Packers 42 Saints 34: The Perfect Way to Open the NFL Season

by Jimmy on Sep 9, 2011 8:01 AM CDT in NFL News

I don't usually spend a lot of time commenting on games that don't involve the Titans or a team in the AFC South, but that game last night was so much fun to watch. I was once a guy who preferred defensive struggles. Not 100% sure why that is, but I think it comes from being raised an Alabama fan and playing high school football at a place that didn't discover the forward pass until my senior year. Watching that game last night, however, I realized that games are a whole lot more fun when they are shoot-outs.

It does hurt a little when you watch Aaron Rodgers out there and realize that he was still on the board when the Titans took Adam Jones. I realize 23 other teams passes on Rodgers, and heck the 49ers took Alex Smith, but man it is tough not to just think for a second how good the Titans would be with that guy under center.

The way I make myself feel better about it is to think that Aaron Rodgers wouldn't be the Aaron Rodgers he is today because Jeff Fisher would have had him hand the ball off 35 times a game. It is the same reasoning I use when thinking about Kevin Dyson over Randy Moss.

Another thing that you have to notice about those two teams is all of the offensive weapons. Both of those teams have more good receivers currently on their team than the Titans have had in the last decade. Now you can get into a chicken or the egg argument here about if it is the quarterbacks that make the receivers that good or that they are just that good, but the fact remains that both of those teams are loaded with talent outside. I hope the Titans really invest in some dynamic playmakers outside in the next couple of years.

So, like I said, that was the perfect way to kickoff the NFL season. It made me pumped about the Titans game at Jacksonville this weekend- even if there probably won't be as many points scored in the whole game as their were in the first quarter last night.

Tweet Comment 18 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Hit the nail on the head when you said Rogers wouldn't be the same if he was raised by Fisher

I think that you could say the same with Brady and Belichick and a whole lot of other QB’s. They are naturally great players, but their coaches/organization/surroundings/system often make them who they are.
I think the one player who is the exception is Manning. I think he is the one guy who would have had more or less the same career no matter where he went.

by tdtommyd on Sep 9, 2011 8:13 AM CDT reply actions

The same Fisher who "raised" Steve McNair?

I think we’re letting the last years of the Fisher era cloud our overall opinion of him.

Deleting comments from a blog is not 'censorship.' Common practice. -BBS

by WinnipegTitanFan13 on Sep 9, 2011 8:58 AM CDT reply actions

Maybe.

But look how long it took McNair to get out from under the “Dare McNair” defensive mindset. When you compare that to the skillset the guy had displayed as a college player, I think I might argue that McNair on a different, more pass-friendly team might’ve been a HOF QB.

DannoE

"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."

Storyteller's Playbook: A blog about life, family, triathlon, and the occasional comic book.

by DannoE on Sep 9, 2011 9:05 AM CDT up reply actions

In fairness to Fisher...

At that point in time in the NFL, what he did on offense worked. He had that grind-it-out, smash-mouth approach that was perfectly fine and obviously worked very well in the late 90s/early 00s.

Banned from Stampede Blue for comments made on MCM. Yes, I am a champion.

by ronburgundy7427 on Sep 9, 2011 9:09 AM CDT up reply actions

I don't know, man. Even in Eddie's heyday, it's not like the Offense was dynamic.

Which is to say thtat Fisher had some VERY good teams that he nevertheless failed with repeatedly.

I’m starting to think that, bottom line, Fisher might’ve made his rep on the backs of a couple of brilliant DCs, a terrificly talented QB, and a seriously gifted workhorse RB. Because you take away Eddie, and Fisher was obviously lost. McNair bailed him out, but it was weird. We all remember that, right? And then he lost his QB, and the team just fell apart.

Granted, he had another savior DC and a tremendously talented DT in a contract year, but with big Albert Haynesworth’s best 2-year stint, even that 13-3 team with Collins under Center would have been shit.

DannoE

"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."

Storyteller's Playbook: A blog about life, family, triathlon, and the occasional comic book.

by DannoE on Sep 9, 2011 9:15 AM CDT up reply actions

That's my point, though.

The way the league was at that time, the offense didn’t NEED to be dynamic. He wanted to be a run-first offense with a strong defense. Now, if we flashforward from the 1999-2001 glory to the last couple of years, then it became obvious that was used to work was no longer working. But give him credit for wanting to be a tough team that wore you down and won at the end, and for that style of play working and bringing lots of success in the first few years here.

