Confessions of a Polluted Mindset - Bears Get Owned
The Weekly Packers Brain Drain from Jersey Al.
By JerseyAl
The 1st quarter - What in the world was that disaster of an opening script the Packers came up with? Empty backfield and long-developing plays letting the Bears' pass rushers come after Rodgers? Burn that.
No subterfuge - When Adams and Cobb run off the field before a play, it's a pretty sure tip-off to the other team the Packers are running the ball. Just saying...
The Alien Lizard:
The #packers have clearly reacted to my calling Lazard the "most ignored wide-open receiver in the NFL" last week. Clearly.
— Jersey Al - GBP (@JerseyAlGBP) October 17, 2021
Jenkins back - A small part of me wanted to see them keep Yosh at LT to see how he would do against top-tier pass rushers like Quinn ad Mack. But then I came to my senses.
Oh Snap! - Anyone else find it interesting that one of the three practice squad players they have proteced for all six games is a long snapper? Then again, they've protected a kicker as well. Perhaps we're looking at Crosby's last season and the Packers want these guys as the heir apparents?
Cobb - Not a single target to Randall Cobb. They were OBVIOUSLY keeping him in reserve in case they really needed him to break the Bears' hearts again. Rodgers, however, took care of that himself.
Kudos to Joe Barry - Yiadom has proven to be exactly what his past tape and stats said he was. Good special teamer, bad cornerback. After he displayed all of his limitations in just 9 snaps on the Bears' first TD drive, Barry showed the proper amount of patience - none. Newly added Rasul Douglas was inserted for the remaing 52 defensive snaps and did an adequate job. What I found most interesting was that Yiadom's special teams snaps were reduced to 9 from 21 the previous game. My guess is that it was a pre-planned thing and they are preparing for Yadom's eventual release.
Davante's almost TD - My first thought when he stepped out of bounds nullifying the TD was that it could end up being a good thing, with the Packers running more time off the clock. That, of course, was assuming they scored a TD anyway, which they did and ate another two minutes in the process.
Blacking out - I can relate to Rodgers' explanation of "blacking out" as a reason for all the stuff he started yelling after his TD. In moments like, that your adrenaline can get you so amped that things can come out of your mouth you just wouldn't ever expect. It happened to me once on the HS football field. We were playing our hated rivals, North Bergen (hated because we could never beat them) at their field. I was a sophomore and was one of three backfield protectors on the punting team. Waiting to return the punt was their all-state running back. The punt goes off and it's high but not very deep, and right in front of our sideline. Somehow, I'm the first one to the returner (where the hell were the gunners?) and in one off those classic "hit him right as he catches it" plays, I plaster him, pancaking him straight back into the turf (side note - he suffered a separated shoulder as a result of the hit). It was the type of perfectly-timed hard hit a young football player dreams about. I was so hyped, I jumped up and screamed at the top of my lungs, "EAT IT, blankety-blank" before heading to the sideline. I still remember the looks on some of my teammate's faces (shock, mostly). Was that really the normally quiet, mild-mannered Al that just yelled that out for the world to hear? Indeed it was. I had no idea where it came from, I just mentally "blacked out."
Dear Robert Quinn. as you just found out, when you mock the Belt, you get "owned" by @AaronRodgers12 Thank You. #GoPackGo
— Jersey Al - GBP (@JerseyAlGBP) October 17, 2021
“All my fucking life. I own you. I still own you. I still own you.” pic.twitter.com/KvudpcqvoR
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) October 17, 2021
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__________________________
"Jersey Al" Bracco is the Editor-In-Chief, part owner and wearer of many hats for CheeseheadTV.com and PackersTalk.com. He is also a recovering Mason Crosby truther. Follow Al on twitter at @JerseyalGBP.
__________________________
Comments (59)
NickPerry
October 20, 2021 at 06:49 am
Agreed Al, I mean it HAD to be your tweet about Lazard right? Well I'm glad the Packers are paying attention because this team just seems so much better when they spread it around. In past years you'd almost always hear the announcers tell the audience Rodgers had hit 7, 8, or 9 different receivers thus far in the game. This past weekend when they mentioned Rodgers had hit 7 different receivers made me think I hadn't heard that this year that I could remember anyways.
