Zero2Cool
14 years ago
At season's halfway point, Green Bay Packers more upbeat than same time last year 

A year ago, the Green Bay Packers were sitting at the .500 mark halfway through their regular-season schedule and were coming off one of the worst losses of coach Mike McCarthys tenure, falling at previously winless Tampa Bay.

The next day, Packers President Mark Murphy publicly expressed disappointment in the way the first half of the season went and put the onus on McCarthy and General Manager Ted Thompson to turn things around.

Theyre only one game better at the midway point of this season, but after Sundays 9-0 road victory at the New York Jets and given the circumstances surrounding this season, theres a different feeling around Lambeau Field.

McCarthy was unusually jovial in his Monday news conference and while Murphy declined to discuss the season, saying through a team spokesman that he preferred to leave that to the general manager, Thompson praised McCarthy and his staff for weathering a wave of injuries yet still keeping the teams championship hopes alive.

I think hes (held the team together) the way hes always done it, Thompson said. I think the coaching staff does a great job of being focused on whats next, and they have a good eye for the big picture. But in the NFL, youve got to get ready for the next play. Thats what we do. Thats what they do a great job of, and I think thats what the players do.

At 5-3, the Packers have a half-game lead over Chicago (4-3) in the NFC North and are tied with New Orleans for the fourth-best record in the NFC behind Atlanta, Tampa Bay and the New York Giants (all tied at 5-2). Halfway through last season, the Packers were tied for the eighth-best record in the NFC.

Last season, McCarthy said he rallied the team to an 11-5 finish and a wild-card playoff berth by sticking to his principles and staying consistent with his approach. That had to be especially challenging this season after losing 10 players, including five starters, to season-ending injuries.

Thompson has had to shuffle the roster, while McCarthy and his assistants have had to spend more time teaching schemes to new players, something normally reserved for training camp. Last week alone, Thompson acquired four new players two off waivers and two off the street. All but one played against the Jets. Defensive lineman Howard Green played nearly half the snaps, and linebacker Erik Walden played on some key third down snaps.

Between the final roster cuts on Sept. 4 and the eighth game, Thompson and his personnel staff have been busy. They have signed five street free agents, promoted two players from the practice squad, claimed two off waivers and made one trade. Through eight games last season, they had signed three free agents and promoted one from the practice squad.

Youre always doing the work and preparing, and (scouts) Reggie (McKenzie) and Eliot (Wolf) and Tim (Terry) and those guys do a great job, Thompson said, Theyre always comparing lists and scenarios and things like that. Its rare that we have to go through so many different scenarios, but its part of the process.

If the make-or-break point of last season came following the loss to the Buccaneers, perhaps this year it came after the consecutive overtime losses at Washington on Oct. 10 and home against Miami seven days later. Since then, the Packers have come up with masterful defensive performances to beat Minnesota with a stop on the Vikings final drive and shut out the Jets, who came into the game tied for the best record in the NFL. Almost no one in the state press or national media picked the Packers to win in New York.

We appreciate the negative stories, so if you can keep that up, thats always helpful, McCarthy said with a smile. Its all part of our business. Its important to stack successes. The hardest thing to handle in my opinion in the NFL is handling success, and by no means do I think winning two games is a success. But its definitely in the right direction, and that will be part of our language this week when we get together as a football team.

Much like his even-keeled general manager, McCarthy didnt spend much time being introspective on Monday. Theres one more game, Sunday night at home against the struggling Dallas Cowboys, before the much-anticipated bye week. Theyre not going to get the 10 players on injured reserve back this season, but the bye should allow some ailing players to heal for the stretch run.

There are things to fix, too, during the bye. Priority number one likely will be figuring out whats holding back what was expected to be an explosive offense.

Weve been fighting through a tough spot, McCarthy said. To go on the road into New York, very pleased with particularly our defense and our special teams. Its definitely something we can build on. Our approach moving forward is its a seven-day season.


