motife
11-26-2007, 04:51 PM
INSIDE FOOTBALL with Eric Baranczyk: Week 11
Posted: Nov. 26, 2007
As told to former Packer Insider columnist Cliff Christl, Eric Baranczyk, an assistant high school football coach and a former player and coach at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, offers a weekly analysis of the Green Bay Packers with a Inside Football slant.
Favre better than ever
We've talked all year about how Brett Favre has had a remarkable season, but I thought on Thanksgiving he was fantastic. He made every throw in the book: Throwing to the back shoulder, fades, lasers across the middle, touch passes to the flat, touch passes short. That really was a special performance by him and his receivers. I was impressed with everything he did. Every throw was right there.
I think Favre might be playing better than he ever has. He isn't making the stupid throws he did in the past. When he was younger, he'd always make a dumb throw. But he's keeping that under check. I think another part of that is the receivers are doing a good job of being in the right spot. I think those two go hand-in-hand.
I also disagree with those who say Favre no longer can turn a broken play into a big play. He doesn't run like he used to, but he moves just enough to get out of trouble and get the throw off. And he's keeping his head. He's poised the entire time. You don't see the circus throws or him running around like crazy, but I think that comes from maturity. He can't do that anymore, either, but he also doesn't need to.
As for his improved accuracy, I think that comes down to coaching. If you compare him to what he was, his mechanics still aren't anywhere close to being textbook, but they've gotten better. His feet are where they need to be. I think he's using his entire body to throw the ball a little better. And I think that comes down to coaching: Being able to rope him down by saying, 'This is what you're going to do and this is how you're going to do it.' We all know that wasn't the case the last couple years. It seemed they were almost afraid to yell at him. This coaching staff seems to understand that you have to coach a quarterback no matter who they are.
Spread offense
To win a Super Bowl or maybe even to get there, whatever you do best, you have to be the best. And it requires consistency. You can't just be successful once in awhile; you have to be able to do it all the time. And you have to be able to do it when other teams know you're going to do it and are lining up to stop you. Right now, I think it's becoming clear that the Packers' bread-and-butter is stretching the field with four and five wide receiver sets: Putting pressure on the other team's defensive backs. I think it starts with the quarterback, but I think it's what you'd call the Packers' big four. Donald Driver makes the tough catches. Greg Jennings is a physically gifted receiver. Then maybe you could throw James Jones or Donald Lee or Koren Robinson or even Ruvell Martin in there. That's when the Packers are making most of their big plays: With four wide receivers, three wide receivers, five wide receivers, when they spread the field and make you defend from white line to white line.
I think that's a key for the Packers the rest of the year: Keeping those receivers healthy. That's the formation where they're going to have to make things happen. It doesn't look like they can get that offensive line to run block. But if they can keep running out of that spread formation they'll be in good shape. The Packers don't do a good job of lining up with a tight end and two backs, and trying to run the ball. They haven't proven to me or anyone else that they can do that. Third-and-one for the Packers is a passing down. When the whole stadium knows they're going to run the ball, as they did late against Detroit, they still can't get that one yard. But when they stretch the field, you know what, that three-yard little hitch or six-yard slant - they're using that for their running game. The spread offense is their deal and most teams in the league aren't set up to stop it.
I think the Packers' offensive game plan is very similar to New England's. The Patriots aren't lining up in the I-formation. They're lining up in the spread and saying: Stop us. But I don't know if New England's top five receivers are any better than the Packers. Their top one (Randy Moss), for sure, is fantastic. Same with the Cowboys. Their top one, Terrell Owens, is better than anyone the Packers have. But two, three, four, five, I think the Packers match up with anybody. Look at Detroit. Their top two, Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson, have great talent. But I'd take James Jones over Mike Furrey or Shaun McDonald any day.
D-line key vs. Cowboys
I don't care what anybody says about secondary. I don't want to hear about linebackers. The key to the Packers' defense is that line and to have any shot against Dallas that defensive line has to play well. Either the backups who are going to step in for Johnny Jolly and Colin Cole and maybe Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila better perform or the starters better strap on a feed-pack because they're going to need all the energy they can get. Depth is what makes that defensive line and it's not there right now and they're going to have to figure something out real quick.
They still have to pull Ryan Pickett off the field in third-and-long and move Cullen Jenkins down in there. And we'll see if Michael Montgomery and Jason Hunter can fill that role of pass rushing specialist if KGB can't play. If the Cowboys run the ball in second-and-long or third-and-long, I don't think the Packers will be any worse off than with KGB out there based on how he played against Detroit. KGB was horrible against the run against the Lions. But I still don't know if those young kids will be able to withstand the pounding of Dallas' running game any better. KGB plays the run away from him fine. But on those second- and third-down runs, teams don't block him. He goes barreling up-field and gets kicked out by a pulling guard or fullback and it's an automatic five yards. Montgomery probably is better than Hunter against the run. But I like what I've seen from both of them. I liked what I saw against Detroit when they had to play. I like Hunter's athleticism and he has a nice motor on him. And I think Montgomery has nice hands and is sound technically. He might not be far away from taking that next step up. They've just been stuck in a spot where they had pretty good guys in front of them. Now, the Packers need them on the field and I think they'll be fine. But it will really hurt the Packers if they don't step up and they can't take Pickett and Corey Williams off the field, and move Jenkins down inside. Then, in the fourth quarter when they're used to being fresh, they won't be fresh.
