"If ... we can't protect, if that is the case, then let's take some of the stress off the offensive line. Period. Or off the protection," Jennings said. "That's typically how it works. Will we do that? I don't know. If it's raining, I'm going to pull out an umbrella if I have one. If I don't have one, then I'm just going to get wet. If I have an option to make a correction, to make an adjustment, then why not make the adjustment?"

Meanwhile, McCarthy is concerned about the playcalling...

"The running average is OK (4.2 yards per carry). We're not concerned there, it's the attempts."

So remind me Mike, who coordinates the offense?

MM just makes me want to *sigh* til the end of time...

McCarthy is concerned about the play-calling...says play-calling is like a box of chocolates

I don't get where you read that McCarthy is concerned about the playcalling.

"The running average is OK (4.2 yards per carry). We're not concerned there, it's the attempts."
The implication is that the yards per carry is not something that the coaches are concerned about....but they are concerned about the number of attempts.

In other words, McCarthy is saying that the problem is that there aren't enough rushing attempts. OK...well, who's the one that calls for the run plays? MM.

It's a weird statement for him to make. It's like he's disconnected from the fact that he's the problem.

You guys are reading too much into MM's comments... and no one has bothered to pull up the press conference transcript, so here it is (http://www.packers.com/news/releases/2009/10/12/2/):


And its not cut and dry as far as just simply calling more running plays. Sometimes forcing yourself to run might lead to converting fewer 3rd downs, and therefore fewer chances to run the ball. Not sure if this is what MM was alluding to with the negative plays and dropped balls, but if you're getting sacked and dropping balls on 1st & 2nd down, you're not putting your team in position to run the ball, and if you're getting sacked and dropping balls on 3rd & 4th down, you're taking your offense off the field and thereby reducing your running attempts.

Why anyone reads what Bedard posts is beyond me.

I was just about to post the transcript... thx chewdog. McCarthy recognizes that the average (4.2) is not indicative of the run game as Rodgers is averaging 6.1 ypc on his scrambles. His concern is not playcalling but execution. He specifically points to the dropped balls and the sacks. Better execution in those two areas of the pass game will open up the defense for an improved run game.

Ah, context for a quote. What a rare sight these days. I'm pretty sure that's exactly what McCarthy was getting at. They have too many negative first down plays, and when you put yourself in that position, you end up calling more pass plays then runs. So you need to do better in the areas he's talking about, and that comes down to execution.

I love Jennings coming out and saying that, though. If this guy needs a post-NFL career, I recommend getting involved with a PR firm. Under less skilled speakers, he would have sounded petulent and diva-ish. Instead he comes off as wanting to help. As in, "Hey, I've got a fever ... and the only prescription ... is for more cowbell." AKA ... more Jennings.

The QB has the power to change the play at the line after reading the defence.
So it is not always the one calling the plays that is at fault....

Makes me wonder how many audibles Favre called in 07 to keep that offense going after a lousy McCarthy play would come over his piece.

Or how many lousy plays Favre changed to after a good McCarthy play would come over his piece.

Runng plays?

Like in Farve Bowl, when they fell behind by 2 scores and ran nothing but pass plays the entire 4th quarter.

Yea, Favre was horrible that year. Good thing we had such a killer running attack the first 8 games to bail him out.

I've wondered too how much of the 2007 team success had to do with having a couple of coaches on the field and not just standing on the sidelines.

Again, veteran leadership can go a long way (IMO anyway). It's not just, "Rah rah let's go win one for the gipper" crap, either. It's leading by example, it's audibling, it's breaking off your route when you see a change in coverage at the ideal time, it's picking up the blitzer, etc..

McCarthy has had his chances. He needs to start producing.

There's also no excuse for not getting the ball in Jennings' hands. It's not rocket science. You can try a reverse, bubble screen, quick out.....god forbid-a quick slant. Any coach in any sport at any level knows you need to get your best players involved.

I was a big fan of MM, now I'm hanging on trying to believe in him.

Go ahead and just let go, VOR. It's a HUGE relief!

There's no doubt Favre's savvy masked the O-line's ineptitude in "07. As stated before, there is something to be said for experience.

The OLine was inept in '07? How do you figure?

Not a whole lot different than '09. Colledge, Spitz, Moll, Babre, Clifton , Tauscher, Coston. Not exactly a Pro Bowl lineup. Respectfully.

I guess that is why in 2007 Favre had the 2nd fewest sacks in his career and Grant had a 5.1 ypc avg. Inept lines will do that...

Favre had a breakout resurgence season, and Grant had his one good year. Resurgence? I think thats a word.

Neither have those good seasons without better than average OLine play. It all starts on the line (D or O).

