ASK VIC:
“Ask Vic” will publish on Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the football season.
Here’s the “Ask Vic” Week 14 power rankings:
1. Rams — League’s best record.
2. Saints — They can be stopped.
3. Chiefs — What will losing Kareem Hunt mean?
4. Texans — They have arrived.
5. Chargers — A true championship contender.
6. Patriots — Beginning to hit their late-season stride.
7. Cowboys — Look out!
8. Seahawks — Hottest team in the NFC.
9. Bears — Nice trick play, but they lost.
10. Vikings — Just another team.
11. Steelers — Defense the problem again.
12. Ravens — Defense reason for rally.
13. Eagles — Impressive grit.
14. Broncos — In the hunt.
15. Panthers — Fading quickly.
16. Colts — Shutout loss halts surge.
17. Titans — Hanging around.
18. Giants — They’ve come a long way.
19. Washington — That’s all, folks.
20. Lions — Played better under Caldwell.
21. Browns — Playing for next season.
22. Packers — Sadness meets hope.
23. Bucs — Good team waiting to happen.
24. Falcons — How could they have fallen this far?
25. Bengals — Signs of quit.
26. Dolphins — Worst 6-6 team in the league.
27. Bills — Playing hard.
28. Jaguars — Scored six points and won.
29. Jets — Better than their record.
30. Cardinals — Not without hope.
31. 49ers — Season ruined early.
32. Raiders — They need the first overall pick.
Justin from Boston, MA
Vic, why did the SI article force Murphy into choosing between McCarthy and Rodgers? Why couldn’t the two get in a room, hash it out, and then come out publicly and say we’re OK? Rodgers went on the record this week saying he and McCarthy have a strong relationship.
Too many people knew too much about the problems in the marriage. The whole neighborhood was talking about it, and ugly rumors were beginning to surface. It was for the best for both parties to move on with their lives. Mike McCarthy will have a chance to relocate and get a fresh start with another team and another quarterback. Aaron Rodgers has a chance to put the stigma of a failed marriage behind him, find harmony with a new coach and become the quarterback he was before injury and discord derailed his life. Maybe the day will come when McCarthy and Rodgers will meet on the field, shake hands and share a smile for great days that were, on “As the Football Turns.”
Andrew from Ettrick, WI
Mike McCarthy will be back to a Super Bowl before Aaron Rodgers. Mark it down! The question is which team will he be coaching?
What if it’s Cleveland? I can’t imagine a better fit for McCarthy. He’d be coaching a young quarterback who’s desperate for a coach with whom he can bond. McCarthy would find Baker Mayfield willing for and appreciative of the stamp McCarthy would put on the young passer. Cleveland? They’ve never been to a Super Bowl. McCarthy would become a god in Cleveland if he took the Browns to the big game. The circumstances in Cleveland are perfect for McCarthy. He’d be within a two-hour drive of his family in Pittsburgh; in the same division with his hometown team. The Browns have lots of high picks and more high picks on the way. They’re poised to become the dominant team in a division where the Steelers only have another year or two with Roethlisberger, the Bengals are headed for a makeover and the Ravens face uncertainty at quarterback.
Karl from Albuquerque, NM
How does GM Vic go about finding and evaluating a new head coach? Is picking one any better guess than drafting a player in the first round?
It’s the same principle. You do exhaustive research on every candidate, you pick one and then you discover a weakness you didn’t think the guy you picked had when he was a candidate. The first time he calls a bad play, he’s like every other coach in the league who’s lost a game and angered the fans. That’s life in today’s NFL. So, with that thought, I’ll say this: As much as I like young coaches on the rise, I think the Packers’ situation might favor a veteran coach who’s adept at working with quarterbacks and whose skin has been thickened by years of ignoring the howl of the wolves. Bruce Arians interests me. He’s a quarterback guru and he might be the perfect fit for Rodgers. I don’t think this needs to be a long-term hire; it needs to be the right guy for right now.
Sean from Brighton, MI
Mike McCarthy is gone and an era is officially over. Will the Packers regret this?