UserPostedImage
Fan Shout
wpr (1h) : yooper
Zero2Cool (1h) : next is create topic from headline
Zero2Cool (1h) : new site has recent topics and headlines now
buckeyepackfan (1h) : Micah wearing #1, Packers offered it to him. Curly only one to wear #1
Zero2Cool (2h) : Micah said he told Rasheed he's gonna get some practice. LT1 yeah?
Zero2Cool (3h) : Patriots release Jabrill Peppers Before 2025 Season
Mucky Tundra (3h) : yooper!
Zero2Cool (4h) : Never. But gonna be looking different in few days :D
yooperfan (5h) : Whew, I got it back. I was afraid that I lost this site for good.
Zero2Cool (6h) : Harrisburg Packers
Mucky Tundra (6h) : Yes
Zero2Cool (6h) : No.
dfosterf (7h) : The man carried us a lot of the time
dfosterf (7h) : I think a Kenny Clark tribute is in order
Zero2Cool (15h) : new site, text editor gooder even on phone
beast (15h) : Oh yes, sometimes they make using a cellphone tough. I just wanted to make sure it was the correct article, & thank you for pointing it out.
jdlax (17h) : I can't believe one of my teams went out and wablammo just up and acquired one of the best players in the world overnight
dfosterf (21h) : I do very much appreciate when Beast and others pick up my slack 😊
dfosterf (21h) : I accept Beast's admonishment regarding my failure to link stuff I reference. I simply never learned to link from my cell phone.
beast (22h) : That's not what your she said 😌, she said keep going 😏
Mucky Tundra (29-Aug) : Anything over 4 hours means he needs to get to the hospital
Mucky Tundra (29-Aug) : Someone might want to check on Hafley and make sure his erection has gone down
Zero2Cool (28-Aug) : LaFleur texts "bleep me I cannot sit down"
Zero2Cool (28-Aug) : YouTube has had me last hour or two lol
Mucky Tundra (28-Aug) : Ugh this trade happened right as my shift started and it's killing me
Zero2Cool (28-Aug) : Parsons wore 23 in high school.
Zero2Cool (28-Aug) : Packers just cost Lions more money with Hutchinson too huh
Zero2Cool (28-Aug) : That is fair by me.
buckeyepackfan (28-Aug) : Kenny Clark is the player, 2 1st rnd picks
Zero2Cool (28-Aug) : umm... what?
wpr (28-Aug) : I am stunned
Mucky Tundra (28-Aug) : RICKEY SCOOPS WAS RIGHT AGAIN!!!
Mucky Tundra (28-Aug) : ITS HAPPENING
buckeyepackfan (28-Aug) : DEAL IS DONE
buckeyepackfan (28-Aug) : MICAH IS COMING TO GREEN BAY!!!!!!!!!
wpr (28-Aug) : Me do-ed it gooderly,
Zero2Cool (28-Aug) : Bahah, I was like WTF why isn't anyone posting on PP.com ... oops no one has permissions
dfosterf (27-Aug) : tell her I reckon
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Micah Robinson cut. Probable PS player tomorrow. Has to call mom back and t
Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : New site so much better. Might make switch and deal with it.
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Mecole Hardman to our practice squad
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Nick Nieman from Texans our 5th linebacker. Special teams signing
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Looks like we signed Clayton Tune as QB3
wpr (27-Aug) : TKT people lose their minds over QB3. Point is almost none of them are ready that's why they are on the PS and other teams don't take them.
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Unfortunately he doesn't seem ready to be an emergency QB.
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : As a Canadian and a follower of Canadian University football. I am rooting for him
dfosterf (27-Aug) : I bet a lot of us will follow the Taylor Elgersma journey with interest. Personally, got a Kurt Warner vibe goin' on. I like him
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Not sure if either will be claimed though.
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Tune or Hooker would make sense
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Clayton Tune cut by the Cards? Don't know if that's the guy, we shall see
Please sign in to use Fan Shout
2025 Packers Schedule
Sunday, Sep 7 @ 3:25 PM
LIONS
Thursday, Sep 11 @ 7:15 PM
COMMANDERS
Sunday, Sep 21 @ 12:00 PM
Browns
Sunday, Sep 28 @ 7:20 PM
Cowboys
Sunday, Oct 12 @ 3:25 PM
BENGALS
Sunday, Oct 19 @ 3:25 PM
Cardinals
Sunday, Oct 26 @ 7:20 PM
Steelers
Sunday, Nov 2 @ 12:00 PM
PANTHERS
Monday, Nov 10 @ 7:15 PM
EAGLES
Sunday, Nov 16 @ 12:00 PM
Giants
Sunday, Nov 23 @ 12:00 PM
VIKINGS
Thursday, Nov 27 @ 12:00 PM
Lions
Sunday, Dec 7 @ 12:00 PM
BEARS
Sunday, Dec 14 @ 3:25 PM
Broncos
Friday, Dec 19 @ 11:00 PM
Bears
Friday, Dec 26 @ 11:00 PM
RAVENS
Saturday, Jan 3 @ 11:00 PM
Vikings
Recent Topics
24m / Green Bay Packers Talk / dhazer

53m / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

4h / Random Babble / dfosterf

9h / Green Bay Packers Talk / dfosterf

12h / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

29-Aug / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

29-Aug / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

28-Aug / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

28-Aug / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

28-Aug / Feedback, Suggestions and Issues / Zero2Cool

27-Aug / Fantasy Sports Talk / Zero2Cool

27-Aug / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

27-Aug / Green Bay Packers Talk / Cheesey

26-Aug / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

26-Aug / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

Headlines
Copyright © 2006 - 2025 PackersHome.com™. All Rights Reserved.