Swagger - as I look at the performance and inconsistency of this season, I keep coming back to the concept of swagger. Players frequently talk about it. But we are clearly missing it, and it's killing us. Obviously, it's hard to generate much swagger when your only big win of the season (week 1 vs. the Bears) was followed by a let-down loss (to the better-than-expected Bengals). And then, of course, there's the two Viking defeats which are among the toughest this franchise have ever had to stomach.

Beyond the losses, what are the problems?

1) Mike McCarthy: Too much running, not enough throwing. I understand you can't win football games without establishing the run. But two times during our first series in the Cleveland game, McCarthy almost killed the drive with running plays (poor ones) on third down. We don't seem to have difficulty throwing the ball, so why not open games that way, and then when defenses are back on their heels, then go to the run?

2) Aaron Rodgers: His numbers are great, and he's been very tough, but he needs to LEAD this team to some big wins. Week 10 vs. Dallas, week 13 vs. Baltimore, and week 15 at Pittsburgh. Those are the games where Rodgers needs to take the next step. He can't just play well in those games, he needs victories.

3) The Offensive Line: Marc Colombo of the Dallas Cowboys is a great example of an offensive lineman with swagger. He walks down the field punching people in the face. Our line marches down the field like a herd of ballerinas. It's time to be mean. It's time to impose our will. If the coaches can't bring this attitude out of our players, then it's time to look elsewhere.

4) Dom Capers: Zero sacks in two games against the Vikings. And not only did we have zero sacks, we hardly got pressure. The personnel seems to be there. So what's the problem. Kampman, a pro bowler, is now underutilized. Jenkins and Woodson, two veterans, are feeling the same. We need to bring pressure and we need to blitz. We have weapons on this defense. Good ones. Please, for the love of God, use them!

5) Penalties: Swagger is a mental thing. And when you're committing penalties in bunches the way the Packers have, that's telling. We're uncertain of ourselves, and we're letting the opposition get into our heads. This is 100% on the coach. We're now heading into week 8 and it's been the same crap since week 1. If McCarthy can't control this team, if he can't teach them, he needs to go.

One game at a time we can get our swagger back. It starts next Sunday in Tampa. And then a big test comes the following week vs. Dallas. We desperately need these next two games if we're going to climb back into this thing. We need to play with confidence, we need to play mean, and we need to play to our strengths. Swagger.

I think swagger couldn't possibly be less of a problem. Early last year, all I heard was about this team's great swagger. Then they fell on their face. Early this year, we kept hearing about their swagger. And they've stumbled out the gate.

This team has no problem with getting swagger. Their problems are much more related to the gamefield than that. It's called discipline.

How would one define "swagger?"

This team needs to break out of the current identity that they have built during the A-Rod era, and start a new one. Since he has taken over, we have built a reputation and lived up to it consistently. Our passing game seems to be on cue most nights, and our running game tends to be the weak link in the offense.

Can anyone remember the last game we got a truly impressive day by the backfield, not just Ryan Grant, and successively ran a victory into the win column? This does not all fall on Grant's shoulders. Where has play been by any RB's behind him? 71 combined rushing yards so far from our other rushers in the backfield Jackson, Wynn, and Kuhn. Our defense so far has not been able to provide consistent pressure and the pass defense has given up too many big plays in big games.

What this team needs is some confidence. They need to bring it all together and win a big game. Do you think any of us will really feel like we got our mojo back even if we trounce the Bucs? A-Rod needs to get that big win under his belt, something he has not been able to do. He has done all he can do for the team so far- played extremely good football for only having 23 starts under his belt, provided the offense with life when the run game has provided no lending hand, and given the team a leader to believe in and trust. There's next step is to pull out a big time win against a big time team. The team couldn't do it in our two chances so far this year- both matches with the Vikings. The next game that he needs to win is against the Cowboys. He is at home against a team that will be a team in the running for wild card, and very well could keep us from getting to the tournament. I think this team needs to go to TB and give them what the have coming. Then, they need to come home and win a tough game against a tough team and get themselves in a good position to make a run at the playoffs. If they lose either of the next two games and go to 5-4, they will have to play very well down a stretch of tough teams. If they go to 6-3, though, and have all the confidence in the world after having won against a rival like the cowboys, then they have a much better chance of winning against some close games like vs. SF and vs. Baltimore and perhaps turning the page on a relatively bleak beginning to the season.

Swagger comes at the end of a teams ascent to the top of the NFL.

First comes intensity, which can overcome gaps in talent.
Then comes belief, as the team improves and you see the wins pile up
Next is confidence, where you are sure you will come through, even after adversity.
Finally, the swagger. where the team is certain it is the best out there, and wants to meet the top teams, to prove it is the best.

We are still at the bottom, we need to impose our will on teams better than those among the worst in the NFL. We are still needing to get to step one. Intensity.

I agree, wonder how much MM has to do with this intensity (swagger).

You got it most of us saw this in the 90's with the Packers, while they learned to be Champions

Two words - Mike Holmgren.

No, I'm not necessarily saying we need Holmgren back, but we need someone with his attitude and personality on that sideline. He was the last real football coach this team had. A winning attitude starts at the top and filters down. Does anyone think Mike McCarthy is the kind of coach who can put that King Kong, junkyard dog attitude into his players? That's what wins championships, but that's not who he is, and that's never going to be who his teams are.

I agree we need a man like Holmgen rather than weak men like Thompson and his hire. But no offense to the aged, but isn't Holmgen getting a bit so to say, long in the tooth to start a rebuilding process here?

You want Swagger here is Swagger.

http://www.wwe.com/superstars/raw/jackswagger/

Talk about going backwards.

One word- Winning.

I don't get why Capers seems to be having so much trouble. This guy's been a success elsewhere. His D has been successful. Heck, his D's been successful here in games vs. inferior opponents (shutting a team out is never easy).

Maybe Favre just plain has his number?

I tend to agree. When Holmgren was here, as a fan I never had any doubt the game planning was sound, the ship was under control, and players were held accountable. Can't say I've felt that way since he left....

You want a team with "swagger", then look at the Saints and Falcons. Case in point: Did you see the INT made by the little ATL db? That dude went as high as a Michael Jordan "air assault dunk". He was stretched all the way and made the grab with his finger tips.

When was the last time we saw a Packer player other than Driver, Rodgers, Matthews, Woodson or Kampman "sell out" to make a game-changing play? Certainly there is no one on the OL who plays tough. DL is not killer either. Special Teams lacks a "no prisoner" mentality.

A while back some football folks inferred the recent Packers were "soft". And they are. We have no HFA anymore. No team is afraid to come into Lambeau. MM aint getting it done.

This team has a lot more issues than swagger.