Mini-bye week musings

The Green Bay Packers are about to enter the most important stretch of their season and fortunately for them they had what amounts to a second bye week after beating the Lions last Thursday. All of sudden all is well in Packerland  but their are five games remaining with one of the two hardest games a week from today against Baltimore. Before I get into that, though, I thought I would throw out my current thoughts on the Packers and the NFL in general.

* The Packers are playing much better than they have all year and the defense, now No. 1 in the NFL, still has room to improve. If Jarrett Bush doesn’t make the big mistake we are all waiting for the defense should continue to get better. As long as Charles Woodson is healthy, they will be a force to reckoned with. I love the way they are using Woodson at every position in the secondary. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him at linebacker or defensive end next. Good stuff. Might be the Packers most impactful player on defense since Reggie White. Woodson should also get consideration for Canton if he keeps this up another year or two.

* I’m not so worried about the total number of penalties the Packers have but more so the ones committed on special teams. Those are killers and are usually longer than the actual mark-off of the penalty. They usually result in a 2o or more yard difference in the start of the possession. Simply inexcusable.

* I think the Packers for sure need three wins to make the playoffs. Damn! Had Washington and Tampa Bay held on Sunday the Packers would have almost clinched a spot. The way the Bears are playing it is hard to imagine them beating anyone. Lovie Smith is a fired coach walking. Seattle should be a win and I still think Arizona will have nothing to play for in week 17. A benchmark game is at Pittsburgh. If the Packers win that one they may well be on their way to round three with Brett Favre. Looking at the schedule I think that may be the only game the Packers are not the favorite.

* The Saints game tonight will say a lot about who is the best team in the NFC. Win and the Saints are it, lose and I have to give the nod to Minnesota. The Vikings have the running back to go with the quarterback. The defenses are about the same.

* I do think the Vikings are getting arrogant. How else do you explain going for two after a touchdown that puts you up 36-10 with six minutes left in the game? This is the NFL, things like that come back to haunt you. Pride cometh before fall

* It may be cruel but I don’t care about concussions in the NFL. I would gladly risk a concussion to have the ability to play in the NFL. Every single position player in the NFL knows his life after football will not be like a normal person’s older years. It can’t be given the punishment taken over the course of their careers. If the players pass the necessary tests they should be allowed to play just like any other kind of injury. Besides, they get paid millions to entertain me, so let ‘em play. Tape an aspirin to it and get back on the field.

* I just have a feeling the Packers will be making back-to-back trips to Arizona in January. It will be either there or Dallas. Which would you prefer? I’ll take Arizona.

This entry was posted on Monday, November 30th, 2009 at 10:59 pm and is filed under Al Davis. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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  • Steve Cheez

    I recall a story about Lombardi. A player came limping out of the game and said “Coach, I think I broke my leg.” Lombardi is said to have growled “get the hell back in there until you’re sure.”

  • Mel e Mel

    If NO runs the table which they should, no one can match up with them. MN cant slow them down holding the ball means nothing because they can score in a blink.
    The Pack needs to win out at home and split on the road. The Pack has a long way to go to match the Saints but beating the Ravens is job one

  • Lacey

    According to NFL.com, if the playoffs ended today, they’d play the Cowboys in the wildcard round.

  • Lacey

    Er, that is, if the season ended today and the playoffs began.

  • AATP

    Looks like New Orleans is the real deal – they completely shellacked the Patriots and they’ve been giving game even in their losses. The Patriots are a good team but the Saints are the elite – I don’t think there is a team that has the tools that the Saints have. And they have plenty of character – I still pick New Orleans and Indy in the SB but then again, if the Pack get their wins heading into the playoffs they will be my favorite as the ultimate spoilers. Pack vs. Indy? LMAO!!! My buddy is a die hard Indy fan so that would be fun… but like everyone keeps saying, can’t overlook the regular season but it is fun to dream sometimes. Tis the season for miracles…

  • Three Lakes Terry

    Finally the game that we have been waiting for. Its the first real “Big Game” test coming up for the Packers in a long time. The Ravens are a very good team and we must get a win to continue the drive for the playoffs. The Viking games were special but carried a lot of extra baggage. This game is pretty simple……It is time for Rodgers to shine. This is the first of the real “Big Game” that he will be in during his short career. This will be his first major test when the chips are all on the table and we are facing a good team that is driving for the playoffs themselves. I hope that Rodgers and the team can rise to the occasion. I hope that MM can get them ready. I hope that we can get that signature win which will make us serious contenders. Go Pack……………

  • http://huh DE-Fan

    The Packers are playing much better lately than they have. The defense is good but they are not the number 1 defense. Something about Texas stadium and the Packers makes me want them to play Arizona. Baltimore will be a hell of a test. That is a smash mouth team.

