Let's Talk Cowboys (Divisional Playoff Game 1/15/17)

Saw a great breakdown of this play on NFLN the other day and it actually proves my point. 

Cobb is the primary target. Cook is supposed to run right at and then under the safety, drawing him up and to the left and away from Cobb. Cook gets jammed at the LOS throwing the timing off. Notice how hard Cook tries to get off the jam and get to the safety.

AR sees Cook get jammed up and looks to his check down but he stays calm in the pocket and eventually Cook does his job and Cobb opens up just as the play is designed.

The postgame show I was watching actually used this play breakdown to show the difference in AR's play in the second half. Calmed down. He didn't bail out when Cook got jammed. He stayed with the play's design and executed it.

El-Ka-Bong posted:

WarrenSpahn posted:

Hungry5 posted:

Rodgers admitted it was McCarthy that got him on the right track.

Which in my mind is MM saying something like:

"Calm down. Quit try to score a TD on every play, quit holding the ball so long and thinking you need to scramble around and make something happen all the time. Just stay in the pocket, run the plays that I call, throw the ball on time and hit the open receivers that everybody in this stadium can see."

To me, that is a good job by the coach and a good job by the player for hearing what his coach is telling him.

Hard to argue with this

He was late on that throw.

Look at the pocket above and where Cook (circled), Nelson (fade), and Adams (deep dig) are at this point.

Now, look at the pocket and the relationship of those 3 receivers. The pocket disappeared very quickly. But, does not excuse him missing options.

From the ALL-22 EZ shot, it appears that AR was looking toward Nelson and Adams from the start and never  a) saw Cook, or even  b) saw Rip who rolled out as the pocket collapsed.

Was good to see that McCarthy was able to cure the cranialrectitus Rodgers was suffering from.

Anyone know the down and distance on this play? Giants may have 11 men on the field but who knows. 

Somebody pulled the yellow stripe off the field!!

Golly, everybody is open. Is this fake news? 

Of all the things I expected to see on x4 this week, intense criticism of Rodgers was not one of them. 

He made mistakes on a few plays...so what?  He's human.  Football is a game of adjustments. McCarthy, Capers, and Rodgers did an excellent job of making them this past game, and it resulted in an impressive 38-13 win over a very good opponent. Enjoy it. 

We've got the best mother****ing QB on the planet under center for our Green Bay Packers, and he's playing the position as well as its ever been played. We're lucky as hell; the envy of nearly all fan bases. Instead of nitpicking and playing gotcha with screenshots, we should be enjoying this run. We've got a legitimate shot at Super Bowl, and it's primarily because of #12.  There's no one like him. Enjoy this run and his play. 

I remember there was this one time a Packer coach said to his QB, " And no more rocket balls, please!!"   Maybe MM needs to resurrect that tape.

Lambeau Lobo posted:

Of all the things I expected to see on x4 this week, intense criticism of Rodgers was not one of them. 

He made mistakes on a few plays...so what?  He's human.  Football is a game of adjustments. McCarthy, Capers, and Rodgers did an excellent job of making them this past game, and it resulted in an impressive 38-13 win over a very good opponent. Enjoy it. 

We've got the best mother****ing QB on the planet under center for our Green Bay Packers, and he's playing the position as well as its ever been played. We're lucky as hell; the envy of nearly all fan bases. Instead of nitpicking and playing gotcha with screenshots, we should be enjoying this run. We've got a legitimate shot at Super Bowl, and it's primarily because of #12.  There's no one like him. Enjoy this run and his play. 

 

Amen +1 for you. Well put 

Lambeau Lobo posted:

Hungry5 posted:

There was this play.

3-4-NYG 34 (5:14) (Shotgun) A.Rodgers pass incomplete short left. PENALTY on GB-A.Rodgers, Intentional Grounding, 10 yards, enforced at NYG 34

Then there was this look at the jumbo tron replay.

The next Packers series? Adams for 31 to the NYG 7, Monty run for 2, Adams TD.

GBP 7, NYG 6.

Mike McCarthy.  Quarterback whisperer.  

I'm serious.  You can criticize MM for a number of things, but the one thing he has demonstrated over the course of his career is that he knows how to coach the quarterback position.  He played a key role in both reviving Favre's career and developing Rodgers.  He's one of the best in the business when it comes to the key position on the football field.    

I am MM's biggest fan on this board.

To want to get rid of him goes beyond idotacy.

Far beyond.

How big are you?

Hungry5 posted:

It appears Jordy is breaking deep here, although there is a missing defender. The dropping MLB is turned the wrong way, though at real speed this happens so much faster.  

This is hideous. Cook is now running in to the bracket, as is Adams. Ripkowski is coming open for a short window though.

 

Was good to see that McCarthy was able to cure the cranialrectitus Rodgers was suffering from.

