Kirksey has got to be benched. He is an embarrassment. I know he produced for Pettine in Cleveland, but that was a few injuries ago...
@GreenBayLA posted:I'm happy that the O Line has gelled into a solid unit and we appear to have a bit of depth. However the fact that Rodgers is getting rid of the ball so fast is the real reason for the O Line improvement. That's a credit to MLF's O / playcalling and Rodgers buying into the system. But yes the O Line is a strength and the running game has improved as well.
Rodgers being on time is one big reason for the low sack numbers this year.
But they have also given him time when needed. Over and over again this year you see Rodgers in the pocket, calmly waiting for a play to develop. In 2018 he was not comfortable in the pocket. Not at all. He had happy feet. Some of that seemed to carry over to 2019. There were times that he had time, had a clean pocket but the 2018 timer in his head told him he was in trouble. QB and OL are fully in sync now.
Read this in the Green Bay paper. Maybe Pettine is waking up:
First down
Defensive coordinator Mike Pettine went with undrafted rookie Krys Barnes instead of fifth-round pick Kamal Martin as the primary replacement for Raven Greene as the nickel linebacker Sunday. Greene went on IR last week because of a shoulder injury, and with him out Pettine figured to go with a more traditional nickel defense (two true inside linebackers, five defensive backs) in place of the small nickel (six defensive backs) he’d been using with Greene healthy. Pettine played Martin for a few snaps, but it appeared to be in a specific package, almost exclusively when the Lions had two tight ends on the field. When Detroit went with three receivers on early downs, it was Barnes who teamed with Christian Kirksey at inside linebacker. At times in the second half, Barnes even was the lone linebacker in the dime on obvious passing downs, even though there was no injury announcement about Kirksey, who normally handles that role, and even though Kirksey played later in the game. It remains to be seen whether this is how Pettine will man inside linebacker while Greene is out, or whether his plan will change week-to-week based on opponent and how Barnes and Martin had played the previous game.
I liked what I saw from Scott too. We have some options here, we just need to understand that the worst option is Kirksey.
Pettines problem at ILB is there is nothing in the cupboard but hot garbage. That's because we drafted future HOF'r & 3 time Super Bowl champ Love instead of Patrick Queen.
That position is not a coaching problem - it's a talent problem.
This is where Pettine has to get creative & hide/protect those shitty ILB's.
Offensive gurus always figure out a way to ISO those guys. Cat & mouse game.
Pettine has his work cut out for him.
"That position is not a coaching problem - it's a talent problem."
I slightly disagree. Barnes and Martin have flashed. If you can coach them up to the point that they are not mental liabilities on the field, and so far they haven't bee, it's not as bad as it once looked.
Summers needs to go. Kirksey needs to go.
If Kirksey never sees a defensive snap again, that would be an addition by subtraction kinda thing.
RE: Gary. He isn't listed anywhere on the stat sheet after his sack in the 2nd quarter. Not in on any tackles and not noted as an injury. Also, found nothing on line that he was injured. Will have to look for him after that sack on a re-watch tonight.
I'm not as down on Summers, though his best role right now seems to be ST.
Martin is prone to injury, Barnes "flashing" as a UDFA is something we've seen a million times before. That doesn't mean they don't deserve to be on the field more but it's not exactly a surety they are average, which is a significant jump for this team.
I didn't see Gary at all in the 2nd half but we did see way more Ramsey than anyone would expect. Pretty sure he got hurt.
(Hey Verne!) Scott made his presence known Sunday. I don't have his all-22 review in front of me but he hits guys downhill. Big tackle separating the ball from Hockenson.
@BrainDed posted:I didn't see Gary at all in the 2nd half but we did see way more Ramsey than anyone would expect. Pretty sure he got hurt.
He saw a few snaps in Q3, but it was exclusively Z, P, KC, & Lowry in the 4th. Seems Gary & Ramsey split the snaps in Q2/Q3, with Gary getting more overall. I don't think either saw the field in the 4th.