If they lose, yes. If they win, no. Just win, baby. I know that sounds cold, but professional football’s coldness is its charm. McCarthy is a pro. He knows how the game works. When I was in Jacksonville, McCarthy interviewed for the Jaguars’ offensive coordinator’s job. He was offered the job and had either accepted it or was about to accept it when Jack Del Rio changed his mind and withdrew the offer. It was a big disappointment for a young coach, but he rebounded nicely. We’re talking about a guy who began his career as a grad assistant at Pitt, and who collected tolls at the Pa. Turnpike to supplement his income. He worked at a pizza place in my hometown! This is a tough guy who knows how to recover from adversity. Weep not for Mike McCarthy. Soon, he’ll be the enemy.
Roger from Chesterton, IN
Vic, if the Packers had made it to the Super Bowl in 2014, does a lot of the angst against McCarthy disappear, or do you think we would have the same outcome maybe a season or two later?
The final 3:52 of regulation in Seattle became a bitter pill for Packers fans to swallow, and I think it embittered them to McCarthy. Here’s my question: If Aaron Rodgers has complete freedom to change the plays — the si.com story claims Rodgers was changing too many of McCarthy’s plays — why didn’t Rodgers change the plays he didn’t like in that 3:52? Do we know for sure those were McCarthy’s plays? I’m not a plays kind of guy; I think everyone knows that. I’m having trouble wrapping my arms around this whole plays feud thing. In my opinion, the Packers are looking for a new coach because the talent on the roster has declined sharply from the talent on the roster in that 2014 NFC title game.
Chris from Minneapolis, MN
What do you think of the decision to promote Philbin to interim head coach?
It’s a no-brainer. He’s a former head coach and, as the offensive coordinator, he works directly with the quarterback. Joe’s history with the team also gives him a baseline Mike Pettine doesn’t possess.
Matt from Chicago, IL
Do you really believe Aaron Rodgers’ comments about Mike McCarthy on Monday afternoon? I mean, this is a guy who has turned his back on his own family.
His comments were perfect for the occasion. They were calming and that’s what the team and the fan base needed at this time. We all need to move on. Turning this into a soap opera is the wrong thing to do.
Adam from Winter Park, FL
What do you see about the Packer’s head coaching job that is attractive to a candidate? What would be the deterrents?
The attractions, beyond a lucrative contract, are a franchise that is deeply committed to winning, a championship quarterback who probably has more left in the tank than this season would indicate and who wants to play to 40, a young roster on the rise with high picks in next year’s draft, a general manager who is talented, reasonable and cooperative, a team president who has made you his pick and will be committed to you and patient with you, and a fan base whose expectations have been tempered. I don’t see anything not to like.
Kirsten from Madison, WI
Well, we’re not used to being in this situation: Week 14, no playoff run and head coach out. So what’s the Packers’ goal for the rest of the season?
Find a new coach.
Joe from De Pere, WI
Vic, what is your favorite Mike McCarthy story from your time with the Packers?
It’s from the season McCarthy took back the play-calling from Tom Clements. In a postgame press conference, Aaron Rodgers talked about how he couldn’t understand the play call that was coming into his helmet from Mike McCarthy; it turned out to be a big play in the game. Rodgers said he had to rely on Alex Van Pelt’s hand signals to get the play McCarthy wanted run. “You know, Mike has that Pittsburgh accent,” Rodgers said. The following day, I was crossing paths with McCarthy in the hallway and we stopped to talk. I said, “The quarterback doesn’t like the way we talk, Mike.” He just stared at me with a little smile on his face. I felt like I was covering Noll-Bradshaw all over again. I felt young again.
Mark from Missoula, MT
All these suggestions about college coaches taking the Packers’ vacancy got me thinking. Never mind his willingness to leave Iowa (or lack thereof), how do you think Kirk Ferentz would do at the NFL level?
Another Packers coach with a Pittsburgh accent? You better ask Rodgers.
David from Moore, ID
I am one of the few Packers fans who did not advocate McCarthy’s firing. However, if I take Mark Murphy at his word, I found his Monday press conference even more disturbing. The admission McCarthy might have kept his job for another week had Crosby sent the game into overtime smacks of a plan that is event-driven on a daily basis, as opposed to a long-term plan to methodically rebuild the roster.
Firing a guy after a win sends a bad message: Win and you’re fired. Come on, everybody, let’s put our emotions aside and be reasonable.
