Packers Offense Recap In Loss To Lions: Wow
by Brandon on Dec 13, 2010 7:01 AM CST
in Green Bay Packers Analysis
Email
Print
There is nothing good that can be said about Green Bay Packers offense this week. It's time to bury that game ball. The best that can be said is that it was just one game. The week before, the offense played great and QB Aaron Rodgers earned Air Player of the Week honors. It might be an understatement to say that the Packers offense is inconsistent.
The obvious difference was QB Matt Flynn, who played in the second half after Rodgers was taken out with a concussion. However, Rodgers's stats weren't great either (not entirely his fault) and Flynn's stats weren't much better (again, not entirely his fault). Flynn's INT in the end zone was ugly and certainly his fault. But blaming either quarterback for a complete offensive shutdown isn't fair.
It was an awful day for the receivers, and the offensive line was badly beaten. From Mike McCarthy: "Offensively, they were in our backfield all day, we lost the battle up front. We had the two big turnovers, particularly in the first quarter, potential points on the board and three points, that’s not cutting it." How bad was it?
Packer quarterbacks dropped back 41 times and they were sacked 4 times (10%), hit 8 times (20%), and ran for it 5 times (12%). Approximately one-third of the time, the quarterback was either hit or made a run for it. There were only 15 called running plays, and they gained either negative or no yards on 5 of them (33%). Maybe RG Josh Sitton had a good game, but otherwise it seemed like there was a different Lion defensive lineman in the backfield on every play.
And all three turnovers lost them points. TE Andrew Quarless had a fumble that likely cost them at least 3 points. WR Greg Jennings had an unbelievable bobbled touchdown turn into an INT that was entirely his fault. And Flynn's INT in the end zone. Any of those plays could have been the margin of victory.
The Lions defense deserves credit for playing tough. On the other hand, it was so far from a normal game for the Packers offense, and the Lions defense hadn't impressed in their previous two home losses, that this was more about the Packers struggles than the Lions success.
More after the jump, and more on this game at Pride Of Detroit.
Four Quarters
Great field position is wasted when Quarless fumbles after a first down reception. The next drive ends when the Packers fail to convert on another 3rd and short. The third drive ends after a five yard rushing attempt loss, and then on one of the many incomplete passes targeted at WR Donald Driver. The last offensive play of the first quarter is that interception tip by Jennings.
The second quarter doesn't start much better with another negative rushing attempt, a false start penalty, and a long 3rd down attempt that they fail to convert. The next drive turns into another 3rd and long after another penalty. The third drive of the quarter had Rodgers's 18 yard scramble that ended with his concussion. He suffered the injury, but it was his fault for not sliding on the play.
When the third quarter started and Flynn was given a little time to throw, he put together three drives in the second half that should have lead to points. The first one did, ending with their lone field goal after an almost touchdown pass to Jennings that just hit the turf a little in the end zone. The second drive is even better as Flynn moves them over 80 yards before throwing into double-coverage for the interception.
The first play of the fourth quarter starts off with a 3rd and 1 play where Flynn runs the wrong way for the handoff. The Packers need a scoring answer on the second drive, but instead Flynn is sacked again which becomes a 3rd and long that he can't convert. The final drive of the game goes for over 60 yards, but it's stalled out after they can't convert following a 2nd and 2. Fittingly it ends with another close touchdown pass to Jennings that is a couple feet beyond him.
Individual Analysis
It's all negative this week. When you only score three points, it's obvious that players are making drive killing plays, while not doing enough to move them into scoring position. Better luck next week guys.
44 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Longview
What’s the biggest problem we’re looking at right now? A) Injuries/bad luck; B) offensive line performance; C) coaching; D) something else.
To be brutally honest, I don’t see the Packers beating the Giants at home, let alone New England on the road. By then the Bear game is irrelevant and our guys are on the couch for the playoffs like the rest of us. I don’t know. Give McCarthy one more season, then consider promoting Dom Capers….?
Nooooo.....
Dom Capers is a great defensive coach, but head coach? Probably not a good mix for an offense with this kind of quickness.
