Every week there seems to be a post on SnoTap talking bout a Packers injury. It is not like this year is any different than some of the Packers seasons in the last couple of years. Yesterday seemed like it had the chance to be one of the more brutal in recent memory. James Jones and Randall Cobb both went down with injuries that seemed serious as Jones left early in the first quarter and Cobb appeared to have the worst pain on the face of this earth. Thankfully, the Packers avoided complete disaster meaning the process will be trusted in Green Bay instead of bringing in someone new to the team.
As expected, Cobb suffered a serious injury, but it did not end his season. The Packers wide receiver fractured his fibula while Jones received great news as he only sprained his PCL. Jones could play this week against Cleveland if everything goes well. To say Green Bay dodged a bullet is an understatement.
This is not to say Cobb's absence will not have an impact on the Packers offense. Cobb is a vital part to Green Bay's offense being a game-breaker as well as being a wide receiver who can do completely different things than the other receivers on Green Bay. Even when Cobb comes back, there is a good chance Cobb might be more hesitant in the first couple games meaning seeing him in another role than a wide receiver is probably unlikely. This means it is time for the Packers to dial it back 15 years with the offense.
Head coach Mike McCarthy comes from the West Coast offense system. A true West Coast offense tends to feature a single running back with two tight ends although three wide receivers, a tight end and a running back is another West Coast staple. The fact of matter is the Packers can and should become even more of a West Coast team than they already are in the upcoming weeks. For McCarthy, this appears to be the easiest transition for him to implemented a heavier version of the West Coast.
It is not just the offense system though. This is also a time for other players whom are hanging in the weeds of the Packers roster to step up and finally make a name for themselves. Andrew Quarless is a name whose been there for awhile now and is one of those players. He cannot stay on the field due to drops, but if the Packers had both him and Jermichael Finley cooking at the same time, they could be unstoppable. The same goes for Johnathan Franklin. For some reason, he is deep in McCarthy's doghouse but Franklin needs to find a way to show him he can be an essential part to this team.
Since neither of these injuries are season-ending, it is time to retire the notion Green Bay will trade for a wide receiver. It is a given Cleveland Browns Josh Gordon will have a career day against the Packers leading to every fan this side of Hayward, Wisconsin will be clamoring for Gordon to play at Lambeau full time. First, this is not happening given Gordon being one strike away from being kicked out of the National Football League. Second, they have all their ducks in a row. The thought of Hakeem Nicks or Kenny Britt in a Packer jersey sounds nice and feel free to have dreams about it yet the fact of the matter is the Packers have no need for these guys despite what the national and local media will say this week and the ones upcoming.
Green Bay has been here before with injuries. They know how to deal with them. This defense is playing well enough to not worry about the offense not being fully put together at this very moment. There will be other injuries that come this week and the Packers will keep bringing their lunch pail to achieve greatness for another week.
Charlie.
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