Packers vs. Lions – Knee-Jerk Reaction

Aaron Rodgers

By now, you’ve already read a few reaction pieces to the Packers 19-7 loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday.  Most Packers losses have an ugly element to them, by nature, and this one was no exception.  Here are my own thoughts coming out of the loss and where this leaves the Packers as they prepare for another road division game against the Chicago Bears next week.

Our own Jersey Al Bracco talked about Packers head coach Mike McCarthy’s polluted mindset and how the offense leaves little to the imagination of opposing defenses.  Last week, I wrote about some of the more questionable decisions McCarthy had made through the first two games and the loss to the Lions added a few more.

Al already covered one of my biggest issues with McCarthy to date: his inability to adjust during a game and his lackluster play calling.  Sure, it’s easy to harp on those things after the fact and after a loss, but this isn’t an anomaly.  It’s not just one week, it’s been a few seasons now and it’s only going to get more difficult for the Packers to win and gain an advantage on offense if they can’t better camouflage their intentions.  I won’t go so far as to suggest that it’s time to seriously consider removing the play calling duties from McCarthy, but I’m headed there and it won’t be long before I arrive.  But I digress.

After the Packers forced their second turnover on an interception by cornerback Davon House, the Packers began the drive on their own one-yard line as House caught the ball before rolling into the end zone.  The first play was a run to Lacy off right tackle.  Rookie tight end Richard Rodgers was also lined up on the right side for this particular play.  Immediately after the snap, Rodgers was driven back into Lacy and the Lions scored an easy safety.  Immediately, my Twitter timeline was filled with questions about why they chose to run in that situation.  I didn’t mind a run call but the alignment and personnel were terrible.  Unless I have just severely missed something, when has Rodgers shown any ability to run block?  Against that Lions defensive front and the best run defense in the league, the Packers, instead of utilizing their best assets, gave the Lions a layup.  After the safety, the Lions drove down and added a field goal so the Packers managed to turn a big play and turnover into five points for Detroit.  That’s something, well, the Lions would typically do!

For the past three seasons, it’s been the Packers defense that has failed to help out the offense and uphold their end of holding a lead or getting enough stops.  So far this season, it’s the offense that is sputtering, and badly.  There’s nothing resembling a run game to be found.  Lacy hasn’t established any type of rhythm.  Granted, tackle Bryan Bulaga missed most of week one and most of last week’s game so the run blocking suffered, but with Bulaga back in there today, we saw that this Packers offense can’t impose its will on a defense.  At least not at this point in the season.  There’s still time and I’m not in any type of panic mode, but the Packers are trending in the wrong direction and have very few obvious reasons to point to.

Aaron Rodgers has spoiled us.  We have become so used to his unprecedented accuracy that when he fails to make a throw that less than half of the quarterbacks in the league can make, we say that he missed and that he’s off.  The pass to Jordy Nelson in the end zone that was out of Nelson’s reach is a throw that Rodgers has made many times before.  Rodgers has struggled with his location in each game and isn’t at his best in 2014, by a long shot.  That said, I’m also not buying that Rodgers is on the decline just because he turned 30 during the offseason.  Sure, age eventually catches up with every athlete, but we’re three weeks into the season.  Let’s not start looking for pieces of the sky on the ground, OK?

Rodgers places a high value on the chemistry and confidence he has in his receivers.  Maybe a little bit too much value, if you ask me.  A handyman needs tools to do his job but he shouldn’t turn to his favorite screwdriver to hammer a nail just because he doesn’t love the hammer that’s in the box.  Talent level and ability aside, the Packers have some new faces at receiver and tight end and I get that any quarterback is going to look for the reliable and favorite targets more often.  But any amount of hesitation and refusal to look in the direction of these young guys just because they haven’t earned Rodgers’ trust has to stop.  In the case of Jarrett Boykin, I get it.  He’s dropped everything thrown his way and can’t catch a cold so far this year.  But if Davante Adams and Richard Rodgers are open, throw them the damn ball!  Today, Adams missed an adjustment at the line and took off instead of hanging back for a bubble screen.  Those types of things make Aaron’s skin crawl and I understand that it’s frustrating, but Rodgers sometimes cuts off the perpetrator for too long and it cripples the offense.  With Jeff Janis yet to make an appearance at receiver, Adams is now the third guy on the depth chart and Boykin is the fourth.  Both are going to get on the field with as many four-receiver sets the Packers use.  Get used to looking for 17, for better or worse, Aaron.

