TJV
Lifelong Packers Fanatic
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2011
- Messages
- 5,389
- Reaction score
- 954
I disagree this is a must win. If the Packers lose of course it puts more pressure on them but they could still get to the bye week at 5-4. If they lose they’ll have to go on a run to make the playoffs but that’s true whether they win or lose Sunday. And to accomplish that, the passing game has to get and then stay in sync like last season. If that happens Sunday night, the Packers have a decent chance of winning. If that doesn’t happen Sunday, it better happen for the next game.
The Packers will miss Benson. I think Green is getting the start and while he probably can’t avoid a negative play as well as Benson, he has better breakaway speed from scrimmage and as a check down – or planned – receiver out of the backfield.
I’d like to see McCarthy depend on YAC more and shorten up the “target zone”. It’s great hitting those max protection, two receivers deep plays (usually to Nelson) but until Rodgers and the offense get in sync, I’d rather see check downs to RBs, Cobb in motion for slashing type routes and the WRs and TEs run routes in the 10-15 yard area.
Against a good team like the Texans on the road, the Packers really need to return to protecting the ball and taking it away. I don't know how many potential INTs they've dropped in 5 games but I know its way too many and my impression is its significantly more than last season.
I disagree about Pickett. He came into the season nursing a calf injury but played very tough against the Seahawks and the Saints before he hurt his shoulder. McGinn says Pickett was the first DL off the ball when they denied Luck’s sneak on 4th and one. IMO the best way for the Packers to slow down Houston’s ground game is for both Raji and Pickett to be as healthy as possible and to play a lot. Also IMO to stop the run, Perry should play a lot at OLB with a healthy Raji in the middle in the base and a healthy Pickett and Neal at DEs. I’m not sure Neal has replaced Wilson at DE and either way, both are likely to get a lot of snaps. Perry with a run stopper in front of him in the base at DE is a better idea than Perry at DE IMO. If Raji can’t play – or can’t play much – Pickett will get a lot of snaps at NT. If House’s shoulder isn’t strong enough for him to be physical he could repeat T. Williams’ performance from last season and IMO they have better options to double Johnson.We have to and i repeat have to contain the run first that's most critical imo, If we can't stop the run it makes our pass rush even more null. I would like to see Perry used more as a DE and see Neal more as well and plug Pickett in only part time because he's done nothing to this point as a run stuffer so we mise well use speed over gurth.
The Packers will miss Benson. I think Green is getting the start and while he probably can’t avoid a negative play as well as Benson, he has better breakaway speed from scrimmage and as a check down – or planned – receiver out of the backfield.
I’d like to see McCarthy depend on YAC more and shorten up the “target zone”. It’s great hitting those max protection, two receivers deep plays (usually to Nelson) but until Rodgers and the offense get in sync, I’d rather see check downs to RBs, Cobb in motion for slashing type routes and the WRs and TEs run routes in the 10-15 yard area.
Against a good team like the Texans on the road, the Packers really need to return to protecting the ball and taking it away. I don't know how many potential INTs they've dropped in 5 games but I know its way too many and my impression is its significantly more than last season.