motife
12-19-2007, 05:02 PM
http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/scouting?gameId=271223003
Why To Watch
While the Packers have been revitalized by their amazing veteran signal caller, the 2006 NFC champions have been eliminated in Week 15. With the Cowboys stumbling a week ago, the Packers are breathing down their neck to position themselves for the No. 1 playoff spot. Green Bay made it interesting in last week's contest versus the Rams and will look for a better overall effort vs. a struggling Bears club. Throw out the records in this NFC North divisional matchup because there is no love loss between these two clubs.
When the Packers have the ball
Rushing: Green Bay's ground assault has improved tremendously in the second half of the season with the emergence of a virtual unknown running back in Ryan Grant. Offensive coordinator Joe Philbin and head coach Mike McCarthy have found a player that hits the hole with good vision and power to move the pile. Grant is at his best between the tackles because he doesn't have great speed or burst to turn the corner, but has enough athleticism to make effective inline cuts.
This year's version of the Bears' defense has been exploited for 124.1 yards per game on the ground. Defensive coordinator Bob Babich employs a base 4-3 scheme with a mixture of interior stunts and zone-run blitzes to stymie the opponent's running game. The Packers need to continue to develop their ground attack because they will likely have to control the clock with the run in inclement weather in the postseason. However, it's unlikely that Babich will be able to put eight in the box because Green Bay spreads a defense out most of the contest to give Grant natural creases to run through. The Bears did defend the run better versus the Vikings until the second half. As banged up as the Chicago defense is, it has been tough for it to play stout against a solid ground assault.
Passing: Green Bay's air attack is one of the most explosive in the league averaging 286.4 yards per contest. Future Hall of Fame QB Brett Favre is having one of his best seasons ever and is being more judicious with the way he distributes the ball. Favre has a solid group of perimeter targets in second-year player Greg Jennings, nine-year veteran Donald Driver and rookie James Jones. All three players have good speed to stretch deep zones and the quickness to be excellent intermediate route runners. Not to mention, tight end Donald Lee, who is having his best season of his career. Plus, Favre does a nice job of dumping the ball off to Grant and RB Vernand Morency on option and screen patterns.
Chicago's defense has been somewhat-suspect stopping the pass with an inconsistent pass rush and a banged up secondary. Babich will likely try and get Favre out of his comfort zone with a variety of pressure packages. The Packers' offensive line has protected Favre well in 2007, considering how often he puts the ball in the air. Head coach Mike McCarthy uses lots of three-step drops mixed in with play-action and deep-pocket passes to attack all levels of the field. This appears to be a huge mismatch in favor of the Packers, but the weather may be a factor in how well Favre can execute this impressive passing game.
When the Bears have the ball
Rushing: Chicago's ground attack has struggled most of the season averaging a league-low 78.4 yards per game and 3.1 yards per attempt. The Bears are short-handed in the backfield with featured back Cedric Benson out for the season and relying on six-year veteran Adrian Peterson and third-down rookie back Garrett Wolfe to carry the load. The loss of RB Thomas Jones in the off season and a banged up offensive line has been a huge set back for offensive coordinator Ron Turner in 2007. With the weather being tough in the windy city during this time of the year and third year starter Kyle Orton getting his first playing time since 2005, Turner will likely try and establish a power running game to control the tempo of the contest.
Green Bay defensive coordinator Bob Sanders employs a base 4-3 defense that likes to pressure perimeter targets with tight coverage and drop safeties down in the box versus the running game. Sanders uses a variety of zone-run blitzes and interior stunts to defend the run. The Packers are solid derailing an opponent's ground assault yielding 105 yards per contest. However, Green Bay did allow 173 yards in Week 15 against the Rams, so the Packers will look to get back on track versus the Bears' unimpressive rushing attack.
Passing: Chicago's passing game has been very inconsistent most of the 2007 season and the Bears have their third signal caller at the helm in Week 16. Orton is getting a shot after sitting for the good part of two seasons. He marked up a 10-5 record as a rookie when pressed into action due to injury, but didn't perform well and the team's success was mostly due to a solid ground attack and outstanding defense. He is a physically-gifted quarterback with the arm strength to make all the throws. This decision to give Orton a shot late in the season is two-fold. The Bears need to find out what they have in their fourth-round pick that has had some success and to see if he may have some trade value if they decide to go in another direction.
However, Orton has some decent perimeter receivers to stretch the field with in WRs Bernard Berrian and Devin Hester along with a solid possession-target in 12-year veteran Muhsin Muhammad. Orton will also have a pair of formidable tight ends to deliver the ball to in nine-year veteran Desmond Clark and rookie Greg Olsen. Both players have the speed and athleticism to stretch the seam and put pressure on the Packers' two deep safeties.
Look for Sanders to pressure Orton on long-yardage conversions with a mixture of zone and man blitzes. Orton flashed effectiveness in Week 15 versus the Vikings, but ultimately made too many poor throws in the loss.
Special Teams
The Packers special teams have been solid most of the season led by a rookie place kicker Mason Crosby. He has a strong leg and hits 86 percent of his attempts. Punter Jon Ryan also has good leg strength, but is inconsistent at pinning opponent's inside the 20-yard line. Charles Woodson is sure-handed returning punts, but doesn't change field position. However, Tramon Williams and Koren Robinson have been solid returning kickoffs with the vision and instincts to hit a crease.
The Bears' special teams is the most effective unit of the club. Veteran punter Brad Maynard may be the weak link with his average leg strength and somewhat-inconsistent hang time. Place kicker Robbie Gould is very solid hitting 84 percent of his attempts. The most dangerous player in the league returning both kicks and punts is the explosive Hester. It's unlikely that the Packers will kick to him because he gives the Bears their best opportunity to win the contest.
Why To Watch
While the Packers have been revitalized by their amazing veteran signal caller, the 2006 NFC champions have been eliminated in Week 15. With the Cowboys stumbling a week ago, the Packers are breathing down their neck to position themselves for the No. 1 playoff spot. Green Bay made it interesting in last week's contest versus the Rams and will look for a better overall effort vs. a struggling Bears club. Throw out the records in this NFC North divisional matchup because there is no love loss between these two clubs.
When the Packers have the ball
Rushing: Green Bay's ground assault has improved tremendously in the second half of the season with the emergence of a virtual unknown running back in Ryan Grant. Offensive coordinator Joe Philbin and head coach Mike McCarthy have found a player that hits the hole with good vision and power to move the pile. Grant is at his best between the tackles because he doesn't have great speed or burst to turn the corner, but has enough athleticism to make effective inline cuts.
This year's version of the Bears' defense has been exploited for 124.1 yards per game on the ground. Defensive coordinator Bob Babich employs a base 4-3 scheme with a mixture of interior stunts and zone-run blitzes to stymie the opponent's running game. The Packers need to continue to develop their ground attack because they will likely have to control the clock with the run in inclement weather in the postseason. However, it's unlikely that Babich will be able to put eight in the box because Green Bay spreads a defense out most of the contest to give Grant natural creases to run through. The Bears did defend the run better versus the Vikings until the second half. As banged up as the Chicago defense is, it has been tough for it to play stout against a solid ground assault.
Passing: Green Bay's air attack is one of the most explosive in the league averaging 286.4 yards per contest. Future Hall of Fame QB Brett Favre is having one of his best seasons ever and is being more judicious with the way he distributes the ball. Favre has a solid group of perimeter targets in second-year player Greg Jennings, nine-year veteran Donald Driver and rookie James Jones. All three players have good speed to stretch deep zones and the quickness to be excellent intermediate route runners. Not to mention, tight end Donald Lee, who is having his best season of his career. Plus, Favre does a nice job of dumping the ball off to Grant and RB Vernand Morency on option and screen patterns.
Chicago's defense has been somewhat-suspect stopping the pass with an inconsistent pass rush and a banged up secondary. Babich will likely try and get Favre out of his comfort zone with a variety of pressure packages. The Packers' offensive line has protected Favre well in 2007, considering how often he puts the ball in the air. Head coach Mike McCarthy uses lots of three-step drops mixed in with play-action and deep-pocket passes to attack all levels of the field. This appears to be a huge mismatch in favor of the Packers, but the weather may be a factor in how well Favre can execute this impressive passing game.
When the Bears have the ball
Rushing: Chicago's ground attack has struggled most of the season averaging a league-low 78.4 yards per game and 3.1 yards per attempt. The Bears are short-handed in the backfield with featured back Cedric Benson out for the season and relying on six-year veteran Adrian Peterson and third-down rookie back Garrett Wolfe to carry the load. The loss of RB Thomas Jones in the off season and a banged up offensive line has been a huge set back for offensive coordinator Ron Turner in 2007. With the weather being tough in the windy city during this time of the year and third year starter Kyle Orton getting his first playing time since 2005, Turner will likely try and establish a power running game to control the tempo of the contest.
Green Bay defensive coordinator Bob Sanders employs a base 4-3 defense that likes to pressure perimeter targets with tight coverage and drop safeties down in the box versus the running game. Sanders uses a variety of zone-run blitzes and interior stunts to defend the run. The Packers are solid derailing an opponent's ground assault yielding 105 yards per contest. However, Green Bay did allow 173 yards in Week 15 against the Rams, so the Packers will look to get back on track versus the Bears' unimpressive rushing attack.
Passing: Chicago's passing game has been very inconsistent most of the 2007 season and the Bears have their third signal caller at the helm in Week 16. Orton is getting a shot after sitting for the good part of two seasons. He marked up a 10-5 record as a rookie when pressed into action due to injury, but didn't perform well and the team's success was mostly due to a solid ground attack and outstanding defense. He is a physically-gifted quarterback with the arm strength to make all the throws. This decision to give Orton a shot late in the season is two-fold. The Bears need to find out what they have in their fourth-round pick that has had some success and to see if he may have some trade value if they decide to go in another direction.
However, Orton has some decent perimeter receivers to stretch the field with in WRs Bernard Berrian and Devin Hester along with a solid possession-target in 12-year veteran Muhsin Muhammad. Orton will also have a pair of formidable tight ends to deliver the ball to in nine-year veteran Desmond Clark and rookie Greg Olsen. Both players have the speed and athleticism to stretch the seam and put pressure on the Packers' two deep safeties.
Look for Sanders to pressure Orton on long-yardage conversions with a mixture of zone and man blitzes. Orton flashed effectiveness in Week 15 versus the Vikings, but ultimately made too many poor throws in the loss.
Special Teams
The Packers special teams have been solid most of the season led by a rookie place kicker Mason Crosby. He has a strong leg and hits 86 percent of his attempts. Punter Jon Ryan also has good leg strength, but is inconsistent at pinning opponent's inside the 20-yard line. Charles Woodson is sure-handed returning punts, but doesn't change field position. However, Tramon Williams and Koren Robinson have been solid returning kickoffs with the vision and instincts to hit a crease.
The Bears' special teams is the most effective unit of the club. Veteran punter Brad Maynard may be the weak link with his average leg strength and somewhat-inconsistent hang time. Place kicker Robbie Gould is very solid hitting 84 percent of his attempts. The most dangerous player in the league returning both kicks and punts is the explosive Hester. It's unlikely that the Packers will kick to him because he gives the Bears their best opportunity to win the contest.