Bears at Packers GDT: Sunday Dec 12th, 7:20pm CST

[BF004]

I could probably get that data some time this week from the nflfastr data.

[APB]

I just love this guy!

[Pckfn23]

I went to find data that would show Opponents rarely get past the 25 on returns, no luck, so I have to go by memory, obviously these long returns stand out, but imho they are the exception.

I also think Crosby has lost some leg power, with little wind issues he can boot it deep, against a breeze, not so much, in that regard it seems we opt for hang time and coverage, again going from memory I think we've had quite a few stops short of the 25, most though are probably stopped prior to the 30.

If it exists, I bet @Pckfn23 can find that breakdown.

Brandon - is there data that shows Packers opponent average starting field position following a returned kickoff? To that point, what is the ST unit's standing in in the league on that measure?

Not a good representation but all I can really find. Packers are 4th (bad) in amount of KOs that get past the 25 (15). They are also 5th (good) in KOs that end inside the 25th (21). We have had 69 total KOs, which is 13th in the league. 30 have been TBs for Mason, which is 21st.

[Labrev]

At some level, I can understand/accept that firing Drayton mid-season is probably not a worthwhile course of action.

But man, some drastic action is definitely warranted at this point. The obvious one is Gute bringing in a return specialist. But I feel like more is needed. Like, maybe the practice time that would usually go to Rodgers running the offense should go wholly to Special Teams, and maybe LaFleur needs to micromanage. That's probably crazy, but the offense seems to figure things out in the course of the game anyway; it's our STs that is displaying poor discipline and awareness.

[YoHoChecko]

At some level, I can understand/accept that firing Drayton mid-season is probably not a worthwhile course of action.

But man, some drastic action is definitely warranted at this point. The obvious one is Gute bringing in a return specialist. But I feel like more is needed. Like, maybe the practice time that would usually go to Rodgers running the offense should go wholly to Special Teams, and maybe LaFleur needs to micromanage. That's probably crazy, but the offense seems to figure things out in the course of the game anyway; it's our STs that is displaying poor discipline and awareness.

Yeah, I guess my whole point is that any drastic action would be action for the sake of action right now. It's not that drastic action isn't warranted, but that there just aren't many helpful moves available at this point--especially the drastic ones.

I think some small emphasis to get us through the season are the best we can hope for right now.

Also, someone specifically asked MLF about ST practice time and he struggled not to laugh at his face, saying yes they spend enough practice time on it.

[Pckfn23]

[Labrev]

I tend to think that if it was an ACL tear for Turner, we would know it by now. Didn't we find out even sooner after the Vikings game about Jenkins? The injury looked ugly, but did not look like an ACL to me. I'm guessing MCL, tear or sprain is the question.

[YoHoChecko]

I tend to think that if it was an ACL tear for Turner, we would know it by now. Didn't we find out even sooner after the Vikings game about Jenkins? The injury looked ugly, but did not look like an ACL to me. I'm guessing MCL, tear or sprain is the question.

Agreed. I'm guessing it's more in line with the Josh Meyers' injury, which was to his knee, "not season-ending" and we have no idea when to expect his return, if at all.

[mnpackerbacker]

Stokes does not seem to be targeted much despite being a rookie and with Alexander out. A really good sign.

Get back quick Jaire. Our already good coverage will be that much better.

[wallyuwl]

I tend to think that if it was an ACL tear for Turner, we would know it by now. Didn't we find out even sooner after the Vikings game about Jenkins? The injury looked ugly, but did not look like an ACL to me. I'm guessing MCL, tear or sprain is the question.

Mechanism of injury was not what would be expected for ACL.

[Labrev]

[YoHoChecko]

If you showed me this preseason I would have laughed at you

[Scott4Pack]

I cannot behold a reason why Amari Rodgers is still fielding punts. Seems like he muffs one every week. (The PS practice that I watched, he muffed one then too.) His hands are awful.

Can this just be a dream that there isn't even ONE other player who can field punts? Just give me a guy who can fair catch it cleanly every time. Bring back Tramon. He can do that.

