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Articles by Bob Fitch
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Wednesday Walkthroughs: Processing the Packers’ free agent splurge
Raise your hand if you thought the Green Bay Packers would have signed four free agents by now. Okay, now put it down again. I don’t want to sound mean here, but I think you’re a liar. Anyone who expected the Packers to be this active this early is either fibbing or should purchase a lottery ticket to take more profitable advantage of their clairvoyance. Even acknowledging that Brian Gutekunst has pledged to be more active in free agency, this was unexpected.
Wednesday Walkthroughs: Favorite free agent fits for the Packers in 2019
It’s Wednesday, and that means it’s time for another round of Walkthroughs here at Acme Packing Company. This week, we’re looking ahead a bit to the next major phase of player acquisition: free agency. Although that process does not begin until three weeks from today, now seems as good a time as any to start thinking about players who could — or should — be targets for Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst.
Wednesday Walkthroughs: Which second-year Packer are you most excited to watch in 2019?
There are no two ways about it: 2018 was a disappointment. But last season also featured an intriguing injection of young talent into the Green Bay Packers’ roster. This infusion of youth wasn’t limited to one side of the ball; the Packers added interesting contributors on both offense and defense. Sure, not every draft pick or undrafted free agent signing worked out (J’Mon Moore comes to mind), but the Packers have some exciting young players with chances to take big steps in 2019.
Wednesday Walkthroughs: The biggest concerns about the Packers this offseason
Dread it, run from it, the offseason still arrives. And it did, officially, on Sunday. The final game of the 2018 season is over, and now the rest of the league has joined the Packers in the long dark of the offseason. This is almost certainly the most important offseason for the Packers in quite some time. With a new coach at the helm and a second-year GM ready to flex his cap space and extra draft picks, the Packers have to be well on their way to making their return to the playoffs, right? Right??
Packers 2018 Roster Grades: Defensive line depth was tested early and often
Over a two week span, Acme Packing Company takes a look at each position group on the Green Bay Packers and provides grades and insight on how they performed in the 2018 season. Today, we examine the defensive line. The expectation heading in to the season for the Green Bay Packers’ defense was that a strong defensive line would help mask the shortcomings of an inexperienced secondary.
Packers Film Room: A new take on the 2-headed rushing attack
Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images Since we’ve established that Jamaal Williams would make a good fullback, let’s look at how he and Aaron Jones could make for a potent duo on the field together. By Bob Fitch@farminvt Jan 31, 2019, 11:00am CST Aaron Jones proved right those Green Bay Packers fans who had been pining that he needs to get the ball more frequently.
Wednesday Walkthroughs: What former Packers would you like to see as coaches?
As Matt LaFleur fills out his coaching staff, he’s added a few former NFL players to the Packers’ coaching lineup. New outside linebackers coach Mike Smith played under Mike Pettine in Baltimore. New wide receivers coach Alvis Whitted played for both the Jaguars and Raiders (and made a catch against the Packers in 2003). LaFleur even interviewed Wes Welker for a job, though his potential role in Green Bay wasn’t clear. That got us thinking about former Packers players who may be in need of a job.
Packers Film Room: Is Jamaal Williams Green Bay’s best fullback?
Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images The fullback position may be diminishing, but when you have a running back that can run, catch, and pass block like Williams, why not put your best assets on the field? By Bob Fitch@farminvt Jan 25, 2019, 10:15am CST My brother, a longtime Tampa Bay Buccaneer fan, got me into fullbacks.
Wednesday Walkthroughs: The unsung heroes of the 2018 Packers
There was precious little for Packers fans to cheer about in 2018, but not everything was a complete dumpster fire. In the midst of the slow-rolling train wreck that was last season, several Packers players rose above the burning garbage around them and posted respectable, even very good seasons. These are their stories, as told by the APC writing staff. Who was your unsung hero in 2018?
Packers Film Room: A quick look at Matt LaFleur’s screens and formations
We did it folks. Long gone are the iso routes and over-reliance on scramble plays; in comes the next man up in a line of potential coaching wunderkinds. The Green Bay Packers’ new coach, Matt LaFleur, was brought in to clean up the Packers’ offense and ‘repair’ Aaron Rodgers. To see how LaFleur might change up the offense, I went through The Tennessee Titans’ film and watched the passing game that LaFleur called.