McCarthy’s been OK, but his play calling this year might be undermining some players’ confidence. The mix up of RBs wasn’t working out too well, I think. There was a screen pass that I believe was meant for Starks that he just seemed totally unaware of and a few delayed hand-offs that were unsteady, as if the RB in the play wasn’t sure he should be getting the ball.
Clearly, the delayed hand-off has to go. It was used a lot and this offensive line is more used to falling back to protect than pushing forward and creating gaps. Also, something pointed out during the game was that the Lions defenders were lining up wider because they’d gotten used to the fall back mentality of the Packers, so that delay in contact gave the Lions time to get closer to the QB, keeping him from breaking out fo the pocket on more than a few plays.
Personally, I think that game was a wrap on the Packers’ playoff hopes. You can’t not beat the Lions and be considered a playoff calibre team. They’ve got to play perfectly and hope the Bears go on a major losing streak, but hoping against another team’s destiny instead of creating your own is never a good sign.
"Show me a good loser, and I'll show you a loser." - Vince Lombardi
Capers
The thing I like about him is his creativity and willingness to use it. The defense has had its share of adversity, injuries and bad luck this year, but without spiraling into disaster the way the offense has. Yes, it’s a bit of an “apple-orange” comparison, but it says something about contrasts in planning and preparation. That said, I’m not married to the idea.
Capers is amazing at fitting schemes
to the players he has… He’s good at using players strengths and hiding their weaknesses… that’s what makes him so good
by Goldenarmadillo4 on Dec 13, 2010 4:59 PM CST up reply actions
Well your defense looked solid
So you can give them the game ball.
It's a lot easier to love the Vikings when they win...
Defense
it’s bad to expect them to shut out opponents to give the offense a chance to win. Recall the 9-0 Jets game, and consider the need for a 3-0 win in Detroit. The Lions absolutely dominated the line of scrimmage yesterday, even when Rodgers was still healthy for most of the first half.
Even more than losing Ryan Grant at the beginning of the year, losing Jermichael Finley was maybe the fatal blow. Tight end is a key element of that offense and Andrew Quarless never replaced Finley (or Donald Lee). The offensive line unraveled from there. They’ve been beaten up pretty badly all season long, so like cracks in a dam, it’s like they’re not even there anymore.
coaching fail, big time
Horrible horrible gameplan this week – trying to pound the ball early played directly into DET’s strength up front and did not take advantage of our greatest strength against such a sieve of a secondary. Yes, we understand that establishing a good running game is probably important for the remaining weeks, but c’mon. It’s time for McCarthy to stop outsmarting himself.
Jennings’ “near TD catch” WAS a TD catch. He was adamant immediately afterward, and McCarthy ignored him. The second or third replay showed he had his hands under the ball the whole way. That was 4 points that McCarthy willfully ignored.
Beyond the coaching issues, the offensive line was horrible, and Suh absolutely pwned Wells off the ball repeatedly.
Overall, the whole week leading up to this game screamed TRAP GAME, and we came out FLAT. That’s 100% coaching and preparation, even with Rodgers’ concussion.
Every player thinks they catch the ball
If the only evidence you have is the player screaming for a challenge flag then it’s not worth a challenge.
Jennings "near TD catch"
for a second there I thought you were talking about the one where he caught it and then tossed it gently backward towards the opposing team.
o-line
The one thing that stands out to me more than anything after yesterday is that we still have a LONG way to go before we’ve built a solid o-line. Even on their best days, they are average pass blockers and poor run blockers.
We can argue about the running back situation all year, the consistent string of injuries, the play-calling (although, with the exception of the sideline bomb on 4th down I thought MM did fine yesterday), but the ultimate point I think is that good teams overcome these things. We’ve been very close to overcoming these things, but may end up falling just short this year. If there is one culprit I’m going to point to, it’s going to be the o-line. If the line was capable of good run blocking then I don’t think it would matter much who we had coming out of the backfield. Yesterday’s showcase certainly suggests as much. It didn’t matter who we were handing the ball to – there was no place to go. I was introduced to the entire depth of Detroit’s D-line by the end of the game I think – everyone was shoving into our backfield. If we have any serious desire to make the postseason, I say we abandon the run-game altogether.
