No Charles, Thank YOU

Make no mistake, there will never be another Charles Woodson. Not at Michigan, not in Green Bay, not anywhere. His unique combination of skills and dedication to the game have placed him in the pantheon of not just defensive backs, but football players period. He’s one of the best of all time, and we were lucky enough to witness the pinnacle of his abilities for seven years.

The stats are great. 921 tackles, 17 sacks, 29 forced fumbles, 10 fumble recoveries, an incredible 55 interceptions, nearly 1000 interception return yards, 11 touchdowns, 182 passes defensed, the list goes on. He’ll no doubt add to those over the next year or two, but if he walked away today, he’d do so as a sure-fire hall of famer. As hackneyed a phrase as it is, it fits Charles Woodson too perfectly to say that the stats only tell a fraction of the story. Woodson had every football intangible known to man, and whatever leadership he wasn’t born with, he developed.

“My mindset was, I didn’t care who it was. You know what I mean? I play this game too.”

Charles had what can only be described as incredible ‘fight,’ and he didn’t give a shit who knew it. By the way, if you didn’t know it, he’d let you know in a hurry. Whether it was fighting Amani Toomer as a true freshman during his first practice at Michigan, or fighting David Boston in the Big House versus Ohio State, or even arguing with Mike McCarthy day one in Green Bay, Woodson never took no shit. I’m reminded of one of my favorite plays by Charles. It was Brett Favre’s final game in Green Bay, and the Giants were coming to Lambeau Field for the NFC Championship game. It was colder than a witch’s tit. Game time temperature was hovering around zero, and there was no shortage of wind. The talk leading up to the game centered around New York’s three pronged rushing attack, spear headed by the massive Brandon Jacobs. Seemingly everyone in the media was questioning how the Packers were going to stop this 6’5”, 265-pounder in the cold. Woodson not only heard the criticism, but decided in truly Woodson-esque fashion to bring the fight to Jacobs right off the bat. A run off right tackle on the first play of the game saw Jacobs reach the edge, where Charles was waiting for him. He came right at Jacobs, who ran him over but didn’t gain another inch. Woodson got up slowly, but the message had been sent. Joe Buck said something to the effect of, ‘I bet Woodson’ll think twice before doing that again,’ a comment that served only to belie his alleged knowledge of the week’s matchup.

“I was on the other side of the field and I just saw him, shoot out of the sky with one hand up like a rocket. And he came down with it? Superman.” – Michigan teammate Marcus Ray on Woodson’s iconic interception against Michigan State

“If you’re gonna play in this game, and play for Michigan, you’re gonna have to hit, and you’re gonna have to tackle. That’s all you gotta tell me.”

Charles saw plays that nobody else could see. In an era that saw nearly every rule change favor the offense, and receivers in particular, Woodson reveled in every opportunity to cover. While most corners were simply trying desperately to not get burned, Charles was bating quarterbacks, playing off intentionally, attacking ball carriers, and trying to score. He was seemingly one step ahead of everybody on the field for years. This uncanny ability to slow the game down not only led to tons of picks, forced fumbles and passes defended, but also manifested itself in a less typically celebrated way. Woodson made fucking tackles. He made easy tackles, he made open field tackles, he stripped the ball while tackling, and he made circus tackles. I’m again reminded of a play that showcased both Woodson’s exceptional vision, and his outrageous tackling ability. Baltimore was threatening on the goal line, with bowling ball Ray Rice in the backfield. Green Bay was clinging to a lead at the time and needed to keep the Ravens out of the end zone. The play was a toss left to Rice, who had every block he needed. As he sprinted his way to the corner of the end zone, Charles saw what nobody else would have seen. He dove, flat out, rotated 90 degrees to split both blockers assigned to him, caught nothing more than a shoelace, and took down Rice for a three yard loss. The defense held Baltimore to a field goal, and the Packers won by 3. I was at the game, and on the other side of the field, so I had no idea what happened until the next day. But you know that something special happened when all of your friends want to talk about a tackle instead of how the points were scored.

“All of the emotion came out. Cried like I’d never cried before. You know I tried to just tell the guys, you know how bad I want it, go out there and get it done.”

