I am still trying to figure out why Randall Cobb isn't utilized in the same way or close to the way Seattle utilizes Percy Harvin. Motion, play-action, fake hand-offs, reverses etc etc. If he isn't getting open by running regular, off-the-line routes then change it up. Motion him out of the backfield...DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT!!! And with that said, Cobb shouldn't be blanketed by a street free agent...ever. That's pathetic.
Rodgers has been off pretty much all season and we can all sit here and make up reasons, some being ridiculous (like the fans blaming Olivia Munn-- for real) but no one has any real idea as to why. Seems as a whole group, nothing is clicking so to put the finger on one thing would be a mistake. He's human and he is going to make these mistakes...the problem is, why so many? He's going to under/over throw a receiver here and there. He does hold onto the ball too long and I've said this since week 1, he looks like he is shell shocked in the pocket. He drops back for a pass and you can just see the hesitation in everything he is doing back there. Lately, he won't have a defender within 3 yards of him and he is already preparing for something bad to happen. He's been indecisive.
Why?
I might be alone in this thought but with Bulaga back, I think the offensive line is fine. As mentioned, it has been worse. Rodgers has time to throw the ball. I'm not going to comment much on the run-blocking because aside from Sitton, this has never been much of a run-blocking line. Put it up against three of the top five run defenses and its going to look worse than it does. It will get better with the upcoming opponents.
Even though the Packers have played against three of the top five run defenses, Lacy has to be better. Simple way to fix this...call better plays for him. We have a runningback that can break the first tackle a majority of the time. Why in the hell is that shotgun toss play constantly being called for Lacy? Run north and south, smashmouth run plays for the guy and let him drop his hulk-like shoulder. Enough of this finesse bullshit where he has to dance around looking for an opening.
Maybe, just maybe this offense misses the likes of James Jones and Jermichael Finley. As much as some would like to discredit Finley, he did things for this offense that none of the current tight ends can...draw attention. The tight ends are below average. The Packers receivers aren't that good. Outside of Jordy and Cobb (when used appropriately), they have an average Boykin and a rookie in Adams. This isn't to say Adams won't be good...he's just raw. Having a James Jones presence yesterday would have made the Lions defense adjust instead of double-covering Nelson all game. There was no one to draw that double-coverage attention away and this trend will continue.
McCarthy needs to relinquish all play calling responsibility. Its awful, its predictable and it is just making matters worse.
Defense actually looked better and you'd expect a Packers win when they hold a team to 10 points. But, when is the last time we have witnessed the defense AND offense click in the same game? There are still some issues I saw with the defense yesterday and that was the constant mismatches that continued throughout the game-- linebackers in coverage against Reggie Bush. Out-coached, no changes made. It became pretty clear that any time Bush trailed out, the ball was going to him and the Packers never had an answer.
I don't want to harp on the defense though because they held a dangerous offense to only 10 points, which no one really expected to happen.
I love the play of Lattimore. Its night and day compared to Brad Jones.
Peppers was good yesterday and what he did was expected of him (he played against a 3rd stringer).
I think Tramon has been awesome the entire season and that was a BS DPI called on him yesterday.
HaHa got his first interception and broke the two year drought of safety interceptions. He's going to be good for the Packers defense in the coming years.
Sorry, that was longer than I expected. Frustrating Monday. (Go Jets)