  • Pack4life

    Its time to see if the Pack have learned anything by playing Cincy, & the Vikes Twice. Two physically powerful teams. If Raji Pickett,Jenkins and Jolly stand and deliver that should make a W. No Turnovers please. Go Pack

  • Pete H

    I’m still not completely sold on the D. They started to let Det. back in until Woodson bailed them out. Al, as to your statement about Woodson and Reggie….Woodson may bet a better siging overall than Reggie. I know thats balsphemous, but everyone wanted Reggie, and for good reason, and he chose here. Noone wanted Woods, but GB, and we got him on the cheap, and he’s played arguably as good at his position as Reggie did at his while here. I will give TT all the props for that one. Bush is still a piece of crap though

  • packer_bob

    Ray Rice sure looked like a stud Sunday night. It will be interesting to see how we handle a physical, smash mouth team like Baltimore. I concur that we have looked much better since the TB loss, but lining up against Detroit scarcely counts as a test for how our D is going to handle missing Kampman and Harris.

    I agree with most of your post again, Al, this is getting a bit scary. Woodson is easily the most impactful player on our D since REGGIE! He’s been a baller the whole time here, the 3-4 just seems to have allowed him to elevate his game even more.

    We do need three more wins, I’d rather play in Arizona then Dallas, and the Sainst are the best team in the NFC right now. About the only disagreement I can offer is I doubt Lovie gets fired—the Bears would have to pay his replacement and still pay him the $11 million remaining on his contract. If they continue to look so bad, maybe they fire him but it is far from a given in my mind.

    Long wait till Monday night now, but it will really be interesting to see if we keep rolling or revert back to some of the play prior to beating Dallas. Go Pack Go!

  • Michael Legat

    I agree that Monday will be a huge test. Just everyone promise that if we win, we won’t be hearing from Packer fans here that the Ravens are just 6-6 and the win is no big deal.

  • roy jamison

    Al, I like the assessment in most of your remarks. But going light on possible brain injuries ain’t right. The NFL SHOULD be concerned about these type of injuries. I don’t know if they are doing enough to prevent them either. Sure, some injuries strip you of your ability to be mobile, but when you are talking about an injury they can ruin your ability to function, that’s a completely different category.

  • packer_bob

    To tell you the truth, Michael, I don’t know much about how the Ravens have played this year or why their record is as poor as it is. But I for one won’t be dismissive of beating them, even if we are at home.

    It’s not like we’re playing Indy or the Saints, but I definitely consider them a challenge.

    Roy,

    Good point, you found something else for me to disagree with Al about. If some NFL player wants to subject his knees to abuse in exchange for money, that’s a bit different than somebody ending up a vegetable or in the kind of shape Mike Webster was in. “Tape an aspirin to it” is a bit too of a cavalier attitude when it comes to someone doing serious harm to their brain.

  • PackerPete

    Three Lakes Terry,

    What do you call the Dallas game?

    short memory, eh?

  • Reid

    PackPete – thanks, I was ready to ask the same question.

  • Three Lakes Terry

    Dallas was a must win game over a good team when the Packer season was going to go one way or the other. It was a game of desperation for the Packers. The upcoming Ravens game is very different. We “are in the Playoffs” if we win – that is we will continue to control our future. The Ravens are a good and desperate team coming in. We are now the team that is expected to deliver. This is the kind of game that the Packers need to win to cement the notion that they are a good team. The games against Dallas and Baltimore are games against good teams but the tenure of the games is very different. I really do think that this upcoming game is the first time that Rodgers is playing in the “Big Game”. We will learn about his ability with the lights shinning on him and with positive and high expectations. If the Packers win Monday night we will really know that we have the right situation and the right QB. Its a “Big Game”.

  • packer_bob

    I think I understand what you’re saying, Terry, but despite the different tenor, as you put it, to the two games, they are more similar than different.

