by Bart Winkler | November 8th, 2009
That Should About Do It – Remember when the Packers lost to the Bengals, and I tried to tell everyone that we were going to be okay because the Bengals were a legit team? Well, this is not one of those times. The Packers were flat out embarrassed today, and even though they led the 0-7 Buccaneers by eleven points late in the game, they couldn’t close out Tampa Bay and were handed a 38-28 loss. For the second straight week, that means the Packers game is likely the story of the NFL weekend, both times because of who it was we lost to (Favre at home, a winless Bucs squad).
I don’t really have anything optimistic to say about this game either. I mean, at 4-4, there is still half of a season left to put a run together, but the Packers would need to win both their next two games against Dallas and San Francisco to have a realistic chance. Given the way they played in Tampa Bay, I’m not sure that’s even possible. The Packers look dreadful, and they really haven’t looked good all year. I mean, if the highest point of this season for us was a preseason win against the Cardinals, then that’s really saying something. Rodgers looked stupid, the offensive is so flawed, the defense hasn’t adjusted to the 3-4, we ruined Kampman’s career, and our special teams are a joke. This is not a team that deserves to make a playoff run right now, much less have a winning record.
Is the season over? No, but it’s damn close.
Thompson and McCarthy Watch – After a loss to Brett Favre at Lambeau Field, and then a loss to an 0-7 team, people are going to be asking for changes, and for once I don’t blame them. Thompson just hasn’t put together the team that we need to contend, and McCarthy might be the worst motivator that we’ve ever had on the sidelines. The team just seems lifeless, and that’s a reflection of the coach in my opinion. It’s pretty embarrassing.
So what do we do? Well, I don’t think you can fire McCarthy today, or Thompson for that matter, but if the Packers don’t make the playoffs this season then I am all for sweeping changes. I have been backing these two guys from the beginning, even as everyone else cried for their execution because we didn’t cave into Favre’s demands. This decision should not be about Brett Favre, because the quarterback position is actually the one part that Thompson got right (well, besides how Rodgers played Sunday, and how bad Brian Brohm is). This decision should be about the rest of the roster – too young, too inexperienced, too much belief in guys like Jarrett Bush that we just need to give up on.
I say we finish out the season, and see what happens. If we don’t make the playoffs, then it’s time to let these guys go. And trust me, I saw Mark Murphy speak this summer, and I can tell you that he is not a guy that’s going to stand around and let Thompson and McCarthy run this franchise into the ground. I hate to go all “fire fire fire everyone” just because of one loss, but this team has played bad for the most part this season and you absolutely CAN NOT lose to the Buccaneers on Sunday. You just can’t.
Rodgers is Regressing – I wish it was possible to have a conversation about
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) is sandwiched by Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Barrett Ruud (51) and Sabby Piscitelli (21) while scoring during the third quarter Sunday. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Aaron Rodgers without mentioning Brett Favre, and I think that it can be. Going with Rodgers after Favre had already retired is a decision I still don’t think can be disputed. However, as good as Rodgers can be, he is not playing very well this season. That’s a weird thing to say about a guy that just had five straight games with a passer rating over 100, but you have to agree that something about him is not right. He’s holding on to the ball too long, he’s mentally taking himself out of games, and he’s struggling unless the Packers are losing big. He’s a great quarterback, and he’s got fantastic stats this year, but he’s got to play better in bigger spots. Thankfully he lead that comeback against the Bears, otherwise who knows how loud the critics would be. He’s still the quarterback for us for the next five to ten years, but he’s gotta work on several things. And I don’t want to hear him say, “I have to get better, I have to play better” like he does after every loss. Just play better and I won’t have to painfully have these thoughts.
Josh Freeman, MVP – First impression, Josh Freeman is going to be a decent quarterback for Tampa Bay. The way he was able to slice up our defense and make the big play was impressive. But, did he have great numbers because he’s a good quarterback or did he have good numbers because the Packers defense is brutal? You gotta admit, the way Favre was able to dominate us looks a little less impressive after we let a rookie half his age do the same thing. By the way, Freeman and his counterparts did make a lot of mistakes early, from dropping balls to sliding before the first down marker, which lead to a lot of unsuccessful 3rd downs. Convert those opportunities, and maybe the Packers get blown out. What an ugly performance.
