The Aikman List - A Detailed Analysis

A question was asked a few days ago concerning a comment from that known Green Bay hater former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman about the rash of injuries the Packers has suffered this year possibly being the result of Head Coach Mike McCarthy holding a Saturday practice instead of taking Saturday off and practicing on Friday.

It was implied that the Packers players were more susceptible to injuries during the Sunday games because they didn't have adequate time to recover while other teams had a day to recover.

First, I could find no reference to the Packers practicing on Saturday and injuries except for Aikman's comment. Second, the NFL doesn't even recognize that the Packers practice on Saturday because their official injury list only lists practices on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, including the Packers. Third, there cannot be much of a practice since Saturday is also travel day.

Bad News Comes in 3s

After having my hopes and dreams dashed with the news of The Ted and The Dom (we live in a Donald Trump world these days) returning I couldn't believe it when it was announced that former Packers outside linebackers coach Kevin Greene has been hired as outside linebackers coach by the Jets.

Greene spent 5 years in the same position with the Packers under Defensive Coordinator for Life Dom Capers from 2009 to 2013 and since 2011 I've been calling for Greene to be named Defensive Coordinator.

He brought a nasty and attacking attitude to the defense which sorely needs some attitude besides bending over and spreading its cheeks each and every week under The Dom.

A Flurry of Personnel News But Not The Big One Elizabeth

Head Coach Mike McCarthy had a press conference today and he made three big, huge, humongous announcements. I started to grab my chest and stumble around the room, but...........

First, "Ted (Thompson) is back.  don't know where the heck some of these articles come from. I don't see any change in him as far as his vision ... he's working, I don't see any change in that."

Second, "This is no time for drama. Dom Capers is an outstanding football coach. That doesn't change. He had a tough challenge in front of him this year, and once again that coaching staff dealt with a lot. I think clearly if you look at the way the team was motivated, the way they were prepared, the things we were able to do, the adjustments we made, it's all part of it. So, a lot of good things came out of that."

Third, "Associate head coach/offense Tom Clements will move on to some other interests." Clements' contract is expiring. I guess he is the reason the Packers defense sucked so much.

In a span of just a few minutes McCarthy didn't make my day, ended my Held Hostage countdown and sent me into a funk that may just last the rest of McCarthy's tenure as head coach.

FROM THE SUBLIME TO THE RIDICULOUS, PART VEINTICUATRO

(Mexican because this might be the last time I use Mexican because the TRUMP WALL is about to go up)

SUBLIME

The Table Was Run

The last time we visited the Sublime and the Ridiculous the Packers were in the middle of their 8 game winning streak and about to play the Vikings the day before Christmas. Also everyone had predicted the Packers to win and they did, of course, knocking the Vikings out of the playoffs, and then went on to beat the Lions to end the season and knock them out of the North title to regain the title the Packers lost to the Vikings last season in the final game. I would say that is pretty SUBLIME.

Day Two: Held Hostage By 1265 Lombardi Avenue

I woke up this morning and got on-line and had déjà vu all over again when I couldn't find the notice of Green Bay Packers Defensive Coordinator Dom Capers being fired after not seeing that notice yesterday. I even waited a few hours to check to give Head Honcho Ted Thompson time to eat his dry toast and drink his coffee before doing the right thing and putting all us loyal Packer Backers out of our shared misery. But that didn't happen today, so I will wait until tomorrow because I'm a Packer Backer and we all live on hope.

While I was writing this I went surfing on the world wide web (in case those of you who live in Chicago, Minneapolis and Detroit don't know that is what www. means) and found an article from 3 weeks ago that stated Thompson will most likely step down after the season and be hired as a senior scouting advisor in order to hire Elliot Wolf as his replacement. I am for that, but won't hold my breath waiting for that moment to happen. I have been disappointed before and the last time was 10 minutes ago.

Championship Game Autopsy

I watched the "Debacle in the Dome" with half of my brain in disbelief and the other half saying over and over again like Dorothy on her way home from Oz or like a song phrase you can't get out of your head, "same old, same old, sam.......".

I waited until this morning to make my comments thinking I will wake up from the very predictable disaster and, 'No, not that it didn't happen," it certainly did for 3 and a half hours, but that certain consequences would be delivered decisively and quickly, but when I went on-line expecting Defensive Coordinator Dom Capers to be fired I was disappointed for the 2nd time in less 24 hours.

Can Rodgers Do It Again?

The game today at the Georgia Dome is a microcosm of the Packers season. A Packers offense that is as good as in the league without its major stars and a defense that isn't playing against the best offense in the league with its MVP possible quarterback.

