IPBprez
Cheesehead
Posted Nov. 02, 2005
Chris Havel
Deeper problems lurk under the radar
The Green Bay Packers’ 1-6 record has created a dual fixation. Has Mike Sherman lost this team? Has Brett Favre lost his game?
The answer to both questions is no.
While I understand why these topics dominate Packers talk, other legitimate questions go unasked, unanswered or both.
Missing in action
Where is Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila these days? Is he still in the league? The Packers’ pass rushing defensive end has been missing for a while. I couldn’t find him listed among the NFL’s top 35 in sacks or any other meaningful defensive category.
The Packers paid KGB to be the defense’s premier pass rusher.
KGB has 2½ sacks in seven games. Aaron Kampman also has 2½ sacks, but he plays run defense, too. KGB’s ineffectiveness has been overshadowed by the defense’s solid play, the offense’s rash of injuries and the team’s poor start.
The Packers’ defensive ends have zero sacks in the past three games. Jim Bates hasn’t been able to pressure the quarterback with four pass rushers. He has been prudent and clever with his blitzing, but it’s a difficult way to do business in the NFL.
KGB has to pick up the pace, or Bates has to seriously consider him only as a situational pass rusher. Right now, KGB’s liabilities on run defense aren’t outweighed by his ability to get to the QB.
Other problems
KGB isn’t the only one getting a free pass.
• The oft-injured, currently injured David Martin has been given numerous chances to prove his worth. Almost without fail, he is either hurt or on the verge of getting hurt. The backup tight end is forever between injuries when he ought to be between jobs.
• Why is the special teams units’ mediocre play universally accepted? The Packers have lost — and this is being conservative — two games because of kicking game snafus. While everyone focuses on whether Ryan Longwell was right to place the blame on holder B.J. Sander, special teams coach John Bonamego gets a free pass.
The Packers will need to make field goals against Pittsburgh. Perhaps Bonamego is confident the kicker and holder have it worked out. I’m not.
• Meantime, the kick-return game is substandard and the punt-return game is mediocre. The next time Antonio Chatman returns a punt for a big gain will be the first time. Chatman’s value in a depleted receiving corps affords Sherman an excuse to replace him as the punt return man.
The Packers are 1-6. Why is Sherman playing it safe? What is he protecting? Whom is he protecting? It is time to find out if Andrae Thurman can energize the return game.
On defense, it’s time to see more of Jason Horton, Mike Hawkins, Brady Poppinga and Michael Montgomery, and less of Joey Thomas.
On offense, Tony Fisher is too valuable in the passing game and blitz pickup to expose to constant pounding as the featured back. Use ReShard Lee and Sam Gado to absorb the punishment, and Fisher to move the chains.
The Packers’ talk may begin with Sherman and Favre, but it doesn’t end there.
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I think Chris' comment about Bonamego is extremely telling... and exactly what Sherman should be paying attention to. Bonamego has been with the Packers now, for three years.... It's time he stepped up his game plan. On kick returns, etc - our guys just aren't getting the blocking done like the Pack used to do, while getting Desmond Howard a chance for those amazing runbacks, back in '96. So, why is it we're not getting it done? Anyone?
IPBprez
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Chris Havel
Deeper problems lurk under the radar
The Green Bay Packers’ 1-6 record has created a dual fixation. Has Mike Sherman lost this team? Has Brett Favre lost his game?
The answer to both questions is no.
While I understand why these topics dominate Packers talk, other legitimate questions go unasked, unanswered or both.
Missing in action
Where is Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila these days? Is he still in the league? The Packers’ pass rushing defensive end has been missing for a while. I couldn’t find him listed among the NFL’s top 35 in sacks or any other meaningful defensive category.
The Packers paid KGB to be the defense’s premier pass rusher.
KGB has 2½ sacks in seven games. Aaron Kampman also has 2½ sacks, but he plays run defense, too. KGB’s ineffectiveness has been overshadowed by the defense’s solid play, the offense’s rash of injuries and the team’s poor start.
The Packers’ defensive ends have zero sacks in the past three games. Jim Bates hasn’t been able to pressure the quarterback with four pass rushers. He has been prudent and clever with his blitzing, but it’s a difficult way to do business in the NFL.
KGB has to pick up the pace, or Bates has to seriously consider him only as a situational pass rusher. Right now, KGB’s liabilities on run defense aren’t outweighed by his ability to get to the QB.
Other problems
KGB isn’t the only one getting a free pass.
• The oft-injured, currently injured David Martin has been given numerous chances to prove his worth. Almost without fail, he is either hurt or on the verge of getting hurt. The backup tight end is forever between injuries when he ought to be between jobs.
• Why is the special teams units’ mediocre play universally accepted? The Packers have lost — and this is being conservative — two games because of kicking game snafus. While everyone focuses on whether Ryan Longwell was right to place the blame on holder B.J. Sander, special teams coach John Bonamego gets a free pass.
The Packers will need to make field goals against Pittsburgh. Perhaps Bonamego is confident the kicker and holder have it worked out. I’m not.
• Meantime, the kick-return game is substandard and the punt-return game is mediocre. The next time Antonio Chatman returns a punt for a big gain will be the first time. Chatman’s value in a depleted receiving corps affords Sherman an excuse to replace him as the punt return man.
The Packers are 1-6. Why is Sherman playing it safe? What is he protecting? Whom is he protecting? It is time to find out if Andrae Thurman can energize the return game.
On defense, it’s time to see more of Jason Horton, Mike Hawkins, Brady Poppinga and Michael Montgomery, and less of Joey Thomas.
On offense, Tony Fisher is too valuable in the passing game and blitz pickup to expose to constant pounding as the featured back. Use ReShard Lee and Sam Gado to absorb the punishment, and Fisher to move the chains.
The Packers’ talk may begin with Sherman and Favre, but it doesn’t end there.
================================================
I think Chris' comment about Bonamego is extremely telling... and exactly what Sherman should be paying attention to. Bonamego has been with the Packers now, for three years.... It's time he stepped up his game plan. On kick returns, etc - our guys just aren't getting the blocking done like the Pack used to do, while getting Desmond Howard a chance for those amazing runbacks, back in '96. So, why is it we're not getting it done? Anyone?
IPBprez
