CheezWizHed

I cheer for the Mets to win the WS just so I can assume the Brewers were the second-best team in the playoffs. 😉 My summary thoughts on the thread. Losing sucks. 31 teams end the year by losing (either in the playoffs or out). I do think the team is positioned well for the future by still having a deep farm system and having so many young players be main contributors. Per the record prediction thread, the Brewers outplayed everyone's expectations(except @homer's 162 win prediction). I, like many people, thought they would hover around 500 after losing their 2 best pitchers. The Brewers right now compare to the Packers team by having good coaches and young ascending players in the right positions. Then compare that to the Bucks, who have been patching holes on the team and coaching staff since they won the championship. I have better feelings for the future of those two teams winning a championship before another Giannis led one.

The Tom is with me, And I am one with the Tom. Packers QB coach gave Jordan Love a zero grade for decision-making on bomb to Jayden Reed vs. Rams (usatoday.com)

I have no idea what Myers has to do with Shredded Wheat, but ok. 😉 Freddie was steady and available all year, but more mediocre performance than what we hoped for.

Smith only peaked at 8 sacks with Washington and wasn't very highly regarded (many thought we overpaid). Not sure when or how he had his hand on the ground vs stand up or it if was something else that helped him improve, but he certainly looks more comfortable as an OLB than this year. Perhaps it is just age catching up with him. Gary was a DE in college, but pretty much had zero technique drilled into him. He spent many, many hours getting used to pass rush from standing once drafted. So muscle memory can be hard to overcome. I'll have to watch closer to see if anyone does rush from a standing position. I don't recall anyone doing that, but maybe they are swapping back and forth?

FYI, I moved these two comments as I think you wanted the general Packer thread for general defense discussion... The problem I have with turnovers is that you can't just "create" them all the time. You have to rely on the other team making a mistake or at least giving an opportunity (i.e. carrying the ball loose, throwing a 50/50 ball, etc.). I'd say pressuring the QB is the #1 priority of a defense. That is something you can control and/or create as necessary.

The biggest impact of the change (either direction) is whether the OLB/DE rushes from a 2 pt or 3 pt stance (typically). Julius Peppers talked about the adjustment of rushing from a standing position instead of his hand on the ground. Looks like Gary, Smith, and LVN are struggling with doing the opposite. Smith makes sense... I don't see him as an DE. Gary should be talented enough to go either way. But I thought LVN would actually be better this way. But none of them have much of an impact this year. Seem like Engabare is the only one that is thriving in it so far.

I find it funny that Allen Lazard (the one that was benched w/o Rodgers last year) almost has as many yards as Wilson. Rodgers just can't get to know other WRs very well.

Well, I did define it as the 8-12 yard range; especially on 3rd down. I realize I'm responding with emotion over data (and as an engineer, I appreciate the data). Can you show it on 3rd down only? My gut feeling was that we weren't moving the sticks... we just took a LOT of shots down the field. But again... an emotional response to seeing Stafford throw those side-line outs over and over again. The MN was completely different as they were in prevent D for a long time, so most of what was available was the intermediate routes. But maybe that is what Love was responding too also against LA... what was available.