A long NFL career saw Charles evolve from a petulant ‘me first’ head case, to a consummate ‘team first’ professional. He learned to fit in with the Packers, learned to fit in with Dom Capers defense, and learned to lead by example. Preferring to lead with actions rather than words, Woodson was called upon to deliver a message to the team after the 2010 NFC Championship game. The player Aaron Rodgers described as ‘the guy I respect the most’ gave a memorable speech that has received plenty of fanfare, taking aim directly at the president who got his vote, but supported his rival. The ‘one mind, one goal, one purpose’ speech was all well and good, but it was Charles’ lack of speech at halftime of the Superbowl that really showed his team how much he cared. Of course nobody outside the team is privy to what exactly was said that day, but Woodson himself has cited his inability to talk much, owing to an outpouring of emotion in the midst of the game’s biggest stage. As Woodson watched Rodgers take a knee in the ‘V’ formation to end the game, the last of his football goals was checked off. He had accomplished each and every goal he had set for himself professionally, an achievement most people can only dream of. He was a true leader that demanded respect from everyone around him, but for all the right reasons.

“No disrespect to the hospital or this award, but this is truly not about me.”

Charles had been a leader off the field as well, which isn’t as exciting but is decidedly more important. He has donated over $2 million of his own money to the University of Michigan’s Mott Children’s Hospital, and has solicited far more in donations from other Michigan alumni. It’s easy for anyone to say that $2 million isn’t much to a rich guy like Charles, but how many other NFL stars do we see donating that amount of money? And how many people never even heard about it because Charles doesn’t go around tooting his own horn? He’s a role model for NFL players young and old, on the field and off, and for regular people like us. He’s learned to use his greatness to improve the world, not just himself.

“We don’t need luck”

Charles is an inspiration to me personally, somebody I feel privileged to have watched these past seven years, and somebody to whom I feel the world owes a debt of gratitude. I’ll extend a sincere ‘thank you’ to Charles for showing us what we can accomplish by doing things the right way, working hard, and committing to what we believe in. I’ll miss him every Sunday, and won’t begrudge him a single minute played in another team’s uniform. He’s earned it and I wish him all the best.

This Loss Hurts, but we're in the Dance

Make no mistake, this loss hurts our chances at winning the Superbowl. Not only did we lose the first round bye, but we’ll also have to travel to San Francisco to play the 49ers if we’re lucky enough to beat the Vikings on Saturday. I know the bye seemed to hurt us last year, and Rodgers is a California boy, but any football insider will tell you unequivocally that you always want an extra week of rest (an one less chance to lose), and you always want to play at home. It really is that simple. Having said that, I wasn’t TOO upset with our performance on Sunday (with a few exceptions to be discussed). I don’t think we came close to revealing our full game plan for the Vikings, and I don’t think the Vikings match up particularly well against us anyway. We came out of the game pretty healthy, with the one major loss being Jerel Worthy who looked to be seriously injured. Charles Woodson has officially been cleared to play, Clay Matthews is looking intense, and Rodgers is in a groove. Safe to say I’m fucking excited about the playoffs. Here’ what I liked and didn’t like on Sunday:

What I Liked:

Game Plan: We ran what I thought looked like a rather mundane game plan, and put up 34 points. That’s pretty darn good. I’ve never seen us run the Inverted Wishbone formation that many times in one game. It’s totally not our style, and I think served to veil our true intentions against this defense if and when we’d see them again. A few years ago we were burned badly following an unnecessary ass-whooping we put on the Arizona Cardinals. We showed how we thought we should play them, and they taught us a lesson the next week in the playoffs. Here’s hoping McCarthy did indeed slow-roll the Vikings, and we put it on ‘em at Lambeau on Saturday.

Greg Jennings: That was vintage Jennings last night. He’s back, he’s valuable, and he proved it. He not only caught two touchdowns, but also showed off his trademark elusiveness after the catch. You couldn’t tackle this guy in a phone booth on Sunday, and he got plenty of looks from Rodgers as a result. Let’s hope the chemistry is there for this receiving core when it finally returns to full strength in the playoffs. Welcome back Greg, and congratulations on reminding us why we WILL miss you next season.

Dejuon Harris: McCarthy likes to go with the hot hand at running back, which is why Grant got the start, but Harris got the finish. Grant’s legs looked to have plenty of life left in them two weeks ago, and he was given the first few snaps of the game as a result. When the running game failed to get going, McCarthy plugged in Harris, who ran with purpose. He’s an angry young runner who doesn’t shy from contact in the slightest. He’s got good burst that got him into the secondary on a few occasions on Sunday, averaging 5.0 yards on his 14 carries. He also had two receptions for 17 yards. I don’t know about everyone else, but I feel pretty darn confident about our running game going into the playoffs. 