Zach from Chicago, IL
Everyone seems to be expecting an offensive-minded coach to replace McCarthy. Why is no one considering a defensive-minded coach?
I’d be OK with it. I think the reason most fans haven’t considered the possibility is Green Bay is the most plays-crazy fan base I have ever observed. When and how did this happen? This was the “seal here and a seal here” fan base of a franchise built on the fundamental execution of the most famously predictable play in football history, the Packer sweep, and now it’s built on the art of deception? If I’m the new head coach, that’s the No. 1 culture I would be determined to change. No more of this play-call crap.
David from Chillum, MD
Well, the Packers are now drafting in the top 10, so we’ve got that going for us, which is nice.
As much as it hurts, it’s how you build a strong roster. The Rams didn’t draft Goff, Gurley and Donald at the bottom of the order. The Saints needed some losing seasons to get back to where they are. The Packers are experiencing the inevitable. I wish Packers fans had been more accepting of that fact.
Brian from Kingston, NY
What the heck was Winston Moss thinking with that tweet? Was he trying to get himself canned?
Winston is an emotional man and he had something he wanted to say. It saddens me such a special time in my life and in the history of the Green Bay Packers has ended so divisively.
John Ohesaher
Senior Writer
JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …
Frankie from Midstate Office Supply
Coach Coughlin said he’s willing to lace the gloves up with anybody that disagrees with his philosophy, yet he’s unwilling to admit he made a mistake in doubling down on Blake Bortles after last season. This seems a little contradictory. Also, how can anyone debate Coughlin when he’s doesn’t give interviews even in a media-friendly market like Jax – unless it’s for the Jay Fund, of course?
Jaguars Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tom Coughlin’s point in this “discussion” isn’t in fact contradictory. The Jaguars believed they could win with Blake Bortles at quarterback this season if their running game was working, and if the offense remained relatively healthy. They believed this based on last season’s results. They also believed this through the first month of the season because they were 3-1 with the offense playing similarly to last season. Injuries mounted to an unexpected degree around Week 5, after which the offense and Bortles struggled mightily. As far as Coughlin not usually speaking to the local media, that has been his approach since returning to the team in his current position. He has talked at various times in the offseason, but not during the regular season. It wasn’t a big deal last season when the Jaguars were winning. It bothers people more now.
David from Chulota
Zone: We need that stud quarterback from the Alabama Crimson Tide, Tua Tagovailoa. Will he be eligible for the coming draft?
No. Tagovailoa will be eligible for the 2020 NFL Draft.
Sam from Orlando, FL
I find it funny that lost in all this is that Indy has a pretty good pass defense. As do the Titans. If Blake played and put up Kessler numbers you would have wildly defended him. I think you really might be related to him. What say you John Louise Bortles?
If Bortles had played as Kessler did against the Colts Sunday and the Jaguars had won, I probably would have said pretty much the same thing I said about Kessler – that he played well enough to win but that he needed to more going forward. I’ve been clear on this for a while now: Bortles isn’t a franchise quarterback, but the Jaguars would of been fine this season with him at quarterback – very similar offensively to how they were last season – if they would of remained healthy offensively. They didn’t, and the season went awry from there – just like anyone paying attention would have predicted.
David from Broward County
O-Man, given that it seems clear that the Jaguars will be moving on from Bortles, do you think they can find a willing trade partner like the Houston Texans did with Cleveland when they traded Brock Osweiler – i.e., trading Bortles and a third- or fourth-round pick or multiple picks to a team in exchange for a sixth- or a seventh-round pick? Maybe the Oakland Raiders? Do you think the Jags would pursue such a strategy? This would save a huge dead money hit on their salary cap but would cost precious draft pick(s). Due to the contract extension given to Bortles, there are no real good options in parting ways with him, but it must be done.
I do not think the Jaguars will do this. To execute such a trade you need a team that’s willing and able to absorb salary-cap space to gain a draft selection. It’s difficult to find a team both willing and able. You also must be willing to part ways with premium draft selections. I doubt the Jaguars will want to do that, either. The Browns-Texans deal to move Osweiler to Cleveland was the only one of its kind in the salary-cap era. I suspect it will remain that way for a while.
