No Amount of Analytics Can Measure Mindset
Intangibles can help win the day. How will young Packers respond?
So it turns out, it’s liberating to go into a Packers season free from the burdens of playoff expectations, drama and a quarterback’s closing window. Other windows have opened instead, letting in fresh air and the sweet smells of upside.
In these situations intangibles play an outsized role, and will even more on Sunday in Chicago in light of the possibility that the team's top two receivers will be out.
Much is made of how young this team is. Inexperience is always a concern, but for decades the Packers (and Aaron Rodgers in particular) often made younger players walk on eggshells, with one mistake landing them in the kennel. Rarely did first-year players see the field, and even second-year players were often limited.
No longer. The clear sense coming out of training camp and pre-season games is that Packers have unshackled the kids and are leaning into a promising youth movement. It's a welcome change, one that will pay dividends over time.
But a key will be the mindset of these young players. There will be mistakes, ups and downs, and how they handle the pressure will matter. How much confidence they will play with will matter. Same goes for Jordan Love, that grizzled vet, who barely has any experience in games that count.
We are assured that Love is a cool customer, with the mental makeup to maintain an even keel. You need that in your quarterback. On defense, you want aggression, at a level the Packers have rarely shown the past few years.
Kenny Clark has been quoted as saying we’re going to see a new, more aggressive scheme. That bar should be easy to clear, given Joe Barry’s maddening soft zone, but perhaps the young players all around him will play with more punishing style and fly to the football. In particular, I’ll be looking for this from second-year players such as Quay Walker and Devonte Wyatt, to step up and out-hustle their opposite numbers.
On both sides of the ball, the Packers need to make it their mission to dictate, rather than react. If there’s a banner above the locker room door that players tap on the way to the field, it should say “Dictate!” Among other things, it means punching the opposition in the nose before they even get settled, using physicality and elements of surprise.
Physical, aggressive defenses can dictate the tempo, scheme and action to opposing offenses. Lesser squads wait to see what the offense does and tries to respond accordingly. It’s a battle of wills, and the mindset needs to be, “we still own you.” It will be interesting to see if mild-mannered Matt LaFleur can get his players appropriately amped.
One last intangible is playing on the road. Aaron Rodgers had great success at Soldier Field, but it’s not an easy place to play for visitors. Jordan Love is bound to have jitters purely based on this being one of the biggest moments of his young life. A hostile atmosphere won’t make things any easier unless Love, like his predecessor, shuts the home crowd down with stellar play. It’s too soon to expect that, so here’s to the next best thing: pushing the Bears back on their heels and never letting them get in rhythm.
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Jonathan Krim grew up in New York but got hooked on the Packers — and on hating the Cowboys — watching the Ice Bowl as a young child. He blames bouts of unhappiness in his late teens on Dan Devine. A journalist for several decades who now lives in California, he enjoys trafficking in obscure cultural references, lame dad jokes and occasionally preposterous takes. Jonathan is a Packers shareholder, and insists on kraut with his brats. You can follow Jonathan on twitter at @Jkrim.
__________________________
Comments (71)
10ve 💚
September 08, 2023 at 06:32 am
“Dictate!”
I like it. Let's dictate this coming Sunday at Soldier Field!
Go Pack Go!
dobber
September 08, 2023 at 06:49 am
"Mindset"
'Losing is a disease...as contagious as polio...' --this was from the locker-room psychiatrist in "The Natural" as the NY Knights struggled through a crappy season, but it's also the most important reason why this young team needs to start fast. The majority of these guys come from programs that are used to winning more than they lose (even if it means propping up the schedule with 3-4 games against directional schools and old DI-AA teams).
Two things that need to happen with a young team: they need to find early successes, and they need to develop the resilience and grit to respond when they lose. I'm hoping this young team finds more "punch them in the mouth" than some previous Packers teams. We don't want a locker room full of youngsters getting used to looking for moral victories.
greengold
September 08, 2023 at 07:08 am
Exactly. Moral victories? I fart in Jonathan’s general direction. There’s none of that…
Beat the living piss out of CHI.
I fully expect the Packers and Matt LaFleur to deliver.
TKWorldWide
September 08, 2023 at 07:44 am
1. Is your mother a hamster?
2. Does your father smell of elderberries?
3. 😉
4. GPG!
egbertsouse
September 08, 2023 at 08:14 am
I fart in your general direction.
TKWorldWide
September 08, 2023 at 10:38 am
Get in line, brother!
