Here's a news flash... Nothing will be fixed! Players won't be benched!
They have a static routine in GB that's been in place since McCarthy has been here.
As soon as the season ends, McCarthy, the OC & DC all review game footage from the past season. They give their player reviews to TT. Then, TT goes on the hunt for players or try to chisel the player's contract down.
In the mean time, McCarthy, the OC & DC then view game footage of opponents as soon as they area announced. They make a decision on a game plan for those teams, including plays, down and distance, coaching trends, qb trends etc...
They do this for each team and compile a playbook complete with base packages, hybrid packages, twists, base plays and those that are specific to particular teams.
They get past the draft and start installing the playbook into the team during mini-camps, while beginning to shake out the roster for the best players.
By the time training camp begins, the playbook has been fully installed. By the end of camp, the players have been sorted out and the roster has been set.
By the start of the regular season, there are no more competitions for positions. They are all fully focused on three game plans at all times. The game plan for the upcoming game. A partial game plan for the game two weeks out, and introducing parts of the game plan for the game three weeks out. This goes on all season.
With the system statically in place, now understand the meeting & practice schedules are also static. Structure is extreme. The only room for fixing timing and chemistry is when players take it upon themselves to come in early and work on what they think will help.
Before the Vikes game, Rodgers & receivers came in early all week to work out issues. But Packer practice & what they do every week was not adjusted to fix issues. Meet to review game footage, point out the issues, count on the professionals to fix issues on their own.
Move to footage on next opponent and attend meeting to discuss the game plan. Practice game plays for upcoming games, and some of the next two.
It's cyclical and static.
My point is that McCarthy, Clemons and Capers can't make adjustments because their season is cast in stone.
If they made bad game plans, there is no fixing it. They can't make many, if any changes because the players are not ready for it. The players do not have every play in a giant playbook memorized. Only the current game and two games after.
Makes it nearly impossible to make adjustments. If they do, it likely will take two weeks to begin changes and introducing them for the third game down the line. But then, if the changes didn't work? Try again. Not long before the season has eroded.
THAT is the structure of the Green Bay Packers. That is why they are inflexible. That is why once the season starts, the team has to play out the season as it is structured... good or bad, the season simply plays out.
The only things left to chance is injury and player execution.
But, all that structure negates flexibility. And none of this even touches on the GM's job or position coaches.
And I believe that is why McCarthy has those dumbfounded looks on his face. He (and the OC & DC) failed their homework! These game plans and plays were supposed to work!
But they don't. They can't make changes now. Their screwed! They know it and feel powerless to change it. They are victims of their own efficiency!
They can make quick changes and adjustments, but, that is excessive work and totally upsets the routine. They could lose their balance and go out of control.
Just frustrating to watch week after week