My point to all that is this team is just so much better when EVERYBODY is involved. IMO Rodgers has got to show he trusts other teammates who aren't wearing 17. It just makes them so much tougher to defend. Not to mention Lazard DESERVES a few bones a game for the job he does taking on LB'ers and D-Linemen.
"Kudos to Joe Barry - Yiadom has proven to be exactly what his past tape and stats said he was."
Kudos is right Al, if that was Pettine or Capers, Yiadom would have stayed on the field the entire game. That always drove me crazy. Hey, if a player is struggling or just isn't doing the job put someone else in! Douglass filled in well except for the penalty. I'd expect Douglass to only get better as he gets familiar with his new teammates and the defense.
Note to Rodgers...Just please OWN WFT this weekend. Going to Arizona on a short week missing Pro Bowers and All Pros galore sounds better at 6-1 than 5-2...A hell of a lot better..
Al, thanks for sharing your story of your HS Glory Days! Sounds like that was a hell of a hit.
MFL is 31-7 in the regular season winning at a 816% clip. I don't care who he has playing QB. This young man can coach and is getting better with the in-game adjustments and his staff better at getting players up to speed while filling in for injured teammates. I am SO GLAD the Packers hired MLF and not Josh McDaniels...The coaching candidate I WANTED.
greengold
October 20, 2021 at 09:27 am
Nick, this is a great post. More often than not we agree, and you're spot on with every point here, as is Al.
IMO, Matt LaFleur's adjustments throughout the game, his preparation from a scheme and play calling standpoint, his ability to have his players, many young and inexperienced, READY in a highly charged game v. the Bears was exemplary. I love having LaFleur running the show here in GB. He hasn't been perfect, as no one is, but he's done a remarkable job through a lot of adversity.
Cheers, Nick!
GPG
NickPerry
October 20, 2021 at 08:37 pm
Cheers greengold...Absolutely, MLF has done a remarkable job and is only getting better with the experience he gets each week.
croatpackfan
October 20, 2021 at 10:48 am
"I don't care who he has playing QB."
This is why I believe Jordan Love will be ready when he will be called to play.
Regarding the rest, I agree with Al and you, of course. Keep well and healty Nick.
Gee
October 20, 2021 at 03:56 pm
You really think Love wins the bears game? I want Love to good as much as anyone, but there is no way I see him winning against that front 7 on Sunday.
Leatherhead
October 20, 2021 at 06:05 pm
Do you believe that Adams, Jones, Dillon etc. can’t get more than 14 points with a decent QB? That La Fleur just isn’t good enough to do that?
All Love has to is execute the play, protect the ball, and throw accurately. Yes, it’s damn handy to have Aaron Rodgers, but other QBs have beaten the Bears. Team win games every week without any help from Rodgers, so we can too.
NickPerry
October 20, 2021 at 08:35 pm
Thanks Croat, you do the same! Thanks for all the comments from Croatia!!
NickPerry
October 20, 2021 at 08:36 pm
.
NickPerry
October 20, 2021 at 08:35 pm
Wow..Triple post...What happened?
Leatherhead
October 20, 2021 at 12:37 pm
I agree with your opinion on LaFleur.
I get called a homer because I think this organization knows what it’s doing. The Executive Board, the President, the HC, GM, the CFO, the scouting and personnel people…..I think they all are more knowledgeable and smarter about the team than I am.
Anybody who can’t remember the merger in 1970, I’m telling you this: This is one of the better stretches in Packer history. Look it up if you don’t believe me. And we should appreciate it, and be thankful for the people who are making it happen.
Nate-1980
October 21, 2021 at 02:31 pm
Get back to me when love is your qb ha
13TimeChamps
October 22, 2021 at 03:08 pm
Do you ever have anything constructive to add to the conversation? I mean....ever?
CoachDino
October 20, 2021 at 05:16 pm
Good point on getting everybody involved. I like Cobb as much as the next fan but all the fanfare was way overblown. He plays a role and has done a good job at it. Same goes for the other role players such as Lazard, MVS and Tonyan. Cobbs role might even be the least of those listed but the gap between them isn't that big of a role to begin with.
