After the Packer defense stuck it to Tom Brady in front of a home crowd in Tampa Bay, they get to return to Lambeau Field to host the New England Patriots. Packers vs Patriots isn’t something that happens often, and this will be the first meeting since 2018.
Packers Defense Rises
Joe Barry and his 2022 defense has been quite impressive and any lingering doubts were quelled after last weeks victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road.
The Patriots are more of a running team these days, specifically a run game by committee, with RBs Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson averaging 4.8 yards a carry(Packers defense has allowed 4.9 yards per carry so far this season — a stat driven up a bit by the fact they allowed the Bears to run the ball a bit once in a comfortable lead).
Meanwhile, the Patriots will be without their starting QB, Mac Jones(Replaced by Brian Hoyer). This helps alleviate the fact that Packers CB Jaire Alexander is still listed as being questionable.
Any given Sunday always applies, but this is shaping up to be a bit of low hanging fruit for the Packers relative to the rest of their schedule with a bye week still far off. The Packers are currently on a home win hot streak and the 2022 Patriots without their starting QB does not look like the ones to show up and put an end to it. [Coach Matt LaFleur is 23-2 at Lambeau] If the Patriots manage to get their run game going strong AND manage to stop the Packers’ own run at the same time, then they might have a chance.
Packers vs Patriots – Game Info
Where: Lambeau Field – Green Bay, Wisconsin
When: 3:25pm – Central Time
TV: NFL on CBS
Television Broadcast Map – Packers / Patriots:
Packers vs Patriots Injury Report
The New England Patriots are the 9.5-point underdogs going into the game. Here is an interesting fact from ESPN on the odds of this game:
If the spread ends up back in double digits, it would be just the fourth regular-season game in coach Bill Belichick’s 23-year tenure in which New England would be projected to lose by 10 or more points. Only the Packers (3 times) have been double-digit underdogs in fewer games since 2000.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick, well-regarded for his knowledge of NFL history, went out of his way to talk about #Packers legend Cecil Isbell in his Wednesday news conference.
Isbell was a senior-committee finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. pic.twitter.com/S1a9t4gYEl
— Wes Hodkiewicz (@WesHod) September 28, 2022
DaVante Parker had some very big yardage catches against the Ravens last week. All those passes from Matt Jones and most were over the middle of the field. The Packers pass defense has been leaky in the intermediate to deep middle of the field at times. I think the Packers safeties get a couple of opportunities for INTs from Hoyer.
It will be interesting to see how LaFleur and his coordinators react to the changeups Bellichek will offer.
Well fuck me Colleen Wolfe…It’s Game Day!!
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This is a game that is ripe where both the defense and the offense can shine.
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The Patriots defense has allowed over 23 PPG, while the Packers are at 15 PPG.
If the defense can keep the Patriots under 100 yards rushing, i can see a 17-20 point win for the Packers at home.
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The Packer pass defense had a good game against the inept Bear defense, and the short handed Bucs passing offense. This week should be no different (hopefully).
With a Patriot passing offense that is about as poor as the Packers in scoring, they have back up Hoyer starting in place of Jones.
Plus i think we should expect to see improvement in execution of the Packer offense against some of these weaker teams.
Who knows, maybe even Watson can get on the field and catch a few balls.
It will be interesting to see how many snaps Bahktiari plays as he played about half the snaps last week. We hopefully see more of him especially with Yosh Nijman under the weather?
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Let’s hope that no receivers get in the way of a shotgun snap while in motion….ugly right?
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Anyhow, this should be a fairly comfortable double digit plus win.
Joe Barry is emerging as a bonified buffoon. His players do not seem ready to play; especially in the secondary. Lots of rookie mistakes on the offense as well.
Was there ever a doubt? 😮
Apparently the refs will allow the Patriots to run the play clock down to negative three? Plus Doubs got robbed of a second TD. Doesn’t matter. Belichick can suck it, just like Tom Brady sucked it last week. Packers win.
I say move #74 back to guard and put #73 @ right tackle
Good call…nice to see i’m not the only one who noticed that.
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Nijman had an illness and only played 3 snaps, spelling Bakhtiari.
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But yea, it seems Jenkins is more comfortable on the left side than the right.
That was my thought also move Jenkins inside, but the more I thought about it the more I think Jenkins stays at tackle. Nijman to me is one of the top 5. To me one of the problems with moving Jenkins to guard, is right now I don’t believe he has the lateral quickness to pull and get up the field. To me the Packers guards are pulling a lot more. Newman is who everyone thinks probably should be on the bench. To me Newman had his best game of the year so far. That may not be saying much, but Newman is quick at pulling and getting to combo blocks. I just think Jenkins would struggle some at guard while he continues to “knock the rust off”. I think the Packers are better off letting Jenkins work at tackle unless Runyon or Newman really regress. It does appear that Nijman deserves to be on the field. Have we seen Nijman play right tackle? Maybe Nijman is having a hard time changing from left to right tackle?