@BrainDed posted:I didn't see Gary at all in the 2nd half but we did see way more Ramsey than anyone would expect. Pretty sure he got hurt.
In his presser LaFleur acknowledged Gary was "working through something". I assume he meant injury
The poor ILBer play has not been helped by average to below average interior d-line play. Pettine played quite a bit of base 3-4 front (3 interior d-lineman) on First down yesterday & they responded by defending the run well. However, vs. teams like Tenn., I think he is going to have to take some chances with run blitz, etc.
Give Jackson credit on that 71-yard kick return in the fourth quarter. His hustle allowed Crosby to knock Jamal Agnew out of bounds. Meanwhile, earlier in the play, nobody did their jobs. St. Brown and Black got stuck to blocks, and Redmond took a terrible angle. #Mennengad
@YATittle posted:Read this in the Green Bay paper. Maybe Pettine is waking up:
First down
Defensive coordinator Mike Pettine went with undrafted rookie Krys Barnes instead of fifth-round pick Kamal Martin as the primary replacement for Raven Greene as the nickel linebacker Sunday. Greene went on IR last week because of a shoulder injury, and with him out Pettine figured to go with a more traditional nickel defense (two true inside linebackers, five defensive backs) in place of the small nickel (six defensive backs) he’d been using with Greene healthy. Pettine played Martin for a few snaps, but it appeared to be in a specific package, almost exclusively when the Lions had two tight ends on the field. When Detroit went with three receivers on early downs, it was Barnes who teamed with Christian Kirksey at inside linebacker. At times in the second half, Barnes even was the lone linebacker in the dime on obvious passing downs, even though there was no injury announcement about Kirksey, who normally handles that role, and even though Kirksey played later in the game. It remains to be seen whether this is how Pettine will man inside linebacker while Greene is out, or whether his plan will change week-to-week based on opponent and how Barnes and Martin had played the previous game.
I thought you said the problem was his devotion to Kirksey?
We get it teacher. You're very proud of the kids who fell asleep in your class.
@FLPACKER posted:The poor ILBer play has not been helped by average to below average interior d-line play. Pettine played quite a bit of base 3-4 front (3 interior d-lineman) on First down yesterday & they responded by defending the run well. However, vs. teams like Tenn., I think he is going to have to take some chances with run blitz, etc.
Seeing the safety blitz from Savage was encouraging. Still, it's a hell of crapshoot with this D.
Found on the Internet: Christian Kirksey in coverage is an adventure. He had inside leverage on Danny Amendola and still lost the rep when Amendola beat him inside. Then he whiffed on the tackle. He’s still a physical player in the run game but his athleticism is almost gone. Later in the game, he fell down chasing D’Andre Swift to the sideline and was flagged for holding while trailing the intended receiver.
Playing Kirksey because he's "still a physical player in the run game" even though "his athleticism is almost gone" sounds like playing a body type versus an athlete who can close on the play. Sure looks as if Kirksey is always trailing and never getting to the spot before the O player.
@H5 posted:Playing Kirksey because he's "still a physical player in the run game" even though "his athleticism is almost gone" sounds like playing a body type versus an athlete who can close on the play. Sure looks as if Kirksey is always trailing and never getting to the spot before the O player.
He makes me long for the good old days of Blake Martinez.
Rock Report
A team is only as tough as its star players & @Showtyme_33 is as tough as they come. 😤#Packers Analyst Larry McCarren has more in today's Rock Report 🎥 pic.twitter.com/CXhk69DUnZ
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) December 15, 2020
https://packerswire.usatoday.c...-regression-in-2020/
Why we didn't regress after a surprising 13-3 season last year...
Can you believe how much 58 is getting paid?
