Thursday, December 27, 2018

My Take -> Week 17

Greetings, G-Force.

6-8-1. Yes, the game may appear meaningless with regards to playoff scenarios. And, I understand that a 5-10-1 record would’ve likely netted the Packers a top 9 selection. Still, I can’t get on board with tanking in the NFL. It’s helpful for the youngsters to taste victories. The locker room needs to feel the winning emotion. It’s good for team camaraderie.

I depart for NYC tomorrow. Phish at MSG. That doesn’t suck. Thus, as I write, I’m listening to the Phish Bakers Dozen vinyl. I was fortunate to attend the first 3-nights of the bands epic 13-night run at the Worlds Most Famous Arena.

My quick vibes from the last week:

If Joe Philbin was in consideration for the Head Coaching job, the first Quarter of the game against the Jets was an indication that this team would not respond to him. The team was unprepared. The team looked like they didn’t want to be in New York for the game. The team was full of blown assignments. The team was mentally unfit.

Aaron Rodgers’ stats were terrific. But, his play felt more like 2018 Aaron Rodgers than 2014 Aaron Rodgers. His ball placement still seemed odd. He held onto the ball too long. He ignored the check down too often. Yes, it was good to see his movement. Yes, the dart to Adams for the victory was riveting. Yes, it was great to see Rodgers connect with 9 different WRs. But, it certainly felt like the Packers were the beneficiary of multiple questionable calls in the 4th Quarter and OT.

At first glance, Jamaal Williams does not wow you with his place. But, more often than not, he does all of the little things right. He runs hard. He catches the ball well. He hits the hole with intent. He’s a physical blocker. In fact, the one time he kissed his block, I was legitimately stunned. Quite simply, Williams brings soul to this team.

Davante Adams is an absolute superstar. With his knee injury, I’d throw him two WR screens on the first drive to give him the catch record and then I’d tell him to rest up.

ESB looked more comfortable last week than at any time this year. An ascending performance. I hope he is able to play this week.

Great to see MVS getting targets down the field. Not surprising to see multiple penalties down the field. He’s a tough cover.

Kumerow!!!! We’ve been waiting all year for that play!!! He was also open for a TD in the end zone on the crossing route, but Rodgers didn’t see him. Out of all of the young WRs, Kumerow seems to run the most precise routes. He looks like the most natural route runner, too.

I do not want Jimmy Graham back. Twice, Graham was bailed out with bad calls in the end zone, one of which was the 2-point play that should’ve resulted in 2 points for the Jets. Graham can no longer create separation with quickness. Graham can no longer win jump balls. It appears as though Gutekunst is trying to compile tough minded, physical football players. Gutekunst looks to be attracted to high end athletes. At this stage of his career, Graham is none of those things. After giving a thorough review of Gutekunst’s other additions, I’m surprised that he gave Graham such an astronomical contract. Bad drafts don’t cripple a franchise. Bad contracts do. Graham’s contract is a terrible one.

Another gutty performance for McCray. He has warmed every penny of his contract.

Bulaga is a gamer. If I was guaranteed to have him for 12 games next year, I’d be thrilled to have him back at his current contract.

Lane Taylor is clearly battling injury. He’s also regressed at an uncomfortably quick rate.

Tyler Lancaster had another really strong showing. He’s active. His motor his constantly running. He will be on the roster next year.

Montravious Adams also showed pretty well. He, too, showed good quickness and hustle.

I will never understand why Oren Burks was not given more opportunities this year. I’m officially concerned as to why he’s not getting snaps.

Fun to see Tonyan grabbing a 4th and 1 pass to extend the drive.

Ron Zook. Lol.

Note to Josh Jackson: when Jaire went out with the injury, Pettine’s first move was to put Tony Brown on Anderson. And, initially, Brown followed Anderson around the field.

It’s noteworthy to point out that when the Packers trailed 35-30 late in the 4th and the defense was in need of a stop, on both 1st and 2nd down, Tony Brown stepped up with physicality and made fierce tackles in the run game. I wonder — at times — if Brown is best suited for Safety.