We'll also see what Justin Harrell is made of. All we've seen of him is a few snaps. Now, we'll see if he and Daniel Muir can stand in the fire and take it. I liked Muir in the pre-season. To be honest, I liked him better than Harrell. I liked Muir's first step. But somehow they have to get after (Tony) Romo.
Questions in secondary
If they don't have Charles Woodson against the Cowboys, it's going to put the Packers in a scramble. Now, you've got Jarrett Bush out there. I still have my doubts about their depth at cornerback. Plus, Aaron Rouse is banged up. Is Nick Collins going to be able to play? They can't have Al Harris shut down Terrell Owens - say three catches for 45 yards - and have Patrick Crayton go crazy. Maybe Bush will be okay, but I'm not buying what he's selling right now. Even after watching him against the Lions, I still think he needs more experience and needs to learn to turn his head and find the ball better. Plus, without Woodson, it reduces the chances for a big play. The same might be true if they don't have Rouse. He had another big interception Thursday. I'll say this though about the Detroit game: Tramon Williams was the backup corner who kind of jumped off the screen a little bit.
(Tight end) Jason Witten is a threat, too. I've always thought the best way to play tight ends in a four-front is to play over and put your sam (strong-side) linebacker right in the tight end's face. But I haven't seen the Packers play that at all this year. If they're going to have Atari Bigby come up and cover the tight end, it's going to be tough for them. I think Witten could be the downfall for the Packers, more than Terrell Owens. The Packers have struggled all year against the tight end. They don't man him up and knock him off the ball. With a tight end, all you have to do is knock him one step off of where he's supposed to be and you can be okay. It's not like Witten has blazing speed. He has good speed. But it's timing with him and Romo. If you get him off track, you'll be okay. But the Packers don't play physical against the tight end. And it's more schematic than it is personnel. They play a safety six to 10 yards back, and a linebacker who is five yards off. By the time, they get to him, the tight end is out of the hitting zone.
Posted: Nov. 26, 2007
As told to former Packer Insider columnist Cliff Christl, Eric Baranczyk, an assistant high school football coach and a former player and coach at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, offers a weekly analysis of the Green Bay Packers with a Inside Football slant.
Favre better than ever
We've talked all year about how Brett Favre has had a remarkable season, but I thought on Thanksgiving he was fantastic. He made every throw in the book: Throwing to the back shoulder, fades, lasers across the middle, touch passes to the flat, touch passes short. That really was a special performance by him and his receivers. I was impressed with everything he did. Every throw was right there.
I think Favre might be playing better than he ever has. He isn't making the stupid throws he did in the past. When he was younger, he'd always make a dumb throw. But he's keeping that under check. I think another part of that is the receivers are doing a good job of being in the right spot. I think those two go hand-in-hand.
I also disagree with those who say Favre no longer can turn a broken play into a big play. He doesn't run like he used to, but he moves just enough to get out of trouble and get the throw off. And he's keeping his head. He's poised the entire time. You don't see the circus throws or him running around like crazy, but I think that comes from maturity. He can't do that anymore, either, but he also doesn't need to.
As for his improved accuracy, I think that comes down to coaching. If you compare him to what he was, his mechanics still aren't anywhere close to being textbook, but they've gotten better. His feet are where they need to be. I think he's using his entire body to throw the ball a little better. And I think that comes down to coaching: Being able to rope him down by saying, 'This is what you're going to do and this is how you're going to do it.' We all know that wasn't the case the last couple years. It seemed they were almost afraid to yell at him. This coaching staff seems to understand that you have to coach a quarterback no matter who they are.
Spread offense
To win a Super Bowl or maybe even to get there, whatever you do best, you have to be the best. And it requires consistency. You can't just be successful once in awhile; you have to be able to do it all the time. And you have to be able to do it when other teams know you're going to do it and are lining up to stop you. Right now, I think it's becoming clear that the Packers' bread-and-butter is stretching the field with four and five wide receiver sets: Putting pressure on the other team's defensive backs. I think it starts with the quarterback, but I think it's what you'd call the Packers' big four. Donald Driver makes the tough catches. Greg Jennings is a physically gifted receiver. Then maybe you could throw James Jones or Donald Lee or Koren Robinson or even Ruvell Martin in there. That's when the Packers are making most of their big plays: With four wide receivers, three wide receivers, five wide receivers, when they spread the field and make you defend from white line to white line.
