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Cheesehead
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This was posted in the open section at the J-S website this morning...
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Digits in '05 didn't add up to winning
Worst numbers definitely 4-12
By ROB REISCHEL
Special to Packer Plus
Posted: Jan. 25, 2006
The 2005 season was one of great disappointment for the Green Bay Packers. There was dramatic decline in offense that couldn't be compensated for by the strides made on defense. There were major breakdowns on special teams, as well.


Cincinnati's Deltha O'Neal returns an interception of a Brett Favre pass, one of 29 picks thrown by the Green Bay quarterback in the 2005 season.


Eventually, it added up to a 4-12 season - Green Bay's worst in 14 years - that cost head coach Mike Sherman and much of his staff their jobs. Here's a look inside the numbers at the season that was:

OFFENSE
• Green Bay's 45 turnovers were the most in the NFL.

The Packers had 30 interceptions and lost 15 fumbles. That led to a turnover margin of minus-24, which tied with New Orleans for worst in the NFL. No one was nearly as awful as the Packers and Saints in this category, either. Arizona ranked 30th at minus-11.

• Green Bay scored 80 points off of turnovers and allowed 135 for a difference of minus-55.

• The Packers finished 18th in the NFL in total offense at 319.9 yards per game. That marked a dramatic decline from 2004, when Green Bay was third in the league with a franchise-record 397.3 yards per game.

• Green Bay's 84.5 rushing yards per game was the lowest total in team history and ranked 30th in the league. That was the Packers' worst ranking since the 1977 team finished 27th in a 28-team league. It was quite a fall for Green Bay, which ranked 10th in 2004 and third in 2003. In fact, just two seasons ago, Green Bay set a team rushing record with 2,558 rushing yards - an average of 159.9 per game.

• Green Bay ranked 31st in rushing yards per attempt at 3.39. Only Arizona (3.16) was worse. It was another colossal drop for the Packers, who averaged 4.33 yards per carry in 2004 and 5.05 per attempt in '03.

• The Packers ranked seventh in passing yards per game (235.4), 12 months after finishing third in that category. Green Bay's 626 passing attempts were more than every team but Arizona (670).

• The Packers ran the ball just 37.9% of the time, their second-lowest total since 1990.

• Green Bay ranked 22nd in the NFL in points per game at 18.6. In 2004, the Packers were fifth in the NFL with an average of 26.50 points per game.

• The Packers scored on 51 of their 189 possessions (27.0%). Green Bay's opponents scored on 61 of 192 drives (31.8%).

• Green Bay scored touchdowns on just 47.8% of its trips inside the red zone (22 of 46). That ranked tied for 17th.

• The Packers scored on just 3 of their 16 game-opening drives for a total of 17 points. Green Bay opened with touchdowns against Cleveland and Atlanta and had a field goal against Seattle. The Packers had points on just three of their opening drives of the second half, as well.

• Green Bay ranked 10th in the NFL in third-down efficiency, converting 41.2% (91 of 221). On third down and 5 or fewer yards, the Packers were 55 of 97 (56.7%).

On plays ranging between third and 6-10 yards, Green Bay was 34 of 86 (39.5%). On third and 11-14 yards, the Packers were 2 of 21 (9.5%) and they were 0 of 17 on third and 15 and greater.

• The Packers ranked third in sack percentage, behind only Indianapolis and Cincinnati. Green Bay quarterbacks were sacked on just 27 of 626 passing attempts (4.31%). By unofficial count, though, the Packers allowed 106 "pressures" (sacks, knockdowns and hurries), up from 64 in 2004.

• Brett Favre's quarterback rating of 70.9 was the lowest of his career and his 29 interceptions tied Lynn ****ey's team record. Favre's interception total was also 12 more than anyone else in the NFL.

• Favre's 607 passing attempts were the most in his career and his 20 TD passes tied for his lowest total since 1993.

• Rookie running back Samkon Gado led the Packers with 582 rushing yards. It was the lowest total to lead Green Bay since Darick Holmes had 386 yards in 1998.

• Donald Driver's 86 receptions were the seventh most in team history. His 1,221 receiving yards ranked 13th all-time.

• Green Bay's longest play from scrimmage was a 64-yard touchdown run by Gado against Detroit. The Packers' longest passing play was a 59-yard toss from Favre to Driver against Seattle.

DEFENSE
• Under the guidance of defensive coordinator Jim Bates, the Packers ranked seventh in the league in total defense, a dramatic jump from 25th in 2004.

• The Packers ranked first in the league in passing defense, allowing just 167.5 yards per game. That was Green Bay's lowest total allowed since 1978 (157.8) and an enormous improvement from 2004, when the Packers ranked 25th against the pass (228.9).

• Opposing quarterbacks had an 86.2 passer rating against Green Bay, a figure that ranked 25th in the league.

• The Packers finished a disappointing 23rd against the run (125.6) after finishing 14th in 2004 (117.4). That was Green Bay's poorest ranking since 1983.

• Green Bay ranked 26th in the NFL in take-aways with just 21. The Packers forced 14 fumbles, 11 of which they recovered. Green Bay also had 10 interceptions, their second lowest number of picks in team history.

Defensive end Aaron Kampman led the team with three forced fumbles. Defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila and linebacker Nick Barnett tied for the lead in fumbles recovered with three. Cornerback Al Harris led the team with three interceptions, the fewest number of picks to lead the team since three players each had three in 1991.