Tony Brown was also a punisher blocking the gunner on special teams.

It was good to see Aaron Rodgers showing the BELT and wearing a smile. I'll admit that I wondered where that swagger was all year, but nonetheless, it was really great to see him showing confidence and having fun.

Can we please see Donnerson before the year is over?

It was nice to see Jamerson on special teams. I hope he gets Eddie Pleasant’s snaps on defense. Pleasant can’t play.

I like the way Breeland breaks and tries to high point the ball.

I wish Josh Jackson played with the toughness that Jaire, Breeland and Brown play with.

I love that Gutekunst put in a waiver claim for Swearinger! He’s trying to reconstruct the roster via all means necessary.

Another decent game by Fackrell. He doesn’t win play-in and play-out but he had a couple of really intriguing plays in both the run and pass game.

Blake Martinez has shown really well on the inside blitz all year long. His 4th Quarter sack on 3rd down was a springboard for the comeback.

Behind the scenes, I've often wondered if Brian Gutekunst admired the way that the Baltimore Ravens have played football through the years. If you watch the types of players that Gutekunst has brought onto the team, most fit the Ravens profile. So, I guess it doesn't fully surprise me that the first 2 people he has interviewed for the job were on the Ravens staff, at one point. Pagano coached with the Ravens from 2008-2012. Pagano also coached with Pettine in 2012. Pagano and Pettine both carry roots from the Ravens defense. Pagano also hired Philbin as his Assistant Head Coach in 2016 and 2017. So, in many ways, if Gutekunst likes the idea of having Pettine as the DC and Philbin as the OC, Pagano might be a logical Head Coaching candidate. Admittedly, I was not overly impressed with Pagano as the Head Coach in Indianapolis. I do not want Caldwell as the next Packers coach.

In this week's Fanspeak Mock Draft, here's how the board fell for me:

Round 1a: Josh Allen, EDGE, Kentucky.
Round 1b: Mack Wilson, LB, Alabama.
Round 2: DeAndre Baker, CB, Georgia.
Round 3: Jalen Jelks, EDGE, Oregon.
Round 4a: Andrew Wingard, S, Wyoming.
Round 4b: Jaylon Ferguson, EDGE, Louisiana Tech.
Round 5: David Montgomery, RB, Iowa State.
Round 6a: Mitch Hyatt, OT, Clemson.
Round 6b: Alex Bars, OG, Notre Dame.
Round 7: Sheldrick Redwine, S, []_[].

This week - it's the Lions. At Lambeau. To finish the Packers 100th season.

I expect to see Rodgers flashing a big smile, once again. I expect Adams to break the Packers reception record. I expect to see Clay grab one final sack in a Packers uniform. I expect to see Kumerow and MVS targeted deep down the field. I expect to see one final Randall Cobb Red Zone TD in a Packers uniform. I expect the Lambeau Faithful to be in a joyful mood.

This one won't help the Packers Draft status, but hopefully, the winning feeling can be carried over into 2019.

Packers 27.
Lions 20.

Go Pack Go!

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

Friday, December 21, 2018

My Take -> Week 16

Greetings, G-Force.

5-8-1. The 2018 Packers season has been a complete bust. There is no way to put a positive spin on it. Along with 1999, the 2018 is unquestionably my least favorite Packers season that I’ve suffered through. There is no silver lining. And, with 2 games to play, other than Jaire’s ascension, there is nothing to hold onto going into the offseason. For that reason, I’m hoping that one of our youngsters can make a play that has me dreaming of big things throughout the offseason. If not, in my eyes, the 2018 season will go down as a complete waste. Outside of Jaire, that is. See, we already knew that Kenny Clark and Davante Adams were ascending Pro Bowl caliber players. Yes, it was nice to see them live up to the expectations, but it was not a surprise.

As I write, I listen to Christmas Music. ‘Tis the season. To start, I always pop on John Lennon’s Happy Xmas (War Is Over). It’s my favorite “Christmas Song.” And, it’ll forever remind me of Mac (My Dad) playing it at Lambeau Field on 12/24/95. The Yancey Thigpen game that helped the Packers secure a Division title. After Lennon, I normally choose Paul McCartney’s “Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time.”