You girls…..Kevin….Erin….Gaaaaaay…..No family…Drama….Not Brady….Kevin King……you ladies…..your boyfriend.
Now you all have seen everything Tom is going to post in these comments so let’s just ignore it and stick to football, it’s been my strategy since the preseason.
This team is 3-1 now and that’s awesome and I know it’s early in the season but I can’t help but feel this is the same conversation at the same time of year that we’ve had for the last decade almost. This team doesn’t convince me anything is going to be any different come January.
Jaire hasn’t been out there the past two games, got it. Before that he didn’t sound happy being out there in this new scheme. Not saying Jaire’s the type to take his ball and go home but we’re paying a lot of money for a guy that excels in man to play zone.
Bakh didn’t look bad last night. I don’t have much faith he’ll last the season though, especially after the sound bites coming out against Tampa where he was saying, “I’m just getting old man.” It might be too much to expect him to be reliable or consistent at any point as the season wears on and the weather sets in. Not saying impossible, but as I said I’m not convinced in this team.
Doubs is doing awesome. No complaints there. Lazard had a good showing. But we need more from Watson than end arounds or jet sweeps. We need anything out of Tonyan and we can’t just rely on our rb’s or plays behind the line of scrimmage to carry our offense all year.
As far as Rodgers goes I’d like to see him take more chances in contested windows or take more chances down the field. I don’t know the stats but it sure feels like we’re in the lower half of the league as far as shots over 20.
This team seems like it’s just trying to hang in there until the end and steal the last score in dramatic fashion. I’m tired of dramatic endings, especially in the playoffs when they normally don’t work in our favor and all these little inconsistencies add up at the right time to disappoint us the most. Winning and winning convincingly are two different things and until we can put up a few dominant victories and play a complete game of ball I remain a skeptic.
Oh and finally, in the game last week against the Bucs did anyone else notice Amari Rodgers calling a fair catch with like 6 min left in the game when there was no one but Packers around him for almost 20 yards? Pretty sure I heard a coach yelling “What the fuck are you doing!?” during the broadcast. This dude’s about as useless as tits on a snake. A third round pick that can only call fair catches and can’t get on the field as a reciever in a room that lacks consistency or any kind of ‘trust’ or ‘bond’ or whatever you want to call it pretty much speaks for itself. That’s usually where we develop future recievers, not send them to waste away.
You are correct Packtat 87 it is best to avoid tilting at windmills. However; the thing about windmills are they repeatedly over and over again come back to the same position, so if you do decide to joist at a windmill you know how and when to attack it.
Good post Packtat…..
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Bahk is going to need to be there all season…A) That’s why he’s getting paid so much money.
B) The O line needs to protect much better, they need some better consistency.
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I’ve complained about the dink and dunk passing game recently. If anyone heard it, Romo said that 38% of the Packers pass attempts are at the line of scrimmage, or behind it. I wasn’t shocked to hear that at all.
They are obviously going for simple high percentage passes, with low potential for yardage.
But why?
My guess is partly because of the inexperience of receivers, who are lacking route running ability, and/or don’t have the timing down (yet). The NFL passing game is fairly precise and all the cogs in the gears need to be working.
The other thing is the line doesn’t give them the luxury of 4 second protection, which isn’t always needed for success, but it is when you are training receivers…..in the regular season.
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Yes…my thought of Watson last night was, are you a receiver, or a running back?
It’s great that he scored. but otherwise, he isn’t showing much of anything.
The announcer’s commented that the Packers coaches said….”We have to find ways to get him the ball.”
Well….how about running your routes and getting open?
You’re a 2nd round pick who they traded up for….fuck.
We knew when he was drafted, he was going to be a project but…holy shit.
We aren’t having much luck with traded up for draft picks, or 3rd rounders….all pissed away.
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Anyone remember Parkers TD catch? There wasn’t a Packer player within 9 yards, that’s how open he was.
A second before the pass….Watch Nixon and Campbell, they are looking and pointing to something on the OPPOSITE side of the field, letting Parker run free as a bird.
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Lastly….rookie 4th rounder, 3rd string QB Bailey Zappe…107.4 passer rating….still?
