In the opener in Seattle, the Green Bay Packers (for whatever reason) did not test Richard Sherman?s side of the field. I think that?s going to happen again.
Jordy Nelson was targeted 14 times, catching 9 passes for 83 yards. Randall Cobb caught six passes for 58 yards.
Jarrett Boykin started at wide receiver and, playing primarily on Sherman?s side of the field, caught nothing that night.
Today, the Packers passing game is a bit more complete.
Nelson (98 receptions 1,519 yards 13 TDs) and Cobb (91 receptions 1,287 yards 12 TDs) had All-Pro seasons.
Rookie wide receiver Davante Adams and tight end Richard Rodgers have begun to emerge as viable options in this offense. Adams games against New England and Dallas were outstanding! Rodgers caught the game-winning touchdown in the playoff game last week.
Running back Eddie Lacy is Green Bay?s version of ?Beastmode? and has been a dominant runner down the stretch of this season.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is in line for his second MVP award, posting a 112.2 passer rating with 38 TD passes and just 5 interceptions. Since injuring his calf at Tampa Bay, the element of his game that makes him special-mobility to extend plays has been taken away.
How is ARod as a pocket passer? He has completed 72 of 97 passes 74.2% for 860 yards six TDs and no interceptions. His passer ratings in the last three games were:
- 108.1 at Tampa
- 139.6 vs. Detroit
- 125.4 last week in the playoff game.
What he has found due to injury is a different way to be effective ? that?s the mark of a truly great player!
The Green Bay defense has improved since midseason and certainly since the opener. Moving Clay Matthews to inside linebacker in some of the base defenses has had a major impact on the ground defense.
The Packers employed an alignment called ?Quad? (4-3 front) at Seattle in that opener. They struggled with that alignment that night and in the subsequent four weeks. That defensive alignment is no longer a part of the package.
Still, I believe the biggest difference in this team from week one to now is the offensive line.
When right tackle Bryan Bulaga went out with a knee in the second quarter of the opener, the line really struggled. Rodgers was sacked three times, including once on the Green Bay goal line where he fumbled for a safety, and the route was on.
That night, Derrick Sherrod came into the lineup for Bulaga and struggled. The former first-round draft pick was waived later in the season.
Today Bulaga is healthy, and by all accounts and has had an outstanding season. After early season struggles against the likes of the Seahawks, the Jets and Lions' defensive fronts, this line has found its stride.
In the second half of the season, the pass protection has been outstanding, allowing just 9 sacks in the last eight games. The running game has averaged over 140 yards rushing per game down the stretch.
There is no question this is one of the NFL?s top units (at least top five) and has become what we thought they were in training camp - the best Green Bay offensive line in a decade.
Recently, the Packers? offensive front has dominated outstanding defensive fronts like Buffalo and Detroit, but now they face the quickest, most athletic defensive front seven in the league - the top ranked Seattle Seahawks.
This will be a test of a different kind for the emerging Green Bay line.
One other note on the opener: Eddie Lacy is a different runner today. Back in September, for whatever reason, he had a tendency to bounce his runs to the outside. I don?t know if he didn?t trust his line or he was just trying for the ?home run.?
Today, I see Lacy as a much more decisive runner, hitting the hole and bruising his way to the second and third levels of the defense. Along with the emergence of the offensive line, Lacy?s running style is a subtle difference in the Packers play from game one to game 18.
It would not surprise me at all if the game plan calls for a heavy dose of Eddie Lacy between the tackles, going right at this undersized Seattle defensive front.
That?s what Dallas did in pounding out a 30-23 victory at CenturyLink Field at midseason. In that game the Cowboys controlled the clock for better than 37 minutes rushing for 162 yards in pinning the only home loss of the season on the Seahawks.
I believe the Packers have the kind of line and running back to mimic the Dallas success of earlier this season. If they do they?ll be on their way to the Super Bowl.
Perhaps it is time to quote scripture, as coach Lombardi did so many years ago in preparing as an underdog Packers team for a playoff game: 1 Corinthians 9:24. ?Do you not know that those who run in a race all run. But only one receives the prize. So run that ye may attain the prize.?