What I Didn’t Like:

Aaron Rodgers’ Behavior: I sincerely hope that Aaron Rodgers is embarrassed by the way he behaved during the game on Sunday. Jumping around like a petulant child, yelling at teammates, coaches, opposing players, and referees, generally acting very Cutler-like. I have to wonder what the conversation between Rodgers and McCarthy was like after the game concerning Rodgers’ reaction to McCarthy mistakenly throwing the challenge flag. One thing I do know for sure is that it’s bad news if a player (any player) considers himself in charge of the team. McCarthy needs to keep Rodgers in check (at least in public) and control his quarterback’s temper. Rodgers has said before that he needs to stop showing up other Packers on the field, yet seemed wholly unapologetic following Sunday’s display, which in my opinion was the worst instance yet. Being passionate about your job is great and I respect both Rodgers and McCarthy for it, but it’s time for the quarterback to grow up and learn how to act in public.

Secondary: Thank god we’re finally getting Charles Woodson back this week, because we’re REALLY going to need him after this poor performance. How do you force a talented secondary to make Christian Ponder look like Eli Manning? You beat them up with a wrecking ball of a running back until they no longer want any part of the game. Tramon Williams looked downright scared to hit Adrian Peterson, and indeed chose to avoid doing so on more than one occasion. I get it. Believe me I do. Cornerbacks are smaller guys and AP is a freight train, the coaching staff shouldn’t put a corner in a position to be the first guy hitting any running back, the defensive line or at least linebackers should put a hat on him before he gets to the edge, etc. The fact is our secondary got beat the fuck up by an old school offense and it took them out of the game. Christian Ponder is awful and I will debate anyone that disagrees till the cows come home. He is awful and he torched us for three touchdowns. We have to be better than that or we might as well just lose in the first round. What do you think a halfway decent QB will do against a secondary playing like that?

Don Barclay: According to Pro Football Focus, Barclay was the only offensive lineman to grade out negatively for the day, coming in at -4.1. He gave up all three sacks, which included the forced fumble on Rodgers that basically cost us the game. He had shown McCarthy and Tom Clements enough in his previous performances to warrant solo assignments, but I think it’s time to slide him some help.

The biggest reason I’m excited to get Charles Woodson back is for his leadership. He is the heart and soul of this defense, and I look for him to set the tone early on. I’m hoping his typically aggressive tackling isn’t hindered by his collar bone, and that it rubs off on the rest of the team. We can’t afford to leave the tackling to someone else, we’ve got to swarm this dude early and often.  He’s the only chance the Vikings have at winning, so I want Charles to let him know right away that this ain’t gonna be like the last two games we played. The weather will be cold, tackles will hurt, and we’re going to find out a lot about the toughness of our defense on Saturday.

Week 15 Review

The Packers have claimed their second straight division championship by continuing their domination of the Chicago Bears. Having won eight of the last nine matchups against Chicago, and a staggering 13 straight division games, the Packers continue to assert their supremacy in the NFC North. These are without a doubt the most important games to win during the regular season, and the current roster and coaching staff have shown a spectacular ability to do so. It’s time now to fight for a first round bye in the playoffs, and we’re in damn good position to get there. We need two wins and one San Fran loss to lock up the number two seed, but I’d rather be a healthy three seed than a banged up two seed. Let’s hope we continue to get healthier, continue to gel as a unit, and continue to win the most important games that we play. Here’s what I liked and didn’t like.

What I Liked:

If you can prove that you predicted James Jones would lead the NFL in TD's by week 15 this year, I will buy you the biggest beer you can find.

James Jones: It’s not just that he had three touchdowns. It’s not just that he leads the NFL in touchdown receptions. It’s not even that impossibly confident strut he broke out after his final score yesterday. For me, it’s the way he’s gone about his business. Take yesterday’s game for example. He scored three times on three completely different routes, from three different positions. He was split out wide right when he torched Hayden with a beautiful out and up route. He was in the slot left when he fought his way in on a crossing route. And he was lined up wide left when he scored on a fade route. James has endured plenty of criticism in his six years in Green Bay, but has never once complained. He has worked to get better, understands the value of each opportunity he gets, and has clearly mastered the offense. He is a shining example of our coaching staff’s ability to develop a young player, and prepare him to be a leader in the NFL. Receivers coach Edgar Bennett, offensive coordinator Tom Clements, and Aaron Rodgers deserve plenty of credit here, but nobody deserves as much praise as the blue collar Jones.