    I’d been bitching all season long about not getting that quality win, or statement win, over a good team prior to Dallas. That was the very definition of a big game, as had we lost against Dallas I think the playoffs would have been out of the question.

    I don’t think Dallas is any kind of super-team, but just by looking at the records neither is Baltimore. I think it’s safe to say both teams are good, and are a challenge to defeat. Both games are at home for us, and both are pretty much must wins for us. I’ll grant that Dallas was a bit more of a must win, but that just goes to show that it was a “Big Game” that we won.

  • Pack4life

    If we use the Dallas game as a benchmark, then we can expect the offense to do nothing. The offense has done nothing against quality opposition except 1 drive vs Dallas. All we can expect from the offensive side of the ball is to not screw up. The Defense has to be the lead for the Pack to be successful. ST are an adventure. Let the Defense get some Turnovers and score. I have had an issue with MMs game plans for sometime and I dont see that improving. This game he will try and attack Baltimores secondary but he really should stick with the short passes and use havner and Finley over the middle. Question, has anyone seen a 2 TE set since the Viking game? The excuse for not throwing at Jennings is that teams are doubling him. IF you attack the middle of the field with the TE position you would force more honest coverage but MM knows more than me I hope. Go Pack

  • Lacey

    Nothing against quality opposition? The Bears had one of the best defenses early in the season, before their injuries. Bengals defense is fantastic, Vikings defense is fantastic (our offense did a lot better than “doing nothing” in all of these games).

    The 49ers had a highly rated defense as well. And we obliterated them. I’m going to have to go ahead and disagree with you on that one.

  • Pete H

    I don’t think its a matter of how good are the Ravens. They aren’t a horrible team and if this Packer team is to be part of that next tier they have to beat these teams. Its a game that if they lose they just look like pretenders, if they win they will feel much more like they belong in the contender conversation…not favorites, but in the conversation

  • Lacey

    Right. They’re playoff contenders, but not SB contenders yet. They’d have to win 4 or 5 games rather than 3 to be considered genuine superbowl contenders. That all said, they are hot right now, and are starting to peak when it matters.

    Pass protection is improving, running game is improving, defense has been improving. Just need to get special teams on the same page. If they were even an average special teams, that is, they didn’t hurt us but just put up pedestrian numbers, that would be enough for us.

  • Pack4life

    I will believe win this team reaches 11 wins. Monday is important to reach that.

  • PackerPete

    whats it gonna take for the special teams to not be bumbling fools?

    what needs to happen/change?

    I cast one vote for the addition of a genuine return man. Our returners flat out suck. Injuries have us on our 3rd and 4th best return men on the roster, howz about TT gets Kampy on IR and signs a return guy like Allen Rossum?

    whadda ya think?

  • Larry

    I generally think TT has done a solid job. However, every day he does not pick up a new player is an opportunity missed to train them and get them ready for playing time. At the very least, bringing in a practice squad guy from another team allows the team to evaluate them. I cannot believe that there are not any NFL level talent available among the 150 to 200 practice squad guys out there. It would cost very little and might just bring a very talented player for next year.

  • http://jlworden1suddenlink.net LarryTex

    Larry, what don’t you like about Crabtree, and please name those practice squad guys who are better than our rostered guys.
    Raji seems to be the player TT thought he would be (Matthews too). In the new rotation at DE Jolly’s snaps are down 17 per game and Jenkins’ 11 (or maybe visa-versa, not sure). That would account for a lot of the defensive stats. Please don’t give me that crap about the weakness of our opponents – we’ve faced some pretty good running backs and OLs too. A lot of the D success has to do with the strength left on the DL in the 4th.

  • Larry

    One possibility is that perhaps Kampman isn’t done? I don’t think he’s had surgery yet..perhaps he’ll be back (doubtful given the press) or perhaps TT knows that someone is looking at another one of our practice squad players and wants to have the roster spot available to protect someone.

    Only 45 are active each game and what position would you sign…It’s really the NEXT injury that will determine that.

  • Pack4life

    Kampman should look out for #1 and get his knee fixed. He owes it to his family and himself. He is a free agent that someone will definitely sign next year. I wish AK #74 nothing but the best.

