Appropriate fan reaction to "Favre the Viking"?

[Harlan Huckleby]

If Favre comes back and plays like he did first half of 2008, the Vikings are going to be very, very tough to beat. Ideally, I'd like that to happen, and also for the Packers to find a way to beat them.

Guess to be on the safe side, I better hope that Favre sucks.

[Patler]

I have to admit, a game with Favre on any team playing against the Packers should be a very interesting match up.

- The Packers will know his strengths, weakness, what bothers him defensively.
- A ballhawk like Woodson, with a clear understanding of Favre's tendencies, could do well.
- With a complete change on D, Favre has no advantage from his years watching the old D.
- Favre can teach the Viking D about the Packers O.

Throwing emotions to the side, it should provide some interesting entertainment.

[Waldo]

- Favre can teach the Viking D about the Packers O.

Not sure how much value there is to this. After all, it isn't like the Packers running game is this big secret. Though any other concepts incorporated postdate Favre.

The commonly used passing trees changed rather drastically for AR.

This year AR is getting a lot more input into the offense than last year, from a planning perspective to a gameday perspective. This portion of the offense would be totally foreign to Brett.

The TE use appears to have drastically changed, and MM uses Finley nothing like any TE has been used in GB since......possibly ever.

The pocket blocking and protections appear to have changed somewhat, and the way you cover against Aaron (the same defense that would stifle Brett's passing, AR would just run for the first downs).

Most likely Brett would only be really familiar with 2/5 of the OL (Clifton-Colledge), with the other 3 spots filled by different guys, or guys in different spots.

Plus we don't even know what this years wrinkles are yet.

[Pugger]

Favre will probably come out pretty strong and play well - for a while. But because of his age he will most likely run out of steam as the season progresses. Players at his age have to work twice as hard as younger player to withstand the rigors of a long NFL season. BF has admitted he isn't wild about offseason conditioning, OTAs and training camp. He even said that was one of the reasons he 'retired' the first time from the Packers. Throwing passes a few times a week to high school kids isn't gonna cut it. It is no coincidence that Favre had his best season in eons after MM hired a personal trainer for him in 2007. BF will most likely fade this year in MN like he did in NY during the second half of last season.

[CaptainKickass]

The TE use appears to have drastically changed, and MM uses Finley nothing like any TE has been used in GB since......possibly ever.

I think you've eluded to this before Waldo. Pardon me for asking if you've elaborated in another thread, but can you expand on what observations you've made to arrive at this conclusion? (or point me to a previous post)

Is the use of the TE different or similar to any other teams? Or are you seeing unique usage?


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[Pack-man]

I think the Packers should hand out "We will never forget you Brent" shirts to everyone in attendance for the game. Then complete silence when he is introduced.

[Waldo]

The TE use appears to have drastically changed, and MM uses Finley nothing like any TE has been used in GB since......possibly ever.

I think you've eluded to this before Waldo. Pardon me for asking if you've elaborated in another thread, but can you expand on what observations you've made to arrive at this conclusion? (or point me to a previous post)

Is the use of the TE different or similar to any other teams? Or are you seeing unique usage?


.

Other teams do it that have athletic TE's that have WR catching ability.

Last year Finley ran a few routes on the sidelines, after releasing from the line (out 'n up). Sideline coverage is an absolutely foreign concept to most LB's (who would be covering him), but plays up one of Finleys greatest strengths, namely that a he can run down the field on the sideline, put out his arms, look back over his shoulder, and catch the ball. 95%+ of the NFL's TE's cannot do that, and almost no LB can cover that.

The play that Finley made a big stink about to the press. AR knows that he can do it. MM knows that he can do it, JF just needs to find it in himself. He was running back to AR straight down the seam close. The LB had him inside (the logical place to play a TE, a TE's best route would be to cut across the formation or curl inside and stop). AR tried to do the opposite. Jermichaels unusually good torso flexibility and ball tracking ability allows him to catch balls that other TE's don't have a chance of catching. Slightly tougher would have been for him to cut outside, tough catch, but definitely doable for Jermichael. It could have been what they were actually looking to do, but Jermichael didn't cut in time and AR missed a bit inside. Even crazier though would be what it appears that AR tried to do. He tried to drop it over Jermichaels outside shoulder. Again, I doubt many, if any, other TE's would catch it (that is a crazy hard catch), but if successful the LB had very little chance of defending it, and Jermichael had almost no impediment to the end zone if he didn't have to slow down (the timing of the throw made it so that he didn't have much chance to slow).

Things like that. Subtle, and related to what other TE's do, Jermichael just has such fantastic natural receiving ability that his ball placement can be very unconventional for a TE, he can catch while running top speed at an angle other than a pure crosser (his crossers are very pretty, but most TE's don't have to slow on a crosser). Difficult catches, but when he does catch them he could get so much more from the same basic types of routes.

[SMACKTALKIE]

I have to admit, a game with Favre on any team playing against the Packers should be a very interesting match up.

- The Packers will know his strengths, weakness, what bothers him defensively.
- A ballhawk like Woodson, with a clear understanding of Favre's tendencies, could do well.
- With a complete change on D, Favre has no advantage from his years watching the old D.
- Favre can teach the Viking D about the Packers O.