Clay Matthews: My god, what a difference maker this guy is. Undeniable lynchpin to the success of this defense. He had two sacks of his own, but undoubtedly contributed to the sacks recorded by d-linemen Mike Neal and Jerel Worthy. He looked to be playing at about 85% to me, and was even held out on some running downs. Give credit to the medical staff for not rushing him back, and credit to the coaching staff for picking the right times to throw him into the fray. He struck me as somewhat subdued yesterday, which is fine by me. Let him unleash the fucking maniac in the playoffs. I just really wonder what it is that makes him so damn effective at rushing the passer, and why nobody else on our defense can do what he does. Either way it’s great to have him back.

Don Barclay: I’ve said it plenty of times before, but I’m not qualified to analyze the play of an offensive lineman. Like most fans, I’m usually watching the ball, and therefore never watching the guys in the trenches. That being said, going completely unnoticed is about the most ringing endorsement I can give an o-lineman. So congratulations Don Barclay on going up against one of the toughest pass rushers in the history of the NFL, and going completely unnoticed. I gotta believe he graded out positively in yesterday’s game at the ultra-important right tackle position. Depth on the offensive line is absolutely crucial, and we appear to have it.

What I Didn’t Like:

Trick Play: Ok look, I’ve gone on record as being in favor of gadget plays. They’re exciting, can generate points, and give the opposition one more thing to think about. That being said, yesterday’s punt pass struck me as a bit hair-brained. The reality is that the play looked like it would have worked had Jeremy Ross caught the ball, but that’s not the point. We were flagged for holding, but that’s not the point either. The point is that we were up by two scores, receiving the ball, with just eight minutes left. I praised McCarthy a couple weeks ago for knowing when and when not to call an aggressive gadget play, but he sure proved me wrong here. I honestly liked the play, I just hated the timing of it.

Mason Crosby: McCarthy said in his post-game press conference that the Packers are going to stick with Mason Crosby no matter what. Color me confused. The time is now to dump this dude, bring in somebody (ANYBODY!) else, give him two weeks to get his feet wet, and go into the playoffs with a tiny shred of confidence in you kicker. If we lose in the playoffs on a Mason Crosby miss, the decision to keep him around will be second guessed till the cows come home, and I’ll be pissed off for at least a week. Crosby is finished in the NFL, and the sooner we accept that, the better.

Can't have this shit. Can. Not. Have. It.

Aaron Rodgers Taking Hits: It’s one thing if your o-line gets beat for a sack. It’s one thing if a defender hits you up high illegally. It’s another thing entirely when you take an unnecessary and potentially devastating hit reaching for a first down when we’re up by two scores and already in field goal range. Well, field goal range if we had a real kicker. How has he not learned this lesson yet? It seems to me that for a guy as smart as Aaron Rodgers to continue making the same mistake, there must be something else going on. Is he so eager to prove that he’s an athletic quarterback that he’s willing to risk his season to do it? I’m not saying that’s necessarily the case, but how else can you explain his stubbornness when it comes to taking hits on the run?

It feels great to have locked up a spot in the tournament, and it feels even better to have done so at the expense of the Bears. Just think, for just a minute, how shitty it would be to have Jay Cutler as your quarterback. He is the worst. Anyway thank god he plays for the Bears. We’ve now won eight of our last nine, and have somehow managed to stay under the radar while doing it. I guess losing a couple of games early on may not have been the worst thing for this team. We seem to be hitting our stride at the right time, and not one person in the locker room is happy with an NFC North Championship. They all want more, and they know how to get it. You better believe that nobody wants to see Green Bay in the playoffs.

Week 12 Review

Good teams win the games they’re supposed to win. Pretty simple. This game could easily have been lost, but the Packers found a way to make crucial plays at crucial times. It’s week 12, and we’ve yet to hit our stride, but 3-0 in the division and 8-4 overall is a pretty darn good spot to be in for a team playing below their potential. We still control our own destiny and continue to work our way towards a healthier roster. The NFL is about getting hot at the right time, and we’re in prime position to do just that. Here’s what I liked and didn’t like.

