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Worldwide Leader In Redundancy

Nov 13, 2008

Earlier this year, ESPN assigned eight NFL reporters on their staff to 'blog' about each of the eight NFL divisions. Kevin Seifert, who used to cover the Minnesota Vikings, got the gig for the NFC North.

Noting that the North is one of two divisions without a single snap taken in the Wildcat formation, which was introduced earlier this year by the Dolphins and is "taking the league by storm" - Seifert takes it upon himself to offer suggestions for each team in the Norse division to spruce up their offense. His suggestion for the Packers, however, is disappointing:

If nothing else, a direct snap to tailback Ryan Grant might jump-start the Packers' stagnant running game. And if Kansas City's Tyler Thigpen can run a deep touchdown route out of the Wildcat, so can the Packers' Aaron Rodgers. But to put the maximum pressure on a defense, Green Bay would probably need to put one of their starting receivers, Donald Driver and Greg Jennings, in the backfield. Both are good open-field runners. I can envision Driver motoring around the edge of a surprised defense.

The last sentence is especially disappointing after remembering that Seifert was AT the Viking-Packer game this past Sunday - when the Packers opened with that very play. It went for -2 yards.

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Comments (11)

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November 13, 2008 at 02:58 pm

haha, i noticed that. I think we ran that play 4 or 5 times last year and at least once this year. Has it ever worked?

November 13, 2008 at 03:20 pm

Disappointing, yes. But it wasn't the very same play. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the "Wildcat" is when the WR/RB take the snap directly from the center. The first play from scrimmage was an "end around" where Rodgers' took the snap then handed off to Driver. I know I'm splitting hairs..

PackerAaron

November 13, 2008 at 03:33 pm

I took Seifert's suggestion about Driver as separate to the Wildcat - but you are correct, they would be different if that was the case. In any event - the whole "Driver running outside! Who would be ready for that?" aspect of the post was, well, disappointing.

November 13, 2008 at 03:35 pm

[Insert every caveat about questioning play-calling]. That said, does anyone else think that opening with a trick play shows you're scared of the defense? The Packers radio guys pointed out that the point of the play was to get a crack block on Jared Allen, send him a message. But I think running Ryan Grant straight at him would've done the same thing and showed that we think we can run our regular offense against these guys.

PackerAaron

November 13, 2008 at 03:51 pm

Hard to send a message when the guy who's supposed to do it whiffs on the block. Again - it's about execution a thousand times more than it is about play calling.

November 13, 2008 at 03:53 pm

Hah, right. By the way, reading about the Packers on media conference calls this week, it appears that this will the first game of the McCarthy era where the team is coming into it pissed off. Should be interesting to see if it carries us or hurts us.

November 13, 2008 at 03:54 pm

It's not the Wildcat (so tired of hearing about it), but I've been arguing with buddies the last two weeks about putting Grant and B Jackson on the field at the same time with a fullback or a tight end. Run a Power "I". I feel like we're wasting Jackson's talent, and Grant has had 4.6 ypc the last two weeks against good running defense teams.

Do SOMEthing.

PackerAaron

November 13, 2008 at 03:58 pm

Franklin - You're preaching to the choir here re: Jackson. I've been saying they need to get him more involved for weeks.

November 13, 2008 at 04:02 pm

He's a goofy looking guy, but get him the ball.

Didn't Levens and Bennett play a lot of snaps together in the same backfield, or am I making that up?

Maybe I'm crazy.

November 13, 2008 at 05:55 pm

what can mcarthy and the packers do this time to finally come up with a winning streak? my sugestion hipmatize them before every game and make them want to win!