Post game chat with Cleft Crusty (at Vikings)

[Cleft Crusty]

Hi folks,

I'm ready to take your calls about todays game. I have to apologize for missing last week. I was at the Stadium, but was forced to drive home right afterwards, since I no longer have my press credentials. I was driving back in the JS company car, but the 1982 Yugo broke down near Sheboygan and I had to hoof it home. I became dehydrated from the combination of the walk and my overuse of my high blood pressure medication. I only came out of my coma this morning at Froedtert hospital. But I'm on dialysis and can stay awake for a few hours at crack to answer your questions about the game.

[BallHawk]

How about KGB? He's been looking pretty good lately.

[MadtownPacker]

Crusty - What do you think of Adrian Peterson?

[Cleft Crusty]

How about KGB? He's been looking pretty good lately.

The coaches and a number of different players are attributing it to his limited role. It's really a luxury to be able to bring a fresh pass rusher in on passing downs. KGB has delivered so far. Pl;us it gives the Packers the option of putting Jenkins inside on passing downs. They didn't do that all the time today, but Jenkins may have gotten fewer snaps due to his ribs.

[Cleft Crusty]

Crusty - What do you think of Adrian Peterson?

He's a good looking back - a difference maker. Did you see him fake Bigby out of his uniform on that run from inside the 10? Also, he's deceptively fast - that was evident on the kickoff return. He needs some seasoning though. His pass pro, like Brandon Jackson, needs a lot of work.

[Bretsky]

Cleft,

What will the coaching staff due about Bush, who opponents seems to expose every week ?

19 rushes for 49 yards.

Why are we even rushing this much ?

[Scott Campbell]

Hi Cliff,

Who do you think is our best defensive lineman so far this year?

[Cleft Crusty]

Cleft,

What will the coaching staff due about Bush, who opponents seems to expose every week ?

19 rushes for 49 yards.

Why are we even rushing this much ?

They will keep playing him. And you probably noticed that the Packers adjusted their defense to counter the Vikings. and what happened? Woodson got burned by Rice as well. The reason is that Rice is a pretty good wide receiver. Why else would the Vikings essentially game plan to put him in motion and run him all over the field. Rice and Peterson (and their defense) were the only chances they had to win. Now it's possible that Blackmon may get better as the seeason progresses, but he's still in on dime packages, so Bush could get exposed. He's not a huge liability, especially when you look at the collection of stiffs the Packers have left on their schedule at QB.

[Cleft Crusty]

Hi Cliff,

Who do you think is our best defensive lineman so far this year?

That's an interesting question. I think I would give it to Cullen Jenkins, because of his versatility. Moving him to DE on rush downs and inside on passing downs improved the run defense and improved the pass rush because KGB is fresh and Jenkins is a good interior rusher. But a lot of guys have played well. Harrell was drafted because the interior look a bit thin, but Jolly has been a big surprise, and Williams, Pickett and Cole have all played as well as they can. It's a solid group. Kampman would probably be a close second to Jenkins.

[Cleft Crusty]

Cleft,
19 rushes for 49 yards.

Why are we even rushing this much ?

I think you'll see more rushing as the weather gets colder and as the Packers play weaker defenses with poor tackles. San Diego and Minnesota are about the best rushing defensive lines in football, next to Pittsburgh. Chicago is in trouble with Harris hurt and Tank Johnson gone to Jerry Jones, who would hire a serial killer if he thought it would get him a win.

[Scott Campbell]

So what's your take on Nick Collins this year?

[motife]

with 1:50 left, and the Vikings with no timeouts,

WHY didn't the Packers just kneel on it????

[Cleft Crusty]

So what's your take on Nick Collins this year?

Nick has been pretty invisible this year. Part of that may be the play of the D-line and also that the offenses are throwing to Bigby's side. One thing you may have noticed is that the safeties are out of the picture on a lot of those deep balls against single coverage by Bush, Harris, and Woodson. I'd have to look at the tame to see if that's a scheme thing, but Packer coaches have to be a bit concerned with the chances they're taking on giving up big completions without safety help

[Joemailman]

Crosby has been great on kickoffs, but next week is Hester. Will the Packers hope that Crosby can put in through the end zone, or will they try to kick away from Hester?

