OFFENSE:

• Take Care of the Football. (Yes, I’m Looking At You, James Jones)

This is a Bears defense that does two things: Stops the run and takes the football away from the offense. I don’t expect the Packers to make much noise running the football, but they can and will get some positive carries out of Ryan Grant. What they absolutely can not afford to do is give the Bears offense extra chances to pound Matt Forte and score points. Everyone remembers the first meeting between these two teams last year when James Jones fumbled on two first half possessions, both times deep in Bears territory. Those two miscues were instrumental in costing the Packers the game. Jones, the receivers in general, Grant and quarterback Aaron Rodgers must be at their best when it comes to ball security on Sunday. Grant in particular had been putting the ball on the ground with regularity before last week - and he will be called upon early in this game. Don’t forget, the Packers ran all over the Bears in the first half of last years contest at Lambeau before Scott Wells left with an injury. Of course, the 2008 Bears are much better against the run, but McCarthy knows how to attack Lovie Smith’s defense on the ground when they are in their base set. What he needs to work on is…

• Be Patient Against The Tampa 2

Last year, McCarthy, Favre, Driver and Jennings had a field day against the Bears in Lambeau in the first half, all while the Bears tried using a mix of different personnel and scheme. After a deep Favre to Jennings touchdown pass toward the end of the first half, the Bears went exclusively to their Tampa 2 defense - and everything fell apart for the Packers. This is the type of game the Packers wanted Rodgers for. He displayed excellent patience against the Colts (another Tampa-2 team) earlier this year, taking what was given him, only forcing one throw (a slant pass to Jennings) the entire game. Sunday can be no different. Rodgers has taken his first bit of heat this week, both from the media and his own head coach, for his faltering play the last two weeks. This week can absolutely be his chance to shine. The Bears are absolutely dreadful against the pass, but Rodgers can’t be lulled into thinking that means he’ll find large chunks of yardage waiting for him. He needs to take the check downs to his backs and his tightends and work the ball down the field. This will help keep his own defense off the field, which will more than have its hands full.

DEFENSE

• Blitz On First Down EARLY.

We all know it’s coming. Matt Forte left. Matt Forte right. Matt Forte…used in playaction and then throw to Greg Olsen/Desmond Clark. This is the Bears in a nutshell on Sunday. Oh sure, there could be a play here and there designed for Devin Hester and he may even break a return. (God knows I don’t expect Frost to be able to keep the ball away from him - that would require some semblance of ’skill’ at the punting position) But running the ball and throwing off playaction to the tight end is how Lovie Smith’s teams have killed the Packers for four years straight. No reason to think the formula is going to change now. But here’s a radical concept for Bob Sanders - blitzing (run or pass) on first down EARLY IN THE GAME. Too often this season, Sanders has used the first few series of a game as a ‘feeling-out’ period for his defense - and while he’s busy ‘noting tendencies’ and ’studying playcalls’ - the opposing team has marched down the field, usually for a touchdown. It has happened the last three games, only one of which the Packers have won. The other two? The Packers lost by 1 and by 2 points. Something tells me not allowing those first points might have made a difference. Sanders needs to send his new middle linebacker and his old strong side linebacker crashing into the line on first down, disrupt the Bears blocking schemes and knock either Kyle Orton or Rex Grossman around early.The Packers simply can not afford to allow the Bears to march down the field and produce points on their opening possession this week.

Related posts

• Greatest Packer Plays of 2007

OFFENSE:

If there’s a coach in the NFL that knows how to attack this defense, it’s Mike McCarthy. Whether facing Viking coordinators Mike Tomlin or Leslie Frazier, McCarthy has been able to move the ball very effectively both in the air and, shockingly, on the ground. (Kevin Seifert over at ESPN’s NFC North Blog points out Ryan Grant’s success against the Vikings so far…) Much has been made this week of Aaron Rodgers’ first start in the putrid dome the Vikings play in. It should be Rodgers first victory of many in Minnesota if McCarthy stays true to form.