Coldworld
September 08, 2023 at 07:52 am
Young teams need belief, individually and collectively, that typically comes from the coaches in large part. Have ours got that ability?
jannesbjornson
September 08, 2023 at 09:27 am
Walsh started three rookies in his defensive backfield and won the SB. Talent and coaching win games. The objective stays the same, get into the Playoffs.
Bearmeat
September 09, 2023 at 11:06 am
Boy you really hate LaFleur. You have for years. We're going to find out this year if the problem was 12 or the head coach. I think it was the latter, and you think the former.
I believe we will be better this year than we were last year.
Thegreatreynoldo
September 08, 2023 at 09:50 am
If starting out strong is important, then the NFL schedule makers obliged by scheduling the Bears and Falcons to open the year. Then there are three more beatable teams in NO, Detroit and LVR before the bye.
Packerpasty
September 08, 2023 at 10:13 am
Lions didnt look too shabby last night...got a few breaks from Toney and his butterfingers but still....they handled Pack twice last year...
Leatherhead
September 08, 2023 at 01:53 pm
They scored 14 last night, plus the gift.
Last year, against us, they scored 16 and 20. No gifts.
The Lions did not beat themselves with mistakes or turnovers. I mean, they tried a couple of times (they are the Lions, after all), but KC had some good chances and didn't make it happen. If they're 3-0 in three weeks, it pretty much guarantees that Detroit/GB will be nationally televised. An excellent opportunity, IMO, to kind of crush their spirit a little bit.
mnbadger
September 08, 2023 at 01:20 pm
Reynaldo, I Can't agree that lions are beatable by our packers, just yet.
That was an impressive team effort last night. They executed efficiently.
It seemed that every receiver pmahomes threw to had two or more d'backs within 4 feet.
I'm not sure if that's coaching, talent or what?
I still have nightmares about the first 10 or so games last year when opponents' no name receivers were wide open, catching passes from no name qb's.
GPG!
jannesbjornson
September 08, 2023 at 10:24 pm
Aaron Glenn got rid of the poseurs. Kirby Joseph is the real deal. All the Illini DBs trained in Lovie's system went in the NFL draft and are starting, or will be soon as per Sydney Brown. Savage is now on the clock. He has to prove his draft status was not a mistake.
NickPerry
September 08, 2023 at 06:49 am
The Packers have one of if not the best RB duos in the NFL along with an excellent O-Line...USE them, especially earlier in the season while Love and this young group of WRs & TEs get experience. Maybe it happens quickly, maybe it takes until midseason or later, but LEAN on your running game. In both games last year the Packers outgained the Bears in rushing. The Packers O-Line and RBs are just BETTER than the Bears Defense...PERIOD!
On Defense it's time for the eight 1st round draft picks to put up or shut up. Not just Wyatt and Walker need to step up even though I think they will. I think Quay Walker is going to be great, he's just GOT to keep his cool. But Walker is fast enough and more than athletic enough to spy and keep Fields in check.
TKWorldWide
September 08, 2023 at 07:47 am
If you were Chi’s DC, would you load the box? Perfectly reasonable to expect them to.
And when (not if) that happens, does GB have the weapons to burn them deep? With Watson on the field, my answer is “hell yes!” But even without Watson, it’s still a “yes”.
GPG!
Coldworld
September 08, 2023 at 07:57 am
If Watson isn’t out there, I’d use Reed and elevate Melton to maintain that deep speed against Chicago. It’s not about always catching it’s about threatening to, as MVS showed. My fear is that LaFleur will just go conservative with personnel and routes. Sometimes you have to try to take games by the scruff of the neck, particularly when veterans are few and far between.
dobber
September 08, 2023 at 08:33 am
It may also put more pressure on Musgrave to stretch the seam and generate downfield pressure up the middle rather than at/outside the numbers.
jannesbjornson
September 08, 2023 at 09:31 am
Chicago has solid safeties. They can pressure the D backs with 12 sets and work the combinations. I expect Kraft to leak out on a sleeper play.
WestCoastPackerBacker
September 08, 2023 at 05:18 pm
Isn't Melton dealing with a hamstring injury as well? Looks like Romeo Doubs is a maybe, Dontayvion Wicks is probably available, but did he play at all the pre-season?
SicSemperTyrannis
September 09, 2023 at 01:05 am
Is Bo Melton even ready to go, or is he still injured?
greengold
September 08, 2023 at 06:49 am
That wasn’t the big finish I was looking for, Jonathan.
