Game Thoughts Packers/Bucs

No in-game blog today as I was at the game.

• I want to make this point first because this was the most important thing I noticed today watching the game: Mike McCarthy’s offensive plays are incredibly well-conceived. Just watch over the next few games for how incredibly well-conceived these plays are. The TD to Crabtree. The Kuhn decoy for the Raji TD. The one sideline route he often calls to Jordy right over the CB – timing it to arrive right before the safety gets there (and then Jordy always cuts in between the CB and the safety…usually for a long TD). The back shoulder passes (though much of that is in the execution by Rodgers). The series of damaging dump off passes to Starks. The screens. The way he uses Finley. The way he spreads the ball around. (I’m not necessarily talking about play-calling here by the way – more just the plays themselves.) But more impressive to me than anything is again, just how well-conceived these plays are. I know that there are still some McCarthy doubters out there – but seeing the game today and thinking about all the different plays we’ve seen over the course of the last year, I’m in the camp that believes McCarthy is at the least an offensive genius.
• It’s nice that the Packers can play poorly and still come away with 35 points and a 9 point victory.
• Rodgers was not quite himself today – despite having nearly 300 yards and 3 TDs to 1 INT. He threw a number of passes behind WRs.
• Being at the game, I had the distinct feeling that many of the players on the Packers were adjusting to the colder temps. It’s harder to execute sometimes in colder weather and I think we saw that today.
• The Bucs had far more fight in them than I thought they would. If Blount wouldn’t have rumbled off for that long TD, I think they may have folded right there already down 14-0. But that was a big-time run by a back with the ability to pull something like that off. It was also atrocious tackling. (Not this is no excuse, but the Packers aren’t the only D to get run over literally by Blount. The guy is a good back I think will continue to run over defenses – because he’s super tough to bring down.)
• There was lots of atrocious tackling today on the part of our D. Once again we gave up tons of yardage to an offense that coming into the week, has struggled. Concerning.
• We continue to be vulnerable over the middle. Kellen Winslow had the run of the entire middle of the field for much of the game. A team like New Orleans, with stud Jimmie Graham would really make us pay for such lax coverage.
• I really liked a series of play calls in the 3rd quarter (I believe) when Rodgers kept dinking the ball off to James Starks. I know the crowd was wanting deep passes at that point and I realize several of those passes were more dump off situations, but the fact was TB was simply not accounting well enough for Starks and he was getting first downs. He finished with 6 catches for 53 yards – and did some real damage as a receiver. I hope his injury isn’t too bad.
• Jordy is very good. He’s sneaky. He gets behind CBs so effectively. And he again showed today why he is so good on broken plays. He and Rodgers have a pretty cool understanding of what the other is going to do and this came in handy at least a couple times today.
• I like seeing So’oto in there a bit more. Walden had a couple nice plays today but I’m thinking we still need a super aggressive pass rusher who in time could intimidate offenses to some extent. I think So’oto has that kind of talent. It’s interesting because I’m writing this as I watch the Eagles/Giants and keep thinking about Cullen Jenkins and how much we miss him.
• The more I think about it and watch Finley, the more I think TT has accumulated a number of TEs because he has no plans on bringing Finley back. Finley is a freak physically and a game-changer, but I don’t think it’s a stretch for me to believe that TT may just not like the guy.
• Odd that Crosby’s only miss comes on a chip shot like that. Just odd.
• The Packers’ D has to get this figured out. I thought their performance last week was a sign of things to come and instead it was more a reflection of just how bad the Vikings are. 342 yards to a struggling Josh Freeman? 121 yards rushing? Not good. Capers has to sit and think a bit more about how we’re covering teams and just what we might be able to do about the middle of the field in particular. Our pass pressure has also been inconsistent making the coverage job tougher for both DBs and LBs.
• Big game coming up for Thanksgiving. I thought that if Detroit blew it today against Carolina, we might have an easier time of it come Thurs. But considering how Detroit’s offense finished off Carolina and then also the shoddy play of our defense – we could be in for a tough game. Could also be the rare game when both teams score 50+ points!