Packers vs. Texans Discussion Thread

[3irty1]

The A-Rod comments about the scout team makes me wonder how badly we miss Matt Flynn. The backup QB is traditionally the head of the scout team offense. Its a big advantage to have a bright spot like Flynn there during practice.

[pittstang5]

Packers will keep things close in the 1st half and will shows signs of life right before half time. Half time score = Texans 14, Packers 10.

2nd half - Texans bust loose. They ditch running the ball and go after the secondary with success. Rogers throws 2 picks trying to catch up. Texans do whatever they want offensively and defensively against the Packers in the 2nd half.

Final Score = Texans 31, Packers 17

Write it down.

[pbmax]

Randall Liu @RLiuNFL
Mike Wallace had 3rd career 80+ yd rec TD last nite. 3 other actives have 3+, all #Packers: Jennings (4), Nelson, Driver
Retweeted by Jason Wilde

Unfortunately, none that I remember this year.

[pbmax]

Packer Report @PackerReport
#Packers rule out Jennings; Finley, Williams, Raji are all questionable http://gnb.scout.com/2/1229375.html

Richardson also out. He also has House behind Shields and Hayward on depth chart despite full participation and questionable status.

[Freak Out]

Working in the Oil Biz I invariably end up dealing with many Texans...most have lived in Houston at some point, and they are letting it fly this week. Hopefully the Packers can shut them up for a bit.

[BobDobbs]

I just watched a handful of the Texans games on condensed mode. We can run on them up the middle. They do love to run blitz, so if they make the right call they will blow it up and McCarthy has to not get scared. This is a great game for Starks to come back, we need some force up the middle.
They also want to come upfield fast, screens, traps, and draws will all be our friend. We can do some damage. Hard team to block though, our Oline might lose this game for us.

I'm more worried about our defense. Pickett has been a little down this year and Raji is hobbled. Schaub gets a lot of time in the pocket because everybody respects the play action. They have been opening up the offense to take deeper shots as the season wears on. That's my main fear they have a ton of big receivers and tight ends that they are going to throw 5-10 deeper balls to during the game. How we do on those is big time.

Also, if we play outside contain like we did against the Colts then we lose. Arian Foster is a tad better than Donald Brown. If Tate doesn't play that helps us too, they don't have someone to replace him..

They've given up a couple of return TDs and they have a little guy who took some back in the preseason. It's possible that a return swings this game.

I want to see how much fight we have this Sunday.

[mraynrand]

Working in the Oil Biz I invariably end up dealing with many Texans...most have lived in Houston at some point, and they are letting it fly this week. Hopefully the Packers can shut them up for a bit.

I just let one fly - cleared out the room

[rbaloha1]

In a strange way its much more relaxing to enter a game expecting to lose.

Expect the Packers to improve and establish a running game. Leaning towards the Packers eeking out a victory -- the Packers are the more desperate team.

[rbaloha1]

The A-Rod comments about the scout team makes me wonder how badly we miss Matt Flynn. The backup QB is traditionally the head of the scout team offense. Its a big advantage to have a bright spot like Flynn there during practice.

Good point. Combined with Philbin's OCD definitely helped the scout team perform the way A-rod liked.

[Patler]

Here's a bit of info from here in MN, Antoinne Winfield called the team together earlier this season, I think before the season actually and gave them all an impassioned speech about how the youngsters need to step up now and practice harder like the vets do. He called out the whole team essentially to man up and make the most of the "now" moment. The players responded huge to it and on the radio interviews the vets are saying how practice is very intense and guys are really playing hard and that it's carrying over to Sunday. You know what, a 4-1 record is pretty supportive of that.

Perhaps the Pack needs a "come to Jesus" meeting like that as well.

Apparently Winfield did that behind closed doors. A respected veterans speech like that can often unite a team. Unfortunately, many athletes today look at public criticism, such as from Rodgers, as "disrespect". Then, yesterday, we had several Packer coaches coming to the defense of the scout team, seemingly flat-out contradicting what Rodgers had to say about them:

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packe...173980081.html

I have a bad feeling about where the team is headed this year. As much as the Packers over-achieved during the 2011 season, I think they might underachieve in 2012. Sunday is a pivotal game, in my opinion. They don't absolutely have to win it, but they must at least make the outcome in doubt until they very end. If they do that, there is still hope. If they are beaten rather easily, I will not expect them to rebound.

And, as I said, I have a bad feeling about this season. I think the Packers lose, the score will be closer than the game, with the Packers never really being in it. The Packers lose by just 24-17 with some late, meaningless points making the result look closer than the game..

[MadtownPacker]

Hell nah it aint going down like that Patler. That article will only serve to piss Rodgers off more and I like me a pissed off ARod.

Bet all your retirement/pension/savings so you can double that shit!

[pbmax]

I suspect a lot of the hand wringing about rookies and backups attitude on scout teams is just a lot of wasted time and effort over the unknowable.

I think the Philbin angle probably holds more water, as an offense coach who studied the defensive opponent for the week, he knew far more precisely what he needed from the scout team. And it does not sound like Clements or McAdoo have taken on that responsibility.

McCarthy made a statement early in his tenure, in criticism of Marty Schottenheimer, that he learned as an assistant that he would never expect his D coordinator to prepare to give him scout team looks with his starters. That is, to use the starting defense's practice time to improve the offense or vice versa. So Philbin taking on the role of tutoring backups for the scout duty makes tremendous sense.

Now Philbin's absence doesn't explain the Chiefs loss, where many of the difficulties they are having now are apparent well before his family's tragedy. So this concern doesn't cover all the problems on O, but I buy that its bothering the QB.

[digitaldean]

Listening to Shannon Sharpe commenting on Packers and Rodgers reminds me how much of an ass he is. He said that Rodgers isn't great person because of the blame he's throwing around. "Just because you're an MVP doesn't mean you're a great person." Asshat.
ONLY things I agreed with is the lack of a running game and the amt of pressure on Rodgers. From what I've been reading is the Packers probably should run on Houston, especially with Cushing being out.
Would hope they try more quick slants because that may help negate Watt and the Texans pass rush.

[Patler]

Listening to Shannon Sharpe commenting on Packers and Rodgers reminds me how much of an ass he is. He said that Rodgers isn't great person because of the blame he's throwing around. "Just because you're an MVP doesn't mean you're a great person." Asshat.
ONLY things I agreed with is the lack of a running game and the amt of pressure on Rodgers. From what I've been reading is the Packers probably should run on Houston, especially with Cushing being out.
Would hope they try more quick slants because that may help negate Watt and the Texans pass rush.

My reply to Sharpe would be, "Just because you are a TV commentator doesn't mean you know what you are talking about."

[mraynrand]

My replay to Sharpe would be, "Just because you are a TV commentator doesn't mean you know what you are talking about."

This would be my replay to Sharpe: