Vikings 28 Packers 22: Game Balls and Lame Calls
Banged up Vikes still good enough to upset passive Packers.
By KenLass
After another head scratching performance Sunday afternoon, we are left to wonder if this 2020 Green Bay Packer football team is really any good. Playing a 1-5 Vikings outfit that was decimated by injuries, the Packers were convincingly outplayed on both sides of the ball. The defense was its usual ineffective self, giving up touchdown drives on every Minnesota possession until the 4th quarter when it was too late.
By halftime it was clear the offense would have to keep scoring every series to win the game, and the unit imploded under the pressure. After playing a nearly perfect first half, they fell into a litany of mistakes including dropped passes, inaccurate throws, and holding penalties. As a result the team limps into another challenge from a physical team on a short week, travelling to San Francisco for the Thursday night game. If they can't find some sort of answer to their defensive problems, it's going to be a long evening.
GAME BALLS
Davante Adams
I'm not sure you could ask much more of him. 7 catches for 53 yards and 3 touchdowns. Eventually the Vikings were putting three defenders on him, figuring no one else was going to beat them. They were right. Other receivers had their moments. Robert Tonyan, Jace Sternberger and MVS took turns catching a few balls. Jamal Williams was solid out of the backfield. But no one other than Davante has to be feared. Alan Lazard, please come back!
Kamal Martin
I know.....kind of silly to give anybody on defense a game ball after a stinker of a game like this. But I feel obliged to find some ray of light somewhere. I did notice Martin making two or three really nice plays. In the third quarter his pressure on Kirk Cousins forced an incompletion. Then later in the quarter he had an impressive tackle for loss. Lowry had a sack when he was unblocked. Amos sacked Cousins on a blitz. That's about it.
LAME CALLS
The Usual: Defensive Game Plan
Actually, this defense has gotten so weak that I can't tell anymore if it's bad scheme or players that just aren't very good. Pettine takes all the heat, but he tried everything and nothing worked. Blitzes, dropping 8 into coverage, loading the box to stop the run, It didn't matter. Dalvin Cook did whatever he wanted anyway. The Packers have tried so hard to build a respectable defense in recent years but it just doesn't seem to be in their DNA. I wonder if this franchise has gotten so accustomed to their quarterback getting them out to a big lead and allowing their defense to coast, that the defense simply doesn't have the mindset to compete when the game is on the line.
Lack of Urgency in the 4th Quarter
This drives me nuts. Packers get the ball, down 28-14 in the 4th quarter, 11 minutes left to play, and they are passively walking back into a huddle, waltzing up to the line of scrimmage, and taking long snap counts, all while precious seconds are pouring off the clock. Same story when they get the ball back with under six minutes to play. Playing up tempo is so foreign to this team, that at the bitter end, after a pass to Tonyan with 12 seconds left, they didn't even know how to line up to clock the ball. Again, is this a function of playing from the lead so often that they just have no feel for two minute offense?
Clock Management
The Packers took all of their timeouts as the Vikings were driving in for a game tieing score at the end of the half. The strategy worked as Green Bay got the ball back with 31 seconds left, knowing Minnesota was getting the second half kick-off. Whereupon the offense just ran the clock out anyway. ?????
SHORT YARDAGE
• Tackling, tackling, tackling.......the coaches say they work on tackling every day. I'm beginning to think either you're a tackler, or you're not. Guess which one the Packer defenders are?
• Trading deadline Tuesday. Will Packers be dealing for help?
• Aaron Jones was sorely missed in this game. Don't you hold your breath every time Dalvin Cook gets the ball? That's because he's a threat to turn every touch into a big play. Jamaal Williams is not that player.
• It might make you feel a little better to look at the big picture. The Bears and the Lions both lost as well, so the Packers didn't lose any ground in the division. Come on.....I'm trying here.
• Lot of season yet to play. Guys like Kirksey and Lazard will be coming back. Jones, Bakhtiari, King will heal up. Keep a good thought (he wrote nervously).
THEY SAID IT
Matt LaFleur (on run defense): "We better get it fixed and we better get it fixed fast because I have a pretty good idea what's gonna happen next week on a short week in San Francisco."
Aaron Rodgers: "I don't know if we played with the kind of energy that we needed to. We had fans the last two weeks. No fans this week. I don't know if that had something to do with it, but I didn't feel like we played with a lot of energy today."
Adrian Amos: "We've got to look at film and see where we got out of our gaps but what it comes down to is tackling the man with the ball and getting off blocks."
