Time For a Little Adversity?

 News today - David Bakhtiari out for the season - an ACL practice injury.  Now what?

First, Aaron Rodgers.  The left tackle is a QB's BEST friend!  Bakhtiari is THE highest paid left tackle in the league!  So, if ANY team loses their left tackle it is a critical loss!  So, do the Packers have the depth to overcome this?????

Never, easy, but the Packers are in a good place!  Why?

Reason 1 - Elgton Jenkins - this second year player has turned heads in the NFL!  All Pro already!  Playing 3 positions - center, guard, & tackle!  So, this player is special with a capital S!

Reason 2 - Corey Linsley - he is back!  Missed a few games.  Again, the NFL players have recognized him as maybe the BEST center in the league!  So, this is GOOD!

Reason 3 - Billy Turner - this pro, in year 7, has also proved VERY versatile!  He may be moved around the offensive line where needed!  He is solid!

Reason 4 - Lucas Patrick - the Underdog!  An un-drafted free agent, spent 2016 on the practice squad!  He has played like he has something to prove!  He will give his VERY BEST!

Reason 5 - Rick Wagner - remember, he came over from the Lions to replace Bulaga.  He has done a good job, but is nicked up.  Is adequate when healthy!

Reason 6 - Jon Runyan has great genes, but still needs to do it on his own!  At least at guard, he can hold his own.  Playoff time, we do not know!  Josh Nijman & Simon Stepaniak in a pinch, but not long term this year!

So, The Packers can survive, BUT Bakhtiari WILL be missed!!!

Time for...........................................

Next Man Up!

More Green Bay - Tennessee Analysis

 As always, a look at the Packer Drives Chart is in order:

1 - TD - A first drive touchdown is always a key to success & Rodgers to Adams!

2 - TD - an EQ Brown TD is a great sign, we need to complement Adams! (Lazard, Tonyan, etc)

3 - TD - more Rodgers & Adams!

4 - Downs

5 - End of Half

6 - TD - the second most important drive, answering the Titans TD to open the half!

7 - TD - AJ Dillon TD run!

8 - Interception - A rare Aaron interception, rolling right and throwing left into traffic!

9 - TD - AJ Dillon TD run, have we found another weapon?

10 - End of Game

Let's review, really 8 drives. And, 6 TD's.  Will take that any week!  The only blip, an Aaron Rodgers interception.  We will allow him to be "human" sometime during a game!  Now, one week to go.  And, how to end a nice season, a win against the Bears of course!!!!

Go Pack Go!

Best the Bears!!

Lambeau Field, Snow & A Big Win!

Lambeau Field, Snow & A Big Win!  But, my biggest smile came from the Packer run defense topping the top running back in the league!  A quick look at the reason for success?

1 - Getting ahead on the scoreboard!  A team, like the Titans, are built of running the ball, controlling the game & playing defense.  The Packers, jumped up early, and stayed ahead!  

2 - Rodgers to Adams.  The combination is deadly & Adams is proving himself as the BEST receiver in the NFL.  (Only thing, Rodgers make look for him a little too much)

3 - Packer Running Game.  Hello & Welcome AJ Dillion!  The rookie looked great in the snow!  The rookie looked very difficult to bring down!  The rookie caught the ball out of the backfield.  The ROOKIE do not look like a ROOKIE!

 4 - And, of course, my favorite item - PACKERS RUN DEFENSE.  Help Henry under 100 yards!  Did not allow any huge runs!  Maybe, the players & coaches figured something out!

So, on first glance & using the good old, "EYEBALL CHECK"!  This fans eyes were VERY happy!

Go Pack Go!

If I was Coaching Aaron Rodgers............

If I was Coaching Aaron Rodgers............

OK, for the next 15 minutes, I am the Head Coach of the Green Bay Packers.  And, today, I am meeting with my future Hall of Fame quarterback - Aaron Rodgers.  We are going over game film, and we are using a new camera angle.  The camera is only focused on Aaron Rodgers face!  YEP!  That is it, his face!  Not the plays, not the defense, not the offensive line blocking!  We are watching the facial expression on Aaron's Mug!  What do I see?

1 - A smile

2 - A frown 

3 - A stare

4 - A shaking of the head

5 - A giggle

6 - Reading his lips, "I love gold!"

