We’re not sure what the magic formula is for the Green Bay Packers to get out to a fast start to begin the season. We’re pretty sure coach Mike McCarthy doesn’t know either.
The Packers have started the season looking sluggish or mediocre under McCarthy many more times than not. McCarthy teams have traditionally played their best football down the stretch and in many cases — last year comes immediately to mind — they had to.
The one time McCarthy stated he wanted to start fast and emphasized it throughout the offseason — 2015 — the team did start fast. They started out 6-0, but then the wheels fell off as Aaron Rodgers’ struggles during that season were amplified. Teams actually started to stack the box to stop Eddie Lacy.
After the fast start, the Packers lost three in a row and four of five. Ultimately, that team finished 10-6 and lost the division to the Minnesota Vikings after falling in their final two regular season games.
Not surprisingly, you haven’t heard McCarthy talk about a fast start since. He doesn’t have to this year because Rodgers keeps ringing that bell.
It started after last season’s NFC Championship loss to the Falcons. Rodgers said in his press conference that the Packers need to get off to a better start in order to claim home-field advantage in the playoffs.
He echoed that again this week.
“We gotta get those home playoff games again,” Rodgers said. “If it’s coming through Green Bay in the playoffs, that makes it really tough on other teams.”
The 2016 team started 3-1, but then lost five of their next six.
And what does this have to do with the preseason?
Rodgers played less in the preseason last year than he ever has. Rodgers played in just one game, throwing a whopping nine passes.
On one hand, yes, you don’t want your franchise player getting injured in a meaningless game. On the other hand, the Packers’ offense came out sluggish and there was talk that Rodgers was having a repeat of the 2015 season, the worst of his career.
The Packers weren’t built to win with defense. If they’re going to get out to a fast start, as Rodgers has stated as a goal, their offense needs to be clicking from day one.
It also certainly bears mentioning that the Packers open with the Seahawks and at the Falcons. In weeks 5 and 6, they get the Cowboys and Vikings, both on the road.
It’s one thing to get in practice reps. Rodgers gets plenty of those. It’s another thing to get game reps, when everyone is amped up. That’s where you get your timing down and that’s how the Packers start fast.
So will he or won’t he? We’ll soon find out.