McCarthy willing to pull key players
The Packers went away empty handed in Sunday's 34-28 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, but this time head coach Mike McCarthy was determined to not let the players succumb to panic or heated emotions.
Last January it got the best of the team as any chance of coming back from behind slid further and further away.
It’s easy to let those spiraling emotions cloud judgment. Everyone knows that horrible feeling when things spin out of control.Panic, anger, it doesn’t matter. They get the heart racing in that fight-or-flight response. At first they key you up, but if left unchecked can unravel even the best laid plans.
Perhaps McCarthy saw the writing on the wall yesterday at Candlestick. Reel a player in before he becomes his own worst enemy or suffer the consequences.
Fans may be quick to second guess McCarthy’s play calling at different times, but he was absolutely correct to pull Eddie Lacy and Clay Matthews at different times during yesterday’s game.
A coach will bench players for various reasons.There’s the punitive benching. It happens when a coach is angry.
Sometimes it’s for bonehead play. Other times it’s to assert control. It’s no different than the timeout you would give a toddler.
No one can argue that Matthews’ punishing hit on 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick was anything but a late tackle. All he had to do chase Kaepernick out of bounds and the Niners would be looking at a fourth down field goal attempt at best.Instead emotions, boneheadedness, or even Newton’s First Law of Physics (bodies in motion stay in motion) got the better of Matthews.
It wasn’t a dirty blow to the head or an intentional stomp. The quarterback was hardly defenseless. But it was not a clean hit. There’s no question about that.
It was an incendiary play that led to a sideline scrum that would make any self-respecting hockey team proud. Nothing like adding a little gasoline to an already burning fire.
McCarthy could’ve pulled Matthews to punish him and send him to the corner, but it does not appear to be case.Rather, he pulled Matthews for most of the next series in order to let calmer heads prevail.
After all, heated chippiness tends to multiply exponentially if left unchecked. That would’ve surely derailed the defense.
Instead of being sent to detention, Matthews and his position coach Kevin Greene ironed things out.Matthews is hardly a dirty player, and it sure seemed like Greene was helping clear Matthews' headspace so he wasn’t a loose cannon on the next drive.
The same can be said for Lacy.
On the surface it looked like McCarthy had given up on him and sent him to the bench to stew over his mistakes.
Sure, Lacy did not look good in the first half. He didn’t help his cause by coughing up a fumble in a clear rookie error as he went to the ground.
Notice how focused Lacy was when he returned in the fourth quarter?No longer running into brick walls, Lacy broke tackles, extended plays and leapt over the top for a touchdown.
McCarthy pulled a floundering rookie and released him back with a little more confidence and insight.
While many coaches will bench a player to send a message, there are others that will grasp that opportunity as a teachable moment.
It’s easy to scapegoat a player after he messes up. Shaming is an easy and quick solution.
Yet it takes the stronger coach to utilizes these chances to improve and not merely assert himself as alpha dog.
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Some quotes from the article...
"It’s no different than the timeout you would give a toddler"
"Instead of being sent to detention, Matthews and his position coach Kevin Greene ironed things out"
"There are others that will grasp that opportunity as a teachable moment"
"It’s easy to scapegoat a player after he messes up. Shaming is an easy and quick solution"
"One of the most powerful things my high school soccer coach would do after he realized a player needed to adjust was to call for a substitution"
I'm not sure if the writer is a guidance counselor or was a really bad soccer player carrying around a duffle bag of suppressed rage.
No mention of who should have put MM on timeout for accepting the penalty before the sideline debacle.
Before we get too deep into Redskin week can anyone confirm that no GB coaches have been fired following Sunday's game? That will impact my post in the prediction thread.
too much psychoanalysis in that article.
more Xs and Os please
Im looking fwd to how we respond at home Sunday.
Dont lose the aggressive edge. We just have to learn how to focus it
The coaches apparently want to give Banjo more playing time. Makes sense given how the other two guys performed on Sunday.
Agree... He couldn't be any worse in coverage and at least he has shown a little toughness.
I'm still going to beat the drums for putting Hyde next to Burnett though.
The Banjo and drums. I guess the guys on the sideline would be entertained.
Interesting to see who will MM target this time. Last week he decided to shut the SF rushing offense and dared Kaperdick to beat us. He did.