For all the criticism, not one mention of Rodgers pick 6. But then, no one mentioned his pick last week that gave the Bucs a short field and the defense held to a FG. Joe Barry’s defense gave up 17 points. Your going to win a lot of games doing that. I’ve been saying since training camp Romeo Doubs is going to be a stud in this league. That back shoulder catch for a TD was a thing of beauty. LaFleur has to get the ball to Christian Watson more. He’s too talented not to. I’d leave Elgton Jenkins at RT until I know Bahktari is back for good. By then Jenkins should be fine at RT. It takes time coming back from ACL. What your seeing Kevin is Matt LaFleur’s offense for the first time since being hired as HC. Before it was just a bastardized version where Aaron Rodgers would throw 10 to 12 times a game to Davante Adams regardless of the play call. This offense is perfect for a big receiver like Allen Lazard. With a more even distribution of run vs pass and intermediate routes. It’s still a work in progress. But as the young WR’s continue to emerge and the tackles shake off the rust, there are signs we’re heading in the right direction. We’ll know more next month when the schedule get more difficult.
Why should we criticize Rodger’s killer, isn’t that your job?.
Whether about football, or not.
Whether real, or imagined.
Then repeated 80 times, as if once wasn’t enough.
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Go ahead Killer, who is Rodgers latest beard, and when is he going to get caught in a gay bathhouse?
You know everything right.
I thought the game was a disaster. Also, it was oddly boring to watch at least on offense. Rodgers only had 44 yards in the first half If I remember right. The defense was the only enjoyable part of the team for me to watch. Rashan Gary is awesome. I think he’s got a chance to be better than Zadarious Smith who I think lacked some of the play making ability that the Packers paid him that huge contract for. He got a lot of sacks and pressures but didn’t get turnovers in key moments. Gary had a couple sacks and forced a fumble. He plays hard but his technique is amazing. It’s disappointing that Alexander is hit and miss so far. But the defense is still not great. They struggled against the run in the second half. I don’t think they were aggressive enough. It should’ve been easy playing against a third string quarterback.
The offense is where all the problems are on this team. Rodgers sucked out there. The packers can’t afford to only play one half of decent football each game. Rodgers needs to figure it out, but when has that happened? Can Watson get more than 4 balls a game? Also, the Packers must have the worst timeout management in the NFL. Do they not realize that having timeouts at the end of the game is more valuable than saving a few yards on a delay of game or challenging questionable plays? Also, can they improve getting the play ready and set with more than 10 seconds on the playclock? This game never would’ve gone into OT if the Packers had timeouts to stop the clock at the end of the game. Instead they got the ball back with out 14 seconds.
Yea Joe…Especially when you consider the Packers first pass on offense gained 24 yards to Lazard.
I’m sure the fumble by Doubs on the 2nd play didn’t help much.
But i suppose we have no choice but to rely on rookies these days.
No knock on Doubs, but rookies make mistakes.
This is our world now on offense.
This is why, if you have S B aspirations, relying on a rookie draft class isn’t optimal.
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It’s probably Rodgers fault these new rookie receivers aren’t up to speed in the 1st 4 games of their rookie seasons.
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Nelson and Adams took 2 years minimum to be productive. Why he can’t get Doubs and Watson up to their level yet is inexcusable.
Rodgers!?!?…..You get Doubs and Watson up to Pro Bowl level by week 12 of their rookie season…or hit the bricks pal, enough of this shit already.
Teach Doubs not to fumble, and teach Watson how to run pro style routes and remind him he’s in the NFL now, this isn’t Division I
Jordan Love is breathing down your neck and he’s ready to make his way in the NFL.
Stop fucking around or we’ll have Jordan Love give you a ride to the airport.
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And if you want a tight end that does more than block….keep dreamin bitch.
But we’ll try to draft one next year in the 3rd round, how does that sound?
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Now get to work grandpa!!
Great post Joefan. What id like to know is when did Rodgers suddenly decide its ok to berate his fellow offensive teammates on the field? I keep seeing reruns of it on ESPN, he did it 2x! Once to Myers and once to one of our TE’s who isnt Tunyon. That shit isnt going to help build team chemistry.
I also saw on TV Rodgers in his weekly interview he would fire Lafluer and bring him back at less money. ???? Huh?
Anyways this team is going to have to figure it out sooner than later; Minnesota seems to quickly be learning that new offense they have over there and that young defense is only going to get better.
The mistakes on using up TO’s and general clock mismanagement are mind boggling. I thought we got rid of Mike Mcarthy?