• Exploit Cedric Griffin and Charles Gordon

It will be quite interesting to see who the Vikings choose to matchup Antoine Winfield with. In the past, Winfield has lobbied to cover Donald Driver, when he was considered the Packers number one receiver. As we all know, that torch has been passed this season to Greg Jennings. But as everyone saw last week, teams are playing with fire if they leave Driver one-on-one with a second corner. Throw in third year corner Charles Gordon who is, if you’re being charitable, horrible, and you have the offense perfectly positioned to take advantage of the Viking secondary on early downs. McCarthy would be wise to come out in his three-wide formations with Donald Lee in the backfield with Grant. Throwing on first down should provide favorable matchups on second downs for McCarthy to…

• Attack the Edges With Ryan Grant
  

As stated above, Grant has had more success rushing the football against the Viking’s third overall rushing defense than anyone else. A lot is made of how McCarthy does it (along the edges with sweeps, tosses and stretch plays) but the key Sunday will be when he chooses to call his running plays. The past three weeks, McCarthy has been flirting with stubbornness when it comes to pounding Grant and grinding him into the ground. (It actually reminds me somewhat of when Dorsey Levens came back from injury and Mike Holmgren went on and on about how he was going to limit Levens’ carries and bring him along slowly - only for Levens to get something like 35 carries his first game back) He’ll need to be much more judicious with his use of the running game in general and Grant in particular against a Viking defense that is built to destroy the run. If he can get the offense into second and 4 or less, he’ll be able to choose his spots early on. He can either run or throw on second and if his running game is stopped, he will still have a manageable down and distance for either a run or pass.

DEFENSE:

• Go Heavy To Stop Peterson

The offense being designed and called by Brad Childress is a bit different than what the Packers faced in their opener. The Vikings are using a lot more multiple tight end sets and pounding the football both outside and in. They run left behind McKinnie and Hutchinson which is bad for our heroes because it means they are running away from Kampman and toward the combination of Montgomery and Thompson, who have played well but have not been tested in the run game the way they will be on Sunday. Sanders should go heavy early with a five man line, subbing in a defensive tackle for a linebacker. Imagine a line of Montgomery, Jolly, Harrell, Pickett, and Kampman. Sure, the Vikings would most likely go play-action, but really: Bernard Berrian vs Charles Woodson or Bobby Wade vs Al Harris is a ‘win’ for the Packers more often than not. The key will be covering tight end Visanthe Shiancoe. Known for his killer drops early in the season, Shiancoe is actually playing much better, taking advantage of linebackers getting sucked into play-action to find space deep. Nick Collins or Brandon Chillar will have to be very disciplined and keep him in mind at all times.

• Maintain. Gap. Discipline.

You’re tired of reading it. Reporters are tired of writing it. McCarthy is sure as hell tired of saying it. But unfortunately it’s the truth: The Packers continue to have breakdowns in both contain and gap discipline on defense and it is killing them at least once or twice a game. It’s understandable to see Adrian Peterson break a long run as he did in Week One. It is quite another to watch 235 pound Lendale White bust a 54 yard run and it could only happen because the defensive line was washed waaaayyyy out of position. It simply can’t happen.

Related posts

• Cheesehead TV Matchup: Week One

OFFENSE:

• Do Not Abandon the Running Game

I’ve been overboard in my calls for the return of the Big Five formation, but only because I love it. In reality, we’ll most likely see it on only 4 or 5 plays from scrimmage. (If we see it at all…) What I think WILL happen quite a bit is McCarthy calling first down pass plays and using second downs to attack off-tackle and outside with Ryan Grant much like he did last year in the second game against the Vikings. McCarthy wants nothing to do with Haynesworth inside, obviously, and has a great group of stretch and toss plays that can be effective against the Titans, especially if he chooses to attack Jevon Kearse on the offense’s right side (again - away from Haynesworth) That said - don’t be surprised if you see the occasional draw/delay play run right at the monstrous defensive tackle. The Colts tried this Monday night but got terrible blocking on Haynesworth’s running mate in the middle, Tony Brown. But it’s a good idea, using Haynesworth’s aggressiveness against him. If Spitz can get a seal on Brown (no certain thing, but it can be done) the Packers could take advantage of the middle on one or two occasions, much like they did against the Williams boys in the opening Monday nighter against the Vikings.

