Sunday, October 17, 2004

Somebody tried to pull my intestines out through my mouth OR My experience at a Packers' Monday Night Football game
I don't even know how to begin. I saw the most points given up by the Packers in Lambeau Field ever. EVER. We're talking since 1957, or roughly 48 years of football... and the Packers have never given up that many points. Let's see if I can at least start by giving the world the reasons why we suck so badly.

Players gone (injured or otherwise) that are more important than you know: Mike Flanagan... the Packers' center who is now injured for the season. This is HUGE... as the Packers O line is one of the best in the league, if everyone is healthy. Now they're not... and it was evident against the Titans, as the Packers couldn't run worth poop; Mike McKenzie... I know he wanted more money and blah blah blah. But, let's face it, the Packers' cornerbacks now (Harris, Hawthorne) aren't very good. Our whole defensive backfield is worse now that McKenzie's gone. What a bastard he is, to want more money; Ed Donatell... our former defensive coordinator got all the blame for the 4th and 26 play against the Eagles. Donatell is good, and he's proving it again in Atlanta. Our new defensive coordinator is technically/literally an idiot; Grady Jackson/James Lee... both of these nose tackles are injured. If your defensive line starts from the inside out (like most good defensive lines), having your starter and your back-up injured is huge. Cullen Jenkins (rookie, CMU) has played pretty well... but he IS a third stringer for a reason. *shakes head*

Players that are better than you think: Ahman Green, still doesn't get enough credit... can run and catch as good or better than any other back in the league; The Offensive Line (in general as a unit) is on par with Kansas City or even better, making them, perhaps, the best unit in the league; Craig Nall, I'm telling you... this kid is good; Nick Barnett, speaking of good kids, this guy has the opportunity to be something special. Unfortunately, if the defensive coordinator sucks there's not much you can do.
Players that aren't as good you think: Javon Walker, Robert Ferguson, Donald Driver... Favre makes those guys better. Walker is probably the only of the three who could start for another team, but he's not so bright; Bubba Franks... for years I called him the most useless player in the NFL. Then he started catching passes, lots of passes. Now, he's gone back to only catching the ball if we're a yard away from the endzone; Darren Sharper... yes he's a pro bowler. But he does it on pure athletic ability. He is NOT smart, and is always looking to make a huge athletic play rather than a smart play.

Players I want gone: SS Bhawoh Jue, can't do anything; P B.J. Sander, a wasted pick... the guy's got mental problems that stop him from performing on the field... he should retire as a rookie; KR/PR Antonio Chatman, he's terrible; DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, can only rush the passer... doesn't stop the run... should only supplement a better defensive end on third downs; C Gary Ruegamer, replacing Flanagan and he's terrible; CB Michael Hawthorne, I am not impressed; QB Doug Pederson, quite literally the most useless player in the NFL for the past 12 years; TE Bubba Franks, we might be able to get something for him while teams still think he's actually good... let's get a draft pick for him.

I want whole-sale changes! What am I talking about? *deep breath* I want Mike Sherman gone... both the coach and the GM. I want all his coordinators gone. I think Favre should retire. Yeah... I said it. I'm more worried about Favre the person than I am Favre the player. I don't want him to get hurt... and I worry about the concussion. And I honestly think it's time to start over, and Favre doesn't want to be around for that. We'll keep the O Line intact... focus the offense on Green... keep our three rising wide receivers... and give the team to Craig Nall. Yep, I said it... give the team to Craig Nall. "But John," you say, "He's nowhere near as good as Favre. You need to draft someone to replace him" Exactly... sort of. No one is going to be as good as Favre. It's going to be an awkward transition regardless. It's like when you break up with someone you've been with for a long time: you always have that transition person, and it never works out. It's not going to work with anyone, might as well hand the ball to Nall, someone who knows the system/players/receivers. Yeah, knowing the system doesn't matter if the coordinators are gone... but you have to assume the new guy would want to transition as smoothly as possible, and would want to use some of the same plays/terminology. Let's give the ball to Nall and see what he can do for a season. No rush to "replace Favre" in the draft... because that's not going to happen. Let's just do something. (BTW yeah, it would be great to trade to get Drew Brees... but I'd also take the Lions' Mike McMahon, the Patriots' Rohan Davey [maybe], the Niners' Ken Dorsey, or the Bengals' Jon Kitna. All these QBs most likely won't get a chance to start with their current team, and would be able to start on the Packers. I don't expect them to be great... but all they need to do is be good long enough for us to draft someone who is. Can I take Kitna? Please?)

No comments: