McCarren: Running game, secondary offer warning signs for Packers

By Jay Sorgi

CREATED Oct. 29, 2012

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  • Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers, center, runs a quarterback sneak for a first down in the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps) ORG XMIT: WIJP121

  • Jacksonville Jaguars' Rashad Jennings(23) runs against the Green Bay Packers' Clay Matthews (52) in the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps) ORG XMIT: WIJP119

  • Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) makes a pass against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Tom Lynn) ORG XMIT: WITL112

  • Green Bay Packers Randall Cobb is tackled by Jacksonville Jaguars Chris Harris during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Tom Lynn) ORG XMIT: WITL118

  • Jacksonville Jaguars Blaine Gabbert is sacked by Green Bay Packers Morgan Burnett during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Tom Lynn) ORG XMIT: WITL115

  • Green Bay Packers Morgan Burnett is called for a personal foul as hits Jacksonville Jaguars Justin Blackmon as Packers Casey Hayward looks on during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Tom Lynn) ORG XMIT: WITL120

  • Jacksonville Jaguars middle linebacker Paul Posluszny tackles Green Bay Packers running back Alex Green during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer) ORG XMIT: WIMR103

  • Jacksonville Jaguars strong safety Chris Prosinski tries to tackle Green Bay Packers tight end Jermichael Finley during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer) ORG XMIT: WIMR104

  • Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers eludes Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Terrance Knighton as he runs for a first down during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer) ORG XMIT: WIMR105

  • Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers throws a touchdown pass to wide receiver Randall Cobb as Jacksonville Jaguars middle linebacker Paul Posluszny and linebacker Julian Stanford defend during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer) ORG XMIT: WIMR102

  • Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blaine Gabbert (11) is sacked by Green Bay Packers' Brad Jones during the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps) ORG XMIT: WIJP113

  • Green Bay Packers cornerback Tramon Williams defends a pass intended for Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Cecil Shorts during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012, in Green Bay, Wis. The Packers won 24-15. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer) ORG XMIT: WIMR111

GREEN BAY - The Green Bay Packers produced a 24-15 win over the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars, but lots of warning signs came to the forefront.

Newsradio 620 WTMJ Packers Radio Network analyst and TODAY'S TMJ4/NBC26 reporter Larry McCarren discussed how both the running game and the secondary have major issues to solve.

"It was surprising to see a struggling team like Jacksonville make some big plays," said McCarren on 620WTMJ's "Wisconsin's Morning News."

"The fact that the defense couldn't prevent big plays from a team that previously really struggled to make big play, Blackmon, Shorts, they were able to make plays against the Packers defense.  That was a disappointing aspect.

Jacksonville quarterback Blaine Gabbert delivered 303 passing yards, including 116 by receiver Cecil Shorts on eight catches.

The Packers running game didn't perform much better than the Charles Woodson-less secondary, with just 66 yards on 26 carries.

Alex Green produced 54 of them, for fewer than 2.5 yards per carry.

"On occasion, he looks pretty good, but those occasions are few and far between," explained McCarren.

"The word finish comes to mind.  Plays that seem to have a promising start end poorly.  That's when people start on their blocks and don't finish their blocks...the offensive line and tight ends have got to do a better job of finishing blocks...and giving the Alex Green's of the world more of an opportunity."