Now you add the flu which I understand started with Jordy Nelson and I get the feeling the football gods seem to be against the Packers, but somehow Aaron Rodgers has thrown all the trials and tribulations those gods have thrown at the team since Week 11 and has come out on top. Today could be one of those games that could cement Rodgers' legacy as one of or maybe the best the league has ever seen since he has been sick with the flu since Friday.

Next Man Up Once Again

The hallmark of the 2016-17 Green Bay Packers has been next man up all season. On defense the cornerback and inside linebacker positions has been hit very hard with injuries and on offense it has been running back and wide receiver. And once again injuries have raised its ugly head with the loss of Jordy Nelson for the Cowboys game for sure and the season possibly.

The loss of Nelson could hurt more than the loss of Randall Cobb for the last 2 games of the regular season did. When Cobb went down with an ankle injury undrafted rookie free agent Geronimo Allison stepped in and did a great job with 4 catches out of 7 thrown for 66 yards against the Vikings and 4 catches out of 6 thrown for 91 yards and a TD against the Lions.

Last week against the Giants despite Nelson going down early Allison was only thrown the ball twice catching 1 for 8 yards. It didn't seem to matter that Nelson was on the sidelines last week with Davante Adams and Randall Cobb not missing a beat catching 13 of 19 passes for 241 yards and 4 TDs.

In addition tight end Jared Cook continued to be productive catching 5 of 9 passes for 48 yards and running back Ty Montgomery doing good work out of the backfield catching 3 of 4 for 41 yards.

The key to last week was the inability of the defense to plan for Nelson being out and that won't be the case this week for the Cowboys. Last year with Nelson out the entire season Adams wasn't up to the task of being the No. 1 receiver after he had begun to show signs at the end of the 2014 season as being a legitimate go-to man.

"I Screwed Up". YOU THINK!!

I can give you the names of 7 people who heard me say, "I don't like this," at least 3 times when Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy decided to go for it on a 4th-and-1 from his own 42 leading 14-6. I also said, "he will go off-tackle left for negative 1." and guess what he went off-tackle left for negative 1 yards.

When asked about the play here's what McCarthy said, "Oh, I was pissed off. Totally. That’s just the way I’m wired. I feel responsible when things don’t go well. I mean, my job’s to orchestrate and keep our guys in healthy plays and create flow and rhythm for Aaron. That’s the way I believe play-calling should operate. But there was too much risk there. I screwed it up.”

"Really". You are pissed off about what? A play you call all the time in the same situation and it fails almost all the time. You had to add "That's just the way I'm wired". What the hell does that mean? Then you said, "I feel responsible when things don’t go well." "REALLY". I may be wrong, but you are the head coach and you call all the plays, so you ARE responsible whether you feel it or not.

Offseason Moves During Postseason Play

Before we get started the news on Jordy Nelson is not good. He has at least 2 fractured ribs and while the BS coming out of 1265 Lombardi Avenue says he might still play Sunday against the Cowboys anyone with fractured ribs would not be playing. In fact he might miss the rest of the playoffs.

Even though the referees at the time didn't consider the hit penalty worthy I would hope the NFL fines Leon Hall a hefty sum for 2 infractions - leading with the crown of his helmet and hitting a defenseless receiver.

In a surprise move, at least to me, the Packers released defensive lineman Mike Pennel Monday. Pennel played very well last season becoming a valuable member of the rotation, but this year he was suspended the first 4 games by the NFL for performance enhancing drugs and the final 4 games for the same reason and in the middle 8 games was a non-factor.

"Hail Rodgers"

I took last week off because I was busy at work and I really didn't know what to think about the Packers after dismantling the Lions in the 6h must-win in as many weeks. I felt the Lions were only downslide even though the Packers had failed to win the same game last year at Lambeau Field against the Vikings with the North title on the line.

That failure stuck in my mind heading into the game against the Giants as did the other two times Eli Manning faced the Packers at Lambeau in the playoffs and beat Brett Favre the first time and Aaron Rodgers the second.

However, this is a different Packers team facing an older and not better Eli with Aaron Rodgers at the top of his game and the Aaron Rodgers who was mired in a slump when he faced the Vikings last year.

It All Comes Down To Character

The 2016 NFL regular season ends Sunday January 1, 2017 with a battle between the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions, two of the oldest NFL franchises, with the NFC North Division title on the line and possibly a playoff berth also on the line on Sunday Night Football.

The scenario is this. If the Packers win or tie the Packers win the North and hosts the New York Giants next week on Wildcard Weekend. If the Packers lose at Ford Field the Packers end up with a 9-7 record and would need help of the Giants to make the playoffs.

The Giants play the Washington Redskins on the road at 3:25 p.m. and that game has major implications. If the Giants win both the Packers and the Lions make the playoffs with only the seed yet to be determined.