I know the defense cost us a lot of games last year when we were unable to make critical stops late in games, but let's look at it from another direction.

Seven of our ten losses last year were by 4 points or less - exactly the difference between a touchdown and a field goal. If, just one time, in each of those games we could have managed to punch the ball in rather than settling for 3, we'd have won 5 more games outright (Falcons, Titans, Vikings, Texans and Bears) and gone to overtime against the Panthers and Jaguars.

How much of that is due to ineffective (read: conservative) playcalling?

Too many times this year, McCarthy has gotten too conservative too early, seemingly saying to himself, "Hmmm, a three-point lead is enough. Let's just run it from here on out."

OK, those probably weren't his exact thoughts, but he definitely switched from "attack" to "parry" once we had a lead. Philbin is the OC in name only, since we know that McCarthy does the playcalling. Do we need someone more capable at OC? Someone McCarthy trusts? Someone with more of a killer instinct?

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I would like to see Jeff Jagodzinsky brought back in some fashion.

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assistant head coach for offense perhaps

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Considering how weak our running game was this season, you can't fault McCarthy for making conservative calls--especially with a first-year QB behind center.

I don't care how great Aaron Rodgers was this season, he's still not a polished quarterback.

One of the reasons is that he still has yet to feel the rush. Granted, half of this is the offensive line's fault, but Rodgers hasn't really "made" plays. It's the receivers doing the work.

Favre had uncanny instincts and had the intelligence to change the play during the play. Sometimes, it led to interceptions, but most of the time--it led to defensive confusion.

McCarthy is making the same playcalls, but I have yet to see Rodgers really adjust to what's happening on the field. Eventually, over time, Rodgers will stop thinking on the field. He's the type of quarterback who hates to have his completion percentage below 70, but eventually he'll have to make more trust throws than smart throws.

All that can only be gained from experience.

As for the offense in general... I really think the Packers need a speed back. They haven't had that since Ahman Green was in his prime. I was really hoping we'd draft Steve Slaton last year, but that didn't happen.

I also wouldn't mind Ted Thompson attempting to trade for Tony Gonzalez again--especially since Carl Peterson is gone as GM.

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Actually, I'm fine with everything on our O except for the line. Beef up our line, and we should be able to take this O to the next level.

We have one of the best WR core in the NFL. Grant is an above average back. He started slowly, but picked up in the 2nd half of the season.

I'd rather have the offseason spent on beefing up our D.

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Eh I'd have to disagree. There were a pretty large number of times where Rodgers scrambled and made something happen when nothing was there - Far more often than I expected out of a first year starter. Do we forget the jump pass or the magic behind the back TD pass so quickly?

On offense, I'm fine with most everything. I'd like to see Brandon Jackson get more carries. I would like to see us try to transition towards the post-Clifton era (as much as that will suck). Give me a balanced offense with a healthy dose of play-action and I'm happy.

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Let me clarify. I think we're fine with the offensive players we've got (with the possible exception, as zombieslayer said, of our O-Line).

I was talking about coaching. If we'd had a more aggressive OC, one that went for the throat instead of protecting a lead, I think we would have won a lot more games.

Do we, in your opinion, need a real offensive coordinator?

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The problem with our offense when it comes to settling for 3 is the red zone rushing. We couldn't punch the ball in the endzone nomatter who was carrying it. I would like to see some statistics of how many 0 or negative yard runs we had in the red zone this year because it was bad. To win those 7 games by scoring TD's Rodgers would have basically had to end the season with around 35 passing TD's, I think that is quite a bit to ask.

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A few months ago, someone posted Aaron Rodgers 's red zone stats and they were off the charts. Taking a look at those stats, I was thinking "why the **** are we not putting the ball in Aaron's hands when we're in the RZ?"

So if the run isn't working in the RZ, screw it. Throw it in. Aaron doesn't turn the ball over. We have the receiving corps to do it. Donald Driver is The Man at 4 yard receptions. Let's utilize our strengths.

I don't think Mike McCarthy was aggressive in the RZ enough in '08.

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Here is my take on the offense.. if there is a place of scrutiny it would have to be the offensive line and more notably the run blocking.

We haven't seen much development in terms of growth along the line.. We have only seen really Spitz improve over the term of Mike McCarthy and company.

We have seen a struggling Colledge playing out of a natural position and little growth from him as a guard. Albeit, in his stints as a tackle, improvement from day one to now is very notable.

We have seen Wells remain steady but less than ideal arm length and extension... but he hasn't improved and has plateaued so to speak.

You have Barbre, an athletic player that looks to have all the qualities to play in this league, but hasn't improved enough to secure much playing time.

Moll hasn't taken much of a step forward since his rookie season..

We have churned through Witticker, White, Coston whom have stuck around and failed to take a hold and improve.

That isn't a very healthy track record of developing successfully within.. position coaches there, IMO, should have been evaluated heavily and maybe a change made accordingly. Spitz, Moll and Colledge got extensive playing time and should be farther along IMO then they currently are.

Always next year to shine though. 😉

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