This blog tends to focus on line play both on offense and defense. We could focus on passing, catching, and running, and this is what the 2008 Green Bay Packers do best.
I can only speak for myself, but I wouldn't swap the Packers OL & WRs for day the Cowboys OL and WRs - not just starters but the whole units. The Packers are deeper at WR. I'm not sure about the depth of the Dallas OL, but I bet that's a toss up. Dallas under Jerry Jones has always been a top heavy team willing to pay a few major stars big money. That philosophy has served the Tom Landry legacy well.
The reason I wouldn't make that trade is because of how talented and well conditioned Donald Driver is, how good Greg Jennings has become, the strenght of James Jones, and the heigth and blocking ability of Ruvel Martin. Upgrading from Koren Robinson to Jordy Nelson really makes this a power packed group.
Expect in the next nine games that this group will get more in sync with QB Aaron Rodgers. Like last year, we wonder to what extent we will see a Packer running game progress. This passing game could be as deadly as any as we have seen in Green & Gold IF opposing defenses had to respect the run. This respect will only come with break-a-way runs like Ryan Grant started ripping off in the second half of last year.
So what about the DL? Colin Cole got the Bye Week feature article from Bob McGinn which is high praise. I have to say it has been had for me to sit down and watch tape focusing on just line play like I should to try to comment on line play. It is important to realize that the Packers are #25 in the league in defending the run. Yet I have always liked Colin Cole and recall him getting some pressures and tackles in our first seven games. He stood out most against the Colts who started two rookie guards.
That Cole should merit the praise over Johnny Jolly shouldn't be overlooked. Jolly was playing way better before his shoulder injury last year than this year. I don't recall him deflecting any passes this year. Cole had one against the Colts. From what I can tell, he's just easier to block. I'm guessing Jolly is not yet fully recovered from this injury. Another thing to look at is who he has been up against. You'd want to look at the quality of LG & Centers he has faced. At a glance I'd guess the quality has been higher than the league average in the first seven games. Here's the rundown and my guess at what the relative strength of these combos might rate:
Vikings - Matt Birk & Steve Hutchingson = A
Lions - D. Raiola & Edwin Mulitalo = B
Cowboys - Andre Gurode & Cory Procter = AB
Bucs - Jeff Faine & Arron Sears = B
Falcons - Todd McClure & Justin Blalock= A
Such ratings don't consider pulling, chipping, slanting, and stunting or double-teaming, running backs or blocking backs. We know the NFC North guys, but Gurode is an all-pro and Jeff Faine I remember from week four of the 2006 loss in Atlanta. It would be fun to average the Pro Football weekly ratings and index those against guys in the Packer DL rotation and then grade film.
Regardless, Cole ability to stay on the field has allowed Pickett some plays off. Against the Colts Jolly played 57 snaps and Cole played 50 with Pickett playing with damaged triceps played 24. While it worked on the Colts, they need Justin Harrell fully healthy because the next stop after Cole is Mike Montgomy at 273 lbs or Alfred Malone off the practice squad.
Like Greg Bedard wrote last November, the Jim Bates defense the Packers play can go through a lot of DTs via injury.
Yet the Packers are a team with deep playoff aspirations that simply must be able to shut down elite running games like the Cowboys and Giants. They are not going to do that without Jolly and/or Justin Harrell being more disruptive.
The problems at LE is just injury related.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Friday, October 24, 2008
Significant Improvement Cause For Guarded Optimism
It would have been interesting to have attended Packer practice last week. Apparently, a message was sent about playing football and that message appeared to have been received by a fair number of players.
Running game works (particularly against small but quick DL) by running forward not sideways. That insistence on using delays and slow developing running plays will not work is evidenced by (1) low yards per carry average and (2) inability of RB (Grant in particular) to break for large gain. His TD run came by hitting the line quickly on a straight-ahead run that allowed him to hit the secondary rapidly without allowing time to react to the play.
Tackling was quite a bit crisper on D, though there were still moments of arm tackles and hits without wrapping up player - though Colts displayed that type of tackling throughout the game. A win is a big plus at this point - but let's keep it in perspective and not get overwhelmed by beating what was an inferior Colts team on this Sunday.
