If the Packers win those two OT games

It was Francois, in the Dolpins game, and if CMIII doesn't get hurt in the Skins game, we win that one as well.

I think the team, as we ahve seen in the past, improves after the first month. Hard to tell if winning those, we win all the other ones. I can say, beating the Queens was a Must and definitely propelled some momentum!

I actually think the Miami loss in general helped to unite and motivate the team. Much like the Tampa loss last year, sometimes it's not the worst thing in the world to lose a few games early to set the tone.

People think that teams should just line up and win 13-14 games every year but the other team is paid to play and win, and there's not that much of a disparity between the best team in the league and the worst team in the league.

The Packers still have a very good chance to win 10+ games and that would put them in great position to win the division and possibly secure a bye in round 1 of the playoffs. Atlanta and New York look pretty tough right now, but the Packers already beat Philly (tiebreaker) and they get a shot at both of those other teams later on.

Take care of business and things will work out just fine. If I had to bet money I'd say they finish 11-5. Coming into this season I thought 11-5 or 12-4 so they are trending about where we thought they would be.

I think those losses did have a bit of a motivating/focusing effect, and it does seem that MM teams almost need to be pushed against a wall before they turn it on. I actually think the biggest factor in this latest turnaround is simply that they're starting to get somewhat settled on lineups and rotations/packages after having seemingly a million new faces in the lineup weekly for the first six games.

Continuity is a pretty underrated concept, and for the past few games GB has been able to basically know who was going to be available and what to do, which is why they seem to get better and put another piece together every week. I think that also has a lot to do with the drop in penalties/basic mistakes. Add some superior coaching on the defensive side of the ball by Dan Comper and you get a team that's starting to show strong signs of getting on a roll.

I think the consistent loss of players made it difficult for the offense and defense to find a rhythm. Offense has dealt with injuries to 4 starters (Grant, Finley, Tauscher and Driver) and the defense has dealt with injuries to 5 starters (Pickett, Jenkins, Barnett, Jones and Burnett). It's no coincidence that once the injuries stopped and the team was able to play with the same line up for a few weeks that the team started to win.

Let's just hope the bye gets Matthews, Bigby, Pickett, Jenkins, Quarless, Lee and Tauscher healthy and pray for no more serious injuries this year.

Who the heck is Dan Comper?

If continuity and dealing with injuries is the biggest factor then the team should be at 7-1, since that shouldn't have affected a few inches on Crosby's kick or a few inches on Francois' position at the snap, and that is what is going to bother me if the Packers postseason seeding comes down to one extra loss by GB.

I thought the question was whether those losses had an effect on the current winning streak, not whether those FG misses were because of injuries.

quote:

Originally posted by jcall:
Who the heck is Dan Comper?

The guy responsible for tweaking Kampy's YAC.

quote:

Originally posted by FreeSafety:
If continuity and dealing with injuries is the biggest factor then the team should be at 7-1, since that shouldn't have affected a few inches on Crosby's kick or a few inches on Francois' position at the snap, and that is what is going to bother me if the Packers postseason seeding comes down to one extra loss by GB.

With fewer injuries, the game doesn't come down to a few inches. That's the point we are making. If CMIII isnt hurt, I doubt those games are that close.

Don't know what to think of this team just yet. The defense playing so well after all the injuries has been almost miraculous.

quote:

Originally posted by JJSD:
I thought the question was whether those losses had an effect on the current winning streak, not whether those FG misses were because of injuries.

Correct.

Injuries didn't make Crosby push the ball just a bit so that it hit the upright, or cause Francois to stand a few inches too close to the LOS.

IMO the Packers should have won both of those games.

My question is do you think a 5-1 Packers team coming off of two dramatic wins goes on the 3 game streak and shuts out the Jets?

I am not sure that it does, although Bert came in and gave the ball to our defense 3 times and Dan Comper had the perfect scheme lined up for the Jets so part of my thinks this team should be 7-1 even with all the injuries.

quote:

Originally posted by FreeSafety:
I am not sure that it does, although Bert...so part of my thinks this team should be 7-1 even with all the injuries.

I agree. Despite the injuries, that team should not have lost the games against Wash and the Bears. I thought Miami outplayed them.

quote:

Originally posted by jcall:
Who the heck is Dan Comper?

Don Caper's pizza ordering name.

quote:

Originally posted by Blueshound:
Don't know what to think of this team just yet. The defense playing so well after all the injuries has been almost miraculous.

It's been said before. I think it boils down to the team is so deep that only one loss really significantly impacts performance - and that be the loss of Jermichael Finley.

I have heard this a number of times. Last time while streaming WTMJ before last night's game.

Finley is a big loss. How big is hard to say. I have doubts that the offense was weighted as heavily towards him this past offseason as many think. It's not like he has been a staple of this offense for several years.

Another thought....we were about 6 inches away from Percy Harvin having both feet down in the EZ in Lambeau and Bert jumping and running around having just beaten the Packers yet again and sending the Pack to 3-4.

What would that have done to the team's psyche?

So many inches....

(that's what she said)

With the exception of the Packers 2008 season the close wins and losses usually even out over the course of a season.

GB has lost a few real close ones (i.e. Chicago, Washington, and Miami), but they also won a couple of close games as well (i.e. Minnesota and the NYJ).

We might look back on those two losses the way we looked at the loss at Tampa Bay last year -- wrenching at the time, but the season wouldn't have turned around without it. If they'd beaten Washington and/or Miami, they would've stumbled some other time. Better to have it over with.

quote:

but they also won a couple of close games as well (i.e. Minnesota and the NYJ).

The Jets game was close?

The outcome was in doubt late in the fourth quarter. That sounds like close to me.

So what about the Lions game?

The Jets didn't even marginally sniff the endzone and missed a FG.

quote:

Originally posted by JJSD:


Continuity is a pretty underrated concept,

This is exactly what it is. 17 sloppy penalties against Chicago, lack of execution in general. MM was working with a steady rotation of new faces but Capers made MM look like a chump when it came to preparing their respective sides of the ball and with much bigger loses.

In general, I don't have a whole lot of faith in the offensive coaching staff.

Interesting look back

They did improve a lot on penalties this past season and hopefully that continues. Maybe concentrating on the fundamentals a little more like tackling might help next season.

I can't believe FreeSafety started an entire thread without mentioning Tebow.