Here are my quick vibes for the week:

Joe Philbin has his team prepared to play. He had his team in position to win. The Packers had the ball at their own 26 yard line. It was 14-14. There were just over 14 minutes to play. The defense had just recovered a fumble. It felt like victory was waiting in the wings. And, then, much like most of the 2018 season, the offense faltered. Rodgers got sacked on first down after holding onto the ball too long. On second down, Rodgers missed a wide open Randall Cobb deep down the field. And, on third down, Rodgers had MVS wide open for an apparent 76 yard TD. Except Rodgers overthrew MVS by 3 yards. It was a crippling series for Rodgers when it mattered most. In the Packers 8 losses and 1 tie; the Packers have had the ball with the lead or with a chance to take the lead in the 4th Quarter in 6 of those game. The Rodgers led offense didn’t deliver. He did in the first Bears game and he did in the SF game. But, really, in 8 games in which he had a chance to either deliver a knock-out punch or put the team in position to win, Rodgers only came through on 2 occasions. What a buzzkill!

Nonetheless, in classic 2018 fashion, after the Rodgers incompletions, the Packers folded. JK Scott mishit a highly returnable low lining 40 yard punt that Cohen easily returned for 9 yards. The Packers defense melted down and gave us 45 yards on 5 plays for a Bears TD. Again, the Packers went 3-and-out. Yes, on two crucial 4th Quarter drives, the Packers offense, uh-um, respectably gained -2 and -5 yards. Again, JK Scott failed to flip the field position. Again, he hit a low liner. This one traveled 39 yards. Cohen got on his horse and easily ran 44 yards to Packers 15-yard line for the dagger.

Somehow, someway, the Packers are 14 games in the season and Rodgers is still talking about not the Packers lack of details. So, over the next two weeks, let’s get this team on the same page. Let’s get Davante Adams his record breaking catches. I don’t care if we throw him a bunch of bubble screens, but let’s get the record out of the way and then let’s work on getting MVS, ESB and Kumerow on the same page. There’s a definite learning curve for rookie WR’s. Let’s put in the work right now to try and expedite their development.

Jamaal Williams is a physical beast. He might not be a game breaking runner, but he’s a reliable pass blocker, he’s a hard fighting runner and he’s a reliable receiver. He’s steady. He’s dependable.

I want Aaron Jones to be a superstar in this league. He has the potential. I am concerned about his durability. This is his third injury in two years.

Tyler Lancaster had a really solid game. He was stacking, shedding and getting to the ball carrier. He’s been an impressive player for the Packers down the stretch. He has a stop in this league.

Fadol Brown played with great energy. He was active along the DL. Hustling to chase down the ball from behind. He did a good job extending his hands and fighting play-in and play-out.

I was happy to see Clay grabbing a sack.

The Rodgers interception was another reason that Jimmy Graham needs to be cut. Yes, the pass was slightly behind Graham. But, Graham did not have the quickness coming out of his break to create separation. Throw the stats out the window. Stats are for fantasy football. Graham has been a total disappointment. He has not been able to catch the ball in traffic. He has not been able to create separation. He doesn’t block. He is scheduled to make $12,666,666 next year. He is scheduled to be the highest paid TE in the game. When the season is over, I’d be quick to release him to save $5,333,333 in cap space for next year and to make sure that he wasn’t carried onto the 2020 cap. If Graham happens to be on the roster, he will absolutely be the worst contract on the roster.

Eddie Pleasant. A total stiff. He couldn’t make the plays in the passing game against AZ. And, then, against Chicago, Pettine sent him on a blindsided blitz on 3rd down. It was a masterful call by Pettine. Trubisky did not see it coming. Pleasant had a clear shot at Trubisky. He whiffed. And, then, Trubisky picked up the first down. Sorry, Pleasant. But, if you can’t make the play in either the passing game or if you can’t make the play while attacking the ball; I don’t want you on the team. I’d have understood if you were out of position because you didn’t know the defense; but that hasn’t been the case.