Big game for Chicago? You bet. But if the best Matt LaFleur and his Packers team can do is to get CHI “playing on their heels..?”
No.
Big game for Matt LaFleur? Without a doubt. LaFleur and the Green Bay Packers need to make a statement by winning this game decisively. All 3 phases need to perform at their highest levels.
This isn’t about the Bears. This is about the Packers dominating a lesser foe, and Matt LaFleur showing he has what it takes to do just that.
What do I “expect?” I expect a well prepared Packers team to run the Bears over. No mercy. Don’t just punch Chicago in the face. Deck ‘em and pummel them some more. Go for the early round KO, and keep pouring it on till the clock says 0:00.
The word is D O M I N A T E . That is ours, thanks to Reggie White. Use it. Do it. Dominate!
LFG GPG CTFB AGNFB
LambeauPlain
September 08, 2023 at 07:31 am
"It will be interesting to see if mild-mannered Matt LaFleur can get his players appropriately amped."
Mild mannered amping is an oxymoron. "Amping" is the MO of the HC in Detroit and it works with his personality. That is not not MLF. Most folks know that after 4 years. He's more Bill Walsh than Vince.
I too am expecting MLF be well prepared in all phases, clearing identifying Bear strengths and weaknesses vs his team. And knowing how to best attack Bear weaknesses with his players' strengths...again in all phases. And stay on the attack.
What should be new this year is the the involvement of his Assistant HC Bisaccia helping get the team locked, loaded, and ready to roll over the Bears. Don't know how involved Rich is in game day prep, but hope he is in the middle of it.
"Amping" does fit Rich.
TKWorldWide
September 08, 2023 at 07:54 am
Cannot argue with the points you make, but I’d add that winning is an endorsement of whatever style a coach uses. Here’s when I came to that realization:
Tom Landry. Stoic. When Dallas was great (for many, many years) he was “cerebral”, a “steady influence”. When Dallas descended into craptown, his style remained the same. “You gotta be who you are. Players can detect phony BS like a shark detects blood in the water.” But suddenly his demeanor “sucked”. He wasn’t “firing them up”, etc, etc. Thus proving that winning is the only real measuring stick.
Just win, baby!
And
GPG!
SicSemperTyrannis
September 09, 2023 at 01:08 am
Agreed, MLF is about even keel and level headed strategy. I don't know who's in charge of the amping department, but it's not MLF. Player leadership? Plenty of room for that on our defense ...
dobber
September 08, 2023 at 08:34 am
"That wasn’t the big finish I was looking for"
--Robert Kraft
LLCHESTY
September 08, 2023 at 11:41 am
Was that when he was leaving the massage parlor?
The_Justicar
September 08, 2023 at 01:02 pm
Thumbs up for creativity
mnbadger
September 08, 2023 at 06:56 pm
He got a handy for $150 from an enslaved teenage girl.
He walks freely among us, blowhards heaping praise on him, and he can pay a fine and walk away as if he was a victim?
You or do that and we're outcast socially, forced to register as a sex offender, lose everything, and live out our lives in shame.
The two main differences between he and us?
1. We'd never consider doing it.
2. $7,600,000,000.
GPG!
WestCoastPackerBacker
September 08, 2023 at 05:33 pm
You expect the youngest team in the NFL, including a new starting QB to perform by "winning this game decisively" and "perform(ing) at their highest levels?"
You don't imagine your expectations might be a little unreasonable? I wonder how long it will take Packer fans to fall out of love with Love if he doesn't perform immediately. GB fans are so used to winning they can't deal with it when the squad can't dominate. Rodgers was a huge part of that domination. I don't think we can expect that to continue. I think the most we can hope for is that they are in every game, and don't get dominated themselves.
GTPack
September 08, 2023 at 07:39 am
Lots of bravado in the comments here and I don’t get much sense that there will be any flexibility for this team’s inevitable struggles as it matures. Young players will make mistakes and there will be losses, probably more than wins to start the new Love era. Hopefully, Packer Nation will resist the “fire everybody” sentiment as the team grows over the next couple years. If the effort is there, then the team, coaches and management should be supported. The talent is there for some entertaining plays and the experience gained this year will be rewarded if everyone is patient.
Coldworld
September 08, 2023 at 08:01 am
There’s a difference between errors of inexperience from players and poor schematic and tactical decisions. We expect mistakes from rookies, or should. Our coaches on O and D are not rookies. If their performance is inept it’s perfectly reasonable to call that out.