Wednesday Walkthroughs: Gut Reactions to Packers’ hire of Matt LaFleur
Welcome to the Matt LaFleur era. Feels a little strange, doesn’t it? The Green Bay Packers have their first new non-interim head coach since 2006, and if you’re still processing the hire, you’ve got plenty of company. Many members of the APC staff are still working through their own feelings on the decision, as you’ll read below.
Packers-Lions Preview: Film shows Green Bay can succeed in the passing game
The Green Bay Packers are not a team that ‘has nothing to play for’. I’d say quite the opposite. Aaron Rodgers has become inaccurate and has timing issues with inexperienced receivers, defensive injuries have given an opportunity to roster fringe players, and stringing together some wins at the end of the season can spark some momentum and positivity going into the next season. Whereas losing out instead can have a negative impact on player and fan morale.
Packers-Falcons Film Room: Four galvanizing moments
OK, OK, maybe these plays weren’t exactly the “galvanizing moments” that Aaron Rodgers was referring to in his post-game interview after the loss to the Seahawks, but in last Sunday’s lopsided win against the Atlanta Falcons there were a handful of plays that stood out as game changers for the Packers. If Green Bay has any chance at making the playoffs this season, these four plays could be looked at as momentum builders.
Packers Film Room: An open letter to the play-action bootleg pass
My dearest Play-Action Bootleg pass, You are a noble play. Another offspring from the powerful lineage of Play-Action, the most heralded of offensive origins, your cohorts have made even the most incompetent offenses successful at something. You and your brethren also have an allure of deceit; it’s sinister, really, how you all hide behind the run and then suddenly appear as a pass just as your foes have committed otherwise.
Wednesday Walkthroughs: Which young Packers players should get more time?
Sure, the Packers aren’t technically out of the playoff race, but let’s be real: they’re out of the playoff race. As such, the last four weeks of the season could have a quasi-preseason feel. If that’s the case, there should be plenty of opportunities for younger players to get a longer look as the season winds down.
Packers-Vikings Film Room: Third down defense, part 2
This is part 2 of a two part look at the Packers’ third down defense against the Vikings. Part 1 is here. On to the second half we go. So far we’ve seen the Vikings go 4 for 7 on third down, converting at a 57% clip. Pettine dialed up one blitz and it got beat, but otherwise he has called some college level defense, with plain cover 2 man and zone and very little disguising or pressure schemes. Vanilla pudding stuff. I love pudding, don’t get me wrong, but vanilla is the worst flavor. @ me.
Packers-Vikings Film Room: Third down defense, part 1
That awful smell you’re smelling right now actually isn’t the Green Bay Packers’ offense. You either forgot to put on deodorant or don’t use the stuff because, contrary to popular opinion, the offense doesn’t actually stink that badly. Sure, it stinks by comparison to the high levels we’ve seen it perform in the past, but it doesn’t smell nearly as badly as you think it does.
Wednesday Walkthroughs: Who’s your coaching crush for the Packers?
Barring an unexpected winning streak and a deep playoff push, Packers head coach Mike McCarthy doesn’t seem long for his job. Sooner or later, the Packers are going to have to find his replacement. But who’s it going to be? We have some guesses. Well, maybe not guesses. Maybe wishes. At any rate, here are the candidates the APC staff would like to see considered as McCarthy’s successor.
Thanksgiving Walkthroughs: What are Packers fans thankful for in 2018?
The first ten games of the Green Bay Packers’ 2018 season have been pretty disappointing, to say the least. A 4-5-1 record is far short of the team’s and fans’ expectations, and barring a major turnaround over the final six games, the Packers face the very real possibility of missing the playoffs for the second year in a row and just the third year ever with Aaron Rodgers as the starting quarterback.
Packers Film Room: This is the dawning of the age of Montravius (Adams)
As Mike Daniels left his team’s week 11 game against the Seattle Seahawks, the Green Bay Packers were left without one of their — and the league’s — best interior linemen. Many astute Packer fans should already know what Daniels brings to the table, but if you need a refresher, I wrote about him a few weeks ago. After that article was published, Daniels picked up his second sack of the season against the Patriots and continued his run-stuffing ways against the Miami Dolphins a week later.
Packers-Dolphins Film Room: Aaron Jones capitalizes on offensive line’s nice game
Aaron Jones: 42 snaps. Jamaal Williams: 14 snaps. That’s more like it. Jones had himself a day against the Miami Dolphins, rushing 15 times for 145 yards and 2 touchdowns - and yes, that’s nearly 10 YPC. Incredible. What fueled Jones’ day, in addition to his natural ability to read running lanes, have tremendous quickness, and make something out of nothing, was a pretty good day from the Green Bay Packers’ offensive line.
