PRN Sorgi

Postgame Analysis: Bay of Pigs Revisited

Jay_Sorgi — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:34:07 GMT

Well, folks, the Green Bay Packers have blown another one, this time to the creamsicle-clad Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 38-28.

It feels like the 1980's Packers-Buccaneers matchups which turned into horrible experiences of frustration, time and time again.

Now, check out selected verbiage from the 20009 Packers' version of Bart Starr and Forrest Gregg after the game.

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Packers 31, Browns 3 - That's More Like It

Jay_Sorgi — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 15:09:06 GMT

That's more like it, Packers.

Your 31-3 broasting of the Browns, and the way you did it, was a lot better than the performance you provided against the lowly Lions.

That's more like it.

Last week, five sacks allowed on Aaron Rodgers.

This time, zero.

Of course, the fact you were able to run the ball 40 times for 202 yards helps. Granted, it wasn't the greatest team you were facing, with the 30th ranked run defense in pro football.

Still, that's more like it.

The defense hasn't had a problem - outside of a couple stupid penalties - in the last two weeks. No teams reaching the end zone.

Yes, they were led by Daunte Culpepper and Derek Anderson, and the Browns have only four TD's all year.

Still, no scores in two weeks is a major coup. 139 total yards allowed.

That's more like it.

I'm still not thrilled with eight penalties against a fantastically flawed Browns team. You need to be close to perfect in that category against the Vikings to beat them like the Steelers did this week.

That's not like it.

But in every other category, that's definitely more like it.

Yes, I was the guy calling last week the worst 26-point win EVER.

This week, very few complaints on my end.

We'll see about next week, though.

Brett Favre and the Vikings are coming in angry about their loss to Pittsburgh where Favre got pick-sixed to end the game.

(He's also coming in mad at Ted Thompson for all that happened between them.)

We've seen that a couple times in his tenure as a Packer.

Al Harris, practice your dreadlocks in your wake.

But you need to get the pass rush going to have any shot on that. Don't be afraid to blitz, though historically Favre kills you.

But you didn't blitz last time, and Favre killed you.

Pick your poison, Packers. Perhaps the blitz version of the poison won't burn your insides as much, and you'll live to see a victory.

Of course, a better pass protection for Rodgers will assist the cause as well.

Still, you needed a confidence boost before the showdown.

You got it.

That's more like it.

Analysis: Worst 26-Point Win EVER

Jay_Sorgi — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 07:18:30 GMT

Repeat after me: thank goodness they were playing the Lions.

13 penalties by green-and-gold clad heroes for 130 yards.

Four calls against Chad Clifton by himself.

Thank goodness they were playing the Lions.

Five drives reaching the red zone.

Only one breaks the goal line.

Thank goodness they were playing the Lions.

Aaron Rodgers threw for 358 yards and two touchdowns.

Despite those five sacks.

Thank goodness they were playing the Lions.

I remember reading a story about one time when Vince Lombardi's Packers won a preseason game 41-17, and he stood on top of some object and absolutely ripped his team a new one in the locker room.

In his grave, or in Heaven, a million "what the hell's going on out here" screams must have come after watching this one, the worst 26-point win EVER.

I know I love to reference Brazilian flagmakers losing fabric with all the yellow hankies falling on the temperate tundra of October on Sunday.

At this pace, Pele himself will come up to Green Bay and give the Lombardi-like rear end-chewing about this team's lack of discipline.

The question is whether Mike McCarthy is doing something about it. If he is, it's not working.

After his Packers committed 11 penalties in a 31-24 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals:

"We need to change that around here. It's a focus and we'll stay after it."

After the Packers' loss to Minnesota on October 6th, in which the team committed five more penalties than the purple people:

"It's something that's addressed," he told the Journal Sentinel.

"I don't like how we've had more penalties than them, and that's happened a lot."

There's a scratch on the record, Coach. The same song keeps playing from your mouth.

Your team has committed more penalties than any NFL team over the last three years.

It again reared its ugly head. 13 penalties against the Lions? Whaaaaaaa?

More proof that this is the worst 26-point win EVER?

Five sacks to the Lions' front four and friends.