Something Positive – Just like I like to make the last bucket before I’m done shooting hoops (note: I never shoot hoops), I want to end this on a positive note. Therefore, let’s give some props to Ahman Green for becoming the Packers all-time leading rusher. I think it’s awesome we have Ahman Green back, and he actually played pretty well today with 45 yards and a reception. Plus, he doesn’t look terrible on kick returns, and actually looked better than idiot Tramon Williams today. Congrats, Ahman Green. The rest of you though, suck.
Bart Winkler is a Wisconsin Sports Online regular contributor. Visit his Blog, The Bucky Channel, for information on Wisconsin sports teams including the Badgers, Packers, Bucks and Brewers.
Notice about article replies:
PackerChatters.com is pleased to offer readers the ability to comment/reply on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. PackerChatters.com does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not PackerChatters.com. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please use the 'Report This' link below. We will review it for possible removal, however, please be reminded we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website.
Processing your request, Please wait....
In the words of the great Howard Cosell, “Its over. It’s all over” or insert Rodger’s name into, “Down goes Frazer! Down goes Frazer!”
Lets face it, it’s how you win against teams you should beat and how you lose to good team (Vikqeens). We sucked in all our win’s. We did not dominate the lions or the Browns. They beat themselves with their poor play. Now losing to the Vikqueens, pisses me off, however losing the way we did, is pathetic. It was not as close as the scores read. Now losing to the worst team in the NFL, where do you start? The coaching is non existant. There are no adjustments, no motivating, no benching for poor play and no getting in someones faces when they screw up!
MM chose Slocum (carry over from last yr s special teams joke), and he is not even as good as last yrs coach! Lets face it, each week the special team has regressed and gotten worse. How is that possible?
The offensive line was going to be improved with VClifton and Tausher. Heres the real answer. IT SUCK’S just as bad. Campen, Fontenote and Philbin need to go NOW! NOT at the end of the year, that should be reserved for TT & MM
This defense can’t stop anyone when it counts. Pressure, What pressure? It is non existant!
I still cant beleive we blew this game. I mean how do you lose to the worst team when you have an 11 point lead in the fourth quarter? Answer: Be the Packers coached by MM & managed by TT.
Chugga chugga chugga chugga WOOOO WOOOOOOOOO!!!
FAIL.
I agree 100%. Our team is an exact reflection of TT and MM…. Boring with nothing to say.
We have no life, no energy, no spirit, no heart.
You could feel right from the start of that game that the Bucs had better energy. They were more motivated, hungrier and more physical. HOW IS THAT????
TT and MM have to go. Period.
No matter what it will cost.
The writing is on the wall and you’re either blind or stupid if you don’t know that these guys can’t get it done.
I am totally embarassed!
No Defense, Special Teams Stunk, and now Turnovers…
I wonder how the PACKERS will draft in the 2010 draft
Oh my. It was generally thought this would be a win. I did write that the Packers could lose a close one because they might be looking forward to the Dallas game. But to look this bad in all aspects of the game, against a team that was winless? This is simply unacceptable. I thought this team (the Packers) were mediocre. Maybe I should amend those thoughts, and label them what they are- pretenders; wannabes; losers. Unless this team turns it around the second half of the season, MM needs to be gone after this year. Again, it looks like 2007 was a fluke. TT will have a year to rebuild this roster- and he’d better be active in FA. Forget how much money the Packers have under the salary cap. That is like bragging how many timeouts you’ve saved in each game. Spend some money, get some veteran help, and turn this team around now. Or else.
Bart, are you retarded? How the hell is Aaron Rodgers supposed to play better when he has to worry about getting hit by the entire defensive line on EVERY SINGLE PLAY? Use your friggin head. He dude might end up in a hospice by the end of the season, but I suppose he’s just supposed to forget about that and play like Superman. As it is now, it’s a miracle he’s not in a bodybag, but you expect him to just forget about all that and play better? As the saying goes, common sense isn’t so common, is it Bart?