FOUND ON THE INTERNET: Kirksey was signed in March to a two-year, $16 million contract to replace departed free agent Blake Martinez. He had played just nine games in the previous two years with Cleveland due to injuries. He was a high-energy tackling machine in 2016 and ’17, totaling 278 tackles, six sacks and eight pass breakups.
The way things played out, Kirksey made too many mistakes in coverage, wasn’t always correcting alignment mistakes and was missing too many tackles. He wasn’t built to play the position he was in, but the Packers had signed him to play that spot and needed his leadership and experience on the field.
“We thought Kirksey hasn’t played as well (as Barnes) and has not been a good tackler,” said a pro scout of an opponent on the Packers’ schedule.
Barnes took some lumps – including shoulder and calf injuries – during his time as a starter, but after the San Francisco game in Week 9, he led the team with 48 tackles, including a sack and two tackles for loss. In 281 snaps, he missed just three tackles and didn’t give up a 20-plus-yard completion and shared responsibility on just one touchdown pass.
The Packers were playing OK run defense with Barnes in the middle, ranking as low as ninth and as high as 15th.
“I think that's something that we're still kind of always working through and trying to figure out to get your best 11 and have them play at a high level,” coach Matt LaFleur said of his inside linebackers. “But ‘KB,’ he brings a physical presence. He certainly has great instincts, is able to communicate really well to make sure everybody else is doing their jobs.
“And that's what you love about him. He's just super intelligent and he doesn't play like a rookie. He plays like a vet and just his ability to communicate, get everybody on the same page. It makes everybody else better.”
I guess you aren't happy with the ilb's
@YATittle posted:Barnes took some lumps – including shoulder and calf injuries – during his time as a starter, but after the San Francisco game in Week 9, he led the team with 48 tackles, including a sack and two tackles for loss. In 281 snaps, he missed just three tackles and didn’t give up a 20-plus-yard completion and shared responsibility on just one touchdown pass.
The Packers were playing OK run defense with Barnes in the middle, ranking as low as ninth and as high as 15th.
So you're saying Barnes is the answer to the defense's run issues?
I think he and Martin give us the best chance for success. As far as MLF's "not a rookie" comments, I get it. But I would rather deal with that and have the more talented player who is capable of impact plays on the field.
I don't disagree but again, we're hoping for average play out of two rookies in the playoffs. I think putting any faith in any of these ILBs is a pipe dream. It's going to be guys like Keke taking it up another notch to make this a legit run at the Super Bowl. What sucks is losing Raven Greene. He and the other cadre of safeties need to clean up the mess of ILB pass coverage and as FLPacker mentioned, blitzes.
I just think ILB is a lost cause.
Maybe Barnes, Martin and Scott come on and lead the D on a crazy playoff run like that horrid Colts D did that got Manning a SB.
Stranger things have happened and I'm sure the answer isn't more Kirksey.
@Henry posted:So you're saying Barnes is the answer to the defense's run issues?
I've seen him make stops in the hole, not five yards down field. I've also seen better coverage than Kirksey offers. Scott may be important too.
Give snaps to the guys making plays. I don't care how much they're being paid.
I guess if they're comfortable with Martin managing the defense. Question is if he's able to get on the field. I just think they don't have much of an option so Kirksey getting reps may make what's available in the middle of this defense gel a bit more.
Trust me, I know it all sucks.
@Henry posted:You commented on 'Pettine waking up" when the article you referenced was talking about the ILB playing next to Kirksey not instead of Kirksey. Pick a lane.
Yeah, but note that Barnes was the guy who stayed out there in the dime D with the green dot on his helmet. I like that.
The less I see Kirksey the better, though Summer and Burks are just as bad. I'll give you that.
@YATittle posted:I've seen him make stops in the hole, not five yards down field. I've also seen better coverage than Kirksey offers. Scott may be important too.
Give snaps to the guys making plays. I don't care how much they're being paid.
Pretty sure it isn't about contracts. Barnes just came of the COVID inactive list and now he's banged up.