Back to coaching, everything the players do on the field is coachable and so anything that is wrong is fixable.  So what was said to Lacy when he continued to try and cut outside, looking for 6-8 yards instead of barreling ahead for 2-4 yards?  What was said to DuJuan Harris when he, again, chose to bring the ball out of the end zone on a kick return and, again, failed to reach the 20?  These habits are seeming to die hard and while it’s up to the players to execute, they should be doing what they’re told.  I wish we knew what they were being told but I think we have a better chance of finding out who shot Kennedy.  After today’s game, a reporter asked Mike Daniels what McCarthy said to the team after the loss and he replied “that’s classified”.  McCarthy hates talking to the media and sharing his thoughts on the team.  It’s as obvious as can be in his answers and demeanor, neither of which ever seem to change.  He can never say enough about his players and is just so perplexed why any reporter would question any of his coaching or decisions.

On a day when the defense upheld their end of things in a big divisional road game, the one thing that has been most constant since Rodgers became the starting quarterback let everyone down:  the offense.  Not to graze over the defensive performance.  They were on the field way too long and they managed to force three turnovers.  They finally got an interception by a safety for the first time in nearly two calendar years and rookie Ha Ha Clinton-Dix was the man of the hour.  The pass was tipped, but finally, a safety was in position to make a play…and did.  Julius Peppers had a sack, forced fumble and fumble recovery on the same play.  It’s why they brought him in and those types of plays are going to be needed throughout the season.

The defense was just on the field way too long today and it’s hard to blame them for being gassed late.  If most of us knew that the Packers would force three turnovers today, many of us would have expected a victory.  Still, the defensive performance today and during the second half last week is something to build on.  If the offense ever gets their act together, the Packers can start to get this train back on the tracks.

On the injury front, the Packers have to be concerned about the status of linebacker Clay Matthews, who left the game with a groin injury and did not return.  Groin and hamstring injuries are tough to gauge and can linger through an entire season.  Matthews has had hamstring issues in the past as well.  Last year after he injured his thumb, Matthews tried to play with a cast on his hand and became just a guy out there on defense.  He wasn’t Clay Matthews, as we know him.  If he can’t be that guy, the Packers should think twice before trotting him out there on one leg.  It’s just another in a long list of injuries and possible missed games for Matthews.

Also injured were House and linebacker Jamari Lattimore who both left the field due to cramps.  Lattimore returned and House isn’t expected to miss any time.  He was replaced in the nickel by Casey Hayward.

As the Packers head to Chicago to take on the Bears, they seem to have another daunting task ahead of them.  A tough road game at a tough venue.  Two big receivers in Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery, who have given the Packers many problems in the past.  But the Bears lack the type of defensive front that the last three opponents have had.  Is this the week the offense finds a bit of a groove?  The Packers have to hope so.  While it’s not mathematically a must-win game, another divisional loss would put the Packers in an early hole and still searching for the solution to their ailments.

 

 

 

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Jason Perone is an independent sports blogger writing about the Packers on AllGreenBayPackers.com

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11 thoughts on “Packers vs. Lions – Knee-Jerk Reaction

  1. I hope the Bears game doesn’t have me going for knee replacement surgery because of more ineptitude…though I could live with a Tulloch injury if they were to stir that level of reaction via success. 🙂

  2. The packers will allow the bears front 7 to have a breakout game of their young season Just like Packers let Detro’s rag tag, 3rd stringer DBs look like starters in the last game.

    1. Honestly, this is my biggest concern with this team. We don’t win in the trenches against the good teams and everything hits the wall from there. The real possibility that we have a very average O-line and D-line has me worried that we will not realize our potential on either side of the ball. While I support TT, his misses in the draft have really hurt the lines and set the ceiling for this team.