[Cleft Crusty]

with 1:50 left, and the Vikings with no timeouts,

WHY didn't the Packers just kneel on it????

Brett Favre's knee was sore? They wanted to practice handoffs under pressure? They weren't thinking. It will be interesting to ask that at McCarthy's press conference. If I can get these tubes detached from the dialysis machine, and get to Monday's press conference, I promise to ask. BTW, those warnings on the Levitra commercials that say not to take Levitra if you have high blood pressure? I'd recommend listening to them. Also, there's not enough room in a Yugo after you take Levitra - that's my warning.

[motife]

Do you think it was presumptuous of Brett Favre to give the football for 421 to the head of the NFL Hall of Fame?

How does he know he'll EVER be voted in? I think the real Cliff might still be on the HOF committee, AND he's very hard to please.

[Cleft Crusty]

Crosby has been great on kickoffs, but next week is Hester. Will the Packers hope that Crosby can put in through the end zone, or will they try to kick away from Hester?

Probably they will use a combination of directional kickoffs (limiting him to one side of the field) and a deep ball. But you bring up an interesting point. This is one reason the Packers drafted and kept Crosby - to increase touchbacks. Crosby will earn his keep next Sunday.

[Cleft Crusty]

Do you think it was presumptuous of Brett Favre to give the football for 421 to the head of the NFL Hall of Fame?

How does he know he'll EVER be voted in? I think the real Cliff might still be on the HOF committee, AND he's very hard to please.

I'm on the HOF committee, and I used up all my good will trying to get Graveyard Garrett in on the oldtimers exception. However, I don't think any sane person thinks that Brett won't be a unanimous first time HOF selection.

[motife]

Now that Favre has broken Marino's record, do you think that the Dolphins themselves are getting nervous about Green Bay in regards to their 1972 undefeated season not being challenged?

[Cleft Crusty]

Now that Favre has broken Marino's record, do you think that the Dolphins themselves are getting nervous about Green Bay in regards to their 1972 undefeated season not being challenged?

I think they may be more concerned about the Colts.

The Packers are probably more concerned about Detroit than they are about the undefeated mark. Detroit is looking like a juggernaught, defeating the NFC representative to the Superbowl. It looks like Matt Millens' geat GM work is finally paying dividends.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Cleff,
I see a price to be paid with the Running Back By Committee. We saw a timing problem with Favre & Grant today. So much of offense is timing, the team will never get chemistry with the constant shuffle. Should they decide on a couple guys?

[gbgary]

hospital televisions aren't the best and with the speakers located in those stupid remotes were you able to see and hear everything? that was a pretty low-brow announcing team for such a historic game don't you think?

[Harlan Huckleby]

hospital televisions aren't the best and with the speakers located in those stupid remotes were you able to see and hear everything?

http://www.theambassadors.com/common_graphics/productions/p3531_sm2.jpg


Cleff watchin the game with the fellas and Nurse Ratchet at the Hospital.

[Deputy Nutz]

Cleft the defensive line didn't get enough push today to clog up the running game, Have you ever clogged anything in a manly sort of way?

[Harlan Huckleby]

Nutz, Cleft is a busy Senior Citizen who's nice enough to spend an evening here with us. Why do you always have to spoil things with your rude, childish ways?

[Cleft Crusty]

Cleff,
I see a price to be paid with the Running Back By Committee. We saw a timing problem with Favre & Grant today. So much of offense is timing, the team will never get chemistry with the constant shuffle. Should they decide on a couple guys?

Harll,
While it's nice to have that 'go to' back, the Packers are trying to use the best talents of the guys they have. Brandon Jackson struggles in pass pro, Grant and Wynn aren't so quick, but Wynn has some power. It looks to me like Favre has enough Chemistry to go around. remember, it's likely that the run defenses will get a bit easier and the Packer offense will be able to run more effectively when conditions deteriorate. The offense is wisely taking what it's given and using it's best player to his fullest.

