Whenever you use the word ''survivor'' to describe a professional football player's career, the NFL synonym for survivor is usually "journeyman.'' That would apply to Ross Tucker who "survived'' seven years in the league as an offensive lineman.[img_r]http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/host.madison.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/0/bb/b77/0bbb77e0-cd24-11de-9338-001cc4c002e0.preview-300.jpg?_dc=1257766557[/img_r]
Tucker's journey took him from the Washington Redskins to the Dallas Cowboys to the Buffalo Bills to the New England Pats and back to the Skins. A neck injury ended his career prematurely in 2007. He wound up playing in 42 games, starting 24.
Meanwhile, Tucker's college degree -- he's a Princeton man -- has helped pave a path in broadcasting (Sirius radio) and journalism (SI.com). Tucker's candidness is a big asset, too, as a TV color anaylst on cable networks. He doesn't pull any punches.
That was the case recently when Tucker questioned the "poor coaching and game-planning'' by the Packers in their loss to Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field.
"Keep in mind, I don't make these kinds of statements lightly,'' Tucker wrote in his SI.com column. "In fact, I very rarely blame coaches when a team loses because, as a player, I never wanted to dole out too much credit to coaches when we won.
"I firmly believe pro football is ultimately a players game. But there are instances when a coaching staff does not do a good job of putting its team in a position to win ...
"I like Mike McCarthy and those on his staff. I've worked with many of them during my time in the league, but they were exposed in a major way (in the second Minnesota loss).''
Concluded Tucker, who has been critical of Favre, "I'm not saying the Vikings players aren't better than the Packers players. What is indisputable, at least based upon this season, is the Vikings coaches have the upper hand against their counterparts in Green Bay.''
It makes you wonder whether McCarthy is more overmatched as a head coach than Ted Thompson is as a general manager.
From the very beginning, Thompson has been a lightning rod for second-guessing in Green Bay largely because of his disconnect with Favre and unwillingness to improve the product through free agency. His drafts have also come under more and more scrutiny.
Although he exudes little confidence, warmth or conviction, Thompson's lack of personality and/or communication skills should not be an indictment of his ability to do his job. Bill Belichick, after all, is the biggest tool in the NFL. But he produces as a coach.
That leads us to McCarthy, who has been given the benefit of doubt in Green Bay because it has been easier to blame Thompson for Favre, the O-line, Justin Harrell, global warming, health care, etc. Until now, Thompson has overshadowed McCarthy.
Sunday's loss was totally on McCarthy and his coaching staff. Yes, the players have to shoulder the blame for not executing. That's a cliche, a given. But we're seeing the same breakdowns on offense, the same breakdowns on special teams (where's Mike Stock when you need a scapegoat?), and the same breakdowns on defense.
That's the only way you can breakdown what happened. And that covers all facets of the game. And that's on McCarthy, the playcaller on offense. And that's on Dom Capers, the playcaller on defense. The Tampa Bay Bucs were winless. The Green Bay Packers were witless. Winless no more. Witless4ever?
During the offseason, McCarthy fired virtually every assistant coach on defense. It was obviously somebody else's fault, not his. But that didn't fix the problems. On the contrary, new ones have emerged, (including the parody of dropping Aaron Kampman into coverage.)
So, how do you fix the offensive line?
Better personnel.
Better coaching.
So, how do you fix the Packers?
See above.