Can We Get A Do Over? » Brats & Beer

August 13, 2006
posted under: Packers, Pre-season

I would like to propose the NFL competition committee consider a rule change for the preseason: A do over rule. If a team goes three and out on its first three possessions or generates less than 2.5 yards per carry or gives up a touchdown on its first defensive series, that head coach should be able to declare a mulligan, both teams go back to their dressing rooms and start the game over. Well, getting a do over probably wouldn’t have helped the Packers much anyway last night against the San Diego Chargers.

I was prepared for some rough spots to show themselves, it being the first preseason game for a pretty young team and new coaching staff, but last night’s performance was so bad as to call into question what the Green and Gold has been doing for the past two weeks in camp. We’ve been hearing from Mike McCarthy for months about commitment to the run and zone blocking and so forth, which all sounds great, but if that’s your strategy then I think you have to run the ball more than throw it: The first team offense had 20 plays and just seven of those were runs for a total of 12 yards. Those are not good numbers. The first unit only earned three first downs, and two of those came via penalties on the Chargers.

Adding to the futility were the sacks. Favre was taken down on two consecutive plays for big losses on the second possession. As a lineman, it is tantamount that you not allow your 15-year veteran QB to take lumps in the first exhibition game. The Chargers were able to get two more sacks later in the game. Yeah, we have some work to do.

The defense did not look much better. San Diego marched 64 yards in five plays to score a touchdown on their first possession, then dominated the second quarter with a 10 minute scoring drive. Both AJ Hawk and Al Harris got burned on that first drive and no one seemed willing or able to stop Vincent Jackson from making catches on crossing routes. Adding to the misery, Green Bay’s run defense went AWOL allowing backup Michael Turner to rack up 43 yards on nine carries with a touchdown.

On the plus side of things, Aaron Rodgers seemed to be playing with a sense of urgency and poise, at least according to everyone actually watching the game. (Being far from any TV station that would be showing the game, I was listening to Larry McCarren and Wayne Larrivee on the radio. Thank the stars for NFL Field Pass.) Rookie Greg Jennings also had a good game with four catches for 68 yards, though he did drop the one pass that would have converted on fourth down. Kudos to McCarthy for going for it on fourth and two, but at that point it really didn’t matter, did it?

So yeah, there’s a lot of work to be done before Saturday when the Falcons come to Lambeau Field. We better hear about the offensive line getting a real workout this week in running drills and pass protection. We better hear some pissed off Packers in the newspaper admitting they were embarrassed to be on the field and vowing not to do that again. This is reality check time, and someone’s got to pay the bill. (Or something like that.)