Robert Tonyan (on whether the Packers were looking ahead to the 49ers): "No, we've got grown-ups in this locker room. We've got veterans in this locker room. We've got leaders in this locker room, so we don't look past anyone."
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Ken Lass is a former Green Bay television sports anchor and 43 year media veteran, a lifelong Packers fan, and a shareholder.
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Comments (67)
Renllaw
November 02, 2020 at 06:27 am
It is fairly plain to see that Pettine needs to go. The defense has been slowly getting worse and worse. That side of the ball needs a culture change the same way our offense did 2 years ago. He is too passive. Even when he does call a blitz the corners are 8-10 yards off allowing for the quick completion. I liked Pettine at the time of his original hire but I do think it was a mistake for MLF to keep him. It's not all his fault though. Outside of Clark I don't think we have an NFL caliber D-lineman on the roster. Watching the LOS was absolutely frustrating.
Lare
November 02, 2020 at 06:38 am
Dalvin Cook gets all the credit, but many of the holes he was running through were large enough to drive a semi truck through. Pretty tough to stop a running back without a DL.
Coldworld
November 02, 2020 at 10:55 am
I agree. The similarities to the 49ers last year suggest to me that his plan to remedy that has failed. This isn’t Tampa or even a good offense. Can’t stop Cook, so pressure and the focus of the defensive design becomes somewhat secondary if no need to pass except on the back of the run.
Yet still we were close. It’s not the O it’s the D. The D is playing worse in large part than last year. Rather than fixing the problems I think the adjustments play away from our strengths. The changes have gone the wrong way.
Sometimes that happens, but it’s rare that a coach can find a way out. We need D line help, but Pettine’s premise is to be light, use OLBs ... failed against the run, diminished against the passer.
It is possible another person on our coaching staff may have a way to get more than Pettine from this mess. If we are truly at the point where SF run over us, I think that is our best bet to be adequate on D against teams with a genuine running game. Not good odds, but the best we have: Pettine simply hasn’t managed it.
Swisch
November 02, 2020 at 12:19 pm
Even if we win against the 49ers on Thursday, but the defense gets roughed up, it may be good to replace Pettine.
As mentioned below, we'd have about ten days before our next game for a new defensive coordinator to start over.
Then we could possibly see, at least to some extent, how much our defensive woes are a matter of poor personnel or poor coaching.
Question is who on the Packers staff has the promise to possibly be a defensive coordinator successfully?
At least using a guy on the staff would help with familiarity; but it seems a big step to go from a positions coach to managing all of the defense.
The good news is that there would be half a season over a couple months to improve the defense for the playoffs.
Bernie0722
November 02, 2020 at 09:06 am
I just don't think we have the players on defense. I don't even remember Kenny Clark's name being mentioned yesterday. Years of picking defense first on draft day and not a lot to show for it!
croatpackfan
November 02, 2020 at 10:27 am
If this is something to cheer all of you up, and if I understood Pettine correctly, Pettine said after he was established as DC, that his plans are to stay st the position no more than 3 years. We will find out if he will last till the end of this season. So there is a hope he will end his tenure at Packers at the end of this season...
Coldworld
November 02, 2020 at 11:04 am
The cheer in this game on D was Martin. Inexperienced, made mistakes but actually drips potential. Barnes seemed to play less well this game, maybe a little beaten up, but together we may have an ILB corps that will improve as we progress.
To my mind, the more I watch, the more I think it’s a thankless task behind the D line Pettine uses. Regular OLB use in that role has largely failed and Lowry has been poor for a year or more yet played 75 percent of the snaps.
However well OT badly Clark is playing by his standards, surrounded by Lowry and an OLB has got to be hindering him. Lancaster, Adams all played less than expected as did Keke. Winn was a coaches decision inactive. What is it that Lowry brings? Why would we use personnel that way? Any ideas?
jannesbjornson
November 02, 2020 at 08:53 pm
Move up for Micah Parsons and call it good.
johngalt
November 02, 2020 at 12:56 pm
Agree with you that on defense-the LOS reveals everything. You might be right about MLF needing to go a different direction than Pettine, but a mid season fire and replace at DC will not get his team to play better. Gute has missed on his drafts/FA signings- plain and simple. Smiths, Gary, Savage- it’s fair to say the Packers have not gotten a return on that investment. Don’t know what you have till it’s gone, this will go down as the biggest waste of QB talent ever. It might take a few years after the fact to realize it.
Boneman
November 02, 2020 at 06:36 am
The defense is just so predictable! As soon as we get them in 2nd and long we back off. Then it's third and medium and we back off. Then it's 4th and short and we give up a 1st. Maddening. Challenge and attack every play! Please!!!