• Don’t Get Frustrated

The Titan defense is no joke. All 11 players fly to the ball and are there to hit, not just jump on the pile. They lead the NFL with 12.4 points allowed per game. The Packers are not going to walk into Nashville and put up 30 points and they are not going to move the ball at will. But there are plays to be made against this defense, especially in the passing game. The return of James Jones could not come at a better time and his presence will prove a major advantage against a young Titan secondary. A great matchup to watch is when Greg Jennings goes up against Cortland Finnegan, the Titans second year starter at right corner. Again, patience will be the key. Finnegan is a talent and will win a good deal of matchups with any receiver. But Jennings will make more than his fair share of plays against the young corner - it will be a great sideshow to the main event. But the main point is - the Packers offense needs to be patient. Plays will come. They can not press or they will make mistakes. Rodgers did a fantastic job against the Colts taking what the defense gave him and he’ll need to continue that trend on Sunday.

DEFENSE:

• Run Blitz Poppinga and Barnett On First Downs.

Last year against the San Diego Chargers, Bob Sanders sent Bray Poppinga, Nick Barnett or both firing into the Charger offensive line on a majority of the Chargers first down snaps, causing all sorts of problems for the San Diego offensive line and enabling A.J. Hawk and Atari Bigby to pick through the trash and make the tackle on Landian Tomlinson. He should take a similar approach on Sunday. Too many times this year Sanders has sat his linebackers back in a base set on first down and trusted his defensive line to control the gaps at the line of scrimmage. Well, that hasn’t worked. At all. He needs to create havoc at the point of attack. The danger, of course, is having Chris Johnson escape to the outside, where he can do unbelievable damage. That’s why it is imperative for Aaron Kampman, Michael Montgomery and Jeremy Thompson to set the edges each and every snap, funneling Johnson inside for Hawk, Bigby and Collins to take him down. But more than anything else - the Packer defense must win first down. Giving this Titan team favorable down and distance is a recipe for disaster, as they will simply pound away until the game is over.

• Put Chillar On Bo Scaife and Collins On Alge Crumpler
  

Scaife is an above average talent and Titan quarterback Kerry Collins’ number one target. Brandon Chillar, who did yeoman’s work against Dallas Clark two weeks ago, is more than up to the task of blanketing Scaife. This will necessitate Sanders inserting Chillar in for Hawk even on ‘Base’ downs, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see it more than a few times. As McCarthy stated - you have to utilize your personnel. They could even go to a 4-4 Cover 1 as their base.  The reason they can do this? The unholy trinity of receivers Brandon Jones, Justin Gage, and Justin McCareins will be almost completely negated by Al Harris, Charles Woodson and Tramon Williams (when the Titans are dumb or desperate enough to use three receivers), leaving Collins free to take Crumpler and not worry too much about help over the top on the receivers. All in all, this game actually matches up well for the Packers on the back end - it will be up to Sanders to use his personnel well on early downs to create favorable down and distances where the Packers should be able to completely negate the Titan passing game.

Related posts

• Titans: 19 Packers: 16

OFFENSE:

• Pound. The. Rock.

Sometimes, it’s just this simple. The Colts have an undersized front seven, are missing their best run stuffing, hard hitting safety, play a lot of Tampa-2 and have a wicked quick strike offense. If ever there was a game that Mike McCrathy needed to pound the football, it’s this Sunday against the Colts. McCarthy will look to load up with heavy personnel and run between the tackles, where the Colts have an undrafted rookie and a second year 7th rounder starting. Add to that the fact that keeping favorable down and distance will be essential for the Packers to avoid obvious passing situations where Dwight Freeney and Rasheed Mathis can tee off on the quarterback, and everyone in Lambeau and watching on television will know exactly what the Packers want to do. The trick is to do it, a task which will be made even more difficult if Scott Wells’ injury problems flare up as they did in practice this week.

