"This is a results business."
@WesHod: TE coach Jerry Fontenot also has been let go, as @TomSilverstein said. He was 1 of 6 remaining assistants from McCarthy's first staff in 06.
@jasonjwilde: #Packers QB Aaron Rodgers once said on his radio show that Jerry Fontenot was the assistant he thought would be the best head coach one day.
Perhaps Dick Rodgers was having similar problems to Eddie that Fontenot couldn't reign in. Rodgers is probably bigger than he should be IMO and never improved as a blocker.
His route running was, can we say, rather casual at times also.
McGinn tallies up his positional game ratings, here:
http://www.jsonline.com/sports...283z1-365804731.html
Green Bay – Defense, not offense, was the best of the three platoons this season for the Green Bay Packers.
That was reflected in the final football totals in the 25th annual installment of the Journal Sentinel's "Rating the Packers" weekly feature.
For the first time since 2005, the defensive line came out as the best of the Packers' nine position areas.
Here are the football totals and 18-game averages for each of the position groups:
Defensive line: 57 (3.17)
Kickers: 56 (3.11)
Defensive backs: 55 (3.06)
Linebackers: 54 (3.00)
Quarterbacks: 53 ½ (2.97)
Running backs: 52 ½ (2.92)
Special teams: 50 (2.78)
Offensive line: 49 ½ (2.75)
Receivers: 44 (2.44)
Bennett stated Dick Rod, like Adams, needed to step up. He seemed to elude to preparation and/or practice habits. But as others said, I don't how you teach speed. You have it. Or you don't.
No amount of preparation can magically turn Dick Rod into a better athlete. The guy is what he is. He can be a nice big red zone target but between the 20's he's not offering you much and as a blocker he's not stout enough
michiganjoe posted:The #Packers have fired running backs coach Sam Gash. He was informed of the decision today.
— Michael Cohen (@Michael_Cohen13) January 19, 2016
Bloody day at 1265...
Wow for a team that was probably one starting receiver away from getting back to a SB, they're pretty so-so according to Bob.
I don't imagine it was easy for Fontenot, with his OLine background, to really help them improve as receivers. It's not surprising to me that Rodgers and co. struggled in the passing game. I am surprised, with Fontenot's OLine background, at how generally poor the TEs were as blockers. Whether split out or in-line, it doesn't seem they really got the job done consistently. Had Rodgers not already had tremendous catching ability, I think our TE production would have been even worse this year.
Grave Digger posted:Perhaps Dick Rodgers was having similar problems to Eddie that Fontenot couldn't reign in. Rodgers is probably bigger than he should be IMO and never improved as a blocker.
Without knowing what goes on behind the scenes, your given the slowest starting TE in the NFL and a marginal guy like Quarless that was hurt all year and then canned when they can't get open?
Richard Rodgers looked like he tried to carry out the correct assignments, he just wasn't physically talented enough to do them well very often. Did Jerry Fontenot coach him to catch the ball and fall down immediately after getting hit by a guy that weighed 50 pounds less then him catch after catch?
"Just not physically talented enough to do them well very often"? Rodgers is a plenty talented player, Fontenot and Gash obviously weren't getting as much as they could/should have out of their position groups. I don't think they were canned only because Rodgers and Quarless "couldn't get open" or Lacy didn't put up enough yards. If Rodgers needs to slim down to 260, it's Fontenot's job to make sure it happens. If Lacy is supposed to be playing at 240, Gash has to make it happen. If Rodgers/ Lacy weren't preparing adequately or practicing adequately then it falls to their position coach to get them in line.
Grave Digger posted:Wow for a team that was probably one starting receiver away from getting back to a SB, they're pretty so-so according to Bob.
According to scouts, opposing players, reporters, fans and pundits of every kind who watched them play. According to everyone.
Remember, this year, you are only talking about 4 players: Adams, Jones, Rodgers and Cobb. And Cobb consistently drew extra coverage.
