***Official*** Green Bay Packers Offseason Thread, v. 2014 (1 Viewer)

[mere blitzianity]

This week against Buffalo is no walk in the park…their stout defense will most likely shut down the run, so I'm hoping Arod can take it to them through the air..good secondary over there, right?

 

[CletiusMaximus]

This week against Buffalo is no walk in the park…their stout defense will most likely shut down the run, so I'm hoping Arod can take it to them through the air..good secondary over there, right?

If the Packers manage to win on the road at Buffalo, it will be as impressive as the home win against the Patriots imo.

 

[Phenomena]

This week against Buffalo is no walk in the park…their stout defense will most likely shut down the run, so I'm hoping Arod can take it to them through the air..good secondary over there, right?

If the Packers manage to win on the road at Buffalo, it will be as impressive as the home win against the Patriots imo.

Vegas only has GB as 5 point favorites FWIW.

I think it's going to be a tough game, but even if Buffalo slows down the offense, I don't see Orton beating Rodgers. Watkins is no Julio and Orton is no Matt Ryan.

People aren't really paying attention to the fact that the Packers defense effectively shut down ATL in the first half. Honestly I think the defense came out of halftime in a lazy state expecting to win the game by playing off/zone coverage and unexpectedly got hammered play after play by Julio.

It's not for lack of talent or scheme - if the defense had come out with the same intensity as the first half, ATL might not have scored more than 20. I think it's a great lesson heading into the final few weeks and the playoffs - never let down.

Don't overreact to the bad 2nd half. The defense has been playing outstanding for the last month and I expect that to continue for the final few games.

 

[Pipes]

This week against Buffalo is no walk in the park…their stout defense will most likely shut down the run, so I'm hoping Arod can take it to them through the air..good secondary over there, right?

If the Packers manage to win on the road at Buffalo, it will be as impressive as the home win against the Patriots imo.

Oh come on now...the Patriots were at the time, and still by many now, considered to be the best team in the NFL. Yes winning at Buffalo would be a nice win they aren't a playoff team so it's just another semi tough road game. No more difficult than winning at Min or at Chi.

 

[Phenomena]

This week against Buffalo is no walk in the park…their stout defense will most likely shut down the run, so I'm hoping Arod can take it to them through the air..good secondary over there, right?

If the Packers manage to win on the road at Buffalo, it will be as impressive as the home win against the Patriots imo.

Oh come on now...the Patriots were at the time, and still by many now, considered to be the best team in the NFL. Yes winning at Buffalo would be a nice win they aren't a playoff team so it's just another semi tough road game. No more difficult than winning at Min or at Chi.

Hmm... It's not quite as off as you might think ... Vegas had GB a 3-point favorite in that game and they are a 5-point favorite at Buffalo. Those are pretty close to the same odds. Maybe not 100% as impressive as beating the Patriots, but it's closer than first glance.

 

[Sabertooth]

My brother was joking at halftime that Rodgers looked like he was looking for Ryan to say "good game." Little did we know how good.

 

[packer_junkie]

GB needs to resign Cobb & Buluga & than use every single draft pick on defense-- seriously. They can address the OL after that. With Nelson/Cobb/Adams/Janis/Abbrederis, they're set at WR, with Lacy/Starks/UDFA they are set at RB. Resign BUluga brings starting 5 OL back. They have Tretter & Barclay coming back as top flight backups. If Tolzein isn't ready to be the backup qb after 2 years, we have issues.

Seriously, maybe draft another TE? or just go with quarless/rodgers/udfa & draft 9 defensive players. DL/OLB/ILB/CB-- draft em all and figure out how to stop somebody.

 

[Phenomena]

GB needs to resign Cobb & Buluga & than use every single draft pick on defense-- seriously. They can address the OL after that. With Nelson/Cobb/Adams/Janis/Abbrederis, they're set at WR, with Lacy/Starks/UDFA they are set at RB. Resign BUluga brings starting 5 OL back. They have Tretter & Barclay coming back as top flight backups. If Tolzein isn't ready to be the backup qb after 2 years, we have issues.

Seriously, maybe draft another TE? or just go with quarless/rodgers/udfa & draft 9 defensive players. DL/OLB/ILB/CB-- draft em all and figure out how to stop somebody.

