On Special Teams, Injuries, and Jordy Nelson

by Brandon on Nov 21, 2011 7:01 AM CST in Green Bay Packers News

Jay Cutler injury will make it harder, but ... - NFC North Blog - ESPN. Along with Adrian Peterson's ankle injury, it was a rough injury weekend for some of the big names in the division.

Green Bay Packers news | Special teams' day anything but typical | Green Bay Press Gazette. Between 1st down run by Tim Masthay, the first missed FG of the season by Mason Crosby, and the nearly botched onside kick by rookie D.J. Smith, it was a weird game. Randall Cobb also had a 55 yard punt return, so I guess I'd say overall it was a positive game.

Green Bay Packers news | Video analysis: Why the long faces in the locker room? | Green Bay Press Gazette. This game reminded me of their win last season at Lambeau over the Lions (back when the Lions were closer to 0-16 than the playoffs). They were expecting to dominate an inferior team, and it didn't work out that way.

Green Bay Packers news | Notebook: McCarthy calls Starks injury a knee sprain | Green Bay Press Gazette. We have to wait a little longer to see how serious it is.

Twitter / @RobDemovsky: Greg Jennings, in @wbay st .... Greg Jennings was injured during the game too, but he's not talking about it yet.

Neal says he knew all along he was going to play - JSOnline. He played, but I didn't notice him. And neither did the stat sheet (no tackles or other stats recorded).

Stereotyping the Packers' Jordy Nelson - NFC North Blog - ESPN. The Buccaneers lined up some backups against Nelson, and it didn't work very well obviously.

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When they made the comment late in the game that the Bucs had out gained us

It told some people around me that this game was like the Lions game last year. I think it’s a great comparison

"IF CARDS CAN SIGN SUPPAN THEY CAN GIVE ME A HOME"

by Buddhasillegitimatechild38 on Nov 21, 2011 7:30 AM CST via mobile reply actions

Which Lions game? The one we lost I don't see any striking similarities.

Maybe in the one we won, don’t remember that one clearly enough to trust my accuracy. Where are the parallels that you see?

I already told you! I deal with the god damn receivers so the linebackers don’t have to! I have coverage skills; I’m good at covering people! Can’t you understand that? What the hell is wrong with you people?!

by msc32887 on Nov 21, 2011 9:47 AM CST up reply actions

the first one, where they won 28-26

Rodgers and the offense didn’t play well, the defense didn’t play well, and they let an inferior team hang around much longer than they should have

Just like yesterday

football does not build character, it reveals character.

by sheehan on Nov 21, 2011 11:07 AM CST up reply actions

man, i love having randall cobb

returning kicks for us. i never exhale until after he’s tackled. sometimes that takes a while, if at all. what a difference maker.

In love with the new Gaknar avatar.

by threadkiller on Nov 21, 2011 8:23 AM CST reply actions 1 recs

Difference maker...

He is that, problem is he makes plays that sometimes help the other team to! Gotta cout out the fumbles and muffs! He does it again and I would bench him.

You've been Stroh'd™!!!

by Strohman on Nov 21, 2011 8:31 AM CST up reply actions

With this offense...

the most important thing for our special teams is to HOLD ON TO THE BALL. Even if he was to average less per return, I would trade for that if accompanied by greater possession security. Our offense does need the extra 5-10 yards of field position.

Having said that, damn I remember how having Desmond Howard made a HUGE difference if and when our offense stalled (thinking of the S-Bowl in 96). Cobb’s explosiveness could be key if our Offense has a less than typical day.

Looking forward to the Packers three-peating and visiting President Ron Paul at the White House in 2013

by PackFaninFL on Nov 21, 2011 8:36 AM CST up reply actions

typical rookie behavior, i hope.

In love with the new Gaknar avatar.

by threadkiller on Nov 21, 2011 8:47 AM CST up reply actions

Bench him? Really?

I know ball security is important and all, but I’m not sure this captures just exactly how good Cobb has been. Right now Cobb is 8th in the league with return yard average (5th when you take out the guys who’ve had only one long return) and 17th in the league in punt returns (14th when you take out the guys with just one punt return, 11th when you take out the guys with only two). He’s gained the team 788 yards in hidden offense. That’s a lot and he’s a clear upgrade in the special teams area over anyone else that we would have back there. This is all against a back drop of two fumbled punts and one kick off.

There is always some risk reward when a guy is back there and thinking to make a play. Right now I would say that the reward is outweighing the risk when you consider all the yards he’s giving the offense and the two touchdowns he’s already scored. This is especially true when our defensive troubles are taken into consideration. We need that production to keep in the track races our games are turning into.

The other part of the risk and reward is who else would we send in his place? On punts it would probably be Tramon Williams. Tramon is just getting healthy again and I don’t think it’s really worth it to send him back there to get beaten on and risk injury to just to make sure the punts are caught. After him it would probably be Jordy Nelson and Charles Woodson. Again, with the with way our defense has struggled we need C-Wood, and Nelson has become an important piece to our offense as well.

No right now I don’t really see anyone else on this roster that would be the right fit for that particular job. We drafted him for this gig and pretty high. It’s time we ride this out and see where it all goes even with some of the rookie mistakes.

by PackApologist on Nov 21, 2011 9:17 AM CST up reply actions

McCarthy and Slocum

Sternly, both Mike McCarthy and Shawn Slocum made it clear this past week. No. More. Fumbles. “The two muffed punts and the turnover on the kickoff,” Slocum said, “we’re going to remove that from his game.”