Rashan Gary now has 5 sacks in 4 games. He single handedly stopped 4 or 5 NE drives on 3rd down. I lost count. He keeps this up and he’s got a shot at DPOY. Not bad for a “wasted” draft pick by Brian Gutekunst. But then, many around here think ALL of Gutekunst’s draft picks are wasted picks if the don’t directly contribute to Erin’s stats. I share your concerns on offense however, two things give me encouragement. First we have both our tackles back. It’s going to take some time to get them back into form but the fact there’s been no set backs is encouraging. Secondly, Rodgers isn’t punishing his rookie WR’s. After the fumble, the drop TD, he kept feeding the ball to Doubs. And he’s going to have to do the same with Watson. Rookies will make mistakes. You don’t bench Rodgers because he has a bad half. You don’t bench Rodgers because he throws a pick six. That would be foolish. Likewise it would be foolish to punish either Watson or Doubs because of Rookie mistakes. You keep feeding them the ball. Let them grow as receivers. This is all about having them ready come January. Rodgers seems to understand that.
You don’t bench Rodgers, or even say something so stupid. …period.
Unless you are a complete moron.
“You don’t bench Rodgers”….cool….let me go write that down.
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Why would anyone “punish” Doubs? For what, showing flashes that he can be a impact player in this league?
That’s almost as dumb as bringing up benching Rodgers.
Doubs is light years ahead of Watson. You can’t feed Watson the ball if he still doesn’t “get it”.
You think there might be reasons Watson hasn’t been fed the ball?
North Dakota State is a far cry from being a playmaker in the NFL.
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Read his scouting report, you might find it holds true.
Scouting excerpts…..
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“He needs to remain focused on the catch throughout the process. This could also be a byproduct of a propensity to rely on his body to secure the catch rather than routinely plucking the ball out of the air with his hands. There were examples of the ball sailing through his hands in what you’d consider relatively easy catching opportunities.”
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” Doesn’t play to his 40 time. Lacks a burst as well as quickness. Not a quick route runner.”
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“Very raw and inexperienced as a WR – far from a perfect route runner and has developed a tendency to round his routes off”
“Does not always use his hands to secure deep throws, allowing the ball into his pads and chest.
Has had an issue with drops”
“Has operated with a limited route tree – has beaten DBs with athleticism and speed rather than technique. He will not be able get away with this in the pros”
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Watson was a day 3 pick before the Senior Bowl and the combine.
At the combine he displayed speed and athleticism which got him rated higher instantly…Some GM’s love high RAS scores.
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This dude is developing way to slow, he doesn’t show you much, that’s if he’s even on the field.
Sure as hell not enough to trade up for an additional 2 round pick.
Good luck to the man, but i can’t help but think i’m looking at the next J’Mon Moore.
Sorry.
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Good to see Gary doing well….
Like i said from the beginning, he should have been starting, in place of Preston Smith, who i think was a waste of money and still is, before and after that new contract they gave him.
Gary’s first sack on Hoyer he came in almost free, but you have to credit his quickness for that.
The kick in the head he gave Hoyer with his left foot after the sack was uncalled for.
It instantly reminded me of something Ndamukong Suh would do.
If anyone wants to debate that….bring it, it won’t take me long.
His 2nd sack came against Isaiah Wynn who couldn’t handle Gary when he went outside and just blew by him with his speed. Kudos.
Why the fuck this guy sat on the bench behind P. Smith, i have no idea.
I’ll say it again you have the 12th pick, use him.
Sit on the bench the first season…ok, but how do you not start him his second season ahead of Smith?
I think because they were paying Smith too much money. (it wouldn’t look good to give Smith all that money, then bench him for Gary.
But i always thought, you put your best players on the field to win.
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The difference between Gary and Smith is night and day.
Gary doesn’t get a sack, and then take the rest of the game off.
Gary is much, much quicker.
Gary’s motor doesn’t stop.
” You keep feeding them the ball. Let them grow as receivers. This is all about having them ready come January. Rodgers seems to understand that.
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Yea…i think Rodgers might know what he has around him, i think he might know the situation. I think he “seems to understand that” like you said…..so profound, thank you!!. 🤨
I should go write that down so i don’t forget it.
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By your own words having them ready come January.
That’s another way of saying these regular season games are basically this years training camp for the offense trying to develop rookie receivers, in a hurry.
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I know it sounds bad, not being ready for the regular season because we’re relying on rookies and developing them during the season, i guess that’s the hand Rodgers and the offense was dealt.
It begs the question….was it done on purpose?
I think, it had to be, even Gute isn’t that incompetent…is he?
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But hey….look at the bright side, we have Jordan Love.
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What did Tommi tell us in the off-season…”we don’t need receivers……”
You don’t….if you don’t mind having one of the worst passing games in the NFL.
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Not sure why a team wants to pay a QB 50 million, then deplete his receiving talent.