I'm just thrilled receivers are getting open, it was such a rare sight for half the season. Perhaps Rodgers just doesn't believe what he's seeing! 

On a more serious note, I think the biggest difference between the 4 game losing streak and the 7 game winning streak is all just the attitude of the team. We can go back and look at the all-22 for the entire season and I'm sure we will see instances where Rodgers fukked up, where the receivers fukked up, where the called play was dumb, where the OLine missed, etc. That stuff happens when you win and when you lose, no one plays a perfect game. The attitude/momentum/whatever you want to call it has been on GB's side and it's because guys like Rodgers, Nelson, Peppers, etc. stepped up and set the tone. 

Lambeau Lobo posted:

Of all the things I expected to see on x4 this week, intense criticism of Rodgers was not one of them. 

He made mistakes on a few plays...so what?  He's human.  Football is a game of adjustments. McCarthy, Capers, and Rodgers did an excellent job of making them this past game, and it resulted in an impressive 38-13 win over a very good opponent. Enjoy it. 

We've got the best mother****ing QB on the planet under center for our Green Bay Packers, and he's playing the position as well as its ever been played. We're lucky as hell; the envy of nearly all fan bases. Instead of nitpicking and playing gotcha with screenshots, we should be enjoying this run. We've got a legitimate shot at Super Bowl, and it's primarily because of #12.  There's no one like him. Enjoy this run and his play. 

 

Spoiled little Bitches.  Holy fuhQ.  We had a HOF QB once who had trouble getting it going in a playoff game.... 6 interceptions and a blowout.  We have a HOF QB now who had trouble getting going in a playoff game, didnt just throw it up for grabs and took some sacks and incompletions.......350 yards and 4 touchdowns later.  

Kinda funny, last time I saw so many pictures of open recievers running around Lambeau while facing the Giants in a Playoff game, it was a decidedly different result.

He sarted slow, he got it together.  He's so close to perfection that some of you are losing sight of the greatness we are witnessing.

Grave Digger posted:

I'm just thrilled receivers are getting open, it was such a rare sight for half the season. Perhaps Rodgers just doesn't believe what he's seeing! 

On a more serious note, I think the biggest difference between the 4 game losing streak and the 7 game winning streak is all just the attitude of the team. We can go back and look at the all-22 for the entire season and I'm sure we will see instances where Rodgers fukked up, where the receivers fukked up, where the called play was dumb, where the OLine missed, etc. That stuff happens when you win and when you lose, no one plays a perfect game. The attitude/momentum/whatever you want to call it has been on GB's side and it's because guys like Rodgers, Nelson, Peppers, etc. stepped up and set the tone. 

Aaron said as much in his Dan Patrick interview.......the team started talking more AFTER the four game losing streak, and when they started talking, the mistakes/errors started working themselves out......   

KonKrete posted:

Lambeau Lobo posted:

Of all the things I expected to see on x4 this week, intense criticism of Rodgers was not one of them. 

He made mistakes on a few plays...so what?  He's human.  Football is a game of adjustments. McCarthy, Capers, and Rodgers did an excellent job of making them this past game, and it resulted in an impressive 38-13 win over a very good opponent. Enjoy it. 

We've got the best mother****ing QB on the planet under center for our Green Bay Packers, and he's playing the position as well as its ever been played. We're lucky as hell; the envy of nearly all fan bases. Instead of nitpicking and playing gotcha with screenshots, we should be enjoying this run. We've got a legitimate shot at Super Bowl, and it's primarily because of #12.  There's no one like him. Enjoy this run and his play. 

 

Spoiled little Bitches.  Holy fuhQ.  We had a HOF QB once who had trouble getting it going in a playoff game.... 6 interceptions and a blowout.  We have a HOF QB now who had trouble getting going in a playoff game, didnt just throw it up for grabs and took some sacks and incompletions.......350 yards and 4 touchdowns later.  

Kinda funny, last time I saw so many pictures of open recievers running around Lambeau while facing the Giants in a Playoff game, it was a decidedly different result.

He sarted slow, he got it together.  He's so close to perfection that some of you are losing sight of the greatness we are witnessing.

EXACTLY Konkrete!  I think sometimes some fans lose sight of what we are watching right now.  We could be watching one of the best stretches of games any QB has EVER played.  One of my favorite things about AR is that he doesn't pee down his leg and throw 6 INT's by forcing things.  He throws the ball away and makes the right decisions over and over and over again. 

Enjoy this ride while we can because anyone who remembers the dark days of this franchise knows great QB's do not grow on trees.

DH13 posted:

I get the whole "not looking the gift horse in the mouth" with AR because of his history of greatness and the run he is currently on.  But it is puzzling how the first half of the game looked a helluva lot like the 3 game skid wrt him not finding open receivers, being inaccurate, etc.  One difference being NYG came in with the "hottest pass D" going.  We don't know what we don't know but it is baffling to those watching how much contrast there is between bizarro AR and regular AR.

