Zero2Cool
16 years ago

[img_r]http://i.packers.com/images/action/080922grant215.jpg[/img_r]Wins and losses are always the bottom line, but if there's one thing a head coach wants to see regardless of the final score, particularly early in a long season, it's improvement on a week-to-week basis.

But the Packers did not improve from their second game to their third, Head Coach Mike McCarthy said on Monday, and fundamentals were the primary culprit.

"The thing that was disappointing from a coaching standpoint, and we have to take accountability for it, was we just weren't as detailed and as clean in some areas as we needed to be," McCarthy said of the 27-16 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. "I thought our football team played with tremendous energy. There was a lot of positive plays on the field, but the mistakes that were made, they definitely capitalized on them."

One key mistake McCarthy kept referring to was a defensive misalignment that led to Felix Jones' 60-yard touchdown run in the second quarter that put Dallas ahead for good. Another was missed blitz pickups that led to sacks.

"Most of our problems encountered not doing the little things," McCarthy said. "Not being in the proper leverage, not playing to your help, not finishing a block. Just all the fundamentals, and that's what coaching is about, and we need to do a better job getting it out of our players."

Several times during the course of his coaching tenure, McCarthy has taken additional time out during practice to focus on fundamentals. This week could be one of those times, with four more games (including three against 2007 playoff teams) coming before the bye week.

McCarthy did think his team responded to the adversity it faced in the game, particularly with injuries mounting and players substituting regularly. As for the adversity of the first loss of the season, McCarthy doesn't doubt his team will bounce back, but he's also remaining realistic with 13 regular-season games remaining.

"I don't think that this is the most adverse situation that we're going to encounter this year," he said. "I hope it is, because I think it will be really good days for the Green Bay Packers."

Red zone and third down
[ul]The Packers' two biggest failures offensively against the Cowboys were in the red zone and on third downs, and those elements converged at critical times.

For the game, Green Bay converted just 4-of-14 times on third down, with Aaron Rodgers getting sacked three times on third-down pass plays. Two of those third-down sacks came in the red zone, forcing the Packers to settle for field goals when they had moved inside the Dallas 10-yard line.

"When you get that close to the end zone, you definitely don't want to settle for three points," receiver James Jones said. "We're fixing things, we'll come back strong for Tampa Bay and get them corrected."

The Packers did not make good on a red-zone trip until late in the fourth quarter, when Rodgers scored on a quarterback sneak.

The third-down failures also contributed to just 21 rushing attempts total for the Packers. McCarthy said the goal was to run the ball around 30 times, but the inability to sustain drives took away opportunities for more running.

"We had four yards per carry, but the third-down conversions hurt us," McCarthy said. "We had some favorable third downs that we didn't convert, third-and-2, third-and-4. I thought the running game was effective, I thought it was OK, if you're looking for a grade, but we had zero explosive gains, so that's not what you're looking for there. We thought we'd have some opportunities for the ball to come out."[/ul]

Line may change
[ul]McCarthy didn't commit to returning Scott Wells to his starting center position and shifting Jason Spitz back to guard, but he said the coaching staff would be talking about that possible move during game-planning over the next couple of days.

Wells was inactive the first two games of the season with a pinched nerve in his back. He was healthy and active on Sunday against Dallas but did not play, as the Packers stuck with Spitz at center and Tony Moll at right guard.

McCarthy said in grading the film, Moll had his ups and downs and the coaching staff would begin discussing the offensive line on Monday night.[/ul]

Injury update
[ul]In the secondary, cornerback Al Harris, who had cramping as well as blood in his urine during Sunday's game, was still having tests done at the time of McCarthy's press conference, so there was no update on his status. Fellow cornerback Charles Woodson didn't seem to be any worse off with his toe injury than prior to the game, and safety Nick Collins has a bruised lower back.

Meanwhile Jones sprained the same knee he injured during the preseason and was also having a wrist injury checked out. He didn't know yet if the wrist injury is a fracture or a sprain. Linebacker Nick Barnett also has an elbow strain.

