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.
