Green Bay Coming out of the exhibition season, the Green Bay Packers' offense looked primed to challenge the New Orleans Saints for supremacy in the points race.

The No. 1 offense scored touchdowns on nine of its 13 possessions, averaged 20 points in the first half of its four games and ran for a healthy 4.2 yards per carry. The Packers' top four receivers averaged 18.4 yards a reception, and tight end Jermichael Finley looked like a star in waiting with two touchdown catches.

And most encouraging, quarterback Aaron Rodgers wasn't sacked once and finished with a passer rating of 147.9, just 10.4 points off the highest possible mark.

Four games into the regular season, the Packers don't resemble that offense much.

Rodgers has a fine passer rating of 101.1 and has thrown only one interception, the running game is averaging 4.2 yards per carry and the receivers are averaging an NFL-high 14.3 yards per catch. But statistics don't win division titles, victories do, and the Packers have cheated themselves out of possibly two more than they have because their offense can't get in the end zone.

"We're not a real consistent, efficient offense when you watch us on a film," offensive coordinator Joe Philbin said last week. "What are we averaging, 340 yards of offense, top half of the league? But it's not real pretty. Monday morning is the litmus test for a coach and it hasn't been great watching the tape.

"There are a lot of teams that don't have 340 yards of offense, but I don't know (what that means). We have to get better."

Philbin said the conclusion that he and the other offensive coaches have come to coming off the bye week is that the problem isn't isolated to one area. The protection has been horrible as evidenced by the league-high 20 sacks allowed, but a number of those have been Rodgers' fault and some have come because the Packers don't have a consistent rushing attack.

So where to start?

Quarterback: [ul]There's a raging debate among fans and media about how responsible Rodgers is for the number of sacks allowed.

Some think Rodgers is afraid to unload the ball unless a receiver is wide open and consequently is holding the ball too long. Others think he doesn't have enough time to even look for a receiver, let alone find one who's reasonably open.

The coaches tend to treat Rodgers with kid gloves publicly, probably because he's in only his second year as a starter and they don't want to ruin his confidence. But even coach Mike McCarthy admitted Rodgers held the ball too long in the 30-23 loss to Minnesota, making it clear that his game plan called for much quicker releases.

By their estimate, the coaches say Rodgers has been responsible for about five of the 20 sacks, but it could be argued based on film review that the number is as high as 6 or 7. That's a pretty high number and one you'd think the coaches would be hell-bent on changing.

But in his comments this week, Rodgers said he didn't plan on changing anything in his approach and would remain patient in the pocket. Perhaps because of the long completions he had the first three weeks and the success he had scrambling against St. Louis the week before, he lost perspective against Minnesota and feels he's back on point.

Whatever the case, the Packers say he knows the plan.

"We're trying to promote a rhythm, timing passing game," quarterbacks coach Tom Clements said. "We're going to take our shots when they're available. Aaron understands that. He's working to accomplish that."[/ul]

Offensive line: [ul]It could be argued that the Packers made a mistake not preparing rookie T.J. Lang to be left tackle Chad Clifton's backup, thereby avoiding the disaster they faced with left guard Daryn Colledge moving to the position.

But like most other teams, the Packers were concerned Lang didn't have long enough arms to be a long-term solution there and worked him at guard and right tackle in training camp. After taking over for Colledge against the Vikings, he performed admirably and enters this week as Clifton's backup.

"I'm glad we moved him around," offensive line coach James Campen said. "I think it made him more rounded. It's been a benefit to him because he's learned (so much). Without that, he would have been looking at just one thing."

The bottom line is that the Packers were not prepared for the loss of Clifton, who at age 33 was coming off two surgeries to his knees and two to his shoulders. General manager Ted Thompson did not provide McCarthy with a veteran backup and paid the price for it.

Campen doesn't buy that the collapse of the line - charged with at least half the sacks allowed - was inevitable after Clifton injured his ankle because he thinks there is enough talent to fill the gap.

"You should be able to (recover)," Campen said. "Whenever you lose a starter, it hurts a little bit, but guys are trained to play. And we need to do that. I'm not going to make excuses for any of it."

Thompson may have made amends of a sort by signing veteran right tackle Mark Tauscher last week. Not only does it give McCarthy an option if starter Allen Barbre doesn't get his act together, it places someone with proven leadership skills into the group.

Tauscher isn't the most vocal player, but he does things the right way, can identify things in the middle of a game that others might not be able to see and can set a standard for playing fundamentally sound that maybe hasn't been established.

"If it's taking one more note or doing one more thing after practice or doing something different in the weight room, that's a bonus for sure," Campen said.[/ul]

Running backs: [ul]The third-quarter drive that ended on downs at the Minnesota 1 is a microcosm of the season thus far for the backs.

On second and 14 at the 25, Ryan Grant caught a screen and rumbled 20 yards but couldn't get in the end zone. On the next play, he ran 4 yards to the 1, but he couldn't get in the end zone. On the next play, fullback John Kuhn let linebacker Chad Greenway drop him short of the goal line.

"You have to finish," running backs coach Edgar Bennett said. "You look at a number of those plays, any one of those plays, get the ball in the end zone and the outcome is different. You get that opportunity, you have to make the most of it. That's the bottom line."

McCarthy bears part of the blame, running the ball only 39% of the time, but the production from Grant has been suspect. He is averaging 3.8 yards per rush and hasn't had a run longer than 17 yards. An ankle injury to backup Brandon Jackson has made it easier for opponents to zero in on Grant, but it's clear the Packers expect more from him and others.

"We're looking for better finish in all areas, blocking, running, everything," Bennett said. "If it's a one-on-one battle, you have to make the most of that. Same can be said for breaking tackles and keep accelerating your feet, full contact, and run it through. It's everything, it's everyone."[/ul]

Receivers and tight ends: [ul]Drops have been the biggest problem, a whopping 15 of them.

Donald Driver has four, Jordy Nelson has three, James Jones has two, Greg Jennings, Finley and Donald Lee have one each. Whether its concentration, eagerness to run with the ball or intimidation from defenders, it has become an epidemic.

There's no telling how many yards the Packers have lost as a result of the drops, but they certainly have hurt the rhythm of the offense. Aside from catching the ball more reliably, the receivers showed how talented they are when they piled up close to 250 yards after the catch against the Vikings.

"We're looking for things we can improve on," receivers coach Jimmy Robinson said. "We're no different than any other room down the hall. We all have to take care of our own backyard first. We have to block more effectively, we have to run better routes, there's always improvement areas."[/ul]