I hope Natrell Jamerson is fit enough to play this weekend. I want to see Jamerson.

I also want to see Donnerson rushing the passer on 3rd down. I’m curious to see if he can get home once before the season is over. Let’s play him!

Can we please see Tonyan? Why doesn’t he play? I can’t be convinced that he can’t offer us what Kendricks is giving us. Also, consider this: he’s a better block than Graham. And, we’ve seen Tonyan do something that we haven’t seen Graham do this year: he outfought a defender for a deep ball that resulted in a TD. I want to see Tonyan running down the seam and going to get the ball in traffic.

It’s time for Oren Burks to get significant playing time as well.

I want to see Looney play as well. If we’re going to keep Gutekunst’s picks around, let’s get them some action, at this stage. Let’s see if we have something to work with or if they’re just going to be training camp fodder next year.

Josh Jackson needs to toughen up. He’s playing way too soft.

In my Fanspeak Packers Mock Draft, the board fell significantly different than it has in past weeks.

Round 1a: Josh Allen, EDGE, Kentucky.
Round 1b: Greg Little, OT Mississippi.
Round 2: Irv Smith, TE, Alabama.
Round 3: Oshane Ximines, EDGE, ODU.
Round 4a: Johnathan Abram, S, Mississippi State.
Round 4b: Devin Bush, LB, Michigan.
Round 5: David Montgomery, RB, Iowa State.
Round 6a: J.R. Reed, S, Georgia.
Round 6b: Jamal Peters, CB, Mississippi State.
Round 7: Preston Williams, WR, Colorado State.

This week – it’s the Jets. In New York. Is this the Tankathon battle? Man, oh man. Who would’ve thought that the 2018 Packers would’ve dreamed to be the Browns, Texans, Dolphins, Chargers or Colts? I mean, have any of those teams won a playoff game since 2014? Nonetheless, here we are.

It’s hard for me to jump on the let’s lose bandwagon. If Rodgers is healthy and if he doesn’t need surgery after the year, I want him to play. I want him to work on his chemistry with the youngsters. I want to end the season on a positive note. But, I see the other side. If you play Kizer, you’re able to see how he’s developed and you’re likely to lose. And, if you go 5-10-1, you’re likely going to secure a top 9 selection; which would all but secure one of the top 3 EDGE players in the draft. There’s value in that, too.

Packers 23.
Jets 20.

I wish all of you a Happy Holiday season. Thank you for keeping me going during both the good and bad times.

Go Pack Go!

Talkin’ S-Mac.
Talkins-mac.blogspot.com

Saturday, December 15, 2018

My Take -> Week 15

5-7-1. A victory. A breath of fresh air. A Sunday evening that didn’t force the mind to remove itself of sports doldrums. Refreshing!

Speaking of refreshing, the Packers looked rejuvenated. They felt free spirited. They looked like they were having fun. It was almost as though a burden had been lifted.

As I write, I’m listening to the Grateful Dead's 5-8-77 show. My love for the Packers will "Not Fade Away" whether we are 5-7-1 or 12-1. The record won't change my affection for this franchise.

My quick vibes from the last week:

Thank you for keeping the ship afloat, Joe Philbin. And, thank you, for putting the smile back on Aaron Rodgers’ face.

Aaron Rodgers seems happy again. He connected with ESB, Cobb, Adams, and MVS on the opening drive. The ball was getting out of his hand quickly. Where has that Aaron Rodgers been?

Aaron Jones dominate the game in the second half. Why he didn’t touch the ball much in the first half is beyond me.

That was Jaire’s second best game of the year. Behind the Rams game. Jaire mostly shut down Julio Jones -- unless the officiating got in the way with two horrible calls that awarded Jones with catches.

The Packers have to sign Breeland. He’s not Pro Bowl material, but he’s the perfect compliment to Alexander. Breeland physical. He’s tough. He jumps routes. He plays with confidence. If Alexander is going to man up against the #1 WR’s, I’m fully confident that Breeland can nut up against the #2’s. Additionally, it appears as though Alexander and Breeland have formed a strong bond. I want Breeland on this roster.

