Fire Drayton

[Pokerbrat2000]

I really wouldn't want to use an active roster spot for this, but I wonder if JJ Molson has a big enough leg that he can kick everything deep enough that it won't be returned. I don't think you replace Mason for XP's and FG's....but his leg doesn't seem to be consistently strong enough to prevent returns.

 

[El Guapo]

Who says that Bojo can't be a kickoff specialist?

I don't understand why LeFleur is standing behind Drayton at this point. Maurice seems like a great guy, but even I see the folly in keeping him. After the last game, I made a post about how Special Teams were improving. I was way wrong, and so is LeFleur. He can't let a friendship get in the way of his #1 mandate, which is to win.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Who says that Bojo can't be a kickoff specialist?

I don't understand why LeFleur is standing behind Drayton at this point. Maurice seems like a great guy, but even I see the folly in keeping him. After the last game, I made a post about how Special Teams were improving. I was way wrong, and so is LeFleur. He can't let a friendship get in the way of his #1 mandate, which is to win.

I imagine that they have tried Bojo at kickoffs and if he was a better option, he would be doing it. Normally, I don't have an issue with Mason not always getting a touchback, but last night it was obvious that allowing a return was not a good idea.

If MLF won't fire Drayton, then Gute needs to sit him down and explain things. At minimum, they need to hire an "assistant" for Drayton, since the job has obviously become more than he can handle.

 

[tynimiller]

I imagine that they have tried Bojo at kickoffs and if he was a better option, he would be doing it. Normally, I don't have an issue with Mason not always getting a touchback, but last night it was obvious that allowing a return was not a good idea.

I actually love kicking to the one yard line if able routinely BUT only if you have a good coverage team - which well we aren't even typically an average one.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

I actually love kicking to the one yard line if able routinely BUT only if you have a good coverage team - which well we aren't even typically an average one.

Agreed. I hold my breath when the Packers have to field and return a kickoff from outside the EZ. Seems like 9 out of 10 times, they are starting with the ball in worse field position than the 25.

 

[tynimiller]

Agreed. I hold my breath when the Packers have to field and return a kickoff from outside the EZ. Seems like 9 out of 10 times, they are starting with the ball in worse field position than the 25.

Did anyone notice if EQ was on the coverage teams? He had an excellent couple coverage team games...but did the Cobb injury change our use of him on ST by chance? I'd have to go back specifically looking on that.

 

[Pkrjones]

Did anyone notice if EQ was on the coverage teams? He had an excellent couple coverage team games...but did the Cobb injury change our use of him on ST by chance? I'd have to go back specifically looking on that.

EQ left the game with a concussion but I don't know when. His absence may have left an even bigger void in ST?

 

[tynimiller]

EQ left the game with a concussion but I don't know when. His absence may have left an even bigger void in ST?

That's right. His coverage ability had shined the last couple games...this could be a factor in the failure or at least an aspect of it for sure.

 

[tripleguy]

Usually, the ST has one area of deficiency like the return team or the coverage unit. We've lived with the Packers not having a return weapon for longer than I can remember (Desmond?). But being just awful and shaky on returns and atrocious on coverage is something new and its very dangerous. Crosby's leg is also not what it once was.

So is there a downside with firing Drayton now? I don't see how things could get much worse really. If anything it sends a message this clown show won't be tolerated.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

That's right. His coverage ability had shined the last couple games...this could be a factor in the failure or at least an aspect of it for sure.

If your special teams falls apart as bad we saw last night, due to the loss of just 1 player, that is further signs of poor coaching IMO. If Drayton's job is safe, then he and MLF need to sit down and watch film and pinpoint what player(s) didn't do their jobs. If they can be replaced with guys on the practice squad, do it.

 

[GBkrzygrl]

If anything will keep us from getting to the SB it will be ST. They're terrible.

 

[Poppa San]

How does a guy like MVS not know what to do with an onside kick?

MVS waited for the ball to come to him. It took a high hop that carried it over his head. He should have attacked the ball so that did not happen. Watch the way the ball is bouncing the next time you see a replay.

A big problem is they need to grab a legit returner off of someone's practice squad. Rodgers ain't confident back there.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

MVS waited for the ball to come to him. It took a high hop that carried it over his head. He should have attacked the ball so that did not happen. Watch the way the ball is bouncing the next time you see a replay.

Agreed, but he seemed to move too close to the ball and then he seemed to play it flat footed. When the ball bounced higher than it looks like he expected, he should have slapped it out of bounds. Like I said, MVS is not the best WR with his hands, nor his decision to let the ball play him.

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[KiDcUdI]

In the NFC this is a one win playoff team. Not a chance they beat the Buccs with this STs unit. You cannot give them extra possessions, good field position, or come away with empty points because missed FGs. I think the same goes for a healthier Cards team as well.