“The” (not He) is what I obviously meant to type…
It’s so funny when Packer fans use the word ViQUEENS, seeing that Minnesota has a 4 game lead after just 8 games. And, enough with the tired “train choo choo” crap too. It’s not about Favre.
These players Thompson has filled the roster with simply aren’t that good, and they know it. Hence, the lethargic play and lack of emotion.
Ok, I am now on the “get rid of McCarthy and Thompson” bandwagon. I have stayed behind them these past two seasons as we were “rebuilding”. Today was pathetic. Our O-line has sucked for the past three years. It was not that great for Favre’s last year and it has been unbelievably shitty last season and this one. How can a Packer QB be leading the league in sacks? How is that possible. How can the Bucs sack us 6 times? I feel so bad for Rogers who I think is a very good QB, but he probably is getting abit gun shy back there now. We are going to be lucky to finish .500 this year. Soooooooooooooooooooooo discouraged. Have been a Packer for 44 years and this year I am more discouraged than I have been for many years as I thought we would be so much better.
My pre-season prediction of going 6/10 is now revised to 5/11.
I disagree that our players are crud, they are not playing with any passion. Every game they come onto the field with their heads literally hanging down. AR and Matthews are 2 of the few bright spots, and why hasn’t anyone written about the BJ RAJI bust?
Screw it, hope the Bucks or Brewers do better.
I’ve got news for you lars, yourVikqueens are a good team, but not a great team. They should be 5/3. They should have lost to San Fran & Baltimore. Sort of like the luck we had in 07.
The Packers are quite simply a lousey under-acheiving team!
So instead of chastising others about their comments, how about you give some of your own. Oh that right you said lathargic play and lack of emotion and the players that Thompson (you have to show him respect) has filled the roster with simply aren’t that good.
If you don’t like ViQueens (Vikqueens) or Chugga chugga chugga chugga WOOOO WOOOOOOOOO!!! too baddddd. They are the team Packers fans hate the most, as well as TT & MM. Don’t read them if your affended. It’s that simple.
Bart, I agree with most of your story and appreciate the time you put into it. I have to say that Rodgers is holding the ball way to long. He looks like a deer in the headlights! However I beleive that he has a bad case of shell shock (hit’s) and the play calling on MM’s part of going more for the big play. Who else do we have behind him? Flynn. Yah thanks TT, this is another fine mess you’ve gotten us into!
This team does have some talent. The holes and weaknesses are very evident. Even the lowely Buc’s could exploit them. The Coaching as you said is a reflection of the Coache’s. EMBARRESSING.
BUSH? TT & MM still love him. Why was he on the field in the first place? Because TT & MM have no one else to play in dime. NOW that’s PATHETIC!
This team needs leadership. MM & his staff have none. NEXT!
1) The Packers are turning Aaron Rogers into David Carr, circa his playing days with the Texans. If this goes on much longer, #12 may never be the same.
2) Turns out the Pack really, really miss Finley.
3) What is the point of keeping McCarthy around? With him, the Packers have no chance, and he’s gone at the end of the year anyway. Moss will certainly be a head coach somewhere next year. Why not give him an audition in GB now?
4) I’m not sure why McCarthy is determined not to allow Grant (and/or Green) to run the ball. The Bucs couldn’t stop the run. I say keep pounding it until they do. Of course, I’m not an offensive genus.
5) Please dump Slocum on Monday morning. Every kick-off and punt is painful to watch. Were they able to remove that ball from Kapinos’ throat? As for kick-offs, don’t kick the ball in the air to any decent returner, because he will be gone.
6) Thank goodness for Charles Woodson!
Out.
just listen up packer fans, the pack WILL turn this around and knock the vikqueens out of the playoffs, mark my words…the Pack has twice the talent as our neighbors to the west, it may not look that way on paper, but once on the field, the TRUE talent will shine, i also predict the queens dropping the next 3 home games and the pack catching them by mid december final prediction….Packers end with a 12 and 4 record and the queens 8 and 8 and out of the playoffs, MARK MY WORDS and KEEP THE FAITH !!!! GO PACK…it ain’t over ’till its over….
Mutt,
You are a true fan…For that I commend you.
