Green Bay Packers Roundtable: Can McCarthy and a Hobbled Roster Turn It Around?

The Green Bay Packers (3-2) and Miami Dolphins (2-2) will face off Sunday at Lambeau Field. 

It's obvious that faith in the 2010 Packers has been rattled considerably this week. The injuries in Green Bay seem to be never-ending, and a heart-breaking loss to the Redskins has Packers' fans wondering if their luck has run out for this season.

In this week's version of the Green Bay Packers Roundtable, Carter Bierwirth, Alec Dopp, Ian Hanley and I break down the rest of the Packers' season and Sunday's game against the Dolphins. 

1. The question everyone wants to know: Is the Packers season on the brink of collapse?

Zach: I think it's way too early to call the season over, but the injuries and daunting schedule ahead are reason for concern. I think 11-5 or possibly even 10-6 could win the NFC North, so it's definitely within the Packers' reach to go 8-3 or 7-4 the rest of the way. 

Remember, the Packers were 4-4 through eight games last year, and everyone thought the season was over. They finished the season 7-1 as one of the hottest teams in the NFL. Anything is possible, so don't give up on the Packers yet. 

Carter: Well I’m sure that varies from person to person, but no, I believe the season is far from collapse. I have not seen one team in the NFC, or even the NFL really, who isn’t built solid.

Every single team still has a chance to win their respective divisions and make the playoffs, and I can see our division being won with a 9-7 record if things continue.

Anyways, I still think the Packers have the horses to make it, so long as Aaron Rodgers recovers quickly from his concussion. If not, well let’s not think about that.

Alec: Well, as Packers coach Mike McCarthy evaluates the team’s current status, there is obviously apparent need for repair. Let’s not forget the Packers are missing TE Jermichael Finley and All-Pro QB Aaron Rodgers. As for McCarthy’s concern, “There’s a reason we keep four tight ends”. Andrew Quarless is a young but capable TE who will have to step up for the Packers the next few weeks.

Ian: Unfortunately, it’s probably closer to the brink of collapse than many Packer fans would like to admit. That being said, the Packers can still recover if they can stay healthy from here on out.

Aaron Rodgers is still one of the top quarterbacks in the league, and even without Jermichael Finley and Ryan Grant, he still has a lot of weapons around him.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Packers have two playmakers in Charles Woodson and Clay Matthews, and they should get back Atari Bigby and Al Harris after week six.

Yes, the injuries are damaging to the Packers’ Super Bowl chances. But with no clear cut favorite in the NFC, the Packers are still in the thick of things.

2. How much blame does head coach Mike McCarthy deserve for the Packers’ struggles?

Zach: McCarthy has to take some of the blame. Too many of the recurring problems still haunt the Packers on a week-to-week, and even year-to-year basis.

And I think the offensive playing calling has been below average. The offense hasn't been in a rhythm all season. Part of the blame has to fall on the scheme McCarthy is drawing up. 

Injuries have made the season a difficult one, but McCarthy's job so far has been part of the problem too. To be honest, the Packers have a lot of problems to deal with to get this season on the right track.

Carter: Personally, I think quite a bit. The players are not being mentally and fundamentally prepared to play every Sunday, and when they perform it isn’t up to the standards they supposedly hold themselves too. I will directly pin that on coaching.

Discipline and execution have been the Packers weakness this year, and both concepts are derived from strong principals built by competent coaching. So I believe McCarthy holds a rather immense amount of the blame.

Alec: Coach McCarthy explained to reporters after Sunday’s loss that he likes where they are at as a team. Nevertheless, in my mind, McCarthy should take about 50 percent of the blame. The play-calling has been good as a whole, but the team is still obviously decimated by injuries up to this point.

Ian: In my opinion, quite a bit. Year after year the Packers seem to be plagued by some of the same issues: poor special teams play, large amounts of penalties and questionable play calling. The head coach is responsible for getting these types of issues fixed, and after five years, McCarthy does not seem to be any closer to solving these issues.

This season has been no different. Untimely penalties and poor special teams play were directly responsible for the Monday night loss to the Bears, while Sunday’s loss also featured untimely penalties and some questionable play calling.

 3. Looks like Jermichael Finley will be out 8-10 weeks, possibly the entire season. What can the Packers do to offset his loss? Who needs to step up in the offense?

Carter: Well in short, Andrew Quarless is going to have to grow up really fast. Finley himself was a headcase his first year in Green Bay before making the move to improve in both mental and physical standpoints.

With Donald Lee out for a few weeks as well, it will come down to both Quarless and Crabtree to perform at a high level. I saw some pretty good flashes from both against the Redskins, though Quarless really needs to improve on his blocking techniques. If both can step up then we can run our system effectively despite the heavy loss in Finley.

Zach: I think to offset the loss, the Packers have to find Greg Jennings on a more consistent basis. He's been a ghost for the most part of this season and he's too talented not to be more involved in the offense. In addition to Jennings, obviously Quarless, Crabtree, and Lee have to step up at the tight end position.

In all honesty, you can't completely offset the loss of a player like Finley. However, the Packers have the playmakers on offense to ensure it remains a top unit. 

Alec: While Jermichael Finley is out, along with back-up TE Donald Lee, 3rd-string TE Andrew Quarless will fill the void for both while they heal-up.

McCarthy said Sunday: “Well once we get to next week I think we’ll probably get a little more urgency on what we are going to do with the 53-man roster.” So not much has been determined for the starting job come Sunday.

Ian: Finley’s injury is probably the biggest loss for the Packers so far this year. His absence will change the way the Packers run the offense the rest of this season. 

To offset his loss, the Packers will need to rely more on rookie tight end Andrew Quarless, who has a similiar skill set to Finley, but is far less polished. Quarless is probably at a similar point to where Finley was his rookie year, when he caught only only six passes for 74 yards.

4. Is Brandon Jackson’s 100-yard game a flash in the pan, or is he ready to take over that role for the rest of the season?

Carter: Well, most of those yards came off one single run, but he was managing to find holes much better then previous games and also kept his weight forward to gain extra yards. If he can maintain solid performances through the next few games then that will obviously prove much more to us then one game can.

I’d certainly like to think so because this would be the time to finally get the running game some respect in order to take pressure off the pass.

Alec: You can expect RB Brandon Jackson, along with John Kuhn, to carry the load for the rest of the season. Jackson’s performance Sunday was impressive, but more work needs to be done as far as his role in the long-term offense.

Ian: With such a limited sample it’s hard to say, but it does not appear the Packers will be adding another running back to the roster, so Jackson should have every opportunity to prove he can be a featured back. I still have my doubts about Jackson’s ability to replace Grant. Other than Sunday’s performance, Jackson has not looked like a number one running back.

I think it is imperative the Packers at least give Jackson a shot to run the ball. With the injuries the Packers have at this point, they cannot afford to be completely one dimensional on offense. The threat of a running game would help keep opposing defenses honest and help open up the passing game.

Zach: Sunday was obviously Jackson's best performance of the season, but my guess is that it's more of a flash in the pan than the norm. Jackson is best suited to be a third down back, not the primary ballcarrier. I think expecting 100 yard games out of him would be unwise. 

I'm still sticking to my guns and saying James Starks will be the starter by Week 10 and won't relinquish it for the rest of the year. That way, Jackson can go back to being a third down back in this offense.

5. Will the Packers focus more on running the ball Sunday with Aaron Rodgers’ health in question? What should we expect out of Jackson, John Kuhn, and Dmitri Nance?

Carter: If McCarthy was smart he would. Especially if Matt Flynn is the one throwing the football. I don’t care if we run four downs in a row, but we have to get the box loaded and take as much pressure off the pass as possible, so if Flynn is playing it will at least give him better opportunities.

Regardless, we need to get the run game established, so if that was how McCarthy wanted to play, then I would expect him to keep spreading the ball around between the two (Jackson and Kuhn) and maybe get Nance involved because I’ve been waiting three weeks to see what he can do.

Alec: McCarthy told reporters Sunday that he feels comfortable with Flynn’s skills and capabilities to manage the offense for a 1-2 week basis. You can’t feel too confident in him, though. You don’t really know what he has to offer until he goes out and proves what he’s got.

Ian: I think the Packers should try running the ball more. But even with Rodgers’ injury, I don’t think they will. Miami’s run defense is ranked in the bottom third in rushing yards allowed per game, so the Packers may have the opportunity to run. But even though the rushing game was effective last week, it was underutilized, as the Packers only ran the ball 13 times.

Brandon Jackson looked good against the Redskins, but it remains to be seen if he will be able to carry the load all season. John Kuhn is fine as a short yardage back, but he is not a threat to break off a long run. Dimitri Nance is the wild card of the group. I would like to see him get some more carries. Since being acquired after Grant’s injury, Nance has only two carries for six yards.

Zach: My guess is that McCarthy will stick to what he's been doing all season. He'll have whoever is starting dropping back and throwing the football.

It looks like Rodgers will be the likely starter anyway, so I'd be shocked to see him all of a sudden turn this into a running offense. Last week we were in the lead almost the entire game and the Packers only ran the ball 17 times. 

I wouldn't mind seeing a little more of Dmitri Nance, however. He's on the team for a reason, might as well give him a chance to see what he's got. 

If you'd like to write a Green Bay Packers Roundtable, or are interesting in taking part in the next arranged piece, please contact Zach Kruse here on b/r, at [e-mail], or on Twitter at zachkruse2.