Cardinals Game Discussion

[Patler]

It's bad when statistically, Rodgers is worse than Manziel. But I know guys on here would never just quote or rely on stats without looking at the games themselves. #woodsontackles

Well, you can't complete a pass, gain passing yards, complete a TD pass or have an interception without throwing the ball; and you can't get a tackle by running away from the ball carriers.

[mraynrand]

you can't get a tackle by running away from the ball carriers.

Strawman - you can get credit for steering them out of bounds, 'gang' tackling, grabbing by the jersey, or tapping them when they fall.

[Freak Out]

lol

[pbmax]

That makes sense, given that a lot of Ohio State guys have a hard time keeping their pants on in the first place.

Their wallets are very heavy.

[gbgary]

the o will have to show up for at least 3 qtrs of the game...not the 1 qtr or half they've been showing up for. a little bump and run would be nice but i know that won't happen...more Rodgers under center too...oh, and actually snap the ball on those loud hard counts designed to draw people off but doesn't work of late (that'll make it more believable).

[smuggler]

I'd like to get pumped and be optimistic about this game, but I don't think we are pumping well enough on offense. Losing a slot cornerback is not going to stop the Cardinals defense, no matter how good he was.

[Patler]

Strawman - you can get credit for steering them out of bounds, 'gang' tackling, grabbing by the jersey, or tapping them when they fall.

and how are any of those things attempts to run away from tackles? You seemed to suggest that Woodson had become Tramon Williams-like, a guy who at times would not even make an effort to tackle. I have not seen that, nor did I see it last Sunday. He still plays a reasonable physical game, even if it is less so than when he was younger, but we saw evidence of that even in his last couple seasons in GB. Players get older and adapt both to diminishing skills and the effects of accumulated physical stress.

Woodson still throws his body around and plays aggressively, such as the hit on Starks.

[Maxie the Taxi]

The more I think about it, our best chance to win this game might be to get Lacy and Starks untracked like we did against Dallas. That means Stubby has to stay committed to the rush and the short passing game (screens and checkoffs) successful rushing opens up.

Arizona's defense is similar to Dallas. They've got speed and quickness, but lack some size. If we run right at 'em, not only might we keep the ball moving, but we'll keep Arizona's offense off the field. I think they lead the league in time of possession; a good Packer running game will cut into that pattern.

But Arod and Stubby will have to resist going for the home run on 3rd and 2, especially in the first half. If Palmer has less time with the ball and our defense can bend but not break, we might be able to force a low scoring game and have a chance to win.

Of course, that means Masthay and Crosby will play a big part as well. Let's hope our new LSnapper doesn't screw the pooch.

[pbmax]

The only chance the Packers have is not the short passing game, its pass protection and Rodgers getting to escape the pocket with time to throw to make Cobb a threat. Then the offense will be OK, especially if they are running well to help keep the pass rush at bay.

Cardinals, unlike Dallas, have the talent to play press man and will make the short passing game a non-entity. Rodgers is going to need time.

[Maxie the Taxi]

So, pb, you agree in general with a rush-heavy strategy?

Also, won't screens and checkoffs help Rodgers gain time? I don't understand how press man coverage negates screens and checkoffs.

[pbmax]

So, pb, you agree in general with a rush-heavy strategy?

Also, won't screens and checkoffs help Rodgers gain time? I don't understand how press man coverage negates screens and checkoffs.

It would help, though I am never in favor of running just to run and gain 1 yard unless its a time clock situation.

However, the Cardinals D is 7th against the run and 8th against the pass. So having some success running and getting to do play action would help a great deal. With Quarless back, they get a blocker who can help.

Press coverage makes short routes harder and messes up timing unless you get off the line clean. The Packers have trouble with that, so press works against them in two ways.

With time, press coverage will fail and be beaten. Intermediate routes also give receivers a chance to setup and beat the DB. But the QB needs protection for those.

Which brings us back to pass pro and running the ball and play action.

[pbmax]

Weston Hodkiewicz @WesHod 12m12 minutes ago
Bakhtiari, Shields not practicing. Elliott, Daniels and Guion didn't either but did conditioning work #Packers

Would kind of like to see Shields practice.

[pittstang5]

Weston Hodkiewicz @WesHod 12m12 minutes ago
Bakhtiari, Shields not practicing. Elliott, Daniels and Guion didn't either but did conditioning work #Packers

Would kind of like to see Shields practice.

With Shields, they have a slim chance of winning. No Shields - no win. Those receivers are gonna toast Randall and Rollins.

[pbmax]

Green Bay Packers @packers 23m23 minutes ago
McCarthy: Happy holidays & Merry Christmas to everyone.

Packer Report @PackerReport 23m23 minutes ago
Bakhtiari and Shields' status will be determined on Saturday when the #Packers practice in Scottsdale, Ariz., MM says.

Green Bay Packers @packers 22m22 minutes ago
McCarthy on Cardinals: They do a very good job taking the ball away. That's the thing that jumps out on video. #GBvsAZ

Packer Report @PackerReport 22m22 minutes ago
MM calls Matthieu a fun player to watch. The challenge is figuring out how they'll adjust to his loss.

Rob Demovsky @RobDemovsky 21m21 minutes ago
MM on third-and-1: We need to do a better job on third downs. But I'm not scratching my head. Wrote about that here: http://es.pn/1mArXhu

Green Bay Packers @packers 20m20 minutes ago
McCarthy on LS Rick Lovato: This is what he's done for a long time. Everybody has felt very comfortable with his snaps.

Packer Report @PackerReport 19m19 minutes ago
"It's a big dose of positive reality," MM says when asked if Christmas is a distraction.

Green Bay Packers @packers 18m18 minutes ago
McCarthy on Christmas: I think it's a big dose of positive reality...Everybody's going to be with their families tonight & tomorrow.

Rob Demovsky @RobDemovsky 19m19 minutes ago
McCarthy on taking Christmas off: "We've all been burning midnight oil to make sure we get our work done before we get out of here tonight."

[pbmax]

From Demovsky, a tidbit on drops that indicates that Rodgers' struggles probably are affecting his receivers just like the reverse: http://espn.go.com/blog/green-bay-pa...-not-the-issue

Nevertheless, Adams has more than doubled his dropped-pass total from last season, and he still has two games to go. When Adams dropped what would’ve been a 14-yard touchdown in the third quarter Sunday against the Oakland Raiders, it marked his ninth drop of the season in just 11 games, according to ProFootballFocus.com (Note: ESPN Stats & Information has charged Adams with only five drops this season, including the one against the Raiders). He dropped only four all of his rookie 2014 season, according to PFF and ESPN.

So ESPN has five drops this year with two games to play, versus four last year. Now of course he doesn't provide rates because that would be much too helpful. But PFF has him with double that number the year essentially. I suspect most of that difference is related to the number of targets this year versus last, but some of that (and this is why ESPN and PFF disagree) is Rodgers' targeting. Which is being affected by receivers not being where he expected them and pass pressure.

A pretty vicious cycle.