  • http://jlworden1suddenlink.net LarryTex

    Congrats, Larry, you avoided my poor attempt at a trap retort.
    Who, and what, I was trying to elicit was some more critizism of TT for lack of FA OL.
    If you want to know where the FA OL are, the last couple of years, check out the BUF roster. They start a R draft, a 1 year draft, and three FAs. I’ll respond to the answer before the stated “they must have a worse GM than us”. Ralph Wilson knows OL. Seems to me he had a pretty good one when OJ was there and he pays the bills.
    I think you people are going to be pleasantly surprised next year with or without Cliffy and Tausch. Just remember the baby/bathwater senario.

  • jonnyfootballhero

    I think Lang is gonna make a great RT, but I don’t think we have anything close to a capable LT if Cliffy goes down. I hope TT gets one in the next draft. That and a stud RB.

  • http://jlworden1suddenlink.net LarryTex

    You know, jfbh, I’m not so sure its not Barbre at RT and Lang at LT. I know, I know the history, but I’ve come to doubt all this “short arms”, “quick feet”, “upper body, lower body, strength” crap. Supposedly, the LT has to have the greater mobility and longer arms, etc. But why? I am given the reason that its because its the blind side and the best rushers are from the D right. BS, measure it out over history; like REGGIE and Strahan coming from the left. Some of the great 3-4 LBs came from the right as did DEs (ie, LT, Haley) but its not really consistant. I cant believe a yard (36 inches) makes that much difference when its about 4-5 yds to the QB and the OL knows what the call is. The geometry doesn’t support the theory.
    Regardless I agree OT and RB are next year’s draft/FA priority but so far I’ve only heard of one super RB (Best) and a couple of tackles that wont be available in the 15-20 range.

  • maxaz1

    Three LakesTerry
    Your right on. Some say they have played THE MOST DIFFICULT schedule. Beware of the Baltimore Ravens. Their modest 6-5 record could be deceiving. The Ravens have lost narrowly to Cincinnati (17-14), Minnesota (33-31), Indianapolis (17-15) and New England (27-21) this season. They have also beaten solid teams like San Diego, Denver and Pittsburgh. If Pack wins we could be a force in the playoffs.

  • Pack4life

    Larry I have to vehemently disagree. Babre should be in the UFL. Look no further than Monday when Baltimore will play 2 rookies at the tackle spots. Babre couldnt block me (6ft 230) Babre has failed at guard and tackle its time to move on.

  • http://jlworden1suddenlink.net LarryTex

    OK, I can seeeee the in-game blog already. See/Saw scores, ST lousy. Oh, that damned MM and TT. Does it occur to you that BAL cannot score more than 17 pts a game? 20 against banged up PIT in OT. After the first qtr how can they keep up with our 30 pt offense? Especially with our defense peaking now!

  • Larry

    Hey Pack4life…you must be some stud…Jarrett Bush can’t cover your mother or was it grandmother and Barbe can’t block you. Maybe we should sign your family to FA contracts and cut these bums! Given what you think of TT and MM they should go for it!

    GO GRANDMA!

  • roy jamison

    Wonder what Frosty the Puntman is doing these days?

  • Tampa Mike

    Three Lakes Terry is very wise.

  • iccyfan

    Pack4life Says: “Baltimore will play 2 rookies at the tackle spots.”

    I haven’t seen the movie (and probably won’t) but Michael Oher did look pretty impressive against the Steelers.

    I don’t have a good feeling about this game, given the state of our OL versus the blitzing Ravens defense. I do not want to see Ray Lewis coming thru untouched with Rodgers already dinged up. I believe we should win this tilt but I don’t see us putting up 30 points…

  • roy jamison

    Hopefully Clifton will be able to play. Lewis is still tough, but not as fast as he was when he wore a younger man’s clothes. The Pack has a chance to change the perception of them as inconsistent. I don’t think any of the national media has forgotten that loss to Tampa. And, I don’t think the Packers got enough credit after handing it to the Cowboys. Everyone loves Raymond…oops I mean the Vikings…except Packer fans of course!

