Big Unit says it is up to Favre

[CaliforniaCheez]

http://www.620wtmj.com/sports/billmichaels

Bill Michaels at WTMJ and part of the Packer Radio networks wrote the following. Check the whole article at the link above.

The Green Bay Packers venture into the post-season with arguably one of the best quarterbacks ever. However, the post-season, post 1997, hasn’t been too kind to the sure first ballot hall of famer.

Since the 1997 season, Brett Favre’s numbers don’t necessarily ensure victories;

WINS – 2

LOSSES - 5

PASS ATTEMPTS - 249

PASS COMPLETIONS - 151

PASSING YARDAGE - 1,794

AVG. PASSING YARDS – 256.2

TOUCHDOWNS - 11

INTERCEPTIONS - 16

COMPLETION PERCENTAGE - 60.6

300+ YARD PASSING GAMES - 1

QUARTERBACK RATING - 70.59

The 2 wins that Brett and the Packers have had in the post-season came when Brett threw for 1 INT or less and had a quarterback rating over 100.0.

(01 vs. San Francisco 112.6 and 03 vs. Seattle 102.9)

Why do I bring this up? Because for all of the details that we discuss and analyze, for all the X-factor stuff that we like to drudge up it really comes down to the play of the quarterback. If Brett’s on his mark, managing the game, taking what the defense gives him, keeping the “D” off the field with solid drives and positive field position…the Packers will win. If Brett struggles, the Packers will struggle and simply will not survive.




When we say that the season rides on the shoulders of number 4, we’re not kidding. There are other determining factors but these are, for the most part, minor in comparison to the play of the Green Bay Packers signal caller.

Of the playoff years since the 97 Super Bowl, Brett comes into the 2007 post-season with his highest quarterback rating (95.7) and a 66.5 completion percentage (5.1% higher than his career average).

The Detroit game was a necessary tune-up for what the NFC Divisional game will offer. Brett go his rhythm back and the offense clicked on all cylinders. A solid way for the Packers to end their regular season.

With a rested Brett Favre, his legs feeling light, who knows how far this Packers team can go.

************************************************** ***********

We've seen this before and it is obvious and not new.

Brett must do well and have a great game.

I think Brett's greatest problem is self imposed pressure.

[Pacopete4]

i call bullshit with a lot of this assessment.. mainly because we flat out were not that good since the super bowl days... there were just teams better than us and thats how it works...

that being said, our team is the top in the NFL in my opinion so yes, its favre's time to shine

[BallHawk]

Re: Big Unit says it is up to Favre

I think Brett's greatest problem is self imposed pressure.

Spot on. When he came to Dallas in November he was out there, chucking bombs, trying to prove that he could win in Dallas.

As long as McCarthy can get him in the right mental state going into a playoff game Favre should be fine. Favre has got a great RB and a great WR corps. If he can realize that and not put it all on his shoulders we'll be fine. Favre has a greater chance of losing the game by himself than winning the game by himself.

[RashanGary]

It's partially McCarthy's responsibility, but a big part of it is on Favre himself. If he just goes out and plays his game (the way he has almost all year), the Packers have as good of chance as any team other than NE.

He's a great player. He just has to be himself, nothing more. I hope he doesn't force it, but that DAllas game was really blown out of proportion. There were a couple off throws, some horrible pass protection and one bad decision. Dallas also made a couple great plays. He really wasn't forcing it, the bounces just didn't go our way. They have to take deep shots. I think the backlash on the forcing and game plan was 100% revisionist history. Deep throws are part of the Packers game this year. They just have to hit more than 0/5 of them.

[CaliforniaCheez]

Ball Hawk,

I've seen it. In his mind he has few chances left and he puts pressure on himself. He does it when he goes against Holmgren.

He really needs to be calm. How many of his press conferences has he stated he thought the team was too loose?? Most of them.

I want to see a calm smiling Brett enjoying each playoff game.

[BallHawk]

He does it when he goes against Holmgren.

And that's one of the reasons why I sure as hell do not want to play Seattle next week.

[Pacopete4]

He does it when he goes against Holmgren.

And that's one of the reasons why I sure as hell do not want to play Seattle next week.

one playoff appearance for favre against the walrus and one win...

26 of 38 for 319 yards, 1 td, 0 int 68% completion % and a 102 qb rating



i dont see your point

[packinpatland]

'Big Unit'

For a moment there I thought it was going to be about Randy Johnson!

[gbgary]

When he came to Dallas in November he was out there, chucking bombs, trying to prove that he could win in Dallas.

