All Entries in the "Bob Sanders" Category
Dom Capers\’ Magic Front
Any regular reader of this site has no doubt already read Greg Bedard’s excellent overview of the 3-4 defense and the Packers’ first foray into it. Greg does a great job of setting up each position and comparing what they were asked to do in Sanders’ old scheme vs. what they will be asked to do [...]
Something We Never Saw…
…under Bob Sanders that I expect to see quite a bit of from Capers, illuminated here in a great write up on the evolution of the zone-blitz from Greg Cosell: Have a defensive lineman and/or a linebacker take a couple of steps forward, initially showing rush. This immediately engages an offensive linemen, who sets to [...]
McCarthy Isn\’t Desperate
A lot of pixels were spilled the past few weeks regarding Mike McCarthy and the supposed change in perception of his tenure as coach of the Green Bay Packers. Both Bob McGinn and Mike Vandermause have recently penned columns stating how desperate McCarthy looks in the aftermath of an unprecedented rash of firings on his [...]
The Defensive Staff Was Infighting
So sayeth Bob McGinn, the Sy Hersh of Packer journalism, in a piece in this morning’s Journal Sentinel. McGinn, who never met an anonymous source he wouldn’t quote, gives us this gem of a passage: According to one source, Sanders and Nunn stood united in support of the scheme whereas the other coaches to various [...]
The Ghost of the 3-4 Scares DDD
Good post from Donald’s Designated Driver over at All Kinds of Time about the possibility of the Packers switching to a 3-4 defense. DDD is haunted by images of Ezra Johnson and company and the hi-jinks that ensued. I understand the 80′s Packers haunting you, but dismissing the 3-4 because of them is silly. (I [...]
And Lo, It Came To Pass…
…and to run, and to drive for touchdown after touchdown. And so, Sir McCarthy smote the foul beast that was Sanders of the Bob. And the people, they did rejoice. (No. Seriously. Like, remember how people were dancing in the streets when Obama won? This was bigger.)
The Longer It Takes…
.. Mike McCarthy to make up his mind on Bob Sanders, the more likely it becomes that he will keep the embattled defensive coordinator. I understand McCarthy wanting to take his time, and I understand the things working in Sanders’ favor (injuries this season, the defense’s relatively good performance last season when healthy, lack of [...]
\”That’s Not My Bailiwick\”
That would be Ted Thompson’s response to Pete Dougherty’s question regarding any potential changes on the coaching staff. I love the word ‘bailiwick’ and am proud to be a fan of a team who’s General Manager uses it properly in a sentence, and without irony.
McCarthy Shouldn\’t Wait Too Long…
Word out of Houston today is that Gary Kubiak has fired his defensive coordinator Richard Smith and two other defensive assistants (one being ex-Packer defensive line coach Jethro Franklin) and will be in the market for “an experienced coordinator with a proven track record”. Sound familiar? In other words, if McCarthy decides to fire Sanders, [...]
Our Long Cheesehead Nation Nightmare Is Over
Much to discuss and dissect over the coming months. When will Bob Sanders be fired? WILL he be fired? (It’s not a sure thing) What about Mike Stock. Will Thompson be a major player in free agency? (I doubt it) Will he trade down several times in the draft? (Count on it.) Will he make [...]
Rouse Back At Safety – Brilliant Move
So today McCarthy let it be known that Aaron Rouse will be the starting strong safety for Monday’s game, presumably ending the dreadful “Charles Woodson At Safety” experiment. McCarthy speaking about the move: This is a great opportunity for him to step up…We look for him to be impactful, which he has been in spots, [...]
The Linebackers Are A Mess
Heading into this season, pretty much everyone from the Packer coaches to the media to the fans were in agreement that the linebacking corps for the Green Bay Packers would be the strength of thier defense in 2008. Fast forward to the present and you find a unit in shambles, somewhat due to injury but [...]
How Bad Are They?
I’ve received quite a few “Is this what it was like in the ’80s?” queries over the course of the last few weeks. Let me put this to bed right now – this isn’t even close. Of course, this does nothing to ease the sting of what has become a nightmare season, one which began [...]
I Don\’t See It
Everywhere you turn in the Packer Blogosphere and even in the accredited media you find pieces about the Packers playoff chances, complete with examinations of the Packers schedule and how it compares with the Vikings and Bears, who they all play when, what might happen to the Williams brothers, etc, etc. Sorry, but I just [...]
Stock Plummets
(I know, I know. Sorry. That was horrible. But how could I resist? At least it’s topical.) After toling in obscurity most of the season, Special Teams coach Mike Stock is smack dab in the middle of the spotlight, and it’s not a star making turn, if you know what I mean. First there were [...]
Just How Bad IS This Defense?