Provide some quotes from scouts, opposing players, and pundits (not sure what fan opinions add) that generally regard the team overall as so-so. No "unnamed sources" or "unnamed scouts", as Bob is so fond of citing, either. A so-so team is a team that is 8-8 and doesn't make the playoffs, much less a team that wins a playoff game. You are what your record says you are and this team was not quite a championship squad, but top 10 in the league. If that is so-so then Bob needs to recalibrate his meter.
Never mind GD, I thought you were talking about just the receivers with your post. I misread it.
Please a new DC.
Part of me wants to believe that Dom having maybe his best secondary since he's been here and some real experience in the Front 7 showed that he's capable of leading a respectable D.
But then the three blood baths in the regular season, and even the field day Rivers had, suggest that it's the same old DC the DC we've come to know: great against the bottom 20 QBs, a liability against the top dozen.
R Rodgers is plenty talented. At Cal he dropped weight and was a full time WR and averaged 15 YPC. Yes, he's pretty slow with the ball in his hands but guys like Heath Miller and Jason Witten aren't exactly burners either. Maybe Rodgers lacks the athleticism of top tier guys but no way is he realizing his athletic talent (no matter how limited it may seem).
To me, Rodgers struggles to catch the ball and turn upfield. Watch a great WR/TE and you'll see a guy that can catch, turn and run upfield all in one fluid motion. Rodgers seems to catch, stop, decide where to run but before he can get going, he's tackled. There is some physical talent required to catch the ball and run but I think it's more that he doesn't know where to go when he catches it. He doesn't understand where he is on the field or where the defense is soft (which he should know based on film study and the offensive play call). That hesitation kills his YAC and is why he's at 8 YPC.
Capers blew it against Arizona by not having a solid counter to Fitzgerald. Arizona made some halftime adjustments to get Fitzgerald open against man coverage (bunch formations, crossers, etc.) and in response, Capers went to a zone that ended up being a mess. Not sure what could have been done but has to be a better way to defend against this type of scheme.
It's amazing that some think needing to scheme to get a Hall of Fame receiver open is a negative for a defense.
And yet when they schemed, the defense didn't have a counter.
CUPackFan posted:To me, Rodgers struggles to catch the ball and turn upfield.
Which makes Mike's favorite 3rd down play of a quick out to Rodgers three yards short of the stick all the more puzzling.
I'm not really sure what the scheme is to stop a big, physical, athletic, savvy veteran, Slot receiver from getting open. They had Hayward man up with him and Fitz blew by him. Best they can hope for is to go to Zone and limit the big gains...unfortunately Zone only works when all the Zones are covered and everyone is on the same page. He averaged 11 ypc on 109 catches this year, I don't think GB was the only team to have trouble with him. It was a rookie mistake on the part of Randall, I don't think the analysis should go any further. I guess you double cover him, but then you're a man short covering one of the other receivers or pressuring Palmer.
CUPackFan posted:Capers blew it against Arizona by not having a solid counter to Fitzgerald. Arizona made some halftime adjustments to get Fitzgerald open against man coverage (bunch formations, crossers, etc.) and in response, Capers went to a zone that ended up being a mess. Not sure what could have been done but has to be a better way to defend against this type of scheme.
Before the overtime, Fitzgerald had 6 catches for 96 yards. Decent numbers, but you'd certainly live with that over 60 minutes.
The blown coverage in OT allowed the 75 yarder. Actually, the first 30 yards were due to a blown coverage (even RichRod would have gained 25 yards running the same pattern) and then last 45 were due to about 4 guys missing tackles. I don't think there was anything wrong with what Capers did.
The shovel pass was an unscouted look and it wasn't really Fitzgerald's talent that resulted in the score as any WR could have walked into the end zone untouched on that.
He went to zone because Fitzgerald caught a couple 20 yard passes against man to man.
IL_Pack_Fan posted:CUPackFan posted:To me, Rodgers struggles to catch the ball and turn upfield.
Which makes Mike's favorite 3rd down play of a quick out to Rodgers three yards short of the stick all the more puzzling.
This is probably MM's second favorite play. His favorite is a fullback dive up the middle with Kuhn.
