Rodgers’ injury, defense’s inadequacy doom Packers

fpadmin | 11/05/2013

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Chicago defeats Green Bay 27-20 in ‘Battle of Backups’ at Lambeau Field; Rodgers reportedly out three weeks
By CHRIS HAVEL
By the end of the first quarter, Seneca Wallace had Green Bay Packers fans longing for Aaron Rodgers. By the end of the game, Josh McCoun had them longing for Jay Cutler. McCoun, starting in place of the injured Cutler, played the game of his NFL life while leading the Chicago Bears to a 27-20 upset of the Packers on Monday Night Football at Lambeau Field.
On a night when Green Bay’s special teams were truly special, the Packers’ offense was awful and the defense was worse.
At least the offense had an excuse. Rodgers injured his left shoulder during a Shea McClellin sack on the final play of the opening drive. Rodgers reportedly fractured his left clavicle and could miss at least three weeks.
The Bears and first-year head coach Marc Trestman seized their chance. Matt Forte blasted away 24 times for 125 yards and a touchdown while McCoun hit 22 of 41 passes for 272 yards and two touchdowns. The Bears racked up 442 yards in total offense, the most in team history during a victory at Lambeau Field.
“It’d be hard to find a better one than this,” McCoun told reporters afterward. “They’re all special, but this is really neat because it means so much to our team.”
The Bears’ win creates a three-way tie atop the NFC North with Chicago, Detroit and Green Bay all 5-3 at the season’s midpoint. Rodgers’ injury increases the Packers’ challenge in a tight race. Wallace, playing smaller than his 5-foot-11, 205-pound frame, looked like a quarterback who hadn’t taken an NFL snap in two seasons. He completed an ineffectual 11 of 19 passes for 114 yards and an interception. Not even Eddie Lacy’s career night could offset that dismal display. Lacy finished with 150 yards on 22 carries and a touchdown.
Lacy’s 56-yard jaunt to the Bears’ 1-yard line was electric, and James Starks’ 32-yard touchdown run was explosive. It wasn’t enough. Wallace’s rusty right arm posed more of a threat to the Packers’ passing game than the Bears’ secondary. Afterward, Packers head coach Mike McCarthy acknowledged Wallace’s play must improve and predicted it would with a week of practice.
McCarthy got it half-right. Wallace must improve, but I doubt it. If Rodgers’ right arm is a cannon, Wallace’s is a pop-gun. If the Packers are going to survive without Rodgers, their special teams needs to build on its big night (an onside kick recovery, a blocked punt and suffocating coverage) and its defense needs to step up. Rodgers, the NFL’s MVP in 2011, hasn’t missed a game due to injury since Dec. 19, 2010. That streak will end Sunday against Philadelphia at Lambeau Field.
“Aaron’s a huge part of our offense,” McCarthy told reporters. “This is a thing that’s been built over time with Aaron as the centerpiece. I don’t think it’s realistic to put anyone in there and expect him to perform (like Rodgers).”
No one expected Wallace to perform like Rodgers. However, he is expected to play like a competent backup. He didn’t by a long shot. Obviously, the Packers must sign a quarterback either to compete with or back up Wallace. They also must find ways to win without their quarterback virtuoso.
When Rodgers scrambled for 9 yards and took a hit on the game’s first play I thought, “OK, now he’ll be a bit more careful.” When right tackle Don Barclay didn’t sustain his block on McClellin and Rodgers held onto the football too long it contributed to the Packers’ dread “worst case scenario.”
While McCarthy figures out how best to proceed without Rodgers, here are several big-picture suggestions moving forward:

Draft a quarterback with talent in the early to mid-rounds once every three or four years. San Francisco did it with Colin Kaepernick, Seattle did it with Russell Wilson and New England did it with Ryan Mallett. Kaepernick and Wilson have since become upper-echelon starters, and Mallett has proven to be more than adequate in Tom Brady’s absence.
Develop that guy and prepare him to play within the system, rather than sign a veteran retread in free agency. Praying that Rodgers doesn’t get injured isn’t enough.
Don’t answer the phone if it’s a Hattiesburg, Mississippi, number.

Here’s the good news:

Rodgers’ injury isn’t season-ending and the season is far from over.
The Packers’ running game – much like the Bears’ with Forte – is good enough to win so long as the backup QB is at least competent.
The special teams’ play is improving each week, and the defense can only get better when Clay Matthews and Co. return.

Furthermore, the Packers are still in first place. It just doesn’t feel like it.

Chris Havel is a national best-selling author and his latest book is Lombardi: An Illustrated Life. Havel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4-6 p.m. CDT on WDUZ FM 107.5 The Fan, or on AM-1400, as well as Fan Internet Radio (www.thefan1075.com). Havel also hosts Event USA’ MVP Parties the evening before home games.

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"Good Morning, Nicole - Everything you did turned out great. The seats were great. Access to the air conditioned club lounge was great. Lots of Packers fans in the club lounge and overall at the stadium. The tailgate party at the fancy restaurant in the hotel was fabulous. The servers just kept on bringing out different sliders and desserts. Good thing that I got in a 30-minute run along the river in the morning. So, thank you! You may be speaking with me in November if I can work out getting up to Green Bay for a game. It's been too long since my last time. One of the best aspects of this weekend was interacting with so many people from Wisconsin and learning their personal stories of things Packers. And we even met a couple from St. Petersburg, Florida (my home county) and were able to tell them about the Varsity Club tavern and Packers bar in Clearwater where Mark Murphy's mother is in attendance -- very nice lady whose retirement home is in Clearwater, which borders my little city of Dunedin. Pre-COVID, I always went to the Varsity when the Packers games weren't televised locally -- lots of Wisconsin natives there, too + they serve brats and sauerkraut during Packers games. I'm glad that you are working for Event USA. "

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"Dennis - I was blessed to join Amy and some of your customers at the Morton's tailgate as well as after the game. She does an amazing job for you. Every single customer I met praised Event USA for being able to arrange the hotel and tickets and fabulous tailgate party in such a quick time. Having been to some great tour tailgate parties in Jacksonville and Kansas City and old San Francisco, a lot can be said of the long-term benefit of having really great tailgate parties. Morton's was probably one of the best - amazing food, patio sitting on the riverfront, walk to stadium, open bar!!! It was first class fun!!!"

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"I want to thank Event USA and in particular Amy Flores for the Jacksonville trip. We have used you before and always were very pleased with the packages you have set up and your service. My son who lives in Charleston, SC and myself who lives in Minnesota, decided we needed to do a guys trip and decided to go through your company to see the opener in New Orleans. I initially called and talked with Amy about some questions I had and booked our trip. After itinerary and info was emailed to us, it soon became apparent that the trip to New Orleans wouldn’t happen. In steps Amy, wondering if we would be interested in Dallas if the game was moved there and a package was set up. Then finally the move to Jacksonville and continued communication from Amy on our interest. It was getting late at that point and I was wondering if she would be able to pull off setting up a package in Jacksonville. She did it. We went to Jacksonville and had a great time. The accommodations and the tail gate were fabulous. If only the Packer team we were hoping for had made the trip. Thank you Event USA and in particular Amy Flores."

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-Frank Chavez, Sacramento

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