GregC
October 20, 2021 at 06:51 am
"After he displayed all of his limitations in just 9 snaps on the Bears' first TD drive, Barry showed the proper amount of patience - none." That is just perfect. We're lucky that Yiadom's replacement played decently and that Justin Fields sucks, at least for now.
As for Rodgers, he's still one of the best QBs in the league, but at this point I'm embarrassed to have him on my team. I don't want my QB taunting the opposing team's fans after a TD. Show a little class.
Guam
October 20, 2021 at 07:12 am
Not entirely excusing Rodgers, but I believe there is video out there that shows Bear fans taunting him prior to his outburst. I believe one female Bears fan directly in his line of sight is giving him a double bird prior to his response. We are all human.
PeteK
October 20, 2021 at 09:50 am
Add to that the hard hit he took can just make one react instinctively. I was surprised because it's not in his character.
CoachDino
October 20, 2021 at 05:12 pm
I "Assume" most of us that have played sports have had an emotional moment out of character.
I don't doubt finally being able to run in a wide open TD felt good only to get sent flying by a late-ish shove and when you just go with it and roll right back to your feet to see some obnoxious bear fan giving you the "double bird" with your adrenaline on blast, it van happen to the best of them....so though I cringed, I get it. But instead of it not being "in his character" could it actually be it is exactly his character that he is normally able to hide in public?
If Moss did that to us I'm sure we wouldn't be so "understanding" as we/I are.
Leatherhead
October 20, 2021 at 10:45 pm
Randy Moss pantomimed taking a crap on the field and wiping his butt on our goalpost. It’s a shame we didn’t have one player stop it. I would have given him the Charles Martin treatment. They try to sell the story that Moss “mooned” the fans. That’s not what happened.
If Aaron Rodgers is the only person talking trash Sunday, then I’m damn disappointed in the rest of the team. These are the Bears we’re talking about.
LambeauPlain
October 20, 2021 at 01:14 pm
So many bare fans are insufferable and profane towards Packer Fans. And in Lambeau Field they are obnoxious. They get some heat in Lambeau but mostly good natured banter. But that is not the case in Soldier Field.
I buddy told me two friends of his, husband and wife, attended a Packer game in the Mistake by the Lake the bares of course lost. They were walking to their car wearing Packer gear, when two younger bare fans ran up to them from behind and one of them shoved the wife in her back and sent her sprawling on the asphalt. The bare losers laughed at her and shouted profanity at them while running away.
However, Rodgers profane taunting of fans rubbed me the wrong way a bit. I understand getting taken up by the moment but even if classless bare fans taunted him with profane words and gestures, Rodgers should have just smiled, pointed up at the scoreboard, and did his "belt" routine.
Minniman
October 20, 2021 at 02:34 pm
Not being a military person I don’t know the veracity of this, but reportedly, during the Afghanistan conflict, TV screens were set up at the airport\base playing loops of the 9/11 events for the incoming troops to see - to remind them of why they were there.
Despite the 22-5 stat proving Rodgers statement, I too wasn’t a fan of him lowering his standards (to that of some of the fans) by taunting them back.
I can see this being used as major motivation by the Bears in the coming years.
Razer
October 20, 2021 at 07:13 am
...I don't want my QB taunting the opposing team's fans after a TD. Show a little class...
I agree. As in Al's high school game, Rodgers may find himself on the wrong end of a season ending shot because people are pissed. Let you play do the talking.
Coldworld
October 20, 2021 at 11:45 am
It surprised me. He doesn’t have a record of such things. It was not seemingly pre planned, but the reaction of a player who was pumped up and just made a big play. Would I prefer he didn’t make it? Yes. Am I going to worry about it? No. If that is enough to get one’s back up I wonder how one copes with the world today.
greengold
October 20, 2021 at 11:50 am
I agree and felt the same, but, can understand the reaction after seeing the sea of Bears fans flipping him off after the score from a photo taken from the stands... in the moment response. That's what I chalk it up to, more than anything, in reply to what he must have seen. Not what I like to see, but under the circumstances, I get it.
