Packers chat with Ryan Wood
Monday, Sept. 18 transcript
3rd & 7 37yd
3rd & 7 37yd
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I think it all depends on the severity of David Bakhtiari and Bryan Bulaga's injuries, as well as who's available. It's far from ideal to enter a game against any opponent, much less the Falcons in their house, with Kyle Murphy and Justin McCray as your starting tackles. With that said, to demand the Packers make a move is to assume there's something better available, and that's probably a stretch. If a tackle is available in the middle of September, there's a reason for it. I'm not sure how severe Bakhtiari or Bulaga's injuries are, but considering Bakhtiari did a pregame workout and seriously considered playing, and Bulaga will have four weeks since his ankle sprain by the time the next game comes around, my guess is neither injuries are long-term.
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As my colleague Pete Dougherty wrote today, the Packers need to just stick with developing Kevin King no matter what lumps there may be. He's clearly the most talented corner on their depth chart, and while a rookie is going to have growing pains, he's looked pretty good when given the opportunity. King didn't have much exposure against Julio Jones on Sunday, but he didn't allow a reception on four targets while on the field. The time is now to start increasing his snaps.
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The Atlanta game shows to me that the team is not any better than last year's team. We can blame it on injuries but the fact is Atlanta is better on defense and about the same as the Packer's on offense. So what does Mike McCarthy and/or Ted Thompson need to do to give the Packers a chance to get to a Superbowl?
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The Packers are vastly improved at ILB with Morgan Burnett, and should get even better when Josh Jones starts factoring into the rotation. The way to go at that position is hybrid safety. Clay Matthews had one of his best pass-rush games in recent memory last night. Something for him to build off of.
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Good day Ryan. This is probably out of leftfield but did you notice the play of HaHa Clinton-Dix? He lead us with six tackles but seemed to take some bad angles and generally seemed disinterested in tackling anyone. Seemed a little out of character for HaHa. Thanks for your chats.
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Can't say I noticed any disinterest in tackling, though maybe that came through more on TV than our seats high in the corner end zone. There were times he took rough angles, and that's been his weakness since entering the draft. Thought it was much better through much of camp, as well as the Packers opener, but I saw some of that last night.
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You should keep in mind the Packers defense was better last night than in January. Two touchdowns last night were set up by the offense. To me, the one thing this defense has to figure out against the Falcons is how to cover Julio Jones. He was the difference again, making big plays that win games. Considering they've tried everything in their past two games, I'm not sure where that answer comes from.
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Impressive, considering it was his first action. He played more than expected with Mike Daniels' injury, getting 33 snaps. The Packers prioritized building depth on their defensive line this offseason, and that certainly seems to have worked. They clearly missed Daniels. He is their best defensive player. But having someone like Dial who can provide serviceable snaps as a replacement helps. The front end of the Packers defense is ahead of the back end right now.
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Hi, Ryan, thanks for all the coverage. You said something about perspective yesterday, and reading comments today, people need to get realistic with all the players that were out. You five weren't picking the Packers before those players went out. Did anyone really think the Packers were going to go to Atlanta and steamroll them, as hyped as they were, new stadium and all?
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This is why I'm not going to be TYPING IN ALL CAPS today. No screaming and shouting and ranting here. Considering the environment, a very good team could be expected to lose last night. The Packers lost. They're a very good team. They need to get healthy, but they'll be there at the end. So, no, a Week 2 loss is not something to let your blood boil.
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That's the thing with the Falcons; they will beat you with Sanu. The Packers did what you're suggesting last October, and they got beat by Sanu. That offense is probably the best in the NFL when it's playing on its home turf. Answers don't grow on trees against that group. In the past year, the Packers have tried everything, and nothing has worked. Which is why their best bet should there be a rematch this postseason is for Kevin King to develop quickly.
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They're probably going to need the Falcons to lose at least one game they shouldn't. That's where last night's loss could be costly. It was much less about the caliber of this team, and more about potential seeding implications. The Falcons now own the head-to-head tiebreaker, as they did last season. So the Packers will need to have a better record. An equal record would put a playoff game in Atlanta.
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Aside from the obvious (West Coast Scout Sam Seale has blackmail material on TT so he keeps drafting west coast defense guys early), does Joe Whitt start coming under fire? Everyone sings his praises but he’s had Heyward, Randall, House, Rollins all drafted in the top 4 rounds and none of them are close to a #1 cornerback for the Packers.
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I don't think this is a Joe Whitt problem. First, you don't look for No. 1 corners in the first FOUR rounds. More like the first two. Casey Hayward wasn't a good scheme fit in Green Bay, and is making No. 1 plays in a better fit with the Chargers. Unless they turn it around, it looks like Ted just missed at the top of the 2015 draft. If that's the case, it's costly.
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The balance is always tempo vs. changing personnel. When an offense goes no-huddle hurry-up, it can't substitute as frequently. The Packers were using a lot of different personnel groupings last night, primarily to help support their tackles. It's probably easier to go no-huddle hurry-up with a healthy group, when Mike McCarthy doesn't have to scheme as much.