If this had been Jared Allen and company, Rodgers might have suffered grass stains on the white of his jersey numbers about half of his dropbacks, potentially negating all of his 358 yards passing.

The magenta hat-brimmed coach's comments?

"The two big negatives are the sacks and the penalties. So, pre-snap, no excuse. No one feels good about that, but we'll look at the other stuff."

Then later: "We have to get it cleaned up."

My guy Bill Michaels, host of 620WTMJ's Packers Gameday postgame show Packers OT, makes the point that someone else needs to get cleaned up.

All after the worst 26-point win EVER.

Don't Hate Brett Favre, Just Hate The Favre-Ups

Jay_Sorgi — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 07:40:42 GMT

The day before Tractor-Gate Bowl I (or whatever moniker you choose for this contest), my wife and I happened to bump into a friend in church.

The Mass was done, and we got around to catching up. The subject came to tonight's showdown in the Metrodome between the Packers and the team with the quarterback who played for them for 16 years.

From our friend, the words "I hate Favre" came out of her mouth. In a church, no less.

Trust me. I have had plenty of radio time, on-line analysis stories, blog entries, and other things where I have given my opinion on all the things Brett Favre has done, lies he's told, backstabbing, Machiavellian manipulations, etc. etc. in this 19-month sad saga.

In fact, I'm now convinced that the moment he decided to "retire" the first time, he was never planning on retiring, and from the moment he teared up inside Lambeau Field on March 6th, 2008, his watery eyes were set on wearing purple in Minnesota.

Regardless of all the antipathy I've felt toward what he's done, I cannot bring myself to say the words "I hate Brett Favre."

Why?

Click here to read the reasons.

Packers-Rams: The Happy In-Game Blog

Jay_Sorgi — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 15:13:54 GMT

4th Quarter

3:00 p.m. Packers' 4th Drive 2:23
Drive start: Packers 33
It's mop-up carry a couple times and get the first down before victory formation time.

The Rams call a couple time outs just to perhaps think they have a chance....uh, no.

Grant...Wayne yells "BLASTING" in that Bruce Springsteen-esque growl on a great run. It's over.

They keep giving to Grant...he gets to 100 yards, and he earned it.

2:53 p.m. Rams' 3rd Drive 4:33
Drive start: Rams 25
Boller completes a bunch of two-minute drill style passes in junk time...but it's still scary to see the Packers get decimated by the opponents' passing game.

A tackle on Boller by B.J. Raji...make that Charles Woodson. Raji couldn't bring Boller down? C'mon, top draft pick!

4th down inside Packers territory and during the timeout, Larry calls Wayne "a lean, mean broadcasting machine." Wayne: "That's the nicest thing you've said to me in 11 years."

4th down - broken up and incomplete; Brandon Chillar making the play on Daniel Fells. Push the dagger into the Rams' cadaver even more.

2:48 p.m. Packers' 3rd Drive 6:12
Rodgers-Kuhn 10 yd TD pass
Drive start: Packers 26
Nice end around by Driver, and it's nice to have Grant running, just to get the carries, just to keep the defense honest.

Rodgers on the dump off to Kuhn....SLICK TD PASS! Dagger call by Wayne.

2:45 p.m. Rams' 2nd Drive 7:32
Drive start: Rams 15
Boller INT'd by Woodson. That's more like it, both for Woodson and Boller. More like regular form for both.

2:41 p.m. Packers' 2nd Drive 10:35
Drive start: Packers 7
Thanks to another penalty, this one on the good guys, the Packers start their drive deep in their own territory for the third straight drive.

Hearing Wayne say "got what he could" again shows the O-line is failing, as they did on first down.

A run to the Packers 28 again has a flag put down...wait...on the bad guys! And a HUGE cheer from the Packers fans in the house. 17-yarder by Grant.

3rd and 9: Rodgers forced to escape the pocket, just missed the first down. Too much of hearing that. This offensive line is a HUGE weakness.

2:33 p.m. Rams' 1st Drive 12:07
Drive start: Rams 27
Like two yard losses on pass plays when they're well diagnosed by Packers' linebackers.

