[img_r]http://cmsimg.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=U0&Date=20080928&Category=PKR07&ArtNo=80928051&Ref=AR&Profile=1058&MaxW=150&Border=0[/img_r]TAMPA, Fla. Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy had a message for his team after a lackluster 30-21 defeat against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday.
Its not acceptable for us to do the fundamental things wrong week in and week out, said the coach. We need to get it fixed.
Theres one big problem. The Packers are committing so many mistakes on so many levels that it will be difficult for McCarthy to figure out where to begin.
The Packers cant run the football. They commit too many turnovers. They drop too many passes. They cant adequately protect their quarterback. They continue to get flagged for crucial penalties. Their punting game is weak. Their run defense is suspect.
And to add injury to insult, the Packers list of banged up players is mounting and will make it difficult to keep this listing ship afloat.
The things you practice every single day, when they dont show up on Sunday, I definitely have a problem with that, said McCarthy. It starts with me. I need to get it out of them.
The coach better act fast, because three of the Packers next four games are against teams that made the playoffs last year.
We just made a number of the same mistakes that we made the first three weeks, said McCarthy. Thats four weeks now.
Its one-fourth of the way through the season and McCarthy doesnt have enough fingers to plug all the holes in the dike. Floodwaters are rushing in from everywhere.
(Theres) plenty of bad football to go around, said McCarthy.
Give the coach credit for his honesty. But acknowledging your shortcomings is one thing. Doing something about it is another.
The Packers must address their one-dimensional offense that produced a horrendous 28 rushing yards against the Buccaneers.
Too many mistakes, too many misidentifications by certain guys, too many bad steps and bad footwork, explained guard Daryn Colledge.
That led to too many three-and-outs, too few first downs and too little production on the scoreboard.
The offense produced a pathetic eight first downs and 181 total yards. No drive after their first possession generated more than one first down.
We have to start holding each other accountable, said receiver Greg Jennings, the teams only offensive playmaker, who caught a pair of touchdown passes. We shouldnt be making this many mistakes.
When the offense wasnt spitting up all over itself, it was coughing up the football. Brandon Jackson dropped an easy pass that resulted in a Bucs interception and subsequent touchdown. Ryan Grant followed with a fumble that the Bucs returned for a touchdown. A pair of Aaron Rodgers interceptions killed favorable scoring opportunities.
It needs to be fixed and it will be fixed, said Grant. I felt like the energy wasnt there. (We) looked sloppy. Just across the board it wasnt a good performance. We need to learn from this.
The Packers can talk all they want about cleaning things up. But until they do it on the field, the results wont change.