My Take -> Week 9

Greetings, G-Force.

4-3. One game in the loss column out of first place in the Division. Now is not the time to give up. In fact, now more than ever, we need to rally behind this team. The bye week came at a good time. We need to amp up the volume on Monday Night. It’s a crucial game for the 2017 Green Bay Packers.

I'm bobbing my head to Moon Taxi's Daybreaker album. You know when you go thru waves of listening extensively to a band that you normally don't have in your rotation? Well, for me, that's Moon Taxi right now. It's a pop, jam blend. Good mix of tunes. Groovy!

Here are my quick vibes since I last wrote:

* I look at what the Browns offered the Bengals for AJ McCarron and it triggers this thought: Yo, Coach McCarthy! Let’s allow Hundley to rip it. This is not the time for McCarthy to go conservative with Hundley. Hundley is our guy for 2017. The schedule is light until mid-December. If we’re aggressive and if the offense is in attack mode, we’re going to win games. If we’re passive and afraid of failure, well, then we may as well fold and play for a draft pick. That’s not my mentality and that doesn’t seem to be Mike McCarthy’s approach either. The Packers have home games against Detroit, Baltimore, and Tampa. We have road games against Chicago, Pittsburgh and Cleveland. If the McCarthy/Capers/Hundley combo can manage a 4-2 record in those games, Rodgers becomes eligible to return with the Packers at 8-5. If he’s healthy, it’d make sense for Rodgers to come off IR and for the Packers to look to salvage the 2017 season. In order for the Packers to go 4-2, McCarthy has to trust Hundley to run the offense. Hundley will finally have the starting 5 OL in front of him. He’ll have the full-group at RB. He’ll have his supporting cast at WR. Lance Kendricks and Richard Rodgers are a go. Martellus Bennett might be out. There’s no reason for the Packers to not trust their offense and to play with an offensive design aimed at dictating the tempo of the game.

* Now is not the time for Packers fans to give up. First and foremost, the Packers have to win games. Of course. But, consider this: over the last 8 games, Minnesota has games at Washington, Detroit, ATL, Carolina and Green Bay. They also host the Rams. Minnesota is not going 13-3 or 12-4. They have losses on their schedule. A loss to the Lions and the what-if game becomes less fun to play, but if the Packers can pull it off in Green Bay on MNF, there's rush of enthusiasm that'll run through 1265 Lombardi Ave.

* Aaron Jones. What a stallion. A rising star. Terrific vision. He showed the burst required to take one to the house. I questioned whether he had that in his arsenal. He proved me wrong.

* Ty Montgomery. It is not the time to get frustrated, my man. Stay focused. Stay competitive. Attack the line of scrimmage when you get your opportunities.

* Hundley has to trust his instincts. There were multiple occasions in which Adams, Cobb and Nelson were open. They’d won their battle. Hundley didn’t deliver. He played with hesitation.

* Game defining play for me was when the Packers trailed 16-14. Late third. McCarthy knew he needed to slow the Saints offense down and the Packers defense no longer looked capable of getting a stop. So McCarthy went big to start the drive. He had at least 2 TE's in the game. He was pounding the ball at the heart of the Saints. Challenging their toughness. He was setting up play action to the TE. There was 00:25 left in the 3rd Quarter. It was 1st and 10. McCarthy showed play action and designed a roll-out to the right. Lance Kendricks was the #1 target down the field. He was wide open for a TD. Hundley didn't see him in time. By the time, Hundley recognized Kendricks, he was well covered. McCarthy had the play call. Hundley didn't execute it. If Hundley had his eyes down field, it'd have been 21-16, Green Bay. Easily.

* Josh Jones had a welcome to the NFL kinda game. He was no match for Alvin Kamara. He often tried to get underneath the blocker and Kamara was too fast for him. What could’ve been short yardage gains became big chunk plays. He couldn’t get off blocks. He was clearly confused by the Saints offensive design. He was put in position to be a difference maker. He wasn’t one.

* Kevin King needs to vet up. Quickly. He’s being picked on. He’s studying the backfield. He’s guessing. He’s often wrong. Any time a WR is putting on a double move on him, he’s falling for it. He’s been prone to the big play. He needs to play with more balance. In college, I thought he used the sideline as his teammate. He has not been doing so in the NFL. He’s often playing to the outside and his eyes have been in the backfield.

* Kenny Clark. What a baller. Hope he has a 10+ year career for the Packers.

* Was bummed that Brice was put on the IR. Hoping this opens the door for Marwin Evans to play safety. Want to see Evans jumping routes. I'm sure Jones will get the first look, but I'm really wanting to see more of Evans.

* VINCE BIEGEL! I'm pining for Biegel to get 3rd down snaps. I'd be fine if Fackrell never plays another down for the Packers.

* Montravious Adams needs a shot. With Quinton Dial injured, I'm expecting Adams to see an abundance of snaps.

