2003 vs. 2008 Packers-Cowboys

We are two days from the Cowboys vs. Packers at Lambeau. This will be the 2008 Packers first big test against an elite NFL team. Same guys as last year just a year older save Favre. Last year Aaron Rodgers led a minor comeback in a game where the swarming Cowboy defense knocked Brett Favre out of the game. This was also the game Rodgers broke his foot running out of a collapsing pocket.

Aaron Rodgers deserves high praise for his play and poise this season. Yet I don't think he will be able to cover up the mismatches on the line of scrimage. The Cowboys will control the line on both sides of the ball. One hopes that the Badboys of Dallas won't win a decisive physical victory over this zone blocking offense and the speedy flowing defense of the Packers.

At least this game won't be played in -1 degree conditions, so the Packers speed and finesse should count for something. People can say what they want about the 2003 Packers and Mike Sherman. The Cowboys and the Packers seemed to be on a collision course that year, but the Packers lost to the Eagles and the Cowboys lost to the Panthers.

If the two had met, that Packer offensive line and Ahman Green would have given the 3rd ranked against the run Cowboy defense something chew on. The 2003 Cowboy offense was lead by Quincy Carter, Terry Glenn, and Troy Hambrick. Last year Dallas was 9th ranked in run defense, yet no one has any illusions that the Packers are going to run on the Cowboys consistently. It took me a while to find a link to the Cowboys 2003 depth chart, but recall their stout defense:

http://www.dallascowboysfanclub.com/depth_chart_2003.htm

The best we can seemingly hope for this Sunday is another cut-back breakout run like Ryan Grant's 62 yard TD last year. Grant's next longest run was for 7 yards. Take away the 62 yarder and we are left with 32 yards on 13 carries - pretty much like the Giants playoff game.

As much as I am glad Aaron Rodger seems to be a worth successor to Brett Favre and as much as I love this phenomenal corp of wide receivers the Packers have, I hate to see the Packers stuffed. Dallas has stuck to it's big line philosophy since the days of the Ice Bowl. The Packers are now an catch and run shredding machine on offense and a young, fast, and smart defense. Rodgers may have returned Bart Starr's legendary QB sneak to the Packers playbook, but that was never the essence of traditional Packer football or it's more modern decedent, Mike Sherman's Power-Gap Offense.

Both Mike Sherman and now Ted Thompson left the line of scrimage to the Dallas. Donnell Washington, Steve Warren, and Kenny Peterson are analogous to Justin Harrell and Johnny Jolly. I'm cheering for Jolly, Colin Cole, and Cullen Jenkins to match up. I'm hoping for smart and deadly blitzing. Aaron Kampman deserves some help. But so far the Justin Harrell gambit has no help and we are again left short on beef against the Cowboys.

One lens to view the 2003 Packers and Cowboys is the Pro Bowl sections from each team. The Packers selected were Javon Walker, Marco Rivera, Ahman Green, and William Henderson. The Cowboys sent Larry Allen, Jason Witten, LaRoi Glover, and Roy Williams. After getting a face full of popcorn from T.O. last year, there is little reason to expect improvement save some miracle from a injured Ryan Grant and the iffy Packer O-line. I don't think they will get the chance. McCarthy will try to substitute short passes for runs. As is commonly said these days, "good luck with that".