[Cleft Crusty]

hospital televisions aren't the best and with the speakers located in those stupid remotes were you able to see and hear everything? that was a pretty low-brow announcing team for such a historic game don't you think?

I was glad Ron Pitts didn't mention Elijah. That gets old after awhile (pun intended). The JS splurged and wheeled in a 13 inch B/W TV for me to watch the game. What they didn't splurge for was my hospital bill. But I kept saying 'no habla ingles' and I think I convinced them I was an illegal immigrant so they payed the bills.

[Fritz]

Nutz, Cleft is a busy Senior Citizen who's nice enough to spend an evening here with us. Why do you always have to spoil things with your rude, childish ways?

That didn't seem so rude, Blue Dog. I just kind of wondered what it would mean to clog something in a manly sort of way.

[Rastak]

hospital televisions aren't the best and with the speakers located in those stupid remotes were you able to see and hear everything? that was a pretty low-brow announcing team for such a historic game don't you think?

I was glad Ron Pitts didn't mention Elijah. That gets old after awhile (pun intended). The JS splurged and wheeled in a 13 inch B/W TV for me to watch the game. What they didn't splurge for was my hospital bill. But I kept saying 'no habla ingles' and I think I convinced them I was an illegal immigrant so they payed the bills.


Isn't it "no hablo ingles"?

[Cleft Crusty]

Cleft the defensive line didn't get enough push today to clog up the running game, Have you ever clogged anything in a manly sort of way?

I've mentioned before that I can bench press 275. I've given a few forearm shivers in the paint in my pick-up basketball days. Play to win I say - even in a neighborhood pickup game - even if I cost a few guys some teeth. I want to win.

[Cleft Crusty]

Nutz, Cleft is a busy Senior Citizen who's nice enough to spend an evening here with us. Why do you always have to spoil things with your rude, childish ways?

That didn't seem so rude, Blue Dog. I just kind of wondered what it would mean to clog something in a manly sort of way.
I've stopped up a few toilets, if that's what you mean. when you're on the road like me, and you avoid clean, neat chain restaurants for 'local flavor' you've probably filled a few toilets as well. If you have the runs and you see long white strings, that's not undigested spaghetti - those are tape worms.

[Cleft Crusty]

hospital televisions aren't the best and with the speakers located in those stupid remotes were you able to see and hear everything? that was a pretty low-brow announcing team for such a historic game don't you think?

I was glad Ron Pitts didn't mention Elijah. That gets old after awhile (pun intended). The JS splurged and wheeled in a 13 inch B/W TV for me to watch the game. What they didn't splurge for was my hospital bill. But I kept saying 'no habla ingles' and I think I convinced them I was an illegal immigrant so they payed the bills.


Isn't it "no hablo ingles"?

I did my best. It convinced the folks at Froedtert.

[swede]

hospital televisions aren't the best and with the speakers located in those stupid remotes were you able to see and hear everything? that was a pretty low-brow announcing team for such a historic game don't you think?

I was glad Ron Pitts didn't mention Elijah. That gets old after awhile (pun intended). The JS splurged and wheeled in a 13 inch B/W TV for me to watch the game. What they didn't splurge for was my hospital bill. But I kept saying 'no habla ingles' and I think I convinced them I was an illegal immigrant so they payed the bills.


Isn't it "no hablo ingles"?

I did my best. It convinced the folks at Froedtert.

Es claro que las enfermeras de Froedert no se hablan.

[MJZiggy]

hospital televisions aren't the best and with the speakers located in those stupid remotes were you able to see and hear everything? that was a pretty low-brow announcing team for such a historic game don't you think?

I was glad Ron Pitts didn't mention Elijah. That gets old after awhile (pun intended). The JS splurged and wheeled in a 13 inch B/W TV for me to watch the game. What they didn't splurge for was my hospital bill. But I kept saying 'no habla ingles' and I think I convinced them I was an illegal immigrant so they payed the bills.


Isn't it "no hablo ingles"?

I did my best. It convinced the folks at Froedtert.

Es claro que las enfermeras de Froedert no se hablan.

Creo que son alemanos alli...