NickPerry
November 02, 2020 at 07:01 am
Lack of Urgency in the 4th Quarter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I mentioned this in Gut Reactions inly Ken did a better job of pointing it out. I referenced the 3rd scoring drive where Rodgers was snapping the ball with like 7, 6, or 3 seconds left on the play clock. Are you kidding me? There was less than 3 minutes left in the game and they act like they're on a Sunday stroll! You have a veteran QB in year 2 of this offense against CB's I've never heard of even in college...UGH!!!
Pettine...I have NO FAITH in Mike Pettine being able to get this defense ready to take the Packers where they have to go. Scoring 35 points a game isn't sustainable. The Titans, Colts, 49ers, Panthers,, and Eagles if Miles Sanders in not hurt are going to punch this defense in the mouth and run for 200 yards a game... At least!
GUTE...I Don't care if a players friggen RAS score is 948 if he CAN'T tackle or he CAN'T catch the ball. Is John Dorsey scooped up yet? Elliot Wolf? Maybe one of the Ravens executives who NEVER seem to blow 1st, 2nd, and 3rd round picks EVERY year.
jannesbjornson
November 02, 2020 at 08:24 am
Playing into the queens plan from the start. They controlled clock ,but let them return points in fashion then LeFleur abandoned the run giving big MO to the purple. The Three and outs were due to dropped balls were
un-professional.
Coldworld
November 02, 2020 at 11:13 am
We didn’t drop much of anything beyond EQ and the toss to Ervin. My take was that the Vikings adjusted to the run and we couldn’t get any width. Ervin looked rusty.
I did think some of the holding penalties against us were pretty tacky (Vikings had a couple but much fewer). The PI calls too were inconsistent and fell against us more. Oddly officiated game. I think it made a big difference but should not mask the defensive performance of “Lost in Lambeau.” Sadly a show reprising earlier performances in Tampa and in SF last year.
jannesbjornson
November 02, 2020 at 08:56 pm
Jackson is not a CB.
Bearmeat
November 02, 2020 at 07:12 am
This morning, I saw a still shot of P Smith lining up at CB, 8 yards away from the TE he was covering. On 1st and 10. Oh, and there were 10 Packer defenders on the field.
If that doesn't tell you all you need to know, you've got your head buried in the sand.
Fire Pettine now.
RCPackerFan
November 02, 2020 at 07:22 am
I saw the same thing.
There are things I just don't get with Pettine.
First. We are struggling with stopping the run. We are missing one of our best tacklers (Greene). So rather then changing the defense to go without Greene, (ex: more LB's) they simply put Redmond in Greene's spot. Sorry but Redmond is NOT Greene. He takes poor angles, and can't tackle. Change the defense to the players you have. Put the Best players on the field, not just try running the defense you're running with lesser players.
What I would have liked to have seen, is them bringing in an extra OLB and have Z roaming around the entire front. I would have much rather seen that then seeing Redmond in there.
I just mentioned in my thread that I think Lancaster is playing out of position. When Clark was out Lancaster played well at NT. He is not good at DE. Playing players out of position is not always a good thing. It doesn't always work.
I really wonder, if the 49ers offense does really well (with what appears to be a very hurt offense). I do wonder if LaFleur pulls the plug on Pettine. They would have a mini bye after that game for a new DC to get established. Not saying it will happen, just wondering if it may?
Bearmeat
November 02, 2020 at 07:25 am
Even if you fire Pettine, what do you do? Who do you replace him with? How is the defense going to get better by the end of the year?
So you send a 1st and a 3rd to the Jets for Q. Williams? I mean, ok. That's a steep price. But it might work. But then you still have the personnel we DO have being used badly.
I honestly think we're in for an embarrassing early playoff exit. Followed quickly by Pettine. Then perhaps by Rodgers. Ugh.
jannesbjornson
November 02, 2020 at 08:26 am
Let Olivadotti run the show or Montgomery.
jhalwas611.com
November 02, 2020 at 08:51 am
Maybe it's time for the shake up that everyone gives lip service to. Quotes of we have to tackle better and look at the film to figure it out are old news. Scheme changes, putting players in position to make plays might be nice.
RCPackerFan
November 02, 2020 at 09:37 am
Honestly I have no idea who they would use as DC. I have seen Gray mentioned since he was a DC before. How about Mike Smith? His personality could be infectious. He could be a guy the entire defense responds well too?
I really don't know who would make for a good DC on the roster.