Of course, that’s still not a great call because this line still cannot pass-block well. They have their average days, but that’s about it. Still, it is the closest thing to a strength they have and we should play to exploit it. The best teams in the league consistently have decent o-lines that excel in at least one type of blocking (see ATL, NE). Injuries to “skill”-players hurt less with a good o-line because the holes and time will still be there to deliver the ball.
Don’t get me wrong – I don’t hate our o-line. Many of them I actually like. But they have not been getting the job done all season. Never more so than yesterday has this been apparent. TT needs to keep shoring up the trenches before we can get to where we want to be.
The Corner Theorem: 38 + 21 = no fly zone
by Do the Math on Dec 13, 2010 11:16 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
wow
jump on board with me.
fat talented guys win football games in the real world. not fantasy football players.
still think we shouldn’t draft 2 fat guys in the 1st 2 rounds in the draft next year?
yes please
I’ll take two.
The Corner Theorem: 38 + 21 = no fly zone
by Do the Math on Dec 13, 2010 11:34 AM CST up reply actions
OL
Is now my #1 priority in the offseason! Thats a change from just recently, when I thought OLB was the top of the list! Wells and Colledge need to be replaced! Lang can take over for Colledge and then we just need another center! Don’t know if Spitz is the answer or not, but I’m guessing not… Even drafting another OT early would do wonders! It would allow Lang to move to LG instead of having to play RT. Clifton is great pass blocker but is abysmal in run game. I think the pass blocking is fine but the defenses just pin their ears back and disregard run blocking! Lang has to get on the field along w/ another 1st rd pick OL and that should largely solidify the OL in both run and pass!
You've been Stroh'd™!!!
Ironic
Colledge barely played against the Lions as he came out early with a knee injury. I’m not his No. 1 fan, but he’s played OK and didn’t have a lot to do with this loss. Spitz was bad as his replacement (he’s seemed to struggle in the past at left guard, but not at right guard) but Lang seemed OK. I wasn’t watching him really close.
Wells got beat on one play by Suh on a tackle for a loss, but I didn’t think he had an awful game. It’s not like he had trouble with blitz pickups because there were no blitzes when the Lions front four was getting the job done.
I thought both offensive tackles played terrible.
by Brandon on Dec 14, 2010 12:28 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Spitz was awful
I was watching the linemen (I generally do). In my opinion, Sitton played close to good, and Bulaga did all right (I’d give him a C minus). It was the left side, including Wells, that couldn’t get it done. Generally, an offensive coordinator can run plays and call blocking schemes to cover up for one weak link on the O-line. It’s very hard to cover up for two. On Sunday the Packers had 3, which gave the offense basically no chance.
Colledge has been better this year than he was last, I will grant you that. BUT, I still say the team needs an upgrade at LG. Center too, plus Clifton is becoming just too inconsistent as he matures. I’m not sure about swapping Bulaga over to the left side — I wasn’t in favor of throwing him in at RT, but after a couple of games I think that, while he isn’t going to the Pro Bowl any time soon, he might work out there. He was drafted to play LT, and if he’s going to stay on the right side we will need to find someone else. LTs are hard to find, and I am not at all comfortable with Thompson’s evaluation of O-line talent. He doesn’t do that very well (I would say he’s just plain awful at evaluating linemen, but it’s Christmas and I don’t want to be called a hater).
He doesn’t do that very well (I would say he’s just plain awful at evaluating linemen, but it’s Christmas and I don’t want to be called a hater)
No, you’re definitely right. He is awful at evaluating OL talent.
by packallday555 on Dec 14, 2010 12:49 PM CST up reply actions
Rec'd... what more can I say?
"Vince Wilfork's blood type is penne arrabiata"
by Shamalamadingdong on Dec 13, 2010 6:19 PM CST up reply actions
MM's play calling was horrible.
