they figure a few things out for next week!

OK, let's move on!  Weather for Sunday in Green Bay - High 63 - Low 49,

20 % chance of rain.  Wind 9 mph.  

With 16 games, EVERY GAME is important!  WE NEED TO BEAT THE JETS!

Will Packers Depth Help In Seattle?

We have looked at the starters, but how about the subs!!

Offense:

2 - Quarterbacks  - Matt Flynn, & Scott Tolzien

We need Aaron Rogers, but compared to last year, Tolzien & Flynn are GREAT!

2 - Running Backs - James Starks, & DuJuan Harris

Packers may have the deepest running back depth in the league! Anxious to see how McCarthy gets Starks & Harris on the field!

2 - Wide Receivers - Davante Adams, & Jeff Janis

Rookies!  I like these two, but with the d-backs of Seattle, I hope we do not need them in game #1!

2 - Tight Ends - Andrew Quarless & Ryan Taylor

Looks like Rogers beat out Quarless & Bostick is still hurt!  So, Taylor & Quarless will play a lot!

2 - Offensive Line - Derrick Sherrod & Lane Taylor

Sherrod is ready, but do not know about Taylor.  And out back-up center is starting!  So, NO INJURIES!

Defense:

Defensive Line - (2) - Josh Boyd, & Mike Pennel

These two will play a lot!  Plus, Peppers & Neal will at time be on the line!  Looks like Capers will be using a lot of players & that means Boyd & Pennel!

Linebackers - (7) - Nick Perry, Mike Neal, Jamarii Lattimore, Sam Barrington, Andy Mulumba, Jayrone Elliot, & Carl Bradford.

This group will play a lot!!  Subbing in for first team - Neal, Perry, Lattimore and special teams!!!  Anxious to see if the use Jayronne Elliot?

Cornerbacks - (4) - Casey Hayward, Davon House, Jarrett Bush, & Demetri Goodson.

Hayward is almost considered a starter!  If he stays healthy, he should be a game changer!  House & Bush have a ton of experience & have played will in preseason!  Everyone will contribute on special teams!!!

Safeties - (2)  - Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, & Sean Richardson.

Rookie Clinton-Diz will play a lot & Richardson is a solid back up!

There you have it - good depth, and players that will contribute!

And, to answer my original question, Will Packers Depth Help In Seattle?

IT HAS TO!!!

Packers 2014 Special Teams

The first look of the Packers 2014 Special Teams at first looks just like last year:

Punter - Tim Masthay

Kicker - Mason Crosby

Long Snapper - Brett Goode

I will break it up four ways:

Punt Team
Punt Return Team
Kick Off Team
Kick Return Team

Punt Team - Tim Masthay seems to be  average at best!  According to Bleacher Report:

"Masthay has never been better than an average-at-best punter for the Packers. He doesn’t drive through his kicks with the authority most NFL punters can."

This is not great!  So, cover team, COVER.  Since Masthay is not powerful, we should be able to cover!  We will take a close look when the Packers play the Seahawks!  Who will be on the team besides - Masthay & Goode?

Punt Return Team - Punt returner - Randall Cobb & Micah Hyde!  GOOD!  That is two starters, we need to use our best!  First good hands?  I think Hyde & Cobb can catch!  Next, decision making!  I THINK Hyde & Cobb pass that test!  And last, can they break the big one?  YES.  And, who will be the other 9 players?

Kick Off Team - Crosby Kicking.  Ranking in Touchbacks?  29 out of 32 teams!  NOT GOOD!  Percentage of touchbacks? 32%  NOT GOOD!  Again, players on the team, we will see!

Kick Return Team - Dujuan Harris returner - LIKE THIS!  Harris just looks like a natural!  The blocking?  We will see!

Field Goal Team - Crosby had a good year last year!  HE NEEDS ANOTHER!  It is interesting that he has good range when kicking field goals, but not Kickoffs?  Ranked 10th in this article:

After a very rough year in 2012, the Packers kicker bounced back with the best season of his career. In 2013, Crosby connected on a career high 89.2 percent of his field goal attempts, which included going a perfect 21-of-21 on kicks from 39 yards or less. Being virtually automatic on those kinds of attempts makes for a dangerous weapon in the kicking game, as it prevents a team from having good drives go for naught.

So, at first glance, it would be nice to have more POWER!  Masthay & Crosby are dependable, but will not dominate.  And, the players on the special teams - NEED TO PLAY TOUGH!!!!

Brett Goode

Tom Masthay

Mason Crosby

Packer 2014 Roster Analysis Continues - Defense

Time to Analyze the Packer 2014 Defense!  To me, a humble Packer Fan, this is the KEY to 2014!  A few points before the analysis begins:

Point 1 - Stay healthy!  Clay Matthews! And others….
Point 2 - Turnover Ratio - MUST win this battle!
Point 3 - Mike Daniels - you pre-season "TOUGH ATTITUDE" must take hold!

Now, the Packer Defense

Defensive Line - (5) - Datone Jones, Mike Daniels, Letroy Guion, Josh Boyd, & Mike Pennel

First, we will miss BJ Raji!  I really feel Capers did not use Raji at the correct place the past 2-3 years, he is a VERY good nose guard and NOT a defensive end!  Second, the key is the you guys and Mike Daniels.  I LOVE the attitude Daniels is taking!  He is taking a leadership position and a "chip on the shoulder" attitude!  If the defense is going to be better this year, it will begin with the D-line!
Grade for the D-line - INCOMPLETE!

Linebackers - (11) - Clay Matthews, Julius Peppers, AJ Hawk, Brad Jones, Nick Perry, Mike Neal, Jamarii Lattimore, Sam Barrington, Andy Mulumba, Jayrone Elliot, & Carl Bradford.

We have numbers!  And Neal & Peppers will play some DE in the Capers scheme.  This group must create chaos, BUT remain disciplined!  Does Peppers have anything left in the tank to complement Matthews?  If so, LOOK OUT!  Does AJ Hawk have another season left in him?  Will Lattimore beat out Brad Jones for the starting job along side Hawk?  Stop the run - Hawk & Jones!  Create chaos Peppers & Matthews!  And we have depth!   We need 3-4 sacks a game from this bunch!
Grade for Linebackers - B+

Cornerbacks - (6) - Sam Shields, Tramon Williams, Casey Hayward, Davon House, Jarrett Bush, & Demetri Goodson.

There is talent here!  Will they figure out what the officials are calling?  How about some BIG plays!  Shields & Williams are good, not very good.  Hayward is a playmaker.  And House & Bush are experienced & better than average back-ups!  If the D-line is bad, the corners are in for a long year!  We have depth, and they are better than average, so, back to the D-line!
Grade for Cornerbacks - B+

Safeties - Morgan Burnett, Micah Hyde, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, & Sean Richardson.

Will the youth prevail?  We NEED Clinton-Dix & Hyde to grow up fast!!!  My gut feeling!  By the end of this year Clinton-Dix & Hyde will be the starters & Burnett the back-up.  Burnett just has never seemed to make the big play or stop the BIG play from hurting the Pack!  The key, sorry to say it again, the D-line.
Grade for safeties - C+

So, did you get it, the D-line is the key!  And Mike Daniels & Datone Jones lead the way!  So far, the Pack brain trust has not provided a D-line difference maker!  WE NEED ONE!

Next - Special Teams!