After the season I could see them going after Dan Quinn. And maybe some other guys.
Honestly I'm at the point that I would consider sending a first and 3rd for Williams. (if they would take it). Sometimes you need to make a big move. Could that move alone be enough?
I honestly am not even thinking about playoffs yet. We still have a lot of season left and a lot of time to get our team to where we want it. We just hit November. We haven't played half our games yet. A lot can happen in the next 9 games.
Coldworld
November 02, 2020 at 11:26 am
If the use of Smith’s group is driven by Pettine, not him, Smith might be an option. I like his fire, but would it be too big a jump in season?
PhantomII
November 02, 2020 at 08:04 pm
We have another former DC In Pettine's Coaching group. He's probably waiting for Ax to fall.
RCPackerFan
November 02, 2020 at 07:14 am
Game Balls:
Rodgers-
Its hard to give Rodgers a game ball in a loss, but lets look at what he had to work with. He had Adams and Tonyan as his biggest weapons to throw to. The running game was almost non existent in the 2nd half (some due to play calling). The defense was abysmal. Rodgers had to basically carry the team in a game in which throwing was almost impossible with the wind. And on the final play his OL couldn't block 3 guys long enough to allow him to throw the ball for who knows what would have happened type of play.
Adams-
If you are a defensive coordinator for another team, how do you not have a guy pressing him at the LOS, and having another guy 10 yards behind. He is so damn good especially without any other legit options at WR right now.
Kamal Martin -
Its only a matter of time when he becomes the full time starter. He shows his explosiveness. The more he plays the better he will get.
Lame Calls:
The Run Defense-
First I have to say our DL is the biggest problem on this team.
I think Lancaster is playing out of spot. He is a NT only. He needs to be behind Clark at NT or move Clark out and let Lancaster play NT. He isn't quick enough to play DE. That to me is problem 1 on the DL. Lowry is average at best at DE. He did make a nice play when he was unblocked though. But he is virtually a non factor. Perhaps in a different scheme he'd be better?
In a game where you know they are going to run the ball a lot, why were they not using one of the best run stopping DL more? Adams has become one of their better run blockers and he did not play nearly enough.
Also why was Winn not active? He has been good on the DL. I would say better then Lancaster.
In order for this team to make a serious run they have to find help on the DL. Maybe they could look to bring in Poe or someone else. They need help on the DL!
One player they really missed in this game was Raven Greene. He is one of our best tacklers. The gap between him and Redmond is significant.
Officials-
Wow. I'm not saying the Packers lost because of the officials. NOT SAYING THAT! BUT, I will say by them picking up the flag on the Tonyan play that they threw the flag on, that eliminated any realistic chance of them winning the game without some miracle comeback. (which nearly happened). How in the hell did they pick that flag up? It was CLEARLY PI! And to make matters worse. They picked that one up, and yet the one on Alexander (which was a 3rd and long play) they didn't pick up when the ball was easily 10 yards overthrown. There was 0 chance the WR was catching that one. I just don't get it. There were so many missed/bad calls in that game.
Officials need to officiate the game. That is their job. Not to make the game about them.
Short Yardage:
One thing I want to ask. Did the Packers take the Vikings lightly looking ahead to the rematch of the 49ers on Thursday? They will never admit it. But Did they not play Jones, Bakhtiari because they thought they could get through this game? If they play Thursday, I have to think they saved them for the 49ers game, which then makes me think they thought they could get by against the Vikings without those guys.
With the trade deadline approaching fast, I would say odds are that we won't be bringing in a player, I'm guessing it will be a WR if they do make a move. Shepherd is a JAG. EQ is making his way back, but he has more dropped passes then catches. MVS has all but disappeared. We will get Lazard back (my guess is next week). But Taylor and Shepherd are guys. If they could add an explosive option, that could significantly impact our passing game. It would help Adams out, it would help Rodgers out. And I do believe a more potent offense would help our defense.
I could see LaFleur going to Gutekunst and pounding the table for Will Fuller. Will it happen, probably not, but we will see.
Bearmeat
November 02, 2020 at 07:34 am
We need another good DT at minimum too. And then we'd have to have the personnel be used correctly.
Honestly, I think we're in real trouble.
RCPackerFan
November 02, 2020 at 08:17 am
We need help on the DL. But here is my question. Do we have the guys, but they are being played out of position?
Play Lancaster at NT and Clark outside. Or when they use Clark at NT use Keke or Adams at DE?
Would that be better? Would it be good enough to help stop the run?
Coldworld
November 02, 2020 at 11:29 am
To my mind, Lancaster and Clark both are better at NT. I agree, Lancaster is particularly out of place at DE, but since he barely played yesterday that wasn’t the issue. Indeed I think the usage yesterday was truly inexplicable.
RCPackerFan
November 02, 2020 at 12:21 pm
I would agree with you on that.
Lancaster played 27 snaps yesterday. He played 52% of the snaps. That is to much!
Lowry played 37 snaps - 71%.
Keke played 16 snaps - 31%
Adams played 6 snaps - 12%
IMO, Adams should have used Adams and Keke way more and Lancaster a lot less!
bjkdad44
November 02, 2020 at 06:55 pm
Why not a 4-3?
jannesbjornson
November 02, 2020 at 09:01 pm
Go with a 4-2 and amoeba your safety to go strong with the TE or blitz the free gaps.
jannesbjornson
November 02, 2020 at 09:03 pm
Lancaster has always performed best as a Nose, from the Wildcats to the Pack. Pettine has no recognition of talent to scheme and the Players are now showing their distrust of this chaos.
RCPackerFan
November 02, 2020 at 08:16 am
I just saw that on Tonyan's last catch, that he was facemasked when tackled. SMH!!!
IF they call that, it would have given the Packers the ball at about the 25ish yard line with 29 seconds left and a timeout. Another HUGE blown call.
The refs moved up on my crap list of the week!
Bearmeat
November 02, 2020 at 09:08 am
They were terrible. But we still deserved to lose.
RCPackerFan
November 02, 2020 at 12:15 pm
The problem with officials is when they interject themselves into games when they shouldn't and then disappears when they shouldn't.
If they call things one way they need to call it that way all game long. That is the most aggravating.
They can severely impact a game by the calls they make or don't make.
The pick up of the penalty cost the Packers from continuing that drive and didn't allow them a chance at getting a TD.
This facemask would have given them 15 yards plus an additional 20-25 seconds of time. That is huge at the end of the game.
Sometimes the officials have way to big of an impact on the game. This game they definitely did!
Lare
November 02, 2020 at 11:08 am
it's always easy to blame the officiating when you lose, but I do believe it gets to the point sometimes when they can dictate the outcome of the game. For example, in the Packers two losses this season they were flagged a total of 15 times for 161 yards. In those games their opponents were flagged a total of 7 times for 36 yards. Coincidence?
RCPackerFan
November 02, 2020 at 01:34 pm
And I'm not saying they lost because of officiating. BUT officiating can really impact a game. When things are ticky tacky that are called one way, then they need to call it that way the whole game. To call it one way and not the other will always piss fans off.
In this game, I think most fans would have been 'ok' with the officiating if it wasn't for the Tonyan plan. That was purely a joke!
jannesbjornson
November 02, 2020 at 09:05 pm
Definitely some Vegas calls going to the Wilf bros.
blacke00
November 02, 2020 at 07:35 am
I've said this before (unfortunately not on this site), but Gutekunst is really the blame here. He and his scouting staff are not good at evaluating talent. The people he has drafted over the last 3 years are not very good no matter how you look at it. He, of course has found a few gems but by and large their draft strategy and philosophy is just plan crap (I would use a stronger word).
Time for a change
Guam
November 02, 2020 at 07:48 am
There is a former DC already on the staff - Jerry Gray. I have seen enough of Pettine's defense to know the Packers won't win a championship with him. Why not try Gray? What is there to lose?
Gute has the ammunition to upgrade this team if he chooses to. The Packers lost Bulaga, Martinez and Fackrell to free agency and signed no offsetting free agents (Kirksey was signed after the free agent period was over and he was a street free agent) so they should pick up a couple of compensatory picks in this draft. It is always a crap shoot to try to guess what those picks will be, but given the size of the Bulaga and Martinez contracts, two fourth round choices are not unreasonable. Gute would have to trade current Packer draft picks and bank on the league giving them proper compensation, but Gute should have the ammunition to pick up some talented "fire sale" vets at WR and DL from teams that are giving up (without seriously damaging next year's draft). However that assumes that Gute is all in on this year. We will see in the next two days.....
Thegreatreynoldo
November 03, 2020 at 04:46 am
FWIW, overthecap has $10M as the cusp between a 4th round comp and a 5th round comp. Martinez at $10.25M is just barely a 4th. Bulaga is listed by OTC as a 5th but it is close. Bulaga has $19.25M fully guaranteed, which is a strong number, while Martinez has $19.00M fully guaranteed. Fackrell is a pretty obvious 6th round comp pick.