What I Liked:

Vision, ball skills, assignment execution, this play had it all

Young Defensive Backs: The young defensive backs continue to paint a bright picture for the future of this secondary. You'll never replace a player like Charles Woodson, but these guys are showing that they can make plays. Morgan Burnett was the obvious player of the game, and his two picks were huge plays. McCarthy said his pick in the end zone was 'the turning point in the game,' and his other pick was a beautiful Woodson-esque undercut. Casey Heyward has held opposing QBs to a passer rating of 0.0 when throwing in his direction this year. In other words, he's been playing like Al Harris with hands. Davon House has had some ups and downs, but he is flashing some great coverage ability. I think as he gets more comfortable, he'll be able to make more plays on the ball while in step-for-step coverage. I've yet to be impressed by the safeties McMillian and Jennings.

Running Game: Green and Starks combined for 27 total carries, and averaged 4.8 and 4.4 yards per carry respectively. Starks also recorded our third rushing touchdown on a beautifully blocked toss play that went for 22 yards. In total we had 36 rushing attempts to 35 passing attempts. That kind of balance on offense gets me sexually aroused. No running back on our roster will ever be a dynamic, Adrian Peterson type runner, but they are more than capable of creating balance to facilitate our explosive passing game. The patchwork offensive line deserves a ton of credit for opening up some holes for these guys. Overall it was a solid day for our ground game and hopefully a sign of things to come

Response to Adversity: The Pack was facing all kinds of adversity on Sunday. Going into the game we were down plenty of key starters and were coming off an embarrassing loss to the Giants. During the game we lost another offensive lineman and another wide receiver, leaving both positions precariously thin. Back-ups were once again forced into action and delivered. Were you comfortable watching Don Barclay waddle onto the field? Yeah right you fucking liar. Anyway he played quite well at the extremely important right tackle position, and may have unseated Evan Dietrich-Smith as the primary back-up on the offensive line. We had our backs against the wall coming out of half time with the Vikings threatening inside the ten yard line, and responded like a playoff worthy team. We ain't backing into nothing, this is the NFL, not the Big Ten.

What I Didn't Like:

Tackling: Unacceptable. Un-fucking-acceptable. Every single player on the defense should be embarrassed by the horrific display of tackling they put on yesterday. Don't they know there are children watching these games? It's exactly this kind of ole` bullshit that leads to primadona, soft as marshmallow, fundamentally flawed players taking over this previously badass league. Too many Desean Jacksons, not enough London Fletchers. Teams are only allowed to practice in pads once a week thanks to the league's 'over-react-to-cover-our-ass-before-we-get-sued-for-a-billion-dollars-over-concussions' policy. I think that's a factor, but why is it that teams like the Bears and Ravens and Steelers still tackle with efficiency and ferocity? The coaches can only do so much to encourage sound tackling, and frankly I'd rather not have our best players knocking heads with each other during practice. I think the change here needs to come from the leaders in the locker room. We need to take on a blue-collar mentality on defense that emphasizes tackling over big hits, team over individual, substance over style. Sacks and interceptions are great, but tackling wins you games. I know it sounds cliche, but it's a fact. I'm looking at you Charles Woodson and Ryan Pickett.

Short Yardage Offense: Why is 3rd and 1 so hard for us? We have nobody that can gain one yard when everyone knows we only need one yard. I like John Kuhn as much as the next guy, but he's clearly not the answer in short yardage. Rodgers is not particularly good at the half-yard sneak behind the center, and I don't think our interior offensive line creates much of a push. I hate the fact that we pretty much have to throw in these situations, and it seems like the only reason we run the ball is to prevent the defense from selling out on the pass the next time around. I'm starting to think that some folks on the sideline might prefer 3rd and 5 to 3rd and 1 like I do. That's bad.

A quick note on trick plays, I like them. Rodgers made a poor decision in throwing the ball on he and Cobb’s double pass attempt, which led to an interception that equated to a punt. It was a play that didn’t work. The upside is that we put it on tape. That means opposing coaches and players are now aware of the fact that we can and will run that play. So the play didn’t work, maybe now a safety doesn’t crash down to tackle Cobb on a bubble screen and allows him to pick up a first down. Maybe a linebacker can’t pursue on the backside because he’s concerned about covering a receiver across the field even after the ball’s been handed off. My point is that just because a trick play didn’t work, doesn’t mean it’s all bad. I love that Mike Mac is willing to show some creativity and take a risk here and there. Believe me when I say that he’s considered all the possible outcomes of each trick play, assessed the risk, and put his team in a position to succeed. Rodgers should not have thrown that pass to that receiver, but other than that, the play worked. 

