Packers: Five things they need to fix during the bye week
By Jesse Fry
Five things the Green Bay Packers need to fix during the bye.
At 3-2-1, the Packers have been wildly inconsistent heading into the bye week. After going through an offseason of change, the Packers were thought to be better than this and challenge for NFC supremacy. As of right now, it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen.
An injury in game number one hasn’t helped the offense. Aaron Rodgers’ injured left knee has taken away from some of his mobility and what looks like some of his ability. Rodgers has been off target more than usual and doesn’t seem to get going till the Packers are already in a hole.
In Monday night’s game, Rodgers skipped a few passes into his receivers he usually makes in his sleep.
Injuries have also had an impact at the receiver position. Randall Cobb has missed three straight games now and Geronimo Allison two. This has given the rookies some playing time, but their lack of chemistry with Rodgers is evident and causing the offense to bog down.
On defense, the Packers have been a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde act. Play horrible in the first half, make adjustments and play better in the second half. You cannot win consistently in the NFL that way.
It would be one thing to give up a few points and some yards, say 10-13 points or less in the first half and then clamp down in the second. But the Packers are giving up point numbers in the 20s.
It would be nice to see Rodgers play with a good defense. The 2010 season showed us what he can do when he has a top tier defense getting him the ball back. Even a decent defense right now might get them into the playoffs. But digging huge holes and expecting Rodgers to dig you out is not going to get you playing in January.
There is good news folks. There are still 10 games left to play.
Remember, in 2010 the Packers were 4-4 and looked lost and stagnant. An injury to Rodgers in December that year had Coach McCarthy declare “we’re nobody’s underdog” and the team took off from there. In 2014, it was the year of “R-E-L-A-X”. And that team went to the NFC Championship Game.
But for the best comparison to this squad, look back just two years at the 2016 team. The team was 4-6. McCarthy’s job was in jeopardy, Rodgers was washed up, Olivia Munn was a curse, the sky was falling, dogs and cats were living together, human sacrifices at Lambeau Field, and well, you get the picture.
That team looked like it had no business making it to the postseason after 10 games and then “run the table” happened. Something finally clicked and the Packers went on a roll all the way to the NFC Championship Game.
This team is more talented than that one. LaDarius Gunter will not be lining up as the number one cornerback. Neither will Quinten Rollins or Damarious Randall.
Ty Montgomery won’t need to make a midseason switch to save the run game, the Packers have a pretty good stable. It just needs to be used correctly. Despite all the early season injuries, only one starter has been lost for the year in Muhammad Wilkerson.
Those calling to blow up the team and fire McCarthy after six games, settle down a little bit. Now isn’t the time to look towards the offseason. We still have 10 to go in this one. There’s still plenty of time to turn it around.
Here are five adjustments the Packers should make during the bye.