Cheesehead TV Matchup: Week 9 Offense
By PackerAaron
- Work The Smash Route Against Barber, Talib
The Buccaneers defense is a study in having the wrong players stuck in a particular scheme. One year after losing Monte Kiffen, the Bucs now run every Packer fans' favorite scheme, Jim Bates' 4-3 featuring press coverage from the corners. Unfortunately for the Buccaneers, they have one of the, if not the all time best, Cover Two conerbacks trapped in a scheme he is completely wrong for in Ronde Barber. Barber is still effective when asked to blitz from the slot on 3rd and long, but that is about all he's good for in this scheme. Complicating matters for the Bucs is that his counterpart, Aqib Talib, is a complete mess both on and off the field. While possessing all the physical skills needed to be an elite corner, it's clear that he has not 'put it all together' yet. Jumping from one extreme to another scheme-wise is certainly not helping.
The Packers, as has been well documented, have had issues trying to work the ball down the field while trying to protect their quarterback. No need to worry about that this week. Greg Jennings and Donald Driver should find ample opportunities to work short, underneath routes this week, especially the smash. Really, it should be a clinic on Sunday - as poor as you might have thought the Bates scheme was when watching it with Woodson and Harris at CB, it is downright pitiful the way it is being played right now in Tampa Bay.
- If The Packers Can't Run the Ball This Week...
...they never will under Mike McCarthy. Tampa's 30th ranked rushing defense is, to borrow from Charles Barkley, turrbl.
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Comments (11)
November 06, 2009 at 11:36 am
Driver has been out of practice with a neck injury all week. They haven't said much about his status for Sunday. The match-ups say this is a game where the ball control concept is handed to them on a silver platter. Run, Run, Run and Slant, Slant Slant should allow total ball control of the game. Will MM do it? He'll have to because Rodgers is already injured and they cannot afford to make it worse. A significant injury to Rodgers in this game is the "Dagger" for the season.
November 06, 2009 at 11:39 am
+1 for the Charles Barkley reference.
November 06, 2009 at 11:48 am
Ahman gets the yards he needs to break the record this week. Mark it down.
November 06, 2009 at 11:54 am
You seem a little punchy today, Aaron, but this matchup is as good as ever.
November 06, 2009 at 01:31 pm
I'll be there - flying tomorrow.
November 06, 2009 at 02:56 pm
It's just too bad that Jordy Nelson is out. I really was hoping to see a replay of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ek0ANQ8bRfo" rel="nofollow">this play</a> from their college days.
Oh well, life goes on.
November 06, 2009 at 03:27 pm
You and me both, Jayme. I love watching that play.
November 06, 2009 at 04:08 pm
By the way Jayme, did you see the name of the corner who got beat on that play :).
The Packers desperately need to have a decent run game this Sunday. If McCarthy can't put together a running strategy against the thirtieth ranked team, it will be the last straw for him in my opinion.
The short passes are the perfect combination for some of the best WRs in the league, an an offensive line that is still in the process of rebuilding. I checked out the diagram for that smash play, and it looks pretty cool.
This is really a must win for the Packers. If not for moral, than just because this Buccaneer team is so darn bad.
November 06, 2009 at 04:14 pm
Good News: Rodgers and Driver practiced today. I just hope they get a lead early and give them both some time off. They'll be needed next week.
November 07, 2009 at 12:30 am
I hate to see Cliffy out there,but maybe they are just testing him?
November 07, 2009 at 06:13 pm
Last week in the fourth quarter against the Vikes, the Packers had a second and 3 in Viking territory. Rodgers back to pass, Lang blocks the DT rather than Jared Allen, Allen comes in and sacks Aaron Rodgers for an 8 yard loss. Perhaps the key play of the game, as the Packers never recovered.
Today, Iowa playing Northwestern, leading 10-0, but backed up to their goal line. Stanzi back to pass, and lo and behold, no one on Iowa decides to block Northwestern's All-America defensive end, Corey Wootton. Result? Stanzi sacked in the end zone and fumbled, Northwestern recovers for a TD, Stanzi out for the rest of the game, and perhaps the rest of the season.
Lesson from these two plays? How the fuck do you call a play in which no one is supposed to block the best player on the defensive line? I know Aaron will say, "well, the LT has a certain assignment on that play, and the QB has to get rid of the ball. . . ." Bullshit. You just don't call such a play. Should never happen. Shouldn't even be in the playbook. Using such a play should be criminal negligence on the football field.