Unpopular Opinion

[AmishMafia]

Haven't kept score, so you certainly may be correct about number of posts, but there's also certainly nothing to prevent the (opposite of doom and gloomers) from getting in their thoughts.

There are some Negative Nancies who post even when the team is winning, and ever since 2010, we've been right about tempering the enthusiasm. Actually, I was all for keeping a lid on it in 2010, and I was just as thrilled with the way things turned out as anyone.

It's a human nature thing, not just a packer fan thing. Very evident in politics especially current political climate. If one party decided that beer should be designated the national beverage, only those who oppose alcohol and the promotion of its consumption will protest. Though I believe the vast majority of Americans enjoy beer, there is no reason for these people to show up at the capital with pro beer messages. But anti beer people will, giving the erroneous illusion of a lopsided public opinion.

I believe the majority of Packer fans are rational even-keeled people. But there are some that think we should win the Lombardi every year and anything short of that is failure. My own father would get upset and complain every play we failed to pick up at least 8 yards. We could be up 3 scores and he would yell if our run play was stuffed at the line.

 

[Phazael]

For me, its this simple. We are closing in on 30 straight years of HOF caliber QB play in a league where some teams never see even an average QB in the same time span. Coach McRib has had a dozen years straight of that time frame and has one ring to show for it, during a lucky wild card run that saw us win against an aging Steelers Dynasty with defense being key to the run. A guy who has had a dozen years at the job in the same place with that kind of talent at the most critical position should not be having anything resembling this level of discipline or consistency problems. But once again, we see the team coming out flat and basically playing down to the competition. The Seattle NFC Championship disaster should have been the end of him and WOULD have for just about any other coach, especially on the heels of the year before. Instead, here we are again squandering things.

 

[ShockwaveRider]

For me, its this simple. We are closing in on 30 straight years of HOF caliber QB play in a league where some teams never see even an average QB in the same time span. Coach McRib has had a dozen years straight of that time frame and has one ring to show for it, during a lucky wild card run that saw us win against an aging Steelers Dynasty with defense being key to the run. A guy who has had a dozen years at the job in the same place with that kind of talent at the most critical position should not be having anything resembling this level of discipline or consistency problems. But once again, we see the team coming out flat and basically playing down to the competition. The Seattle NFC Championship disaster should have been the end of him and WOULD have for just about any other coach, especially on the heels of the year before. Instead, here we are again squandering things.

I still believe the Packers won the Super Bowl in SPITE of McCarthy, not BECAUSE of McCarthy.

I believe, if anything, Packers fans are (on the whole) TOO patient and TOO lenient toward McCarthy. I don't really hate the guy and I wouldn't call him Coach McRib (maybe Coach McDoubleQuarterPounderWithCheese).

How well do you think Mike McCarthy have done with a Blaine Gabbert or equivalent at QB? How many years do you think he would last?

I think what AR12 needs is a dynamic game plan and at least one or two WRs that can actually achieve separation and get open. AR12 had all day in the pocket against the Lions. Our ****** grannies could have got open.

I'm not giving up on the Packers because there's no other game in town.

Thank the Lord I've been a Milwaukee Brewers fan literally since Day 1. Talk about a long suffering fan base.

I'm seeing the Packers at 3-4-1 at midseason, on the way to 6-9-1.

Pathetic.

Shockwave

 

[aristotle]

I offer my personal guarantee that they will not finish at 9-7.

I hope you are right, I just don'e see it now

 

[Phazael]

I go back to the Lynn ****ie era, so I am not expecting a ring every year. But when you have this kind of chance to get one, I would like to see us seize it for once. I have to think AR feels the same way at this point.

 

[I asked LT to delete my acct]

I'd allow "1/2 Empty"

Maybe 1/3rd ??? You are a legend already

 

[ExpatPacker]

I like the way the defense has been playing. We'll see if they get blown out against either the Rams or the Pats. If they don't then maybe, just maybe we will no longer have to suffer a Dom Capers defense anymore.

