I am not a professional football player. I have never been and never will be. Nor have I ever been a professional coach (never got paid for it). But, I am a Historian and I know how to analyze stuff for what it's worth.
2007 was our best season with MM coaching. We went 14-4 and were a FG in OT away from the SB. Personally, I think we could have beaten the Patriots that year. We had a complete team and a lot of hunger. Just, not as much hunger as the Giants had.
In 2007, our O was MM's version of the WCO. It worked well. It kept us on the field and the opposing D off the field. We racked up lots of fantasy points for passing, but our running game was #21 (to which I say "we don't need no stinking running game.")
One thing that we all know the WCO does well is it sets up our WRs in a position to get YAC - yards after completion. If you have athletic WRs, which we do, you want to give them opportunities to catch the ball and run with it at full blast, just like Montana/Young to Rice.
It is 2010 now. Like 2007, we had a mediocre OL. Heck, MM teams have always had mediocre OLs. Didn't stop the '07 team though. Why? Because by the time defenses broke through the line, Driver, Jennings, or Jones was already running with the football.
The 2010 MM has evolved away from the WCO. We now try harder to set up the "big play." Heck, I like the long ball more than probably anyone else on this board, but you have to play to our strengths. Our OL sucks too much to set it up without a little bit of trickery (like we did in 2007).
Our top 3 WRs in 2007 are still our top 3 WRs today. Let's take a look.
Donald Driver
Year YAC YPG YPC
2007 5.3 69.9 12.8
2008 4.9 63.3 13.7
2009 5.2 66.3 15.2
2010 2.6 55.2 11.0
2007 7.4 70.8 17.4
2008 4.8 80.8 16.2
2009 7.0 69.6 16.4
2010 2.2 36.6 13.1
2007 4.7 42.3 14.4
2008 3.1 27.4 13.7
2009 6.1 27.5 15.2
2010 4.6 35.4 11.0
So as you can see, besides James Jones, the YAC has dropped off considerably. This needs to be fixed.
MM - loved you in 2007. You called some great games that year. Why break away from your strengths? Our OL sucks. It's not going to magically get better this year. Aaron Rodgers doesn't have the time to set up the deep ball. He's taking hits and already had his first concussion of the year.
Let's seriously consider going back to 2007. I know you want the deep ball. I do too. But the deep ball, you have to set up. You can't just want it.
You got 3 tremendous YAC WRs. Use them accordingly. When opposing Ds are getting burned for first down after first down and our Rodgers led offense starts getting in a rhythm, that's when you throw the deep ball.
My man Donald Driver
(thanks to Pack93z for the pic)
2010 will be seen as the beginning of the new Packers dynasty. 🇹🇹 🇲🇲 🇦🇷