Cory's Corner: Unusual Packers' schedule will require rest

Packers coach Mike McCarthy has said in the past that he enjoys playing games with a noon central kickoff.

He will have to wait until Week 6 to get his wish this year. The Packers play two primetime games and three late afternoon games to start the season.

Scheduling and routines are important in the NFL. They don’t get the same kickoff time back-to-back until Weeks 6 and 7. Then it’s Weeks 10 and 11 followed by 13-15.

While everyone was talking about the thorny stretch to open the season, vs. Seattle and at Atlanta, the Packers will be busy juggling schedules for much of the year. The only saving grace is that the Packers don’t have to worry about tremendous time zone differences because they don’t have to visit the West Coast.

In an effort to reverse sagging TV ratings, the NFL awarded its most-viewed TV windows to teams that actually deserved them. Instead of giving them to San Francisco and Jacksonville, the NFL gave more spots to New England, Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Dallas, Atlanta and Green Bay. (Jacksonville still got a “primetime” game. But it’s being played in London and will be shown to a breakfast crowd here in the US.)

The aftermath of seeing fewer teams get primetime slots is that teams must be able to navigate abbreviated rest for stretches at a time. This may seem like a trivial matter, but it could be a big deal, especially if the Packers stumble to a 2-3 record out of the gate.

Look for McCarthy to work even more rest in for his veterans this year. He already barely uses his core guys during the preseason for fear of injury and with scheduling changes, he may have to resort to juggling his practice schedule lineup more than he would prefer.

I’m not saying that the NFL will have the same rest discussion that the NBA had for the entire regular season. But I am saying that top coaches won’t turn down a chance to rest its best players, especially if they are in the middle of a strange workweek or coming off reduced rest.

 

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Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn

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Comments (20)

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Bearmeat's picture

April 22, 2017 at 07:27 am

That's silly, Cory. There are only 16 games. Each and every one matters. You have to win them all. In a blowout (either L or W), sure. But that's rare in the NFL.

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dobber's picture

April 22, 2017 at 07:47 am

One Thursday, one Monday and one Saturday. Those are the games that make the biggest mess out of the weekly routine. That's what they dealt with last year...not sure it's terribly unusual.

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TarynsEyes's picture

April 22, 2017 at 08:29 am

Schedule can be a factor for some teams but no matter the schedule for the Packers, they simply beat themselves too often before the game even starts.
Dig a hole, get in hole, pull dirt on top, try to get out....result....not enough to late. ..yearly.

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PETER MAIZ's picture

April 22, 2017 at 11:32 am

too

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ironman3169's picture

April 23, 2017 at 05:47 am

I think you and the rest of Packerland ( myself included) are still bitter about the NFCCG in Seattle. Granted, we all have been expecting far better for the last couple years after that impressive season ( minus the epic collapse), but spouting off nonsensical comments is unseemly my dear.

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Since'61's picture

April 22, 2017 at 03:42 pm

It's no secret here that I hate Thursday night football but at least it's a home game against the Bears, early in the season, and we get an early mini-bye and then 3 weeks later an almost perfectly placed mid-season bye which is a 1,000 times better than the ridiculous bye that we had after week 3 last season. I'm not crazy about Saturday football either but it's better than Thursday night. My biggest concern this season will be the road games to Atlanta and Pittsburgh. Second season in a row that we get to open a new stadium for our opponent and Atlanta is a much better quality opponent than the Viqueens. Now that we know our schedule, let's see how the draft plays out. Thanks, Since '61

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4thand1's picture

April 22, 2017 at 09:48 am

The Packers played one of their worst games ever on a thurs night, losing to the stinkin bears on Favre night.

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Since'61's picture

April 22, 2017 at 11:36 am

Just another reason why I hate Thursday football. Ever since the Lions ruined our perfect season on Thanksgiving Day in 1962. I'll always believe that if that was a regular Sunday game Lombardi's Packers would have gone 15-0 including the NFL Championship win over the NY Giants that year. Thursday games give us two unprepared teams and increase the injury risk for the players. Except for the owner's greed the Thursday games are unnecessary. Thanks, Since '61

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Bert's picture

April 22, 2017 at 08:57 am

The schedule is what it is and probably doesn't contain any more or less obstacles than most teams. If we are a SB quality team then the schedule really won't matter that much. The quality teams (i.e. Packers) can win regardless of opponent, time of day, day of the week, venue, etc. etc. If not, then you're really not a quality team anyhow.

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vj_ostrowski's picture

April 22, 2017 at 09:44 am

There are several teams that have 4-5-6 nationally featured games. This is actually a fairly conventional schedule when compared to anyone else's except for the worst teams that the NFL tries to keep out of primetime

The Noon start should no longer be thought of as "the usual" for teams that experience consistent success.

Last year's schedule was insanely weird. Not sure this one warrants any unusual level of concern.

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marpag1's picture

April 22, 2017 at 03:06 pm

HUH?? This is completely ridiculous.

So MM likes noon start times, huh? Great! They have eight this year. They had only 6 last year, 4 in 2015, 7 in 2014. They haven't had eight noon starts since 2013.