The next time you’re on your way home don’t forget to stop at the end of the rainbow and get the pot of gold. Be sure to drive slowly just in case Bigfoot and the Easter Bunny jump out in front of you.
And, when you get home don’t forget to feed the Unicorn and wear some sexy underwear to bed in case the Tooth Fairy makes a late night appearance
Thompson and McCarthy must go and the sooner, the better. This franchise should not have to endure their failure to field a good team. They are the joke of the NFL.
Rodgers is not there yet. He cannot handle the pressure of playing from behind and he is too scared of throwing the INT (except of course for yesterday). He needs to focus on the game and NOT worry about his statistics. The ONLY statistic that matters is W’s. So far, he has not figured out how to produce enough of them.
When the Packers dumped Favre, McCarthy said that “the train has left the station”. What he didn’t tell us is that on that train was any chance of the Packers having a winning season, let alone a playoff run. Start loading the next train to leave the station and make sure that McCarthy, Thompson, and Capers are on board.
% years into a rebuilding program and we lose to an 0-7 team with a 21 yo rookie QB in his first NFL start and a 33 yo HC who had yet to win an NFL game. What more do we need to see? 5 years is too long let alone a 6th or 7th year. TT/MM regime must end as soon as possible.
my thoughts exactly
Years ago the NFL Champion used to play the college ALL-Stars in an exhibition game at the start of the year and kicked their butts every year.
TT’s young team has less talent than college All-Stars and they get beat by a team that was winless.
HAHAHHAHAHA Good game! Losers! Thanks for coming to Tampa and spending your money! Now go home and take you fat, pasty , zombie white,corpulent girlfriends and kids whitcha!
The reality is even less optomistic:
1. No wins over a quality opponent (including the Bears)
2. Wins over teams with a combined 7 wins (4 from the Bears)
3. A horrific loss to an 0-7 team
How is everyone enjoying those pre-season press clippings?
Need advise: arsenic or hemlock?
The reality is even less optomistic:
1. No wins over a quality opponent (including the Bears)
2. Wins over teams with a combined 7 wins (4 from the Bears)
3. A horrific loss to an 0-7 team
How is everyone enjoying those pre-season press clippings?
Need advice: arsenic or hemlock?
This loss I blame on every aspect of the game, O, D, and special teams.
1. I honestly can’t believe how bad our special teams are this year. A blocked punt returned for a TD and a KR inside the 15… That is inexcusable….. Our punter puts no hangtime on the ball. Our coverage units are a joke. If Crosby doesn’t kick a TB, they are to the 30….(I will defend Crosby a bit, in the fact that all his missed FGs this year were all over 49 yards. 49+ yarders are made about 40% of the time for most kickers.
2. On O, I wan’t to say that the poor line play is a combination of like a dozen things. We have the worst OTs in the league… A Rod holds on to the ball too long… We have predictable play calling. If we get stuffed on one run, McCarthey will just abandon it. We were getting mega grounds yards yesterday, but McCarthey would panic on second and 10…. Our WRs aren’t getting open. On that sack on the second and goal, before Rodgers TD run, nobody got open, plain and simple. I think we are underestimating the losses of Finely, Jordy, and maybe Swain (a team that runs a lot of 3-5 wr/receiving option sets needs its depth at WR/TE. Allen, and Havner aren’t that good and Lee is a #2 TE in the NFL.)
On O, I also think we have too many short drives that hurts our special teams and D.
3. I am not going to be that harsh to the D. The O and special teams put the D in absolutely terrible situations. Tampa scored 28 points that were a result of
1. Blocked Punt
2. Int return inside the 15
3. KR inside the 15
4. int 6
It would have been nice to hold them to a FG on one of those, but it is kinda unreasonable to expect. Our D only really gave up 10 points… but still, I absolutely hate the play calling. Against a rookie QB, you should bring the house every play. Absolutely horrible D play calling. You should get 2-3 TOs against a rookie QB. Where was the interior pressure on Freeman? The best way to get in a rookie QBs head is to bring pressure up the middle… Clay got buried all day… Our edges broke contain a lot on passing plays…. We were so close to getting a few picks….
