Wild Card Week: They Might Be Giants

[pbmax]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000770369/article/nfc-wild-card-primer-giants-vs-packers-on-sunday

Didn't like this write up at all.

[vince]

Is anyone else thinking to themselves that they kindof like the Packers better with Geronimo in place of Cobb and the amoeba in place of Randall/Rollins?

Cobb seems to be suffering from Fan WhatHaveYouDoneForMeLately Syndrome.

Allison's been a great addition, particularly when Cobb's been gimpy with the high ankle sprain but if Cobb's healthy he's definitely part of the solution. A lot of Allison's success is due to his reliability but it also may have something to do with sneaking up on teams who are putting their best guys and scheming toward the other known quantities on offense.

In the end, they're different players who bring different threats utilized in different situations...

With regard to the defense, yeah at this point Hyde's an upgrade over Rollins on the perimeter. Rollins' game has always been better suited for being inside . I also like Brice's skills on the back-end so as long as he's not biting on crossing routes under and getting beat over the top - which he hasn't been - that puts Burnett in a better position to fit his skillset too.

[pbmax]

I am not sure Hyde will prove to be an upgrade over Rollins outside for long. He is a safety/CB hybrid and his coverage is already a bit suspect inside. Rollins is better fit inside, but unlike Hyde and safety, his second best position is outside CB.

We'll see. He can man handle receivers unlike TEs a bit, so he might be effective, but I think its a short time before offenses, coordinators and WRs figure him out.

[pbmax]

Zach Kruse @zachkruse2
Jeff Janis did not receive an All-Pro vote.

[pbmax]

Tretter back to full health.

Might never return to Packers, position unknown, and there are several veterans who must be cut because their cap number is some arbitrary amount too high.

Also, the Packers have too much cap room.

http://www.packersnews.com/story/sports/nfl/packers/2017/01/06/free-agency-looms-tretter-reaches-full-strength/96246722/

[vince]

Giants defense has become elite but I just think the Packers match up well with them.

Philly and Pittsburgh were the two teams to beat G-Men in their last 11 games. They were successful by getting an early lead and finishing the game despite being outscored in the 2nd half - forcing the Giants battle against the clock and do what the Giants don't do well - just as is the Packer way.

Philly got out to a 21-6 first-half lead and won 24-19. Pittsburgh led 14-0 at the half and won 24-14.

It's too bad the only two teams to beat the Giants in their last 11 took their foot off the gas and lost the 2nd half. Buncha turtles. That's no way to win games.

[vince]

I am not sure Hyde will prove to be an upgrade over Rollins outside for long. He is a safety/CB hybrid and his coverage is already a bit suspect inside. Rollins is better fit inside, but unlike Hyde and safety, his second best position is outside CB.

We'll see. He can man handle receivers unlike TEs a bit, so he might be effective, but I think its a short time before offenses, coordinators and WRs figure him out.

Rollins has proven to be a liability outside. He's short-area quick with good ball skills and instincts but not tall or physical enough to be too slow to cover deep.

Gunter's slow too but his size and physicality help him cover outside - most of the time anyway.

Hyde isn't fast enough either but he can be more physical too, as was the case against Tate. Hopefully. I'm not saying he's the answer by any stretch but I think he'll be as good as Rollins - which is still a liability they have to figure out how to cover up.

[pbmax]

Rollins has proven to be a liability outside. He's short-area quick with good ball skills and instincts but not tall or physical enough to be too slow to cover deep.

Gunter's slow too but his size and physicality help him cover outside - most of the time anyway.

Hyde isn't fast enough either but he can be more physical too, as was the case against Tate. Hopefully. I'm not saying he's the answer by any stretch but I think he'll be as good as Rollins - which is still a liability they have to figure out how to cover up.

OK, but that physicality lets you cover a 10 yard back shoulder throw, not gonna work when they go deep.

Hyde is no outside corner at all. Packers will be in 2 deep to help.

[pbmax]

Rob Demovsky @RobDemovsky
Aaron Rodgers did not make the AP All-Pro team after finishing third in the voting behind Altanta's Matt Ryan... http://es.pn/2jcigEf

Rob Demovsky @RobDemovsky 11m11 minutes ago
Rob Demovsky Retweeted Rob Demovsky
AP All-Pro QB voting:
Matt Ryan (29 votes)
Tom Brady (15)
Aaron Rodgers (5)
Derek Carr (1)

If only Eli had managed to get votes ahead of Rodgers, I would predict an epic beatdown.

[texaspackerbacker]

Is anyone else thinking to themselves that they kindof like the Packers better with Geronimo in place of Cobb and the amoeba in place of Randall/Rollins?

I'll second that emotion.

[pbmax]

Gil Brandt @Gil_Brandt 1h1 hour ago
Packers had more wins against teams in this year's playoffs (5) than any other playoff participant. Titans (not in playoffs) also went 5-2.

Of course two of them were versus the Lions.

[vince]

OK, but that physicality lets you cover a 10 yard back shoulder throw, not gonna work when they go deep.

Hyde is no outside corner at all. Packers will be in 2 deep to help.

Can't disagree with that other than to say there are tricks that unfast vets like Sherman, Al Harris and the like have up their sleeve to force guys off fly routes, cause them to shuffle-step and/or squeeze them to the sideline while turning to look for the ball to help them stay close and not get called for a penalty. Guys who are good at it can and do get away with a lot of contact downfield.

Again everyone prefers speed but lanky physical (and slower) guys sometimes have some techniques/tricks that can work.

Rollins has consistently been victimized by the similar techniques/tricks that WR's use to get separation. Not only is he not fast but he gets pushed around by receivers downfield.

[pbmax]

Jason Wilde @jasonjwilde 3m3 minutes ago
#Packers have officially ruled CB Quinten Rollins out for Sunday.

[swede]

JJP isn't playing so perhaps they won't sack Rodgers like you suggest. The Gmen aren't all that hot at running the ball and Eli is inconsistent as hell.

It is the inconsistent part that bothers me. Usually he is just okay. Sometimes he is a killer. I wish he were more consistently meh.

The cold playoff loss in GB he dropped pass after pass in exactly the right spot. I thought our DBs were great in that game, but the explosive pass plays were inches over the defenders' hands and inches within bounds.

[Fritz]

I keep reading too that the Giants' running game is getting better and better.