Wednesday Walkthroughs: What to expect from the Packers down the stretch in 2018?
You know the stakes for the Green Bay Packers: at 4-4-1, every game from here on out is going to be a fight for their (still very theoretical) playoff lives. What can we expect from this year’s team? Will they rally for a run-the-table remix? Or will they see their playoff chances evaporate by the end of November? And who will be the studs and duds along the way? Our writers took their best shot at clearing up a clouded picture.
Packers Film Room: Jaire Alexander has given the Packers’ defense a shot in the arm
Rookies, even those drafted in the first round, are expected to have a pretty steep learning curve. There’s adjusting to life outside of college, the expanded playbook, the longer season; it can be daunting. Jaire Alexander apparently thinks curves is just a place where only women work out. The 21 year old Green Bay rookie, taken 18th overall, has acclimated himself quickly to the professional level and had a coming-out party of sorts against the Los Angeles Rams.
Where has Mike Daniels been? Everywhere but the stat sheet
When watching the Green Bay Packers play, I often find myself asking “where is Mike Daniels?”. After the game, I’ll check the box score and find his pretty typical stat line; an assisted tackle and a QB hit. That’s pretty meager, considering the general acceptance of his superior talent. With my interest piqued, I decided to take a look to see what Mike had been up to so far in 2018. Well, Mike Daniels has been up to quite a bit. These types of plays are unfortunately uncommon for Daniels.
Packers Film Review: Switch concepts leading to big gains
Switch routes are a favorite of mine. Traditionally seen in the Run ‘n Shoot offense, the switch concept at its core is just as it sounds - two receivers essentially switch places of their routes. The inside receiver runs a wheel route underneath the outside receiver, while the outside receiver stems inside for 5 yards and then goes upfield. The infinitely-talented and much smarter than me Chris B. Brown has a good summation on his site, SmartFootball.
Wednesday Walkthroughs: What are the Packers after six games?
A 3-2-1 start is not what anyone was hoping for. That much is true. But beyond that, it’s hard to nail down a lot of firm details about the 2018 Green Bay Packers. Are they good? Bad? Utterly mediocre? At times any of those three options could be true. So we asked our writers what they thought the Packers are at this point of the season. Aaron Rodgers said it perfectly on the field after the game when he said that the two games after the bye would tell us what type of team the Packers are.
Packers Film Room: It’s time for Aaron Rodgers to let go, part 2
Last week I told you it was time for Aaron Rodgers to let go of the football. He hasn’t done so consistently this year and it’s clearly hurting the offense. While Mike McCarthy should shoulder some of the blame by trotting out the same offense Green Bay has had for years that relies far too much on isolation route concepts and uncreative formations, Aaron Rodgers has been holding on to the football too long and not seeing open receivers. Not all is lost, however.
Packers Film Room: It’s time for Aaron Rodgers to let go, Pt. 1
There comes a time in every person’s life where they have to let go of something they love; a toxic friendship, a beloved pet, or a pair of Super Mario sneakers that lit up with every step you took that you wore every day even though they were 3 sizes too small but you didn’t care and curled your toes up and walked on blisters just to look cool to your third grade peers. Trust me, those shoes were amazing. In Aaron Rodgers’ case, it’s time for him to let go of the football.
Wednesday Walkthroughs: Who are the Packers’ unsung heroes so far in 2018?
The usual suspects have grabbed most of the headlines in the Packers’ 2-1-1 start. Aaron Rodgers did Aaron Rodgers things to beat the Bears. Aaron Jones is a star in the making. Even Clay Matthews has garnered plenty of attention, though not for the reasons anybody hoped. But plenty of other players have pitched in as well, and this week we want to recognize their contributions. Here are our unsung heroes from the first month of the season.
Packers vs. Washington Film Room: Aaron Jones provides a spark
Ty Montgomery and Jamaal Williams are fine. I’d even venture to say they’re decent. Collectively, they’re the equivalent of sugar cookies. They’re good, and on occasion can really hit the spot, but they shouldn’t be anyone’s favorite dessert. Aaron Jones is like an ice cream cookie; he’s versatile, and (for the lactose intolerant) can be much more explosive than the other two.