  3. Matthews is one of the best when he’s “on the field”… looks like another season where he may be “off” the field more than he is on. Can’t say I wouldn’t have paid him either, however, I have this sick feeling that the rest of his career is going to be on IR…

  4. The biggest weakness on defense yesterday was Aaron Rodgers. Once the play is called by MM and executed by the offense, AR needs to make the decison that moves the chains. In too many instances AR is throwing the ball on third down WAY further than what is needed for the first down and to a reciever that is well covered. Instead of looking for the big play on every play, AR needs to focus more on just getting what the offense needs – another set of downs. This changes field position, and the time of possession. If AR will just focus on moving the chains, and less on the big play, the Packers will score more points on offense and the defense will play less snaps and not be so worn down at the end of the game.

  5. Big Mike is the worst time management, in game adjustment coach in the league…it will take him five games to figure out what to do about the two deep safety thing…if the Bears and their horrible run defense bottle up Mikes running plays it will get ugly again…you aint bar tending now Mike but you will be in a few years if you can’t get any better game plans than you have this year….

  6. Going forward we need the defense to consistently play as they have over the last 6 quarters. On offense, first and most important, the OL must step up their play significantly no matter which plays are called or who calls them. Maybe we can lock them in a room and make them watch film of Lombardi’s OL until they get it! Second, A. Rodgers needs to play better because he is playing like he is hurt or worried about being hurt. He has been tentative and inaccurate. I think this is the first time I am saying this about a Packer QB since 1992 when Favre began to play for the Packers. Third, we need to run the ball effectively. This includes the aforementioned OL and Lacy. So far Starks has been better than Lacy when he gets the ball. Fourth, we need our Tight Ends! I believe that our passing game is suffering because our TEs are irrelevant. Opposing defenses are blanketing our WRs because we have no effective TEs. Fifth, MM or Rodgers need to throw to our backs and TEs. Screen passes, play action to TEs, hit backs out of the backfield, something to make the defense cover more than just our WRs. Throw a pass for 3-5 yards, maybe break a tackle and get 7-8 yards or more. We seem to be always looking to throw deep passes. I realize that the Packers offense is an attacking offense but lets get some consistency and confidence before we look for the big play on every pass play. We may have been better off when we didn’t have Lacy and we needed to throw those quick slants and passes to backs to substitute for a run game. It’s early in the season and we have plenty of football left but lets start by just making first downs. MM needs to do his job better and the players, especially the offense, need to play better. Go Pack Go! Thanks, Since ’61

  7. It’s hard for Lacy to barrel forward for 2 or 4 yards when he’s constantly dodging guys behind the LOS. It’s hard for AR to hit those intermediate routes when he can’t step up in the pocket. Interior OLine play must improve.

  8. Is it coaching….is it personnel? The debate rages. It’s definitely something.

    On offense, it’s the same guys for the most part as last year. Thus, I think offensive troubles rest at the feet of MM. Game plans are piss-poor and play menu is stagnant and limited. MM refuses to publicly discuss idea that problem could be his scheme. He insists it’s on the players. These players seem intelligent and hard workers. Turnover has been minimal. Hard for me to believe it’s the player’s fault with the possible exception of R Cobb. It is possible he’s not the same player post snapped fibula.

    Some ideas for MM – Stop running Lacy wide – he’s too big and slow for that. Get Bostick on the field. If Cobb can’t get uncovered, try Adams, Janis etc. Throw underneath the coverage. Misdirection, screens etc.

    Defense is looking decent vs run and pass rush. Coverage in secondary not quite as good as I expected. And, of course, short/intermediate middle of the field (AJ Hawk territory) is a wasteland.

    Suggestion – go get Arthur Brown (ILB) from Ravens. He was R2 pick last year. For some reason, Ravens soured on him. The guy is far better than anything we have. Stop worrying about getting lined up right and focus on getting off the field on 3rd down. Peppers had a big week and if that continues I will admit I was wrong about him but I don’t think I was. He was going against a 3rd string RT v Lions. Bears have two OL out this week. We shall see over time. God knows we need Peppers to be good. I’m hoping CMIII is OK and plays full go this week. We will need a complete effort to get by Bears who will be playing on a short week.

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