Like he said during the preseason, quarterback Brett Favre reiterated on Wednesday that the offense is still struggling to find its identity.
But the Packers' leader believes once that identity defines itself, the offense will become more consistent at finishing drives.
The Packers had a frustrating time on Monday night in Philadelphia getting points on the board despite moving the ball fairly consistently. Green Bay gained 35 yards or more on seven possessions yet came away with just three field goals. The other four substantial drives ended in a missed field goal, a punt, an interception, and a turnover on downs at the goal line.
Factoring into that inconsistency is that the Packers haven't fully established what it is they do best on offense, Favre said, and finding something to rely on can help them take better advantage of their opportunities to score.
"What do we go to in certain situations?" Favre asked. "If we're up can we pound the ball at people, are we good in third-and-1, are we a good third-and-long team? Red zone, we're questionable right now.
"There's plays to be made. There are some good execution things that are happening, but we're not closing the deal."
Favre said the offense's identity has changed with the different head coaches he has played for, so in that respect it's not entirely surprising Head Coach Mike McCarthy's offense isn't fully defined after just four games.
"Under Mike Sherman, we developed a style of running like we had never had before," Favre said. "With Mike Holmgren it was more three- and five-step drops, movement passes, use the pass almost to open up the run, screen passes.
"I think with Mike (McCarthy) now we're trying to find that. I think we're trying to do a little bit of both."
McCarthy emphasized he's trying to forge an identity with the ground attack, but the passing attack has been on display perhaps more than expected because of game situations and the game plans.
"Our identity as far as our starting point is running the football, and all the positive things that come off of running the football," McCarthy said. "That's something that needs to be a constant in your offense.
"Statistically, we've thrown the ball more than I would have liked, but you're going to have games like that, and you have to do whatever you need to do to win the game."
Favre, who has emphasized himself many times the need to run the ball well, suggested that more plays to move the pocket, as well as more screen passes, might be the way to go as far as the passing game is concerned. He said he and McCarthy frequently discuss different ideas for the offense, but drawing things up is much easier than implementing them on the spot.
What they'd like to arrive at is a package of run and pass plays, executed from one or two formations or personnel groupings, that the offense truly masters. But it simply takes time to discover all the strengths of the different individuals and how to maximize on them, particularly with the number of young players starting on offense.
"You look at some of more productive offenses in the league, like Indianapolis, you know how they're going to line up, either two tight ends or three wides and one running back, and they just go from there," Favre said. "They're more good at what they do, and they're not worried about other teams knowing what they do.
"Keeping it simple is overlooked so many times, but it's so important to success, and I think that's what we're trying to do."
Favre admitted he's a bit impatient, but he sees the potential with the slow but steady improvements in the running game, the continued development of rookie wide receiver Greg Jennings, and the new downfield dimension Koren Robinson could bring through the air.
Now, it's just getting that progress to be reflected on the scoreboard, not just with certain drives on the stat sheet.
"I really feel like we're progressing," Favre said. "I know we didn't score a lot of points the other night, but I felt like we moved the ball and gave ourselves some opportunities. Now I give them credit for stopping us, but we have to find a way to get down there and make it count, not just (kick) field goals."