Don't like late afternoon games? Great! GB got only three of them. They got 4 last year, 6 in 2015, 4 in 2014 and 6 in 2013.

Don't like night games? Great! GB got only five of them. Last year they got six, six in 2015 and five in 2014. They haven't had fewer night games since 2013.

Don't like "non-Sunday games?" This year is no worse than any other. They have three, just like they had in 2016, 2015 and 2014.

What's that? "They don’t get the same kickoff time back-to-back until Weeks 6 and 7?" Well gee.... in 2016 it wasn't until week 8 and 9, so I guess we're improving.

This article appears to be based upon a complete lack of research and information. But yeah.... expect MM to make serious adjustments to the practice schedule. lol

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Since'61's picture

April 22, 2017 at 11:46 am

Marpag I agree with you. This schedule business is based on which teams will generate the best TV ratings for the league during the season. Also, the majority of the fantasy football players are on the better teams so the league is trying to increase their TV audience by drawing in the FF players to watch their marquee games and players. They are also preparing their fans for legalized sports gambling down the road. Once Amazon and Google broadcast the games and sports betting legalized you will be able to watch and simultaneously bet online. You will not only be able to bet on the game's outcome but you'll be able to wager on every play; Pass/Run, 1st down made or not, Sack/Interception/Fumble etc..., it will go on and on. They are slowly but surely setting it up for the next big thing, just like the auto industry keeps introducing features for the driverless cars just to gradually get everyone ready. Closer and closer to the year 2525. Thanks, Since '61

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TommyG's picture

April 22, 2017 at 04:44 pm

Marpag, you certainly did your research! Thank you for the insight.

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worztik's picture

April 22, 2017 at 03:40 pm

I firmly believe that the schedule may seem to favor some teams while causing stress for others, however, I feel it's 6 of one and a half dozen of another. In my opinion, the biggest factor that went against the us last year was the early bye week that not many talk about! Week four is just TOO EARLY, causing the next 11 games and playoffs to be without a week off. Of course we could fix that somewhat by securing a #1 or 2 seed in the playoffs but, I'll keep this simple. The league is all about parody so why don't we schedule 1/2 the teams off in week 8 and the other 1/2 in week 9??? Quite easy to do I'd imagine and teams with early byes would be eliminated... we'd all be on the same page! Injuries, like last year's, may have been less of an issue if the byes came at basically the same time! Just some tasty food for thought, however, not as important as BANANA BREAD topped with whipped cream!!! Later Gators....,

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Since'61's picture

April 22, 2017 at 03:50 pm

Worztik - Actually the Packers had 13 more regular season games left after the bye, plus their 3 playoff games which means they played the equivalent of a 16 game NFL season without a bye week. As for scheduling all of the byes during weeks 8 and 9 that is a sound idea except for the fact that the league's TV contracts will never allow that and the league would never agree to lose 16 games of TV revenue over a 2 week period. The bye schedule reflects the TV contracts and losing just 2-3 games per week doesn't cost the league or the teams any money. It's all much more about the money than parody. Thanks, Since '61

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fthisJack's picture

April 23, 2017 at 07:28 am

i think you meant parity...lol.

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Spock's picture

April 24, 2017 at 09:11 am

Worztik: "The league is all about PARODY" LOL. I know you meant "parity" but that actually made me laugh as it is somewhat true! :)

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worztik's picture

April 22, 2017 at 04:58 pm

Since '61... I stand corrected on the # of games after the bye... glad you're keeping an eye on me cause I'm always trying to see what I can get away with; it's an innate quality, if ya wanna call it a quality? FYI... I placed my name on the season ticket list on my 24th BD in '75 and got the green package in 2012!!! And, patience is not a virtue of mine!!! Now at 65 for a few more months, I'd actually rather watch on my 65"er!!! My wife loves to go and we split the 6 games with my younger brother so it's all good! My point being: I've had a love interest with the Pack since I've been 10... as in since 1961!!!

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al bundy's picture

April 23, 2017 at 09:13 am

I don't see what the schedule problem is. It's the, very severely injured and missing key pieces by game three hats been the problem. By then Randle and Rollins will both have missed time with lower calf issues, Gunter will be getting scorched for big lays, Mathews hammies will be an issue again, the pass rush will not exist, and one or two running backs will be out for the season.
TED never seems to take prior injury n as a factor. Ya take watt with your one pick TED he has already had two knee injuries and that's in college.

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vj_ostrowski's picture

April 23, 2017 at 12:45 pm

That's one of the biggest issues with picking Watt, IMO, and it makes no sense coming from Packer fans who have chided Ted en masse for his history with injured players. The obsession is clearly blinding people.

Again, I will accept Watt with open arms if he's the pick, but when he's spending time on the bench with leg injuries, making commercials with his older brother (not something that bothers ME, mind you), and taking time toward making an impact because he has relative little experience at the position vs most, I wonder if I'll hear the same kinds of complaints coming from fans that has been leveled at other Thompson picks.

I think he's the likeliest pick, though. I've made peace with that.

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