Morning Buzz: Favre still in Packers' corner
Welcome to your Morning Buzz, rounding up news and views regarding the Green Bay Packers from around the web and here at PackersNews.com. Grab a cup of coffee (or brew some tea) and get caught up on everything you need to know about the Packers.
We start out with a final autopsy of the Colts debacle with the Eric Baranczyk and Pete Dougherty film study.
Richard Rodgers had 10 targets, second most on the team, and averaged 10.7 yards on his six catches. McCarthy clearly saw the middle of the field as an area he wanted to attack against the Colts’ predominantly man-to-man coverage, and Rodgers was a big part of that plan.
The problem is, Rodgers isn’t much of a threat after the catch. So it makes you wonder whether using Nelson more like the Packers did against Atlanta, lining up almost as a tight end and running routes over the middle of the field, might be the better option.
Nelson isn’t as big as a tight end, but he’s big for a receiver (6-3, 217). He can’t block like a tight end, so the Packers’ can’t ask him to. But for all the limits that places on play calling and the run game, he has the size and ability to work the middle of the field, and he can do way more than Rodgers or Perillo after the catch.
Bob McGinn looks forward with his scouting report on the Tennessee Titans.
Coach Mike Mularkey has tried to ease Mariota’s transition from the Oregon spread offense to what Mularkey once referred to as “exotic smashmouth.” The Titans have been extremely committed to the running game, and when Mariota throws it’s usually off play-action and with some form of additional blocking.
The changing fortunes in Nashville are reflected by the odds. The Titans (4-5) are a 2½-point underdog Sunday, a far cry from the 13-point spread they encountered in the last meeting between the teams.
After the 2012 game, McCarthy said, “It is important for us to go out and dominate opponents late in the year.”
He’d gladly accept a one-point victory this time.
Eric Goska makes the observation, through statistics, that the Packers are in desperate need of a true lead running back.
Datone Jones wants to play offense.
Datone Jones to Packers: Get me the ball in the red zone
Randall Cobb says the Packers have to prove they are a good team.
Be sure to check out LeRoy Butler and Tom Silverstein in their weekly videos.
5 Questions with LeRoy Butler, 11.8.16
X's and O's with LeRoy Butler, 11.8.16
Don’s miss Bob McGinn’s live chat at 11 a.m.CST this morning.
Brett Favre still is keeping faith in the Packers.
Bryan Bulaga, Lane Taylor and T.J. Lang surprised some veterans Tuesday as part of the team’s Salute To Service.
The Packers worked out several running backs, but didn’t sign any.
Former Packers linebacker Sam Barrington has a new home.
The Packers’ inept special teams helped make Jordan Todman the NFL’s Special Teams Player of the Week.