Green Bay Packers: ‘What the Hell is going on out here?’

This one will be strictly Fansided and most of the Pack faithful will either eat me alive or agree with me.

I’m not hitting the panic button and I’m not burning my Aaron Rodgers’ jersey in the streets after three games. This is simply what I have taken away after the first three games.

At the beginning of the season I stated to be patient with this defense and that it could take four to five weeks to gel. Well, since the second half against the Jets last week it has seemed to vastly improve.

Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Julius Peppers breaks up a pass intended for New York Jets running back Chris Johnson during the second half of last Sunday’s game at Lambeau Field. Green Bay won 31-24. Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports photograph

Julius Peppers showed flashes of just why Ted Thompson brought him on board, which is to get after the quarterback. Peppers was even able to get to Stafford and create a fumble which he ultimately recovered himself.

Dom Capers’ 2-5 squad seemed to be about a second too late numerous times, but was still able to put Stafford on the turf. First-round-pick Ha Ha Clinton-Dix recorded his first interception as he was in the right place at the right time to haul in a tipped pass.

It appears at times on defense that the arms of the Packers’ defenders go to sleep. There was a replay that clearly showed Mike Neal have dead arms when making a tackle, not even attempting to wrap up. Wrapping up when you tackle is a lesson that you learn as early as the third grade.

This may be the one that gets me hung but, Clay Matthews has not done a thing for the Packers in almost three seasons now. You could instantly see the defense take a turn for the worse when he was on the sideline nursing a groin.

Although his stats are not that great this year, when he is on the field he must be accounted for.

Say what you want about AJ Hawk, but he is one of the surest tacklers on the team and as sure as the sun rises, he will be on the field.

Enough about the defense let’s take a look at the other side of the ball. I will try to keep it clean.

First-of-all it appears through three games that James Jones and Jermichael Finley may be the two most underrated players of the last decade. When Aaron Rodgers drops back it looks like he has absolutely nobody to throw the ball to.

Rodgers’ internal clock has also looked like it was run over by a Mack Truck in the offseason. Not only does he hold onto the ball entirely too long but he refuses to leave the pocket where he is most dangerous.

The one thing that scares me is that he has looked shaken ever since the collarbone injury.

Can someone tell me the point of the no huddle if you get up to the line and let the play clock run down to one second every play before you snap it? I thought the point was to give your “premiere” offense that many more plays.

Mike McCarthy has been a horrible, horrible play-caller this season. This offense seems so bottled up I am surprised they are not tripping over each other.

Wide receiver Jordy Nelson makes a catch while being tackled by Detroit Lions outside linebacker Tahir Whitehead during the first quarter at Ford Field. Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports photograph

Dating back to the Brett Favre days the offense of the Pack was great because you never knew who was going to get the ball on any given play. This year you know Jordy Nelson is going to be the primary target. Green Bay has been famous for having 10-plus players in the receiving category of the box chart. Those days appear to be a thing of the past.

Ted Thompson has refused to go out and get Aaron Rodgers a third down back. Can you imagine if Aaron Rodgers had a check-down back like Matthew Stafford has in Reggie Bush? Oh, my goodness!

I’m not sure on what planet these backs think that running east to west will ever get you anything. So many times today on run plays that would have been for two yards or even no gain if they plowed straight ahead, instead turned into huge losses by running side-to-side.

It’s almost very similar to the transformation that took place in New England. Ted Thompson feels like Aaron Rodgers can win regardless of the talent pool that is placed around him.

Tom Brady and the rest of the New England Patriots are living proof that no matter how good a quarterback is, he has to have talent around him to win and win on a huge level.

Again, we are only going into week four and I am not pressing the panic button. With that being said, the Packers are 1-2 and that lone win needed a comeback after falling behind the New York Jets 21-3.

Mike McCarthy has brought a winning tradition to Green Bay.

Raymond T. Rivard photograph

I think to get back to Super Bowl level the Packers need to make a splash.

Does Mike McCarthy give up his play calling duties or perhaps make a move to bring in someone to catch balls? Is it time to look at unloading the “fragile” Matthews?

Those may seem like drastic circumstances but .500 probably won’t win the North this year and it seems since Super Bowl 45 the Packers have allen behind the powers of the NFC. In the words of Herm Edwards “You play to win the game.”

A phrase that may sum up the early season so far from the great Vince Lombardi: “What the hell is going on out here?”