Do you think they will lean on Musgrave to do similar to what Kraft was able to do? Or, do you think with Watson back and getting back into it, that they will go more to him now?
Musgrave and Kraft are not the same player. The coaches know what Musgrave does best and will work to put him in position to utilize those strengths.
Somehow I can’t shake the image of you as Bob Uecker and Wes as Skip Griparis up in the booth. We is currently sauced on Root Beer. Let’s get that reversed.
I have a problem with losing to bad teams like this, especially with the Bears and Lions so close behind in the division. How can we fix this? To me it seems like we can handle “good” teams like the Lions and Steelers but not bad teams like the Browns or even the Panthers.
The Packers lost two games they shouldn’t. Not gonna lie there. But every team goes through this. The Bears two weeks ago lost to a backup QB in Baltimore. The Lions just lost at home to the 3-4 Vikings whose QB had a long layoff. The Steelers lost to the Packers and then beat the AFC team with the top record, the Colts. The Packers aren’t the only team that goes through stuff like this.
Mike, hopefully Colby Wooden makes it back this week. He’s seemed to have played very well this season, and I think his absence certainly didn’t help the team’s run defense in the second half against the Panthers.
I don’t know how significant that was vs. the run in that particular game, because the Panthers’ run game was pretty steady all day. But Wooden is definitely playing his best football in Year 3. His development has been a boost to the defense this year.
Why can other teams make the short game work and the Pack can’t?
The Packers have made it work, they just haven’t been able to finish drives. They’ve hurt themselves in the red zone, and it’s various players who have flubbed up. It takes focus and discipline to execute a 12 or 14-play drive all the way for a TD. That’s a step this offense needs to take.
Any thoughts on the YouTubeTV/ESPN holdout? I’d imagine that could affect your in-game blog participation if nothing else.
Hadn’t thought of that. I guess we’ll see.
I will say losing a couple of winnable games and beating playoff caliber teams like Lions and Steelers does feel better than going 0-6 vs. Lions, Vikings, and Eagles last year.
The Packers have shown what they’re capable of, and I think they’re capable of more. Not sure we ever really saw it last year because, as noted, they didn’t beat any of the contenders in front of them.
The first two games of the season our defense looked like they were flying around swarming to the ball. Since then it has looked different. Is that due to the result or has something changed.
Offenses have gone to the quick passing game to counter the pass rush. They aren’t taking many 7-step drops and scanning the field. Opponents’ yards per pass is really low, among the lowest in the league, and the point totals reflect that. The issue on defense has been the leaks vs. the run the past couple games. Shore those up and the rest should follow.
The short passing game is basically an extension of the run game. Can the Packers get better at just taking what the defense is giving them?
They have to. Defenses aren’t going to let Love just drop back and pick them apart downfield. The Packers’ level of execution with the short/quick game in the red zone has to improve, as well as the run game down there. The best RZ teams run the ball well in the RZ.
Great question by Jason. Here is a variation on the same question. Are the Packers trying to dial up any plays (Like they did with Willis) that are high probability one-offs? Or with Love at the helm have they abandoned that notion for the standard playbook where everything builds off itself? I think there is room in the playbook for both.
There are concepts in every game plan that are based on the opponent and the defensive looks they expect to get.
On that 4th and 8 scramble, on TV it looked like Love might have been able to run for it. Did you see that?
No. There were defenders making their way back to that side of the field and he had no shot to get to the first-down marker.
How much of a defensive gameplay is chalked up to “this guy is going to get his, so let’s limit everyone else”, as opposed to limiting the stud’s impact?
That can be a defense’s plan sometimes. That’s not how defenses have dealt with GB, not that I’ve seen.
When a sack fumble becomes a 4 yard gain for the offense, you know it’s not your day.
Valid point. That was a tough break. Funny shaped ball can bounce funny.
Think Micah Parsons is going to be revved up for this one against the Eagles after no pressures last week? I wouldn’t be surprised if he still hasn’t left Lambeau after Sunday’s game.
He’s as familiar with that opponent as anyone, if not more so. I don’t know how frustrated he is, though, if that’s what you mean. The Panthers only tried 20 passes, and I bet on at least a dozen of them the ball was out in less than 2 seconds. That’s not a lot of opps to get to the QB.
I’d love to see this team with their hats on fire on Monday night like they were in the home opener against Detroit.
I think we all would. A game like last Sunday can bring that out of a team. I’ve seen it before.
Is it possible to have too many plays in the playbook? If there’s less to think about, fewer mental errors and better execution? You still have to beat the guy in front of you, right?
A game plan is nowhere near as big as the entire playbook. They pick and choose and those are the plays they practice.
Just saying hi. Spoff. I logged on late and I’ll go back to read the full chat. Just wanted to give you & Wes an attaboy(s) for handling the angst this week. Jennifer from Middleton
Watson still have a concusion, Mike?
He was never in the protocol. He got checked out and came back into the game.
Late to the chat. If we could only fix one problem area what would you choose to focus on?
Sometimes when you believe you’re the better team (nobody has to say it) it’s hard to get fired up, and you get outworked. Usually one of those wakeup calls is enough.
Let’s hope. As I said in Inbox this morning, I don’t equate Carolina to Cleveland. Cleveland was two really disastrous plays that cost you a win. Carolina was an all-around stinker of a performance.
There aren’t going to be bad teams in the playoffs. Just get there!
I have a good feeling coach matt will game plan for Musgrave effectively; might be game dependant, but I like the upside of Musgrave’s capabilities as a receiver.
The Packers will make defenses account for Musgrave and then see how that looks. The QB will have his progressions.
Which two teams have beaten the Eagles this year?
The Broncos and Giants. Then the Eagles beat the Giants two weeks after they lost to them. They blew a 17-point fourth quarter lead in losing to Denver at home.
Thanks for another chat, Mike. Take care.
You should probably wrap it up , Mike
Yeah, I see I’ve gone a full hour. No practice or press conference to get to today, so I wasn’t even watching the clock. Thanks everybody, enjoy the rest of your week. Talk again soon. Best, Spoff