It was without an epic moment, one for the ages. Hopefully, it doesn't come back to bite him or our Packers.
LambeauPlain
October 20, 2021 at 01:17 pm
I get it too, G&G...but prefer Rodgers do his taunting by scoring TDs.
I can only imagine what Packer Fans would be saying and writing if Tom Brady did the same thing in Lambeau.
Gee
October 20, 2021 at 04:02 pm
Are you saying Packers fans are going to give Brady the double bird salute. I dont see it, but who knows.
HawkPacker
October 20, 2021 at 07:17 am
GregC, I am not embarrassed to have Rodgers on my team. Remember, there was a lady in the stand who gave him the double bird. That along with 'being in the moment', like Al's story above you are kind of in a different world at that point. I am sure athletes at any level can understand that different world comment as it has probably happened to a lot of them at some point in their athletic lives.
Philarod
October 20, 2021 at 11:46 am
True, which will forever now be known as the ...
"Discount Double Bird."
egbertsouse
October 20, 2021 at 07:42 am
I thought it was a dick thing to do but football players are, in general, a bunch of meatballs. It’s not like he’s a doctor or teacher or minister.
HawkPacker
October 20, 2021 at 09:50 am
It's all about being competitive.
Razer
October 20, 2021 at 10:12 am
... a competitive dickhead LOL
Philarod
October 20, 2021 at 02:59 pm
Actually, if you watch/listen to his interviews, he's much brighter than most doctors, teachers and religious leaders whom I've met.
This became a story because it happened to be picked up by a microphone. He didn't say it in a press conference. Context. As I wrote on another thread, I'm neither proud nor ashamed of it. it's meaningless.
Gravedigger93
October 20, 2021 at 11:18 am
Greg, I coudn't disagree more about AR. Have you ever played competetive sports? I have played some, but obviously no where near the level of the NFL or the reigning MVP, one of the best QBs ever and insanely competetive person. Happens all the time. The "I own you" is really pretty tame trash talking...and after fans flipping him the bird after he consistently beats their team. It was the truth too. You think MJ, Bird, Brady and many other elite players don't do something like this? AR really did it in the best way possible too...no name calling of the fans, not racist, not sexist, nothing physical or disgusting. He talked about himself, "I own you" and how he feels. It was straight up stone cold and I bet his teammates loved it.
crayzpackfan
October 20, 2021 at 12:06 pm
Just wish our narcissistic MVP would’ve said “WE” own you instead of “I” own you. Then again, Rodgers ego knows no bounds.
Gravedigger93
October 20, 2021 at 01:08 pm
Yeah, but I think he's the only one still on the team since he's started "owning" them, except maybe Crosby. So he could have said Crobsy and I own you ;)
coolhand
October 20, 2021 at 01:33 pm
I'm sure it was also a reaction to the Bear who stood over Rodgers and did his champion belt move after a sack.
jannesbjornson
October 20, 2021 at 05:41 pm
No Hugs Zone. Give the guy a medal, Hooyah !
MilkCan44
October 21, 2021 at 08:24 pm
I agree with the last statement Greg. I live in Chicago and all last week the whole discussion here was what a talent and unbeatable foe Rodgers is.
This week the discussion is totally what a dick he is.
I was hoping he'd apologize to the McCaskey family who've always had a close relationship with the Packers.
So Jersey Al - nobody intelligent is buying the weak black-out excuse.
And from what I've seen, within a couple years the Bears will have he best QB in the North - get used to it.
HawkPacker
October 20, 2021 at 07:20 am
First off Al, great story about your HS days. Many of us have stories similar to yours but not as good I would bet.
You mention that you think the packers may be getting rid of Yiadom sooner rather than later. That could be the case but I did see where they dumped a practice squad player that they recently signed and he had a lot of game experience so I am not sure what the story is about their CB's.
BradHTX
October 20, 2021 at 07:39 am
Someone please get Al on a flight to Green Bay, ASAP.
IT. IS. TIME.
greengold
October 20, 2021 at 07:48 am
CheeseheadTV. I like the company so much, I bought the shirt!
