Big Unit says it is up to Favre

[pbmax]

Much of a potential Dallas game turns on the pass blocking. If they can do it without max protect, if Colledge, Wells and Spitz can actually block, then we'll be in it to the end.

Same for the other side, if we pressure Romo, the game will be there for the taking. If we don't, its going to be a shootout and then I don't like our chances. I think we can run on the Cowboys. They are a fast, pursuit defense that is smaller than most and like Grant's touchdown, will be vulnerable to the cutback.

That said, I think there is a good chance Sanders runs blitzes early and has good success since it will break a tendency. Second half will be dicier as Dallas O will adjust and Sanders will need to go to Plan C.

[Pacopete4]

there is only so much a QB can do.. thats the bottom line


when we've had good teams, favre has come thru and come thru way, way more than he's failed

and even when hes had just OK teams that most QBs would finish under .500 he's carried them on their backs at least to an 8-8 record and and almost playoff births...

most of you people dont really know how good you have it as packer fans.. man...

[Merlin]

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.

I'm glad you aren't the coach of the Green Bay Packers this post-season. We had one "big" game by NFL standards against Dallas. Yes, Favre didn't look all that hot but he also never had the chance to redeem himself that game. Our defensive play calling was horrible as well. Sure, Aaron Rodgers played okay, didn't make any mistakes. But he also suffers from the "first read" syndrome, watches his first read until a) they get open (seldom), b) he scrambles (more often, Vick syndrome), or c) he gets sacked. Rodgers threw to one receiver in that game that wasn't the primary read otherwise he zeroed in on the #1 the whole time.

Favre can't pick up first downs with his feet? You don't think that little 21 yard naked bootleg against Detroit won't have teams thinking he might run now?

Anyone who would even consider starting Rodgers over Favre really needs to examine their knowledge of the game.

[motife]

That said, I think there is a good chance Sanders runs blitzes early and has good success since it will break a tendency. Second half will be dicier as Dallas O will adjust and Sanders will need to go to Plan C.

Bedard, who covered the Dolphins, said after the Dallas game that the reason Miami never did anything when Jim Bates was DC, is when there was a really big game, Bates went conservative, didn't blitz, played coverage. He said he saw the same thing with Sanders at Dallas.

btw, Jim Bates apparently will be fired after one year in Denver.

[pbmax]

Sanders has tinkered with the formula and has brought linebacker pressure and the occasional safety. He did some of this against Dallas in the second half when it was clear Romo was writing love sonnets to Jessica back there. If we get there, I think he opens with it. We need a KGB sighting this post-season.

That said, I think there is a good chance Sanders runs blitzes early and has good success since it will break a tendency. Second half will be dicier as Dallas O will adjust and Sanders will need to go to Plan C.

Bedard, who covered the Dolphins, said after the Dallas game that the reason Miami never did anything when Jim Bates was DC, is when there was a really big game, Bates went conservative, didn't blitz, played coverage. He said he saw the same thing with Sanders at Dallas.

btw, Jim Bates apparently will be fired after one year in Denver.

[motife]

Anyone who would even consider starting Rodgers over Favre really needs to examine their knowledge of the game.

It's my "knowledge" (actually fear) of Favre that worries me. He's a different QB against the really good teams when it's one and done.

[HarveyWallbangers]

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.

Favre has thrown for 0 or 1 interception in 14 of his 20 career playoff games. He's thrown 2 interceptions in 4 games. He's thrown more than 2 in two games. Unfortunately, they just happen to be two of more recent games--St. Louis and Minnesota. The St. Louis game was a complete mismatch, and he threw 4 of his 6 inteceptions in the last 20 minutes after St. Louis had taken a 28 point lead. The Minnesota game was a horrible game, but let's not forget that Ferguson was lost for the year on the Darius hit and Javon Walker went out early with an injury. Then, Minnesota put 14 points on the board in the first 5 minutes--before he even threw an incomplete pass. I'm not excusing that one though. He should have played better, but conditions weren't ideal in those two games.

[pbmax]

Pete, I have rooted for many teams without Favre as QB as know exactly how good he is compared to the rest of the league.

But he has a responsibility like everyone else. You don't get a lifetime pass after so many years, or so many yards or wins that says; "OK, no need to think anymore" or "Forget the play call progression, throw it to the guy who was open on your presnap read".

I am not hoping Favre goes from mediocre to brilliant. Or from Hall of Fame to Best of All-Time. I want him to do the job. If he does, his favorite throws and receivers will be open after the D adjusts. Without a dominating D, we can't give up a short field and extra offensive possessions to good teams.

In fact, I just scared myself because this is exactly my thought before every Packer game during the Ed Donatell/Bob Slowik era.

there is only so much a QB can do.. thats the bottom line


when we've had good teams, favre has come thru and come thru way, way more than he's failed

and even when hes had just OK teams that most QBs would finish under .500 he's carried them on their backs at least to an 8-8 record and and almost playoff births...

most of you people dont really know how good you have it as packer fans.. man...

[pbmax]

Its exactly the last several playoff games that is the cause of worry. Without a great D to save you, interceptions hurt more.

Favre's two first half interceptions against St. Louis both resulted in touchdowns. One was a TD on the return and the other was a TD after an INT return to the four yard line.