7 - A State Farm look

8 - A smirk

9 - A look of disgust

10 - A complicated, talented, intelligent, other comments about Aaron:

Josh Norman, Redskins cornerback, "That is pretty much like Gandalf the White(from Lord of the Rings) over there!  That's a wizard.  That's who is, to me."

Colin Cowherd, sports big mouth.  " When the going gets tough, Rodgers bails."                                        (I DO NOT like Cowerd!)

 Discussing Rodgers an unnamed player said, pertaining to the Rodgers & McCarthy issues, "That was a large cancer in the locker room.  It wasn't a secret."

I have always felt Aaron Rodgers is his own worse enemy.  Issues with his family & parents.  At age 37, many different women have entered & exited his life.  Issues with his coaches.  Issues with his teammates. and, as I pointed out, just watching him on the football field.

No one is perfect, Favre had his share of issues & did some crazy things.  Most people under the eye of today's media, social media, and all the other people digging for dirt, would have trouble staying normal! And, what is normal?  

All I know is as a leader, Aaron, even at age 37 is not perfect, even though, he probably thinks he is!

Packers Win! And, a Tale of Two Half!

 Jeckyl - Hyde

How does this happen?????  My Football Theory (From years of coaching, watching & common sense!)

1 - It happens in EVERY sport!  You see it all the time, golf, one day Dustin Johnson shoots a 65, next day a 75!  A basketball will hit almost every shot the first half, and then shoot bricks in the second half!  A baseball player will hit everything hard for a week, then, will not hit, "the broad side of a barn door!" So, as I said "It happens!"

2 - Sports & Consistency.  Good teams, good players, good coaches are consistent.  So, coaches.  Practice & consistent focus.  Players held accountable.  An aggressive mind set, play to win on every play, on every drive, every quarter, every game!  Run a play consistently!  Get ready for the games consistently!  Players - same concept!  Practice, games, 1st Half & 2nd half - FOCUS on being consistent!

3 - The Other Team?  They want to win toooooo!  You must match or top their intensity!  

4 - Are there plays or a defense that is a confidence builder?  Is their a player, or players that you have faith in?  Rodgers to Adams?  A matchup against an opponent that is a win?    Build on success!

5 -Use a timeout wisely?  Take a big breath & re-focus!  A confidence builder? A stupid joke to relax!  A player, instead of a coach to lead during the timeout?  

The Packers are 11-3.  The Packers have clinched the NFC North!  The Packers still have the BEST record in the NFC!  The Packers are in a GOOD place!

Now, a look at the Packer offensive drives!

1 - TD - 7 plays

2 - TD - 13 plays

3 - TD - 7 plays

4 - Punt - 7 plays

5 - Punt 4 plays & out

Half - Packers 21 - Panthers 3

6 - Punt - 3 & out

7 - Punt - 3 & out

8 - Punt - 4 & out

After 3rd Quarter - Packers 21 - Panthers 10

9 - FG - 10 plays

10 - Punt - 3 & out

11 - End of game!

End of Game - Packers 24 - Panthers 16

So, enjoy the moment!  

Go Pack Go!

Packers vs Panthers, Game #14 Still Means Everything!

 Yes, we are NFC Noth Champs.  Yes we are the NFC #1 Seed!  But, 3 games left and the Panthers are a team that fall into that dangerous group playing for pride!  Nothing to lose! Out of the Panthers 9 loses, 7 have been by one possession.  So, another game that the Packers MUST bring their "A" Game.

What to look for from the Packers viewpoint:

1 - Defense, specifically Packers defense against the rush!  It looks like RB, Christian McCafferey will not play, but the Panthers will still try to run the football!  Will we see a better front 7 stopping the rush?

2 - Panthers QB, Terry Bridgewater is completing 70% of the passes and is a threat to run the ball.  It would be really great to see 4-5 more sacks this week!

3 - Rodgers to Adams. This duo has really made everyone notice the efficiency & consistency of this passing threat!  Can this make other Packers receivers shine!  Tonyan at tight end is beginning to be noticed!  Lazard is healthy again.  Valdes-Scantling is making plays.  Newby, Tavon Austin needs to show his pick up a few weeks ago should be a smart one!

