Bob from Cedar Rapids, IA
I hope the Packers are out of silver platters on which to hand games to opponents.
Amen to that. Depressingly, this season is becoming defined as much by the Packers finding ways to lose games they have no business losing (Cleveland, Carolina, second Chicago) as by them looking like the title contenders they were rightly touted to be (Detroit x2, Pittsburgh, first Chicago). They haven’t won any games they have no business winning because they’re legitimately a good team that doesn’t play so badly it needs some crazy miracle. But the rollercoaster is running out of track. Whichever way it turns next is probably the last turn.
Once again, the Packers fail in a big moment. I’m going to say it must be the coaching. I think it’s time for a change.
I understand the sentiment, and it’s a common submission to read. If you’ll indulge a long answer, those looking to place blame in the most simplistic fashion need to understand in a meltdown like that, the blame lies everywhere. No one gets absolution, and I think different areas fall on coaches and players, while some fall on both. Going 1-for-9 in the red zone the last two weeks, with several plays that just didn’t look crisp, is a planning/preparation/play-calling issue. That’s where the coaching needs to be better, because too many opportunities are getting away lately to not redouble efforts after being largely successful in that area most of the season. When it comes to individual moments involving veteran, accomplished players, they and they alone have to own the mistake. One of the league’s top running backs fumbling inside the 5-yard line on first-and-goal is not on LaFleur, it’s on Josh Jacobs. The receiver with the best hands on the team not doing what he’s coached, and backing up rather than attacking an onside kick, is not on Bisaccia, it’s on Romeo Doubs. Last but not least, there are times it falls both ways. Two experienced cornerbacks, who have seen some version of a basic, hitch-corner route combo in the red zone plenty in their careers, can’t bust the coverage. But it clearly needs to be coached better if Keisean Nixon and Nate Hobbs can’t communicate and execute in a big spot. So, to summarize, the coaching shortcomings in one offensive area overshadowed an otherwise impressive coaching job under trying circumstances; individual miscues by players being counted on because they’ve been there, done that, overshadowed a lot of good football by all involved; and in the game’s biggest gotta-have-it moment, neither the playing nor coaching was good enough. Bottom line, it’s on everybody.
Just my random 2 cents here, but I thought that was one of LaFleur’s and Hafley’s better called/coached games. A few quibbles (of course) but they had good game plans, made adjustments on the fly, took measured gambles, had the penalties under control, and overall masked our injury situation admirably. But none of that matters when players stop executing the basics. We didn’t even need to “make a play,” just make the play in front of us. Not sure how to fix that, though.
Right, that’s the mystery and frustration, and kudos on the succinctness I don’t possess today.
You won’t like this question, but it has to be asked. And I hope you have the courage to answer it. How do you feel about MLF’s attempt at saying special teams are good? He is gaslighting the media and the fans into believing we aren’t seeing what we are seeing. To me, it feels as if he is lying to himself and blaming the fans for it. What say you?
I understand the distinction he’s drawing between “singular plays” (blocked/missed/onside kicks) and the overall performance of the return and coverage units. A few plays can indeed leave a “black cloud” over everything. But in discussing the overall picture, he seemed to neglect the high number of penalties that have damaged field position time and again. Those can’t be ignored. As an aside, to continue my thread above about fault, coaches vs. players or both … to me, protection breakdowns on kicks are shared, whereas man vs. ball (onside kick in open field, or missed kick with clean operation) is player.
Merry Christmas, Chicago! We hope you like the gift we gave you! And that is the heartbreaking thing. Our critical errors are costing us games. On a brighter Christmas note, kudos to Malik Willis for continuing to be the gift that keeps on giving! If Jordan Love isn’t able to play, I’m glad Malik will have the opportunity to showcase his talents. Mike and Wes, I also appreciate the honest assessments you present in both the gameday live blog and the game recap articles.
Appreciate the kind words. I can’t say enough about how Willis performed, which is why I focused on him in my Rapid Reaction piece. Given the opponent, the stakes and the stage, that was the best performance by a Packers backup QB I’ve ever witnessed. He never should’ve been taking a fourth-and-1 OT snap to ruin his night.
I’ve been watching the news and still haven’t heard anything about why Josh Jacobs wasn’t in the game after he fumbled. Is there any update I’ve missed? BTW, I still hate onside kicks.
LaFleur made it sound as though he deferred to position coach Ben Sirmans on playing time, and they were simply riding the hot hand. Emanuel Wilson was really running hard and keeping the Bears on their heels.