This week? With Burnett and Hayward still out looks like the same scenario. Protect the running lanes for RGIII and stop Morris? The middle of the field will still be empty and vulnerable! OMG!!
I'd hope the defense won't be as 'restricted' against RG III, since he's not at the level that Kaperdick is now. Maybe this will allow for a more aggressive pass rush.
Whatever the coaches do, I hope they have the time to prepare and train this week. It may be a tough call to make on Burnett, but I don't want him getting the practice reps all week, and then whoever thrown in there at the last minute.
Watching some of the plays being broken down this week on the various sports shows has allowed me to see that player performance was poor, so maybe the scheme and/or adjustments is not as flawed as I want to believe it is. With that in mind, I'd have no problem seeing changes made to the defensive backfield. They've gotta try something!
Burnett was an 11th hour scratch on Sunday, so I expect he'll be given the entire week to be ready for Sunday with no practicing during the week.
What's the status on Ryan Kerrigan the DE for the Skins that was suffering concussion type symptoms?
I'd play the exact defensive scheme as last week and work on cleaning up execution of doubles and rolling coverage. If Burnett plays it's a plus. It's just me talking but Francois would be a good option for this game given his ability to handle the middle of the field in coverage.
Offense should light up Washington like Times Square. Lacy could/should go a long way in greatly reducing the 3 and outs. Catch the ball. Win the turnover battle. Don't run kickoff's out to the 7 yard line.
What's the status on Ryan Kerrigan the DE for the Skins that was suffering concussion type symptoms?
Redskins OLB Ryan Kerrigan has been cleared of a possible concussion, and will be active for Week 2.
Wow, compare how B.J. Raji played versus the 49ers in January compared to September. A world of difference.
"It's just me talking but Francois would be a good option for this game given his ability to handle the middle of the field in coverage."
Yes!
Recap of the crazy 1983 Monday Nighter from JSO:
Washington Newspaper Links (via Rotoworld):
Twitter List with just Redskins media:
I'm gonna predict the Packers record of 40+ games without a 100-yard rusher gets broken this week. If there's a single early season game that could help jumpstart the run game it's this one.
I started Eddie Lacy last week against the "vaunted" Niner defense that never allows a rushing TD.
Think I'm not starting him this week?
I'd hope the defense won't be as 'restricted' against RG III, since he's not at the level that Kaperdick is now. Maybe this will allow for a more aggressive pass rush.
Whatever the coaches do, I hope they have the time to prepare and train this week. It may be a tough call to make on Burnett, but I don't want him getting the practice reps all week, and then whoever thrown in there at the last minute.
Watching some of the plays being broken down this week on the various sports shows has allowed me to see that player performance was poor, so maybe the scheme and/or adjustments is not as flawed as I want to believe it is. With that in mind, I'd have no problem seeing changes made to the defensive backfield. They've gotta try something!
I hope this stat catches our coaches attention: Kaepernick under pressure: 2-for-7 for 39 yards and a 50.3 QB Rating. In a clean pocket: 25-for-32 for 373 yards, three touchdowns and a QB Rating of 146.5.
Who is now on the Packer practice squad?
Burnett is back at practice today
Sitton and Finley are not practicing, however
Maybe they're on timeout.
Last season the Redskins used play-action on 42% of its snaps, highest total since @fboutsiders started tracking in 1991.
I never noticed the name Hathcock from those teams before but it makes me chuckle.
Just imagine if his first name were Ian.
Male teacher doing roll call: "I. Hathcock?"
Student: "I'd guess so. Don't you know for sure?"
McCarthy post practice
Perry-neck, full
Burnett-hammy, limited
Finley-toe, dnp
Sitton-back, dnp
Hayward-hammy, dnp - out for WAS
Morgan Burnett, as far as his chance, I don't know yet. It will probably take the full week
Banjo was up last week. We're getting guys who are healthy ready to play. That's what games are for. We're getting him ready
Talking with Josh Sitton. It started bothering him on long flight out there. Made progress yesterday to today
Finley will be hard-pressed for practice tomorrow
Newhouse will play if Sitton can't go this weekend
Is Ross still the #1 option yet in return? The weeks practice will tell - working Ross, Hyde, Cobb, Tramon
Andy Benoit with a good look at Packers-Redskins (and snippets on the other Week 2 games), from the read-option perspective: http://mmqb.si.com/2013/09/11/...rs-read-option-dead/
We may not see Washington’s read-option in Week 2 either, not after the Packers took away the 49ers’ read-option last Sunday. Green Bay had its weak outside edge defender ambush quarterback Colin Kaepernick at the snap. If that defender was left unblocked, he had an unimpeded path to deliver a thundering hit. Consequently, the Niners used a true read-option on just a handful of plays. Kaepernick was drilled for a loss of seven yards and two yards on the two times he kept the ball; another time, running back Kendall Hunter was tackled for a loss of seven by an unblocked Clay Matthews, who was on his way to Kaepernick.