Oh no. An away-from-the-play penalty call...illegal formation on the offense. For once, it's against the bad guys.

2:27 p.m. Packers' 1st Drive (extended from 3rd quarter)
Rodgers 4 yd TD run (PAT missed)
Keep the running game going, knock off some clock and put points on the board. Even better, get Greg Jennings a 45-yard bomb.

Wow....Aaron Rodgers with the pump fake left and he turned into Randall Cunningham to get a first down before sprinting out of bounds. Nice job getting to the five, but no flip into the end zone.

He spiked it in the end zone instead on the 2nd down run.

3rd Quarter

2:24 p.m. Packers' 4th Drive 1:12
Drive start: Packers 15
Lead blocks by John Kuhn on a seven-yard first down run...love those fullbacks who don't care about carrying the ball.

Now, the lather grows as the Packers' line finally gets going while the quarter ends.

2:20 p.m. Rams' 3rd Drive 3:23
Drive start: Rams 17
Jackson going right and snagging nine yards. What is this, Michigan State against John Clay in the 3rd quarter yesterday?

He's now over 100 yards, and on 2nd down, it could have beeen face mask on the run that got them the first down.

Way to stay at home by Chillar on the misdirection 2nd down run to force a 3rd and 7. Great stop.

2:11 p.m. Packers' 3rd Drive 6:33
Drive start: Packers 2
How does a 98-yard touchdown pass look right now?

A horse-collar-like tackle on the 2nd down Grant run for a first down. Could that have been a penalty?

Rodgers going deep - barely missed him, but on the next play, a HECK of a throw from Rodgers and a diving grab by Nelson. Great job in traffic. Aaron has plenty o'confidence in his arm.

Grant breaks through, finally....oh come on SCOTTIE WELLS! Jiminy Christmas. That's why there was a hole to scoot through, for once.

1st and 20 - not good. 3rd and 15 - even worse. Another penalty killing Green Bay...so does another overthrow by Rodgers.

2:06 p.m. Rams' 2nd Drive 7:56
Drive start: Rams 41
Oh does the defense need to make a stop here and regain momentum. Critical.

Jackson bouncing outside into Packers territory: the other 41 yard line. This guy makes Boller effective because of the simple threat of the run; then again, I could be effective with him as my running back.

3rd-9 at GB 40: The d-line blocking that pass to force the punt. Boy was that stop huge.

1:59 p.m. Packers' 2nd Drive 8:23
Drive start: Packers 20
Oh would that bomb to Nelson have been a momentum changer if he caught that. Bryan Ramsey here in the room: "you gotta catch that, Jordy!" Agreed.

James Jones dropped the second down pass. What is this, some sort of conspiracy against Rodgers? Does he have bad breath and you can't stand him in the huddle or something?

Trainers look at Jones.

3rd and 10 - another drop here? Nope, a throwaway after a great Rams blitz with no help in the backfield.

1:49 p.m. Rams' 1st Drive 13:57
Josh Brown 53 yd FG
Drive start: Rams 20
I don't like hearing Wayne yelling that Jackson drives piles. I thought piledrivers were limited to construction sites and WWE.

I like less when I hear him describing Jackson outracing Hawk for first downs, or "he is shredding the Packers defense at the moment.:"

4th and inches at the GB 43...whose gonna get it? Boller? Why not Jackson? Because the rest of the planet thought they'd go to Jackson, but they get it anyway.

Basically with this Rams line, if they get any blocking, Jackson is dangerous. If the Packers blow up the line, Jackson gets nothing, just like 2nd down.

3rd and 3 at the GB 35: Jenkins chases Boller like a mouse chasing a piece of cheese with legs, forcing the incompletion.

1:44 p.m. Packers' 1st Drive 15:00
Drive start: Packers 29
Oh does a score mean something here if they get it, but they're getting squat on the ground.

Rodgers INT'd on a tip but it's ruled incomplete. Yellow hanky on the flag, too. Little getting his hands on things too much again.

3rd down and 10... make that 4th and 10.

Tweet: @Frank_Grahek
"need to keep throwing slants and make some defensive adjustments. Chillar looks overmatched in coverage."