I don't like the way Rodgers has been playing. He's hurt, I get that, but is it me or do his on-the-field decisions seem to be less good? Am I seeing guys wide open that Rodgers has missed seeing too often, or is that something any QB is going to miss often enough? I don't know. When I see Brees continue to have monster games and Rodgers and this offense sputter, then get hot, then sputter again and again, I wonder.

 

[PackerfaninCarolina]

Scrolling through the forums from the past few weeks, I feel like I have a very unpopular opinion:

I am not worried about this team. I mean honestly, yesterday was the best our offense has looked all season. If it was not for 5 missed field goals, the Packers win that game. The defense did not look that bad either, when the opposing offense gets the ball at the 1 yard line and two rare Aaron Rodgers strip sacks occur, you cannot really blame the defense. I feel like I am the only person not burning my Packers gear. RELAX! Don’t we ALWAYS lose a division game on the road we are expected to win? And with Aaron Rodgers healthy, don’t we ALWAYS make it into playoffs? Maybe I am being too optimistic, but the Lions were opportunistic yesterday and we were not. If you play that game over again, we win 9 out of 10 times. The Packers are the better team. Get Mason Crosby’s head right and were fine to move on.

No no no, see you don't understand. This is an offense that is so bad it will only work if Rodgers is completing 100℅ of his passes. He has to throw the ball through air tight windows so small you can barely fit a soda can through them.

Mike McCarthy is clueless, he doesn't understand you're supposed to put linebackers on your wide receivers to cover them. He doesn't know you're supposed to be aggressive with the play calling and run the football 40 times in the game with Aaron Jones.

No no no, a good team must always start fast and not have any penalties, how dare you bring optimism here?

 

[ExpatPacker]

No no no, see you don't understand. This is an offense that is so bad it will only work if Rodgers is completing 100℅ of his passes. He has to throw the ball through air tight windows so small you can barely fit a soda can through them.

Mike McCarthy is clueless, he doesn't understand you're supposed to put linebackers on your wide receivers to cover them. He doesn't know you're supposed to be aggressive with the play calling and run the football 40 times in the game with Aaron Jones.

No no no, a good team must always start fast and not have any penalties, and optimism is forbidden here.

Well, you have to admit that the Packers have started abysmally slow in at least 3 of the 5 games they have played so far. It's not like we're just belly-aching.

 

[Half Empty]

I go back to the Lynn ****ie era, so I am not expecting a ring every year. But when you have this kind of chance to get one, I would like to see us seize it for once. I have to think AR feels the same way at this point.

Very succinctly stating what I go to great lengths to explain - it's all about expectations. In the Gory Years, I was almost never disappointed in the season because they never started the year with any realistic hope. Thus, the Pack winning any individual game could be extremely satisfying, and losing was just ho-hum. In the Favre/Rodgers era, which is roughly the same length of time now, there have been very few years where they weren't in the top handful of teams expected to take the Lombardi. Hence, sure, I'm brutal on them when they don't produce, which to mean means producing a SB win.

It's the sort of thing that makes this last game so painful - in the short term, I'd already relaxed at halftime, knowing they were done. Then, to come as close as they did and still lose because of one (fill in the blank) was crushing. In the long term, if they get hot at the end but still miss the playoffs because of the Lions game, I'll...

 

[RRyder]

Yup, gonna go to game Monday as tix are coming easy right now. It's a "must win" and they rolling Beathard.

Rams are due for an "L" and have injuries mounting up with us coming off a bye.

At New England and Belichick have me worried but if we can split Rams and NE were good.

This is where I'm at. Split those games and we're in good shape. Nobody in the NFC impresses outside of the Rams. If they can grab one of those two games they'll be in good shape to hopefully peak at the right time

 

[Heyjoe4]

Some perspective on Crosby seems warranted. I don’t have the numbers, but think he hit 80% last year and with the exception of one terrible season (2008 maybe?) he’s been one of the more reliable STs players. Yeah, he gets paid a lot to make those kicks, and Sunday was really, really weird, but I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. I think he made 10 of 11 going into Sunday, so let’s not panic yet. But if you do want something to panic about, look no further than the Safeties and Edge Rushers. HHCD is not coming out of his 2017 funk, Perry is overpaid and overrated, and CMIII is getting up there in age for such a demanding position. Glute couldn’t fix everything this year, and likely got outbid for Mack’s services. These two groups have to improve if we’re to have a prayer of a split with the Rams and Pats, both on the road. I’m not throwing in the towel on 2018, yet. But the Niners game is suddenly a “must win”. Way too early to be in that situation.

