Time bomb


That's how long the Green Bay Packers want their offensive line to protect quarterback Aaron Rodgers when he takes a three step drop for a quick hitting pass play. The goal is for 3.5 to 4 seconds of protection on a five step drop and at least another second for a seven step drop.


Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings, however, Rodgers had no time to look, no time to read or react, no time to think, no time to wind up.


"You've got to pass protect. It all starts there first," a visibly agitated coach Mike McCarthy said Monday, a day after his quarterback was sacked four times and knocked down eight other times in the Packers' 28 27 loss.


"Everything we do starts with pass protection. We don't walk into the pass game meetings and throw out great ideas because they look good and we think we can get this guy or get that guy. Everything we do starts with pass protection first. You ask every one of our players and they will tell you, 'Protection first.' We did not do a very good job of it and those are the facts."


The facts this season say Rodgers can expect to be sacked once every 14 pass attempts. The four sacks Sunday, duplicating the total from the previous week in an overtime loss to Tennessee, came on a day he attempted just 26 passes.


If Rodgers has any shot at picking apart the Chicago Bears in another big division rivalry game Sunday at Lambeau Field, his linemen will have to protect him

Still, the total is nowhere near the worst in the league. Detroit and San Francisco, with 34 each, get that distinction. But it is a symptom of a growing concern for a Packers team that just can't match its performance or expectations from a year ago.


Center Scott Wells said there were breakdowns in the interior of the line.


"We had some guys get beat one on one," he said.


Offensive coordinator Joe Philbin said Mark Tauscher was playing steady as usual but fellow tackle Chad Clifton had [url=http://www.officialnflvikingsjerseys.com/Nfl-Teddy-Bridgewater-Mens-Elite-B... Men's Teddy Bridgewater Elite Jersey[/url" target="_blank"> been inconsistent. The Minnesota game was a low point; he gave up sacks, struggled in basic protection and was called for a false start penalty.


"I don't think it was, like, by God, he couldn't do anything right type of game. I wouldn't say that," Philbin said.


"I think Tauscher, we've gotten the same from Tauscher that we've gotten in a long time. He's done a good job. Chad has had an outing or two that probably isn't where we would like it [url=http://www.officialnflvikingsjerseys.com/Nfl-Teddy-Bridgewater-Mens-Elite-B... to be."


The best way for a veteran to work through [url=http://www.officialnflvikingsjerseys.com/Nike-Teddy-Bridgewater-Jersey.html... Bridgewater 4X Jersey that is in practice. Clifton and Tauscher have been starters since they were rookies in 2000 but Clifton has been on a limited practice schedule for the entire season because of sore knees and a hamstring.


"One of the things that's a challenge for Chad is the amount of practice that he gets," Philbin said. "That's something that, in coaching, you always believe in the value of practice. The guy misses what he misses, you wonder if he can catch up or how he's going to catch up."


Campen said Clifton could only mentally [url=http://www.officialnflvikingsjerseys.com/Nike-Teddy-Bridgewater-Jersey.html... Bridgewater S Jersey rehearse by studying game film, watching his backup in practice and going through the footwork in a low impact drill in practice.


The goal is to give the young, mobile Rodgers a fighting chance to complete his passes.


"We need to give him as much time as he needs," Wells said.


Then it's up to Rodgers to let it go. Though he's not the "ready, fire, aim" type, it's still on Rodgers to unload it when the blitz is coming and hope there's a receiver open.


How the line holds up, Rodgers' feel for the game, the ability of the receivers to get open and help from the running backs are all contributing factors to pass protection. At Minnesota, most times it seemed Rodgers didn't even have a chance to glance downfield.


McCarthy, who said the protection all year had been inconsistent, would not say whether he was considering a change with Clifton.


"We're going to watch the film together, and then we'll make it loud and clear on the things we need to do better," McCarthy said. "As far as making changes and things like that, that's not for today."


In the meantime, the Packers know they must keep Rodgers from getting knocked around like a pi if they hope to make the playoffs.


"The worst is if he's flat on his back and we lose the down and the lost yardage," Philbin said. "The sacks are obviously the toughest to overcome. And there's a residual effect with the other things. Scrambling when he gets flushed out of the pocket. He has to get off his read. Now everybody is in a scramble mode, receivers are coming off their routes. Then obviously when you start feeling that type of heat it makes it more difficult to do your job."