2nd Quarter

1:28 p.m. Packers' 3rd Drive :01
Drive start: Packers 41
Rodgers will go take-a-knee formation.

1:18 p.m. Rams' 3rd Drive 1:52
Boller-Fells 19 yd TD pass
Drive start: Rams 16
Giordano flattens the Rams return guy like a pizza. Hmmm...wonder where we're eating tonight with that blog post?

The Rams seem willing to just run the football...oh wait...Boller actually throwing it within two minutes. Burton making two straight catches. C'mon, defense.

What? Boller leading a two-minute drill? Embarassing.

A Jackson run....finally an incompletion. How sad would it be if this defense gives up a TD here after a darn good first half.

Ball inside the 33 on 3rd down...Boller scrambles for a first down? WHAT????

:08 left...GB 19....ugh. TD. Brandon Chillar gets burned twice.

1:09 p.m. Packers' 2nd Drive 4:43
Rodgers-Driver 21 yd TD pass
Drive start: Packers 11
Penalty marker down. The words that may be the deathknell of this team. Rookie Brad Jones the guy with the illegal block.

A nice Rodgers-Driver pass will take care of that, though. Great completion to the 26.

WHAT A PASS AND RUN BY RODGERS TO JENNINGS! Great single coverage pattern thanks to play action. That will also help take care of pass rush. To the edge of the red zone.

Heck of a pass play to the end zone! A PERFECTLY run keep pass.

12:59 p.m. Rams' 2nd Drive 9:53
Boller-Fells 16 yd TD pass
Drive start: Rams 23
Bulger has a shoulder injury and is questionable. Boller as an NFL quarterback is questionable at best.

A great catch, though, by Laron Robinson on 3rd down, and a flag down in the middle of the field proves to be a face mask on Woodson. YEEEEEEEEESSSHHHHH!

Now in GB territory, the Rams try a bubble screen and the Packers burst it - though they do get five yards. Could have been a LOT worse.

Kenneth Garvey makes a heck of a catch on Woodson's coverage to get to the red zone, though Jolly ran him down for the stop.

Jackson bounces outside and Boller goes blocking? What does he think he is, that number four guy in Minnesota?

Boller hits Fells the tight end. Chillar gets beat.

12:49 p.m. Packers' 1st Drive 12:47
Kuhn 1 yd TD run
Drive start: Packers 20
Rodgers with a bomb and Driver with a KILLER one-handed catch while falling down and being INTERFERED with! My goodness. His other hand was being held. 47 yards and his arm was being held out of socket during the catch. Wow.

Ah, to see Rodgers be smart and run the ball out of bounds after the first down is wonderful to see.

Will these guys finally be getting on track offensively? I think we may be seeing it here.

Kuhn up the middle - TD!

Tweet: @barbaravey
Field goals are ok, but I'm ready for a Packer TD!
(ask and ye shall receive, barbara)

12:42 p.m. Rams' 1st Drive 15:00
Drive start: Rams 23
Four play, 4 yard drives don't get it done in the NFL because you can't force turnovers in the red zone every series. But while the offense is slower than molasses, the defense is so far dominant.

No Bulger in the game - got hurt. Kyle Boller in the game, not Bulger.

Jackson around the corner to 1st down territory. Looks like the old sweep. Larry even commented on sealing the perimeter. I do have to say that I don't like Merill Hoge of ESPN ripping Lombardi's "seal here, seal here, run this play in the alley" off.

AJ Hawk with a BAD off the ball penalty. He spun Jackson around more than five yards off the line of scrimmage.

Nice job of run defense by Woodson cutting Jackson's legs out after Kampman pushed his o-lineman back into Jackson.

Boller is showing his rust, throwing into coverage - bad throws.

1st Quarter

12:37 p.m. Packers' 3rd Drive 2:00
Crosby 25 FG
Drive start: Rams 13
They also lead the league in stupid offensive line penalties. Yeesh. 3rd and 13...another bad situation where you have to throw the football in tight quarters...and a great catch by Donald Lee, but not enough for the first down. At this pace, Mason Crosby's 12 field goals would set an NFL record.

