Comments on: Special teams – not so special

By: awhayes

awhayes — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 20:42:49 +0000

Bucky – “automatic” because we get them on almost everyone return (when we’re returning).

Dave – good point re Finley. I’ll scratch that point – but the general point remains: there were other guys we could have dropped.

By: Dave

Dave — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 14:51:47 +0000

If you put Finley on the practice squad he would be there for about 5 seconds.

By: Ron La Canne

Ron La Canne — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 03:32:04 +0000

Manning’s long kickoff return was a perfect case study of juct how crappy the coverage team is. Set aside the marvelous tackling technique of our perenial All-Pro Jarred Bush (you don’t believe it). The end zone shot showed the enitre middle of the Packer coverage team had been wipped out by the Bears. There wasn’t a white jersey in sight. That is part crappy players (Thanks TT) and part crappy coaching (thanks Stock).

I really don’t give a crap if we hurt feeelings here. I, being a 69 year old geezer, don’t think you need to play nice nice with them. The game has passed them by, get rid of them. TT didn’t seem to have any problem with getting Favre out. That is a decision I support this day. It has to be done.

And TT, you’ve got this off season to set this ship on the right course. Get into the FA market early and go for at least two impact defensive players and one O lineman. Use the draft to get some high calliber Offensive linemen and an imact linebacker. P.S. we’ve got enough wide outs. If you screw this off season up as bad as you did this year’s, You too must go.

By: bucky

bucky — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 21:23:35 +0000

I’m not sure there’s a need to “fire” Stock. The man is 69 years old, and while he says he wants to continue coaching, I think there are ways to convince him that a timely “retirement” would be in everyone’s best interest. There’s no upside to firing him if he’s willing to retire instead.

I don’t know what you mean about “automatic” block in the back penalties. What’s automatic about them?

As for the communication amongst the coaching staff and the front office- it’s hard to say what is going on there, but as in most private organizations, the Packers are very good at keeping internal discussions out of the press. It keeps fans in the dark, but I’m not convinced that this is always a bad thing, since airing these discussions could result in a lot of bad feelings among a lot of different people, and like before there’s little upside to that.

By: 56Coop

56Coop — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 20:35:47 +0000

I’m 53 years old & haven’t actually played football since high school (other than some touch games up until a few years ago) but IMHO special teams is fundamental football. You have a lane or a player that is your responsibility and you just need to go out and do your job. I like what the guy said in the article about the schemes being simple but sometimes guys tried to do too much (Chipping another player). I’ve spent a lot of time this year wondering if we just had a bunch of uncoachable players. There were just so many common mistakes (blocks in the back, offensive holding, O linemen jumping the snap). It seemes obvious the coaches saw it. They talked about it but it just kept happening.

These guys have been playing football all their lives. Obviously they are coachable. When the same stuff keeps happening (good or bad) I think that points to coaching. There is an elementary school football team in my county that is 66 & 0. They’ve had the same coach for the past 8 years. In the NFL it’s obviously about production. 1 good year out of 3 doesn’t cut it & I agree it’s time for Stock to go. Especially after reading about the deal with Ryan & White (Andy where do you get this stuff)? It really bothers me about the White, Lansanah, TT combination. I also totally agree with the question where WAS MM during all of this. It leaves me terribly concerned about TT’s abilities as GM. He’s gonna have to show a lot of moxie this offseason — another year lke this and it’s time for him to go.

I did not realize that Rodgers shoulder was still a problem but evidently it could be. Just read this at Roto’s World.

“Aaron Rodgers plans to meet with the Packers’ medical staff after the team’s regular-season finale to determine whether his throwing shoulder will require surgery.

Rodgers hasn’t undergone an MRI since he initially suffered the injury in November, so it’s not clear what condition his shoulder is in. There’s no point in reading too much into this until tests are run and facts are revealed. Dec. 25 – 8:31 am et”
Source: Green Bay Press Gazette