Davante Adams. All Pro. He does it all.

I like when the Packers get MVS the ball in space. I'm still anxious to see MVS catching another crossing route and taking it up the field. It feels like we've only seen that twice this year. Once against the 49ers and MVS turned it into a 60 yard gain. The other time was against NE and Rodgers errant pass led MVS out of bounds after the catch. I want to see MVS operating out of the slot before this season is over.

Kenny Clark ate up blockers while playing through an injury. He is a cornerstone in the future of this franchise.

Tyler Lancaster is quietly playing decent football.

Justin McCray is really limited athletically, but he plays with great effort. He fought through pain and played well.

Another positive game for Dean Lowry.

It was fun to see Clay Matthews make a couple of dominating plays. Seeing him attack the QB makes me feel nostalgic.

Lucas Patrick standing up for Aaron Rodgers was a highlight of the season for me. With the team faltering through the season, the players bond in the locker room did not separate.

A really physical game from Tony Brown. He's developing well. I'm not positive that he has a future in the league, but I'm pulling for him. He has all of the physical traits that you look for. I really hope that he can put it all together. I wonder if he's better equipped to play in the slot than on the perimeter.

Breeland’s pick-6 was a riveting play. I’ve been waiting for a game changing interception. That was only the Packers 7th interception of the year. Breeland has two of them in 4 games.

Yes, Jimmy Graham, your "numbers suck" as you said. Catch the ball. Fight for the ball when the ball is in the air. Be the aggressor.

Rodgers was quick with his feet. He was picking up first downs. It was his headiest game of the year.

I've been waiting all year for a game that we watched last Sunday. The Packers picked up first downs on 3rd down. The Packers converted in the Red Zone. The Packers forced turnovers. The Packers got to the QB. The Packers got the running game going. The Packers made their FG's. It was a total team effort. The basics were mostly covered. Onward. Upward. We go.

In my weekly Fanspeak Mock Draft, I was able to get my #1 rated EDGE player, my #1 rated ILB, my #2 rated TE and my #2 rated CB. For what it's worth, as of now, I rank my top 10 players that would fit in Green Bay as follows:

1.) Quinnen Williams, DL, Alabama
2.) Josh Allen, EDGE, Kentucky
3.) Nick Bosa, EDGE, Ohio State
4.) Jachai Polite, EDGE, Florida
5.) Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama
6.) Ed Oliver, DL, Houston
7.) Noah Fant, TE, Iowa
8.) Mack Wilson, ILB, Alabama
9.) Greedy Williams, CB, LSU
10.) Rashan Gary, DL, Michigan

My weekly Packers Mock from Fanspeak:

Round 1a: Josh Allen, EDGE, Kentucky.
Round 1b: Mack Wilson, ILB, Alabama.
Round 2: Deandre Baker, CB, Georgia.
Round 3: Irv Smith, TE, Alabama.
Round 4a: Jalen Jelks, EDGE, Oregon. I just missed out on Oshane Ximenes, EDGE, ODU.
Round 4b: Nasir Adderley, S, Delaware -- cousin of Packers legend, Herb Adderley.
Round 5: JR Reed, S, Georgia.
Round 6a: Mitch Hyatt, TE, Clemson.
Round 6b: Daniel, Wise, DL, Kansas.
Round 7: Carl Granderson, EDGE, Wyoming.

This week - it's the Bears. At Soldier Field. A place where the Packers have not lost since we gained the Trump Card by winning the Halas Trophy in the Visitors Locker Room in January of 2011. Since then, the Packers have had a number of historical victories at Soldier Field. The Packers clinched a Division title at Soldier in 2012. In 2013, the Packers clinched the Division title at Soldier Field, once again, when Rodgers hit Cobb on a 48-yard TD with 00:38 left on the clock on 4th and 8. In 2014, we saw the berth of R-E-L-A-X at Soldier Field. In 2015, the Packers kicked off the season with a victory at Soldier Field. In 2016, the Packers won a thriller when Mason Crosby hit a game winning FG at the buzzer after Rodgers connected with Jordy on a 60-yard bomb in the waning seconds. In 2017, the Packers kept their slim playoff hopes alive when Brett Hundley led the Packers to a victory against Mitchell Trubisky's Bears. If the Packers can knock off the Bears in 2018, maybe, just maybe, we can start thinking about the playoffs in 2018. We'll need some help, but a win against the Bears would go a long way.