• Utilize McCarthy’s Fake Slant/Draw Play and the Screen (Not On First Down)
  

The Packers offense has made a living with the slant. This week, look for McCarthy to utilize the play where the quarterback pumps to the slant and then hands the ball to the back on a delay/draw. Indianapolis’ defensive line and linebackers are a lightning fast group (mostly prototypes for the Tampa-2). The delay, used two or three times each quarter, will keep the defensive line guessing and force them to temper their race for the quarterback, which can then be used to the Packers’ advantage.  Another way to take advantage of the Colts aggressiveness, or course, is in the screen game, where Brandon Jackson has looked effective - on any down but First. For whatever reason, McCarthy loves to call screen plays on first down - that never, and I mean NEVER, seem to work. The screen has been much more successful on 2nd and 3rd down, and McCarthy would be wise to run one or two a quarter to Dwight Freeny’s side.

DEFENSE:

• Pray

I’m sorry. I know it sounds like a cop-out. I know if I’m going to belittle and degenerate Bob Sanders every week, I should at least be able to offer an alternative to what he’s doing or going to do. But this is the first week I truly don’t have any idea how on Earth the Packers compete in any way. People point to Addai being out. So what? People point to the relative youth on the Colts’ offensive line? Doesn’t matter. Manning and his receivers, notably third wide out Anthony Gonzalez and tight end Dallas Clark, are going to have a field day. It won’t be pretty, especially Manning to Clark.

I wish I had some reasons for optimism, and I’m sure Corey will chide me for my bleak assessment, but Bob Sanders against Peyton Manning is a tragedy waiting to happen. The Packers’ only chance is to hope (and indeed, pray) that they can keep the game close heading into the 4 minute mark of the 4th quarter and somehow Rodgers and company can pull it out at the end. But I seriously doubt this will be much of a game at that point, and my guess is the Packers’ nickel and dime packages will be exploited to the tune of 30+ points for the Colts.

Related posts

• I Got Nuthin’

OFFENSE:

• Falcon and Rhino All Day Long

With the expected return of fullback Korey Hall, McCarthy can finally get back to his two fullback, two tight end sets. Dubbed ‘Falcon’, ‘Rhino’, and various other things, these formations were used to great effect in the playoff win against the Seahawks last season, the difference being (apart from the snow) that this time McCarthy should use them to open the game, rather than to put the game away, as he did last year. The Giants made the Seahawks defense look silly last week in the Meadowlands, but everybody knows the Seahawks have a different defensive squad at Qwest Field. The deafening crowd noise causes nightmares for visiting offenses, especially offensive linemen trying to react to the snap count. The best way for McCarthy to combat this will be to pound the football early. The Packers power formations match up well against the Seahawks and their lighter front seven. The right side in particular, with Spitz and Tauscher working against Bernard and Kerney, should be exploited by the Packers’ running game.

• Don’t Underestimate The Seahawks Pass Rush

Mark Tauscher handled Patrick Kerney last season without any help. He was so dominate that Kerney’s name failed to appear on the stat sheet one time for any reason. That won’t happen on Sunday. For whatever reason (Greg Bedard intimated that Tauscher is playing hurt in the JSOnline weekly chat - sorry, sub req) Tauscher is not playing up to his usual standards. Neither is Chad Clifton. And Seattle is not where you go when you’re having problems protecting the quarterback. Their pass rush is simply a completely different animal at Qwest Field. One need look no further than the film from the Seahawks games in Seattle against St. Louis and San Francisco and then compare it to last weeks defeat against the Giants in New York. It’s night and day. McCarthy should use ample shifts of his tight-ends, like the touchdown play to Driver, to shore up the protection. And he should look to get Greg Jennings matched up on Seahawk corner Kelly Jennings, who simply won’t be able to cover him one-on-one.

