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.
nc packer backer said in November 14th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Ron La Canne said in November 14th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
dustybricks6 said in November 14th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Andrew in Atlanta said in November 14th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
packerhigh said in November 15th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
keeley said in November 16th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