Great stuff, Al! Loved seeing Lazard get some touches, especially the goal line Schwerve! Elgton returning, despite a little rust. The quick yank of Yiadom for Douglass. And, of course. “I still own you!”
Way to lay the wood, Al…
GPG
Guam
October 20, 2021 at 07:44 am
I have been concerned for awhile about the Packer kick-off coverage teams and got confirmation from a site (www.lineups.com) that tracks special teams performance. The Packers rank dead last (32nd) in kickoff return coverage this year to date giving up 487 yards at a 30.4 yard per return clip. Oddly their punt coverage teams are much better ranking in the middle (15th) of the league.
I have watched Crosby repeatedly kick short of the goal line this year, giving teams the opportunity to return kicks. I don't know if this is because Crosby's leg strength is fading or if it is a strategy on Drayton's part. If Crosby's leg strength is fading, Jersey Al may be right that his time in Green Bay is coming to a close. I sincerely hope it is not a strategy on Drayton's part because it is not working and that should have been obvious long before now. Maybe Bojorquez can kick off and let Crosby focus on field goals.
Coldworld
October 20, 2021 at 08:41 am
Crosby has not regularly kicked the ball out of the end zone in a long time. Whether that is by accident or design is hard to tell given his field goal range. If it is by design, it’s an Edsel with this ST unit.
Guam
October 20, 2021 at 09:17 am
Agree with your assessment of Crosby, but it seems it has been more prevalent this year. Few of his kicks are reaching the end zone and teams seem to be playing for it and looking for the run back. If my simple arithmetic is correct, Crosby is costing the Packers about 20 yards of field position ("hidden yardage") every game.
BTW, loved the Edsel reference. I suspect many of the younger readers are going to have to look that one up!
jannesbjornson
October 20, 2021 at 06:14 pm
Then add a change up with a squib or line drive and hope you have 11 men who can go down and create trouble.
The messaging to the sp teams has been risk avoidance and it delimits the end result. These sp teams players should show the desire to make and Stay On a NFL roster. Survivor mode---Urgency
LambeauPlain
October 20, 2021 at 01:30 pm
Packers kickoff coverage has been a chronic problem from Novak, Slowik, Zook, and Menenga. It remains a problem. After all, Drayton was the top ST assistant for both Zook and Menenga. What's that definition of "insanity"?
Packer opponents are now even running kicks out of the end zone too because of the poor coverage seen in game after game on tape. Last Sunday I saw a Packer cover guy (couldn't see his number) run down the field then stop and just stand there hoping for the returner to run to him...I guess. The returner just blew by him.
Packer kick coverage is undisciplined with lane integrity and compounded by poor tackling. That is a coaching issue.
Grandfathered
October 20, 2021 at 09:34 pm
Good points, and from the comments it seems we agree that there's a reason the Pack is keeping a kicker on standby. In a perfect world maybe Molson can kick into the endzone, and he'd be golden!
Packerfansupreme
October 20, 2021 at 07:47 am
Can the packers please cut Hunter Bradley. How many bad snaps do they need to see before they cut him loose.
LeotisHarris
October 20, 2021 at 08:54 am
The "show a little class" comments are interesting. My guess is those making them have never gotten jacked up during the heat of competition and done something similar, as Al described. I'm okay with that display of emotion, especially from a guy who's often lambasted for not leading with his heart on his sleeve. Plus, it was against the Bears so it's all good.
Now, all that said, if Thielen tries another Lambeau Leap, or if Tom Brady were to scream "I f*cking own you" at Darlene from Two Rivers, well, that would be total douchebaggery.
Razer
October 20, 2021 at 10:47 am
...if Tom Brady were to scream "I f*cking own you" at Darlene from Two Rivers, well, that would be total douchebaggery...
Hall of Fame post. Big thumbs up.
Coldworld
October 20, 2021 at 11:50 am
I played rugby not football. All I can say is I’ve always wondered how players cope with being miked. Levels of adrenaline and effort can create colorful moments even in the most restrained.
Nate-1980
October 21, 2021 at 02:54 pm
I agree the comments are strange, is this football or a girls knitting class were talking about ??
