A punishing pile of penalties
Infractions costing more than yards
By TOM SILVERSTEIN
tsilverstein@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Oct. 5, 2008
Green Bay - Some were questionable, most were not, but whatever the case, the Green Bay Packers are making life difficult for themselves with penalties.
Packers tackle Chad Clifton holds off Atlanta defensive end John Abraham in the first quarter at Lambeau Field.
After five games, only the Carolina Panthers (47) have been penalized more times than the Packers (44), who are on pace to commit 141 penalties, which would break the franchise single-season record of 135 set in 1987.
In their 27-24 loss to the Atlanta Falcons Sunday at Lambeau Field, the Packers committed nine more penalties for 97 yards and very well could have seen a completely different outcome had they been able to eliminate one or two of them.
Take away cornerback Pat Lees second-quarter pass interference penalty and the Packers would have forced a punt instead of allowing the Falcons to extend a drive that ended in quarterback Matt Ryans 22-yard touchdown pass to Roddy White.
Take away tight end Jermichael Finleys holding penalty on kicker Mason Crosbys 43-yard field goal and Crosby wouldnt have missed the subsequent kick from 53 yards.
Take away guard Allen Barbres fourth-quarter holding penalty and the Packers would have been facing third and 2 at their 43 instead of second and 20 at their 25.
And just to show how bad things really got, the Packers got the first down on the next play because of a Falcons penalty, but one play later, quarterback Aaron Rodgers was called for intentional grounding, which resulted in a 12-yard loss and a loss of down.
On the play after that, he threw an interception that soon sealed the Packers fate.
Were going to talk about it as a staff because the approach of how were addressing it and the way were practicing it, its not working, coach Mike McCarthy said. Anytime something happens five weeks in a row, thats a problem, and penalties have definitely been a problem throughout these first five games.
Of all the penalties, the Lee interference call was the most questionable. He appeared to get to the ball at the same time as White and knock it away cleanly, but the Packers are known for the physical play of their cornerbacks and often get away with contact opponents think is unjust.
It happened the same last week when they called a pass interference on myself and I had inside position, cornerback Charles Woodson said. It wasnt even the end zone referee that threw it, it was a line judge that would have to look through the receiver to even see me. A little lobbying by their bench and all of a sudden he throws the flag.
Receivers get away with murder. Thats the bottom line. Plays like that, the P-Lee play, a flag should have never been thrown.
The Packers have to take the blame for giving up the rest of the 69 yards of that touchdown drive, just as they do for Rodgers intentional grounding and Barbres hold. They greatly disputed Finleys holding call on Crosbys field-goal attempt, but then again, Crosby still had a chance to nail the second one from 53 yards.
On Finleys holding call, the Packers claimed it wasnt enough to constitute a penalty.
I disagree with it, Finley said. I think its B.S. The guy blitzed the inside gap. The outside guy came hard. I guess I fell back because I was trying to get the inside guy to close that off. Thats my first responsibility.
I tripped and went back and the guy on the opposite side of the field said I held him. I had my elbow in and hands up. It was just one of them calls.
Barbre said his penalty was one that could have gone either way. He didnt dispute that there might have been a hold and that he was at fault.
He said hed know better after seeing the play on tape.
I probably tossed him to the ground a little bit, said Barbre, who filled in when left tackle Chad Clifton was hurt and left guard Daryn Colledge had to move to tackle. But they were calling it today. You just have to live with it and make adjustments.
One of the areas McCarthy is going to have to examine closely is the holding infraction. The Packers had five of them against the Falcons, two of which occurred on special teams and the others on the offensive line.
McCarthy talked about his mission to improve fundamentals and limit the Packers penalties each week. He has his hands full trying to make this team play by the rules a little bit better.