Run to win!
Jordy Nelson was targeted 14 times, catching 9 passes for 83 yards. Randall Cobb caught six passes for 58 yards.
Jarrett Boykin started at wide receiver and, playing primarily on Sherman?s side of the field, caught nothing that night.
Today, the Packers passing game is a bit more complete.
Nelson (98 receptions 1,519 yards 13 TDs) and Cobb (91 receptions 1,287 yards 12 TDs) had All-Pro seasons.
Rookie wide receiver Davante Adams and tight end Richard Rodgers have begun to emerge as viable options in this offense. Adams games against New England and Dallas were outstanding! Rodgers caught the game-winning touchdown in the playoff game last week.
Running back Eddie Lacy is Green Bay?s version of ?Beastmode? and has been a dominant runner down the stretch of this season.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is in line for his second MVP award, posting a 112.2 passer rating with 38 TD passes and just 5 interceptions. Since injuring his calf at Tampa Bay, the element of his game that makes him special-mobility to extend plays has been taken away.
How is ARod as a pocket passer? He has completed 72 of 97 passes 74.2% for 860 yards six TDs and no interceptions. His passer ratings in the last three games were:
- 108.1 at Tampa
- 139.6 vs. Detroit
- 125.4 last week in the playoff game.
What he has found due to injury is a different way to be effective ? that?s the mark of a truly great player!
The Green Bay defense has improved since midseason and certainly since the opener. Moving Clay Matthews to inside linebacker in some of the base defenses has had a major impact on the ground defense.
The Packers employed an alignment called ?Quad? (4-3 front) at Seattle in that opener. They struggled with that alignment that night and in the subsequent four weeks. That defensive alignment is no longer a part of the package.
Still, I believe the biggest difference in this team from week one to now is the offensive line.
When right tackle Bryan Bulaga went out with a knee in the second quarter of the opener, the line really struggled. Rodgers was sacked three times, including once on the Green Bay goal line where he fumbled for a safety, and the route was on.
That night, Derrick Sherrod came into the lineup for Bulaga and struggled. The former first-round draft pick was waived later in the season.
Today Bulaga is healthy, and by all accounts and has had an outstanding season. After early season struggles against the likes of the Seahawks, the Jets and Lions' defensive fronts, this line has found its stride.
In the second half of the season, the pass protection has been outstanding, allowing just 9 sacks in the last eight games. The running game has averaged over 140 yards rushing per game down the stretch.
There is no question this is one of the NFL?s top units (at least top five) and has become what we thought they were in training camp - the best Green Bay offensive line in a decade.
Recently, the Packers? offensive front has dominated outstanding defensive fronts like Buffalo and Detroit, but now they face the quickest, most athletic defensive front seven in the league - the top ranked Seattle Seahawks.
This will be a test of a different kind for the emerging Green Bay line.
One other note on the opener: Eddie Lacy is a different runner today. Back in September, for whatever reason, he had a tendency to bounce his runs to the outside. I don?t know if he didn?t trust his line or he was just trying for the ?home run.?
Today, I see Lacy as a much more decisive runner, hitting the hole and bruising his way to the second and third levels of the defense. Along with the emergence of the offensive line, Lacy?s running style is a subtle difference in the Packers play from game one to game 18.
It would not surprise me at all if the game plan calls for a heavy dose of Eddie Lacy between the tackles, going right at this undersized Seattle defensive front.
That?s what Dallas did in pounding out a 30-23 victory at CenturyLink Field at midseason. In that game the Cowboys controlled the clock for better than 37 minutes rushing for 162 yards in pinning the only home loss of the season on the Seahawks.
I believe the Packers have the kind of line and running back to mimic the Dallas success of earlier this season. If they do they?ll be on their way to the Super Bowl.
Perhaps it is time to quote scripture, as coach Lombardi did so many years ago in preparing as an underdog Packers team for a playoff game: 1 Corinthians 9:24. ?Do you not know that those who run in a race all run. But only one receives the prize. So run that ye may attain the prize.?
Run to win!
