thebruce44

For all we know, he was supposed to blitz after a certain amount of time. But regardless, that one was frustrating to watch.

Introducing Dallas' new DC, Ron Zook!

When thinking back over the last 20 years I would have thought we had a decent amount of consistency between Sexton, Fielder, and Overbay...but it looks like I am mis-remembering, especially the last 10 years.

I think it’s an important note. That it isn’t just a 3 batter minimum. It’s that or he finishes an inning. He could come in with 2 outs and only pitch to one batter. That seems pretty scary. If he comes in and doesn't get his guy, then the inning could really blow up and there's nothing you can do for the next 2 batters.

My random guy on the internet take is that the Brewers can, and likely will, spend more on payroll this year than last year, but they will do everything they can to minimize risk and maximize competitive advantage. This likely means continuing to trade for cost controlled players and acquisitions at the deadline so that they can evaluate how a player is performing for a couple months or sell if they get bit by injuries or under-performance.

That surprises me. Even though the offense struggled early, they were only down by 6 for much of the first half. Why panic? On the bright side, the Vikings still have to play the Chargers in LA this year. Probably because Rodgers was hurried or sacked on like 90% of his early drop backs? You can't perform your plan if you can't actually have a play develop.

I don't think it's that simple. Part of it is scheme, and part of it is having a QB that doesn't trust the guys at the position. So much of that offense's production is predicated on receivers knowing where to go to find an open spot when Rodgers scrambles and comes out of the pocket. Guys like Nelson, Cobb and James Jones just had that innate ability to find an open window for Rodgers to get them the ball. This new crew, especially MVS, hasn't found that ability yet. We are starting to see it more with Lazard ... which is why I think we're going to see him become the de facto #2 WR through the rest of the year. Rodgers seems to trust him, and looks for him when plays are breaking down. When was the last time you say MVS catch an outlet pass? I LOVE MVS's potential, but he's still so green. It feels like you just described to me the Brewers starting rotation compared to other teams that have the ability to spend money. This isn't the NFL. Go out and get some real players at these positions. We make so many excuses for these guys because they are Packers. They have Aaron freaking Rodgers as their QB and can make it happen. Lazard is no ones #2. He's a good story stepping in for this sad sack of WR's and that is about it. Hell, put some weight on him and he's probably more serviceable than Jimmy Graham. Not that it's too hard to beat these days. You wanted them to sign Randall Cobb (or someone similar)? I don't see that fixing the issue. I think we are just paying the price for poor WR drafting.

I don't think it's that simple. Part of it is scheme, and part of it is having a QB that doesn't trust the guys at the position. So much of that offense's production is predicated on receivers knowing where to go to find an open spot when Rodgers scrambles and comes out of the pocket. Guys like Nelson, Cobb and James Jones just had that innate ability to find an open window for Rodgers to get them the ball. This new crew, especially MVS, hasn't found that ability yet. We are starting to see it more with Lazard ... which is why I think we're going to see him become the de facto #2 WR through the rest of the year. Rodgers seems to trust him, and looks for him when plays are breaking down. When was the last time you say MVS catch an outlet pass? I LOVE MVS's potential, but he's still so green. It feels like you just described to me the Brewers starting rotation compared to other teams that have the ability to spend money. This isn't the NFL. Go out and get some real players at these positions. We make so many excuses for these guys because they are Packers. They have Aaron freaking Rodgers as their QB and can make it happen. Lazard is no ones #2. He's a good story stepping in for this sad sack of WR's and that is about it. Hell, put some weight on him and he's probably more serviceable than Jimmy Graham. Not that it's too hard to beat these days. You wanted them to sign Randall Cobb (or someone similar)? I don't see that fixing the issue. I think we are just paying the price for poor WR drafting.