You win my Packer friend. Our O-line is better than average. Now lets get back in a big way against Detroit. I for one am glad this bye week is over

Through four games the Packer OLine has not played better than average, they've flat out sucked. Can they play better? I believe so...

I think you have to believe that. They can't play much worse.

I watched the Jennings interview and he definitely was highly critical of the Oline.
But what I really liked about the interview was at the end. Jennings was gushing over A Rodgers. You could tell he was trying to contain himself and it doesnt come across in written text but he was holding back. Jennings proclaimed that what AR was doing was nothing less than amazing - 1 INT / 20 sacks.

That was nice to see/hear. These guys know the sky is the limit for them with AR at QB.

All this talk about Favre vs. Rodgers notwithstanding, I think the most interesting thing about this interview is that once again, you have a key player and (arguably) team leader publicly questioning the coaching staff - and, by implication, the head coach himself. First Rodgers, now Jennings. I think there were more whose names I can't recall, who were criticizing the defensive scheming, but even if it were just those two, I think it's both significant and ominous that only a quarter of the way through the season key players are frustrated enough to question and criticize the coaches.

Maybe I'm reading too much into that because the fact that we're all talking about the same thing these last few weeks makes it seem more significant, but I don't really recall this sort of thing happening even during the Sherman era. At least, not so openly. To me, it really doesn't bode all that well.

Woodson was the other.

Jennings, Rodgers and Woodson. I think that constitutes most of our "star players."

Man, I miss Holmgren.

If your players lack confidence in the leadership then it will affect a lot more than their play on the field.

OK, I'm going to call out McCarthy's "concern about the rushing attempts" for what it is.

Bull.

Today's game was the ideal opportunity to get the rushing game in action. Viz:

— The Packers took an early two-touchdown lead.
— The Lions' offense was missing its playmaker, and down to its third-string QB in the second quarter.
— The Lions' defensive line was missing starters, and hadn't practised in a week.
— The Packers were coming off a bye.
— After Clifton went down, the Packers had two first-year offensive tackles who look more comfortable run-blocking than they do in pass protection.
— In the first half, Rodgers took three sacks, taking his season total to a frightening 23.
— The Packer D posted a shutout.

And what was McCarthy's response?

By the end of the third quarter, the Packers had 14 runs (for 30 miserable yards) and 41 dropbacks (36 attempts, 5 sacks). That's a ratio of 1:3. In a home shutout against the Lions.

In the fourth quarter, Grant started to get some carries, and Jackson made it onto the field. But that's taking "win-to-run" to extremes. And it matters, because the Packers can't afford to be one-dimensional. Like I said, McCarthy is talking bull about the run offense.



There's always the possibility of running on first down. That way you won't get sacked or drop passes.

McCarthy doesn't show any faith in the running game. So he ignores it! Who needs play-action anyway? I wonder if they even practise running plays during the week.

Way to get your quarterback killed, Mike.

Yeah i'm having a hard time understanding some of these decisions especially when viewed in relation to other decisions / statements made.

As in, MM calling out Arod for holding the ball too long because the OL has not been able to pass protect, MM saying we need to call more runs, and then not calling for them.

Also, i know ive read the OL coach call out the line for bad play along with other players saying the same thing, ala Jennings, but it doesn't seem like MM is blaming the terrible OL play for anything, at least i havent read it anywhere, i may be wrong.

I suppose it could do with the fact so many people in the organization have called it out already he doesnt see the need for more press about it, who knows. However, when your game plan can only contain the shortest of dropbacks and quickest of releases with no running game to speak of because of the play of the OL, something needs to happen. Maybe a different blocking strategy or something.

Maybe it is a lot of different things effecting the OL play, but i just cant see how it could be that much different then the year before or before that even. Has Grant really dropped off that much? Is Arod holding the ball longer than he has ever before? I suppose it's possible, but i'd like to see some other opinions on this before i accept these are the reasons for our offensive problems and not the OL.

I thought many of the complaints here about the play calling
were that we are NOT calling enough quick slants and
other passes with short drops(to help eliminate sacks).


Did you get to see todays game?

I thought ARod played a very good game BUT
at least 3 of the sacks and the fumble were
because he refused to throw the ball away
and held the ball too long.

I can't agree with your bolded statements.

Go Pack!!

I can accept disagreement on my first point you bolded, but my second "point" you highlighted ended with a question mark and was an honest question, not a point i was trying to make. I was seriously wondering if he is actually holding the ball more this year than he has in past years or if he is holding it the same amount of time but the O-line play has denigrated to the point where we are now noticing the length of time he is holding it.

I guess with the first point I was trying to say it would be nice to be more well rounded with a decent running attack and more competent O-line play so Arod could play a little more relaxed, and I was unsure if changing up the blocking scheme could maybe help the situation a little bit.

Why? Can't one say what a problem is if they're a part of the problem?