So it most likely is a 4th, a 5th and a 6th.
Could be 2 fifths and a sixth.
Could be 2 fourths and a sixth.
Booner
November 02, 2020 at 07:49 am
Pack will get destroyed on Thursday night! Pettine has lost the sun and does not have his defense anywhere close to being a contender. Gute can't draft worth a damn!!! Where is cry baby Gary ,Jackson and Savage all high draft picks? Time for the executive committee to make a move and replace Murphy and Gute! Maybe we can put Jordan Love in and see if he can tackle Cook!
Failure
egbertsouse
November 02, 2020 at 08:15 am
They need more than one piece on defense; DL stinks, OLB average, ILB <average, CB>average, Safeties stink. They could use one tough, butt-kicker type since the DC won’t do it.
freddisch
November 02, 2020 at 09:33 am
Agree, we need one or two “Lyle Alzado” types on this team
packerbackerjim
November 02, 2020 at 09:52 am
Yeah, if they legalize steroids.
PeteK
November 02, 2020 at 08:25 am
What is going on with Preston Smith? I know he has to keep his outside shoulder free on running plays , but he just could not squeeze that gap and get off blocks
and he is not a small OLB. Off tackle runs are killing us. We needed Clark to have a game that matches his contract and rating, and he did not, he was just solid. I watched Grady Jarret Thurs and saw a NT that didn't only hold his ground but squeezed down the gap and made plays. I like the idea of moving Clark to DE and Lancaster to nose.
On offense the wind did hamper our passing attack a bit, but we still gained 290 yds. On the ground , even with a grinder like Williams we should have gained much more yardage against that pedestrian D line. We make players that are close to the line of scrimmage look super human, Jenkins, White, and Hendricks.
IrishPacker
November 02, 2020 at 08:37 am
Good call there Pete, Hendricks looked like all-pro against us.
Now I’m not an expert on football, but the Packers D need to become a hard nosed smash mouth outfit who are difficult to play against.
I don’t see any of the current unit apart from perhaps Jaiere who fits that description.
Whiffs in the tackle, arm tackles, committing too early are rife.
Get the freakin fundamentals right, then we can dream
jannesbjornson
November 02, 2020 at 09:10 pm
Kendricks is an ALL PRO. That is what an ILB looks like and Zimmer let him play free and dominate this game. He is the best ILB in the game along with Devin White. Not standing around wondering if the Sun sets in the west.
mnbadger
November 02, 2020 at 08:29 am
Game balls - NONE! Nobody on the field or sideline had enough energy to brew a bag of tea! We were outplayed and out coached at every level. With all injured players on both teams, queens clearly had more talent. That's on you BG and it's unforgivable.
Lame calls - extending MP last year was lame. Letting him continue matches the definition of insanity. Another poster smartly suggested replacing him with Jerry Gray now. If the organization truly wants to win the super bowl, they have to shake things up. They stuck with MM and capers far too long and paid the price.
I felt bad for laravee and McCarren as they had to watch it in person. I wish we could have heard their comments during commercials. GPG
BAMABADGER
November 02, 2020 at 08:49 am
Lame quote of the wee: Aaron Rodgers: "I don't know if we played with the kind of energy that we needed to. We had fans the last two weeks. No fans this week. I don't know if that had something to do with it, but I didn't feel like we played with a lot of energy today."
BAMABADGER
November 02, 2020 at 08:49 am
Lame quote of the day: Aaron Rodgers: "I don't know if we played with the kind of energy that we needed to. We had fans the last two weeks. No fans this week. I don't know if that had something to do with it, but I didn't feel like we played with a lot of energy today."
jhalwas611.com
November 02, 2020 at 08:59 am
I couldn't believe it when I saw this also. Now it's the fans fault that the players aren't motivated to earn their pay. I believe there were hundreds of thousands of fans watching what transpired who have to get up to go to work EVER DAY without the support of cheering players!! How very lame of an excuse for the lackluster effort of all 3 units, the coaches and the upper management of this organization.
jhalwas611.com
November 02, 2020 at 09:12 am
Maybe it's time someone is shown the smiling faces captured by the TV crews of the Packer QB talking with the opposing defenders after plays for motivation. Show these in front of the entire team and see if anyone emerges as a leader who doesn't need adoring fans to do their job! He seemed happy during these times.
