My Take -> Week 10

Greetings, G-Force.

Much to the surprise of most Packers fans, all is not lost. Here’s the reality: the Packers are 4-4. With games against Chicago, Tampa, Baltimore and Cleveland awaiting. All games we can win. With them, we have 8 wins and if Rodgers is healthy, he returns. Without wins in those games, we’re done. But, I’m not ready to cash it in yet. A loss to Chicago would be damaging. With a win, we have a lifeline.

The Black Friday Record Store Day nears. The Ziggy Marley “Love Is My Religion” album will be making its way to wax. I can’t wait. I listen. Not to be political, but in light of world events, it’s refreshing for the ears.

Here are my quick vibes over the last week:

* Time to chill on Mike McCarthy. Of course he’s going to stand up in front of the media and back Brett Hundley. Hundley is his QB. He’s done everything in his power – within the guidelines of the new CBA – to prepare Hundley for this moment. But, the one thing you can’t simulate during practice is the speed of the game. McCarthy has to be counting on the fact that the speed of the game will slow down for Hundley over time. On multiple occasions, there were WR’s streaking WIDE OPEN. For some reason, Hundley didn’t see those WR’s. Oddly, it appeared to me as though the #1 receiver in the route was open and Hundley appears to be looking at the pass rush and not the secondary. Thus, he’s making the OL look shaky and any fundamental error is being exposed. Take, for example, the play on the opening drive in which Jones missed his block. Jordy is streaking down the middle of the field. Wide open. Hundley never sees him. The Jones missed block should’ve never been a topic, but Hundley didn’t step up and deliver a strike. If so, it’d have been 7-0 Green Bay. On a number of occasions, Hundley did not see Kendricks running open across the middle. He’s looking for the check-down too quickly. Plainly stated, Hundley isn’t seeing the field. I have confidence that – as he watches the film – he’s going to learn. Quickly. And, he’ll develop quickly. With that, wins will come.

* Great to see Vince Biegel on the field. I’ve been anxiously awaiting that moment.

* Thought Josh Jones played well. He was flying around the field. Strong showing for the rookie.

* Once again, Blake Martinez was a tackling machine.

* What was Mike Daniels doing? We have to play as close to mistake-free football as possible. The defense has scored their 3-and-out. Daniels gave it away. Huge blow.

* I’ll never understand why Dom Capers loves the zone defense. It consistently fails him. Let’s man up. Simply the defense. Put a foundation of accountabilities in place. Seems like there’s too many confused faces. And, when you man up, let’s not find Davon House lined up against a slot WR.

* It’s baffling that the Packers aren’t jamming WR’s. The CB’s are in the WR’s face, but they aren’t knocking the WR’s off of their routes and because of it, the free release is destroying the Packers. Over the last three weeks, we’ve had almost zero pass rush and CB’s aren’t disrupting routes. That’s a recipe for disaster. And, because of the clean pocket, three weeks in a row, we’ve seen QB’s torch the Packers secondary.

* Kenny Clark can play on the Packers any day. I enjoy his game.

* Kevin King showed glimpses of goodness. Hoping that he has a big play or two in him over the second half of the season. I think he’d benefit from a simplified defense. Less zone. More man. Let him run with WR’s. Let him utilize the sideline as his friend. Let him use his length.

* Need HaHa to have some game changing plays in him. Need him to be a difference maker.

* Why is Clay Matthews consistently coming on stunts to the inside? He’s best as a speed rusher. Let’s see him flying around the edge and forcing the QB to step up in the pocket. That’s when he’s best.

* Poor game by Nick Perry. He was dancing with the Tackle. Need him to power through.

* Liked seeing Randall Cobb streaking down the sideline. Finding his way into the open field.

* Thought Ty Montgomery played with a ton of heart. He should be used as our 3rd down back exclusively.

* David Bakhtiari is a stud.

* Jahri Evans can still play football.

* Nice to see Lowery making plays.

* Sad to see Bulaga go down. Have so much respect for him. He just couldn't stay healthy this year.

* Need more effort from Davante on the deep ball. Needed him to lay out for that. Someone has to elevate and be a play-maker. Davante had a shot. He failed. He looks really frustrated. Yo Davante, it's a contract year.

* Derek Hart. Disaster. Would’ve been nice to get points on the opening drive. That snap + his block were colossal failures.