• Nick Barnett led the Packers and set a team record with 194 tackles. That total was nearly double Mark Roman and Kampman who each had 105. Kampman's tackle total was the second-best by a Green Bay defensive lineman (Ezra Johnson, 107 in 1983) since the Packers began keeping track of the statistic in 1975.

• Gbaja-Biamila led the team in sacks for the fifth consecutive season. His total of eight, though, was his lowest since his rookie season of 2000.

Gbaja-Biamila's 58½ career sacks rank second in team history behind Reggie White (68½).

• Opponents scored on 9 of 16 game-opening drives against Green Bay's defense. Cleveland, Tampa Bay,

Carolina, Cincinnati, Baltimore and Chicago (home) all opened with touchdowns and went on to win the game.

New Orleans, Pittsburgh and Detroit (home) opened with field goals. The Packers went 2-1 in those games.

• Opponents scored on 4-of-16 drives to begin the second half, totaling 20 points.

• Packers foes scored touchdowns on 53.2% of their trips inside the red zone. That ranked just 22nd in the NFL.

• Green Bay ranked ninth on third down defense, with foes converting 35.9% (74 of 206).

• Nick Barnett's 95-yard interception return for a touchdown against New Orleans was the second-longest in team history. Tim Lewis set the record with a 99-yard return in 1984.

• The longest play Green Bay's defense allowed was an 80-yard touchdown reception to Cleveland's Braylon Edwards. Safety Nick Collins and cornerback Joey Thomas were responsible on the play.

SPECIAL TEAMS
• The Packers were dead last in net punting average and 31st in gross punting average. B.J. Sander, who punted the first 14 games before suffering a knee injury, had a gross average of 39.2 yards and a net of 33.9.

Ryan Flinn, who replaced Sander, had a 36.3 gross average and a net of 29.3.

• The Packers ranked just 27th in the NFL in field goal percentage. Kicker Ryan Longwell made 74.1% of his kicks (20 of 27), just the second time in his nine-year career he was under 80%.

• Green Bay was last in the NFL in kickoff return average at 18.9 yards per attempt. Of the four primary returners who the Packers tried, ReShard Lee had the best average at 21.5.

• The Packers ranked 12th in the NFL in punt-return average. Antonio Chatman handled all 45 of Green Bay's punt returns, averaging 8.5 yards per return.

Chatman's 85-yard return against Chicago for a touchdown was the first score of his career and the first by a Packers' punt returner since Allen Rossum in 2001.

• Defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins blocked three kicks - extra points against Cleveland and Carolina and a

field goal against Pittsburgh. Defensive end Mike Montgomery also blocked a punt.

• Rookie safety Marviel Underwood led Green Bay with 23 special teams tackles. Rookie linebacker Brady Poppinga was second with 22. Fullback William Henderson and rookie linebacker Roy Manning tied for third (14).

• Green Bay's coverage teams were decent, ranking ninth on punt return average and 12th on kick returns.

MISCELLANEOUS
• Eleven starters missed a total of 66 games.

• Green Bay's 13-year streak without a losing season - which had been the NFL's longest - came to a

screeching halt.

• The Packers had 119 penalties accepted against them. That was most by a Green Bay team since the 1987 squad had 135 penalties accepted. The penalties broke down like this: 63 against the offense, 40 versus the defense, 15 on special teams and one miscellaneous. Green Bay had 29 false start penalties, the most of any category. The Packers' 20 holding penalties were the second highest category. Left tackle Chad Clifton led the team with 10 penalties (seven false starts, three holds). Cornerback Ahmad Carroll was second with nine

• Coach Mike Sherman was just 1 for 7 (14.3%) in replay challenges. Green Bay opponents were 0 for 6 in replay challenges.

• The Packers were 2-3 when they scored first and 2-9 when the opponent scored first.

• Green Bay's average starting field position was its own 29-yard line. The average start for Packers'

opponents was their own 34-yard line. Green Bay started 16 drives in opponents' territory. Packers' foes started 33 drives in Green Bay territory. Green Bay began 61 drives inside its own 20-yard line. Opponents were pinned inside their 20-yard line 46 times.

• Quarterback Craig Nall was inactive 16 times, more than anyone else on the team. Nall was followed closely by defensive tackle Donnell Washington (15), center Chris White (15) and guard Junius Coston (14).

• Green Bay spent just 245 minutes, 28 seconds in the lead all year and trailed for 527:03. In eight games, Green Bay didn't lead at all and it trailed for at least a portion of every game except against Atlanta.
 

tromadz

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wow, we did suck. A lot of those are fundamental things..like turnovers. I hate sherman, but I know he had to have stressed no turnovers! Favres gunslinging with a bad oline and 0 recievers didnt help.

Favre gunslinging with no o-line and 1 Wr = 4-12
Favre gunslinging with good o-line and 3 solid WRs = superbowl baby!
 

DakotaT

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Favre gunslinging with no o-line and 1 Wr = 4-12
Favre gunslinging with good o-line and 3 solid WRs = squeeking by the wild card round!

2005 GB's defense + AJ Hawk + improved SS+Favre gunslinging with good o-line and 3 solid WRs = Super Bowl.

Sorry to disagree with you Tromadz, but what you propose is what we had going into the 4th & 26 game. The Packers need to solidify an improving defense before we can talk Super Bowl.
 

PackerTraxx

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The year of 4 & 26 we had better defensive personell than we do now. The coaches lost that game. We played better than Philly the whole game, until that time. Then watching Philly and Carolina, and the Super Bowl that year I believe we had as a good a shot as anybody, but we blew it. The team personell on both sides of the ball was tremendeously different from what we played with this year.
 

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