[Pckfn23]

Amari Rodgers muffed a punt on Sunday. I think that may have been his 3rd one this year. There was one against the Chiefs that we recovered. Was there another that we lost in October? There was the Malik Taylor incident where Rodgers didn't call him off. This is not saying Rodgers has been good, because he has not. The weird part is that he did this in college: 68 career punt returns for 529 yards. As far as I can tell he had 1 muffed punt in college in 2018.

We put in Randall Cobb against the Rams and he immediately muffed one as well.

The special teams is literally in shambles. There is not an aspect of it that is doing well. Even Bojorquez has been inconsistent this last month.

Malik Taylor, instead of grabbing the KO while he was standing OB (penalty on kicking team), which Ty Montgomery AND Randall Cobb have done in the recent past, knocks the damn thing out of bounds at the 6...

Let's go get Tyler Ervin for the stretch run and see what he can do, but I think the guy at the top is the issue more than anything.

[Drj820]

I bet if drayton was a leftover from the MM era he would be gone by now mid year.

Lafleur doesn’t want to can the guy he just hired for the job mid year even though it is needed. Two reasons:

1) he and Lafleur are probably pals
2) Lafleur hired his pal and doesn’t want to see reality and admit he made an awful hire.

A few of us were puzzled from the beginning how hiring from within on a unit that was god awful last year seemed like a good idea.

[YoHoChecko]

I bet if drayton was a leftover from the MM era he would be gone by now mid year.

Lafleur doesn’t want to can the guy he just hired for the job mid year even though it is needed. Two reasons:

1) he and Lafleur are probably pals
2) Lafleur hired his pal and doesn’t want to see reality and admit he made an awful hire.

A few of us were puzzled from the beginning how hiring from within on a unit that was god awful last year seemed like a good idea.

Silliness. He's not firing a coach midseason because we're in the running for the 1-seed and firing coaches mid-season is what teams that have given up on the year do.

I just don't understand what everyone thinks is going to happen when you fire a special teams coach, bring a new guy in, and try to start from scratch. Like, will more confusion and change make the guys less confused and more disciplined? That's just not a thing that is usually on the table. You don't fire coaches midseason when your season isn't "over"

[Pugger]

I tend to think that if it was an ACL tear for Turner, we would know it by now. Didn't we find out even sooner after the Vikings game about Jenkins? The injury looked ugly, but did not look like an ACL to me. I'm guessing MCL, tear or sprain is the question.

[Drj820]

I bet if drayton was a leftover from the MM era he would be gone by now mid year.

Lafleur doesn’t want to can the guy he just hired for the job mid year even though it is needed. Two reasons:

1) he and Lafleur are probably pals
2) Lafleur hired his pal and doesn’t want to see reality and admit he made an awful hire.

A few of us were puzzled from the beginning how hiring from within on a unit that was god awful last year seemed like a good idea.

Silliness. He's not firing a coach midseason because we're in the running for the 1-seed and firing coaches mid-season is what teams that have given up on the year do.

I just don't understand what everyone thinks is going to happen when you fire a special teams coach, bring a new guy in, and try to start from scratch. Like, will more confusion and change make the guys less confused and more disciplined? That's just not a thing that is usually on the table. You don't fire coaches midseason when your season isn't "over"

Draytons season should be over. You dont fire him and then bring in someone from the outside. You fire him and promote someone already on the staff and give them the title of "interim". The goal of doing that is not drastic improvement due to improvement in scheme, its accountability. Its recognizing that STs is the one unit that will keep this team from winning a SB and you make the move now (or a month ago) instead of watching the car head toward the train tracks and waiting for the inevitable collision.

You fire Drayton and everyone wakes up and knows the level of play we have seen is inexcusable and anyone that is contributing to it being a dumpster fire, can be gone at any time if they dont wake up and do better.

Accountability.

[Pugger]

I bet if drayton was a leftover from the MM era he would be gone by now mid year.

Lafleur doesn’t want to can the guy he just hired for the job mid year even though it is needed. Two reasons:

1) he and Lafleur are probably pals
2) Lafleur hired his pal and doesn’t want to see reality and admit he made an awful hire.

A few of us were puzzled from the beginning how hiring from within on a unit that was god awful last year seemed like a good idea.

I'm thinking the reason Drayton hasn't been fired is because there aren't a lot of options to replace him right now.

[Pckfn23]

I bet if drayton was a leftover from the MM era he would be gone by now mid year.

He is a leftover from the MM era...