 

[weeds]

(I hate this cliche [so I'm gonna use it]) IT IS WHAT IT IS! The notorious slow starting Green Bay Packers will alllll toooo slowllllyyyy fall into sync game 7 or 8 and play chase the leader in the NFC North - and end up taking the long road thru the playoffs.

It's tired. It's worn out. It's the bad song on the radio every time you tune in. We see glimmers early on but something always poops in our oatmeal early on.

Come November, it'll be something else that grinds our beans...probably involving the Vikings.

 

[sjb12681]

There's no doubt that this team "can" win. I think we are certainly talented enough and should win against SF.

There are no automatic games in the NFL, but off are we should be able to get this one fairly handily.

The same can't be said for LA and NE. In that scenario, we are the team that will need to play well while they struggle to get the W.

to me that's not 1/2full or empty. That's the reality of the roster and coaching to date this season.

 

[Half Empty]

Some perspective on Crosby seems warranted. I don’t have the numbers, but think he hit 80% last year and with the exception of one terrible season (2008 maybe?) he’s been one of the more reliable STs players. Yeah, he gets paid a lot to make those kicks, and Sunday was really, really weird, but I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. I think he made 10 of 11 going into Sunday, so let’s not panic yet. But if you do want something to panic about, look no further than the Safeties and Edge Rushers. HHCD is not coming out of his 2017 funk, Perry is overpaid and overrated, and CMIII is getting up there in age for such a demanding position. Glute couldn’t fix everything this year, and likely got outbid for Mack’s services. These two groups have to improve if we’re to have a prayer of a split with the Rams and Pats, both on the road. I’m not throwing in the towel on 2018, yet. But the Niners game is suddenly a “must win”. Way too early to be in that situation.

http://www.nfl.com/player/masoncrosby/2507232/profile

Slightly under 80% last year and for his career. 2012 was 'good grief' year. CaptWIMM elsewhere has the info to evaluate him against other kickers, especially as regards cost.

 

[Mondio]

The only thing different about Crosby and other kickers is the team he plays for. If you work hard, be a team player, do what they ask, they will give you the benefit of the doubt. Most kickers don't get a chance to work thru what Crosby has been allowed to work thru. They never get the chance to miss that many I don't think Crosby is some magical kicker. I think he's been rather solid with a couple rough patches most noteably last sunday and then a few years ago. Whatever his stats say is what they say. But I don't remember too many times outside of those two times where I was thinking Crosby is just a bad kicker. He's mostly made what he should make. He's hit some big ones like in Dallas and missed some like against the Vikings this year.

Regardless of what he was or has been, he has to get kicking right quickly. Doesn't matter how hard you work if you're missing 5 kicks a game. That won't last long. The thing is, none of those kicks looked bad, they just missed. pretty much everything up to the point and even the ball in the air looked like a good kick, snap, hold, kick. Mostly smooth and flying right. Then left, then at an upright. Weird. He's been thru it before. he needs to figure it out quickly. that last kick he made in Detroit was probably one of the toughest he's ever had to kick and he nailed it. It's easy to do stuff when things are going great. Going back out there after missing 4 kicks and an PA attempt, that's rough mentally. I'm hoping it's a sign of things to come. We need him to make kicks and I'd rather not go looking now for a new one.

 

[Sunshinepacker]

I like the way the defense has been playing. We'll see if they get blown out against either the Rams or the Pats. If they don't then maybe, just maybe we will no longer have to suffer a Dom Capers defense anymore.