I think that's a key for the Packers the rest of the year: Keeping those receivers healthy. That's the formation where they're going to have to make things happen. It doesn't look like they can get that offensive line to run block. But if they can keep running out of that spread formation they'll be in good shape. The Packers don't do a good job of lining up with a tight end and two backs, and trying to run the ball. They haven't proven to me or anyone else that they can do that. Third-and-one for the Packers is a passing down. When the whole stadium knows they're going to run the ball, as they did late against Detroit, they still can't get that one yard. But when they stretch the field, you know what, that three-yard little hitch or six-yard slant - they're using that for their running game. The spread offense is their deal and most teams in the league aren't set up to stop it.
I think the Packers' offensive game plan is very similar to New England's. The Patriots aren't lining up in the I-formation. They're lining up in the spread and saying: Stop us. But I don't know if New England's top five receivers are any better than the Packers. Their top one (Randy Moss), for sure, is fantastic. Same with the Cowboys. Their top one, Terrell Owens, is better than anyone the Packers have. But two, three, four, five, I think the Packers match up with anybody. Look at Detroit. Their top two, Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson, have great talent. But I'd take James Jones over Mike Furrey or Shaun McDonald any day.
D-line key vs. Cowboys
I don't care what anybody says about secondary. I don't want to hear about linebackers. The key to the Packers' defense is that line and to have any shot against Dallas that defensive line has to play well. Either the backups who are going to step in for Johnny Jolly and Colin Cole and maybe Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila better perform or the starters better strap on a feed-pack because they're going to need all the energy they can get. Depth is what makes that defensive line and it's not there right now and they're going to have to figure something out real quick.
They still have to pull Ryan Pickett off the field in third-and-long and move Cullen Jenkins down in there. And we'll see if Michael Montgomery and Jason Hunter can fill that role of pass rushing specialist if KGB can't play. If the Cowboys run the ball in second-and-long or third-and-long, I don't think the Packers will be any worse off than with KGB out there based on how he played against Detroit. KGB was horrible against the run against the Lions. But I still don't know if those young kids will be able to withstand the pounding of Dallas' running game any better. KGB plays the run away from him fine. But on those second- and third-down runs, teams don't block him. He goes barreling up-field and gets kicked out by a pulling guard or fullback and it's an automatic five yards. Montgomery probably is better than Hunter against the run. But I like what I've seen from both of them. I liked what I saw against Detroit when they had to play. I like Hunter's athleticism and he has a nice motor on him. And I think Montgomery has nice hands and is sound technically. He might not be far away from taking that next step up. They've just been stuck in a spot where they had pretty good guys in front of them. Now, the Packers need them on the field and I think they'll be fine. But it will really hurt the Packers if they don't step up and they can't take Pickett and Corey Williams off the field, and move Jenkins down inside. Then, in the fourth quarter when they're used to being fresh, they won't be fresh.
We'll also see what Justin Harrell is made of. All we've seen of him is a few snaps. Now, we'll see if he and Daniel Muir can stand in the fire and take it. I liked Muir in the pre-season. To be honest, I liked him better than Harrell. I liked Muir's first step. But somehow they have to get after (Tony) Romo.
Questions in secondary
If they don't have Charles Woodson against the Cowboys, it's going to put the Packers in a scramble. Now, you've got Jarrett Bush out there. I still have my doubts about their depth at cornerback. Plus, Aaron Rouse is banged up. Is Nick Collins going to be able to play? They can't have Al Harris shut down Terrell Owens - say three catches for 45 yards - and have Patrick Crayton go crazy. Maybe Bush will be okay, but I'm not buying what he's selling right now. Even after watching him against the Lions, I still think he needs more experience and needs to learn to turn his head and find the ball better. Plus, without Woodson, it reduces the chances for a big play. The same might be true if they don't have Rouse. He had another big interception Thursday. I'll say this though about the Detroit game: Tramon Williams was the backup corner who kind of jumped off the screen a little bit.
(Tight end) Jason Witten is a threat, too. I've always thought the best way to play tight ends in a four-front is to play over and put your sam (strong-side) linebacker right in the tight end's face. But I haven't seen the Packers play that at all this year. If they're going to have Atari Bigby come up and cover the tight end, it's going to be tough for them. I think Witten could be the downfall for the Packers, more than Terrell Owens. The Packers have struggled all year against the tight end. They don't man him up and knock him off the ball. With a tight end, all you have to do is knock him one step off of where he's supposed to be and you can be okay. It's not like Witten has blazing speed. He has good speed. But it's timing with him and Romo. If you get him off track, you'll be okay. But the Packers don't play physical against the tight end. And it's more schematic than it is personnel. They play a safety six to 10 yards back, and a linebacker who is five yards off. By the time, they get to him, the tight end is out of the hitting zone.