3rd and 1. Throw it 70 yards downfield...

but we ALL know ... 'an int in that setting is as good as a punt'

Now that the All 22 film is available to the public, I expect that play will be scrutinized closely by both fans and beat writers. I admit I'm a little curious as to what AR's other options looked like on that play. I'm having some doubts that throwing 50 yards down field into double coverage was the best option available.

Rodgers has explained that he goes by matchups, and if he sees a matchup he likes on the outside he will go deep, regardless of down or distance. He might want to rethink that when situations dictate, especially when we are trying to establish momentum (start of second half) and just trying to stay alive (end of game)

quote:

Originally posted by lambeausouth:
There have been many instances over the last few years where we've had 3rd and 1, or 3rd and 2, and instead of going for the first down, we are throwing the ball deep downfield. I'm talking 50, 60 yards downfield.

Once in a great while, that's ok, as you might catch the opponent sleeping, and Aaron is an accurate enough quarterback, and has a strong enough arm, to make that a reality. But if it's only working 20% of the time, that's 80% of the time we're putting our weakest unit (the defense) right back on the field.

I know I wasn't the only person to comment when they did it today. Why would we not go for the first down, get some offensive momentum, and give our defense a rest? Is Aaron making a change at the line of scrimmage, or is that a call from McCarthy?

I bitched about this ad nauseum last season, and asked the same question of whether it is MM play calling or AR12 calling audibles. It's just another by-product of no running game.

Kuhn was open on the flat for the yard.

Gotta agree with the bombs on 3rd and short. I think it's a nice call occasionally, but the frequency of them seem to be out of whack.

That happened with them down 16-7 at that point, right? Even worse, they were well in their own territory

There is a time and place for a call like that. That wasn't it.

quote:

Originally posted by CAPackfan:
That happened with them down 16-7 at that point, right? Even worse, they were well in their own territory

There is a time and place for a call like that. That wasn't it.

yup

I seem to remember Finley open down the middle - maybe 20 yards downfield or so.

I didn't mind the call. Had it worked we'd all be talking what a great play it was.

The problem is that Rodgers was off a little today and the 9ers were bumping our receivers a lot and the WRs didn't win enough of the individual matchups.

quote:

Originally posted by CAPackfan:
That happened with them down 16-7 at that point, right? Even worse, they were well in their own territory

There is a time and place for a call like that. That wasn't it.

Correct. If I recall, Buck or Aikman (can't remember which) made the comment that the ball went about 70 yards in the air, and it wasn't in the endzone when it fell incomplete. So we were deep in our territory.

quote:

Originally posted by Tschmack:
I didn't mind the call. Had it worked we'd all be talking what a great play it was.

The problem is that Rodgers was off a little today and the 9ers were bumping our receivers a lot and the WRs didn't win enough of the individual matchups.

If it had worked, it probably would have gotten the team rolling (which was Mike's intent), but the flip side of it not working was a three and out to open the half. Getting just one first down before firing it deep like that would have reduced the sting of that play failing. Coming out after a half that ended on a 63 yard FG and a 9 point deficit and then running 3 plays is basically a surefire way to further bury your team mentally and give a major lift to the opponent's confidence.

The safety had it all the way.

They've seen the film.

They know AR's tendencies.

It's basically poker.

Don't mind the call if it's there with a reasonable possibility of success, but it wasn't.

quote:

the WRs didn't win enough of the individual matchups.

ding ding winner. SF DBs smothered Jennings and Jordy pretty good yesterday.

I can understand them going for a deep pass play on 3rd and 1 if we are leading in the game but not down by 9 with much needed TOP to help out the D that was sucking wind most of the game up until that point. Just a low percentage type of play in a situation that we just needed to work on getting the 1st down and get some control of the game.

They probably had 10 TD's on that play last the last couple of years. It worked in the sense that Rodgers had plenty of time to make a decision and line up his throw. Not a bad play call at all. When I saw it unfold, I said "touchdown" because it looked like it was all set up.

Jordy was doubled. A pass into the flat on that side of the field had to be open. Move the chains in a field position game.

You knew it was going to be that kind of game against SF.

Sounds like something Bart would have done.

Finesse team, no toughness.

quote:

Originally posted by michiganjoe:
Don't mind the call if it's there with a reasonable possibility of success, but it wasn't.

The playcall doesn't force AR to make that throw.

He can check it down or even scramble for the 1 yard if the defense has the deep ball covered.

