Shhhhhhh... I'm texting this from my tree stand. Just passed on a small fork and a decent sixer. Milwaukee fans rolled into town last Sunday to watch the Packers buck the Colts... …but certainly got screwed out of their money's worth. Earlier in the season ARod was calling the 10-day gap between the ATL game and the Colts their "mini bye." It appears they took a full 2 weeks off. ...possibly the past 2 years off. GB's record is 9-11 in last 20 games! Not exactly reflective of a team that is ascending, and fully indicative of a coaching swamp that needs draining. McCarthy tossed out a lack of "energy" as an excuse. (I know, that should be in the WTF section.) Later he tried to walk it back. …is he running for office? He has turned into such a tool. For reference, Bill Belichick's Patriots team lost a max of 5 games in a regular season, once, and that was when Brady got knocked out for the season in game 1 (they went 11-5 and missed the playoffs with Matt Cassel). The Pats always look ready, willing and able to take on their competition. That's because they are coached to know how to deal with each situation at hand. In contrast, what does McCarthy do? Well, you know what MM looks like out there. (Click on Link). So it’s on to the Titans... Create a seam here - X' & O's about the game or a scheme Playoffs? Stats? Fergit that *&^% (stuff). What an embarrassment. This team is going nowhere besides a Top 10 pick in the 2017 draft unless there is a major turn-around. 4-wins/5-losses in the last 9 games at Lambeau, are you f’ng kidding me? This was a preseason Super Bowl favorite? This was a team in 2nd place in the Division, a team that knew the Vikings lost earlier in the day, a team that knew a win would put them in 1st place? Yes. Here’s the main summary you need to know from the Colts game: Special Teams: One kick-off return for a touchdown, another for 60+ yards to Jordan Todman a journeyman running back with 472 career yards over 6 seasons with 4 teams. Throw in a missed FG and you have a net -13 points. Defense: Give up a 94-yard TD to end the 1st half (see also Packers vs. Cowboys), give up two first downs to enable the Colts to run out the clock at the end of the game, plus 60 yards rushing and 2 TD’s for Frank Gore? Si. Offense: Everybody slacking off and not trying except Aaron Rodgers? Of course! He even said so. They asked him at the post-game press conference and that's what he said (Click on Link). He’s bringing intensity and no one else on the team is… A little quiz for faithful followers of The Show!!! -- when all three units on a team underperform, the team is listless and uninspired and they get blown out, the cause is usually (circle all that apply with a No.2 pencil):
So let’s do a little detective work to see if we can diagnose what the hell is going on out there… …The Defense has had one really good year under Capers/McCarthy since 2009…in 2010 we finished the year ranked #2 in points allowed, and by the way, we won the Super Bowl. Every other year we’ve had major playoff losses with major defensive let downs. Does that suck? Yes, but not a new problem this year (fire Capers). BTW, wherever Capers has gone and instituted the “3-4” defense, it has been successful in one year … the 2nd year. That’s a fact, Jack, but I haven’t crunched the data to explain exactly why, yet. So stay tuned for that. …The Packers’ Special Teams have generally been at the bottom of the annual Dallas Morning News Special Teams rankings since McCarthy has been around. Zook seems to have moved the needle in the right direction, but between punters choking and big returns this year, it seems like a return to normal (granted Crosby has been money for most of his career and Schum-shot has been a pearl the last two weeks). …The Offense has been the Packers’ ticket to success. But the wheels are off. Much like in 2013 when AR went down and the whole team folded, it would seem that our boys in Green & Gold have no confidence that we will win. There were smoke signals before, like when Greg Jennings left and called out AR as being self-centered. But now we have the evidence that that the wheels are all the way off the wagon (speaking of "off the wagon" see also, Chester Marcol). By way of reminder folks, we have no running backs and the stated goal of the team is to use the “West Coast Offense” to offset that deficiency. The key element of the West Coast offense is to “take what the defense gives you.” Translation, take the short check-down throws to draw the LB’s and Safety’s up, much like they have to do for the run game. When they do creep up, then that opens the middle area of the field to take shots downfield. So let’s review the opening drive to see how we did. In the three shots below of the first play from scrimmage, you can see receivers wide open in the 5-12 yard area. Complete any of these and we’re extending the drive. Rodger’s had 5.3 seconds for this sequence and ended up throwing it away. At the end of that same opening drive we made it to 1st & goal on the 8, but backed up on a penalty. Take a look at all of the options in the photo’s below, Rodgers had plenty of time and plenty of receivers open but didn’t go to anyone except in the back of the end zone. Seven points? No, 3 