DEFENSE:

• Put Eight In the Box on Every Play
  

Seriously. The Seahawks likely starting receivers are Billy McMullen and Keary Colbert. There’s simply no way the Packers should get beat on the edges. Sanders must commit a safety to the line of scrimmage throughout the game and take away even the pretense of a Seahawks running game. Of course, this assumes Sanders employs a few run blitzes with his linebackers. If the past few weeks have taught us anything, its that the defensive line can not be trusted to control the line of scrimmage. It’s imperative that Sanders recognize that his usual M.O. of having his linebackers 5-8 yards off the line of scrimmage and reacting at the snap of the ball simply is not getting anything done against either the run or the pass. This game should be tailor-made for the Packers defense, as the Seahawks, outside of Matt Hasselbeck and possibly Julius Jones and Maurice Morris, don’t have any playmakers on offense. (Although watch rookie tight end Jon Carlson who has looked impressive)

• Help Will Blackmon - Preferably By Demoting Him

The good news: When the Seahawks go to their three wide receiver package, putting veteran Bobby Engram in the slot, the Packers counter by putting Charles Woodson against him. The bad news: This leaves Will Blackmon outside to handle someone in space. This is bad. Blackmon - for all his kick return prowess - has simply looked lost in coverage and not nearly physical enough for the style of football the Packers want to play on defense. Rookie Pat Lee, while raw, has simply looked better in coverage up to this point, and much more physical at the line. Yes, he was the victim of a ludicrous pass interference penalty this past week - but as McCarthty says, you can live with combative penalties.

One of the things that doomed Mike Sherman’s defenses were his and Ed Donatell’s stubborn refusal to go with rookies when their defensive veterans were clearly struggling. This is a mistake, especially in today’s NFL. One need look no further than last years champions, the New York Giants, to see an example of a team unafraid to play youth in the secondary. Patrick Lee, it is said, is a ‘project’ - well of course he is. But there’s no way he will progress if he’s not allowed to play. That said, he is already better than Blackmon, who struggles to locate the ball and loses his relationship between his man and the quarterback far too easily. Throw in the fact that he seems scared to be physical with receivers on the line, something Lee has seemingly taken a liking to, and it’s a no-brainer that Lee should be allowed to work as the nickel back until Al Harris’ return.

Related posts

• Top 5 Seattle Game Thoughts

OFFENSE:

• Hide the Quarterback

Regardless of whether or not Aaron Rodgers plays (and with McCarthy saying today that Rodgers is a game time decision, I’m more convinced than ever that he won’t) look for McCarthy to call for a gaggle of three-step drops and a bunch of off-tackle running plays. The Packers want no part of their old teammate Grady Jackson, who is still as stout as ever on run plays in the middle of the Falcons defense (and who could have been had at the end of July for a song. I’m sure Thompson was doing much more important things…like dealing with prima-donna quarterbacks) If there’s an opposing team with whom the Packers can get away with having a conservative gameplan on offense, it’s the Falcons. Flynn and/or Rodgers simply need to limit their mistakes and minimize the chances they take. I know I’ve been railing on and on about McCarthy needing to open up the playbook - but this isn’t the week to do it.

• Flood the Falcons Zones With Multiple Receivers

Looking at the Falcons game against the Panthers, the Falcons are playing a lot of zone. I mean a LOT of zone. Now, every team in the NFL uses zone coverage more than man to man. (The Packers are a rare exception) but the Falcons are running zone coverage almost exclusively, regardless of down and distance. With the expected  return of James Jones, the Packers will be able to run their multiple receiver package with much more confidence than they have the last two weeks. The key will be getting into favorable down and distance. If the Packers can make hay on first down, setting up second and shorts, they can then spread things out a bit and run Driver, Jones and Nelson/Martin over on one side, and put Jennings at split end on the other. If the Falcons counter by trying to shade their safeties to the multiple side, Jennings will exploit them backside. If the Falcons try to play them straight-up, Driver and Jones will have plenty of room to work the high-low route combinations McCarthy loves.