UGDR
November 02, 2020 at 09:21 am
" Pettine takes all the heat, but he tried everything and nothing worked." I can not agree with this statement. 40 mph wind gusts suggest to maybe stack the box and focus on stopping Cook and force Cousins to beat you. Simple as that but nope, stick to the game plan, 3 man line with a 3 man rush on 3rd and 7 with the CBs lined up 8 years off the WRs. Very poor scheme and adjustments by Pettine....again...
mnbadger
November 02, 2020 at 09:22 am
I'm a huge fan of AR's talent, but the sight of him laughing it up with a defender after a failed 3rd down play was sickening to me. Evidently personal pride and competitiveness take a back seat to being part of the fraternity of nfl players. I've never been a fan of fraternities which are no more than cults IMHO. GPG
showmefan
November 02, 2020 at 09:23 am
The good and the bad about hurry up offense is that we might have scored 30 but the queens might have scored 40!!!
Dragon5
November 02, 2020 at 09:38 am
A couple of observations...
As is the norm, the sensationalistic journalism and fan hype with this franchise as the best thing since sliced bread is no stranger to falling on its face. In the past month we've witnessed it with Gute, LaFleur, Rodgers, the O, etc. Football is an emotional sport, I get it...but if those emotional highs pollute logic, we often find ourselves mired in disappointment.
My big tiff with yesterday's game is actually the opposite of the perceived majority. EQ has been injured for well over a year, plays a highly disappointing first game back and y'all want to cast him down to the pit of fire. I get the disappointment given our lack of WR depth, shunned by the draft, FA, etc, but gimme an EQ that gets more reps and I'll take him over MVS any day. Just as Lazard has proved, I believe EQ is legit...you see it in his route running, catch technique, etc; he just needs the reps. Other than this, I'll repost my Sept 12th post...we've over achieved beating bad teams...Minnesota's fall from grace has been shocking, increasing our playoff odds, but outside of JAX, we still have some tough sledding ahead. I have great concern about the OL continuity going into the second half of the year.
Dragon5's picture
Dragon5
September 12, 2020 at 04:06 pm
My view on 2020 season...
First, addressing the injury bug as it's nearly impossible to expect success without health. Injury prone 7 energy is associated with these players for 2020.
Most at risk: Crosby, Bahktiari
Others: Sullivan, EQ, Kirksey, Foster, MVS, King, Njiman, Bolton, Ramsey, Ervin, Dillon
If healthy, players likely to exceed expectations...OX & RAT year born players
OX: Alexander, Gary, Stepaniak, Runyun Jr, Savage Jr, Deguara, Hansen, V. Scott
RAT: Kingsley, Jackson, Sullivan, Crosby, Lewis, EQ
Earlier this year I warned our OL is in trouble due to numerous GOAT year starters (Turner, Linsley, Bahktiari). Their enemy sign, the OX, approaches and officially begins Feb 12, 2021. We're already seeing issues with Turner. I explained that a patchwork OL is likely by season's end. If the 2020 class OL steps up, we could see Gute win GM of the year if these rookies become starters, and, in conjunction, we see the likes of the 2019 & 2018 class, highlighted by the OX & RAT year players mentioned above, blossom. The worst thing Gute can do to mess this up is to re-up Bahktiari in Bahk's enemy year. While Gute stands to shine, Murphy and LaFleur are also born in GOAT years, so heat is coming their way. For Murphy, that may be repurcussions of forcing the LaFleur hire. For LaFleur, that may be retaining Pettine, a HORSE. We are in a RAT year and HORSE and RAT are enemy signs. Despite numerous younger defensive players expected to shine, I'm looking for Pettine to fail to "bring it all together" with his brand of defense and be released after this year.
9-7 missing the playoffs
PeteK
November 02, 2020 at 12:29 pm
We'll put you on the defensive team payroll, what the hell, nothing else is working out.
jannesbjornson
November 02, 2020 at 09:16 pm
All hail the OX Year 2021.
skyler
November 02, 2020 at 09:52 am
The only difference between Gute and TT, is his willingness to look at some FA's So far in three years, who has he picked that was good or a fit for the scheme? The Packers Organization holds on to GM and Coaches way too long. Oh, how I miss the Holmgren years. Good coaching and good GM work
jannesbjornson
November 02, 2020 at 09:19 pm
Ted and Gutey were there with Wolf. Look at Wolf's later drafts and his player movements like Wayne Simmons etc. No SB # two or three 4 you. Time to clean out the chicken coop and bring in a different vision. Status quo works fine for the Mike Brown crowd, but we have had two HOF QBs at the helm since 1992. Where's the bling?
jimtalkbox
November 02, 2020 at 09:55 am
Abysmal showing by the defense.
