The Official Gameweek Discussion thread: 2013 Week 3: Packers v Bengals

[Cheesehead Craig]

Dibs on the one on the right.

[KYPack]

Cinci has some serious skill position players, and a tough, tough defense.

It comes down to Rodgers being kept clean, no turnovers, and the defense forcing Dalton into some bad throws while stuffing the run.

A tall order on the road. It'll be interesting to see if the secondary play gets better, as it did a bit last week. More Banjo means McMillan The Wife would be back to his dime back role more, and I think we'll see House outside and Tramon Williams playing the slot. Sorry, Micah Hyde.

Should be a tight one.

KY, what do you see from your perch in northern KY??

Well, for one thing, no one here is talking any shit.

Mr average Bengal fan is scared to death to face Rodgers and the Pack.

The Bengals have many of the same strengths and weaknesses that the Packers do. In fact, Cinci has a better defense than GB does. But there is one glaring weakness. Safety. The free safety is Reggie Nelson a former #1 for Jax. He is a decent hand back there. The up S job is split bc neither of 'em can get the work done. George Iloka and Taylor Mays play a rover SS position and both of these boys are pretty aimless. They just can't understand the covers and when to give help and where their help is coming from. Cutler made fools of both of 'em in the Bear game. The main thing in their favor is the Bengals stellar front 7. Cinci is one of the few teams that has a 8 man rotation in their front 4. These guys are quick, strong, and very smart.

The game should boil down to protection. If our OLine can't fend off the Bengals front 4, we are hurtin'.

On defense, we must pressure the shit out of Bengal QB Andy Dalton. They call the kid the "Red Rifle". He can toss the ball, but it can take him quite a few series to get his rifle sighted in. They will hit some big plays, Dalton has a number of effective weapons at his disposal. A new one is TE Tyler Eifert from ND. This kid is a like a young, White Kellen Winslow ( the father, not the son). AJ Green is a stellar WR, but him and Dalton aren't totally in synch yet. Cinci reminds me of the Pack in '09. Everything is coming together, but it ain't all there yet.

[Bossman641]

I'll echo KY. That SS position is ripe for the picking. Despite testing very well at the combine, Taylor Mays plays like a stiff back there. He gets confused in coverage and is slow in and out of his cuts. I've watched him a few games and also saw him get fooled repeatedly during Hard Knocks. The Bengal LB's are pretty slow. Middle of the field should be open for Cobb and Finley.

[Fritz]

Look like both QB's will be making hay over the middle.

And it looks like Bahkteria, Sitton, EDS, Lang, and Barclay all need to wear their big boy underwear on Sunday.

As for the Ben-gals...that one on the right. I know Cheesehead Craig has dibs, but, uh, I'll, uh, take sloppy seconds.

[pbmax]

Wednesday Practice

Tyler Dunne @TyDunne 16m
Out for #Packers: Jermichael Finley, Jarrett Bush, Casey Hayward, Eddie Lacy. And Morgan Burnett was very limited.

Kuhn out too:
Tyler Dunne @TyDunne 17m
Also, with John Kuhn out, Packers had just two healthy running backs at practice (Starks, Franklin).

[mraynrand]

In other news, McMillian was fine, but still very limited

[Guiness]

Lacy not practicing yet? Doesn't look good for the week-end.

If he can't go, they have to bring someone else in...right? Or just have Benson in the stands, and sign him at half time if needed???

[pbmax]

M3 press conference said he is in meetings and has tests tomorrow. So, maybe? Wouldn't commit to chance he practices Friday.

[ThunderDan]

Someone will have to be cut to put another RB on the squad unless Lacy is cleared.

[Cheesehead Craig]

I don't think Lacy is going to be cleared. THey'll give him the extra week with the bye coming up. That's "being smart" about the injury like the Packers are apt to do.

[Upnorth]

Do you have to sit one week if you get a concussion? Isn't that the new league protocol?

[pbmax]

Do you have to sit one week if you get a concussion? Isn't that the new league protocol?

No. Mandates are to come out of game and not to return if concussion diagnosed. After diagnosis, have to pass a battery of tests and comparisons to baseline neurological screening before you can be cleared. Can happen within a week.

[hoosier]

If Lacy is out they will just go with Starks, Franklin and Kuhn. Nobody they sign off the street could be up to speed and ready to go by Sunday, so no point in shuffling the roster. If Starks needs a rest they can plug in Kuhn for short yardage or play Franklin and pray. If Starks should go down, this will quickly become a very scary scenario of a one-dimensional offense with pass protection problems against one of the best front fours in the league. In hindsight and for this particular week only it would probably have been better to have kept Green and PC'd Franklin.

[Upnorth]

If Lacy is out they will just go with Starks, Franklin and Kuhn. Nobody they sign off the street could be up to speed and ready to go by Sunday, so no point in shuffling the roster. If Starks needs a rest they can plug in Kuhn for short yardage or play Franklin and pray. If Starks should go down, this will quickly become a very scary scenario of a one-dimensional offense with pass protection problems against one of the best front fours in the league. In hindsight and for this particular week only it would probably have been better to have kept Green and PC'd Franklin.

Ummm, don't we pretty much have a well established one dimensional attack? Last week was the first time in multiply years where we had a RB with >100 yrds.
Thanks for the info PB

[Guiness]

If Lacy is out they will just go with Starks, Franklin and Kuhn. Nobody they sign off the street could be up to speed and ready to go by Sunday, so no point in shuffling the roster. If Starks needs a rest they can plug in Kuhn for short yardage or play Franklin and pray. If Starks should go down, this will quickly become a very scary scenario of a one-dimensional offense with pass protection problems against one of the best front fours in the league. In hindsight and for this particular week only it would probably have been better to have kept Green and PC'd Franklin.

I'd feel better about that, but Kuhn is listed out. He can't possibly have pulled a hamstring the way he runs!