They posted Lopez up because Houston put a 6'5" guy on him. My second biggest worry is the teams current happiness with early shot clock above the break 3's, often times with only one pass and no screens at all. Ball movement, handoffs, screens still need to happen, even in the 5-out offense. The Korver/Giannis two man game being a prime example. My biggest worry is Giannis doesn't seem like himself. He's shot at least 6-7 layups this year already, which would've been dunks last year. I've been trying to avoid blind speculation as a fan, but I wonder if Giannis isn't fresh to start the season like he was last year. It seemed like he played an awful lot of organized basketball in the offseason

I haven't been following the NBA much in the off-season so I have what's probably an easy question. Now there is replay (coaches challenge) on fouls, but they only get 1 a game? What is the thought process there? Both coaches used their challenges in the first 5 minutes-it seems like that will happen every game.

I think coaches should get two challenges with one of them being a super challenge that allows you to challenge anything called or uncalled. If you use the super challenge before the regular challenge you lose the regular challenge as well and even if you win the super challenge you do not gain another challenge. I think you should also be able to use your Super Challenge to block the other coach if he tries to just use a Regular Challenge. Or at least it should be that way in the NFC but not in the AFC. And in the NFC, all Regular Challenges should come from the Kicker and Super Challenges from the Punter. And they should call them Goodells- Regular Goodells and Super Goodells. And instead of red flags they should throw shredded CTE research papers like confetti up in the air to signal they are initiating a Goodell. Of course, the players union would never go for this so I wont hold my breath.

This is a sad day for all of us with amazing hair. I wouldn't expect outsiders to understand.

This one is tough. I mean, which picture do you use in the coloring book!?: http://archive.jsonline.com/Services/image.ashx?domain=www.jsonline.com&file=mjs-brewers13t_-spt_-lynn_-8-brewers13.jpg&resize=

I really don't think it's a matter of him being capable. Like I said, that throw he made to Kumerow during the family night...it's just a practice, I get that, but it shows he's capable. That was 25 yards downfield and from the opposite hash and he put it exactly where he needed to, probably threw it 45-50 yards. But I also am just seeing him miss too many of these throws. Anyway, I do think the biggest area of this team that needs to be "fixed," in order to a legitimate contender is for Rodgers to get back to the level of play we've been accustomed to. I get that if you play good defense, get turnovers and then don't turn the ball over, teams have won titles like that, but I don't think this team can. We don't need 2011 Arod, but we need him to make the big play more consistently. That's kinda his thing, or it has been in the past. I don't want to see him throwing it up for grabs all the time, ala Favre, but maybe once in a while? You have big, physical athletes. Throw the ball up and let them go and get it. That throw he made AFTER the MVS throw where he didn't leave him enough, he threw the ball up to Graham in a crowded area. I thought he was going for it there, but found out later in that week that the Beers didn't get a couple guys off the field, so it was basically a free play. But it is an example of why he should throw it up. Of course there was the Eagles game when Graham decided to go up with one hand instead of two, but still. I'm not trying to pile on Rodgers here. That throw he made to Tonyan, rolling to his right and putting it right on Tonyan(Great catch as well), the throw he made to Graham when he was going up the field was great and then he threw one that looked like Byung-Hyun Kim with that low side-armed throw right before he got lit up by two defenders. So he's playing well...he just needs to hit those shots downfield. It used to be he'd hit an inordinate pct of them....that'd make all the difference for the Packers. I agree and in trying not to overthink this, a team that pays one of their players a top contract in the league needs to get top value out of that player or they are at a disadvantage. Looking at Superbowl winning QBs over the last 20 years, you basically have a top 5 QB or a top 5 defensive player (sometimes 2). Its a shockingly consistent formula. In other words, the only way Trent Dilfer wins a Superbowl is when Ray Lewis is on the other side of the line murdering people. That is not this Packers team over their next window.