  • Devil’s Advocate…

    Well, the schedule worked out this time around. Getting a home game to get things started again after a mini-break, against a good team, but one coming off a big Pitt. game, presents a perfect opportunity for the Pack to make a statement. I hope MM and all the players watched the Saints game, there’s almost nothing good you couldn’t pick up from watching them. Brees/Rivers thing is similar to the Packers QB quandry except Brees wasn’t hinting at retirement for a few years, they just weren’t sure he was good enough….. guess he is!!!
    And if the Packers can’t win the SB, I’d love to see the Saints or Cards win it finally. There is no scenerio I could root for the Vikes. For that matter, I hope people call in against putting B*tt F*ck’s number up like they called in against getting Moss. We all know the Vikes have been bumbling along for the last few years w/their QB situation and almost assuredly would be again. He probably has T. Jack sitting on his lap during meetings showing him all the little nuances of the offense so the Vikes can be a pain in the ass to the Packers for as long as possible. Maybe if he’d thrown the amount of INT’s for the Pack as he’s thrown for the Vikes this year (about his one game average for the Packers), we’d have more than 1 trophy…….
    As far as Bush……. it doesn’t look good, but I wouldn’t write him off just yet. If he holds on to that INT last week, that’d done alot for his confidence and makes memories short.

  • roy jamison

    DA thanks for the post on number 4. What I find curious is how he is so happy to be with the BEST team he has ever been on. He is now MENTORING Harvin after scorning any such notion with number 12. Maybe he just does that for guys that can HELP him, not the guys would could eventually take his place. By the way, have you got your new pair of wranglers or gone to Sears for a tv set?

  • http://jlworden1suddenlink.net LarryTex

    Favre is having the best year of his career (including the SB yrs) I can remember.
    Bush has total field range and will be a starter in 2 years.
    Favre would not help TJ any more than he did Rodgers. Wouldn’t help TJ anyway.
    Williams will be the other corner, and they both will be for several years.
    Barbre and Lang will be the OTs unless we draft an OT in the 1st RND in ’10.
    Lee will be the nickle.
    Jones or Thompson will replace Kampman next year. I’d bet Jones.
    Driver will play until he is 40.
    TT will draft a return specialist next year.
    Pickett has 4 more years, so the DL is set with or without Harrell. So are LBs.

  • iccyfan

    LarryTex Says: “Bush has total field range and will be a starter in 2 years.”

    You’re taking optimism to previously unprecedented levels!!!

  • roy jamison

    In the why bad teams are bad category, I wondered why Jim Bates, the second coordinator with Packer connections…remember Jago…got the boot as defensive coordinator. Well, it seems the head coach apparently still maintained a love of the old Tampa 2 defense with smaller linemen, instead of larger guys up front that Bates likes in his scheme. Which begs the question…why in hell would you hire him in the first place? Raheem Morris gets my vote for moron coach of the year.

  • http://jlworden1suddenlink.net LarryTex

    Nah, iccy, just following the theme of the blog ie, musings.
    On the other hand, a lot of the trouble that Williams (not as much as the others), Bigby, Bush, and Underwood get themselves into are their collective aggressiveness. I really think that we’re going to appreciate that style in a couple of years.
    I’m not going to compare any of them to Woodson, but Woodson is not playing safe anymore either and you see the result given the combination with experience.
    Yeah, I am optimistic, too! I’m convinced it’ll come sooner than later.

  • Devil’s Advocate…

    No, roy jamison……………………. I’m still waffling. Gotta see whats in it for me…… But seriously, I’d go to Sears for the TV’s, Craftsman tools and Kenmore appliances no matter who the spokesman is……….

    Go Packers!!!!!! I’m picking them to win!!! By about 7 to 10 points is my guess. Some of that will depend on LarryTex’s guy, Bush…………… and Underwood too.

  • Devil’s Advocate…

    LarryTex……… I’m not as confident in your boy Bush as you are but just like the team three/four weeks ago, it’s time to step up or step out!!!
    On another note: Peterson’s speeding ticket. 109 mph in a 55. His quote- I didn’t realize I was going that fast…………… How could you possibly not, unless you’ve emptied a bottle of Jack Daniels. I think they have a judge to take care of that for him though.

  • ScottS

    Peterson’s lucky. He could have fumbled the steering wheel and lost it at any time.

  • Larry

    Peterson’s ticket and Favre throwing a few picks this week will have the press saying the wheels have come off. Everything is week to week in this league.

  • Pack4life

    Lets not forget the entire Vikings season is a fraud, ie Williams both roid freaks.

  • jonnyfootballhero

    i don’t know about roid freaks…wasn’t it a weight loss product those guys were taking?

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