Something that is easy to lose sight of is how well the defense played today.

"Nonstopdrivel" wrote:

Cowher would atleast draft a GOOD running back and have a decent oline, instead our GM just worries about being the "youngest team in the league". I see just drafting the guys you want is working real well.

"packer98" wrote:

And what is it with Mike McCarthy in key moments? Aaron Rodgers gets his bell rung. The Packers, very appropriately, call a timeout so he can be evaluated on the sidelines. He returns to the line of scrimmage looking like a punchdrunk boxer trying to hold it together in the corner, and they go with five wide, empty backfield? Of course he gets slammed to the turf and is out for the remainder of the game. Why wouldn't they call a run in that first play to give Rodgers a chance to get his feet back under him? I suppose Mike McCarthy will tell us that they didn't get the replay with a clear view of his face until several plays later. Andrew Quarless deserves to be benched for his performance on that play alone. He didn't make the slightest attempt to block his man; he looked like he didn't even want to be on the field.

"Nonstopdrivel" wrote:

As for the offensive line, if our line coaching staff isn't summarily fired after that performance, it might be time to call into question the judgment of their superiors. I've been calling for their firing all season (the reduction in sacks notwithstanding), and this just confirms my conviction. Whether it's a lack of talent provided by Ted Thompson, which I doubt, or their inability to coach up the talent they have available, which I suspect, someone needs to take responsibility for the perpetual mediocrity and frequent ineptitude of this line. Rodgers has not shown any significant level of trust in his line in any game so far this season, and the primary reason for the reduction in sack numbers has been his own intrepid evasiveness, which ultimately failed him today. As I've said before, if Aaron Rodgers is lost for any significant period of time this season (by which I mean more than one or two games) due to a lack of protection by the line, the entire offensive coaching staff needs to go. And as far as I'm concerned, this is Ted Thompson's last year of grace in the draft. If this forthcoming draft doesn't SIGNIFICANTLY bolster the level of protection afforded Aaron Rodgers, the offensive scouting staff -- perhaps even Ted Thompson himself -- need to go, his apparently amazing ability to pull together unheralded defensive personnel notwithstanding. At the very least, Thompson should bring in someone dedicated to scouring the ranks for offensive line talent; preferably also an offensive line coach.

"Nonstopdrivel" wrote:

What I did not know until recently was that both of our O-line coaches (Campen and Fontenot) played Center at the pro level. Not saying that completely explains why our O-line seemingly struggles as a whole, but it is interesting that both our O-line coaches played the same position.

"all_about_da_packers" wrote:

I have a friend that is a big Falcons fan -- take that to mean he follows the team closely and knows football pretty well. He said the Falcons o-line coach that joined their team when Mike Smith came to town improved the unit seemingly over night. Can anyone name a single player offhand from that unit? Me neither. But it plays at an incredibly high level.

I think we need to continue to upgrade players, but feel even more strongly that Campen needs to go. It's just been a consistent weakness for too long.

"evad04" wrote: