NHPB: Coaching Calamity Costs

Bitter Fruits From A Poisoned Tree
Coaching Calamity Costs
by New Hampshire Packer Backer

OK, I get it now. The Packer brain trust has its own way of viewing football. It must work somewhere - but not in the NFL.

Examples from last night:

#1. Get a huge return on a kick-off at the end of the game after yet another defensive failure to shut down opponents when you are leading. Add in a stupid penalty by the Bears coverage unit. Move down the field - then shut down the offense and stop trying to move the ball (which you have been doing all night with a reasonable mix of passing and success) - run three running plays designed and intended to go nowhere to set up a field goal attempt on a frozen field with a swirling wind. Reminds me of going to football 10A coach's review of Yale-Princeton game during my freshman year when Yale's coach explained theory behind punting on third down - less chance of it being blocked - of course it was blocked and Princeton won. Golly, do you think it might have been a good idea to keep trying to move the ball and score a touchdown or at least make the FG a chip shot?

#2. Special teams receivers consistently are out of place and playing too deep on kick offs and punts - so that they don't catch the ball in the air. Must be a new strategy designed to do something - what I am not sure. At some point, would not someone on the sideline suggest to the receivers that they move up 10 yards and catch the ball on the fly. Of course, I fully understand why the returners let the ball hit between them and go into the end zone. Getting a touchback and starting on the 20 yard line is probably better than starting inside the 20 because the return scheme is clueless. Was any coach or player watching what was happening on the field or is everyone brain dead?

#3. How many times does the ball have to hit a blocker on punts before someone makes it clear that this is not good football strategy? At some point during the season, don't you say to Mr. Jared Bush: "Know where you are and where the ball is, and get the &*$#*&^ out of the way, so the ball doesn't hit you. If you even come close to a ball you are off the punt coverage team, and since you don't do much else positive, here is a bus ticket to arena football." Are there any consequences for dumbness and incompetence on the field? (I guess not if there are no consequences for same on the part of the brain trust.)

#4. Don't rush the passer and rely on your secondary, particularly in overtime. Oh, there must be something wrong with the NFL because letting a team (particularly da Bears) move down the field at will during the latter part of each half and in OT should not happen, should it? Oh, look at the Bear QBs - we don't need to put pressure on them - that sure worked wonders did it not?

This performance by the coaching staff and those who select the players responsible for these mental atrocities on the field would not be acceptable in pee wee football, much less on a purported professional team. I was willing to give them the benefit of doubt and say give them one more chance - this constant repetition of thoughtless play, strategy and effort says it is time to cut losses now, before they can do more damage with another draft. Maybe a loss to winless Detroit will open eyes to the reality of the situation: overrated, overweight and underachieving players - matched with a clueless coaching staff that has no ability to understand the need to make adjustments, much less actually make the right adjustments. Add in the master of the evil empire and you can expect more of the same next season.