Apparently the coaches are thinking in similar terms. As easily as he could win a game when the offense isn’t playing well, he could also lose that game. If he’s trading evenly a TD for a huge TO, he isn’t helping to win, he’s standing still.

You've been Stroh'd™!!!

by Strohman on Nov 21, 2011 10:45 AM CST up reply actions

I think you are taking their comments a bit far

There’s a difference between saying they are going to address a problem and talking about benching him. A HUGE difference. I would expect them to acknowledge the problem and state they will focus on trying to end that mental lapse, and say that they are going to pull him.

I also still don’t see who is going to replace Cobb out there if they do pull him. Do you want Tramon back there? Or Jordy? Neither of those guys were that good at that part of the game and the Packers really couldn’t take an injury to either one as well.

by PackApologist on Nov 21, 2011 12:41 PM CST up reply actions

This might depend.

I also still don’t see who is going to replace Cobb out there if they do pull him.

If they can just fix the problem with Cobb, couldn’t they do the same with Shields?

"Perfection is not attainable,
but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence."

"It's a great day to be great, baby!"

Skol is a four-letter word.

The Munsters of the Midway still suck!

by NorthStarr on Nov 21, 2011 10:06 PM CST up reply actions

Also I believe Jordy suffered from a case of the dropsies...

He fumbled 2 kick offs in 2010, and 1 in 2009. He also fumbled 2 punt returns in 2009.

Let’s just see if Cobb improves and learns from these mistakes. Obviously if he is consistently fumbling, then we have a problem, but so far he has done a pretty good job of responding to adversity.

Jordy’s stats

by stratefaced on Nov 21, 2011 1:08 PM CST up reply actions

He should get better as the year goes on, right?

Seems like a sharp dude to me. Plus, one would think rookie returners struggle more with catching the football in their first couple years…

Jay Cutler, first NFL quarterback to beat a playoff team with a losing record.

by arodgb on Nov 21, 2011 3:38 PM CST up reply actions

They wont bench him for 1 more fumble

If he coughs the ball up say 4 more times, then maybe.

No way they bench our best return man in favor of someone else. Cobb is dynamic back there, and gives us a much appreciated threat back there.

by Shoes31 on Nov 21, 2011 3:47 PM CST up reply actions

If he mananges to cough up 4 more fumbles...

… He’s not gonna see the field AT ALL.

Jay Cutler, first NFL quarterback to beat a playoff team with a losing record.

by arodgb on Nov 21, 2011 4:34 PM CST up reply actions

Except for his complete whiff on the attempted block that ended up hurting Jennings.

"I agree but dont agree"

by juggernaut400 on Nov 21, 2011 9:12 AM CST up reply actions

I know that nfl.com doesn't have the best quality of writers sometimes...

But

After impressive win over the Giants, Philly might finally be ready to start dreaming, writes Jeff Darlington.

I mean, a front page article, and they can’t even manage to sound intelligent?

by msc32887 on Nov 21, 2011 9:49 AM CST reply actions

The Eagles have as much chance to get into the WC

As any team in the NFC West not in California. In other words, none.

When life gives ya lemons, shut up and eat your damn lemons.
Brett Favre will lead the Vikings to a Victory in Super Bowl XLVI, Guaranteed! - REVENGE4FAVRE

by P-Townfan on Nov 21, 2011 10:54 AM CST up reply actions

they would have to run the table the rest of the season and through the playoffs

they’re not the Packers, so in other words, it’s not happening.

football does not build character, it reveals character.

by sheehan on Nov 21, 2011 11:08 AM CST up reply actions

I didn't think that win was very impressive.

I think the Giants lost that game more than the Eagles won it.

by Wisfan on Nov 21, 2011 8:42 PM CST up reply actions

Is Neal turning into the new Harrell?

God, I hope not. But, like Harrell, Neal has had a tough time getting onto the field the past few seasons.

by StevieV17 on Nov 21, 2011 11:42 AM CST reply actions

What? Where's this coming from?

Neal played this week. As has been customary, McCarthy is letting Neal back into the rotation slowly. He didn’t play much at all this week, but he’s fairly healthy right now (I believe) and his role will only increase as the season goes on.

by msc32887 on Nov 21, 2011 3:26 PM CST up reply actions

It will be interesting to see how many snaps he plays on Thursday.

by Wisfan on Nov 21, 2011 8:43 PM CST up reply actions

According to a USA Today report,

Neal played about 15 snaps yesterday.

Second-year defensive end Mike Neal made his season debut Sunday after recovering from surgery for a left knee injury he sustained in training camp. Neal was used as a situational pass rusher, primarily getting on the field on third down and playing about 15 snaps.

DE Mike Neal played for the first time this season, getting on the field for about 15 snaps as a situational pass rusher.

"Perfection is not attainable,
but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence."

"It's a great day to be great, baby!"

Skol is a four-letter word.

The Munsters of the Midway still suck!

by NorthStarr on Nov 21, 2011 10:17 PM CST up reply actions

The idea of a 'go-to' reciever has crossed my mind

And in the past, its been Jennings. But it seems like Jordy is becoming a real ‘go-to’ reciever for Rodgers. Consider week 2 vs Carolina, the dude runs a great route and scores near the end of the game. Consider last weeks game against Tampa: He scores again near the end of the game, and has quite a few key first down catches. Hope he continues it against Detroit this week.

Jay Cutler, first NFL quarterback to beat a playoff team with a losing record.

by arodgb on Nov 21, 2011 4:46 PM CST reply actions