MichiganPacker posted:CUPackFan posted:Capers blew it against Arizona by not having a solid counter to Fitzgerald. Arizona made some halftime adjustments to get Fitzgerald open against man coverage (bunch formations, crossers, etc.) and in response, Capers went to a zone that ended up being a mess. Not sure what could have been done but has to be a better way to defend against this type of scheme.
Before the overtime, Fitzgerald had 6 catches for 96 yards. Decent numbers, but you'd certainly live with that over 60 minutes.
The blown coverage in OT allowed the 75 yarder. Actually, the first 30 yards were due to a blown coverage (even RichRod would have gained 25 yards running the same pattern) and then last 45 were due to about 4 guys missing tackles. I don't think there was anything wrong with what Capers did.
The shovel pass was an unscouted look and it wasn't really Fitzgerald's talent that resulted in the score as any WR could have walked into the end zone untouched on that.
He went to zone because Fitzgerald caught a couple 20 yard passes against man to man.
Can you remember WHEN our DBs have ever been successful with zone?
YATittle posted:MichiganPacker posted:CUPackFan posted:Capers blew it against Arizona by not having a solid counter to Fitzgerald. Arizona made some halftime adjustments to get Fitzgerald open against man coverage (bunch formations, crossers, etc.) and in response, Capers went to a zone that ended up being a mess. Not sure what could have been done but has to be a better way to defend against this type of scheme.
Before the overtime, Fitzgerald had 6 catches for 96 yards. Decent numbers, but you'd certainly live with that over 60 minutes.
The blown coverage in OT allowed the 75 yarder. Actually, the first 30 yards were due to a blown coverage (even RichRod would have gained 25 yards running the same pattern) and then last 45 were due to about 4 guys missing tackles. I don't think there was anything wrong with what Capers did.
The shovel pass was an unscouted look and it wasn't really Fitzgerald's talent that resulted in the score as any WR could have walked into the end zone untouched on that.
He went to zone because Fitzgerald caught a couple 20 yard passes against man to man.
Can you remember WHEN our DBs have ever been successful with zone?
Fair point. A draft and develop philosophy that leaves you with 2-3 first year DBs playing at the same time is more conducive to man to man coverage schemes relative to zone. You're a lot more prone to blown assignments with zones.
Probably the times zones worked best was when the played Charles Woodson, Tramon Williams, Nick Collins, and Charlie Peprah together. All were at least in the league for 4 years and three of them were Pro Bowl level no matter what defense you playedd.
Tramon seemed to struggle with zone...
Demovsky just posted this at ESPN.com:
Look on the bright side, Packers have easiest 2016 schedule
GREEN BAY, Wis. – If you’re looking for a reason to believe the Green Bay Packers might have a better record next season than their 10-6 mark in 2015, consider this: They have the easiest schedule for 2016.At least that’s the way it looks on paper.
It’s based on their 2016 opponents’ combined winning percentage from 2015. That group, which can be found here, won just 45.7 percent of its games in the regular season this past year.
Here’s a look at the easiest schedules in the league for next season:
1. Packers: .457 (combined opponent winning percentage in 2015)
T-2. Bears: .461
T-2: Giants: .461
T-4: Lions: .465
T-4. Cowboys: .465
T-4. Bengals: .465
7. Eagles: .469
8. Titans: .473
However, the Packers’ strength of schedule is skewed by the fact two of their 2016 opponents spent a significant portion of their seasons without their starting quarterbacks. They play the Cowboys, who lost Tony Romo for 12 games and won just four games; and the Colts, who didn’t have Andrew Luck for nine games and went 8-8.
Although the opponents are set, the actual dates of the games won’t be announced until April and like every season, the schedule will no doubt have its quirks such as the back-to-back Thursday games this past season.
The 49ers and Falcons are tied for the hardest schedule, with opponent winning percentages of .555.
Looking at end game numbers for Fitzgerald is misleading and misses my whole point. He was held to 1 catch for 6 yards in the first half, Arians made adjustments at half time to get him open, and then Fitzgerald went off for 5 catches, 90 yards in the second half (excluding overtime). 5 catches for 90 yards is a great half of football. That's what I'm referring to, an adjustment by Arians that was never countered by Capers.
MichiganPacker posted:His Lambeau's favorite is a fullback dive up the middle with Kuhn.