DEFENSE

• Take Away Michael Turner - But Beware Of Jerious Norwood

Packer fans can’t like the prospects of yet another bruising runner with breakaway speed coming into Lambeau, not after the beat-down Marion Barber put on the Green and Gold two weeks ago. Bob Sanders simply has to run blitz the hell out of the Falcons offensive line. The unit has overachieved so far, but it is simply not that talented. Poppinga or Barnett should be sent on a run blitz every single first down to disrupt the Falcon blocking schemes. It will also be vitally important for Michael Montgomery to set the edge on first and second downs. He got caught inside during the Cowboys game on Felix Jones’ 60 yard touchdown run. He simply can not allow Turner or Norwood to get outside. Speaking of Norwood - the Packers can’t fall asleep on this kid on third and long, or he will kill them on a draw or a screen. Discipline needs to be at an all time high for the secondary, especially Charlie Peprah, who will most likely start for ailing Atari Bigby and Aaron Rouse. Norwood is a big play waiting to happen, and losing focus on Norwood even for one play could be the difference between getting off the field on third down and six points for the Falcons. But really, the main focus is stopping Turner on first and second down. He is the entire offense for the Falcons. If they can make rookie quarterback Matt Ryan have to try to beat them, the Packers should win.

Related posts

• I Got Nuthin’

Offense:

• Pound the Football With Draws/Delays
  

For some reason, Buccaneers defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin has gotten away from his classic Tampa 2 this season. Whether this is by design or due to his feelings on his personnel, the Bucs are playing more man to man than I can ever remember in Kiffin’s illustrious career running the Buc’s defense. This is a golden invitation for Mike McCarthy to call upon his offensive line to take it to the generally undersized defensive front of the Buccaneers. Defensive tackles Jovan Haye and Chris Hovan can be dominated by Colledge, Spitz and Wells and outside rushers Gaines Adams and Kevin Carter are ripe for the picking with a healthy dose of McCarthy’s patented pump-fake to the slant and then delay up the middle (which, by the way, we have not seen Rodgers do once this year - come on Mike, take off the training wheels…) The Bucs will be ready for the three and four wide receiver formations McCarthy prefers and will be gunning for Rodgers. Time for the Packers to get back to exposing teams trying to take away the passing game.

• Get Creative With Formations/Personnel/Gameplan

McCarthy, partly by design and partly reacting to injuries on his squad, has become painfully predictable in his playcalling the last six quarters of football the Packers have played. He needs to get back to coming out in his Rhino/Falcon packages (using one of his tight-ends in Korey Hall’s spot) and switching the next play to four wide receivers and one tight end,  to the next play coming with two tight ends, two wide receivers, etc. At the moment, McCarthy is keeping things painfully simple. When the Packers spread it out, they throw the slant. When they come out in I-formation, they run off tackle. It’s been mind-crushingly obvious and the Cowboys had most of their work done for them on Sunday night, simply needing to read the formations to know what was coming. Which brings us to play-action. Not only do the Packers need to run the ball for the reasons mentioned above, but the play-action game is simply crucial for Aaron Rodgers and the offense to operate successfully, especially against an excellent pass rushing front like the Buccaneers.

DEFENSE

• Williams vs. Hilliard, Stoval & Clayton

Look for John Gruden to throw the kitchen sink at Tramon Williams, both in formations and personnel. With Charles Woodson most likely matched up with the resurgent Antonio Bryant due to Joey Galloway being out with a foot injury, Gruden will try to solo each of his other three receivers and his three tight ends on the smaller Williams, looking for the player who seems to have the greatest advantage over Williams. Gruden loves bunch formations and will use them specifically to work flat and corner routes against Williams until he can prove he’s up to stopping them. It’s important for Williams to win a few macthups at the beginning, otherwise there’s not much Bob Sanders can do in the way of help short of pulling him for Will Blackmon, which would be an unmitigated disaster. Gruden’s latest wrinkle is to throw out of a bunched three tight end set. It gave the Bears fits and the Packers would be smart to counter it by taking a safety off the field and going with an extra linebacker, essentially running a 4-4-3 with Chillar in as the extra ‘backer. It makes much more sense than asking whatever third string safety might be playing for Packers on Sunday to figure out what the heck is going on at the snap of the ball. Of course, this being Bob Sanders, he will stick to his patented 4-3 that is completely predictable and allow the much more creative Gruden to march up and down the field.

