Who called it?

[vince]

Blitzing 7 would be a damn stupid idea. That's why I didn't suggest it.

Did you watch the game tonight? The Bears' secondary is about as beat up and inexperienced as ours. How did they compensate for that? They went all in on the pass rush. Bradford didn't have time to think, let alone pass. He was sacked 5 times and hurried 9 times. 228 yds passing. 1 TD. And QB rating of 88.6.

Yeah, I know, Ryan isn't Bradford. But that's not the point. The point is we'll never know if the Bears' strategy would have worked for the Packers because we never gave it a try. Instead, we let Ryan have all the time he needed to pick our secondary apart.

Here's yet another in a long line of confusing results with intent. The Bears, as is their norm, played it soft in coverage and rarely blitzed. Their front four demolished the Vikes OL but the Bears strategy was very similar to the Packers - with a different result.

[Pugger]

Here's yet another in a long line of confusing results with intent. The Bears, as is their norm, played it soft in coverage and rarely blitzed. Their front four demolished the Vikes OL but the Bears strategy was very similar to the Packers - with a different result.

MN's O line is in much worse shape today than it was in week 2.

[pbmax]

I think if the Packers played more zone, he might have blitzed more. But because they are in man, he wanted help with Jones but also the middle of the field.

That said, I am all for variety. Would have loved to see a little more blitzing. I think the sent 5 maybe twice.

[vince]

I think if the Packers played more zone, he might have blitzed more. But because they are in man, he wanted help with Jones but also the middle of the field.

That said, I am all for variety. Would have loved to see a little more blitzing. I think the sent 5 maybe twice.

I agree, particularly on the last drive. Hingsight's 20/20 and it's the luxury of us fans.

[Maxie the Taxi]

I agree, particularly on the last drive. Hingsight's 20/20 and it's the luxury of us fans.

It's not all hindsight, Vince. Check out the game thread.

[vince]

Now I'm guilty of it. I went back and watched the final drive. The Packers had Peppers, Daniels, Jones and Perry rushing to start the series. I'd expect that four to get some pressure but it didn't happen. Because of that, they blitzed 3 times during that series to try to get pressure. It worked once.

The first time Burnett came free but Ryan got it out to Sanu for an incompletion. It was the play that Gunter jumped the route expecting the hot read but Sanu's hands got to the ball first.

The next play Atlanta ran a screen in anticipation of another blitz but fortunately the Packers covered and held that up for a short gain.

Later Joe Thomas blitzed up the middle but was snuffed. He was stuffed by the center and had no shot so then appeared to be spying Ryan as much as blitzing.

Then on the third and one prior to the game winner the Packers brought the house and Ryan hit the TE for a first down who was not covered due to the blitz.

The rest is history. They brought fresher guys in to try to get to the QB. Nothing really worked. So while what they did was ineffective, it's revisionist to say they didn't try to get pressure on the last drive. The intent was there. The results were not.

[wist43]

I didn't think we'd win. Then again I'm one of the few on this site that thinks we're a seriously flawed team.

[vince]

The following also may have come into play at the end of the game.

Going in, the Packers D was 7th best in the league in defensive red zone efficiency. Opponents scored a TD on 46% of their red zone trips. Conversely, Atlanta's O was 23rd best in the red zone scoring TD's at 50%. So history indicated there would be less than a 50% chance the Falcons would get a TD in that situation.

Then someone (my guess is Dix who vacated the middle of the field to double Jones) missed their assignment.

[Anti-Polar Bear]

Now I'm guilty of it. I went back and watched the final drive. The Packers had Peppers, Daniels, Jones and Perry rushing to start the series. I'd expect that four to get some pressure but it didn't happen. Because of that, they blitzed 3 times during that series to try to get pressure. It worked once.

The first time Burnett came free but Ryan got it out to Sanu for an incompletion. It was the play that Gunter jumped the route expecting the hot read but Sanu's hands got to the ball first.

The next play Atlanta ran a screen in anticipation of another blitz but fortunately the Packers covered and held that up for a short gain.

Later Joe Thomas blitzed up the middle but was snuffed. He was stuffed by the center and had no shot so then appeared to be spying Ryan as much as blitzing.

Then on the third and one prior to the game winner the Packers brought the house and Ryan hit the TE for a first down who was not covered due to the blitz.

The rest is history. They brought fresher guys in to try to get to the QB. Nothing really worked. So while what they did was ineffective, it's revisionist to say they didn't try to get pressure on the last drive. The intent was there. The results were not.

Great post.

I rarely watch/rewatch highlights/films of a Packer loss. Life's full of miseries, so why suffer even more reliving a melancholic defeat?

(Disclosure: Even though my team was walloped by 40-something in a high school football game, I still watch/rewatch the highlights of that game, especially of myself shutting down Darren Charles.)

I wonder if the Claymaker would've made a difference. Probably not, not even if he was healthy, b/c the Claymaker likely would've taken himself out of the game on that crucial drive.

[Anti-Polar Bear]

The following also may have come into play at the end of the game.

Going in, the Packers D was 7th best in the league in defensive red zone efficiency. Opponents scored a TD on 46% of their red zone trips. Conversely, Atlanta's O was 23rd best in the red zone scoring TD's at 50%. So history indicated there would be less than a 50% chance the Falcons would get a TD in that situation.

Then someone (my guess is Dix who vacated the middle of the field to double Jones) missed their assignment.

I, too, am curious about that touchdown pass My first thought after the play was, "Fire Capers! How could he be so dumb by putting a LB who sucks in coverage on a receiver, especially with the game on the line?"

Capers has been calling a lot of man coverages lately, much to my displeasure b/c Hyde and Burnett can't cover anyone mano-a-mano worth a lick, but without watching the film, I think he mighta called zone on that play. Someone and his ilk fucked up, I believe.

[pbmax]

Agree, nice post Vince. I did not recall them sending 5 twice in addition to the big blitz I did remember.

[vince]

Actually when Burnett came free off the edge Perry dropped so it was more of a zone blitz. It was the only play that created pressure so if the definition of blitz requires 5 or more rushers that one doesn't qualify but it was the only one that enabled a free rusher to the QB which is the objective.

[pbmax]

Actually when Burnett came free off the edge Perry dropped so it was more of a zone blitz. It was the only play that created pressure so if the definition of blitz requires 5 or more rushers that one doesn't qualify but it was the only one that enabled a free rusher to the QB which is the objective.

Was that the blitz that sent Perry AND Jones back into a zone drop? Thought that was earlier, but could have been repeated.

[vince]

You may be remembering the play. It was the last series. 3:04 remaining.

Looking at it again now (it's tough to catch it all at once), on the play, Perry and Daniels both dropped and it was Hyde who also came from the opposite side on a blitz. Hyde got blocked up but Burnett was unabated while the whole right side of the OL stood looking for someone to block after both Daniels and Perry dropped. Ryan got it out quickly to Sanu who ran a quick out from the left slot. Gunter was playing off Jones (who was wide left) and jumped the route to break it up but was just a hair late for the pick 6.

[pbmax]

You may be remembering the play. It was the last series. 3:04 remaining.

Looking at it again now (it's tough to catch it all at once), on the play, Perry and Daniels both dropped and it was Hyde who also came from the opposite side on a blitz. Hyde got blocked up but Burnett was unabated while the whole right side of the OL stood looking for someone to block after both Daniels and Perry dropped. Ryan got it out quickly to Sanu who ran a quick out from the left slot. Gunter was playing off Jones (who was wide left) and jumped the route to break it up but was just a hair late for the pick 6.

It was my favorite blitz because of the useless lineman part.