Why is this packer offense a pale shadow of recent packer teams? Much has been written about Rodgers hiding an injury, or poor O-line play, or missing Gordy Nelson, or Eddie Lacy looking more like the Michelin man…..so just what is it?
Lets go back to the start of the year, early on they lost Nelson, but it seemed like they were adjusting. They began with 6 straight wins, beating Sea, KC and the rams. They rolled up 300+ yard passing games, 100 yd rushing games and cobb, jones and adams seemewd to be taking up for Nelsons absence.
Then in their 7th game, after the bye, so it was week 8, they went to Denver and were totally exposed. Rodgers threw for 77 yds, lacy ran for 38 and the league had a game plan for stopping rodgers. Bring the safetys up, so it was 8 in the box and single coverage on the receivers. Without Nelson, who isn't fast, but gets free on the line and runs great routes, they had no deep threat. Now the rushing game was lost. Play action was ignored, and suddenly the receivers never gained separation and the packers were sunk. Injuries on the Oline made it worse, but they were secondary.
They lost 3 straight, and 4 out of 5. Should have been 5 out of 6, but for Det's hail mary in week 13.
Now the question is why was Nelson the only guy able to stretch the field, and create holes in the middle? And when he went down, and his absence was used against GB why didn't they have an effective alternative. I'll bet you there is one next year.
So if you think GB lost on purpose last week, or that the old GB mystique will show up soon, forget it. GB's been held to 18 points or less 4 times in its last 8 games. (13, 8, 13, 18). And now it only gets tougher in the post season.
Lets go back to the start of the year, early on they lost Nelson, but it seemed like they were adjusting. They began with 6 straight wins, beating Sea, KC and the rams. They rolled up 300+ yard passing games, 100 yd rushing games and cobb, jones and adams seemewd to be taking up for Nelsons absence.
Then in their 7th game, after the bye, so it was week 8, they went to Denver and were totally exposed. Rodgers threw for 77 yds, lacy ran for 38 and the league had a game plan for stopping rodgers. Bring the safetys up, so it was 8 in the box and single coverage on the receivers. Without Nelson, who isn't fast, but gets free on the line and runs great routes, they had no deep threat. Now the rushing game was lost. Play action was ignored, and suddenly the receivers never gained separation and the packers were sunk. Injuries on the Oline made it worse, but they were secondary.
They lost 3 straight, and 4 out of 5. Should have been 5 out of 6, but for Det's hail mary in week 13.
Now the question is why was Nelson the only guy able to stretch the field, and create holes in the middle? And when he went down, and his absence was used against GB why didn't they have an effective alternative. I'll bet you there is one next year.
So if you think GB lost on purpose last week, or that the old GB mystique will show up soon, forget it. GB's been held to 18 points or less 4 times in its last 8 games. (13, 8, 13, 18). And now it only gets tougher in the post season.
