Now that the dust has settled and the hangover has worn off, here are five more thoughts on the Green Bay Packers 30-22 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
The recipe for beating the Packers is clear.
Run the ball. Control the clock. Limit big plays on defense. The 49ers used the formula to perfection on Sunday and the Packers didn’t know what to do about it. Even though the 49ers were playing tight coverage and keeping safeties back, Aaron Rodgers kept chucking the ball deep. On defense, the Packers simply can’t stop the run. It’s going to be a long season if the Packers don’t make some adjustments. On Sunday, Mike McCarthy was outcoached.
Jarrett Bush is not a starting cornerback.
Bush was victimized several times on Sunday. Sam Shields wasn’t a lot better. It’s questionable whether Davon House can be effective with an injured shoulder and a sling. Where’s Casey Hayward? Letting the rookie learn on the job might not be the worst idea right now.
The replacement refs are bad.
The crew doing the Packers game yesterday was terrible. In the first half, it seemed like they were trying to hand the game to the 49ers. In the second half, they blew a clear block-in-the-back call on Randall Cobb’s punt return TD. When is the NFL going to end this charade and pay the real guys? They should be embarrassed by what transpired on Sunday.
Randall Cobb is the man.
Cobb was one of the few bright spots for the Packers. In addition to the 75-yard punt return for a touchdown, he also caught nine balls for 77 yards. His play kept Donald Driver on the bench for most of the game. Cobb looks like he’s ready for a big season.
Nick Perry is not ready.
The Packers first-round draft pick looked lead-footed in coverage several times against the 49ers. We’ll give him a break there because he’s transitioning from defensive end to outside linebacker. That being said, Perry was brought in to put pressure on the quarterback. The only guys who did that were Clay Matthews and Charles Woodson.