Official Lions @ Lambeau Week Discussion

[denverYooper]

Don't get caught up in the bad news. These were all things we knew. To me the question on D this year is: will the influx of talent is enough to overcome what appears at times to be either coach induced or youth induced mental errors? While pass rush is still an issue, the rest of the D looks like it can step up. Burnett and Hayward will help. It would be a slam dunk of Perry or Neal would decide to pass rush like maniacs.

On offense, remember the lesson of Matt Flynn. He has never been able to make the transition to another offense with less talent (Seattle for all its talent can't match playmakers with the Packers-they also aren't facing the Lions secondary every week). So McCarthy's offense plus the talent on hand produce results superior to the individuals. McCarthy is in his early season feeling out the offense mode, where he is transitioning from his preseason plan to the actual talent/result on the field. Lacy and Franklin will help everything else here.

It's looking like the OL as currently constituted + the two new RBs will dictate more running this year and maybe even a return of the screen game.

[Maxie the Taxi]

It seems to me Detroit's strength is up the middle, on both offense and defense. So our DL has to get a real push up the middle and get hands up in Stafford's face and throwing lanes. Jolly may make a real difference if he has a good game. D. Jones too. Stafford is at his best when he's got space in front of him. We need to get him moving under pressure toward the sidelines somehow. Play man in the secondary. Stafford doesn't like to eat the ball. He'll force it.

On offense, I'd run the ball at the rookie DE. Allow Lacy to wear the kid out. I'd roll Rodgers out his way too. And throw dinks and dunks and WR screens to his side. Get Fairly and Suh chasing plays laterally. If Stubby can adopt the West Coast style of Holmgren and be patient, taking what the defense will give him, this is the Sunday to do it. Eventually, a WR will work free. Detroit will probably play Tampa 2. If Rodgers simply drops back into the pocket looking for the quick strike, he'll get killed.

[Cheesehead Craig]

The Rodgers roll-out would be nice to see again. I think it's a bit of an underutilized play. Keep the misdirection going and Lions' DL guessing.

[Freak Out]

Saw some Packers fans in the airport this evening. Dudes were true Packer freaks. All they could talk about was the media jinxing the Pack because of non-stop talk of the home field streak against the lions.

[Guiness]

Saw some Packers fans in the airport this evening. Dudes were true Packer freaks. All they could talk about was the media jinxing the Pack because of non-stop talk of the home field streak against the lions.

You had to bring that up, eh?

I'll never forget Vick coming to town with the Falcons...the media could NOT shut up about the fact that the Packers had never lost a home game in the playoffs at Lambeau.

[Iron Mike]

I wonder if he chuckled while writing "Bush Full"

I like a big Bush....

[bobblehead]

I wonder if he chuckled while writing "Bush Full"

NO clue, but I think Red threw up in his mouth a little.

[bobblehead]

I don't know how McCarthy's ticker can stand his willingness to take a risk.

Franklin, who looked like a new kickoff returner in preseason (complete with some trouble tracking the ball and tucking it away) will be the kickoff returner. Hyde is punt returner. Cobb gets the sure hands duty for both.

Packer Report @PackerReport 25m
MM will go "situational" with returns. Hyde on punts, Franklin on kickoffs, Cobb in others.

Cobb hasn't exactly been sure handed in his time in GB. I say bring back Desmond Howard.

[Pugger]

How good are the loins at stopping the run? Can they keep Lacy in check?

[pbmax]

How good are the loins at stopping the run? Can they keep Lacy in check?

Football Outsiders has them 23rd in the League versus the run, 10th versus the pass.

[Joemailman]

They haven't been consistently bad against the run, but they have been burned for some big plays. In 3 of their 4 games, they given up a run of 30 yards or more, including a 53 yarder against Forte and a 78 yarder against Peterson. As for the #10 passing rating, it's worth pointing out that the QB's they've faced are 32nd, 26th, 19th and 17th in passer rating.

[sooner6600]

Can the Pack cover 7?

[denverYooper]

Michael Rodney @PackerUpdate 3m

GB is at home, coming off a bye and needs this game more than DET. If GB doesn't win today, this could be a long year for Packers fans.

[denverYooper]

Can the Pack cover 7?

I can't believe the spread is 7.5.

I mean, I can, because it is.

But it's still surprising.

[Pugger]

Michael Rodney @PackerUpdate 3m

GB is at home, coming off a bye and needs this game more than DET. If GB doesn't win today, this could be a long year for Packers fans.

Understatement of the millennium.