Yeah, this play gets pretty old. MM needs to talk to AR about this. I highly doubt that MM calls a play where the only route is 40 yards down field, so I'm assuming it was AR's choice to go deep. Most plays have someone running deep to clear out the short stuff and it worked, as two guys ran with Jordy which should have opened up the short stuff for a first down. I'm ok with this occasionally (worked in the Super Bowl), but this game was not going well and the team just needed a first down to gain a little momentum.

Why do I get the feelin MM has given the reins to AR a bit more and the results haven't been good on some decision making the last few times out?

Just paranoid he'll turn into TOG, I guess ...

quote:

Originally posted by FreeSafety:
The playcall doesn't force AR to make that throw.

That's really the point I was attempting to make. My impression was that AR was really just hoping to draw a flag and he needs to make better decisions when it's not there.

Get the first down.

If there is 1 thing I would take a bit more from the Holmgren/Favre era and add to the current squad offensively, it would be to incorporate the RBs into catching the football regularly again.

In the peak of the Holmgren era, when it wasn't happening downfield, the Pack had excellent backs in Bennett and Levens in terms of catching out of the backfield and getting some key yards that helped moved the chains. That was truer to the Bill Walsh "West Coast" offense than the current offense is.

The current offense is closer to the old style "Run and Shoot" offense. When it's working, it's spectacular. However, when there's a team that can pressure the pocket with only 4 guys, it puts an incredible amount of pressure on the QB to make decisions quickly and perfectly as there really aren't any outlet receivers nearby to dump off to.

It's hard to argue with an offense that nearly set points records last year. And yet that offense was seriously limited in the playoffs and was limited yesterday. Perhaps they'll figure out ways to get Alex Green and Brandon Saine involved as time goes on, because it looked like they completely abandoned that option yesterday.

speaking of Alex Green, why no screen pass to him yesterday? He didn't even get to play a down.

I don't think Driver got on the field, either. Did anyone see him anywhere but on the sidelines and pre-game warm-ups?

I "get" the deep pass on 3rd & short but only if your team is leading in the scoring column. When your O is "flat" & struggling its stupid imo.

Seifert's take on the 3rd and 1:

"We wrote last season about that exact formation and play, noting how frequently opposing defenses fell for the fake. Sunday, however, the 49ers had Nelson bracketed. The ball fell harmlessly to the ground. The Packers punted, and for me, the episode was symbolic of the way the 49ers seemed a step ahead Sunday in all aspects of the game.

"They were in one high [coverage]," Nelson said. "The safety was deep in the middle. When you run a post, you run straight into him. Aaron was booting my way, so [the safety] kind of followed the boot as well. That's obviously a play we've run before. They were able to defend it and we weren't able to connect. That's how that went."

Last season, that play worked almost every time. Sunday, it looked tired and almost predictable. The magic seemed gone."

quote:

don't think Driver got on the field

DD got on the field later in the 4th quarter I believe - the crowd noticed and cheered.
He did - from Rotoworld:

quote:

Donald Driver was on the sidelines for all but the final three plays of Sunday's Week 1 loss to the 49ers.
The only reason Driver took to the field late was because Greg Jennings called for a replacement.

The play was very Favre-like please no

Did Jennings get hurt?

quote:

The only reason Driver took to the field late was because Greg Jennings called for a replacement.

Obviously he doesn't want to stay in Green Bay.

(Sorry; I'm trying to blow off steam after an ugly loss.)

quote:

Originally posted by lambeausouth:
There have been many instances over the last few years where we've had 3rd and 1, or 3rd and 2, and instead of going for the first down, we are throwing the ball deep downfield. I'm talking 50, 60 yards downfield.

Once in a great while, that's ok, as you might catch the opponent sleeping, and Aaron is an accurate enough quarterback, and has a strong enough arm, to make that a reality. But if it's only working 20% of the time, that's 80% of the time we're putting our weakest unit (the defense) right back on the field.

I know I wasn't the only person to comment when they did it today. Why would we not go for the first down, get some offensive momentum, and give our defense a rest? Is Aaron making a change at the line of scrimmage, or is that a call from McCarthy?

Yup, I pretty much came unglued when they did that. Its not just once in awhile, they do that often. Thats one thing that drives me nuts about McCarthy.

quote:

Originally posted by CAPackfan:
That happened with them down 16-7 at that point, right? Even worse, they were well in their own territory

There is a time and place for a call like that. That wasn't it.

Maybe if they have the lead and want to put the dagger in. Maybe they go for it on 4th and one.

Rodgers said SF was playing two safties deep all day, so why throw into double coverage. They only needed a yard, they could have thrown something short that was a high percentage pass.