Rolled by the Giants. Again.

So the good news is this, the Packers still control their own destiny on the road to the playoffs. Win out from here and we win the division. The bad news is that we just got our asses kicked by the Giants again. Does this team have our number or what? For a quarterback that hadn't thrown a touchdown pass in three weeks, Eli Manning sure looked like a Superbowl MVP last night. Our piece-meal offensive line couldn't block a god damn thing, McCarthy's play-calling was as bad as it's ever been, and Rodgers was running for his life all night. It was a tough game to watch, so let’s hope we got that out of our system for the year. Gonna be tough to find something I liked this week.

What I Liked:

1. Casey Heyward: The rookie looked good again this week. He almost had a big pick on what was a nice third down break-up anyway. It's a tough match-up to go against the Giants, and even though we gave up a ton of points, Heyward did his part. It almost seems like teams are already avoiding him, and he's just 11 games into his career. It's good.

2. Medical Decisions: It's a reach, but hear me out. Matthews, Woodson, Jennings, Shields and more were held out of the game, even though at least Matthews and Jennings were medically cleared to play. I was happy to see the medical and coaching staffs not continue to make the mistake of rushing guys back from injuries. It's never good to lose a game, but this was one we could afford to lose. There is no reason to bring important players back too early when you're not playing a must-win game. Not playing in this embarrassing excuse for a game gave these guys another week to get healthy, which goes a long way.

3. Randall Cobb: Just cuz I like him.

Stop it Randall you handsome devil. He's probably reading books to orphans with cancer.

What I Didn't Like:

1. Offensive Play-Calling: I hated it. It's easy to be an arm-chair play caller, but McCarthy was awful all night. First off, why would he send a struggling kicker out to attempt a 55+ yarder in the notoriously-tough-to-kick-in Meadowlands when all we needed was four fucking inches for a first down? Was he giving Crosby a chance to get back on track? Does he not trust his offense to gain four inches? And what's with the weird bubble screens on third and long? I understand that play worked for a touchdown a couple weeks ago, but where's the creativity we hear so much about? And you'd think you might give some help to your left tackle who's getting crushed play after play after play. If your quarterback doesn't even have time to set his feet, you have to make adjustments. I understand that you're down by a million, but you gotta keep a defensive line like this honest. We just saw what happens when they get to pin their ears back.

2. Pass Blocking: About those defensive linemen, we barely slowed them down. Newhouse got smoked and Rodgers never got comfortable. It's troubling that the guy that wasn't forced to change positions following the Bulaga injury was the one who struggled the most. Everyone has a bad night, but we were clearly outmatched at the line of scrimmage. If this doesn't get better, we'll have no chance of reaching another Superbowl. Does anyone know if Derrick Sherrod has any chance of returning this year?

3. Ball Security: Rodgers threw another pick and gave up a fumble at a crucial moment in the game. When he fumbled near the end of the first half, it was still a game. Had we gotten six or even three there, we could have carried that momentum into the second half to make a legitimate run at the game. Instead, Rodgers fumbled following a blindside hit courtesy of Marshall Newhouse, and the Giants got a touchdown of their own. I understand that he was under a ton of pressure, and even the most sure-handed quarterbacks fumble every now and then, but Rodgers has to take better care of the ball.

This game was one of the least important games remaining this year. It’s clear that McCarthy and staff treated it as such. We could have gone all out by bringing back key players who have barely been cleared to play, but we kept an eye to the future instead. I know it’s a short season and if we miss the playoffs by one game, this will be the game we look back on. That being said, I like what the staff did in allowing important players another week to get to 100% before they’re thrown back into the fray.

Quick note, whats-his-face on packersnews.com has written two strikingly similar articles to the last two I wrote. I’m not comparing myself to a professional, I’m just saying that I did not plagiarize anything, and everything written on this blog is my original thoughts only.

True Grit

Winning division games is tough, no matter what. Winning games without key starters is tough, no matter what. Coming from behind on the road is tough, no matter what. So color my team tough.