Gordon from Jacksonville
I know in some ways this is a silly question, but do you think an 8-8 Jaguars team would sneak into the playoffs? I hate completely giving up hope.
I don’t want to take away your hope, so yes (but no).
Fred from Naples, FL
So now Telvin Smith is not part of our core for next year?
I believe Smith will be on the Jaguars’ roster next season. He has to play better next season than he has this much of this season to be part of the core moving forward after that.
Mike from Atlanta, GA
Have you ever seen an offensive line so ravaged by injuries? It seems like an unusually high number of players that have gone down on the line. This is the primary reason for the team’s record. Losing Lee, Seferian-Jenkins and Fournette didn’t help, but with a healthy offensive line they could be around .500 with Fournette back.
The injuries to this offensive line this season have been extreme, though I imagine at some point in 24 seasons I have seen something close. And I do agree that the injuries to center Brandon Linder, left guard Andrew Norwell and a slew of left tackles have hurt. But those injuries really didn’t pile up until recently. Don’t underestimate the losses of wide receiver Marqise Lee, running backs Corey Grant and Leonard Fournette and tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins as reasons for this team’s offensive struggles. Much of the Jaguars’ offense was built around those players. The fact that they have played a combined 15 games hasn’t helped.
Romeo from San Diego but 904 born
What has happened to wide receiver Keelan Cole? Lack of confidence, or bad pick in draft?
Cole struggled with drops and fumbles this season. After improving late last season as a rookie, he in fact has struggled to an unusual degree this season. Perhaps it’s a loss of confidence. That’s something that could be remedied in an offseason, and Cole – who is still on his rookie contract no doubt – will get a chance to remedy it. But this wasn’t a bad draft selection. Cole was an undrafted rookie who signed following the 2017 NFL Draft.
Jim from Acworth, GA
Matt Ryan, Eli Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Matt Stafford and Derek Carr are all supposed to be elite quarterbacks and their teams all have equal or worse records than the Jags. Shouldn’t this show that Bortles may not be our biggest problem?
Sure.
Eric from Columbus, IN
O man, I know this is more of an after-season reflection story, but it feels like almost every pick and pick up last offseason has been as detrimental as 2016’s offseason was amazingly productive. Who that we signed/drafted last offseason has been as advertised or better … so far?
Cornerback D.J. Hayden, safety Ronnie Harrison and linebacker Leon Jacobs.
Scott from Atlantic Beach, FL
I think the concern over the defense was the first-possession scores they gave up during the losing streak. Yes, they’re statistically whatever … good. But they too often were unable to get stops when needed. I believe that’s playing above the Xs and Os, they did not do that often enough at critical junctures.
We’re in a different era of defense in the NFL. It’s not realistic to think a team is going to win a championship by holding all their opponents to double digits. This defense hasn’t been all-time great this season, but it has been good enough to be very much in playoff contention had the offense not slumped to a season-killing degree in the last two months.
Bleak Lobster from Celina, OH
Nice to see a game in which simple passes were being completed and stupid mistakes weren’t being made. Now I’m actually looking forward to the next game to see how much better things can get with Fournette back. It’s actually good to be a Jaguar again.
I agree. It was cool to watch the Jaguars’ games against the Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts and Pittsburgh Steelers. It’s a shame the Jaguars didn’t win those games. They would be in the playoff picture.
JT from Fort Worth, TX
If we get rid of Jackson, Dareus and Church do you think that we could keep Campbell? He is a player I don’t want to see go next year due to cap space.
Yes, if the Jaguars release Jackson, Dareus and safety Barry Church they would be able to retain end Calais Campbell. I wouldn’t be so quick to want to release Dareus, though. He’s an elite talent playing at a very high level. And he’s only 28.
Mark from Archer, FL
In a way, the Fournette suspension is a good thing. He will be very well-rested compared to every other player on both teams. That should give the Jags a huge advantage having a well-rested Fournette against a tired Titans defensive line. Do you think that is an advantage?
I suppose, but I doubt it will be enough to counter the advantage the Titans have of playing at home on a short week.
Howard from Homestead, FL
Remember, we can still finish the season .500. I’m not talking about 8-8. I’m talking about 1-1 against Tennessee. And to a lot of fans, that’s the record that matters most.
I like Hellman’s better than most mayonnaise.
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