Now That I’ve Got Your Attention Please Read On

It looks like no one is very worried that in the one exhibition that counts the most after the Packers laid an egg. Not just a warm and fuzzy chicken egg, but a large cold imposing ostrich egg before the faithful at Lambeau Field.

 

I didn’t get home until the second quarter because I was covering a volleyball tournament, but when I turned on the game the score was 25-0. Later some time in the second or third quarter the faithful started booing the defense. HEAR THAT McCarthy and Dom Capers you were being booed. Take that to heart and make some changes.

 

I was spared the first quarter when the No. 1 defense, which had all it parts together on the same field for the first time, when Clay Matthews played for the first time and its first string secondary on display made All-Pros out of Sam Bradford and Mark Sanchez.

 

The rosy glasses crowd that cover the Packers and run the organization really need to watch this game over and over again and then sit down with a large dose of reality and take assessment of where the 10th year of the Mike McCarthy regime and seventh year of the Dom Capers era has us sitting entering the season.

 

McCarthy’s post -game press conference was amazing. After being torched by two second-tier quarterbacks to the tune of 23-of-29 for 271 yards and 5 touchdowns with no sacks or interceptions followed by two busts (7-of-11 for 43 yards) McCarthy said basically I’m not worried, we’ll fix what needs to be fixed (on defense). Anybody heard that song before I have? Like maybe every post-game presser.

Post-Game Instant Analysis: The second pre-season game at the Steelers

The Good, The Bad and The UGLY

 

The Good:

The first string offense (minus David Bakhtiari at left tackle) looked very good taking the ball 80 yards in 10 plays on the opening drive of the game to a score. The good elements of the drive were not only good passing by Aaron Rodgers, but excellent running by Eddie Lacy, including a touchdown run from the seven. Then surprise, surprise James Starks converts the two-point conversion on the ground for only the second time since 2009.

The Bad:

Aaron Rodgers about to be sacked for a Safety

Don Barclay at left tackle was a disaster. He gave up a sack in the end zone for a safety and gave up another sack as well as many shaky runs in between with the first string. Barclay stayed in the game with the second string until there was 1:40 left in the third quarter and wasn't any better until his final series against the third stringers.

New Packer Coaching Staff

The off-season of our discontent finally bore fruit today when Coach Mike McCarthy unveiled his 2015-16 coaching staff. I can't say I'm very excited about the moves, but...well, let's leave it at that for the moment.

First let's look at my checklist for the coaching staff this off-season.

1. Fire Special Teams Coach Shawn Slocum. (Check). This needed to be
   done years ago. While I'm more than happy Slocum is gone, I'm less than
   happy his assistant has been elevated to the job. Mmmmm, I think I've
   seen this movie before. When was it? Mmmmmm, Oh, yeh. It was on Jan.
   13, 2009 when a certain Shawn Slocum was promoted to take over for the
   retired or fired Bob Stock after spending three years as his assistant. Ron
   Zook has only been Slocum's assistant for one season, so maybe his
   incompetence hasn't stuck on him yet. My opinion is just making a change
   at the top is not enough. Someone from outside is needed to replace a terrible special teams unit that has been bad for a decade. (Uncheck).
2. Fire Mike McCarthy play caller. (Check). McCarthy's second half conservatism has irked me for many years. I can literally tell what will happen after halftime and I've been right. When the offense has been on afterburners in the first half it grinds to a halt in the second half - not because of defensive adjustments, but because of McCarthy starting to run out the clock on the first offensive series of the third quarter. Hooray!!!!
   Tom Clements taking over may or may not be a good thing, but I'll give him a chance. (Still check).
3. Fire Dom Capers. (Uncheck). PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE make it 3-for-3. I'm waiting, but I'm not holding my breath. If Capers was to fired t then we would know it. But adding a new assistant coach and no announcement means I will end up 2-for-3. I hate being 2-for-3. (Future no
   check).