Cheesehead
Well-known member
- Mar 19, 2019
- 2,854
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Cicero from Sao Paulo, Brazil
Hey guys, just want to know your thoughts about Bulaga’s performance so far. He has been just outstanding.
Yes, yes he has. He’s had his share of strong years. This might be his best so far.
Dennis from Batavia, IL
AR12 said he lobbied receivers coach Al Whitted during the fourth quarter to get Allen Lazard more snaps. During the game who is determining the various rotations and who is on the field (position coaches?) and how is this coordinated with the plays being called or the package inserted? Another example. Rashan Gary played only five snaps. Who is most responsible for that decision?
Position coaches control playing time, for the most part, establishing pecking orders for each personnel package and telling a guy when to sub in for another. If a player is on the field in a given personnel group, he has to know all the possible calls in that package, otherwise he can’t be in it or the play-caller gets hamstrung. The position coach has to make sure he’s not putting the play-caller in a bad place.
Amy from Bayport, MN
Trading Trevor Davis to the Raiders obviously left a hole to fill in the return game. With the release of Tremon Smith and the struggles of Darrius Shepherd Monday night, where do you see the Packers looking to fill that role? Do you give the undrafted rookie another chance to prove himself? Tramon Williams is sure-handed but is not much of a threat to break a long return. Any chance we’ll see Jaire Alexander returning punts?
I wouldn’t rule anything out, though LaFleur said Wednesday they’re sticking with Shepherd. Whatever the case, the Packers need more from their return game. Their return averages on both punt and kickoff are significantly lower than their opponents’ averages. Those numbers don’t tell the whole story as far as field position, but they are starkly different.
Jacob from Madison, WI
As a Packers fan, it’s embarrassing the level the readers and writers of this column are going to to excuse the terrible calls by the refs that gifted us the game. I’m not saying we should give back the win, but can we just acknowledge how bad those calls were and the fact that we likely don’t win without them?
I don’t believe I’ve excused them, for the same reason I didn’t dwell on the deflected interception at the goal line vs. Philly that was clearly DPI. I’ve simply said it’s now part of life in the NFL. Every team’s fortunes change on calls (or non-calls) at some point, more often now than ever. If you can’t acknowledge that, you’re not watching the same game.
Jack from Marshfield, WI
When was the last interception Rodgers threw that didn’t hit a Packer receiver first?
I think you have to go back to the Carolina game in Dec. 2017, his brief one-game return from the broken collarbone.
Tim from Spooner, WI
How about a shout-out to the new coaching staff's handling of clock management! Leaving seven seconds left at the end of the first half and zero time at the end of the game for the Lions to attack in the two-minute drill. In past years it was infuriating to see how often the clock was managed, particularly up to halftime. Another overlooked stat. Holding other teams scoreless in last two minutes of a half.
I found the initial exasperation in my live blog halftime chat Monday night to be pretty amusing. Running the ball on third-and-goal from the 21 with the opponent out of timeouts was absolutely the right move. You’re in a low-percentage situation and can take three points without putting your defense back out there. At the time, I thought the Packers might run it on second down to see if they could get closer, drain the clock to about 20 seconds, and then decide what to try on third. But however you go about it, make sure you get points and kill the clock. That’s what they did.
Scott from Lincoln City, OR
Mike, your predecessor put an asterisk on the Lions in his rankings for being robbed by the officials. Would you agree the officiating was just as bad or worse in the Packers' loss to the Eagles? Derek Barnett should have been ejected for his egregious hit on Williams and then his game impacting strip-sack never happens.
Don’t discount the possibility my old friend is doing that just to get a rise out of a good chunk of his readership. That said, I totally get his point about only calling what you see, not anticipating or “looking” for a call, and I agree. But then I have to ask, did anybody see the ball break the plane on fourth-and-goal Monday night? I didn’t. Just keep playing.
Chuck from Neenah, WI
Regarding the comparison of Allen Lazard to Davante Adams recalled to mind a similar situation at another time. A really tough, physical receiver named Sterling Sharpe who could "out-muscle" most of the DBs in the league during his star-studded but injury-limited time with the Packers. Could we be viewing the reincarnation of that with Lazard?
Look, I get the perspective Wes was trying to convey, but let’s pump the brakes a little. I’m as excited as the next guy for where Lazard goes from here, but Adams? Sharpe? How about we just let him play.
Josh from Oshkosh, WI
Last season, Aaron Rodgers had a statistically "down" year. This season, if you look at the numbers, they're even lower than 2018. Yet there is no talk about the decline of Rodgers this season because winning makes all of the difference. With that said, despite what the numbers say, there has been something about his play that has been outstanding. What is it, exactly?
Smarts, ball security, and accuracy on the run come to mind.
Christow from Dallas, TX
Hey Insiders, I’m liking what I’m seeing from AR12 this season. He isn’t putting up monster numbers, but he is doing little things to lead. After Lazard had his third catch, he starts jawing with the DB, and the camera went to Aaron authoritatively waving him back to the huddle. I couldn’t have been happier. It’s as if he was saying, “Hey youngster, you’re playing good, but we haven’t won yet.” Save that stuff for after the win. I love it. Just win baby.
Happy Thursday.
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