Throwing emotions to the side, it should provide some interesting entertainment.

I have to disagree with you here Palter. Most man to man matchups will still involve the player's tendancies, which Favre will know.

As far as the thread title goes, I will cheer, albiet cautiously, but I will cheer.

[CaptainKickass]

I have to admit, a game with Favre on any team playing against the Packers should be a very interesting match up.

- The Packers will know his strengths, weakness, what bothers him defensively.
- A ballhawk like Woodson, with a clear understanding of Favre's tendencies, could do well.
- With a complete change on D, Favre has no advantage from his years watching the old D.
- Favre can teach the Viking D about the Packers O.

Throwing emotions to the side, it should provide some interesting entertainment.

I have to disagree with you here Palter. Most man to man matchups will still involve the player's tendancies, which Favre will know.

The point is that while Favre may know individual GB Defensive players tendencies - those same players will also know Favre's individual player tendencies.

Hence - it's a wash. No advantage.

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[Fritz]

On the whole booing thing....

If you have to explain why you're booing, will it really be effective? Seriously, how many ways are there to interpret why fans boo?

What percentage of fans/public will understand that you love the old Favre and are pissed at the new Favre?


Sorry, from my vantage point, booing is pointless and juvenile. I don't engage in it when I'm in the stadium, or anywhere else for that matter.

I say old chap - nice purple jersey, eh?

A shame you reneged on your two retirements and your vow not to play for anyone but the Packers. Shame, old boy, But things change, indeed. [Drags on pipe, reflects] I say, good luck out there, old chap. Best man, all that. Chip-chip, cheerio.

[woodbuck27]

I'd retire his number at this game using a miniature jersey in a 25 second ceremony. Sandwich it in between some punt pass and kick winners. The video highlight reel should only contain interceptions.

Heck yes! He'll not likely retire as a Packer now after all the fiasco we've witnessed and discussed. So let's get that done at least symbolically. I suggest a short ceremony rolling a number 4 bobblehead doll out onto the field and yes that silence treatment will work best.

No seriously. I wonder if Brett Favre will retire a Green Bay Packer? I don't believe I've witnessed that question discussed here at Packerrats.

GO PACKERS!

[woodbuck27]

Hey, just to balance it out, if they show a loop of Favre's worst interceptions, maybe they could also show Goodell in NY saying "the Packers select....Justin Harrell" over and over and over.

Just trying to be "fair and balanced"!

Harrell HELL!!!!! Alot of unhappy campers with that selection.

[woodbuck27]

On the whole booing thing....

If you have to explain why you're booing, will it really be effective? Seriously, how many ways are there to interpret why fans boo?

What percentage of fans/public will understand that you love the old Favre and are pissed at the new Favre?


Sorry, from my vantage point, booing is pointless and juvenile. I don't engage in it when I'm in the stadium, or anywhere else for that matter.

You place a large premium on being a class act retailguy.

Good stuff. So many should subscribe to your program.

[woodbuck27]

The TE use appears to have drastically changed, and MM uses Finley nothing like any TE has been used in GB since......possibly ever.

I think you've eluded to this before Waldo. Pardon me for asking if you've elaborated in another thread, but can you expand on what observations you've made to arrive at this conclusion? (or point me to a previous post)

Is the use of the TE different or similar to any other teams? Or are you seeing unique usage?


.

Other teams do it that have athletic TE's that have WR catching ability.

Last year Finley ran a few routes on the sidelines, after releasing from the line (out 'n up). Sideline coverage is an absolutely foreign concept to most LB's (who would be covering him), but plays up one of Finleys greatest strengths, namely that a he can run down the field on the sideline, put out his arms, look back over his shoulder, and catch the ball. 95%+ of the NFL's TE's cannot do that, and almost no LB can cover that.

The play that Finley made a big stink about to the press. AR knows that he can do it. MM knows that he can do it, JF just needs to find it in himself. He was running back to AR straight down the seam close. The LB had him inside (the logical place to play a TE, a TE's best route would be to cut across the formation or curl inside and stop). AR tried to do the opposite. Jermichaels unusually good torso flexibility and ball tracking ability allows him to catch balls that other TE's don't have a chance of catching. Slightly tougher would have been for him to cut outside, tough catch, but definitely doable for Jermichael. It could have been what they were actually looking to do, but Jermichael didn't cut in time and AR missed a bit inside. Even crazier though would be what it appears that AR tried to do. He tried to drop it over Jermichaels outside shoulder. Again, I doubt many, if any, other TE's would catch it (that is a crazy hard catch), but if successful the LB had very little chance of defending it, and Jermichael had almost no impediment to the end zone if he didn't have to slow down (the timing of the throw made it so that he didn't have much chance to slow).

Things like that. Subtle, and related to what other TE's do, Jermichael just has such fantastic natural receiving ability that his ball placement can be very unconventional for a TE, he can catch while running top speed at an angle other than a pure crosser (his crossers are very pretty, but most TE's don't have to slow on a crosser). Difficult catches, but when he does catch them he could get so much more from the same basic types of routes.

Man your into it! Do you do what I once did? Record and replay games and plays in slow mo to get an accurate read?