LambeauPlain
September 08, 2023 at 08:32 am
Inevitable struggles.
Immaturity.
Mistakes.
More losses than wins to start the new era.
If the effort is there (moral victory).
Entertaining plays (vs winning games).
That reads like a summary of the Bears team culture. Has been the Lions too, but has been scrapped the last few years.
That has not been the culture of the Green Bay Packers in the MLF and Gutey era. Nor with Ball or MM. I do not expect any of these outcomes are mentioned, expected or will be accepted on this team.
Maybe with some fans. Not me. Everyone makes mistakes, not just young players. Winners overcome them. GPG!
dobber
September 08, 2023 at 12:12 pm
The Packers will certainly going to make mistakes on Sunday. If they're going to make mistakes, I hope they're 100 mph with their hair on fire. Play fast, put pressure on the opponent to match your intensity, let the chips fall.
HarryHodag
September 08, 2023 at 08:30 am
The Lions victory over the Chiefs should give all Packers fans(and the NFC North) a wake up call. The Lions stopped the Packers at home to ruin a playoff bid, now they go to a hostile Arrowhead Stadium and knock off the champs.
This is what can happen when you finally draft smart, have an enthusiastic coaching staff(MLF note) and play good defense.
The Packers are like the Lions in that the national sports media dopes wholly underestimate what they can do so a nice start would be to go to Chicago and dominate the Bears.
dobber
September 08, 2023 at 08:37 am
Yes, they won...barely, against a team that has been there before, knows titles aren't won in September against NFC opponents, and lacking its best defender and best skill position player.
This was Detroit's superbowl. They played hard. They won. Good for them.
jannesbjornson
September 08, 2023 at 09:39 am
Kelce would have held onto the first down passes. Spags brought heat, but Goff delivered some solid strikes. Mahomes laid out some Rodgers stares, just to alert the thin-skin collective.
13TimeChamps
September 08, 2023 at 10:03 am
"This was Detroit's superbowl."
I'm not so sure about that. Detroit won 8 of their last 10 games last year and started this year with a win at Arrowhead.
I don't usually put a lot of stock into 1st games of the year, but I think it would be a mistake for anyone to take this team lightly.
Thegreatreynoldo
September 08, 2023 at 10:20 am
I watched the Chiefs/Lions game. It gave me deja vu.
This is what an elite QB looks like without a #1 receiver (Kelce out), no #2 WR (Juju walked), a couple of #3/#4 type guys running around out there (MVS, Toney, Skye Moore). Result is an elite QB putting up a 77.5 passer rating, the team putting up 20 points based on 5 explosive pass plays from Mahomes. The young WR (Toney) dropping at least 2 well placed passes, one of which got intercepted for a pick six happened to be a difference in this game. The five explosive passes went for 128 yards, meaning otherwise Mahomes was 16 for 34 for 98 yards. That's brutal. Not being able to run didn't help, 17 for 45 yards without Mahomes scrambling 6 times for an additional 45). So, Mahomes played hero ball.
Not having a #1 receiver (for 8 or 9 games for AR last year) matters. Not having a #2 WR matters (Lazard is a bottom #2 or a good #3 in my estimation). Fingers crossed that Watson and Doubs are 100%.
mnbadger
September 08, 2023 at 01:08 pm
not having an offensive line is what really hurt Mahomes, nearly taking him out a couple of times.
GPG!
SicSemperTyrannis
September 09, 2023 at 01:38 am
You'd rather have Josh Myers at C than Creed Humphrey?
Leatherhead
September 08, 2023 at 01:21 pm
The Chiefs didn't take advantage of some opportunities, IMO. They were sloppy on offense and one of those sloppy plays was when the ball bounced off Tony and was returned for 6. They still had plenty of opportunities, but they just never could get it going.
The comment on "hero ball" is interesting.
Detroit won. They scored 14 points, did not turn the ball over, and were gifted a deflection pick six. On this day, that was good enough to win.
coolhand
September 08, 2023 at 03:37 pm
The turning point for me was when KC was driving and Mahomes scrambled and slid too early just short of a 1st down. 4th and 1 and what do they do? Just like the Packers did in Lambeau they run sideways instead of straight ahead power football and lose yardage. THAT to me was when the Lions knew they were going to win.
SicSemperTyrannis
September 09, 2023 at 01:15 am
Brian Branch looks great on the stat line. He wasn't actually gifted that pick 6, he still had to do his part, but he was in a fortunate position. Jamyr Gibbs earned his draft position in one play, with about 2:40 remaining. He could be trouble ...
dobber
September 09, 2023 at 01:17 pm
I never fault a guy for making gift plays...they often win football games.