As long as McCarthy can get him in the right mental state going into a playoff game Favre should be fine. Favre has got a great RB and a great WR corps. If he can realize that and not put it all on his shoulders we'll be fine. Favre has a greater chance of losing the game by himself than winning the game by himself.

he was "chucking bombs" cuz that was MM's game plan. if his game plan had been that mentioned in the above article we'd have been much better off. other than this i agree with what you said. as i've said at least 50 times recently it's up to MM to coach Brett, and call plays that will allow him, to protect the ball, keep the ball moving down field, eat up the clock and score points.

[Kiwon]

When he came to Dallas in November he was out there, chucking bombs, trying to prove that he could win in Dallas.

As long as McCarthy can get him in the right mental state going into a playoff game Favre should be fine. Favre has got a great RB and a great WR corps. If he can realize that and not put it all on his shoulders we'll be fine. Favre has a greater chance of losing the game by himself than winning the game by himself.

he was "chucking bombs" cuz that was MM's game plan. if his game plan had been that mentioned in the above article we'd have been much better off. other than this i agree with what you said. as i've said at least 50 times recently it's up to MM to coach Brett, and call plays that will allow him, to protect the ball, keep the ball moving down field, eat up the clock and score points.

Funny, I seem to recall Bill Michaels was putting some blame on MM's play calling for the Packers struggles at the halftime of the Cowboys game.

They have got themselves into trouble on a few 3rd and 1 downs when they've thrown a bomb rather than to merely look to pick up a first down.

Farve and MM have worked well together all year when they have stayed within the system. However, the times when they have overreached have been few, but costly with stalled drives and INTS.

I rather have the Farve of 2007-08 in Texas stadium than the Farve of ten years ago. He has had a great year playing within the offense that MM has set up and the play-calling of MM has generally been good. They won't let things get out of hand just because its the playoffs.

[b bulldog]

MM had brett in a trance and was making him throw into triple coverage

[Deputy Nutz]

MM had brett in a trance and was making him throw into triple coverage

And you don't see the genius in that?

I still giggle when Favre makes a mistake and folk right away point the finger at the play calling, or receivers, it is ignorance for the most part because they don't go back and actually look at the play.

[pbmax]

You might have a point in some years, like the Sherman's first playoff run when the wheels came off and half the O Line was in the training room.

But there were other years, 4th and 26 come to mind, where we had the better team on the field and lost. He wasn't entirely at fault, but made the situation worse.

And bulldog is right, the Packers game plan picking on Dallas' secondary wasn't unique, that secondary is the weak spot of their defense. The Packer game plan wasn't much different to what other teams did to the Cowboys. That pass D has been torched this year. If you think our safeties have trouble covering, watch the Dallas guys in their base D trying to cover the pass.

Unfortunately, Colledge decided to crater in his pass blocking that day as well.

But neither the game plan nor Colledge made Favre commit to his first read after he saw double coverage deep. There was a time that I thought Favre's concern for his health and the slowing of his legs made him commit to throws he should have pulled down. With a better receiving corp this year than any since the 90's (maybe Walker's breakout year as well, when Bubba Franks was still breathing) those problems seemed to be behind him.

But Washington, Dallas and the Bears got him to revert back to a Randall Cunningham like first read and the rest be damned approach. That is what he needs to avoid. McGinn mentioned Favre's near photographic memory of pass plays from years gone by, and Favre mentioned this as well in an interview, that sometimes, due to a memory of how a play has worked before, he will forget the progression and go right to a receiver based on what happened previously. This phenomenon has been feast or famine for him this year.

Favre needs to forget that past and take what the present offers. We won several early games this year with that approach, despite a woeful running attack.

i call bullshit with a lot of this assessment.. mainly because we flat out were not that good since the super bowl days... there were just teams better than us and thats how it works...

that being said, our team is the top in the NFL in my opinion so yes, its favre's time to shine

[MJZiggy]

I still giggle when Favre makes a mistake and folk right away point the finger at the play calling, or receivers, it is ignorance for the most part because they don't go back and actually look at the play.

Yes they do--they have no choice because every time Brett makes a mistake, they replay it 47 times immediately and every chance they get for the rest of the game....

[motife]

In big games, Favre looks like death warmed over before the game starts. Grim, unsmiling, even a little uncertain looking.

If I was McCarthy, I'd rein Favre in. But tell Bob Sanders to go nuts.

I agree with Greg Bedard :

My prediction? The Packers absolutely roll in their first game. Won't even be close. Packers hang tough in Dallas, but, sorry to say it, Favre makes a big mistake that costs the Pack the game. There's just something about him and that field. I have full faith in this team going back into Texas Stadium and winning -- except for Favre.

If Aaron Rodgers were healthy, I think the Packers would be better off with him playing within the system, and adding his ability to pick up first downs with his feet.

Favre gets in his St. Louis Rams, 6 interception mode, in the really big games.