By The Bye, This Sure Comes At A Good Time… For Me!
By Chris Havel
There is a reason it’s cliché to say the National Football League’s bye weekend comes at a good time. The reason is it’s true.
In fact, here are 10 reasons the Green Bay Packers’ bye weekend comes at an especially good time for the person that matters in my life… Me!
Number 10:
It provides a much-needed respite from poor officiating. The holding penalties on Packers’ tackles Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher versus Washington were weak. The no force-out call against tight end Bubba Franks in the back of the end zone was awful. The NFL issued its version of an apology this week by acknowledging it blew the call, and Franks’ catch was indeed a touchdown. That offers some solace to the Packers, but none to anyone that had Green Bay minus-3 1/2.
Number 9:
The drama surrounding Packers running back Vernand Morency’s every carry was becoming too much to bear. It is so bad Morency must now sign an injury waiver between snaps. Every time Morency touches the ball, or so it seems, he comes up lame. If he is that banged up, he needs to sit down. If he is that fragile, he needs to find a new line of work. On the bright side, Morency just landed a sweet endorsement deal from the makers of peanut brittle.
Number 8:
I relish the chance to kick back and revel in the Packers’ 5-1 start and all that it might mean for the remainder of the season.
Packers coach Mike McCarthy has done an excellent job to this point. He has enabled quarterback Brett Favre to play at a high level, and he has engineered ways to help his team win five of six games without a running attack. In fact, their best rushing effort came in their only loss, a 27-20 disappointment to the Chicago Bears.
Now, McCarthy needs to focus on polishing the passing attack, and incorporating ways to use the pass to set up the run. Let’s be honest. The Packers’ running game isn’t going to be more than average at best this season. It would be stubborn and foolish to waste the effort and energy required to build a formidable running game, and even then it might not bring the necessary results.
It is time to pass first, run second and make the best of it.
Number 7:
I no longer have to answer the question, “When is the NFL going to reinstate Packers receiver Koren Robinson?” Robinson returns Monday, and his impact is going to be significant. The Packers now feature one of the NFL’s five-best receiving corps, as well as a top-10 quarterback and a more than adequate line.
Number 6:
The bye week allows me to really hone in on the rest of the NFC North while the Lions lose at home to the Buccaneers, the Bears get pounded at Philadelphia and the Vikings are routed in Dallas.
Number 5:
Who doesn’t need a break from seeing McCarthy empty the backfield in the shotgun formation on fourth-and-goal at the 1-yard line.
Number 4:
While rookie kicker Mason Crosby has made several clutch field goals thus far, his two-miss adventure against Washington left plenty to be desired. The bye gives ample time to wash out the bad taste in the mouth and start fresh.
Number 3:
The bye week is a great time to dole out mid-season awards:
Rookie of the Year: receiver James Jones. He’s big, strong and sure-handed, plus he can take criticism and learn from it.
Most improved: safety Atari Bigby. He is a 100-percent improvement over Marquand Manuel.
Quiet excellence: nose tackle Ryan Pickett. He IS the Packers’ run defense.
Most dependable: receiver Donald Driver. He’s tougher than a two-dollar steak, and all he does is make plays.
Most disappointing: Tie between safety Nick Collins and defensive end Cullen Jenkins. The former hasn’t played the pass and the latter hasn’t rushed the passer. Both need to take it up a notch if the defense is going to dominate.
Number 2:
Maybe it’s me, but the 5-1 Packers’ start has been especially nerve racking and gut wrenching. A week off can’t hurt.
Number 1:
The bye week gives me a chance to recharge, and McCarthy a chance to reinvent the offense (into more of a pure passing attack) and to encourage the defense to take a more demonstrative role as team leader.
The Packers’ identity needs to be that of an aggressive team on both sides of the ball. The offense needs to spread it out and utilize its weapons in the passing game. The defense needs to blitz frequently and to pressure constantly. It has the depth and the talent to wear down the opposition.
Chris Havel is a freelance writer, best-selling author and host of northeast Wisconsin’s top-rated sports radio talk show, Sports Line, heard Monday through Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. on Sports Radio 107.5 FM and 1400 AM THE FAN. He writes a weekly column exclusively for Packers Fan Tours’ Website throughout the 2007 season.
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