Pats Game Pos/Neg Discussion

- The NFL does whatever it takes to keep games close no matter how bad the call. This is the NFL now so either stop watching or ignore it but FFS we have to stop crying about it. It's a part of every single NFL game now.

- it's mind boggling that the coaching staff doesn't know/realize a 3rd string QB is going to hand the ball off. Belichick was always going to lean on his O-Line and try to keep the ball out of Rodgers hands. If I realize this why doesn't the coaching staff?

+ Take the win & move on

+ I bet the OVER (40) 😁 and I was cracking up when Rodgers threw that Pick 6. I knew I would win when that happened.

+ We're on to London & NY Giants... 3-1 baby!

-- The inability to stop the run is concerning, although the league seems to be shifting back to running more

-- The Amari Rodgers experiment needs to end. He's so average that I cheer successful fair catches and he's supposed to be a receiver

-- Slow tempo

++ Running the ball like we thought they would

++ Young receivers are going to make mistakes, but the skill and speed jumps out with Watson and Doubs

++ When we upped the pace, our offense looked familiar. I hope the coaches consider varying tempo

++ Our kickers are good. A couple of real professionals

Overall I think this is the new NFL. No real dominant teams and tight games in tight races. I guess, but with every game hanging on a couple of plays, you would think the officiating would have to be better. Or maybe that's impossible. But it sure magnifies mistakes.

I'll take the win and hope we can somehow slow down Barkley. Going to be an interesting season league wide. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Positives

1. As many have said, there will be growing pains, but they need Doubs and Watson on the field as much as possible in these early games. Sammy Watkins and Cobb are not going to cut it in the playoffs against good teams. Doubs and Watson are only going to get better.

2. Bakh making it through the game looking strong.

3. The running game pounded against a decent defense.

4. The special teams schemes are now at a professional level so Crosby can just get back there and kick without trying to figure out which side of his line is going to collapse on every kick.

Negatives

1. If Amari Rodgers can't get WR snaps, then they need to use someone else back there and use his roster spot on someone else. He has no elusiveness and isn't even sure handed. If you want sure handed, put Cobb back there. If you want to have the potential for a big play, consider someone like Watson back there. Amari gives you neither sure handedness or big-play potential.

2. We really missed Amos coordinating things in the secondary.

3. Elgton Jenkins should be at guard. He was good enough to win with at RT, but wouldn't Yosh at RT and Jenkins at one of the guard spots be a stronger line overall.

4. Rashan Gary's contract is skyrocketing.

5. They need to consider getting a kickoff specialist that can put it out of the end zone on kickoffs. You obviously keep Crosby, but maybe use Amari's roster spot on a guy that puts it 5-10 yards deep every time.

Watching it for the 1st time……what the hell is with ALL the flags???   and that non catch by Romeo, ugh.

@Goldie posted:

Watching it for the 1st time……what the hell is with ALL the flags???   and that non catch by Romeo, ugh.

What did you think about that clock overrun ??   Asking for a friend.

@The Grinder posted:

What did you think about that clock overrun ??   Asking for a friend.

What was the explanation of that?  

@Pikes Peak posted:

What was the explanation of that?  

They showed two refs talking after commercial break and one was making the signal pumping his hands over his head like it was to reset the clock. Stupid. Old farts who can't get anything right. I swear officiating in the NFL is less competent than the folks working on the NCAA level.

@Pikes Peak posted:

What was the explanation of that?  

Some people (not myself) thought  Romeo did not have control of the ball when he hit the ground. I say he did have total control knees on ground , instant TD. I am an old school ,the ground can't cause a fumble rule type of guy. 

I agree with this. Put Jenkins back at RG

https://cheeseheadtv.com/blog/...e-line-formation-122

@Pikes…They postulated that the back judge got confused that the play clock was not re-set properly after the previous penalty. Being confused and incompetent is not an excuse.

@Blair Kiel posted:

Being confused and incompetent is not an excuse.

Crap.

@Blair Kiel posted:

@Pikes…They postulated that the back judge got confused that the play clock was not re-set properly after the previous penalty. Being confused and incompetent is not an excuse.

I use that as an excuse all of the time anymore !!       

@The Grinder posted:

I use that as an excuse all of the time anymore !!       

OH wait you said incompetent .

@The Grinder posted:

Some people (not myself) thought  Romeo did not have control of the ball when he hit the ground. I say he did have total control knees on ground , instant TD. I am an old school ,the ground can't cause a fumble rule type of guy. 