There are eight key players up for contract extensions in the next two years: Cobb, Datone, Williams, Daniels, Bulaga, Lacy, Hayward, and Sitton.

Williams is the only one that hasn't played up to his contract the past two years, but he has recently played very well after overcoming some injuries. Who do you keep? Personally, I'd rather a plug and play WR and let Cobb go, then tie up Daniels/Lacy/Bulaga/Sitton. Jones will need a leap in play the next two seasons to warrant long-term plans. They will only keep one of Williams/Hayward, and since Hayward is younger with a very high ceiling, it's pretty certain that Williams is playing his last season in GB.

Given his solid return from injury this season, I think Bulaga is more likely to be locked up than Cobb. I think they're going to be able to get Bulaga at both a cheaper price and at a greater position of need than using that money on Cobb. Look at what Brady and Manning have done with cast-offs like Sanders and LaFell. It's the QB that matters. Use that money on more important positions, like line-play or defense. The superb emergence of Davtone Adams during his rookie season may all but seal Cobb's departure. I think the greatest factor in him staying is his asking price. Anything more than $6M annually (~20th WR per year money) is better spent elsewhere.

TE? Give draft and develop a chance. Richard Rodgers was a 3rd round pick and TE has historically been the hardest position (besides QB) for learning curve. They have to know how to both block and run routes - nearly doubling the responsibility/playbook of either a lineman or a WR. Gates/Graham/Gronk had pretty crappy rookie seasons, too. I like his potential. And Quarless has been doing quite well when given the opportunity.

Ted will always pick BPA, but I think if he moves to target someone it's going to be a defensive lineman. The run defense would be a lot better this year with a 350 pounder clogging up the middle (remember, we lost Raji at the beginning of the season), or some more athleticism (Michael Bennett from OSU, maybe?).

 

[NE_REVIVAL]

This week against Buffalo is no walk in the park…their stout defense will most likely shut down the run, so I'm hoping Arod can take it to them through the air..good secondary over there, right?

If the Packers manage to win on the road at Buffalo, it will be as impressive as the home win against the Patriots imo.

Oh come on now...the Patriots were at the time, and still by many now, considered to be the best team in the NFL. Yes winning at Buffalo would be a nice win they aren't a playoff team so it's just another semi tough road game. No more difficult than winning at Min or at Chi.

Hmm... It's not quite as off as you might think ... Vegas had GB a 3-point favorite in that game and they are a 5-point favorite at Buffalo. Those are pretty close to the same odds. Maybe not 100% as impressive as beating the Patriots, but it's closer than first glance.

I would agree that it is somewhere in between. Buffalos D is pretty good and might be able to pressure Rodgers; if they can do that (easier said than done) they could make a game of it.

 

[TDorBust]

Who else is ticked after that game? People will call it the Buffalo D and on the road but it was clearly the Packers who beat themselves. I don't even want to point to one play as they just all added up to allow Buffalo to take that game.

I don't think I ever noticed as many drops and miscues on Offense. I expect the Packers to come out and just pummel Tampa next week now.

The game does give me hope today though for the defense. Even though Buffalo is nothing special its nice to see the defense play a full game after last week.

Punt Return TD - Buffalo FG after starting at midfield - Safety

I attribute that all to the Offense/Special Teams today with the defense really only giving up 9 points and even taking 3 points off the board on the Orton sack.

Go Pack Go and we are on to Tampa

 

[Alex P Keaton]

Who else is ticked after that game? People will call it the Buffalo D and on the road but it was clearly the Packers who beat themselves. I don't even want to point to one play as they just all added up to allow Buffalo to take that game.

I don't think I ever noticed as many drops and miscues on Offense. I expect the Packers to come out and just pummel Tampa next week now.

The game does give me hope today though for the defense. Even though Buffalo is nothing special its nice to see the defense play a full game after last week.

Punt Return TD - Buffalo FG after starting at midfield - Safety

I attribute that all to the Offense/Special Teams today with the defense really only giving up 9 points and even taking 3 points off the board on the Orton sack.

Go Pack Go and we are on to Tampa

Great job by a team that is clearly full of itself......not only screwing up a chance at the #1 seed, but more importantly now making it a scramble to even get into the playoffs. What a bunch of #######s.

 

[sho nuff]

A team that is full of itself? Interesting.