That's really becoming my main concern. I think people are pre-disposed to just assuming we don't have talent at the WR'er/TE positions if we don't get production out of them, but we've seen what MVS is capable of, we've seen Tonyan's pure athletic ability and we've seen how sure handed Allison is. I'm also finally getting on the Shepard bangwagon. The way he can turn Corners around like he did when he ran that corner route in the pre-season and that out and up in the game today....he's obviously an elite route runner and I think he's got good hands. The problem as far as I can tell is Rodgers...I guess conservative nature. It's like he's going to make CERTAIN that the defense has zero chance to get their hands on the ball and he seems to be more cognizant of playing it safe as opposed to his MVP years when he just let it rip. He's overthrown guys the last two years now. Maybe he got used to older Jordy, Jones, Allison and the like, but he needs to put a little more air under the ball and let MVS go get it. That throw vs the Bears was great, but it should have been a TD. There was a throw where Allison got behind the D today and Rodgers missed him by several yards. And the most frustrating thing is you can see him make some of those throws if we're losing...but we're not putting teams away like we should. If I had to pick one play to highlight my concern of the passing game, that play against the Bears is it. I think we have just been spoiled over the last couple decades, but here's to hoping Rodgers can get back to making that throw.

I'm in the group (that seems to be the minority) that doesn't enjoy the taunting, especially while a play is still live. I do think that is something that could cost the team as there have been countless examples in professional sports over the years. That being said, if I am going to go off about the NFL being unwatchable, this is pretty far down on my list compared to officiating pass interference, over protecting QBs, and having to watch multiple kids get carted off the field with head injuries within a 3 hour span.

Pretty generous to say we have backup plans at either SS or 3B. Like it or not Arcia, Shaw, and Spangenberg are all backup plans. You may not like them, but they are possibilities and wouldn't kill a team to have an offensive black hole in 1 spot in the order.

Find a value FA signing at a position of need (C, SS, 3B, or SP). You have internal backup plans for whichever one of those positions you do not address with a FA.

Jordan had 36 miserable innings in the middle of 2019. 15 of those innings (3 starts) were against the Brewers, a team very familiar with him. I could speculate that Lyles is closer to the very solid pitcher he was outside of those 36 innings and the Brewers saw something they could (and did) fix. More baseless speculation- tipping pitches, mechanical correction, analytics? I know its bad form to just remove 36 of 141 IP, but in this one instance I'd put a little more stock into his 2.45 ERA over 106 IP than the poor 36 IP.

Scherzer is a fantastic pitcher, but looking at his game logs its not like he's been unhittable for the second half of the season. In fact, his last couple of starts have been below average. I'd actually prefer to face off against him rather that Strasburg, but as others have said- both are more than capable of giving up a couple runs. Given time to rest our bullpen, the Nationals have to be nervous that they are essentially playing a 5 inning game with Hader and Pomeranz at the back end. The advantage for the Brewers is that they can make the decision to go multi-inning with their stud arms depending on how the game is going. The Nationals have to burn their best starter and potentially make a call early on to burn another one, potentially punting a game in the next round.

I hate to say it, but at this point I don't see how you cannot root for the Cards to win out vs the Cubs. The odds of winning the division are so small and I want as much of a buffer as possible to ensure we make it into the Playoffs.

Makes sense.

Crawling on a fractured kneecap is probably not a good idea. Rolling would be the way to go. Summersaults! This is the hard hitting discussion and analysis I come to Brewerfan for!

That would be awesome. Best comparison that comes to mind there is Byron Leftwich getting carried down the field by his OL after he broke his shin but played through it.

I think we have to acknowledge and accept that in order for the Milwaukee Brewers to make the playoffs a lot of things have to go right (or they need a lot of luck depending on how you look at those types of things). In order to win a WS, they will need to not only have things go their way during the regular season, but they also need to get hot at the right time and will need a top team or two to be slumping. Beyond assembling a group of talent in the top third of your league, this is the reality for a lot of teams in baseball to varying degrees and it will stay that way for the foreseeable future. While arguing over the minutia of a coach's decision, a GM's trade, or the day to day batting order is fun, it is ultimately just noise when you back up and look at a season holistically.