WHAT TO LEARN FROM HOODY TO BEAT PITTSBURG--OUR BLUEPRINT ?

[pbmax]

The Steeler front might be better - and certainly is more difficult to dissect pre-snap - than Chicago. Jets showed even Brady can be confused. Can the Steelers do the same to Rodgers?

They can confuse with pressure and front, but in the back they are predictable. Rodney Harrison called them on it after NE drilled Pittsburgh. Zone all day long. There are holes if there is time.

[mission]

I didn't even know we had Chris Cooley.

You trying to say Cooley is a top 2 TE?

[mraynrand]

You trying to say Cooley is a top 2 TE?

pretty much, but only based on stats. It was just a lame attempt at a joke anyways....

[mission]

pretty much, but only based on stats. It was just a lame attempt at a joke anyways....

I figured, but then went in the tank trying to think of Cooley's stats this season because I just assumed he fell off. Thought Top 10 maybe, but wanted to be sure I wasn't missing anything.

[mraynrand]

They can confuse with pressure and front, but in the back they are predictable. Rodney Harrison called them on it after NE drilled Pittsburgh. Zone all day long. There are holes if there is time.

They have two weeks to practice and plan. Rodgers can be forced to hold the ball a little longer with a mix of man underneath and zone over the top, allowing the pass rush time to get there. The huge difference is that Brady will not run and Rodgers can gash you - if he keeps his head clear.

[mraynrand]

I figured, but then went in the tank trying to think of Cooley's stats this season because I just assumed he fell off. Thought Top 10 maybe, but wanted to be sure I wasn't missing anything.

I was surprised to see him way up there in receptions and yards. Witten was unreal with 90+ catches and around 1000 yards, but Cooley was in the seventies and around 800 yards - he was a check-down monster.

[pbmax]

They have two weeks to practice and plan. Rodgers can be forced to hold the ball a little longer with a mix of man underneath and zone over the top, allowing the pass rush time to get there. The huge difference is that Brady will not run and Rodgers can gash you - if he keeps his head clear.

We shall see. But the Pittsburgh MO is zilch man to man. If they switch up, those DBs and LBs will be vulnerable.

[mraynrand]

We shall see. But the Pittsburgh MO is zilch man to man. If they switch up, those DBs and LBs will be vulnerable.

I agree. I'm just kind of wondering out loud what the Pitt defense can do to slow the Packers down. The only thing I come up with that is likely at all is that the Packer O-line just gets obliterated start to finish and Troy P guesses right an awful lot.

[pbmax]

I agree. I'm just kind of wondering out loud what the Pitt defense can do to slow the Packers down. The only thing I come up with that is likely at all is that the Packer O-line just gets obliterated start to finish and Troy P guesses right an awful lot.

Its a possibility. My concern is that the vulnerability is when each team is overloading the other. Like when Rodgers let Peppers come at him untouched as he was planning to release the ball before the hit. Rodgers will have a receiver open, but the question is does the throw get out before the QB gets killed in that situation. For as much as the protect with seven scheme drives me nuts, I would prefer to see it and wait for someone to break free sooner. Unless he is sure something will break free immediately. And I don't mean WR bubble screens that only Nelson seems to convert.

[esoxx]

Belichick is out of the playoffs and yesterday's news. We'll win this the Packer way.