And for Lafleur to say he isnt going to make any STs changes is just stupid. Hes blinded. For everything else that he does to well it is unfathomable that Lafleur finds this unit to be acceptable week in and week out. Yesterday should have been the last straw.

 

[tynimiller]

If your special teams falls apart as bad we saw last night, due to the loss of just 1 player, that is further signs of poor coaching IMO. If Drayton's job is safe, then he and MLF need to sit down and watch film and pinpoint what player(s) didn't do their jobs. If they can be replaced with guys on the practice squad, do it.

Believe me it is not a viable excuse and I'm firing him still even if he lost three studs on the coverage units at the same time.

 

[Budman]

The ST play last night was beyond comical and down-right frightening for this Packer fan.
- Fielding a kickoff at the 5 yd. sideline?
- Kickoff out of bounds?
- Kickoff down the middle and to the 2 yard line forcing a run back?
- Missed tackles, poor lane assignments, and allowing the reverse-field run back.
- Muffed punt
- Muffed on-side-kick
All of these in addition to the past 12 games worth of blocked FG's, missed FG, and overall dread when the ST unit hits the field.
IF Drayton isn't gone today 2 things MUST happen 100% of the time: Bojorquez punts out of bounds eliminating run backs, AND the kicker must kickoff out of the end zone. IF Crosby isn't capable then another kicker should be brought in.

Wells said. These are my feelings exactly. Is the depth that bad at the bottom of the roster that these guys cannot be competent in this facet of the game? It was mind boggling last night. It seems as if the whole unit has the yips and it just keeps snowballing.

 

[KiDcUdI]

Wells said. These are my feelings exactly. Is the depth that bad at the bottom of the roster that these guys cannot be competent in this facet of the game? It was mind boggling last night. It seems as if the whole unit has the yips and it just keeps snowballing.

Every team has poor special teams players. They’re all bottom of the roster guys that aren’t good. You coach them up. Teach them the nuances of teams. Rodgers can’t catch a punt. Taylor doesn’t know to let the ball go out of bounds. They lose contain on coverages. We can’t snap. We can’t hold. We can’t protect. We can’t get an onside kick.

This STs unit has hit all the blunders on the season.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

This STs unit has hit all the blunders on the season.

Add to that the fact that they haven't done anything stellar with the ball (returns for TD's on kick or punts). Forced turnovers, although I think there was 1 game we recovered a muffed punt?

 

[El Guapo]

Forced turnovers, although I think there was 1 game we recovered a muffed punt?

It was our muffed punt

 

[El Guapo]

Here is the list of special teams players that the Packers lost throughout the game: Equanimeous St. Brown (concussion), Malik Taylor (abdominal), Dominique Dafney.

 

[Firethorn1001]

I know everyone/every fan of every team is on the 'fire X' person whenever a game, quarter or play goes bad, but has a team, with a winning record, ever just fired any coach during the season for performance based issues? The Lions fired their ST coach during December, but that was after he went rogue and called a play and didn't tell anyone.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

I know everyone/every fan of every team is on the 'fire X' person whenever a game, quarter or play goes bad, but has a team, with a winning record, ever just fired any coach during the season for performance based issues? The Lions fired their ST coach during December, but that was after he went rogue and called a play and didn't tell anyone.

I don't know the answer, but the Packers 10-3 record is despite the poor play of special teams this season. If there was ever a first for doing something, ie a team with a winning record, firing a coach during the season, Drayton has more than earned being the first.

 

[Pkrjones]

Here is the list of special teams players that the Packers lost throughout the game: Equanimeous St. Brown (concussion), Malik Taylor (abdominal), Dominique Dafney.

- Taylor was lost after his fielding-at-the-5-yardline-out-of-bounds kick return, so too late to eliminate his gaff.
- Dafney wasn't on the punt-coverage for Grant's TD, not sure when he got injured.
- EQ was the right gunner responsible for containing the sideline that Grant raced to his TD ~ EQ gave-up contain AND got laid-out in the process of the cut-back.

 

[JKramer64]

Did anyone notice if EQ was on the coverage teams? He had an excellent couple coverage team games...but did the Cobb injury change our use of him on ST by chance? I'd have to go back specifically looking on that.

EQ was the gunner on both of the long returns and they went to his side. Both times he got too far inside and lost edge contain. He needs to be replaced. I'm in favor of using Stokes as a gunner.

 

[tynimiller]

EQ was the gunner on both of the long returns and they went to his side. Both times he got too far inside and lost edge contain. He needs to be replaced. I'm in favor of using Stokes as a gunner.

He had just excelled two games in a row. I went back and look at drives and are you sure he was in there on the second one? I thought for certain he was already knocked out with the concussion by then?

Stokes is not a gunner IMO, the only reason folks would want to use him there is his speed, however he is not built for high speed collisions body wise IMO.