You're right , the ground can't cause a fumble ....but it can cause an incomplete pass

+ 3-1. I thought at the beginning of the year it would take half a season to sort out rookie/new receivers, 3 key guys returning from knee injuries, a new run-oriented offense, and the defense clicking.  If they are 6-2 or 7-1 at the halfway mark, I’ll be happy and look for fine-tuning for playoffs.

@Blair Kiel posted:

@Pikes…They postulated that the back judge got confused that the play clock was not re-set properly after the previous penalty. Being confused and incompetent is not an excuse.

Got that, I heard the postulation during the game, I am wondering if the NFL has commented on it this morning.  So far as I can tell…..crickets.

I think we need to use the word “postulate” more here…it classes us up.

Biggest negative, besides a poor gameplan, is that the offense and Rodgers still seem far apart. My big fear with losing Adams was that they would try and plug someone into Adam’s role with the same expectations and not adjust the offense. Seems like Rodgers is still running the 2021 scheme as if he has a deep group of savvy receivers and he doesn’t. He has a group with a lot of physical skill, but no savvy yet and he/MLF won’t adjust to the receivers. Were not gameplanning to the strength of our skill players, we’re gameplanning to the weaknesses of the defense and right now I don’t think we can handle that kind of advanced work.

Let me hypothesize on that a bit.

@Grave Digger posted:

Biggest negative, besides a poor gameplan, is that the offense and Rodgers still seem far apart. My big fear with losing Adams was that they would try and plug someone into Adam’s role with the same expectations and not adjust the offense. Seems like Rodgers is still running the 2021 scheme as if he has a deep group of savvy receivers and he doesn’t. He has a group with a lot of physical skill, but no savvy yet and he/MLF won’t adjust to the receivers. Were not gameplanning to the strength of our skill players, we’re gameplanning to the weaknesses of the defense and right now I don’t think we can handle that kind of advanced work.

They need a guy on the field who provides a deep threat. That was a need even with Adams on the team. MVS drove people crazy with the drops and the inconsistency, but he forced the safeties to play back and you couldn't jump routes on him because he could make you look bad. Watson is the same type of player, but he's behind in his development because of injuries and the fact that he played at a small school. He needs to be on the field more and get reps, because they need that speed for the playoffs, assuming they get there.

That throw to Cobb for the pick six is a good example of the effect of speed. It was a terrible throw and even worse decision to go there. It was one of the few times in his career Rodgers has looked Favrian. But if you throw that same terrible pass to MVS or Watson it probably isn't picked off because the DB has to respect their deep speed more than Cobb's and isn't playing as far up.

What the Packers have really, really been fortunate on is how good Doubs has been out of the gate. It seemed that the reports out of camp turned out to be correct. If he stays healthy, he's going to be a legit #1 WR. I know he had a fumble and a drop yesterday, but the fumble was somewhat on Rodgers and their chemistry in that it was a low throw that didn't allow him to secure it quickly. The dropped TD happens to even the best sometimes and it wasn't a flat-out fail to make the catch like Watson's Week 1.

If they redrafted right now, there is no way Doubs lasts until the 4th round. He probably comes off the board sometime in the second round. In fact, you'd definitely draft him in front of Watson (and that would be the case even if Watson would have caught a 75 yard TD on the first play of the season).

@PA green & gold posted:

+ 3-1. I thought at the beginning of the year it would take half a season to sort out rookie/new receivers, 3 key guys returning from knee injuries, a new run-oriented offense, and the defense clicking.  If they are 6-2 or 7-1 at the halfway mark, I’ll be happy and look for fine-tuning for playoffs.

Upcoming schedule

Giants in London

Jets at home

at Commanders

They should go 3-0 these next 3 games. Three lousy QBs in a row against teams they should be favored by at least 8-10 points. If they are at 6-1 (or absolutely no worse than 5-2 if they have a bad loss), they can weather the next stretch.

at Buffalo

at Lions

Cowboys at home

Titans at home

at Eagles

Getting through that stretch at 2-3 might be the best you can expect as they'll play arguably the two best teams in the NFL on the road within 5 games. 6-1 paired with a 2-3 stretch sets them up at 8-4 and in good shape for playoff positioning.

Have to take care of business the next 3 weeks.

Found on the internet: I have to say that Ford, who replaced Adrian Amos, was very visible in the game. He made lot of tackles (solo or combined) and was the player who prevent completition on Cheatriots OT possesion, producing the punt that bring back ball to Packers for winning drive. I was pleasently surprised how he played in the game...