I don't like the way Rodgers has been playing. He's hurt, I get that, but is it me or do his on-the-field decisions seem to be less good? Am I seeing guys wide open that Rodgers has missed seeing too often, or is that something any QB is going to miss often enough? I don't know. When I see Brees continue to have monster games and Rodgers and this offense sputter, then get hot, then sputter again and again, I wonder.

Since it's somewhat rare for HOF QBs in the prime of their career to suffer sudden, precipitous declines in play, I would look at other reasons outside of Rodgers for why his play has declined. I'm not saying he's not playing worse than usual (he is) but the cause is most likely that he doesn't trust the offense and therefore isn't following the play designs all the time. I'll also point out that it's a LOT easier in the NFL to find a good offensive coach than it is to find a HOF QB so I know which one I would replace in the offseason.

 

[Mondio]

Since it's somewhat rare for HOF QBs in the prime of their career to suffer sudden, precipitous declines in play, I would look at other reasons outside of Rodgers for why his play has declined. I'm not saying he's not playing worse than usual (he is) but the cause is most likely that he doesn't trust the offense and therefore isn't following the play designs all the time. I'll also point out that it's a LOT easier in the NFL to find a good offensive coach than it is to find a HOF QB so I know which one I would replace in the offseason.

you really think MM and Philbin have installed an offense in which Rodgers can't function? Or having a sprained MCL, limited mobility, limited practice time himself, top 3 receivers missing more than a handful of limited practices, offensive line changes, missing receivers in the game and more rookies than vets on the field is the cause? I know which one is infinitely more likely give the 2 scenarios.

 

[gopkrs]

I don't know if it is his knee or not but his accuracy has not been great. On passes all over the field. I still have confidence in him...I wonder if he has confidence in his O line. He seems to be pressing. Just a guess.

 

[XPack]

I mean honestly, yesterday was the best our offense has looked all season.

The defense did not look that bad either, when the opposing offense gets the ball at the 1 yard line and two rare Aaron Rodgers strip sacks occur, you cannot really blame the defense.

Ironically those 2 statements pretty much sum up this seasons troubles. Our offence has been below par all season and including the Lions game. The 'best' was more likes 'best of a bad lot' performance for me. Can chalk some of it to loss of Cobb & GMo, but the feel is just not there. They are not smooth and it shown in AR's throws. Nearly intercepted last game too. Lots of positives, though and it's not end of world doomsday. Hopefully we'll pick up.

Defence was not great when faced against veteran QBs. Still miles better than last season crapfest, but more holes to fill. Can't blame Mike for not having a magic wand...but we are moving in the right direction, just not there yet.

 

[sschind]

Scrolling through the forums from the past few weeks, I feel like I have a very unpopular opinion:

I am not worried about this team. I mean honestly, yesterday was the best our offense has looked all season. If it was not for 5 missed field goals, the Packers win that game. The defense did not look that bad either, when the opposing offense gets the ball at the 1 yard line and two rare Aaron Rodgers strip sacks occur, you cannot really blame the defense. I feel like I am the only person not burning my Packers gear. RELAX! Don’t we ALWAYS lose a division game on the road we are expected to win? And with Aaron Rodgers healthy, don’t we ALWAYS make it into playoffs? Maybe I am being too optimistic, but the Lions were opportunistic yesterday and we were not. If you play that game over again, we win 9 out of 10 times. The Packers are the better team. Get Mason Crosby’s head right and were fine to move on.

The only thing is that even if they make the FGs against Detroit that is no guarantee they win the game. Give the Packers 12 or even 9 extra points and I can almost guarantee Detroit would have played differently. It may very well have led to them scoring more points as well.

I like the attitude though and its similar to mine. I just can't picture me with all the doom and gloom that I see with some of these posters. Note that not all negative posts are doom and gloom. I get the frustrations and that's one thing. We are all frustrated but to write them off (no chance against the Rams and Pats for example) you might as well just stop watching unless you enjoy watching losers because that is what you think they are. If I thought they had no chance I'd just give up and stop watching all together.