Yeah your o-line isn’t much to brag about for sure. Clifton hasn’t been the same since Sapp cleaned his clock on a very legal hit years ago.
Remember? We HAD a punter by the name of Jon Ryan and TT released him after the season started to pick up Frost last year. How that turn out? Thats right, Ryan went on to sign with the Seahawks and was leading the NFL with net yards and we all know what happened to Frost.
GO BUCCANEERS !!!!! YEAH our baby QB wooopt ass against the pack
Did anyone else notice that our D only gave up 25 yards to the Bucs offence for them to get 28pts. two ints for TD’s a return of an int return to the 8 and a kick return to the 17. Not that I’m optomistic, but the stats didn’t look that bad.
Cowher
Shanahan
Marriucci
Gruden
Holmgren
……..Any of these guys could do a better job.
Ted Thompson should go away.
HC/GM title to one guy.
McCarthy is Done.
I was physically sick yesterday for about half the day….you know what really pisses me off i work about 60 hours a week as a police officer and my partners and i cannot wait for the weekend so we can sit back and relax for a good 3 hours and watch a packer game….Thompson has stolen that from us. Gone are the days where a good hard week of work was complimented by a little reward that doesnt come too often where i sit down and watch my packers to a hard fought victory. This is ridiculous, furthermore ive never seen such uninspiring unimaginitive playcalling in my life
come on packer backers, i dont think you read my previous post, so listen up…the season is only HALF OVER !!! dont you realize all it takes is a string of w’s to put us back on top. dont look at the past…look to the bright future with A ROD and CO. we cant let a 4and 4 record diminish our HOPES!! the pack WILL prevail and make a great run thru the playoffs, this is the youngest and most talented team in the NFL… PERIOD !! get a clue..the sky is blue…the packers win….for me and YOU !!!
All I can say is Run run run. Why abandon something that is working so well and become predictable. AG played well with heart something others need to take notice. We could have had 300 yards in rushing had we ran more. Macarthy looked like a beat man in his post game conference perhaps he is feeling his days are numbered . If I am right he may try to save his job and start manning up. Harris has been playing terrible all year he has lost a step and needs to be replaced he is not the close down corner of the past
To bucco bruce & james allen spradling, Buc-off you idiots. I wouldn’t be bragging on any other teams boards, when your pathetic team is 1/7. You two are classless JOKES! I bet you love those throw back uniforms of the Buc’s. Why don’t you two clowns join them and dissapeer!
I just want to call out Matt and his fellow officers and the Men & Women of our armed forces for the great job you do. Keep up the great work. Here’s a salute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As for MM7 TT. I hope you can hear the clock ticking. Aftervthe season, begone!
Having lived in Wisconsin the past four years and having to endure the TT and MM attempts to make nothing out of something, I can honestly say they have finally done it. I was never a Packer fan first (I bleed Cowboy blue), but I wanted the Pack to win every game they played except against the Cowboys. When a team takes back someone they dished off, then you know they believe they are in trouble or are looking for a publicity stunt to create a warm and fuzzy Lambeau. I never expected A. Green to be a Packer again and that happened TT and MM were scared. TT looked like a kid in timeout during the game yesterday and that is a fitting place for you Packer fans to put him. As for Mike III, don’t you wish for someone like M1 or M2? I would not polish off the running game for this week’s game. Your backs will be punished with limited yards and will take a beating. If the Packers could count good practices and the pre-season, they would have a chance at the playoffs. But the Sunday thing will only get them a good draft choice . . . that will likely be wasted again. By the way, what’s up with A. J. Hawk?
hey, its mutt again with some more inside info….enuff already with the negative comments on mm and tt, these are 2 of the finest minds in football and are doing their best to put a great product on the field, its up to the players to PERFORM !! get it ? oh iv’ve heard it before “you cant fire the team, so fire the coach/gm” well here’s something to ponder….fire the greenbay fans !! they’re the REAL losers, mm and tt will turn this thing around and the pack will be on top of the division by mid-dec. yes, this is a guarantee !!! MARK MY WORDS !!! mutt
Mutt, I’d like one of whatever your drinking