After game 5 and having Love back to full strength, this is probably a game that is good as any to find out who we are... I tend to think our D will come together more as the season progresses, just like last year's offense. But I didn't expect this year's offense to start off this far back either. OL - a pretty decent job overall - some blitz pickup issues between them and RBs (more on that in a moment) but overall above average. RBs - A strong, but not overpowering job by both Jacobs and Wilson WRs - Reed shows up each and every week. Wicks is taking the Davante clone thing too far --- even to the point of the dropsies in second year. Hopefully he figures it out like D, but it isn't great now. Really could've used Doubs out there... TEs - Kraft is going to be a fan favorite if he isn't already. The Swiss army knife of the offense. DL - Woof. Every single short yardage situation was given up. Enagbare is the only DE making any pass rush noise. Clark only stood out by being upfield when the RB was already downfield. LBs - Cooper makes this group SO much better. He is going to be fun to watch this year. Walker was his usual up and down, but seems to be improving in this defense. Still probably better if Cooper is the MLB and let Walker just play. Safeties - Really big turnaround from last year. McKinney is single handedly saving this defense. Williams has a great first start. Bullard all over the place. Those two will be fun to watch. CB - Solid game w/o Jaire. Didn't have too many challenges in coverage, but did enough. Interesting to have Nixon on the boundary, but he did OK. K - He made it! QB - Saved Love for last. He was lauded for the long Reed throw because it was an excellent throw.... that he never should've made. That should've been and easy pick if the safety was paying attention. Awesome throw and catch, but he got lucky. I'm beginning to wonder if Love is reading defenses to pickup blitzes or not? We certainly are not making the right adjustments when people blitz. No receiver adjustments for hot reads, no QB getting the ball out quick, OL protection issues... just something wrong here Where is Love's intermediate game? Seems like we are throwing the ball very short or very long; very little in the middle. So many 3rd and longish (8-12) plays resulted in a bomb 40 yards down field.

Ok, time to get some consistency going. Love looked rusty in the first 1.5 games he played, then looked to put it together in the second half. Time to have a complete game. Need Gary and P-Smith to bring it also. Hopefully, we will have both Jaire and Valentine back at CB. Sounds like Cooper and Wyatt will be out. I wonder if Wooden will get some snaps? Maybe Brooks has himself a game?

What is the over/under on Rivers making it through the whole season?

That kinda, sorta shouldn't be blue... there is an odd avoidance of Packer players... Kind of the anti-Steelers (LB) or Cowboys (OL).

Oh wow. He's a nice WR, but no where near being able to pull this crap. Trade him for Davante. See if he likes being #1 in Vegas...

The struggle of an MLB manager... Throws Mears out with nearly an ERA of 6 and he strikes out 2, gets 3 outs with 15 pitches Throws Williams out there with an ERA of 1.25 and he blows up. His questionable decisions worked with no problems... he "easy button" decision blew up on him.

Plan a vacation to Chicago and/or St. Louis and wear it proudly.

Yes, but when the bender only dips, it is also much more hittable. At least one of those hits was on a bender that stayed at the belt.

Possibly. But poor control and an airbender that wasn't moving a ton were probably more the issues.

Jackson in the playoffs: 455/500/1000/1500 He takes a 3-game hitting streak into next year's playoffs.

Love the post (and a delayed welcome to BF!) and I completely agree that this year's team felt different then the last couple of years. I was legitimately shocked when they lost last night.

I feel bad for Myers that pitched a wail of a game, but at least he was able to get a playoff debut. Williams... it does seem like he can handle the "normal" pressure situations, but as soon as the bright lights shine hot... boom. I wonder if Megill will be any better? He has more of a bulldog mentality, but does have a tendency of giving up a HR here and there. Adames and Contreras looked tired and wore down... hopefully they learned to take more rest days during the year. The Kid Rev II looked pretty good though. Not enough to carry the whole team, but close. Woodruff and Yelli returning next year will be a nice "free" adder. They pretty much just have to find a SS (or 2B/3B) and a backup C.

Yeah, seems like he has hung on and on to get his crack at the NFL, but that looks very unlikely now. He is just too injury prone. Hopefully there isn't more to it behind the scenes (i.e. either fed up with the coach or seeing a losing season and giving up).

Yeah, I missed what you meant the first time. I do remember he was pretty limited in Long(well) FGs, but I didn't remember being that restricted. Maybe that is the approach with Narv from now on?

I looked, He started at 80% his rookie year and was mostly over 80% for his whole career (just two random exceptions). But he only averaged ~82% for his GB career, which is much lower than I remembered.

In-season trades are pretty rare. Big trades seem unrealistic

Pete, your shoe is still untied!