Wednesday Walkthroughs: What will the Packers’ record be at the bye?
Mike McCarthy likes to say you are what your record says you are. Right now, the Packers’ record says they’re a pretty average team. But hope springs eternal, and with just three weeks between the Packers and some suddenly much-needed R&R, we’re taking a second to predict what the Packers’ record will say they are in just under a month’s time. Here’s what our writers had to say.
Wednesday Walkthroughs: Biggest surprises about the 2018 Packers
If there’s anything dependable about the NFL, it’s that it’s consistently surprising, especially early in a given season. The Packers are no exception to this rule. Despite the many familiar elements of this year’s team (Aaron Rodgers being great, Davante Adams getting open on a slant, Mike McCarthy calling a screen that goes nowhere on third and long), there are more than a few surprises. Here are our biggest surprises of the year so far. What are yours?
Packers-Vikings Film Room: Showing blitz on third down
Green Bay Packers new defensive coordinator Mike Pettine wants to play a controlled type of aggressive defense. That should be a welcome sight for Packers fans, who too often saw their defense of recent years sit back on their heels and allow the play to come to them. This past Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings, Pettine showed us his controlled aggressive scheme, particularly on third downs. Let’s take a look. In the first quarter, the Vikings were facing third down and ten to go.
Let’s talk about that play: Why did the Bears use Jordan Howard as a lead blocker?
People take football very seriously. Sometimes too seriously. I’m here to change that one play at a time. For any plays you’d like me to discuss, tweet me at @farminvt. Jordan Howard: light of foot, patience of Ghandi, blocking like a ghost. Yeah. Bigger whiffs than Giancarlo Stanton’s first home game as a Yankee. Worse misses than Shaq at the free throw line. How did we get here, though?
Wednesday Walkthroughs: Our favorite non-Rodgers moments from Packers-Bears
Aaron Rodgers turning on god-mode for the second half was great, but it’s important to savor every part of a Packers victory over the Bears as much as possible. We asked our writers to come up with their favorite non-Rodgers moments of the game. Here’s what they had to say. I wrote about it earlier this week in my top five non-Rodgers moments of the game, but Clinton-Dix’s 3rd-and-1 tackle was an enormous moment for the team and the defense specifically.
Packers-Bears Film Room: The tale of two Bryan Bulagas
Bryan Bulaga had a poor first half in the Green Bay Packers’ Sunday tilt against the Chicago Bears. Bulaga spent the entire game going up against Khalil Mack, Leonard Floyd, and Aaron Lynch. In limited snaps, Mack was credited with a forced fumble, a sack, and an interception that was returned for a touchdown in addition to several other pressures, but all of his production came in the first half. Mack probably should have had another sack, too, but DeShone Kizer narrowly escaped.
Packers-Bears Film Preview: Where will Khalil Mack line up for Chicago’s defense?
Khalil Mack, the longtime Oakland Raider, is now the highest paid defensive player in the league. And he’s also a member of the Chicago Bears. If you had asked everyone six months ago how the Mack situation in Oakland would have played out, I bet you could have counted on one hand the number of people who said he was going to Chicago. Unfortunately, the Green Bay Packers are going to have to deal with this reality through 2024.
Packers Roster Cut Reactions: Thoughts on Gutekunst’s first cuts as GM
Brian Gutekunst’s first cutdown weekend has come and gone and as the Green Bay Packers head toward their first real game of the season, the Acme Packing Company staff is still sorting through the rookie GM’s moves. Here are our lasting takeaways, thoughts, and questions form the weekend that was. As the style of play has changed in the NFL by emphasizing slot receivers and positional versatility in the backfield, the fullback - a position close to my heart - has been phased out.
Packers Film Room: Green Bay’s pass rush needs Reggie Gilbert on the field
Outside linebacker has been a sore spot for the Packers in recent years, and recent drafts have done nothing to help alleviate that issue. Vince Biegel is a candidate to get cut, Nick Perry can’t stay healthy, Clay Matthews has lost some explosiveness as he ages, and Kyler Fackrell is...something. One encouraging development this preseason, however, has been the outstanding play of Reggie Gilbert. Let’s look at some of his highlights so far.
