Strategy for GB vs MN

[CaptainKickass]

I'm no expert, hell, I ain't even a coach, but it's fun to pretend you're the coach - and some of you posters here are the best at "hindsight coaching" so let's put it to the test.

What strategy would you have the Pack employ for the MN showdown? Let's please be a bit more descriptive/creative than the 'ol "gotta stop the run" and "get the running game going".

Offense:

Running:
With the supposed athleticism of our young offensive line, and the rumor that they're better at run blocking than pass blocking, how about we run an old fashioned sweep? It can't really be worse than what we've seen from the run game so far.

Passing:
Bootleg rollouts with greater frequency. The ones where the fullback rolls with the QB. I feel like this would work well with the aforementioned sweep.

***Special offensive consideration***

We could also say fuck it, and take a page from Belicheat a few years ago. Show up and throw down the classic 5 wide/spread offense. No way MN can cover our starting 5 receivers. Screw the run totally, until we get enough scores to where we just try to eat up clock.

Defense:

Leaving this up to Dom's discretion of course, but:
Gotta keep 2 safety's deep all game - both for passing as well as stopping the long run.

The D line should be fresher with a steady rotation of Jenkins, Pickett, Jolly and Raji.


What say all of you?

[PlantPage55]

On offense:

1. I would start the game out with a flea-flicker right away.

2. Lots of tosses in the run game. We've had success with Ryan Grant against the Vikings D in the past by taking the run away from their beefy line from the start. Their LBs are good, but let's make them work to prove it, because running into that DLine too often would make it too easy for them.

3. This is where we unleash Finley. Throw out of the 2 TE set with frequency.

On defense:

Start out by absolutely selling out to defend the run. 8 men in the box and lots of blitzing early. We either rock Brett early or we learn early on that he has come with his A-game.

[Fritz]

Run, Forest. run!

But run sweeps. If our linemen are athletic they might be able to stretch that defense and get Grant outside - he can cut back (if Barbre and Colledge do their jobs) or try to get four or five yards going wide.

[MOBB DEEP]

How many different threads will there be about "The Game"?

[falco]

How many different threads will there be about "The Game"?

The number is only limited by your imagination... get to work Mobb!

[MJZiggy]

Don't encourage him.

I'd probably start by going after Bert a little bit, but that's because I'm a fan--I realize you can get burned that way, but he tends to start off wild and he'll be hyped extra hard for this one. If you can get in his face (but DON'T hit him) he might toss one up early.

On offense, fake slant to the middle and take it long to Jennings down the sideline.

[boiga]

How many different threads will there be about "The Game"?

This from the guy that had 6 favre threads at once?

I like what Leroy Butler said in his recent column. We need to run to the left the entire game to take Jared Allen out of his comfort zone. I don't want to see Grant trying to find a gap between the tackles all game, because there won't be one against the Williams wall. Grant will find a lot more open field if he waits for Allen to rush into the backfield and lose containment. This will also set up Rodgers to roll out in play action to his right, where he'll have the time and vision to make some plays down field or with his own speed.

On the defensive side of the ball, I'm much more worried AP than the passing game. I'm not sure I trust this big okie arrangement as a long term solution. Still, I'd rather leave the game in Favre's hands than lose 8 yards to Peterson every down. Favre's either going to have an amazing game, or he's going to have a complete meltdown. We know this. We've seen it over and over again in big games. If we can manage to bring the pressure, I like our chances.

[The Shadow]

OFFENSE
1. I would mostly commit to an early pass-happy approach, with the emphasis on quick short routes - at least until I see how well we can cope with the pass rush.
2. When we do run, I'd attack the edges, and make the fat boys on the inside run. I'd also instruct my guards and center to cut, cut, cut at the knees. The Williams boys hate that.

DEFENSE
If we can't slow up Peterson, nothing will help - he is by far the big danger.
When it comes to Favre :
I'd employ the exact same approach all smart Defensive Coordinators have employed against Favre. That approach is based on what his late-career tendencies are :

- If he has all day to throw, he can cut up a secondary
- he still has a very strong arm
- BUT :
- he now longer seems willing to stand in and take a hit to wait on a route
-he isn't the most cerebral quarterback at reading unexpected coverages
- he will often panic under unexpected pressure
SO : a few early unexpected blitzes and good pressure should encourage the airballs and poor decisions.

