The Packers’ playoff hopes may not have died yesterday but the preacher has been summoned. With a trip to New England without Aaron Rodgers looming, the Packers’ loss at Detroit yesterday might have been the death blow. The big question is though, how on earth could the Packers play their worst game of the season at such a critical time? Who is to blame?
My first subject is head coach Mike McCarthy. The case could be made that McCarthy’s poor game decisions have cost the Packers two of the last three games. The refusal to throw the challenge flag against the Falcons gave Atlanta a touchdown and his refusal to throw Sunday against the Lions took a touchdown away from the Packers in a 7-3 game. Absolutely no excuse in either case not to at least challenge the play.
Couple that with an offense that can’t won’t run the ball and you have a team that is one dimensional and couldn’t pick up a third-and-one if it’s life depended on it. Vince Lombardi must roll over every time the Packers send a running back into a offensive line that got pushed back two yards off the line of scrimmage. It’s ridiculous. Until they get Ryan Grant back and can run the ball again the Packers’ offense will continue to be the disjointed unit it is.
You can say it is Ted Thompson’s fault for not finding a replacement but once the season starts you aren’t going to find a starting running back down at the corner drugstore. Proof of that is in Seattle where Marshawn Lynch has been mediocre at best on a team that runs the ball a lot more than the Packers do. They will certainly have to find a backup to Grant because that player might not be on the roster right now.
So you probably guessed already that subject number two is Thompson. My main complaint against TT is his inability to build an offensive line. It is not so much for lack of trying but more just a lack of success. Thanks to Thompson the Packers have been able to withstand the loss of 13 players to injured reserve even though their luck might have ran out in Detroit. When Daryn Colledge went out an already shaky line became a sieve. Jason Spitz was pulled and tackle backup T.J. Lang had to come in. Disgraceful.
I’m still not totally convinced that the offensive line’s problems aren’t related to McCarthy’s idiotic zone blocking scheme. Time for Thompson to tell McCarthy to drop that scheme so he can draft real lineman who can move the defensive line back instead of vice versa. Thompson has also struggled in drafting running backs. Maybe James Starks will end up being OK and if so it will be the first running back drafted by Thompson to succeed. Brandon Jackson has talent but no heart and has been a bust since being a high draft pick in 2007.
Jackson showed some flashes mid-season but quickly reverted back to his old self – a plodding running back that is only good on third down as a blocker or screen pass receiver. That is all he will ever be. Thompson needs to replace the entire roster of backs with the exception of Grant and Starks. The fullbacks suck too. All ten of them.
It will come as no surprise to you that I lean toward subject number one as the main culprit. McCarthy is going to get the benefit of the doubt because of all the injuries but I’m not so sure it’s deserving. He has one of the best QBs in the league in Rodgers and he is wasting him by not building a balanced offense around him that can win a championship. It’s mind-boggling. “It’s basic football” as the coach likes to say.
It is unlikely that the Packers make the playoffs this year as they will probably not have Rodgers at New England Sunday night. The Patriot might drop 100 on us. Matty Flynn is no Matty Ice. And if the Packers don’t make the playoffs and Thompson thinks he has a chance at Chucky or Cowher, I would make the move this year. Better a year too early than too late.
At least I can dream. McCarthy will surely be back but he will certainly go into 2011 on the hot seat unless the Packers find a way to win their last three games and make the playoffs. The Packers already beat the “NFL’s best team” once this year when they beat the Jets, so maybe they can do it again. With the Giants winning tonight the Packers will need to go 11-5 to make the playoffs.
How the Packers play the last three games will show how much heart they have, which is also a reflection of the head coach. Let’s see what you got, Mike.
P.S. – The Giants look like world beaters against a Vikings team that has packed it in without Brett Favre. The Bears will clinch the NFC North next week by beating the Vikings if the Packers lose at New England. The Vikings look dreadful! There is no way they help the Packers by beating the Bears. The Giants defense might kill somebody yet this year. Man those dudes are mean. No wonder Favre didn’t want to play.