12:34 p.m. Rams' 3rd Drive 2:08
Drive start: Rams 11
AL HARRIS! Heck of a recovery on the STL 13! They lead the league in takeaways. NICE!

12:29 p.m. Packers' 2nd Drive 3:58
Crosby 38 yd FG
Drive start: Rams 15
Rodgers finding Nelson short...I can live with five yard gains, but I cannot live with all these penalties...wait, it's in the secondary. Defensive holding.

Rams, you can have all the penalties you want.

Ugh..Rodgers overshot a WIDE OPEN Driver. Larry: "he beat (the defender) like a drum. Wasn't even close. Just an overthrow."

3rd down: sack. Leonard LIttle back to the 20. This time, beating Daryn Colledge. I'm trying out for the O-line. (Well, not really.)

12:24 p.m. Rams' 2nd Drive 5:51
Drive start: Rams 19
Jackson slams for a big gain that gets negated by a penalty. Let's hope this isn't a repeat of that dastardly Bengals game with the yellow hanky appearances.

Jackson goes Wildcat, and Johnny Jolly goes wild on the line, stopping the play so Barnett can flow to Jackson for no gain.

Now, St. Louis "has" to throw on 2nd and 20.

WOW! 3rd and 14 and Johnny Jolly turns Woodson with an INT! Well, that's thanks to Kampman getting a piece of the pass. Jolly leads the team in INT's...wait. A fumble? C'mon, ref, give him the INT! Our ball anyway.

12:11 p.m. Packers' 1st Drive 10:55
Crosby 48 yd FG
Drive start: Packers 43
Yes, Ryan Grant got cut down on the first play, but I REALLY want to see the Packers run the football to get the defensive line/pass rush on its heels worrying about the run.

Nice to see the second down run by Grant, though. That will help.

Later, 2nd down change of plays at the line and it turned into a loss on a slam-down in the backfield against Grant. Kuhn didn't follow through on his block.

Laurainitis the LB tied up Donald Lee on a 3rd-down pass play. He was jumping around before the snap like he was doing the Jump Around at Camp Randall before the 4th quarter.

Great throw to Rodgers in the seam, and great sound by the huge throng of Packers fans at the game.

Ugh. Leonard Little has eaten up Allen Barbre all drive long. He did it again to get to Rodgers on a sack that may have driven them out of field goal range.

12th time of 3rd and 15+ yards? Yeeeeesh.

Rodgers gets to the 30 and increases Crosby's chances at least.

12:03 p.m. Rams' 1st Drive 15:00
Drive start: Rams 40
Not where you want to start a drive, but a stop by Kampman/Jolly on the physical Jackson for a loss of one will help. A third down and mid-range: not good when Marc Bulger is beating double teams to get a first down throw in there.

Oh, when Jackson pounds up the middle on a 3-5-3 defense and gets 12 yards, that ain't good at all.

A Ryan Pickett stuffing of Jackson on the next play...they are making Richie Incognito VERY Incognito in this beginning.

Jackson fumbles on the shovel...wait, that can't happen. It's a forward pass, it's incomplete. If I was an offensive coordinator with a fumble-itis prone back, I'd run LOTS of shovel passes.

FIELD GOAL BLOCK! Will Blackmon with the snag out of bounds. Great job Johnny Jolly with the block!

Pregame

11:58 a.m.
Ah, love Larry McCarren's observations. He commented that there's never been a Ram in the state of Missouri. Wayne: "unless one was imported."

11:44 a.m.
OT Jason Smith, the No. 2 pick in the NFL draft, won't play today because of his sprained left knee. Adam Goldberg takes over

11:33 a.m.
Mike McCarthy commented that the fact this is the Rams' home opener will make this tougher on Green Bay because of an added jolt of emotion. That means, what, three extra points, perhaps, so it's a three-score win instead of a four-score win?

11:26 a.m.
Inactives today? SS Atari Bigby, RB Brandon Jackson (DeShayn Wynn will be the team's No. 2 RB today), FB Quinn Johnson (meaning Korey Hall plays), T Breno Giacomini, T Chad Clifton, DE Mike Montgomery.

Active: DT B..J. Raji! NICE.