It’s only been four games but already it’s been a long emotional slog for the 2009 Green Bay Packers. From a thrilling last minute win over the arch-rival Chicago bears to a Lambeau Leap from an obnoxious enemy receiver to Monday night’s disappointment, there’s already been enough drama for an entire season.  Going into bye week, the Packers are 2-2 with a ton of football left to played.

Even in their victories, Green Bay has not played like the team many of us expected coming out of preseason.  I’m sure Coach McCarthy will spend the bye week figuring out how his team can improve in any number of areas, including:

1. Penalties.  Green Bay is third in the league with 30 penalties.  Once during the Fox halftime show, a panel member suggested that when you attempt a half-ending or game-ending field goal, you should always leave enough time left on the clock to allow for any run-off that might result from a penalty.  Jimmy Johnson disagreed.  “You leave one second on the clock, and you tell your team to execute.”  A winning football team must not stall their own drives, must not give opponents second chances, must not give opponents’ drives new life.

2. Protect the Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been sacked 20 times, the most times in the league–by far.  No one can perform well under those circumstances.  By contrast, Peyton Manning has been sacked twice.  The Packers may need to bring in a veteran old warhorse lineman.  They may need to keep tight ends and fullbacks in on more plays.  But the quarterback must have time to throw the ball.

3. Greg Jennings MIA Greg Jennings is averaging about a 100 yards receiving in the Packers’ victories and about 15 yards in their losses.  It’s not just that he doesn’t have great games, either–it’s that he disappears and you don’t even hear his number called.  The Packers may want to think about what the Patriots do with Randy Moss when he’s not getting open:  WR screens, end arounds, anything to get his hands on the ball and get him in the rhythm of the game.