RCPackerFan
October 20, 2021 at 09:01 am
The 1st quarter -
Clearly they saw something on film with the Bears that they were trying to take advantage of. Good thing they can change quickly. Because what they were doing was not good.
No subterfuge -
Interesting. I hadn't payed that close attention honestly.
The Alien Lizard:
When the ball goes his way, he catches it. Its that simple. TIme to get him move involved in the passing game.
Jenkins back -
To be fair, Yosh went against other top tier pass rushers and held up pretty well.
Oh Snap! -
I don't find it interesting when we look at our snapper. There was an extra point where Bojo had to make a great attempt to get the ball down. I believe it was the next punt he took it off the ground. Luckily Bojo blast came through nailing an 82 yard kick. One of these games that bad snap is going to make an impact on the game.
Cobb -
I was surprised to see that Cobb wasn't more involved in the passing game.
Kudos to Joe Barry -
Yiadom was not good at CB. Douglas came in and had an impact. He was physical and played tough. Its understandable why Barry chose to go with Yiadom, having being here longer. But it was a great move putting Douglas in over him. I didn't realize that Yiadom's special teams snaps were reduced. Perhaps they reduced them knowing he was going to be starting? Preplanned that way? It will be interesting to see what happens this week.
Davante's almost TD -
While it worked out great that we got the TD and used time off the clock. how many times have we seen an almost TD to end up not scoring a TD on that drive. I prefer to take points when we can get them.
Blacking out -
Great Story Al!
Packers0808
October 20, 2021 at 10:31 am
Still like Campbell all over the field and doing his job. I liked the yelp from Rodgers, better than the usual lookof disgust from him for sure~ Good story Al. I remember sort of blacking out too when I broke my freakin ankle!
Ferrari-Driver
October 20, 2021 at 10:46 am
That was a very funny story about your hit on the return guy.
I can remember a few of those in my unexceptional days as a player; the problem is that I was the guy getting plastered. I can almost feel those hip pointers if I concentrate hard enough.
Since'61
October 20, 2021 at 10:48 am
The use of Lazard and other receiving targets will increase as we begin to face better defenses after the WFT game. I think that Rodgers has been targeting Adams because the opposing defenses have not been able to stop him. Better defenses will probably be able to bracket Adams which should create openings for Lazard, Tonyan and MVS when he returns.
Cobb will get his targets especially in situational football and during crucial drives.
It's good to see Joe Barry making the move to pull Yiadom quickly. The Packers should be looking to sign another DB so that they chuck Yiadom ASAP. Barry's move also sends a message to the rest of the defense which is if you can't get the job done we'll put in some one else without hesitation.
Al, thank you for sharing your "black out" story. Took me back to my own HS football days. Playing for a Catholic HS we were not allowed to shout evening after making a big hit. A good hit would have been appreciated but the shouting at the opponent would have meant at least a brief trip to the bench if not for the rest of the game. So we had to satisfy ourselves with "nice hit' cheers and patting each others helmets.
Hoping we get some of our guys back in time for the AZ game. Great job again AL. GPG! Thanks, Since '61
croatpackfan
October 20, 2021 at 10:58 am
Nice Al.
I would like to add how many here were complaining on short runs from AJ & AJ. I'm not. That was pure strategy that helps Packers to get much longer runs during 2nd half. And made possible Allen's TD.
wildbill
October 20, 2021 at 12:35 pm
Not sure I agree that the long snapper and kicker being on our practice squad are to be our new starters next year. I see it more of a very smart Covid strategy in case either of the starters are forced to miss time.
Minniman
October 20, 2021 at 02:04 pm
“ Cobb - Not a single target to Randall Cobb. They were OBVIOUSLY keeping him in reserve in case they really needed him to break the Bears' hearts again. Rodgers, however, took care of that himself.”
There’s a YouTube compilation doing the rounds at the moment -a 10 minute compilation of Rodgers “owning” the Bears over the years.
It’s surprising how often the phrase COOOOBBBB!!!! gets spoken in it.
…….. I’ve only watched it once…………. Ok, 3 times. …………………………………….and counting………. :)
Grandfathered
October 20, 2021 at 10:24 pm
Thanks.