Packers Film Room: Davante Adams’ interview is interrupted by Josh Jackson’s pick-six
People take football very seriously. Sometimes too seriously. I’m here to change that one play at a time. For any plays you’d like me to discuss, tweet me at @farminvt. I told myself I wasn’t going to do another clip of Davante Adams. I wasn’t. “He’s going to be overdone”, I said. “He’ll have plenty of other opportunities this season, don’t go back to back with highlights of him”. Well here we are, yet again spotlighting Adams for his magnificent play in week 2 of the 2018 preseason.
Packers’ backup offensive tackles must improve their pass blocking
The preseason has given Green Bay Packers fans a lot to talk about. There’s the wide receiver depth chart, the backup quarterback spot, the pecking order of the cornerbacks, the badly needed emergence of Oren Burks and Reggie Gilbert, Mike Pettine’s scheme on defense, the addition of Mo Wilkerson to an already stacked defensive line, and even the performance of rookie punter JK Scott. But one group that doesn’t get mentioned much is the offensive line.
Wednesday Walkthroughs: What do the Packers do with their four QBs?
The Packers have more quarterbacks than they have roster spots and as much as they may like to keep all four of their signal callers, some tough decisions are on the horizon. We asked our writers to prognosticate on the future of all four quarterbacks. Here’s what they said. It was damn good to see Aaron Rodgers back out on the field during last week’s game against Pittsburgh. That opening TD to Mr. Jimmy Graham still gives me goosebumps.
Packers Film Room: Davante Adams burns Malcolm Butler in preseason opener
People take football very seriously. Sometimes too seriously. I’m here to change that one play at a time. For any plays you’d like me to discuss, tweet me at @farminvt. Hoooo boy! Davante Adams is BACK, baby! Back from what, you ask? Back from his honeymoon to Greece? Back to the future? Back from the offseason, I guess? Anyway, we’ve gleefully watched Adams progress from “he only catches screens from Derek Carr against crappy competition” to posterizing the Legion of Boom (RIP but not really).
Oren Burks might be just what the Packers’ defense needs
The Green Bay Packers came into 2018 with a solid starting defensive front seven. Blake Martinez has quickly ascended the inside linebacker ranks, Jake Ryan has been more than serviceable, the defensive line is stacked, and although the outside linebacker corps is thin, Clay Matthews and Nick Perry are nothing to sneeze at. Once Ryan went down in practice with an ACL tear, however, the depth of the was already being questioned.
What should the Packers expect from WR Geronimo Allison?
This offseason has been one of the loudest in recent Green Bay Packer history, especially at the wide receiver position. Green Bay’s 5th all-time leading receiver Jordy Nelson left for dryer pastures in Oakland, and with the #133, #174, and #207 picks of the 2018 draft, Green Bay selected a trio of wide receivers to compete for reserve spots behind Adams and Cobb.
Walkthroughs; Which Packers are you most excited to see in the 2018 preseason opener?
In a little over 24 hours from now, the Green Bay Packers will kick off their preseason schedule with a home game against the Tennessee Titans. For this week’s roundtable, APC’s contributors weigh in on who they are most excited to see take the field. Not surprisingly, there are several rookies in the bunch. However, there are a couple of second-year players in the mix, one who came over in a trade, and one of the new coordinators even makes an appearance.
How an undrafted wide receiver saved a game for the Packers
Geronimo Allison, the undrafted wide receiver coming from the University of Illinois after two years at Iowa Western Community College, single-handedly (or with two hands if we’re being honest) put the team on his back to win a game for the Green Bay Packers in 2017. It happened early in the year so some of us may have forgotten, but I’m here to remind you how special those 7 minutes of game time were for Geronimo and Green Bay.
Packers 2017 Running Game, Part 3: Breaking plays through individual effort
In this three-part series, APC’s Bob Fitch looks back at the film to understand how the Green Bay Packers utilized the running game in 2017 with three different running backs and Aaron Rodgers unavailable. The third and final installment looks at examples of exceptional individual effort. Watching a quarterback drop a dime over a cornerback and beneath a safety over a receiver’s shoulder is a thing of beauty. Sometimes though, I find more joy in a running back making a defense look foolish.
Packers 2017 Running Game, Part 1: How Green Bay used power run concepts
In this three-part series, APC’s Bob Fitch looks back at the film to understand how the Green Bay Packers utilized the running game in 2017 with three different running backs and Aaron Rodgers unavailable. Part one examines power run concepts. The Green Bay Packers, with Aaron Rodgers under center, have never been a run-oriented team. And for good reason! With the best quarterback in the league under center, why would you want the ball to be in someone else’s hands?
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