This is a very good team. They played about as bad as they could in all phases. Defense making a few mistakes...Special teams was bad...dropped passes and poor balls by Rodgers. And still had a chance to win on the road.

Not sure about this scramble to get into the playoffs part.

Seems people like to get too high about the team, and too down on them and swing with the momentum way too easily.

 

[The Kerminator]

R-E-L-A-X

 

[The Kerminator]

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/fuzzy-thurston-left-guard-for-60s-packers-dies-b99405283z1-285759381.html

Fuzzy Thurston passed away today. Tough life but a great person.

Frederick Charles "Fuzzy" Thurston had his share of tough breaks and hard knocks in a life filled with extraordinary accomplishments.

He lost his father when he was 5, lost his larynx to cancer, lost his shirt in the early 1980s when his 11 Left Guard restaurants went under and lost the love of his life, wife Susan, in 2012.

But one thing he never lost was his big, beaming smile.

Every Green Bay Packers fan who ever met him – at Lambeau Field, in one of the bars he owned or at an appearance at some golf outing or banquet – was treated to that smile. He sometimes surprised fans he'd just met by putting them in bear hugs and kissing them on their cheeks.

"He touched so many people," said his daughter, Tori Thurston Burton.

Thurston, the starting left guard on Vince Lombardi's five NFL championship teams in the 1960s and a player who was admired by teammates, respected by opponents, treasured by the Packers organization and beloved by fans, died Sunday. He would have turned 81 on Dec. 29.

Thurston's grandson, Fred Thurston, tweeted the news Sunday afternoon and the Packers confirmed it from the game in Buffalo.

Thurston was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer in January.

"The only thing that makes this easier," Burton said days before her father died, "is knowing my parents will be together again. My mom passed away two years ago, and he missed her so much."

Thurston was born and raised in Altoona, a small town near Eau Claire. A sister nicknamed him "Fuzzy" when he was a baby because of his dark, curly locks, and it stuck.

Altoona High School did not have a football team then, but Thurston earned a basketball scholarship to Valparaiso University. He joined the football team as a junior and was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round in 1956.

Two years later, he caught on with the Baltimore Colts and was a backup guard on the team that beat the New York Giants in the first sudden-death overtime title game in NFL history. The Giants' offensive coordinator was Vince Lombardi.

Shortly after Lombardi was hired as head coach in Green Bay in 1959, he traded for Thurston, a tenacious blocker on the field and a gregarious, fun-loving character in the locker room.

"We came to Green Bay together and we went out together (after Super Bowl II)," Thurston said of Lombardi in a 1996 interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "That's always my claim to fame. Every day, I thank God that I've had the opportunity to be a Wisconsin native, a former Packer and a Packers fan.

"I mean, how many great things can you have in one life?"

Thurston and right guard Jerry Kramer were the keys to Lombardi's famed power sweep. Their job was to pull in tandem and block for Hall of Fame running backs Jim Taylor and Paul Hornung. It was the Packers' bread-and-butter play, the one opposing defenses knew was coming but couldn't stop.

Thurston liked to boast, "There are two good reasons the Packers are world champions. Jerry Kramer is one of them, and you're looking at the other one."

Taylor said Thurston, who stood 6-foot-1 and weighed 260 in his prime, got the most out of his ability.

"He was a good player and a great asset to the Packers with his personality," Taylor said. "Lombardi's leadership brought out the best in a lot of our football players and moved them to another level. He was talented and worked real hard.

"He didn't necessarily have an overabundance of ability. He accomplished way above what he was put on this earth with."

Thurston, however, took exception to the notion that he was just a hustling overachiever. He made All-Pro twice and Dallas Cowboys Hall of Fame defensive tackle Bob Lilly ranked him among the toughest linemen he'd faced.

"I think I was better than marginal," Thurston said. "I think I played the game as well as any guard played those 10 years."

He is one of only three men who played on six NFL championship teams. Former Packers teammates Herb Adderley and Forrest Gregg also won a title with the Cowboys.

Thurston was inducted into the Packer Hall of Fame in 1975. He became one of the team's most beloved ambassadors and was a fixture at Lambeau Field and at team-related events. On game days, he greeted countless fans in his bar, always willing to pose for photos and sign autographs.