I mean you have to assume Flynn was doing exactly what was called 95% of the time. Makes me think that Rodgers is well prepared and is just making MM look good by making audibles all of the time. And I don’t care how good a RB is when you run them solo with no lead block right up the middle they are going to get killed.
If we take your premise that Flynn was doing exactly what was called
Then it kind of assumes that Rodgers was making a bunch of stupid calls and audibles throughout the first half because the play selection and pass selection looked much better with Flynn in there. Rodgers is one of the best QBs in the league, but it seems to me like a lot of our offensive rhythm issues have to do with his decisions early in games. I think McCarthy’s offense allows for lots of choices for the QB, so I don’t think I can fault him on the passes. The running plays yesterday, well see my rant below.
O-line coach
I wonder if the will finally get rid of James Campen as o-line coach this year, if our line keeps playing terrible. He has been our line coach since MM came in n our line has yet to develop even though its been 5 years. I think its time to find a better another guy to coach the o-line.
4th and 1?
A pass to the end zone on 4th and 1? That’s worse than Rex Ryan’s fake punt on 4th and 20! Another MM brain fart!
When is TT going to realize they need a veteran QB (Jon Kitna comes to mind here) who can come in and get you a win against the 3rd crappiest team in football without making bonehead plays in the red zone? Oh yeah, that’s right, we need 8 tight ends and 12 fullbacks and don’t have a spot for an experienced backup QB. Stupid old me!
Two things
And they’re both in relation to these sentences:
A pass to the end zone on 4th and 1? That’s worse than Rex Ryan’s fake punt on 4th and 20!
A) That fake punt was not called by Rex Ryan. That was the Jets’ punter free-lancing.
B) While I think people are right to question the play call, the fact of the matter is the play call WORKED. Jennings was wide open, and most NFL caliber QBs would be able to complete that pass (not sure what I’m saying about Flynn here).
And a third thing for good measure (I lied): were you complaining when the Packers had Brett Favre starting and only the inexperienced Aaron Rodgers backing him up? Because that is absolutely no different from how the team was constructed this year.
Towlieppan: "You wanna throw high?"
I think point B is the issue
Even if the play was there, that is a LOT to be putting on Flynn in that situation. Should he have been able to make that play? Yes. But when there are more options in a do or die scenario with a QB who is logging his first real playing time this year, you take those first.
I made this point in another thread (I think)
But I can kind of see where MM is coming from in this situation. You’ve got an extremely green (no pun intended) QB leading the team down the field. Last time you got close to the end zone he threw a terrible interception. Keep in mind the closer one gets to the end zone, the smaller the throwing windows are going to be, and Flynn is going to have that much more trouble getting the ball to his receivers. MM saw a chance to get the TD we needed and to get that QB off the field and give the defense the challenge to stop the Lions for a minute. The throw that Flynn needed to make is one that an NFL caliber QB should be able to make. It was a gamble on MM’s part, but the play would have worked with a good throw from Flynn.
I guess the point I’m trying to make is that in either case you’re putting a lot of faith in Flynn, whether it’s making one crucial throw or several slightly less crucial throws.
Towlieppan: "You wanna throw high?"
Last time you got close to the end zone he threw a terrible interception. Keep in mind the closer one gets to the end zone, the smaller the throwing windows are going to be, and Flynn is going to have that much more trouble getting the ball to his receivers. MM saw a chance to get the TD we needed and to get that QB off the field and give the defense the challenge to stop the Lions for a minute.
I totally agree with this, and if I had to bet what McCarthy was thinking, this would be my guess. My only beef with this is, why not do it on 2nd or 3rd down? Or why not just stick with what you’ve been doing, get an easy first down, and then go for the kill shot? It just was a bad sequence of plays.
by packallday555 on Dec 13, 2010 3:54 PM CST up reply actions
The way the Packers have been playing this year
there is no such thing as an easy 1st down on 3rd and short. They’ve had trouble all year in those situations. The Lions were playing for a short pass so they went for it. It didn’t work, but I won’t complain about the call.
There are lower risk plays you can run against short pass defense
Like picks and crossing routes. 30 yard passes on 4th and 1 is not the only answer.
Right. Pretty much what we had been that ENTIRE drive! I just don’t get why he called a timeout after 1st down to run a draw play. It killed the rhythm Flynn appeared to be in, and was just a horrible call considering our guys had been getting pushed back all game long.
Then it left us in 3rd and short, and anyone who was watching that game knew we weren’t going to be able to run for that first. So, then Detroit starting playing our underneath stuff. Had we not called a timeout after that 1st down completion, and stayed in the hurry up, I’d be willing to bet my life that Detroit would have stayed in their prevent defense.
by packallday555 on Dec 14, 2010 12:52 PM CST up reply actions
Thinking about that 4 four play sequence just makes me want to rip my hair out. It was just called so poorly.
by packallday555 on Dec 14, 2010 12:54 PM CST up reply actions
If the Packers' denfense can't stop Detroits' offense for a minute
We REALLY don’t deserve to win that game.
Towlieppan: "You wanna throw high?"
I am with you…the play worked, but that doesn’t mean it was the right call at the right time. I want the safe, high percentage play on 4th and 1. I know nothing is guaranteed but that kind of play is not a high percentage play…esp with your backup QB in on the play.
The Green Bay Packers...Putting bad coaches out of their misery since 2010
One thing I noticed in the running game
There were a bunch of gimmicky plays with three runners in the backfield. Of course our Oline couldn’t get any push because we didn’t call any plain and simple runs up the middle. A toss here, a delayed handoff there. I remember one play where the team was in I formation and a receiver motioned into the backfield next to the QB on the right side. Honestly, what’s he going to do there, act as an extra fullback or something? This allows whoever was supposed to be covering to follow him and play the run, bringing two unnecessary bodies into the play to clog up the running lanes. This trickery running game thing is embarrassing. Even if it does work sometimes (which it hasn’t) your team still looks like a bunch of finesse pansies.
Running games can be about that sort of trickery only after winning some basic up the middle battles. A good example was the Patriots game. Only after they got a number of good conventional runs up the middle did they break out the tosses, delayed handoffs, and play actions.
I realize our Oline is not great, but they’ll only look worse if you use up your running downs on stupid tricks and misdirections instead of giving your line a chance to push the Dline to build some confidence. Especially against the spread Dline look that Detroit’s been using the whole season. The only type of running game that should work against that setup would be a quick, up the middle one.
Great points. This only adds to McCarthy’s whole “trickery” mentality. It just seems like everything the guy does has to be him out scheming the opposition or something. Why can’t we just come out in the I-form and run a simple iso play right behind Sitton? Hell, even that formation with two fullbacks and a running back (not sure what they call that) would be fine. At least then it gives Starks/Jackson a couple more blockers to pick up the guys that are likely going to break through our weak offensive line.
It just seems like we do too much draw stuff out of a singleback and shotgun formations, and those plays are never going to work with this group of guys.
I was going crazy yesterday watching the Lions front four constantly come out in those wide techniques. The offensive line was struggling with it big time, and McCarthy did nothing to help them out by not making Detroit respect the run up the middle.
I don’t know, I just think he leaves a lot to be desired in play calling and x’s and o’s.
by packallday555 on Dec 13, 2010 4:03 PM CST up reply actions
pack
we need a rb. rodgers runs the ball they will take shots at him, what happens he runs gets hit and out of game whats up with off. line again. and penlties poor game plan. theres always next year.
Barry Sanders, maybe.
"Vince Wilfork's blood type is penne arrabiata"
by Shamalamadingdong on Dec 13, 2010 7:00 PM CST up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Acme Packing Company
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
SBNation.com Recent Stories
In Association With
Shutdown Corner - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
- Erin Andrews reportedly dating ‘Gossip Girl’ actor Chace Crawford, who also happens to be Tony Romo’s brother-in-law
- Madden ’13 will include ‘Tebowing’
- Deep Posts: Winslow not wanted in Tampa Bay?
- Beyond the Shutdown 50: Juron Criner, WR, Oakland Raiders
- Beyond the Shutdown 50: Gino Gradkowski, C/G, Baltimore Ravens
