wizard 87
Old Enough To Know Better
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- Sep 6, 2008
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Just posted at the press-gazette:
When a team loses three straight games, it goes without saying that little has gone right.
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But in the midst of the Packers' struggles, a few individuals have stood out.
On offense, receiver Greg Jennings continues to shine. With another solid showing — minus his drop early in last Sunday's loss to the Atlanta Falcons — Jennings remains the most productive receiver in the NFL. With 87 yards and a touchdown on four catches last week, Jennings continues to lead the league in receiving yards with 569, and he's on a team-record setting pace. At this rate, Jennings would finish with 1,820 yards and 10 touchdowns on 92 catches.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers deserves props for not only playing hurt, but playing well while he's hurt.
On a defense that can't stop the run and can't pressure the quarterback, a couple of unexpected players have stood out.
Cornerback Tramon Williams has filled in adequately for injured starter Al Harris. Williams has an interception in each of his two starts in place of Harris.
Safety Nick Collins also has turned into a playmaker after being known more for giving up big plays early in his career. Collins, who has played despite a back injury, has three interceptions, which tied his career season high. He also has six pass breakups, which ranks second on the team, and leads the team with 39 tackles.
Thumbs down
Without question, this is the most challenging time of Mike McCarthy's tenure as a head coach.
Riding a three-game losing streak with a banged-up team and facing two playoff teams from last year — at Seattle this week and home against Indianapolis next week — before the Oct. 26 bye week qualifies.
McCarthy didn't want to admit as much, saying he doesn't look at it that way, and who could blame him? He certainly doesn't want his team wallowing in self pity. But the reality is, these are the toughest times he's faced in three seasons at the helm. There was little or no adversity in last year's 13-3 season. That team was largely healthy and never lost consecutive games. In fact, it never lost more than one game in any month of the season.
Sure, there were tough times during the 2006 season, when that team last lost three in a row to fall to 4-8. But little was expected of that team given it was coming off a 4-12 season the year before and that McCarthy was in his first season.
This season, there were playoff expectations that could be dashed early if McCarthy doesn't find a way to turn this around in a hurry.
Key matchup
Seahawks defensive end Patrick Kerney vs. Packers right tackle Mark Tauscher
When the Seahawks came to Green Bay in January for a divisional playoff game, there wasn't a hotter defensive player in the league than Kerney. He was coming off a 14½-sack season, which earned him All-Pro status for the first time in his career. Against Washington in the wild-card round the week before, Kerney was practically unblockable and spent most of the game in the face of Redskins quarterback Todd Collins. All Tauscher did was completely shut him out. Kerney had no sacks, no tackles and no assists. Kerney almost always lines up as the left defensive end, which means he once again will be up against Tauscher. Neither player has been as good in 2008 as last season, but it's a marquee matchup worth watching.
When a team loses three straight games, it goes without saying that little has gone right.
Advertisement
But in the midst of the Packers' struggles, a few individuals have stood out.
On offense, receiver Greg Jennings continues to shine. With another solid showing — minus his drop early in last Sunday's loss to the Atlanta Falcons — Jennings remains the most productive receiver in the NFL. With 87 yards and a touchdown on four catches last week, Jennings continues to lead the league in receiving yards with 569, and he's on a team-record setting pace. At this rate, Jennings would finish with 1,820 yards and 10 touchdowns on 92 catches.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers deserves props for not only playing hurt, but playing well while he's hurt.
On a defense that can't stop the run and can't pressure the quarterback, a couple of unexpected players have stood out.
Cornerback Tramon Williams has filled in adequately for injured starter Al Harris. Williams has an interception in each of his two starts in place of Harris.
Safety Nick Collins also has turned into a playmaker after being known more for giving up big plays early in his career. Collins, who has played despite a back injury, has three interceptions, which tied his career season high. He also has six pass breakups, which ranks second on the team, and leads the team with 39 tackles.
Thumbs down
Without question, this is the most challenging time of Mike McCarthy's tenure as a head coach.
Riding a three-game losing streak with a banged-up team and facing two playoff teams from last year — at Seattle this week and home against Indianapolis next week — before the Oct. 26 bye week qualifies.
McCarthy didn't want to admit as much, saying he doesn't look at it that way, and who could blame him? He certainly doesn't want his team wallowing in self pity. But the reality is, these are the toughest times he's faced in three seasons at the helm. There was little or no adversity in last year's 13-3 season. That team was largely healthy and never lost consecutive games. In fact, it never lost more than one game in any month of the season.
Sure, there were tough times during the 2006 season, when that team last lost three in a row to fall to 4-8. But little was expected of that team given it was coming off a 4-12 season the year before and that McCarthy was in his first season.
This season, there were playoff expectations that could be dashed early if McCarthy doesn't find a way to turn this around in a hurry.
Key matchup
Seahawks defensive end Patrick Kerney vs. Packers right tackle Mark Tauscher
When the Seahawks came to Green Bay in January for a divisional playoff game, there wasn't a hotter defensive player in the league than Kerney. He was coming off a 14½-sack season, which earned him All-Pro status for the first time in his career. Against Washington in the wild-card round the week before, Kerney was practically unblockable and spent most of the game in the face of Redskins quarterback Todd Collins. All Tauscher did was completely shut him out. Kerney had no sacks, no tackles and no assists. Kerney almost always lines up as the left defensive end, which means he once again will be up against Tauscher. Neither player has been as good in 2008 as last season, but it's a marquee matchup worth watching.