However, a series of missteps as a businessman led to him owing the government $1.7 million in back taxes. In 2011, his assets and memorabilia were seized and sold at auction.

He battled health problems, too. Cancer claimed his voice in the early '80s and returned with a vengeance three years ago, when he was diagnosed with colon cancer. According to Burton, the cancer metastasized in his liver earlier this year. He also suffered from dementia and moved into an assisted living facility.

"I sat down with Fuzz a year ago and we had lunch together," Kramer said. "I looked in his eyes and said, 'How are you doing, Fuzz?' He said, 'I'm doing OK, Jerry. My memory sucks. I can't remember anything. But I'm in a good place. It's clean and it's warm and the food is good and the people are nice. I'm doing OK.'"

Said Burton, "He's always been so positive, so optimistic."

Through it all, good times and bad, Fuzzy Thurston never stopped smiling.

 

[sho nuff]

RIP Fuzzy

 

[Monty Burns]

"Every Green Bay Packers fan who ever met him – at Lambeau Field, in one of the bars he owned or at an appearance at some golf outing or banquet – was treated to that smile.""

Yup, I'll vouch for that as I met him once in the Left Guard in the late 70's....great people person.....RIP 63

 

[CletiusMaximus]

RIP Fuzzy - a fan favorite, a great Packer legend.

 

[Dark Matter]

What a crappy day

RIP Fuzzy

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Where are we guys? Still on track for the Superbowl, right?

Anyone planning to eat a Big Game Burger at Lambeau Sunday?

$20

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B6sY1NgCAAEhkQI.png

 

[TDorBust]

The Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers

https://twitter.com/espnhomer/status/534132601796427778

 

[cstu]

Packers, Cowboys, and Undefeated Home/Road teams

by Chase Stuart on January 7, 2015

in Playoffs

The Packers went 8-0 at home this year. Green Bay scored 318 points in home games in 2014, the 3rd most by a team in NFL history. Aaron Rodgers threw 25 touchdowns and 0 interceptions in those games, and his 133.2 passer rating at home is the highest in a single season in NFL history.

A couple of minor notes for the anti-Green Bay crowd: the 2011 Packers scored 321 points en route to an 8-0 home record, while Rodgers’ 128.5 home passer rating is now the second highest ever. And the Packers lost their first playoff game, at home, to the NFC East champion that season.

This year, the NFC East champion Cowboys scored 275 points in road games, the 4th most ever. Dallas also went 8-0 on on the road, making this weekend’s matchup just the 3rd time in NFL history that an undefeated road team traveled to the site of an undefeated home team for a playoff game.

The first one took place in 1948. That year, the Philadelphia Eagles finished 9-2-1, but 6-0 at Shibe Park. The Chicago Cardinals — who beat the Eagles in Chicago in the season opener — went 11-1, and 6-0 on the road. The game was played in a blizzard, and was scoreless through three quarters. The star of the game was Eagles running back Steve Van Buren, who rushed 26 times for 98 yards and the game’s sole touchdown in the 4th quarter.

You know that in 1972, the Dolphins went undefeated. That year, the Pittsburgh Steelers — not yet fully formed into the PITTSBURGH STEELERS — went 7-0 at home, and then defeated the Raiders in a uneventful game in the first round of the playoffs.

The AFC Championship Game was played at Three Rivers, as the league rotated the site of the conference title game in the early ’70s. The game was tied 7-7 at the half, but Don Shula brought in Bob Griese to replace Earl Morrall in the second half. Griese wasn’t much better, but the Dolphins running attack took over: Larry Csonka and Mercury Morris combined for 144 yards on 40 carries, while Jim Kiick scored two short touchdowns. Miami escaped with a 21-17 victory.

So there you have it. DeMarco Murray has rushed for 963 yards in road games, the 8th highest total in NFL history. Dez Bryant has 11 touchdowns in road games, tied for the second most ever. And Tony Romo’s 121.8 passer rating on the road is the 4th best ever. So far, the two games pitting undefeated home/road teams have been split. What do you predict for Sunday?

 

[Good Posting Judge]

5 wins.

 

[sho nuff]

5 wins.

0/10

 

[MaxThreshold]

5 wins.

In the first 5 games? I'll agree with that.

 

[sho nuff]

cant find if we have a 2015 thread...

Anyway...interesting on radio today they were talking about a piece by LaCafora about the most influencial person for each team for the coming year.