In order to win, the Packers will have to find a way to block Hicks and Mack. Hicks and Mack wreck games. They damn near ruined the Week 1 contest. With the Packers beat up OL, they'll be hungry to attack Rodgers. The Packers have to devise a game plan that quickly gets the ball out of Aaron Rodgers' hands. If Rodgers is holding onto the ball and trying to extend plays, the Bears will eat up the Packers banged up OL.

Early on - I'd like to see the Packers attack Fuller on a double move. Fuller will bite. There will be a big play awaiting.

Additionally, on offense, the Packers should run Aaron Jones up the middle. The Packers can have success running between the tackles. The Bears DT is dominant, but they'll over pursue. The Packers have to take advantage of the Bears DL aggressiveness. Stick with the run, Philbin. Jones will pop a big one.

If the Bears are patient and they stick with the run, it'll be tough for the Packers to stop Chicago. I have a hard time envisioning the depleted Packers DL slowing down the Bears running game. But, the Bears have not consistently stuck with the run. They've put the ball in Trubisky's hands to create plays. Trubisky will give the Packers opportunities to intercept him. The Packers have to catch the ball. If so, the Packers will be in position to win the game.

Trubisky's legs scare me. On third downs, I'd have Blake Martinez spy him. I'd also have Josh Jones marking Cohen. You can't cover Cohen with a LB. You have to put either a Safety or a CB on him.

Yes, it's the Packers and Bears. In December. And, when it's all said and done, the Bears fans will be moaning on Monday morning as they're walking through the frozen Morning Dew. Through the records aside, with this rivalry, it doesn't matter any way. Once again, at Soldier Field, the Packers pull out a thriller to keep the slim playoff hopes alive.

Packers 23.
Bears 20.

THE BEARS STILL SUCK!

Go Pack Go!

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












Friday, December 7, 2018

My Take -> Week 14

Greetings, G-Force.

4-7-1. And, in the end, the 100th season in Packers history was a complete fuckin’ disaster. A colossal meltdown of epic proportions. A low point in the recent history of the franchise. One of my least favorite seasons as a fan. A year to forget. With the utterly embarrassing loss to the lowly Cardinals - at the once proudly adored Lambeau Field - the team and their fans got knocked out of their misery. Beneath the misery, resides a presently dark existence. One of curiosity. One of concern. One of hope.

Michael Franti makes me feel good. As I begin writing, I’m listening to Stay Human 2, his new song.

Here are my quick vibes for the week:

Thanks for the memories, Mike McCarthy. I’ll remember you fondly. Others will consider your time as stale. Those - that do - are highly entitled fans. Sure, we're all disappointed that we didn't win more Super Bowls. We all wish that Julius Peppers did not tell Morgan Burnett to sit down in Seattle. We wish Bostick had caught the onside kick. We wish HaHa would've knocked down the 2-point conversion. If any of those things happen, the Packers are playing in a 2nd Super Bowl. None did and we're all forever haunted. That game is Holmgren's equivalent to Super Bowl 32. With that said, I hope that stale for the Packers will always be a 13-year stretch that includes 9 playoff appearances, a Super Bowl win, a 15-1 season and 4 NFC Championship Game appearances. Mike, you gave us a magical year of Favre and helped to develop Rodgers into a 2-time MVP at QB. Additionally, Mike, through the years, you've twice had to endure playing without your star QB for the better part of the season. Mike, you also lost three integral pieces to the core of the defense while they were in their prime in Nick Collins, Desmond Bishop and BJ Raji. We dealt with game ending heartbreaks. It was a tall task to keep this team together. You always did so. It's been a great stretch. Someday - Packers fans will yearn for the success of this last decade. With that, Coach Mac, best of luck in the future. I'll always be cheering for you.