The Packers overcame the odds to beat a game Detroit squad that hasn’t much cared for us in recent matchups. Missing Clay Matthews, Charles Woodson, Desmond Bishop, Greg Jennings, Bryan Bulaga and more, Green Bay rode the ‘next man up’ to an important come from behind win. Rodgers had another off day, posting a paltry QBR of 35.5, but did just enough to drag his team to within a half game of first place in the NFC north, pending tonight’s battle of the backups in San Fran.

Here’s what I liked and didn’t like:

What I liked:

1.       The Next Man Up: You hear so much talk of the ‘next man up’ philosophy in the NFL today, it becomes almost nauseating, but it’s hackneyed for a reason. With the injury rate as astronomical as it is (owing to the ever-increasing speed and strength of the players), if you can’t win with back-ups, then you’ve got no chance. Depth is as crucial a factor as any. So give Ted Thompson another well-deserved pat on the back for this one. Evan Dietrich-Smith went unnoticed (meaning he did his job as an offensive lineman against a tough front four in Detroit), and TJ Lang was successful in his shift from left guard to right tackle in the absence of Bryan Bulaga. Dezman Moses was impactful in replacing Clay Matthews, recording a sack and a huge forced fumble. Our safeties and corners did just fine in relief of Charles Woodson. It’s shades of 2010, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

A little redemption for the Doctor.

2.       Young Defensive Backs: It can hardly get much better than that. Sure we gave up 20 points, but it was against the league’s number one passing offense. Casey Heyward continued to make waves, picking off another pass to bring his season total to five. He was also in tight coverage against Titus Young Sr. in the end zone early on, forcing Detroit to settle for a field goal. This kid sure seems to be the real deal. M.D. Jennings showed great concentration in picking off a tipped pass, and returning it 72 yards for a crucial score. Although Morgan Burnett did give up the big touchdown to Megatron, he was in position to pick it off, and most likely should have. It’s a sign of good things to come in my opinion. Its looks like we may be positioned to field a strong secondary for many years to come.

3.       Randall Cobb: Can you tell I’m excited about this guy? All he does is produce every single week. He’s got six touchdowns in his last four games, including the go-ahead score yesterday. The guy Aaron Rodgers described as ‘Ted Thompson’s best draft pick’ is showing us what all the fuss is about. He is the quintessential spark plug that does seemingly everything right. He’s exactly the kind of guy you want on your team as a fan, player, or coach. If he keeps playing at this high of a level, he’ll be considered among the elite receivers in the league. And he’s twenty-fucking-two years old.

What I didn’t like:

1.       Ball Security: Rodgers did not look himself yesterday in throwing a pick and putting the ball on the ground for what easily could have been another turnover. I understand that everyone has an off day, but those are exactly the kind of mistakes that cost you games, and end your season in the playoffs. I’d have a hard time believing Rodgers graded out positive for yesterday’s game. The only reason we were able to overcome those mistakes was that we generated three turnovers of our own. You can’t count on that kind of defensive production every week, you’ve got to take better care of the ball.

2.       Penalties: Nine penalties for 80 yards. That is unacceptable. The homer in me wants to say that the officiating squad seemed to favor the Lions, but it really doesn’t matter either way. We had more than a couple first downs wiped out by holding penalties. Those mistakes are drive killers that take points off the board. It’s on coach McCarthy to clean up these mistakes as we head down the final stretch of the regular season.

3.       Mason Crosby: Holy shit this is bad. McCarthy made a point of saying that he’s sticking with Crosby, but nobody wants a game to come down to a high pressure kick right now. His confidence is clearly shaken, and even a jovial Greg Jennings couldn’t cheer him up yesterday. He may have saved his career by barely making a 39-yarder to put the Packers up by four late in the game. The problem here is clearly mental, as he is missing kicks to the left and right. If it were a physical hitch, you think he’d have fixed it by now, or would at least be missing in the same spots.

Overall a great win for a banged-up squad that may be getting some stars back next week when they travel to the Meadowlands. While it was one of the uglier wins so far this year, it showed that we can win with our backs against the wall. You are who your record says you are, and right now we’re poised to take control of the division.

A quick note, how sweet was that touchdown to Jermichael Finley? Yea it was good for him to finally get another touchdown, and hopefully he’ll continue to improve, but I’m more referring to the design of the play. McCarthy sent the right guard and tackle out to the flat along with a back to simulate a screen. The wideouts ran clear out routes so there’d be no d-backs in the middle of the field, and the linebackers took the bait hook line and sinker. Finley was left all alone and recorded his first TD since week one. Now we know what Mike McCarthy was doing during the bye week. 