Pete Dougherty puts it in historical perspective: …the Packers’ defense is hemorrhaging and has given up 86 total points in the last two games against New Orleans and Carolina, the most points the Packers have allowed in back-to-back games since the Ray “Scooter” McLean-coached 1-10-1 team of 1958 gave up 91 points in a 38-35 [...]
Sunday Is the Season
A popular sentiment among coaches after a blowout loss, like the one the Packers experienced last night, is to “burn the tape” – meaning, don’t even bother watching tape of the game because it won’t teach you anything you don’t already know. McCarthy should burn the tape. The Packers sailed into a perfect storm last [...]
Reggie Bush Won\’t Play
…according to Jay Glazer. With the Bears and Vikings both winning today, the Packers need a win tomorrow night to keep pace in the NFC North. The focus for the defense just became containing Marques Colston. He’s the type of big, physical number one wide receiver that has given Al Harris nightmares. Sanders would be [...]
Peter King Names Sanders \”Coach of the Week\”
Now I know I’m dreaming. In his sprawling weekly column, CNNSI’s hack eminent national NFL writer Peter King traditionally includes a “Coach of the Week” and lo and behold, look who he spotlights this week: Coach of the Week Bob Sanders, defensive coordinator, Green Bay. One would have to think that jobs were on the [...]
Sanders\’ Blitzing Problem
Looking at the game again last night, I confirmed something (in my mind, at least) that I had suspected after the Atlanta game. Bob Sanders can’t design a quality defensive back pressure package. He CAN design a quality linebacker dog/blitz but doesn’t have any quality pass rushers at the linebacking position. The worst offender is [...]
Coaches Shouldn\’t Forget About Thompson
Mike Montgomery and Jason Hunter are set to return to action this week after sitting out the last few games due to injuries. Now that they are back, Packer coaches appear set to relegate rookie Jeremy Thompson back to the bench. That would be a big mistake. Not only did Thompson more than hold his [...]
Colts Provide Blueprint For Run Defense
The Colts, in a losing effort, did provide one excellent wrinkle that Bob Sanders should try exploiting, especially as he has the personnel to pull it off. The Colts, on most early downs, came out in a 4-4-3, with an extra linebacker in for a defensive back. This extra beef to the 28th ranked run [...]
Look For Mike To Spread \’Em Out
Watching the Titans-Colts game last night, three things become readily apparent: This is a Titans team that can be beat This is a Titans team that can be beat by the Packers This is a Titans team that can be beat by the Packers passing game With the expected return of James Jones, McCarthy will [...]
Bigby Returns
Welcome news. Bigby’s return is, of course, a great development for the Packers struggling defense. They need all the help they can get. But I can’t stop the nagging feeling from deep down in dark places that only cause misery and despair when they are visited, that LeRoy Butler in his prime could take the [...]
The Packers Need To Hire Jim Bates
Seriously. The guy is out of work after one season in Denver where he was working with completely inappropriate personnel. (Note how his departure has made the Bronco defense even worse?) I know Bates declined to be on McCarthy’s staff because he felt the head coaching job should have been his. That was four years [...]
The Packers Need Live Tackling At Practice
This needs to be said. The defensive players for the Green Bay Packers are terrible, I mean God awful, tacklers. I know it flies in the face of conventional wisdom, not to mention years of modern NFL practice, but McCarthy would be well served to put his team in pads this week and have live [...]
In Defense Of My Gut
Some commenters and more than three emailers have taken me to task for my overly harsh assessment of Bob Sanders and his prowess as defensive coordinator. In the words of Sammy J. – Allow me to retort! When I call for ‘more blitzing’, I am not issuing a “damn the torpedoes!” fatwa, calling for all [...]
Bob Sanders: This Is Your Test
We all remember last years meeting between the Packers and the Cowboys and how Tony Romo was allowed to read a novel, pay his bills and text message his girlfriend while looking for a receiver down field. The Packers started to get a small amount of pressure on him in the second half, with Aaron [...]
Cheesehead TV Matchup: Week One
Offense: Much has been made of the fact that the Packers spent a lot of time working the edges the last time these two teams met, with Ryan Grant running a wide variety of stretch and pitch plays on his way to becoming the only back to gain over 100 yards against the Vikings last [...]
Memo To Bob Sanders
Bob: Watched Eagles and Steelers preseason games last night. I noticed something that you need to take on board. Both Jim Johnson and Dick Lebeau blitz extensively during preseason. You know why? Because they want their players to be good at it. Going back and watching the Bengals game, you blitzed three or four times, [...]
Bengals: 20 Packers: 17
Aaron Rodgers, James Jones, Aaron Rouse Brandon Jackson, Bob Sanders, Alfred Malone Chris Francies