* Prior to the year, I was overly stoked to see CM3, Perry, Daniels, Biegel, and Adams on the field on 3rd down. This week - we might get our first opportunity to witness it.

* As fans, we've long begged for TT to be aggressive in Free Agency. I was excited about this years additions via Free Agency. But, Bennett has been disinterested and unable to separate as a pass receiver. Brooks has been injured as much as he's played. And, now, Dial is banged up.

* I can't wait to see the starting 5 OL lined up together. Let's hope for more than 5 snaps out of them.

* Damarious Randall has an interception in 3 straight games. That's noteworthy.

* Blake Martinez continues to be a beast in the run game.

* Loved seeing Davon House with the Rasta swag post his pick. What a phenomenal play!

* Need HaHa to have a streak of game changing plays. He's been a disappointment.

* I have an odd feeling that Deshone Kizer will be a Packer someday.

This week - it's the Lions. At Lambeau. On MNF. Since 1992, the Packers have lost to Detroit 1 time at Lambeau Field. The last time the Packers started their back-up QB against the Lions at Lambeau, Matt Flynn dropped 480 yards and 6 TD's on their ass in a 45-41 victory. If the Packers aren't able to pressure Matthew Stafford, it might take a similar performance from Brett Hundley to beat the Lions.

The Lions bring a top tier Offense into Lambeau. Golden Tate is a weapon at WR. He's tough to tackle. The Lions love to get the ball to Tate on quick WR screens. He's shifty with the ball in his hands and he's going to outmuscle would-be tacklers in the secondary as well. Marvin Jones torched the Packers at Lambeau last year. He has speed. He can get over the top. Kenny Golladay is a big target and an fast rising Red Zone threat. Eric Ebron has inconsistent hands, but he has no problem getting open. He's a tough match-up. I'd like to see Morgan Burnett matched up against Ebron. Ameer Abdullah has been healthy and living up to his potential. Theo Riddick is a dangerous receiver out of the backfield. Look for him to catch at least 5 passes this weekend. I expect Josh Jones to be on the field when Riddick is seeing snaps. The Lions have invested in their OL. I'll love TJ Lang forever. A Packer HOF. If you're reading; TJ, THANK YOU. You're a true throwback. A Super Bowl winner. I'm forever grateful for what you gave to Green Bay. Travis Swanson is a bully at Center. Graham Glasgow fights at Guard. Greg Robinson and Ricky Wagner were investments at Tackle. They've been inconsistent. Especially on the road. If the Packers are going to win, the Packers are going to have to win on the edges. If Wagner and Robinson are in control, this defense will get worn down. Someday, I think Matthew Stafford will win an NFL MVP.

Defensively, the Lions are banged up on the DL. But, they still have Ziggy Ansah who can flat out ball. Anthony Zettel is a hard working young DE. A'Shawn Robinson is littered with talent. I have great respect for Jarrad Davis at ILB. If you've been following this blog long enough, you know that I talked him up when he was in college. The Lions have some big-time play makers in the secondary. Darius Slay is a stallion at CB. Quandre Diggs makes plays. Glover Quin is a machine. Nevin Lawson will be grabbing all game. He can be beaten. His goal is to get in your head. He's a trash talking, undersized CB who uses his hands all-day. I expect him to get at least one flag.

The lights are on. It's time to sparkle. Hundley is given the opportunity to shine. He hits Nelson on a deep ball. The Packers grab the early lead.

The Lions try to run the ball between the tackles. But, Kenny Clark and Mike Daniels own that terrain. So, the Lions forget about running the football. They let Stafford sling it 50 times. Stafford is patient. He's not picky. He'll take the underneath stuff. The Packers struggle to get pressure. Stafford gets hot.

I asked my 5 year old, Dylan, who was going to win. He said, "Dad, don't be mad at me. I'm going to be cheering for the Packers. Really hard. But, think about it. The Lions beat the Vikings. The Packers played the Vikings without Aaron Rodgers and lost. Aaron Rodgers is still hurt. So, it's going to be hard for the Packers to win." When I've asked him how the Packers can win, he says, "#11 needs to score. Davis needs to run really fast. He's good." Call Dylan by his new name 'Nostradamus.' Look for Trevor Davis to break one this weekend.

Additionally, the Packers defense makes a big play. It's Marwin Evans stepping in front of a crossing route. It, too, leads to 6 points.

The normally reliable Matt Prater has a miss as he cuts through temperatures in the low 30's.

The Lions consistently move the ball. But, their 3 TD's and 3 FG's aren't enough.

It'll take some fortune. And, some points to come from abnormal places. It'll also require a rowdy Lambeau faithful to show up. It all happens. I'm stoked!

GET LOUD LAMBEAU!

Packers 31.
Lions 30.

Go Pack Go!

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