* 2-minute offense was a highlight. Packers might need to play more read-option, no-huddle offense this week. Keep the defense guessing. Play with more urgency. Pick up the speed. Get Hundley in a rhythm. Hundley looked most comfortable when his blood was flowing as he rushed to the line of scrimmage.

* Wonder why Trevor Davis was utilized so much in the receiving game. Thought Geronimo would be utilized more as the #4 WR. He’s match-up problem. And, on the reverse, Janis was great on that play last year. Wonder why Janis wasn’t used on that play this year? Davis looked unsure of himself attacking the secondary with pace. He’s thinking too much. He needs to trust his instincts.

* Book it. Martellus Bennett. My least favorite Packer player. Ever.

* Ahmad Brooks coming back this week will do wonders for the pass rush. He is a difference maker. I'm hoping to see Brooks, Matthews, Perry and Biegel on the field on 3rd down. Martinez is not a pass rusher. Fackrell can't play in this league.

* Mike McCarthy teams seem to face severe adversity each and every year. And, each and every year, McCarthy seems to rally the troops. McCarthy has the buy-in of the locker room. He's trusted in times of trouble. He keeps the roster unified when things get difficult. Yes, Rodgers is injured. Yes, it appears to be bleak. But, I trust that McCarthy will have the team prepared. With Rodgers, the Packers are a top 3 team in the League. Without, we might be a bottom 10 team in the league. But, so are the Bears, Ravens, Bucs and Browns. Thankfully, they're all on the schedule. Let's win. One week at a time.

This week - it's the Bears. In Chicago. In a must-win. Win and the locker gasps a sigh of relief. Lose and things become nail biting. Through the years, the Packers have played well at Soldier Field. I have full belief that the Packers will play well this Sunday at Soldier again. McCarthy's team will be prepared. We'll be physical. We'll win the line of scrimmage.

Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen have to be contained. They offer a dangerous tandem at RB. Every time Cohen touches the ball, he's thinking about 6 points. Kendall Wright, Markus Wheaton and Josh Bellamy make up what might be the worst WR unit in the league. Dion Sims has not been the pro that most envisioned. Thus far, Mitch Trubisky has not been impressive. The Bears have taken the ball out of hands and mostly instructed him to not lose the game. Outside of the Minnesota game, he has not been turnover prone at big moments. The Packers will need to apply pressure. If so, Trubisky will weak arm balls into traffic. If Trubisky is allowed to roll out with time to see the field, that's when he plays best. I imagine the Bears will use play action and expect their OL to win the line of scrimmage. It'll be up to the Packers front 4 to win the line of scrimmage.

Defensively, the Bears have been opportunistic. Akiem Hicks has been a true star on the DL. Pernell McPhee and Leonard Floyd can get to the QB. Eddie Jackson has had a nose for the football. So has Adrian Amos. The Bears CB's have been destroyed most of the year. The Bears secondary is vulnerable. Big plays will be available. But, in order to attack Marcus Cooper and Prince Amukamara, you have to be willing to look down the field with an aggressive mentality. You can't play with fear. Hundley has to play with confidence.

Look for the Bears to try and control the clock early. They're going to run the ball. They're going to roll out Trubisky on play-action and look to get the ball to Sims or Wheaton in the flat. They'll pound Howard between the tackles. They'll flip the ball to Cohen on a pitch to the outside. They'll consistently use most of play clock on every down. John Fox will feel as though his defense and/or special teams can create a game altering play.

With each week, Hundley's confidence grows. The 4th Quarter of the Lions game proves to be a turning point for Hundley. He finds a belief in himself. He finds Kendricks over the middle for big yardage. He finds Adams on a crossing route. He hits Jordy on the deep ball for 6.

Throughout, both teams play the field position game. At times, both teams appear to be overly conservative on offense. The Bears have success converting 3rd downs until they enter the Red Zone. At that point, they settle for FG's.

Ty Montgomery grabs 4 passes. He moves sticks. Jones runs the ball successfully, once again. The Packers find a true rotation at RB.

Kevin King has a game turning moment when he grabs his first interception.

Crosby is true on a late game winner.

Packers 20.
Bears 19.

THE BEARS STILL SUCK!

Go Pack Go!

Talkin' S-Mac.
talkins-mac.blogspot.com