We Need Clay

The news is less than great. McCarthy told reporters that Clay would be out for 'at least a couple of weeks,' which is not a resounding endorsement for the health of our best defensive player. Hamstring injuries are notoriously tough to overcome, often becoming season long monsters that won't relent until the offseason. Just ask Clay Matthews, who's explosive abilities were severely limited last season due to the very same hamstring he's dealing with now.

Football is wonderful for many reasons, not the least of which being the fact that it is truly the ultimate team sport. No one star can succeed on his own, all eleven players on the field must work in unison, and one player failing to execute his task (no matter what the task) can lead to failure on any given play. That being said, there are individual players that are absolutely crucial to the success of their team. I would argue that the Packers employ two such players, Aaron Rodgers and Clay Matthews. You could argue that other players on the team fit into this category (Charles Woodson, Josh Sitton, Tramon Williams, etc.), but I don't think you can argue against the lynch-pin importance of Aaron and Clay.

Does the team have a chance at succeeding without either of these players? Of course. The possibility of a Superbowl cannot be mathematically eliminated until it is, well, mathematically eliminated. However, reaching the pinnacle of proffessional football would be damn near impossible without the help of these two stars. The importance of Aaron Rodgers is obvious and warrants no discussion, but let's take a look at why I think Clay is nearly as indispensible.

Why was our defense so horrible last year? Well, for many reasons, but the biggest factor was our anemic pass rush. We lost an inside force in Cullen Jenkins, Clay Matthews wasn't himself, and nobody else filled the void. If you cannot rush the passer, even Mark Sanchez can tear your defense apart. No matter how good your secondary is (and I happen to think we have a pretty darn good one), they simply cannot cover forever. Sacking the quarterback is an unquantifiable skill, in other words, just being fast and strong is not enough to be a pass rusher. Furthermore there are two types of pass rushers, inside rushers, and outside rushers (of course there are more ways to break down rushing the quarterback, but these two categories encompass any and all players blitzing on any play), which require different skills, again beyond the obvious physical requirements. You saw what happens last year when you have neither.

An outstanding outside pass rusher is not enough on his own. The quarterback can simply step up in the pocket (since nobody will be in his face) and deliver an accurate ball. A great inside pass rusher is not enough on his own, since the quarterback can roll to one side of the field or another to buy time, and again deliver an accurate throw. Clay Matthews was consistently double and triple teamed last year, as he had already proven himself to be a premier outside pass rusher, and indeed the team's only effective pass rusher. He was effective considering the circumstances (extra blockers, nagging injury, no help), but could not do enough to disrupt opposing offenses.

This year had been a different story. Ted Thompson brought in defensive help at every level, and the Packers were getting pressure from multiple players not named Matthews. At this point in the season, 13 different players have recorded a sack, eight have multiple sacks, and the list includes two defensive backs, three middle linebackers, four outside linebackers, and four defensive linemen. What is the result of such a diverse and effective pass rush? The star pass rusher (Clay Matthews) has been able to record nine sacks on his own, already surpassing his total from last year.

The numbers sure paint a rosy picture of the Packers' pass rush this year, but the problem is this: no other player on the team has more than two sacks. Which means that although we are getting after opposing qb's much better than last year, and sacks are coming from all over the field, there is still no complementary elite pass rusher. Clay is still the heart and soul of our pass rush, and second place is simply not on the same level. Our offense is not clicking like it was last year, the league seems to have figured out our offense (a little bit, I mean, we're still the Green Bay Fucking Packers), and points have been harder to come by. If we lose Matthews for an extended period of time, or he is hobbled like he was last year, we are in serious trouble. As much as I believe in my team, I do not believe that we can win a Superbowl without an effective Clay Matthews. Of all the injuries we've dealt with so far this year, this one is by far the most critical.

At this point it looks like Matthews could be back as early as week 11, when we face the Giants in the Meadowlands. We'll need him for that contest, but we'll need him even more if we make the playoffs. I'm REALLY hoping our coaching and medical staffs do not rush him back into action prematurely (as they did with Jordy Nelson, with unfortunate results), because if he reaggravates the injury and is done for the year, I believe the team will be as well. I'd much rather see us lose two games in November than one game in January because we can't get after the quarterback.

This was kind of a rambling post, but fuck off, it's a bye week.