The front office has sunk multiple high round picks and several very high priced free agents into that side of the ball. At some point you start looking squarely at the staff. Pettine's seat is incredibly warm. (or it should be!)
4thand1
November 02, 2020 at 06:10 pm
good, 1st half offense
bad, 2nd half offense.
ugly, defense getting exposed again. silver lining, it happened halfway through the season. Gute make a dam move!!
uglier, wrong thread lmao
imafubared
November 02, 2020 at 12:42 pm
How many times are we going to mention the lame play of the defense. Quite honestly I think they are playing up to their abilities. I think they are giving it all they have. And thats where the problems lie, Pettine cant make a silk purse out of a pigs ear. He cannot make Alexander faster. He can't make 5'10 backs 6'2 and 210. He cant make our linebackers more mobile and able to stop the end runs. He cant make the dline pass rush with power on all plays and pressure the qb's. He has no real defensive ends with height and speed. He has no dbacks who are sturdy and can tackle and stay healthy - Savage, King, others.
No you cant expect Pettine to do a lot with these guys. We drafted poorly and passed on good talent via free agency to save a buck.
The Vikes are always competitive and always have a steller d. It takes money, drafting skill, willingness to cut unproductive players and willingness to make trades to keep getting things that need fixing fixed and in a hurry.
imafubared
November 02, 2020 at 12:42 pm
How many times are we going to mention the lame play of the defense. Quite honestly I think they are playing up to their abilities. I think they are giving it all they have. And thats where the problems lie, Pettine cant make a silk purse out of a pigs ear. He cannot make Alexander faster. He can't make 5'10 backs 6'2 and 210. He cant make our linebackers more mobile and able to stop the end runs. He cant make the dline pass rush with power on all plays and pressure the qb's. He has no real defensive ends with height and speed. He has no dbacks who are sturdy and can tackle and stay healthy - Savage, King, others.
No you cant expect Pettine to do a lot with these guys. We drafted poorly and passed on good talent via free agency to save a buck.
The Vikes are always competitive and always have a steller d. It takes money, drafting skill, willingness to cut unproductive players and willingness to make trades to keep getting things that need fixing fixed and in a hurry.
imafubared
November 02, 2020 at 12:49 pm
I remember a couple years ago Zimmer fired a rookie placekicker who missed two of three field goals in like game one or two. The announcer asked him point blank, why did you do that and not let the kid develop into a good kicker. Zimmer answered, and this is dam important to their philosophy, "were not in the development mode were in the win now mode all the time".
He cut the entire O line, replaced them all in one season with draft picks, trades and free agency. They couldn't pass block so they all got eliminated, in one off season. No screwing around, you produce or they move on.
Had they, and they wouldnt have mind you, drafted Gary he would be on some other team already or out of football altogether.
imafubared
November 02, 2020 at 12:49 pm
I remember a couple years ago Zimmer fired a rookie placekicker who missed two of three field goals in like game one or two. The announcer asked him point blank, why did you do that and not let the kid develop into a good kicker. Zimmer answered, and this is dam important to their philosophy, "were not in the development mode were in the win now mode all the time".
He cut the entire O line, replaced them all in one season with draft picks, trades and free agency. They couldn't pass block so they all got eliminated, in one off season. No screwing around, you produce or they move on.
Had they, and they wouldnt have mind you, drafted Gary he would be on some other team already or out of football altogether.
imafubared
November 02, 2020 at 12:49 pm
I remember a couple years ago Zimmer fired a rookie placekicker who missed two of three field goals in like game one or two. The announcer asked him point blank, why did you do that and not let the kid develop into a good kicker. Zimmer answered, and this is dam important to their philosophy, "were not in the development mode were in the win now mode all the time".
He cut the entire O line, replaced them all in one season with draft picks, trades and free agency. They couldn't pass block so they all got eliminated, in one off season. No screwing around, you produce or they move on.
Had they, and they wouldnt have mind you, drafted Gary he would be on some other team already or out of football altogether.
LayingTheLawe
November 02, 2020 at 01:44 pm
People seem to like some of the defense pieces individually. Clark, Z, corners, the young inside has promise. But as a unit we have gotten to a point where even after a sack or penalty on the offense we expect the D to still give up the first down. That's gotta be the scheme and coaching then right? And if there is the idea that this season is a season they are going to make some noise in, well then changes are needed.
On offense it seemed that a couple penalties killed drives or they score 30 plus in bad conditions while missing key parts. So I am not so concerned there other than that the play calling in the second half seemed to fall off once they got past the more scripted portion of the game.