FTFY
GBP per game bonus's
Scott Tolzien ($10,000 per game active): $160,000
Stretching the definition of active there.
Nice work if you can get it.
He may need to do some substitute teaching to supplement his income.
MichiganPacker posted:Probably the times zones worked best was when the played Charles Woodson, Tramon Williams, Nick Collins, and Charlie Peprah together.
I still don't think there's enough appreciation for how good, and important for Dom's defense, Nick Collins was. Covered more ground and covered up more mistakes than any safety I can remember except Ed Reed in his prime.
One of the reasons Chuck was able to freelance so much was Nick's ability to clean up any messes resulting from when Woodson guessed wrong.
One of the most encouraging things from this past season was how well Ha Ha Clinton-Dix played, especially once Morgan Burnett returned to the lineup from injury and was able to anchor the back end, allowing the newer 21 to ball hawk more. HHCD isn't as rangy as Nick was but, as his pick of Carson Palmer showed, he can cover a lot of ground.
Barring injury this GB secondary is going to be awfully special for the next few years.
CUPackFan posted:R Rodgers is plenty talented. At Cal he dropped weight and was a full time WR and averaged 15 YPC. Yes, he's pretty slow with the ball in his hands but guys like Heath Miller and Jason Witten aren't exactly burners either. Maybe Rodgers lacks the athleticism of top tier guys but no way is he realizing his athletic talent (no matter how limited it may seem).
To me, Rodgers struggles to catch the ball and turn upfield. Watch a great WR/TE and you'll see a guy that can catch, turn and run upfield all in one fluid motion. Rodgers seems to catch, stop, decide where to run but before he can get going, he's tackled. There is some physical talent required to catch the ball and run but I think it's more that he doesn't know where to go when he catches it. He doesn't understand where he is on the field or where the defense is soft (which he should know based on film study and the offensive play call). That hesitation kills his YAC and is why he's at 8 YPC.
I disagree. On the rare occasion he does get in the open field he looks unatheltic to me. For example, the TD against the Lions where he awkwardly jumped into a defender at the Goalline.
He has no quickness, no speed, no ability to break tackles and is just meh at blocking. For his size and frame he should be driving defenders off the point and breaking tackles of DB's. He does have soft reliable hands though.
Grave Digger posted:I'm not really sure what the scheme is to stop a big, physical, athletic, savvy veteran, Slot receiver from getting open. They had Hayward man up with him and Fitz blew by him. Best they can hope for is to go to Zone and limit the big gains...unfortunately Zone only works when all the Zones are covered and everyone is on the same page. He averaged 11 ypc on 109 catches this year, I don't think GB was the only team to have trouble with him. It was a rookie mistake on the part of Randall, I don't think the analysis should go any further. I guess you double cover him, but then you're a man short covering one of the other receivers or pressuring Palmer.
The scheme is debilitating pressure. It was working until we had the fatal combo of a blown coverage and old man Palmer escaping the pocket.
live by the blitz, die by the blitz.
YATittle posted:MichiganPacker posted:CUPackFan posted:Capers blew it against Arizona by not having a solid counter to Fitzgerald. Arizona made some halftime adjustments to get Fitzgerald open against man coverage (bunch formations, crossers, etc.) and in response, Capers went to a zone that ended up being a mess. Not sure what could have been done but has to be a better way to defend against this type of scheme.
Before the overtime, Fitzgerald had 6 catches for 96 yards. Decent numbers, but you'd certainly live with that over 60 minutes.
The blown coverage in OT allowed the 75 yarder. Actually, the first 30 yards were due to a blown coverage (even RichRod would have gained 25 yards running the same pattern) and then last 45 were due to about 4 guys missing tackles. I don't think there was anything wrong with what Capers did.
The shovel pass was an unscouted look and it wasn't really Fitzgerald's talent that resulted in the score as any WR could have walked into the end zone untouched on that.
He went to zone because Fitzgerald caught a couple 20 yard passes against man to man.
Can you remember WHEN our DBs have ever been successful with zone?
Heyward's rookie year. He is our best zone CB.