That hottest pass D took a hit with the early loss of Rodgers-Cromartie.

Packers O took quite a hit when Jordy left.

Lambeau Lobo posted:

Of all the things I expected to see on x4 this week, intense criticism of Rodgers was not one of them. 

 

I don't think this discussion has been intense criticism.

Rich people problems.

Rob Demovsky ESPN Staff Writer 

Packers CB Quinten Rollins was in pads and did more today, which could be a sign he's out of the concussion protocol.

Jeff Janis (quad) and Julius Peppers (rest) both returned to practice on Thursday and were in full pads.

Mike McCarthy had some fun with a question about whether it's better to have a first-round bye or playing on wild-card weekend. "I obviously prefer scratching and clawing for the last seven weeks," he said. "That's the way you want to do it."

Packers coach Mike McCarthy said it's "the same plan for Jordy (Nelson) today as yesterday. He's making progress. We have a three-day plan and we'll evaluate it on Friday."

Jordy Nelson questionable for Sunday per ESPN

They'll wait till saturday to rule him OUT.

I wonder what the deal is with Starks?  When asked about injuries, MM said something like "he isn't making progress".  I don't think I've ever heard him say that about an injured player.

Two possible angles: A - concussions are a little different because they are black and white. You've either cleared protocol or you haven't

Two - a healthy Starks probably wouldn't dress right now anyway without an injury to Monty, Michael or Rip.

The impact of Cook - Rock Report

Hungry5 posted:

Lambeau Lobo posted:

Of all the things I expected to see on x4 this week, intense criticism of Rodgers was not one of them. 

 

I don't think this discussion has been intense criticism.

What I see is criticism from guys (& maybe gals) who think they have a clue what it's like to actually play QB in an NFL game.

Lots of Dallas love nationally... good!!! And Skippy with his Rodgers hate is beautiful. Keep talking Skippy...

Just because I never played pro ball, doesn't mean I "don't have a clue" what it takes to play QB in the NFL.

I can see very clearly when Rodgers isn't taking what the defense gives him & trying to hit the "homerun" on every play.

Rodgers patience will be tested most of the game vs. the Cowboys....especially if they sit in cover 2 all damn day. Cover 2 was Favre's achilles. Just ask Lovie. Favre would get impatient & chuck it up for grabs a few times per game vs. Lovie's defense.

I know this much.....

If the Cowboys win this game, they will have earned it. Even without Jordy nobody wants to play this Packer team right now.

Packers/Steelers = scary

It's very easy to play QB watching the All-22 on Wednesday.

Prior to breaking his hand Perry was our best run defender at OLB.  I don't see Elliot or the rookie being able to hold up against Dallas.   

We're going to need the offense to dominate.  

I noticed that it did appear AR was looking deep a lot early with little success. In his post-game presser he commented that the 1st down sideline pass to Adams after a short NYG punt gave them very good field position is when he felt it. That pass to Adams was a deep sideline pass. Nothing special, just took what the D gave them on the play called. Short or long, he certainly seemed to be seeing the field significantly better from that point on.

Music City posted:

Lots of Dallas love nationally... good!!! And Skippy with his Rodgers hate is beautiful. Keep talking Skippy...

Spread keeps going up too.  Up to +5 now.

heyward posted:

It's very easy to play QB watching the All-22 on Wednesday.

There were complaints, in the game thread, during the first 25 minutes of the game.

I am clearly on record as attributing a large percentage of the team's success in recent years to AR. More than MM's coaching abilities. More than TT's ability.

During the past three seasons there have been periods, sometimes multiple weeks, when the offense has looked like something that even the Cleveland Browns would be embarrassed by. 

During these periods some people say receivers aren't getting open. I've often complained that MM fails to dial back the "scramble around and try to hit a homerun" offense. I've complained that if MM was as good as some claim he should be able to design and call plays that get receivers open. Other teams succeed with much less mobile QBs.

What I saw in the first half last Sunday made me eat crow. I was wrong. There were obvious open receivers on many, many plays while our offense gained a grand total of 7 yards through 25 minutes. MM was calling great plays. Receivers were getting open. 

I am not try to heap "intense criticism" on AR. But early in that game, posters were again going to the "nobody is open" excuse. Even Joe Buck mentioned it once. My main point is that in this last game at least, that claim is flat out false. My usual complaint about MM's offensive design would also be completely false in this instance.

Guys were open. A lot. And at the time, during the first half of that game it was pretty frustrating to watch.

I look at the discussion in this thread not as a bashing of AR, or claiming to know better than him, but rather a closer look into just what was going on in that first half and why good play calling and open receivers were not resulting in more success until after halftime.

Not really!