The only new injury McCarthy reported on Monday was a hamstring strain for running back Kregg Lumpkin. McCarthy didn't think it was anywhere near the concern that Ryan Grant's hamstring has been.[/ul]


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    Martha Careful (4h) : I hope it is colder than a well-diggers ass on Thanksgiving night.
    Zero2Cool (12h) : doubt he wants to face the speedsters
    beast (13h) : Dolphins offense can be explosive... I wonder if we'll have Alexander back
    Zero2Cool (14h) : No Doubs could be issue Thursday
    Mucky Tundra (19h) : Bears. Santos. Blocked FG
    Zero2Cool (24-Nov) : Bears. Vikings. OT
    Mucky Tundra (24-Nov) : Thems the breaks I guess
    Mucky Tundra (24-Nov) : Two players out and Williams had an injury designation this week but Oladapo is a healthy scratch
    Zero2Cool (24-Nov) : Packers inactives vs 49ers: • CB Jaire Alexander • S Kitan Oladapo • LB Edgerrin Cooper • OL Jacob Monk
    TheKanataThrilla (24-Nov) : Aaron Jones with a costly red zone fumble
    Zero2Cool (24-Nov) : When we trade Malik for a 1st rounder, we'll need a new QB2.
    packerfanoutwest (23-Nov) : Report: Aaron Rodgers wants to play in 2025, but not for the Jets
    beast (23-Nov) : That's what I told the Police officer about my speed when he pulled me over
    packerfanoutwest (23-Nov) : NFL told Bears that Packers’ blocked field goal was legal
    packerfanoutwest (22-Nov) : 49ers are underdogs at Packers, ending streak of 36 straight games as favorites
    Zero2Cool (22-Nov) : 49ers might be down their QB, DL, TE and LT?
    packerfanoutwest (22-Nov) : Jaire Alexander says he has a torn PCL
    Zero2Cool (20-Nov) : Even with the context it's ... what?
    Mucky Tundra (20-Nov) : Matt LaFleur without context: “I don’t wanna pat you on the butt and you poop in my hand.”
    beast (20-Nov) : We brought in a former Packers OL coach to help evaluate OL as a scout
    beast (20-Nov) : Jets have been pretty good at picking DL
    Zero2Cool (20-Nov) : He landed good players thanks to high draft slot. He isn't good.
    Zero2Cool (20-Nov) : He can shove his knowledge up his ass. He knows nothing.
    beast (20-Nov) : More knowledge, just like bring in the Jets head coach
    Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : What? Why? Huh?
    beast (19-Nov) : I wonder if the Packers might to try to bring Douglas in through Milt Hendrickson/Ravens connections
    Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : The Jets fired Joe Douglas, per sources
    packerfanoutwest (19-Nov) : Jets are a mess......
    Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : Pretty sure Jets fired their scouting staff and just pluck former Packers.
    Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : Jets sign Anders Carlson to their 53.
    Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : When you cycle the weeks, the total over remains for season. But you get your W/L for that selected week. Confusing.
    packerfanoutwest (19-Nov) : the total and percentage are the same as the previous weeks
    packerfanoutwest (19-Nov) : the total and percentage are the same as the previous weeks
    packerfanoutwest (19-Nov) : the totals are accurate..nrvrtmind
    Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : I don't follow what you are saying. The totals are not the same as last week.
    packerfanoutwest (19-Nov) : ok so then wht are the totals the same as last week?
    Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : NFL Pick'em is auto updated when NFL Scores tab is clicked
    Martha Careful (19-Nov) : The offense was OK. Let's not forget the Bear defense is very very good.
    packerfanoutwest (19-Nov) : Who updates the leaderboard on NFLPickem?
    beast (19-Nov) : Has the Packers offense been worse since the former Jets coach joined the Packers?
    Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : Offense gets his ass in gear, this could be good.
    Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : Backup QB helped with three wins. Special Teams contributed to three wins.
    bboystyle (18-Nov) : Lions played outside thats why. They scored 16 and 17 in the only 2 outside games this year
    Zero2Cool (18-Nov) : The rest of the NFL is catching up to Packers ... kicking is an issue throughout league
    packerfanoutwest (18-Nov) : Packers DL Kenny Clark: We knew 'we were going to block' Bears' game-winning field goal attempt
    Zero2Cool (18-Nov) : Lions seem to be throttling everyone, but only (only) got 24 lol maybe the rain is why
    Zero2Cool (18-Nov) : Packers vs Lions game doesn't seem so bad.
    beast (18-Nov) : Dennis Green "They are what we thought they were, and we let them off the hook!"
    Martha Careful (17-Nov) : comment of the day Z2Cool "Bears better than we want to admit. Packers worse than we think. It's facts."
    Mucky Tundra (17-Nov) : my worst case scenario: Bears fix their oline and get a coach like Johnson from the Lions and his scheme
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