What Will We Witness?

[RashanGary]

Like others have said, we need to spread them out. 4 wide with Starks or Jackson is probably ideal. The reason: When Troy Polamalu is in base or nickle he has a lot more open responsibility. Go 4 wide, and the DB's roles become much more defined. Go 5 wide and I think they're pretty much set in stone. There are only so many ways to cover 5 guys.

4 and 5 wide does a few things:

1. Gets their dominant base defense off the field
2. Better defines Troy P's role


EDIT: just read Philbin's write up. Maybe he knows more than me. Still, gonna have to see'em spread out a little.

[Tarlam!]

EDIT: just read Philbin's write up. Maybe he knows more than me. Still, gonna have to see'em spread out a little.

Na, JH. Nobody knows more than you!

[Smeefers]

Well, it looks like the 4 and 5 wide sets isn't such a bad idea after all

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AsivStwIQloM2Ed7KMFS58c5nYcB?slug=jc-steelersdefensivevulnerability020211

[HarveyWallbangers]

I love the guy! And his kids have a leg up in life!! No question why his wife married him; who wouldn't???!!!!????

Thanks for posting, Harv'.

The guy is nuts. He'd have to be up for most diehard Packer backer. The Pack cost him his job and almost his wife, but he never waivered.

[Smidgeon]

I just read a post on ESPN's NFC North blog where statistically the Steelers have been really good against 3 and 4 WR sets (second only to GB in opponent's pass rate). In both sets they've had more interceptions than TDs (actually, now I'm not sure about the 3 WR set, but definitely the 4 WR set). And the post also concedes that GB is stronger 1-4 than perhaps any other team, so maybe they break the trend. But something to keep in mind.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I just read a post on ESPN's NFC North blog where statistically the Steelers have been really good against 3 and 4 WR sets (second only to GB in opponent's pass rate). In both sets they've had more interceptions than TDs (actually, now I'm not sure about the 3 WR set, but definitely the 4 WR set). And the post also concedes that GB is stronger 1-4 than perhaps any other team, so maybe they break the trend. But something to keep in mind.

Against the two best QBs they faced (Brady and Brees), they weren't very successful. New Orleans and New England spread them out, and they gave up a lot of passing yards and points. And they lost both games. I think we'll move the ball, but we'll need to avoid turnovers and score TDs in the red zone instead of kicking FGs. Of course, you could say that about every game.

No disrespect to the Steelers, but their defense reminds me a bit of the Packers defense last year. Statistically, they were great. However, great QBs exposed them.

[RashanGary]

No disrespect to the Steelers, but their defense reminds me a bit of the Packers defense last year. Statistically, they were great. However, great QBs exposed them.

Nice find. I hope it plays out this way. I know our defense can hold them in check. I'm hoping our offense can score.

[VermontPackFan]

What you are going to see on Sunday is the Pack manhandling the Steelers like we did to the Falcons.

I like your thinking ThunderDan!

[RashanGary]

Against the two best QBs they faced (Brady and Brees), they weren't very successful. New Orleans and New England spread them out, and they gave up a lot of passing yards and points. And they lost both games. I think we'll move the ball, but we'll need to avoid turnovers and score TDs in the red zone instead of kicking FGs. Of course, you could say that about every game.

No disrespect to the Steelers, but their defense reminds me a bit of the Packers defense last year. Statistically, they were great. However, great QBs exposed them.

I went back and looked at it. Against good passers, they were really beaten up. Even Flacco and Palmer had success against them. Our OL is playing well right now. We're going to have to keep Harrison and Woodley off balance, but AR should be able to get big yardage totals. Gonna have to be careful not to throw picks. I don't picture them doing much against us. As time goes, I'm feeling better and better about this one.

[pbmax]

What you are going to see on Sunday is the Pack manhandling the Steelers like we did to the Falcons. The Packers are built for an indoor good weather game. We have speed on both the O and the D. The conditions will allow the Packers to use that speed instead of having to stand toe-to-toe with Pitt and slugging it out.

The Packers will use a lot of 4 and 5 WR/TE sets on O. They will try to spread the Pitt D out so they can't use all of the exotic blitzes LeBeau likes to run.

The Packers on D will run a lot of base 3-4 with Jenkins, Raji and Pickett to bottle up the Pitt running game. Once the Pack pulls ahead we will drop into our 2-4-5 with a lot of Raji and Jenkins. CMIII will be in Rothlessburger's face all day. Woodson will play everywhere. He will line up over the slot or TE and bring a lot of protection issues for Pitt to deal with. With Pouncey out for Pitt they will have a much harder time calling protection on the line.

I think it will finish up 41-27 with a couple of late scores by Pitt.

ARod will be MVP after going 23/29 for 345 and 4TDs (maybe one is a run).

Welcome back.

[Bretsky]

I just read a post on ESPN's NFC North blog where statistically the Steelers have been really good against 3 and 4 WR sets (second only to GB in opponent's pass rate). In both sets they've had more interceptions than TDs (actually, now I'm not sure about the 3 WR set, but definitely the 4 WR set). And the post also concedes that GB is stronger 1-4 than perhaps any other team, so maybe they break the trend. But something to keep in mind.

Brady ate them alive with a less talented group of WR's

[Bretsky]

I went back and looked at it. Against good passers, they were really beaten up. Even Flacco and Palmer had success against them. Our OL is playing well right now. We're going to have to keep Harrison and Woodley off balance, but AR should be able to get big yardage totals. Gonna have to be careful not to throw picks. I don't picture them doing much against us. As time goes, I'm feeling better and better about this one.

They have been moving Woodley around lately trying to expose the weakest link on the OL; I expect to see a lot of blitzing to the outside of Bulaga. They are going to try to expose his lack of speed and we need hm to be at least average.

[Bossman641]

Like others have said, spread the Steelers out and get a better look at where they want to blitz from. The combination of Rodgers' ability to read defenses pre-snap and Jackson's blitz pickups will be huge.