from Crosby, what a wasted opportunity. So what is going on with Rodgers? Can’t be him, it’s gotta be McCarthery, right? Coach is genuinely flummoxed on this one. Did y’all notice that Randall Cobb had his helmet on, standing on the sideline near MM, ready to enter the game? When he did in the second half he was great. Asked about why Cobb didn’t play in the first half, MM said that he was injured and didn’t want to reinjure him. A reasonable response, but why TF was he in uniform if he was hurt? Cobb obviously was ready to go (and he looked great when he went in). On the other hand, when Rodgers was asked about why Cobb didn’t play in the first half he said he had no idea (see video link above). NO IDEA? Rodgers allegedly spends all week with McCarthy prepping a game plan. They talk the night before the game, they talk during pre-game (that period of time when Cobb was activated) and they talk during the game. Or do they?? How is it that the Head Coach/OC/Play Caller and the QB don’t talk about personnel available to play? On innumerable occasions McCarthy has talked about how valuable it is to be on the sidelines to communicate with players, coaches and particularly the QB!! Rodgers is running around and not throwing to open receivers and the Coach is letting him do it. Furthermore AR clearly has his middle finger raised high at Mike McCarthy saying I’m not gonna do what you say and I’m not listening to you. McCarthy is losing, or perhaps has lost, the team. Just like when AR went down in 2013, the whole team has lost confidence and likely in part because they see that AR is manipulating the Head Coach. McCarthy now has two choices:
WTF - The Coach's take on a bad ref call or a bad play call or the like Walt Anderson, NFL referee in Monday Night's game, needs to retire. The Seattle v Buffalo game was referee'd horrendously. At the end of the first half, crucial referee mistakes occurred at Seattle in the Seahawks favor (again). The refs called "delay of game" on Buffalo pushing them back for a 55 yard field goal kick, but the referee was standing over the ball with only three seconds left on the play clock -- so it was impossible to get the play off on time. Not to mention Richard Sherman's blantant pass interference play in the end zone that was not called (sound familiar?). And then Dick Sherman intentionally plows into the Bills kicker after the field goal attempt and doesn't get the roughing call. WTF, man? Why does Seattle (and especially Richard Sherman) get so much referee favor? Back to loathing Mike McCarthy's head coaching abilities... Why TF did Eminem abandon the short passing offensive scheme that worked so well in ATL a week ago in lieu of a "throw it to Richard Rodgers" strategy against the Colts? I can't even believe I have to write that they thought they should rely on Richard "No YAC" Rodgers for the win. That's just crazy, right? WTF? Also, how about his bonehead "going for 2 with 9 minutes left when down by 15"? Get the 7 first, you idiot... You never know what's gonna happen as the 4th Q plays out. Coach's rule is never go for 2 with more than 6:30 left in the game (and ALWAYS go for 2 to win the game on the road in lieu of overtime). MM manages games like he can predict the future (e.g. "If I go for it on 4th and 2 late in the 3rd quarter instead of tying the game with a field goal here in Minnesota, we will get the 1st down and subsequently score a touchdown...ignoring that it never actually plays out as I hope. I'm sure I won't regret this decision. Oh, crap, we didn't get it -- now we're in quite a pickle ... Looks like another loss. I will tell the press that we will look at the film for players’ mistakes and get that corrected.") And how about those Lambeau groundskeepers?! Trying to outshine the clowns at the Hall-of-Fame Game who spray-painted the field to get the Colts-Packers preseason game canceled, the normally top-notch crew at Lambeau sprayed oil all over the field to “prevent dew.” It appears they forgot their 2nd grade physics lesson regarding relative humidty and temperature and only recalled that water doesn't mix with oil, and they definitely prevented good footing -- keeping the dew atop the slick blades of oily grass. The whole organization is starting to slip. Unless… did McCarthy tell them to do it??? Lastly, WTF? (Click on Link) Bears Still Suck - the Coach has proof Once in a while Coach is forced to listen to away games on the radio (e.g., driving the fandamily to mother-in-law's on a rainy day in order to bank hunting or fishing credit hours). Coach grew up listening to the masters of the mic for the Packers, Jim Irwin and Max McGee. Then as their age started slowing them down considerably, Larry McCarren nudged in for air time to help out and pay for his hand surgery bills. In the best-way-possible to go out, Jim and Max's final game broadcast was Brett Favre's Super Bowl XXXI victory in n'Awlins. I thought, “How will they replace legends like Jim and Max?” At the time, Wayne Larrivee was the play-by-play announcer for -- wait for it -- yep!...the Chicago Bears (as well as the Bulls, and even did some Cubs games). He and his agent lobbied the Packers Communications Manager vigorously to become the voice of the Green Bay