Expecting to lose is a losers mentality.

RUN THE FUCKING TABLE!

@Pikes Peak posted:

Let me hypothesize on that a bit.

It's axiomatic that it will class us up.

It really shouldn’t be a surprise on Doubs given the fact he was making plays all over the place during off season camp and preseason.  The fact that he burned Eric Stokes repeatedly meant something to me.

That type of performance doesn’t always guarantee immediate success, but if you go back over the years guys like Craig Newsome and Mike McKenzie and Darren Sharper and Vonnie Holliday and Nick Barnett and BJ Raji and Jaire Alexander all made a crap ton of plays as rookies in camp and it translated over into the regular season.

If Doubs keeps progressing and Watkins gets healthy and plays like he did before getting hurt that’s not a bad 1-2 punch with Lazard as a really solid #3.  But I agree on Watson.   He could transform this WR group if he can just stay on the field because like MVS you can’t ignore his deep threat HR speed.  

As for the remaining schedule, there’s not one game that I would say they can’t win if they play well.   By the same token, if they play crappy they can lose to just about anyone.   Health is the X factor.   If key guys go down all bets are off.

++Gutted out a win

— This team really struggles when heavily favored , faces unknown backup QB and gets heavy dose of run in 2nd half.

Perhaps Rodgers needs to work on basics, get set, not throw off back foot etc to help improve accuracy.
I’m impressed he (and LaFleur) stuck with run most of game.

Pos

We got a win

Crosby dead on

D stepped up again

Watson's Lambeau Leap

Gary

Cobb and Lazard

Minus

Rodgers just looked off again at times ( No preseason maybe)

Amos getting concussed

Refs

Not getting Watson more involved in the passing game when he was in a high from the leap

Refs

Doubs "fumble"

Clarks temper tantrum

Best bomb Rodgers threw was the "F" one     

@MichiganPacker posted:

Positives
..........

5. They need to consider getting a kickoff specialist that can put it out of the end zone on kickoffs. You obviously keep Crosby, but maybe use Amari's roster spot on a guy that puts it 5-10 yards deep every time.

My pet peeve of the moment.
First ask for volunteers from the roster if they think they can put a kickoff consistently out of the end zone and let them try it in practice. I don't care if it's with the toe or the instep. If that doesn't work, look outside for someone who can.

With all due respect bvan, that tryout would go viral in an instant. 😉

+Nice to see Belichick talking to Rodgers after game, may be closest thing he has to father figure at this point. Mutual respect for sure.

@GreenBayLA posted:

+Nice to see Belichick talking to Rodgers after game, may be closest thing he has to father figure at this point. Mutual respect for sure.

Between watching the two of them talking after the game as well as all of the praise that Belichick gave 12 before and after the game, I couldn’t help but think that Belichick was planting the seed for the next preseason where 12 decides he’s unhappy with the Packers organization.

“Come to NE and help me win a few more!”

I've seen / heard a lot of "Barry bashing" regarding not stopping the run. However, he was playing a "run" defense, a "Bear front"....3 interior lineman, 2 OLBers, 2 ILBers, 2 corners & two safeties. The problem was that our front & ILBers were getting their asses handed to them. It did look like our safeties were coming closer to LOS in last two drives?

@GBFanForLife posted:

Rodgers needs to play like a MVP, HOF. etc and learn to play with the players they have.

The haircut is a cry for help.

@Blair Kiel posted:

@Pikes…

Being confused and incompetent is not an excuse.

Nope.

@FLPACKER posted:

I've seen / heard a lot of "Barry bashing" regarding not stopping the run. However, he was playing a "run" defense, a "Bear front"....3 interior lineman, 2 OLBers, 2 ILBers, 2 corners & two safeties. The problem was that our front & ILBers were getting their asses handed to them. It did look like our safeties were coming closer to LOS in last two drives?

He sometimes had two DLs in there

@ByRyanWood:  Matt LaFleur confirms #Packers planned to have David Bakhtiari play two drives, then Yosh Nijman the third: "We got into halftime, and Dave just said, 'I'm going.'

[Bakhtiari played 70 of the 73 plays on offense.]

@YATittle posted:

He sometimes had two DLs in there

I believe only on "passing downs"

I thought I saw it on some first downs. Could be wrong.

https://www.packers.com/news/game-recap-5-takeaways-from-packers-ot-win-over-patriots

@Blair Kiel posted:

I think we need to use the word “postulate” more here…it classes us up.

I just had mine examined. I have my finger on the pulse of the board, I guess.