Wow, that was bad.

Thoughts from the Packers-Bills game on Saturday:

Special(?) Teams:

Our not-so-Special teams were awful, giving up a number of big returns to the Bills. They forced our delapitated defense (that was missing FIVE starters) to play with their backs against the wall the entire first half.

The Defense:

The more things change, the more they stay the same. We looked like the crew that has been playing here the last couple of years...

We missed tackles, took the wrong angles, lacked penetration up the middle, couldn't get off blocks, and couldn't get off the field. Our specialty on defense seems to be shooting ourselves in foot, because we do it so frequently. When one guy steps up and makes a play another guy commits a penalty or misses an assignment.

We showed once again that all a team needs in order to beat our defense is a mobile quarterback. That's it. A running game and good wide receivers are simply gravy. We can't corral the Quarterback because IF WE DO HAVE A PASS RUSH, it's one guy--maybe two that's applying pressure. One reason the Bucs and Panthers do so well against Mike Vick is that the pocket closes in from all angles. All FOUR guys are there to keep him hemmed in. We just don't have that right now.

It's like going to a New York City ER on a Friday night. We are finding all kinds of ways to hurt ourselves.

On an individual basis...

Jason Horton is a pretender, not an NFL cornerback.

Ray Thompson played real well. He was all over the field and playing with a lot of fire.

I thought Paris Lenon played pretty well and had a great hit stuffing the rub.

The Packers need to get rid of Hannibal Navies right now. He's never going to get any better, he's taking snaps away from people who will, and his penalty that negated a safety was absolutely unforgivable.

Ahmad Carroll stinks. I understand that the Packers' coaches feel he's gotten better and has developed but that's only because he stunk so bad last year there was nowhere to go but up. He'll never be more than a serviceable nickel back in the NFL. And let's hope he only sees the field this year in the dime. Here's one thing you'll never hear in your life...Ahmad "The Blanket" Carroll. He's terrible and Mike Sherman should've never picked him...in any round.

Here's how I see the starting positions that are up for grabs panning out...

On offense, the guards will be Will Whitticker and, get this, Scott Wells.

On defense:

Safety

Earl little at SS and Nick Collins at Free

Cornerback

Injuries have hurt Joey Thomas' hopes of being the starter for the season opener. The Packers may have no other choice but to start with Ahmad Carroll as the other CB. Which means we can look forward to hearing a lot of these kinds of things...

"There are multiple fouls on the defense..." Illegal contact, number 28, that penalty is declined. Holding, defense number 28, that penalty is declined. Pass Interference, number 28, that penalty is accepted and will be enforced at the spot of the foul."

LB's

Ray Thompson at Will and Na'il Diggs at Sam will start. Along with Barnett in the middle, this is a crew that could get something done provided the DT's keep them clean.

Speaking of DT...

I think we have a couple guys who're playing better than the rest, but for the most part, it doesn't matter who we have at DT...NO ONE plays in the other team’s backfield. We just don't get good penetration often enough from the middle of our line.