At the half, you could argue that the Packers D had outplayed the Rams O. With the offense handing them 14 points, they were down 24-10.

Here is the funny thing about INTs. The first might have been all Bill Schroeder's fault. Favre threw right to a Rams player when Schroeder ran his route to a different spot. I never saw a definitive piece on who blew this. And that is why teammates (in this case WRs) make a huge difference to the QB.

This year, he has a better corp. Mistakes like these two throws shouldn't happen. He also doesn't have Ahman fumbling in the first half this year.

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.

Favre has thrown for 0 or 1 interception in 14 of his 20 career playoff games. He's thrown 2 interceptions in 4 games. He's thrown more than 2 in two games. Unfortunately, they just happen to be two of more recent games--St. Louis and Minnesota. The St. Louis game was a complete mismatch, and he threw 4 of his 6 inteceptions in the last 20 minutes after St. Louis had taken a 28 point lead. The Minnesota game was a horrible game, but let's not forget that Ferguson was lost for the year on the Darius hit and Javon Walker went out early with an injury. Then, Minnesota put 14 points on the board in the first 5 minutes--before he even threw an incomplete pass. I'm not excusing that one though. He should have played better, but conditions weren't ideal in those two games.

[gbgary]

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

I still giggle when Favre makes a mistake and folk right away point the finger at the play calling...

yes.....Brett threw those balls...but when MM comes out after the game and admits they wanted to be real aggressive, with the play calling, you can see where Brett's mindset was. Brett's willingness to do what he's told, at his own peril, got him hurt and the team in a jam. when passing, the weakest links in the dallas defense are the safties and linebackers. they should have been the focus...not the corners. dallas blitzed and Brett had no protection. no protection because of the plays MM was calling. MM changed things when Rodgers came into the game and you know what happened. MM's game plan has to have the kinds of plays that will allow Brett/the Packers to succeed against high pressure defenses.

[Pacopete4]

# The Packers have posted a 152-88 record (.633) since NFL free agency began in 1993, the best record in the NFL. New England is second at 150-90. Philadelphia is the next-best NFC team behind the Packers (seventh) at 132-107-1 (.552). The Packers have had just one losing season (2005) in the past 16 years. They have won 10 or more games nine times.




I guess none of those were big games? haha.. the fact is, sometimes ur just not the better team and the fact is.. other than 1996, 97, and maybe in 98... we didnt have the team to win a superbowl... and thats just how the cookie crumbles so get off favres case

Pete, I have rooted for many teams without Favre as QB as know exactly how good he is compared to the rest of the league.

But he has a responsibility like everyone else. You don't get a lifetime pass after so many years, or so many yards or wins that says; "OK, no need to think anymore" or "Forget the play call progression, throw it to the guy who was open on your presnap read".

if we went off the fact favre couldnt win a big game.. we woulda found someone else after he went 3 straight seasons losing to dallas in the playoffs... its a team game fellas

[fan4life]

Favre has thrown for 0 or 1 interception in 14 of his 20 career playoff games. He's thrown 2 interceptions in 4 games. He's thrown more than 2 in two games. Unfortunately, they just happen to be two of more recent games--St. Louis and Minnesota. The St. Louis game was a complete mismatch, and he threw 4 of his 6 inteceptions in the last 20 minutes after St. Louis had taken a 28 point lead. The Minnesota game was a horrible game, but let's not forget that Ferguson was lost for the year on the Darius hit and Javon Walker went out early with an injury. Then, Minnesota put 14 points on the board in the first 5 minutes--before he even threw an incomplete pass. I'm not excusing that one though. He should have played better, but conditions weren't ideal in those two games.

Excellent recap, Harvey. But your analysis makes much too much sense for the simpletons who want to blame the QB when the team fails to run the ball, protect the passer, run sharp correct routes that gain YAC, and perhaps most importantly, defend their goal ... and the QB tries, but fails, to throw them to a come-from-behind win.

That will never change.

[RashanGary]

yes.....Brett threw those balls...but when MM comes out after the game and admits they wanted to be real aggressive, with the play calling, you can see where Brett's mindset was. Brett's willingness to do what he's told, at his own peril, got him hurt and the team in a jam. when passing, the weakest links in the dallas defense are the safties and linebackers. they should have been the focus...not the corners. dallas blitzed and Brett had no protection. no protection because of the plays MM was calling. MM changed things when Rodgers came into the game and you know what happened. MM's game plan has to have the kinds of plays that will allow Brett/the Packers to succeed against high pressure defenses.

Poor Brett, just does what he's told, can't make a decsions based on what's going on around him. Poor Brett. More than any other QB, he's been the victim of being told to do stupid things. He does have the interception record so he has to have had the worst coaches of any of the long term QB's, right? It's never Brett. It's always somebody else.

Sad. Maybe Brett should start making decisions based on how the play unfolds like Brady.

[b bulldog]

Nick

[RashanGary]

Brett's a great player. One of the all time greats. He has one glaring weakness, and there is nothing wrong with that. Many players, all they have is glaring weaknesses. Favre makes bad decisions. It's who he is. It's gotten better this year. I hope it stays better through the playoffs.