Rocky Landing

ONE decent wide receiver who can be a downfield threat, and two decent guards, and we're a playoff caliber team. At least, that's my drunken, post-win, hot-take opinion.

McCoy was great, today. And, with Ivory, we had a perfectly balanced run game-- exactly the one-two punch we were hoping for. And, our receivers stepped up today, as well. Even KB (who is so obviously not a #1) worked hard, and laid down some solid blocking when called upon. What we desperately lack is a downfield threat.

Along with some actual production (for a change), he came up with a few decent blocks.

If I were a GM, I might hire an assistant coach (or even an entire staff) just to consult with the other coaches regarding the officiating team that will be handling the next game, and hoe that might affect the game plan. More than any other season I can remember, the officiating, from game to game, is all over the board.

He threw some crappy passes today, but he is developing so well. Imagine how good he's going to be by the end of the season. Everything about his game is getting better. Interesting how similar the first drive of this game was to the first drive of the Vikes game. Both benefitted from an opposing team's mistake. Both used a balanced offense that moved the chains. Both ended with an Allen Superman dive. And, both disrupted the opposing team's defensive scheme for the rest of the game.

Zay Jones stepped up TODAY!!!

I don't mind a defensive-minded HC. It's the crappy OC that we need to look at. I was disappointed when Daboll took his foot of the gas in the second half of the Vikes game. But, I couldn't argue with the results. But, the offensive play calling at Lambeau was terrible. If someone is in disagreement with that statement, I would like to know the reasoning. I'm completely confused by the whole thing, really. The difference in play-calling between the first half of the Vikings game and the entirety of the Packers game is bizarre to me. The Vikings game was marked by well-designed plays that used the whole field, played to Allen's strengths, and took away Minnesota's defensive scheme in the first drive. Versus the Packers, there was barely a well executed play to be had. What the hell???

Wait a minute... isn't Charles Clay one of our most reliable receivers? I haven't even bothered to look at the stats, but every game I see him real in catches that our wide receivers drop. Is this another "we should tank" thread?

Some absolutely blatant holding not called. Not that it really matters. The game wasn't close.

I guess we can't move Lewis to WR.

So, just to be clear, there are living, breathing people who think that Peterman should start the second half???

Lots of holding not being called.

Gaines healthy but inactive? Interesting... He looked pretty good last week.

I know you guys are just kidding around, but Mathews is a really smart guy. His public confusion on the topic notwithstanding, I'm sure he has the tackling issues worked out. He's going to be our biggest concern on their D, IMO. AS Pettine favors an interior pass rush, he will be attacking whatever gap Miller gives him. Miller, Bodine, and Mills are going to need a good game today.

Lorax was incredible last week.

Maybe add Milano to that list. Ivory has reliable hands, as well. I wonder if we don't see them both on the field on some plays?

The Packers are primarily running a 3-4 defense, no?

Disagree with the notion that Allen is throwing the ball too hard. He's not. Foster let the ball drop right between his hands on a bomb. Both of KB's drops were absolutely catchable. The one at the goal line was a rope, but it was right in the breadbasket. And, he had quite a few touch passes, especially his check downs to Ivory, and Clay. We knew at the beginning of preseason that we had a weak WR corp, and the debate was whether KB was going to be a disappointment, or not (Obviously, so far, he has been). That people are still hanging their hat on UDFA Foster, and not even talking about Zay tells us everything we need to know about how our WR corps has developed.

Bulaga is injured, but Justin McCray (RG) is listed as doubtful. Their whole right side looks pretty weak.

If our secondary can really step up (the biggest "if" IMO), and we can continue last weeks trend of pressuring the QB, we might hold the Packers to a modest score. I doubt we're going to get the same kind of turnovers this week, as we did vs. the Vikes. Bulaga, McCray, and Graham being dinged up helps that cause a lot. If McCray doesn't play, they will be left pretty thin on their O-line. Speaking of which, I think that a lot will hinge upon how our own interior O-line performs. Pettine has been on record as favoring an interior pass rush. Even with Wilkerson out, their remaining three D-linemen aren't scrubs, and look for Clay Mathews to cut to the inside.The trio of Miller/Bodine/Ducasse makes me more nervous vs. Pettine's pass rush than what we faced vs. the Vikes.

At the very least, the entire team got a shot in the arm vs. the Vikes. And, it did look like Benjimin was better in the second half (granted, Daboll took his foot off the gas at that point). But, maybe that enthusiasm will help get Benjimin's head back in the game? That would be the optimistic take.

For me the most impressive part of that game was the opening drive. We had a perfectly balanced offense that just moved the chains. And then, Allen's Superman dive to the pylon! That opening drive completely shut down their defensive scheme for that game, and gave our defense something to play for. Man, that was fun to watch!

That's how I interpreted it, as well. But, that begs the question: Why would leopards be looking for a carcass? They're predators, not scavengers.

I think the O-line is getting a more even attack this year. Last season, with Incognito, and Glenn/Dawkins on the left, and Tyrod being as mobile as he was, I think defenses tended to attack the right side of Mills and Ducasse quite a bit more. So, I think the left side is getting a lot more pressure this season. Subsequently, Dawkins is struggling a bit more, and Mills isn't looking half bad. He held up pretty well Sunday, I thought, and was a decent run blocker, as well. Hate to say it also, but I think Bodine was an upgrade to Groy. At least, he stayed on his feet.