Some teams had players, coaches, or GMs...

He tried not going obvious...so it had the caveat in a way of not being Rodgers.

Was surprised that he chose Julius Peppers.

First off...on D, Id say Matthews always as they just play so different when he is not out there.

But Peppers makes a bit of sense. With Matthew possibly playing more on the inside...Peppers will be counted on to be on the outside and provide the pass rush.

Id still say Matthews...or even McCarthy or Thompson before Peppers though.

Thoughts?

 

[shady inc]

Ty Montgomery FTW

 

[Sabertooth]

If say Peppers is a more of a leader than Clay. Clay seems more like a guy who plays awesome but doesn't seem the vocal leader type.

 

[Chicago Hooligan]

I would say Daniels before Peppers. How many snaps will Peppers even play this year, 600?

Casey Hayward on the outside is also an unknown, though I think he'll be solid and benefit from not having to be the #1 cover guy.

 

[sho nuff]

If say Peppers is a more of a leader than Clay. Clay seems more like a guy who plays awesome but doesn't seem the vocal leader type.

I would agree with that.

Just think if you take one of them off the field and the team gets worse...its Matthews (as we have seen over the years)

 

[cr8f]

5 wins.

Da Bears should do better without Brandon Marshall holding Cutler back.

 

[beef]

the bears still have a team?

 

[Sabertooth]

I guess I missed the boat on Mike Daniels. Why is he so highly regarded?

 

[sho nuff]

I guess I missed the boat on Mike Daniels. Why is he so highly regarded?

Because he played very well last season amd could have easily been a probowler?

 

[Burl]

Is it safe to say, that with this offense, this is a year where you look at this team and say "Super Bowl or Bust"? (barring a spate of injuries of course)

 

[Alex P Keaton]

Is it safe to say, that with this offense, this is a year where you look at this team and say "Super Bowl or Bust"? (barring a spate of injuries of course)

What is dramatically different from last year? Should we have felt the same way last year?

 

[Sabertooth]

I guess I missed the boat on Mike Daniels. Why is he so highly regarded?

Because he played very well last season amd could have easily been a probowler?

I guess I pretty much attribute the entire resurgence of the D to moving Matthews inside.

 

[Sabertooth]

Is it safe to say, that with this offense, this is a year where you look at this team and say "Super Bowl or Bust"? (barring a spate of injuries of course)

What is dramatically different from last year? Should we have felt the same way last year?

I think so, yeah. It was definitely bust. I still can't believe Capers has a job.

 

[Alex P Keaton]

Is it safe to say, that with this offense, this is a year where you look at this team and say "Super Bowl or Bust"? (barring a spate of injuries of course)

What is dramatically different from last year? Should we have felt the same way last year?

I think so, yeah. It was definitely bust. I still can't believe Capers has a job.

I'm right there with you on Capers. If he is truly a genius, and if switching Matthews to ILB made all the difference last year......why didn't Capers make that switch sooner?

 

[Sabertooth]

Did they ever say why Matthews was sitting during the meltdown?

 

[The Kerminator]

There were some rumblings that he may have been showing signs of a possible concussion.

 

[cr8f]

Is it safe to say, that with this offense, this is a year where you look at this team and say "Super Bowl or Bust"? (barring a spate of injuries of course)

What is dramatically different from last year? Should we have felt the same way last year?

I think so, yeah. It was definitely bust. I still can't believe Capers has a job.

I'm right there with you on Capers. If he is truly a genius, and if switching Matthews to ILB made all the difference last year......why didn't Capers make that switch sooner?

What bothered me is how out of position their CB's were often the last few years. They got beat regularly. Last year was a little better, but wanted him fired the last few years.

Those safeties they were using with Burnett were pretty bad too. Maybe that was TT's fault for taking them late but the same was true of the ILB'ers. If he needed better talent he could have said something.

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

When your Q.B. is occupying 20% of your salary structure, and you quickly get to 50% of the salary structure with Nelson, Cobb, Matthews, and Peppers you are going to be making due at several positions with cut rate players. Folks like to blame Capers for not having C.B.'s that play like Reevis or for not having Pro Bowl play across the defense at L.B.

Capers has done well with what he has been given.

 

[Sabertooth]

I just don't see it. Sorry.