New Hampshire Packer Backer
Running game works (particularly against small but quick DL) by running forward not sideways. That insistence on using delays and slow developing running plays will not work is evidenced by (1) low yards per carry average and (2) inability of RB (Grant in particular) to break for large gain. His TD run came by hitting the line quickly on a straight-ahead run that allowed him to hit the secondary rapidly without allowing time to react to the play.
Tackling was quite a bit crisper on D, though there were still moments of arm tackles and hits without wrapping up player - though Colts displayed that type of tackling throughout the game. A win is a big plus at this point - but let's keep it in perspective and not get overwhelmed by beating what was an inferior Colts team on this Sunday.
New Hampshire Packer Backer
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Packer Run Offense vs. Colts
OK - so the Packer run defense was good enough today, but how did Ryan Grant get his first 100 yard day this year? The Colts are two starting DTs are 250 & 260 lbs. They have a 280 pounder in their rotation. It is amazing they can stop anyone from running, but they do apparently. Oh, they don't. The Colts rank #29th in run defense even worse than the Packers at #26. Former Daniel Muir is inactive but on the Colts 52 man roster. Go figure.
While there are some things that have started to grate on me about the Packers like the OL, I can't imagine putting up with totally opting out of the notion of the big DT. Kinda makes zone blocking seem like a proven alternative. Give the high value given to top DTs, I am not surprised someone would try to get by some other way.
While there are some things that have started to grate on me about the Packers like the OL, I can't imagine putting up with totally opting out of the notion of the big DT. Kinda makes zone blocking seem like a proven alternative. Give the high value given to top DTs, I am not surprised someone would try to get by some other way.
Most Penalties By Tony Dungee Team
12 penalties for 112 yards on the Colts. They are as sloppy as the Packers were a few weeks ago. It's not the cause of the Colts' woes, but a symptom.
End of Q3
Why is the average Packer DL holding the Colts' running game to 57 yards on 15 carries? Rookie starters inside are LG Jamey Richard (6-4½, 295) and RG Mike Pollak (6-3½, 301). We Packer fans know what that can look at when your going with a second string RB.
With a 27-7 lead going into the 4Q, Packers need to remember who the Colts' QB is.
With a 27-7 lead going into the 4Q, Packers need to remember who the Colts' QB is.
1st Half Packer 2-1 TOP
The Packers had roughly a 2 to 1 time of possession advantage in the first half.
Nick Collins saved a TD with his tipped pass intendend for Marvin Harrison in the endzone and returns a INT for a TD with a nifty move to MAKE blocking. Collins & Charles Woodson are playing a Pro Bowl level. Tramon Williams is aggressive and good enough.
Colin Cole got some pressure up the middle. I haven't had a chance to watch the DTs on pass plays. They are more competitive against the Colts than stronger OLs.
Wayne L. mentioned that the Packers ran 20 plays in first half to the Colts 10. Another 2 to 1 ratio.
Nick Collins saved a TD with his tipped pass intendend for Marvin Harrison in the endzone and returns a INT for a TD with a nifty move to MAKE blocking. Collins & Charles Woodson are playing a Pro Bowl level. Tramon Williams is aggressive and good enough.
Colin Cole got some pressure up the middle. I haven't had a chance to watch the DTs on pass plays. They are more competitive against the Colts than stronger OLs.
Wayne L. mentioned that the Packers ran 20 plays in first half to the Colts 10. Another 2 to 1 ratio.
Incredible 3 & Out for Packer Defense!
After good play-action gets Grant walking into the endzone, the Packer defense scores a quick 3 & out. Packers with 70 to score before the half...
The no gain on the Colts' first down and then two incomplete passes. Defense did it, but the offense made it a ton easier keeping Manning off the field for 6:51! Starting from their own 11 yard line, the Packers' drive wasn't the longest time-killer on record, but you could see the effect on the timing of the Colts' plays.
The no gain on the Colts' first down and then two incomplete passes. Defense did it, but the offense made it a ton easier keeping Manning off the field for 6:51! Starting from their own 11 yard line, the Packers' drive wasn't the longest time-killer on record, but you could see the effect on the timing of the Colts' plays.
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