Packers when Jim and Max retired and, as you know, has been that for the last 2 decades. But, being an indoctrinated FIB, he is disproportionately flawed. It’s clear he doesn’t understand which plays are important, or when, during a football game. Coach’s stomach turns after almost every offensive play when Wayne fails to indicate the yardage gained and/or whether or not a 1st down was achieved. He often overly emphasizes a 1 yard run up the back of linemen, while nonchalantly mentioning a 60 yard touchdown pass. He’s is probably a nice guy, but is just hard to follow. The best part though… Once in a while, you'll hear him accidentally say "You're listening to the Bears radio network" when he cuts to commercial. ...much less nowadays, but did so frequently his first few years with the Pack. Again, he’s a FIB, so it helps to maintain low expectations. Anyways, Bears, when you're so bad that the team announcer leaves you for the competition, and brings with him a catch phrase (“the Dagger”) that epically describes the unofficial point in which you lost games -- it's clear, you suck. Udder stuff - commentary from the Badger Underground With the Northwestern monkey off their back, Wisconsin goes into Saturday's game 20+ point favorites. IL comes in starting their third string QB, Jeff George jr, but they may be without their top WR. Any reason to worry? Trap game? IL took their turn beating MSU. They have very active pass rushers and WI has yet to prove that they can adequately pass block. IL has one good RB and three who have put up good YPC numbers. No reason for worry, unless we self-destruct with drops, picks or goal-line fumbles. IL has racked up their stats vs weak opponents. They give up a ton of yards, though, and much of it rushing. WI will come out running the ball down their throat. Easy passes will follow, not 3rd and long where Hornibrook incurs so many of his sacks. The Badger Underground medical staff recommends that TJ Watt be shut down for a coupla weeks. Save him for the MN game, only if needed. Yank Clement at halftime, after he has put up 150 yards. Shaw will run wild in the 2nd half. In unrelated but extremely relevant news, Coach recommends Bunyan Badger Brown Ale. Tastes like a creamier version of Newcastle, and it’s made right here in Wisconsin. Enjoy! A word of caution, though. It’s pretty strong, so beware of beer goggles. (You’re welcome.) We're gonna kick your a$$ - predictions for the next game The formula here is very easy: Option 1: Get a local HS coach to come in for a week and apply HS level motivation (run laps, hamburger drill, live 11 on 11) and make the kick-off coverage team run in straight lines down the field. Option 2: Continue doing what we are doing, with the same techniques, delivered by the same coaches, to the same players in the same way and get the same results. We’ll all know by 15:30 CST what’s going on at 1265 Lombardi. In the meantime, Coach recommends relaxing and memorizing the stat’s of Jermaine Whitehead…he’s the dipwad and now ex-Packer (see also, Brandon Bostick) that lost contain on the opening kickoff and got blocked into Kyler Fackrell….opening up a hole that even you could have run through for a TD. That’s all I have to say about that. JB - Packer players you forgot about, but stories you'll remember about them No. 17 Craig Hentrich had a great career with the Packers, getting drafted out of Notre Dame by the Jets in 1993 and ending up with the Packers that season. He was a key member of the Mike Holmgren/Brett Favre/Reggie White Super Bowl XXXI Packers. However, after the 1997 season his Rookie contract was up and Ron Wolf refused to pay Hentrich, a punter, a mere punter, $1 million a year to play football. Hentrich left for greener bank accounts and signed with the Tennessee Oilers (then playing in Memphis), and played with them until he was injured during the 2009 season. Hentrich had a prolific career, kicking 49,281 punt yards and averaging 42.9 yards a kick for his career! Yes, that includes bad weather kicking in Green Bay. Hentrich was a pretty talented “athlete” overall. When pressed into extra point duty because Chris Jacke got hurt after getting busted for banging Holmgren’s daughter, Hentrich went 6 of 6 and he was 8 of 15 on field goals with a long of 49 yards. Eventually Wolf admitted that he should have paid Hentrich, as he would have definitely helped the Pack in SB32 and on through the early 2000’s when we frequently struggled with punting. One silver lining though, had Hentrich been around for the 1999 season, arguably the Pack would have won a game or two more and Ray Rhodes would have been the coach much longer (Rhodes was fired after the 8-8 season of 1999). So, in summary, Craig Hentrich, we think you were neato. But, hey, let’s be real here -- he was no David Beverly. Shhh... here comes a deer, I gotta go...
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Author"Coach" is the insightful collective brain and funny bone of a few legendary Packer fans who provide everything you need to know (and what Packers beat writers often plagiarize) about the Green & Gold, plus a weekly guest appearance by The Badger Underground. Archives
November 2022
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