It's the guys that drop the gift INTs (ahem, Will Redmond v. TB in the NFCCG) that you end up regretting.
WestCoastPackerBacker
September 08, 2023 at 05:45 pm
THANK YOU. I keep wondering how far GB would have gone if they had given Rodgers even a decent TE and a decent 2nd WR other than Davante. It's no wonder he targeted him. The offense was so bereft of talent that GB had to draft 2 TEs and a WR in their first 4 picks this year. And then draft 2 more WRs later. Watson and Doubs are exciting but they were too little, too late to help GB get anywhere in Rodgers' last year. The Chiefs last night is what happens when MVS is one of the starting WRs. Having little talent at WR will eventually affect an elite QB. Can anyone guess why Brady bailed from N.E.? And found Evans, Godwin, an un-retired Bronk, and went to the Super Bowl.
splitpea1
September 08, 2023 at 11:22 am
Two things learned from this game: 1) There's nothing like having physical OL to finish the opponent off when you need to, and 2) the rookie safety you draft doesn't have to be a RAS superstar in order to make big plays to help your team win.
Even though no Kelce, I give a lot of credit to Detroit for making the gutsy call with the fake punt, going toe to toe with KC the entire game, and coming back from behind to win. This is probably the most impressive win they've had in a long time.
mnbadger
September 08, 2023 at 01:11 pm
Probably the best win ever?
I think the organization has one Title.
If not, it's the most impressive win in the 50 plus years i've been watching the black/blue division.
GPG?
HarryHodag
September 08, 2023 at 12:08 pm
Keep dissing the Lions. I suspect you will change your mind soon.
LambeauPlain
September 08, 2023 at 08:46 am
I have been wide awake regarding the Lions for a few years now. They have an outstanding OL and thunder and lightning RBs in Montgomery and Gibbs (remind you of anybody?). A QB who is a very good field manager and executed the plan of action.
I am not sold on their Defense yet...but their secondary has been upgraded compared to last year which was abysmal.
But Dan the Man is again having his players believing in his plan. Physical football and ground pound for 60 minutes.
Packerpasty
September 08, 2023 at 10:17 am
"Dan the Man" gets the most out of his players for sure...the guy takes chances, like the fake punt deep in enemy territory...that backfires and the game is probably lost..and then there was Toney and his butterfingers..
dobber
September 09, 2023 at 01:19 pm
"Dan the Man" is a manager. He trusts his DC and OC to run the show and call the plays. The off-season win for them was keeping both.
The_Justicar
September 08, 2023 at 01:05 pm
Enthusiastic. Staff is irrelevant to winning super bowls. See recent history of Andy Reid and Bill Belicheck
dobber
September 08, 2023 at 08:49 am
" Rarely did first-year players see the field, and even second-year players were often limited. "
Disagree. With the exception of #10, the Packers have a track record of playing their early draft picks either as starters or rotational players right out of the gate over the last 10-15 years.
LambeauPlain
September 08, 2023 at 09:11 am
I agree with your disagreement. To the contrary the Packers have been the prototypical "draft and develop" team.
I am trying to think of top draft choices who stayed off the field during rookie campaigns or were "kenneled" after making a mistake.
The "youngest team in the NFL" is mostly the result of the absence of 30 somethings Rodgers, Crosby, Lewis, and Cobb. But this does not mean, for the first time in several years, rookies and second year players are being forced onto the field.
They have always played them...if they were on the depth chart as starter or next man up or ST ability.
dobber
September 08, 2023 at 09:38 am
Yup
Yup
Yup!
The only starters without at least a year on the roster and regular play time are Love and Musgrave (and Reed, depending on the alignment). This lineup as a whole is regarded as inexperienced because the QB doesn't have a lot of starting experience...but by-and-large, these guys have played.
LambeauPlain
September 08, 2023 at 10:06 am
The OL is a veteran group. RBs are vets too. The Defense is as veteran as a veteran D can be. And with 8 #1 draft picks on it, talent to match. On most teams, this D would be expected to carry the team. Why should expectations be low? This needs to be a top 10 defense.
Where the first year guys need to shine is in the kicking game, punting game. "Boom" or bust potential. (pun intended)
dobber
September 09, 2023 at 01:23 pm
Easy enough to boot the ball though the endzone on KOs and out-of-bounds/skyball FC on punts to minimize those aspects of STs.