Banned from Stampede Blue for comments made on MCM. Yes, I am a champion.

by ronburgundy7427 on Sep 9, 2011 9:19 AM CDT up reply actions

It was a fun offensive game and a great finish to boot

But its still nice to see a little defense and good special teams play. Not to mention you can see how much the Saints have committed to their pass offense. Its phenomenal. But when they need a yard or inches on the ground they can’t do it. And I couldn’t help but to laugh a little. They can’t run the ball and in the end that’s what cost them.

When you're 15 dooown, in the 4th quarter, who you gonna call? NOWITZKI

by AntiguanTitan on Sep 9, 2011 9:14 AM CDT reply actions

That last play should never have been a running play.

It should have been a bootleg with the option for Brees to run or pass.

Music City Miracles Hall Of Fame, Class of 2010

One of these days....WHEN I have more time, WHEN I get that promotion, WHEN my ship comes in. Listen, TODAY is the day WHEN you start to put your goals into action. TODAY is the day WHEN you stop putting things off and decide that the only way the future IS going to be better is if I make TODAY WHENsday!!

by titansfan4ever on Sep 9, 2011 9:30 AM CDT up reply actions

i agree. brees should have run the playaction, you saw all the those LB's diving in the air.

send a TE out and he woulda been wide open in the endzone.

Agreed.

But still.

by rsikes on Sep 9, 2011 9:46 AM CDT up reply actions

Yeah

Brees had a monster game, especially on that last drive and you hand it off to a rookie RB who had struggled?

"I wear tinted visor not to trick other players, but so hot girls in stands don't see me looking at them" - Alex Ovechkin

Follow @sami426

by sami426 on Sep 9, 2011 9:47 AM CDT up reply actions

Props to Cobb....

for having the stones to “over ride” the most STUPID rule in the NFL (you know, where they now kick the ball off from mid-field) by taking the ball from the very back of his end zone, and taking it to the house!!! I wonder how many other kick off returners have the guts to try that (I’m looking at you, Mariani).

Music City Miracles Hall Of Fame, Class of 2010

by titansfan4ever on Sep 9, 2011 9:21 AM CDT reply actions

I immediately picked him up in the MCM fantasy league after that.

Banned from Stampede Blue for comments made on MCM. Yes, I am a champion.

by ronburgundy7427 on Sep 9, 2011 9:22 AM CDT up reply actions

I'm surpised you didn't already have him.

Music City Miracles Hall Of Fame, Class of 2010

by titansfan4ever on Sep 9, 2011 9:24 AM CDT up reply actions

Me? Why would I already have Cobb?

I foolishly had James Jones on my bench, traded one Packer out for another.

Banned from Stampede Blue for comments made on MCM. Yes, I am a champion.

by ronburgundy7427 on Sep 9, 2011 9:25 AM CDT up reply actions

Because......

you’re always on the cutting edge on all that kind of stuff.

Music City Miracles Hall Of Fame, Class of 2010

by titansfan4ever on Sep 9, 2011 9:26 AM CDT up reply actions

I missed out on this one.

Should’ve thought about it more, Cobb being a second-round pick of the Packers was going to get on the field more than Jones. Oh well, still managed to pick him up for the bench.

Banned from Stampede Blue for comments made on MCM. Yes, I am a champion.

by ronburgundy7427 on Sep 9, 2011 9:28 AM CDT up reply actions

Thanks Jimmy...

For reminding us of the Bonehead decisions of the Fisher regime. And no Rothbaby, I’m not letting the last two years of this Fisher era cloud my vision. I broke camp with the Fisher 4 life coach after he won the power struggle with Floyd Reese. Again I’m estaticthat both he and VY are gone. Randall Cobb is already better than one Titan on the team with me. I don’t know how smart Cobb is but he has seen the end zone twice. That is two more times than Lavell(we got the smart one, another Fisher pick) Hawkins.

"Just because there's an absence of evidence doesn't mean there's an evidence of absence.

What I'm saying is there known knowns and known unknowns but there's also unknown unknowns.......... things that we don't know we don't know. "

by jmkiii58 on Sep 9, 2011 1:10 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

" Randall Cobb is already better than one Titan on the team with me."

What does this even mean?

Interweb DVOA: 100%
Epistemological Police
"We are in my house. I can put my beer on the uncovered coffee table and take a dump on the carpet if I like." - gramsey712

by rothbard on Sep 9, 2011 1:14 PM CDT up reply actions