4 - Packer Running Game - Jones & Williams - over 150 yards.  December football NEEDS a running game!

5 - Special Teams.  Week to week, the Packer special teams have been an issue.  We have seen more consistent play, BUT, 1-2 big plays have hurt the Pack!  Special Teams Pride!  It is time for the Packers to become one the the NFL's top teams!

So, another game, and another NFL weekend that will have it's share of drama!

Packers BEAT the Panthers!

Packers Over Lions, 31-24 AND NFC North Champs!

 Packers fans, celebrate!

For the 7th time, in the last 10 years, the Packers are NFC North Champs!!

The Packers, with 3 games to go, are the top ranked team in the NFC.

Aaron Rodgers is still rolling.

Davante Adams is still catching TD passes.

Mason Crosby can still kick a 57 yard field goal!

And, the Packer defense does JUST enough to win!

So, celebrate! Enjoy the moment!

More to come for the rare Saturday game against the Panthers!

Packers 2020 

NFC North Champion!

The Final Quarter of the NFL Season - 4 More Games!

 The 2020 NFL Season!  As of today, the division leaders & teams in the hunt?

NFC North - Packers 9-3,  Vikings 6-6

NFC West - Rams 8-4, Seahawks 8-4,  Cardinals 6-6

NFC South - Saints 10-2, Bucs 7-5

NFC East - Giants 5-7, Washington - 5-7

AFC North - Steelers 11-1, Browns 9-3, Ravens 7-5

AFC West - Chiefs 11-1, Raiders 7-5

AFC South - Titans 8-4, Colts 8-4

AFC East - Bills 9-3, Dolphins 8-4, Patriots 6-6

Remember 7 teams make it from each conference, only one team, with the best record, will receive a bye on the first week of the playoffs!  So, a lot to play for in the last 4 games of the season!  COVID, injuries, and actual games will determine to playoff scenario!  So, keep the same focus, win the games ONE at a time!  This week?

Beat the Lions!

Packers Clip the Eagles Wings to Continue Race to the Playoffs!

 The better team won.  The better quarterback won.  The Packer stay focused!

If you follow this blog, you know what's coming.........Packer Drives - 10 of them.

1 - 3 & Out - Punt

2 - TD - Adams catch TD - Packers up 7-3

3 - TD - Tonyan TD catch - Packers up 14-3

4 - 3 & out - Punt

5 - TD - a 99 yard drive - 1st play - a BIG pass to Adams, then a nice finish - Packer up 20-3

6 - FG - Packers up 23-10

7 - 3 and out - PUNT

8 - 3 & out - PUNT

9 - TD - nice run by Aaron Jones - Packers up 30-16

10 - Kneel Down - Game Over

So, actually 5 scores in 9 drives for 30 points & NO turnovers

Issues on Special Teams?  Punt return for TD - cannot have this!

Rodgers & Adams continue to impress.  Running game finished well.  Defense had some BIG sacks on Eagle drives that came at just the right times!  Savage had nice interception at the end of the game!  

Next up - Detroit Lions!  Always a difficult game!

Packers at 9 wins & 3 losses - 3 games up in the NFC North - one game behind Saints for best record in the NFC.

GO PACK GO!

Packers vs Eagles, Another "Be Careful", And, "What to Watch?"

 The NFL Schedule is like navigating a WW2 Minefield!  You really never know what will happen on your next step!  The Eagles are an injured animal & VERY dangerous!

What to watch?

1 - Eagle running game vs Packer Defense.  Every week, Packers fans hold their breath!  Will the opposing team run the football down the throat of the Packer Defense?  Every Week!  This is NO different, last week, the Eagle top running back, Sanders, carried the ball 6 times!  I predict, Sanders will receive more of a workout!!!

2 - Eagle D-line vs Packers O-line.  This to me is the key to the outcome!  Protect AR, and give Jone & Williams the opportunity to rush for maybe 150 yards & 2 TD's?

3 - Physical Play. There are games where the Packers seem to lose the "toughness" factor?  The Eagles with punch you in the mouth!  Will the Packers punch back????

4 - Turnover battle!  Enough said!  The Packer D-backs need a couple interceptions against a struggling Eagle QB!

Packers vs Eagles!

Go Pack Go!