Score 7s--not 3s--and go for 2 about half the time to minimize the impact of the rookie kicker.
Bear
September 08, 2023 at 11:28 am
Sunday we will see if the Packers become a more physical kick butt team or if they continue to be soft!
SicSemperTyrannis
September 09, 2023 at 01:28 am
It shall be a historic occasion! Here's to them starting off with violence and not having to recover from being timid in the opener 🍻
splitpea1
September 08, 2023 at 11:36 am
I don't think Love will have any problems with the hostile atmosphere. He's played at Arrowhead and Lincoln Financial, so it's not like he doesn't have any experience on the road.
As far as our defense goes, dictating the tempo?...wow, that would be a new thing for them. I'm totally onboard with the idea, although I think it would be something of a work in progress. Maybe we start with some baby steps at Soldier Field.
Leatherhead
September 08, 2023 at 01:26 pm
I'm not sure how the defense can dictate the tempo, when it's the offense that has the ball, knows the play, knows the snap count, etc. I think defense is more reactive, within the responsibilities of the scheme.
The best defense is the defense that's on the sideline and that's where I hope our defense spends a lot of their time.
dobber
September 09, 2023 at 01:28 pm
This is a ball-control, possession-control football team under LaF. Always in the top 8 or so in TOP, but 18-24 in average plays per game. It's hard for the opponent to score when your offense is on the field.
SicSemperTyrannis
September 09, 2023 at 01:41 am
SP,
baby steps usually do not get it done in the NFL.
Flying around, hair on fire!
croatpackfan
September 08, 2023 at 12:56 pm
About the banner above locker room i believe one D or even two is not enough. It shoud be:
Dictate (to)
Dominate (of)
Desintegrate (them)
3 D!
Or 3 G:
Grind
Govern
Ground (them)
Go Pack Go!
SicSemperTyrannis
September 09, 2023 at 01:42 am
There's also the "impose your will"
Need some of that, too ...
mnbadger
September 08, 2023 at 01:05 pm
JKrim, a love the mindset and passion of your article as it relates to the way our GBPkrs SHOULD play.
After watching much of last night's game, IMO, it also relates directly to the way our foes in motor city DID play - both last night in KC and for the entire second half of the 2022 season.
The team from last night will be an extremely formidable opponent for our young team.
However, they've proven it can be done quickly if all have the same mindset, are well schemed and they play together. Pick each other up when there are lapses and enjoy the highlights, but battle to the whistle on every play.
Looking forward to seeing our new roster perform. More than a bit nervous whether we've got the coaching staff to put it all together as they have in detroit.
Long season, GPG!
Pack 27-23.
fireball
September 08, 2023 at 04:36 pm
Main thing is, Packers ain't a team, yet. And until they become a team, you'll just see really highly talented individuals here and there making a great catch, a great tackle, and maybe a great run from time to time during a given game. But that's it. That's all you get for your money: Just single guys jump'in and jivin', doing their own thing. Fuck the others. . . until they become a team that is. A band of brothers. One for all and all for one. But even something more than that. Like the great Lombardi teams of the sixties, maybe? But that's askin' a lot, right?
So yeah, mindset, indeed.
SicSemperTyrannis
September 09, 2023 at 01:44 am
If you think they aren't a team I have to ask where you've been since April.
They're a team, they're just not a complete team.
fireball
September 09, 2023 at 07:04 am
O.K., I'll go with that.
WestCoastPackerBacker
September 08, 2023 at 05:29 pm
I beg to differ on your description how how young players have been treated in GB. My viewpoint is that they have not had anything handled to them; they had to prove they belonged before they were put out on the field. I never heard that is was just a mistake that led to a guy not playing; it was the way they practiced and prepared. As long as those things were right, they trusted young guys to continue to develop despite mistakes. Same with Rodgers. He never really focused on Amari Rodgers? Is that bad? I mean Rodgers is on his third team already. Maybe Rodgers had a point. Same with Deguara. Rodgers didn't target him but now he's not even listed as a TE. Meanwhile Doubs and Watson had decent rookie seasons, despite missing games due to injuries. By the third game of the season Doubs had 8 catches for 73 yards and a score. And he trusted Doubs in overtime in the N.E. game. So I think this meme about Rodgers not trusting young players is inaccurate. He trusts the guys that practice well and know the playbook and learn from mistakes. Same with Watson. He had a great rookie year for the amount of time he was out.