[bbbffl66]

On offense:

Run outside the tackes. Putting your head down and running into a brick wall is dumb. Make the d-line chase.

Quick passes so as to keep ARod alive.
Field postion a must!!!! Play call smart and don't take too many chances that would lead to turnovers or punting from the endzone after yet another bone crusing sack on ARod.

On Defense:

Sell out to stop AP. Hope to god that Chuck and Al bring their A games!
Blitz like hell on pass downs and make Bert have to move in the pocket.

[Bossman641]

I agree with a lot of what Shadow said.

Run to the edges and make the Williams work down the line. In order to have any success though they will need to make sure to take care of Allen on the backside.

Defensively, it all comes down to slowing down AD. If they can control him and get the Vikings into 2nd and 3rd and long Capers will be able to dial up some blitzes and get some hits on the old man.

[Rastak]

I agree with a lot of what Shadow said.

Run to the edges and make the Williams work down the line. In order to have any success though they will need to make sure to take care of Allen on the backside.

Defensively, it all comes down to slowing down AD. If they can control him and get the Vikings into 2nd and 3rd and long Capers will be able to dial up some blitzes and get some hits on the old man.

Against both Cleveland and Detroit the Vikings got sloppy and lost contain early and often...not nearly as bad last Sunday.


All three teams the Vikings have played have blitzed constantly. I think the 49ers got away from it more in the second half though.

[mmmdk]

I agree with a lot of what Shadow said.

Run to the edges and make the Williams work down the line. In order to have any success though they will need to make sure to take care of Allen on the backside.

Defensively, it all comes down to slowing down AD. If they can control him and get the Vikings into 2nd and 3rd and long Capers will be able to dial up some blitzes and get some hits on the old man.

Against both Cleveland and Detroit the Vikings got sloppy and lost contain early and often...not nearly as bad last Sunday.


All three teams the Vikings have played have blitzed constantly. I think the 49ers got away from it more in the second half though.

TV guys said Favre burned 49ers D on their blitz in first half; Niners didn't blitz (much) in second half. They still brought HEAT with their front. Favre almost got picked for six on 4th down but Vikings got the ball back and Favre delivered.

Stopping AD will help stop Favre; then it might get close.

[Rastak]

Yea Michael, he had some REALLY nice throws. Perfect strike to Rice, Berrian dropped a perfect throw, but he also had more than a couple really poor throws. There were 3 or 4 throw I just couldn't see Jackson or Rosenfels making including the last TD. Never would have come to that if the Vikes hadn't whiffed on a block on the halftime FG attempt and then have the ball bounce right into a 9er's hands for a 10 point swing.

[Bossman641]

I agree with a lot of what Shadow said.

Run to the edges and make the Williams work down the line. In order to have any success though they will need to make sure to take care of Allen on the backside.

Defensively, it all comes down to slowing down AD. If they can control him and get the Vikings into 2nd and 3rd and long Capers will be able to dial up some blitzes and get some hits on the old man.

Against both Cleveland and Detroit the Vikings got sloppy and lost contain early and often...not nearly as bad last Sunday.


All three teams the Vikings have played have blitzed constantly. I think the 49ers got away from it more in the second half though.

Where has most of the pressure been coming from? I would assume RT is a trouble spot but that's nothing more then a guess.

[mmmdk]

Yea Michael, he had some REALLY nice throws. Perfect strike to Rice, Berrian dropped a perfect throw, but he also had more than a couple really poor throws. There were 3 or 4 throw I just couldn't see Jackson or Rosenfels making including the last TD. Never would have come to that if the Vikes hadn't whiffed on a block on the halftime FG attempt and then have the ball bounce right into a 9er's hands for a 10 point swing.

...so you're saying Packers have a chance?

What are you and Vikes up to? This worries me!