"4PackGirl" wrote:

Yep.. we moved the ball all game long. And we hung a L for our trouble.

Now.. if we could effectively run the ball.. toward the end, instead of incomplete pass after incomplete pass stopping the clock.. we could have placed a run or two in there, milked the clock a bit more and finished the game without giving them an opportunity or a limited one at best.

Remember, we are sitting on their on their 21 with over 2 minutes to go.. a run or two puts the clock near the 0 mark.

But that is right.. we don't need to run the ball in situations.. we can just move it via the pass with no time expiring.

Clock management is over rated I guess.

Situational football.. we can't run and it takes elements out of our disposal.

BTW... +1 for your breakdown.. even if I disagree that we need to be able to run the ball effectively to maximize our options in games, games where we don't get another opportunity to correct it for next week.

"pack93z" wrote:

It's not the freaking turf or the weather or Jackson or the Oline. We lost these games by 3 points each because of one or two plays that didn't go our way. Quite honestly I think you can put more on our pass offense for not clicking the way it should have been in the first three losses. This last one with both teams so close in talent it was the one goal line turnover that did us in.

"warhawk" wrote:

If you rewind the tape and look at the two plays that doomed the Packers in their 20-17 loss Sunday, the problem was a pathetic effort up front.

Short-yardage failures
Coaches constantly preach that especially in big games, the outcome usually is decided by one or two plays. Others might call that baloney. But coaches say that because its true. The two plays that beat the Packers were the third-and-1 play at the Atlanta 4-yard line before their field goal, and Aaron Rodgers failed sneak on second-and-2 on the play before his fumble. That was 11 points off the board right there.

On the first one, Dimitri Nance was stopped for no gain when the defensive tackle submarined Daryn Colledge and knocked him two yards deep in the backfield. As a result, Quinn Johnson, the lead blocker, tripped over Colledge and didnt block anybody, and Nance had to cut earlier than he wanted with two guys lying in front of him. Thats the defenses first priority in that situation: Force the running back off track. Even a high school lineman in those situations knows what the defense is going to do. But Colledge couldnt get his pads underneath his man.

On the second one, the defensive lineman, Peria Jerry, was on one knee at the snap. Youd think with a guy on his knee, the blocker would lead with his shoulder pad into the defenders facemask and drill him onto his back so Rodgers could walk into the end zone. But Jerry fired off and got underneath Colledge. That was inexcusable.

On both of those plays, it all came down to pad level.

Failure of the running game
The Packers didnt run the ball because they couldnt run the ball.

Brandon Jackson is an I-formation back, and the Packers obviously decided they couldnt get it done running out of the I. They lined up in a shotgun on 39 of 59 offensive plays. After their first two possessions, they ran out of a five-wide receiver set on 14 of 48 plays. Youre not going to effectively run the ball in those formations.

To run the ball, you need either a superior run blocking line or a great running back, and the Packers have neither. They didnt have it with Grant; they dont have it without him. Granted, Grant was better at running stretch plays and zones. But look at his numbers last year. He had three 100-yard games and six where he gained 51 yards or less.

I am not crying over spilled milk here.

It is all about the fact that having an effective running game increases your ability to maximize yourself in game situations..

And this is not some issue that just arrived upon the scene.

We have known we have issues for the majority of the season, yet we have done little to address it.

They didn't acquire another back, so that means they feel they have the answers upon the team.

Fine.. then execute it.. because sooner or later in the course of a season you are going to need to run.. and I will guarantee this will not be the last time we need to be able to run.

To me, it comes down to a emphasis on running the ball... and that comes down from the coaching staff down. Even when Grant was here, we have seen Mike McCarthy abandon the run.

Looking at our close game record, I am willing to say it isn't working.

Basically.. it isn't about whom.. it is about wanting to run, working at it via repetition and becoming effective at it. More of a mindset than a question of whom.

Last year people were complaining about Grant.. calling for Jackson.. why not calling for change in our core principles to understand we have to be able to run in game situations to maximize our odds of winning.

I love our explosive offense.. don't want that abandoned.. but damn it, we can't forget about the root elements of the game.

But Mike McCarthy says he isn't worried.. the same guy that tells the morons not to worry about balance. ;)

"pack93z" wrote:

FYI - That "morons" comment was directed at the media, not at anyone at PH. I've always thought the media were morons and Mike McCarthy apparently feels the same way as he talks complete gibberish to them.

"zombieslayer" wrote:

Oh I know.. had to chuckle yesterday when Mike McCarthy muttered that he is not concerned about the running game in his presser.. and talked about the rationale for passing every down.. he is just feeding the morons.

Again there are a ton of ways we can beat the final five.. I truly hope we establish some semblance of a running game along the way. Because we are going to need it.

"pack93z" wrote:

I respect where you're coming from, Pack. However, I respectfully disagree. I believe in doing what they can't stop.

"zombieslayer" wrote:

I love our explosive offense.. don't want that abandoned.. but damn it, we can't forget about the root elements of the game.

And this much I know.. Rodgers and the passing game is not the problem.. that is a damn fine unit and Aaron himself is one hell of a QB.. he is a much better QB than his record indicates at this point.