In time we’ll look back and view this as the beginning of the end for the read-option as we know it. The quarterback no longer has enough time to ride the mesh point because the unblocked defender is no longer reacting to the action, he’s now dictating it. This doesn’t mean read-option concepts will disappear. In fact, the scheme might still be in its infantile stages. Even if mobile quarterbacks like Griffin are no longer be asked to read unblocked edge defenders, they can still influence defenses by executing read-option motions (i.e. riding the mesh point on handoffs or QB keepers) on traditional run plays out of the Pistol formation. Such a wrinkle still presents the defense with added dimensions to think about.
McCarthy: Eddie is no different than any other rookie. I don't care who you bring in here. All of our new guys are really challenged this time yr. He is gaining an understanding of the offense.
So Capers and the D could go from serving as the fertile ground from which the RO exploded late last year, to sounding the first ring of the death knell of it? In one off-season? Impossible.
#NoAdjustments
locker-room tweets nuggets from today
TE Jermichael Finley said he injured his toe on the first drag route he ran vs. 49ers. If it's up to him, he wants to play
RB Eddie Lacy says he's nervous before every game but was especially so vs. 49ers. Calmed down later.
Lacy says he gained confidence from second half success when defense was worn down.
Lacy also said that he has his touchdown ball on his bed at home and that he sleeps with it. I think he was kidding, but maybe not.
FB John Kuhn on 'Skins LB London Fletcher not missing a game since 1998: "Good for him."
did not see S Morgan Burnett in the locker room during the media availability period. But he did practice on a limited basis.
Pickett says defensive line with him, Raji and Jolly is a lot of beef and difficult to run on.
Rodgers respects Haslett's schemes and is sure he'll have something cooked up for Sunday.
Horse-hockey.....I heard Capers is in over his head. The game has passed him by.
Kuhn on Lacy today
"I think he’s great. I think he’s a great, young, talented running back. I think he’s only going to get better with time. I told a couple other guys, he’s ahead of the curve. He’s not the normal rookie you see at this point in time in their career. The more confidence he gets, the better he’s going to be. So we’re trying to get him that confidence as early as possible."
Josh Sitton when asked about his penalties trying to block Justin Smith:
“I think old 94 out there is a pretty good actor. He likes to throw his hands up in the air a lot and pretend like he’s getting held.”
The first 6 weeks of the season are going to look a little rough at times. But GB is going to be a freaking beast come January.
I ask for one thing......
Health & let the chips fall where they may
Lacy also said that he has his touchdown ball on his bed at home and that he sleeps with it. I think he was kidding, but maybe not.
Love this kid and his cartoons.
I ask for one thing......
Health & let the chips fall where they may
From your lips to the football gods' ears.
From a Washington beat reporter:
@Russellmania980: Had a #Redskins player tell me today that in-house many believe Clay Matthews is best defensive player in game & better than DeMarcus Ware.
FWIW, I agree! At least the best in the NFC.
JJ Watt is pretty tough to overlook. 20.5 sacks and 16 batted passes, more than 29 other teams. That's incredible.
Let's just make Clay and JJ 1 and 1a.
I agree with Josh Sitton about Justin Smith. Any time he was getting blocked he put on a show when the play was over, total whiner. Lost some respect for him. Meanwhile Clay has a guy grabbing his leg and gets no call.
Not to get off on a tangent, but I don't understand why a ref in the booth can't be part of the discussion when the refs huddle? On these borderline calls, like who jumped first or who threw the first punch, it would be so easy for the HR to have a little earpiece that a ref quickly reviewing the play buzzed in to and said yea or nay on the call. Certainly that would have sorted out the CM3/ Staley scuffle that the league was quick to comment on how wrong the refs were.
Sounds like Banjo is getting reps with the possibility of playing. Need to look at all options. Hopefully McMillan bounces back.