Related posts

• The Bucs, McCarthy and Rodgers

Offense

• Shore Up the Middle, or, The Redemption of Daryn Colledge

Last seasons game against the Cowboys saw Packers left guard Daryn Colledge have his worst game as a professional. It was so bad, he was pulled in the second quarter of the game. But he was not the only offensive lineman to have a bad game during that horror show on a late November evening.

Scott Wells should be back at center on Sunday night, and rookie guard Josh Sitton is close to returning, which presents McCarthy with a dilemma. Spitz has played well at center in Wells’ absence and is better than Colledge at either guard spot. But Colledge had by far his best game at the position last week against the Lions. My guess would be we see an interior of Colledge, Wells and Spitz, which means that Colledge will have an opportunity to redeem himself for his horrific performance last season. (Specifically, defensive end Stephen Bowen made his life miserable. Have you head of Stephen Bowen? Of course not. You hadn’t heard of Alphonso Boone either until Colledge made him look like a star) Look for McCarthy to use a lot of three receiver, one back, one tight end personnel packages early on. This will allow him to motion Lee into the backfield to help with a soft interior, while allowing him to get Jennings, Driver and Jones out into the Cowboys zones, where they will have ample opportunities to make plays.

• Pound the Football

Surprised? Yes, though there will be ample opportunity in the Dallas secondary, McCarthy needs to work the weakside isolation run all…day…long. He should use a liberal amount of Ryan Grant and Kregg Lumpkin on second downs to chew up both yardage and the clock. The Cowboys game against Philly this past Monday night was thrilling, but ultimately played into Dallas’ hands. They have a lighter, quicker front seven on defense and a quick strike offense. The Packers need to keep their offense on the field and limit opportunites for the Dallas offense to throw it all over the Packers’ secondary. There are yards to be gained in the middle of this Cowboy defense, even more now that hard hitting saftety Roy Williams will be out of the lineup with an injury. I know McCarthy loves to spread things out, but this is one time he can protect his team by playing things closer to the vest and actually commit to the running game.

DEFENSE

• Hit Romo

I don’t care about sacks. But the Packers must figure out a way to get hits on Tony Romo. It doesn’t matter if he completes the passes, just hit the guy. If the past season and a half has taught us anything about Romo it’s that he doesn’t handle pressure well. Watch any game where he is blizted extensively and you will see it. Last Monday night, he was able to avoid the blitz due to some perfect calls from Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, the biggest of which was a screen to halfback Marion Barber to the blitz side that went for 20+ yards. But even when given the perfect call, Romo can be rattled, much like the 3rd down play at the end of the game where Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson sent the house after Romo. All he had to do was hit Barber in the flat and the game was over. But Romo, as is his wont when presented with pressure in his face, overthrew Barber and gave the Eagles one last chance.The Packers don’t need to blitz him on every play, but they do need to make him unsure of when the extra rushers are coming, and when they do come, they need to hit the quarterback. Hard.

• Slow Down T.O. and Witten

A lot of previews for this game will focus on the T.O vs. Al Harris angle. And it will no doubt play an important part. But there’s no realistic way the Packers will stop Owens. They can only hope to slow him down. T.O. will get his. But tight end Jason Witten is a much bigger problem. T.O. can be doubled, bracketed, etc but Witten must be handled in this defense either by a linebacker or safety and the Packers don’t have one that is up to the job. Hawk has improved in coverage, but Witten will embarrass him. Rouse and Collins have no chance against him. The Packers will be forced into more zone coverage than we are used to seeing because of  the threat that Witten poses, especially to the middle of the field.

In last years meeting, the Cowboys sent Owens in motion play after play, thereby forcing Harris to either play off or pass T.O off to the next interior member of the secondary. Needless to say, chaos ensued. It will be interesting, especially in light of Harris comments yesterday, how the Packers try to address this tactic. There’s no doubt the Packers are well aware of the damage the motion caused last year and have spent this week schemeing ways to negate the effects.

Related posts

• On Thompson and Being Aggressive