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PLAYOFFS ARE HERE
At the beginning of the season with what I sensed was a lack of urgency in finding NFL ready players to surround our youth with I often said 8-8 would be really great. What a pleasant surprise.
We enter today as one of the GREAT EIGHT with homefield advantage and a game in which we certainly should be expected to win. And entering it against an old friend and now foe in Mike Holmgren makes it all the more exciting.
As I get ready to pack up my stuff on the trip to the great Lambeau, many thoughts of reflection come to mind.
Before the season I had noted that those who even sniffed of the playoffs were showing blind faith in Ted Thompson and the path he chose to take with this Packer team. For us to contend, we had to have faith that a RB would show his worth, our two offensive guards would develop, a rookie 3rd round WR would develop, and we'd find at least a marginal starter at safety and adequate depth in the secondary.
While I don't feel I was wrong in my blind faith philosophy, what is pleasantly surprising to me is that for the most part every bit of that faith was well placed. Those who kept the true faith in Ted Thompson have been proven to be right this year, and this team seems to gutted and rebuild so we should at least remain competitive after Favre leaves. I used to be a TT detractor; now I openly admit he did a good job.
Part of TT's success also was hiring Mike McCarthy. Overally McCarthy has shown superior game planning and his adjustments seem to be more effective that that of his predecessor. Whether TT got along with Sherman or not, it seems hard to argue that that change was not necessary.
Today MM is faced with an even bigger test. He has to prepare a game plan against on of the best coaches in the NFL. Like it or Not Holmgren is one of the Big Cheezes in football. He's won a Super Bowl and has plenty of playoff experience. Remember all of those great stories on how he'd pump his players up to new levels to go in and kick the 49er's @sses...at home or on the road. Guess what Holmy is doing now ?
Fortunately, as long as the coaches are near even the better players usually win in the NFL playoffs. I've heard some predict a blowout today. I think they are nuts. These teams are more evenly matched then many Packer fans want to admit. Like MM, Holmgren will work to expose any weakness he sees on our team. They will hide the blitz and run stunts to try to expose our OG's. And they will try to consistently pressure Brett Favre as Dallas did and try to force him into mistakes. They will also run out 5 receiving options, and look to confuse Nick Collins, and expose some of the challenged cover guys like Bigby and Bush. Don't be surprised to see a trick play or two, and don't be surprised if Seattle goes to the no huddle offense to put pressure on this defense.
On the other hand MM will try to attack the Seattle Defense. He will spread things out and try to keep the defense out of balance by running Ryan Grant. He will also try to expose a Seattle Secondary that lacks overall depth. Guys like Koren Robinson and James Jones should be open all day long if they are on their game.........and ...........if.........the OL gives Brett Favre enough time to throw.
This really boils down to be the key of the game. Early season we theorized that our defense would be so dominant that they'd rarely give up points and Favre would just have to refrain from taking the chances and making mistakes. We were wrong....little did we know that the re emergence of a smarter Brett Favre is one of the primary reasons being a little smarter but still making his old gunslining throws is a primary reason we are 13-3. Yes, he's been smarter, but above all he is still a playmaker and he's still our gunslinger.
In the greatest sport today, the recent past seems to have proven that their is great equity in this game. What seems to put a team above the top is great QB play. Look at the past Super Bowls. Great QB's in most.
Look at this year's NFL records. Brady, Manning, Favre, Romo....clearly the top 4 QB........and an incredible winning % to boot. Two of these QB's will probably be in the Super Bowl, and one will again be the champion.
I'm pumped for this game; I honestly had a short dream last night that I was at Lambeau and the crowd was dead silent at the game's beginning.
No way are we going to let that happen. It's going to be electric. This team has a chance to go to the Super Bowl and we can't afford a let down either by the players or the fans. We need to establish the old winning ways of the Holmgren era at Lambeau
NOBODY COMES INTO OUR HOUSE AND WINS.......STARTING TODAY
At the beginning of the season with what I sensed was a lack of urgency in finding NFL ready players to surround our youth with I often said 8-8 would be really great. What a pleasant surprise.