 

[Phazael]

The biggest gripe I had was attempting that 56 yarder. At that point with what had gone on, you go for it on 4th. You don't put your guy who is having a rough day in that kind of position, especially at that point in the game. That's how you wreck your kicker for good, and there is not an abundance of workable ones out there right now if no one has noticed. Watching the game with my lions fan friend, I jokingly said "now we are going to try a 55 yarder" and lo and behold, that's what McNugget called. We both laughed and could not believe it. But it does speak to a major issue with McCarthy.

McMuffin plays the numbers and percentages (not bad, Darth Bill does the same as do other successful coaches), but he is incapable of getting a feel for who the hot hands are and who is having an off day. Like, he completely ignores it and sticks to his numbers. On paper, based on the score, time, and Crosby's career numbers, that kick was the right decision. But taking into account the man himself and the kind of day he was having, it was the worst call imaginable, especially since we HAVE to go forward with Crosby and Rogers was getting hot at that point. Game flow and player emotion is completely beyond MM, which is why we blew games like the Seattle NFC Championship and probably why we always look so flat in games. And its fits with everything else about him, like his dogmatic scripted play order he uses every game and our apparent unwillingness to pick on backup players when a starter is out on the opposing Defense. The guy is great with the numbers game, but a giant turdburger with the ebb and flow of the game and his players.

 

[AmishMafia]

I still believe the Packers won the Super Bowl in SPITE of McCarthy, not BECAUSE of McCarthy.

I believe, if anything, Packers fans are (on the whole) TOO patient and TOO lenient toward McCarthy. I don't really hate the guy and I wouldn't call him Coach McRib (maybe Coach McDoubleQuarterPounderWithCheese).

How well do you think Mike McCarthy have done with a Blaine Gabbert or equivalent at QB? How many years do you think he would last?

I think what AR12 needs is a dynamic game plan and at least one or two WRs that can actually achieve separation and get open. AR12 had all day in the pocket against the Lions. Our ****** grannies could have got open.

I'm not giving up on the Packers because there's no other game in town.

Thank the Lord I've been a Milwaukee Brewers fan literally since Day 1. Talk about a long suffering fan base.

I'm seeing the Packers at 3-4-1 at midseason, on the way to 6-9-1.

Pathetic.

Shockwave

Maybe the reason we are not winning SBs is because of AR. When is the last time a QB woth a top 5 contract won a SB? Maybe it is ARs salary that holds the Packers back.

Since it's somewhat rare for HOF QBs in the prime of their career to suffer sudden, precipitous declines in play, I would look at other reasons outside of Rodgers for why his play has declined. I'm not saying he's not playing worse than usual (he is) but the cause is most likely that he doesn't trust the offense and therefore isn't following the play designs all the time. I'll also point out that it's a LOT easier in the NFL to find a good offensive coach than it is to find a HOF QB so I know which one I would replace in the offseason.

So . . . Rodgers doesnt trust his offense so he doesnt throw the ball to Adam's who has 3 steps on a DB? Is this what you believe?

 

[Sunshinepacker]

Maybe the reason we are not winning SBs is because of AR. When is the last time a QB woth a top 5 contract won a SB? Maybe it is ARs salary that holds the Packers back.

So . . . Rodgers doesnt trust his offense so he doesnt throw the ball to Adam's who has 3 steps on a DB? Is this what you believe?

Yes. That's the point. If he doesn't trust the offense then he's not going through his progressions as they are designed. Or, as you seem to be implying, you think Rodgers has just randomly become a worse QB for some unrelated reason.

 

[Sunshinepacker]

you really think MM and Philbin have installed an offense in which Rodgers can't function? Or having a sprained MCL, limited mobility, limited practice time himself, top 3 receivers missing more than a handful of limited practices, offensive line changes, missing receivers in the game and more rookies than vets on the field is the cause? I know which one is infinitely more likely give the 2 scenarios.

I didn't say he couldn't function. I said he didn't trust it. Again, the options are either, he's not respecting the reads as they are designed and he's going off the reservation on play calls because he's used to things breaking down OR he's suddenly lost his mojo and is no longer one of the best QBs in the NFL. Since it's rare for QBs at his age to suddenly decline I tend to believe in the former.