Aaron Rodgers was awful against the Cards. The pass to ESB in the first quarter made it look like he wasn't even trying. The same could be said with the swing pass to Aaron Jones. Again, on a crucial 3rd down in the 4th Quarter, Rodgers was dumping the ball into the dirt and at the feet of an open WR. Baffling!

If Rodgers plays like he did against AZ for the rest of the year, the Packers will not win another game and they’ll end up with a top 5-7 pick of the Draft. That’s sad.

I actually like the timing of the firing. Saved MM the questions for the next month. Team was unprepared against AZ. Packers can start the search now — before others who will be searching for a new coach. And, they can do so openly.

The Packers can save roughly $20,000,000 in cap space for next year by cutting Graham, Crosby, Spriggs, Bulaga, Tramon and Perry. The Packers will have a boat load of dead money to pay out, but they would’ve rid themselves of all bad contracts on the roster. With the draft picks in his arsenal and the pending salary cap space, if Gutekunst has a two year plan in place and the Packers hire a good HC (whoever that may be); they should be ready to compete again in two years. And, with that strategy, the Packers would never have to go through a rebuilding phase with an aging Aaron Rodgers.

If the Packers do indeed free up a bunch of cash, I hope that the Packers sign Landon Collins. The Packers need a hard hitting, play making Safety. Collins would fit the bill. Collins hasn't played as well in 17 and 18 as he did in 16, but I'd still be willing to pay him the money that he demands. Give the Packers Landon Collins and a couple of EDGE rushers in the Draft and the defense should be in position to close games.

I have full confidence that Mark Murphy and Brian Gutekunst will identify a quality Head Coach.

Aaron Rodgers' and Brett Favre's careers have so many similarities. I'm hoping that Rodgers can find the Brett Favre version of Mike McCarthy. The one that ignited a spark in the suddenly declining player. McCarthy brought Favre another life. The Packers need to find someone who can inject a fire into Rodgers.

We have had two Super Bowl winning coaches in 50 years. Holmgren couldn’t wait to get out of GB. He quit on the team before the Super Bowl and essentially smirked his way off the field after the devastating loss in SF the following year. On the contrary, here is McCarthy two days after getting fired, absolutely yearning for one last speech. Amazing!

I do not want Josh McDaniels as the next Head Coach of the Green Bay Packers. I don't think he can be trusted. I don't have a wish list at this point, but I know I don't want McDaniels.

The Cards game was another really good day at the office for Kenny Clark and Jaire Alexander.

Dean Lowry shows glimpses of being a really good football player.

I'm a fan of Mike Pettine, but it should be noted that his defenses have not been the same team in the 4th Quarter as they have been in the 3rd Quarter. Granted, he's playing with a makeshift lineup, so he deserves a pass. Nonetheless, consider this: Pettine's defense couldn't get off the field when it mattered most in the 4th Quarter against Minnesota, the Rams, the Patriots, the Seahawks, and the Cardinals.

I'm officially worried that Josh Jackson will be really limited as an NFL player. I want him to be great. The Jackson and Alexander vibe seems to be good to be a true. It seems like a dream. They're buddies. But, JJ looks to be a step slow and he doesn't look tough enough. Over the last 4 weeks of the year, I'd argue that a JJ interception is near the top of my wish list. I want him to build some confidence before the end of the year.

It's time to see a whole lot of Robert Tonyan and none of Marcedes Lewis and Lance Kendricks. Tonyan is in the future plans. Lewis and Kendricks are not.

I was bummed that Kevin King went to IR. I really wanted to see the secondary with King, Jaire and Breeland in it. King has really handicapped the Packers. When he's on the field, he's been a decent perimeter CB, but availability has been key and at this point, King has left the Packers with a hole at CB. With King being unavailable, I am hoping to see the likes of Will Redmond, Natrell Jamerson and Tony Brown on the field. Let's see if these guys can be in the 2019 plans.

