IPBprez
Cheesehead
Posted Sep. 19, 2005
Mike Woods
This time, sluggish start is something to worry about
I think we’ve seen enough to know. They are Forrest Gregg bad. Lindy Infante dreadful.
If you feel like the sky is falling, just look up. It is. The Green Bay Packers are in a full-blown freefall.
There is no dispute they are one of the worst teams in the NFL. We know this because, after two weeks, they have lost to two teams who over the past few years have solidly distinguished themselves as two of the worst in all of football.
The Browns? At Lambeau? After the wake-up call at Detroit? This was supposed to be a walkover, or something close to it. Instead, it was the Packers who got stepped on at home once more, the sixth loss in their last 10 tries at the not-so-friendly confines.
This time, it came by a 26-24 count before 70,400 fans, many of whom left early, the rest too stunned to boo when the curtain finally came down.
That ’70s Show is back, and be forewarned: It could be another long, extended run.
You can talk all you want about how the Packers have started slowly before and how they’ve pulled themselves out of the outhouse. But those teams had all-pro quality players at guard, an all-pro at the No. 1 receiver position and a proven starting safety.
This is not one of those teams. This team is worse. Those players are gone and the replacements are a step, or three, below. But what you should be asking yourself today is how, year after year, have they allowed this to happen?
Coach Mike Sherman, the man most responsible for this demise, has said he has talked endlessly to his team this year about the importance of a fast start, the need to commit fewer penalties and the consequences of turning over the ball.
You have to wonder if these speeches have come with anyone in the room.
“If you’ve got an answer, please let me know,’’ said veteran fullback William Henderson. “I don’t know why we do it. But we have.’’
Simply put, the Packers do what bad teams do.
Early in the second quarter, down 10-7 and facing a third-and-5 from the Browns’ 36-yard line, rookie guard William Whitticker gets called for a false start. Brett Favre throws incomplete on the next play and a field goal is no longer an option.
Next series, same score, Favre takes a sack on third-and-4 from the Browns’ 38. Everyone, let me hear another warm Lambeau Field welcome for B.J. Sander.
Then, there are the more obvious blunders, like Favre throwing a pick from the red zone into the end zone, which the Browns turned into a quick six points. Then having another pass tipped and picked at his 23, which Cleveland cashed in with a field goal.
Even with that, good teams, quality teams, are able to overcome those self-inflicted wounds. But not this team.
“From when I got here to the way it is now, there’s not that dominant, emotional you’re-going-to-beat-the-heck-out-of-whoever-is-on-the-field mentality,’’ said kicker Ryan Longwell. “For whatever reason, it’s a different team and it’s not there.’’
The scary part of it is, the waters only get rougher from here. These last two outfits were the easiest two marks on the dance card. They have to face the likes of Tampa Bay, Carolina, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia … we’d go on but we’d have to include everyone.
“Things,’’ said tackle Mark Tauscher, “are at rock bottom.’’
Could be, but doubtful. It appears they’ve got a ways to go before they reach that point.
================================
I'll let you guys pick this Writer apart... I'd rather b-slap his sorry........
I'll check back tomorrow...
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Mike Woods
This time, sluggish start is something to worry about
I think we’ve seen enough to know. They are Forrest Gregg bad. Lindy Infante dreadful.
If you feel like the sky is falling, just look up. It is. The Green Bay Packers are in a full-blown freefall.
There is no dispute they are one of the worst teams in the NFL. We know this because, after two weeks, they have lost to two teams who over the past few years have solidly distinguished themselves as two of the worst in all of football.
The Browns? At Lambeau? After the wake-up call at Detroit? This was supposed to be a walkover, or something close to it. Instead, it was the Packers who got stepped on at home once more, the sixth loss in their last 10 tries at the not-so-friendly confines.
This time, it came by a 26-24 count before 70,400 fans, many of whom left early, the rest too stunned to boo when the curtain finally came down.
That ’70s Show is back, and be forewarned: It could be another long, extended run.
You can talk all you want about how the Packers have started slowly before and how they’ve pulled themselves out of the outhouse. But those teams had all-pro quality players at guard, an all-pro at the No. 1 receiver position and a proven starting safety.
This is not one of those teams. This team is worse. Those players are gone and the replacements are a step, or three, below. But what you should be asking yourself today is how, year after year, have they allowed this to happen?
Coach Mike Sherman, the man most responsible for this demise, has said he has talked endlessly to his team this year about the importance of a fast start, the need to commit fewer penalties and the consequences of turning over the ball.
You have to wonder if these speeches have come with anyone in the room.
“If you’ve got an answer, please let me know,’’ said veteran fullback William Henderson. “I don’t know why we do it. But we have.’’
Simply put, the Packers do what bad teams do.
Early in the second quarter, down 10-7 and facing a third-and-5 from the Browns’ 36-yard line, rookie guard William Whitticker gets called for a false start. Brett Favre throws incomplete on the next play and a field goal is no longer an option.
Next series, same score, Favre takes a sack on third-and-4 from the Browns’ 38. Everyone, let me hear another warm Lambeau Field welcome for B.J. Sander.
Then, there are the more obvious blunders, like Favre throwing a pick from the red zone into the end zone, which the Browns turned into a quick six points. Then having another pass tipped and picked at his 23, which Cleveland cashed in with a field goal.
Even with that, good teams, quality teams, are able to overcome those self-inflicted wounds. But not this team.
“From when I got here to the way it is now, there’s not that dominant, emotional you’re-going-to-beat-the-heck-out-of-whoever-is-on-the-field mentality,’’ said kicker Ryan Longwell. “For whatever reason, it’s a different team and it’s not there.’’
The scary part of it is, the waters only get rougher from here. These last two outfits were the easiest two marks on the dance card. They have to face the likes of Tampa Bay, Carolina, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia … we’d go on but we’d have to include everyone.
“Things,’’ said tackle Mark Tauscher, “are at rock bottom.’’
Could be, but doubtful. It appears they’ve got a ways to go before they reach that point.
================================
I'll let you guys pick this Writer apart... I'd rather b-slap his sorry........
I'll check back tomorrow...