We enter today as one of the GREAT EIGHT with homefield advantage and a game in which we certainly should be expected to win. And entering it against an old friend and now foe in Mike Holmgren makes it all the more exciting.
As I get ready to pack up my stuff on the trip to the great Lambeau, many thoughts of reflection come to mind.
Before the season I had noted that those who even sniffed of the playoffs were showing blind faith in Ted Thompson and the path he chose to take with this Packer team. For us to contend, we had to have faith that a RB would show his worth, our two offensive guards would develop, a rookie 3rd round WR would develop, and we'd find at least a marginal starter at safety and adequate depth in the secondary.
While I don't feel I was wrong in my blind faith philosophy, what is pleasantly surprising to me is that for the most part every bit of that faith was well placed. Those who kept the true faith in Ted Thompson have been proven to be right this year, and this team seems to gutted and rebuild so we should at least remain competitive after Favre leaves. I used to be a TT detractor; now I openly admit he did a good job.
Part of TT's success also was hiring Mike McCarthy. Overally McCarthy has shown superior game planning and his adjustments seem to be more effective that that of his predecessor. Whether TT got along with Sherman or not, it seems hard to argue that that change was not necessary.
Today MM is faced with an even bigger test. He has to prepare a game plan against on of the best coaches in the NFL. Like it or Not Holmgren is one of the Big Cheezes in football. He's won a Super Bowl and has plenty of playoff experience. Remember all of those great stories on how he'd pump his players up to new levels to go in and kick the 49er's @sses...at home or on the road. Guess what Holmy is doing now ?
Fortunately, as long as the coaches are near even the better players usually win in the NFL playoffs. I've heard some predict a blowout today. I think they are nuts. These teams are more evenly matched then many Packer fans want to admit. Like MM, Holmgren will work to expose any weakness he sees on our team. They will hide the blitz and run stunts to try to expose our OG's. And they will try to consistently pressure Brett Favre as Dallas did and try to force him into mistakes. They will also run out 5 receiving options, and look to confuse Nick Collins, and expose some of the challenged cover guys like Bigby and Bush. Don't be surprised to see a trick play or two, and don't be surprised if Seattle goes to the no huddle offense to put pressure on this defense.
On the other hand MM will try to attack the Seattle Defense. He will spread things out and try to keep the defense out of balance by running Ryan Grant. He will also try to expose a Seattle Secondary that lacks overall depth. Guys like Koren Robinson and James Jones should be open all day long if they are on their game.........and ...........if.........the OL gives Brett Favre enough time to throw.
This really boils down to be the key of the game. Early season we theorized that our defense would be so dominant that they'd rarely give up points and Favre would just have to refrain from taking the chances and making mistakes. We were wrong....little did we know that the re emergence of a smarter Brett Favre is one of the primary reasons being a little smarter but still making his old gunslining throws is a primary reason we are 13-3. Yes, he's been smarter, but above all he is still a playmaker and he's still our gunslinger.
In the greatest sport today, the recent past seems to have proven that their is great equity in this game. What seems to put a team above the top is great QB play. Look at the past Super Bowls. Great QB's in most.
Look at this year's NFL records. Brady, Manning, Favre, Romo....clearly the top 4 QB........and an incredible winning % to boot. Two of these QB's will probably be in the Super Bowl, and one will again be the champion.
I'm pumped for this game; I honestly had a short dream last night that I was at Lambeau and the crowd was dead silent at the game's beginning.
No way are we going to let that happen. It's going to be electric. This team has a chance to go to the Super Bowl and we can't afford a let down either by the players or the fans. We need to establish the old winning ways of the Holmgren era at Lambeau
NOBODY COMES INTO OUR HOUSE AND WINS.......STARTING TODAY
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