I liked the Natrell Jamerson signing. Jamerson can run. He has the physique and intangibles to be a slot CB. Prior to the Draft, I wrote this about Jamerson: "Natrell Jamerson, Wisconsin. Round 6-7. Jamerson is undersized for a pure safety, but translates well as a possible mid-to-late round slot CB. Jamerson can fly. He ran a 4.4 and was super quick in his 10 yard split. He has good lateral movements and he's willing to throw his body in the mix."

With the Jamerson signing, I found this little nugget: Gutekunst has not added 4 of the top 13 speedsters in the 40 at the Combine last year. He also has 3 players who finished in the top 8 in the 20-yard shuttle at the Combine last year. He feels the need for speed!

I'm happy that Donnerson is on the 53-man roster. I want to see Donnerson, Alex Light, Oren Burks, Tony Brown, Will Redmond, ESB, MVS, Tonyan, Kumerow, Looney, Lancaster, Adams, Raven Greene and Jamerson getting snaps. Let's invest in our future and see if the kids can bring us wins. I want to see ESB with a 7 catch, 100-yard game. The same can be said with MVS or Kumerow.

I hope that Cole Madison reports to camp in 2019.

If I were Brian Gutekunst, I'd say; "Hey Randall Cobb. You've been a really solid Packer. But, availability is a key to success in the NFL. You weren't available for the better part of 2018. With that, you're going to be relegated for the rest of the year to our 5th string WR behind Adams, MVS, ESB and Kumerow. As you know, you won't be back with the team in 2019, so the only really exposure that you're going to see will be as the Punt Returner. Thanks for your commitment to the Green Bay Packers."

I will forever wonder why Mike McCarthy never went no-huddle to try and create urgency in the offense in 2018. We played without a pulse on offense. I kept waiting for the shift. It never happened.

Eddie Pleasant. Can he please be cut? Like, seriously. How can his teammates ever look the guy in the eye again and think that he can be trusted to make a play? I'd rather have a 52-man roster than to see him on the team for another day.

In this week's Fanspeak Packers Mock Draft, the board rankings fell differently. Most of the guys that I've been high on throughout the year have climbed the overall rankings. Josh Allen was a player ranked in the 40's, he's now in the top 20. Brian Burks was also in the 40's, he's now in the 20's. It forced me to alter my Draft approach. I went heavy on the OL in the top 3 rounds. Cajuste can likely play either RT or RG. Edwards looks like a starting RT. It's interesting to note that the Packers will likely have 6 of the top 120 picks heading into Draft weekend. Here's how it fell for me:

Round 1a: Josh Allen, EDGE, Kentucky.
Round 1b: Raekwon Davis, DL, Alabama.
Round 2: Yodny Cajuste, OT, Dub-V.
Round 3: David Edwards, OT, WI.
Round 4a: Landis Durham, EDGE, Texas A&M.
Round 4b: Osahne Ximines, EDGE, ODU.
Round 5: Kaden Smith, TE, Stanford.
Round 6a: Tanner Muse, S, Clemson.
Round 6b: Iman Marshall, CB, USC.
Round 7: Sheldrick Redwine, S, []_[].

This week - it's the Falcons. I'll always remember the Packers at Falcons Divisional Playoff game. It was one of my favorite days in Packers history. I was in attendance with my Brother Bob and my Brother-in-Law, Paul. It was a legendary day in Packers history.

Can the Packers cover the Falcons in 2018? Well, that depends on if Breeland can play. If he can, then the Packers might be able to match up well. If he can't, well, then Atlanta could put up a minimum of 35 points. And, unless Rodgers finds his old form, the 2018 Packers aren't capable of putting up points in bundles.

My hunch is that Rodgers plays carefree. He hasn't played in a game like this Sunday since 2008. Consider that? Yes, as fans, we've been that fortunate during the Mike McCarthy era. We have played highly meaningful, non-desperate December games every year since 2009. The only other team that can say that is the Patriots. We've been spoiled. Nonetheless, look for Rodgers to play without stress and to be gunning the ball all over the field. We see the Rodgers of old. The one that we have adored since 2008. There's that confident spark to his step. The CA swag is back. Rodgers catches fire.

Packers 31.
Falcons 30.

Go Pack Go!

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