Maybe i just don’t get it, maybe i’m not smart enough to understand Gutes “strategy” there.
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Maybe we can devote the next 12 1st round picks…to the offense, idk. 😏
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Tommi’s right…Lets get the rookies ready by January..Super Bowl…here we come.
Aaron Rodgers is the only QB where you hear all this: “ the WR’s have to earn his trust” nonsense. No other QB talks this way. There is absolutely no time for that shit. It’s now or never for Aaron Rodgers. He’s going to have to sacrifice his precious stats to have these young receivers ready for the playoffs. Where everyone needs to be peaking for this team to have a chance at a SB win. Luckily Rodgers seems to understand this and he kept feeding Doubs the ball. He’ll need to do the same with Christian Watson. Regardless of what you think of his scouting reports. You can back peddle all you want on Rashan Gary. He was the right pick in the first round of the draft and he’s a stud.
Lol….Listen up Nancy…..
Every QB in the NFL has to trust their receivers to run the right routes, execute the right timing.
Does that confuse you somehow?
This is the NFL…not kinder care.
No shit a QB has to have trust in their receivers. That’s not just exclusive with Rodgers in Green Bay.
Why do you think some receivers get over 100 targets a year, and some others might get 1-20 targets?
Dah..ummmm, birp…..could it be, that the (any) QB has more trust in the receiver getting over 100 targets than the guy who sits on the bench?
Their are reasons some receivers are starters, over the bench players, because the coaches trust them more to be productive.
Maybe they run crisp routes, maybe they know the offense better, maybe they have better timing, better hands.
Still confused?
It’s because the QB and coaches can trust them more!!!
This shit is fairly elementary.
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What do i have to explain to you next, the alphabet?
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Tom M 2 hours ago
Aaron Rodgers is the only QB where you hear all this: “ the WR’s have to earn his trust” nonsense. No other QB talks this way.
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No other QB has ever said that?
Fuck, listen to the ex QB’s calling the game
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Excuse me Tom…but seriously, no kidding around…are you really this stupid?
I didn’t back peddle Ragnar, i always said…if you’re the 12th pick of the draft, you should be starting, for sure in his 2nd year.
I also said it was a dumb pick after signing two edge rushers for over 100 million
And it was still dumb to this day.
Now..you have an over paid P. Smith.
And Z. Smith is costing you 11.4 against the cap this year, along with Turner at 5.8 million and your hero Kevin King at 3 million…by far, the highest dead money in Packer history.
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You should try to contact Kevin King, maybe you two can hang out now that he’s unemployed.
Maybe play chutes and ladders or something.
If you need help with the rules, i’m here for you, as always.
rebelgb 1 day ago
Great post Joefan. What id like to know is when did Rodgers suddenly decide its ok to berate his fellow offensive teammates on the field?
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Ummm…when they fuck up? Like Brady has done.
LOL…but yea…i think Rodgers owes you an explanation….lmao
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But maybe your right Rebel, he should wait till after the game or the next day.
Maybe take them out for lunch, give them a nice hug and ease into it slowly so as not to hurt anyone’s feelings.🙄
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Rodgers needs a center…..he can TRUST! lol 😏
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For those who……well, need some understanding.
Rodgers has a very small window left in his career, maybe what?…this year and next, right?
But here he is, trying to make rookies into veteran productive receivers instantly on the fly, in real games.
Or living with 2nd year players mistakes.
Does Rodgers set the bar high? Yes, i’m pretty sure he’s earned that.
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With Rodgers small window, will Rodgers get frustrated and lose patience over dumb mistakes and rookie’s who don’t “get it” ?
Gee……..idk
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He doesn’t have time to put training wheels on players in the NFL at this point in his career.
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I don’t think Rodgers asked for this…i don’t think he told Gute……
“Gute….draft me some tight ends and a receiver in the 3rd round that won’t be in the NFL very long, and while your at it, go ahead and get rid of any wr receiver talent we have.
Then draft me a couple rookie receivers who are supposed to be productive players right out of the gate.”
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No…that wasn’t requested to Gute.
Gute did that all on his own (smart)
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Every game, every announcer talks about the depleted receiving room of the Packers, and they all talk about having the rookies learn because they have to be productive.
They all talk about the Packers past drafts, and how many defensive players have been taken first.
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They also know who is responsible, but they can’t expand on that because they like having a job.
But…they know, we all know.
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This in spades. Who in there right mind pays your QB $50 mil per and then surrounds him with has been, never been and rookie receivers. Somethings not right with this kind of thinking.
I think PF4L is the greatest Packer fan of all time. Including me.
11 years, and finally recognized 🤗
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Thank you Stickman, i enjoy your post also.