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From Official web site of 49'ers:
Jeff Jagodzinski is officially running up the offense as offensive coordinator, but make no mistake, this is head coach Mike McCarthy’s West Coast offense – one that defensive coordinator Billy Davis knows pretty well.
“It’ll be fun going against Mike after all the good times we had last year and all of the things we went through in year one coordinating together,” said Davis. “They’ve made their share of changes but there’s still a lot of Mike’s influence in it. Most of use the same schemes that we believe in and then you’ve got to attack that within your players’ abilities. He’s got a different set of weapons then he had here so last year’s training camp is a little different than what we’re facing this week, but it’s similar.”
McCarthy has one of the NFL’s best signal callers running the show on the field and that’s the future Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre. After a very down year in 2005 with an alarming interception rate, Favre has been back to his true form this season with 15 touchdowns and 12 picks and only 152 yards shy of the 3,000 passing mark.
“Brett Favre is one of the all-time greats and he still is. He’s got that mystique about him. He makes plays where most people can’t. They’ve struggled a bit this year but Brett is still Brett and he can put 30 points on you in a second.”
Favre can orchestrate long drives, quick drives and scoring drives better than almost anyone in the NFL, but he’s had a rough go of it to a certain degree with a very young offensive line charged with his protection.
He’s only been sacked 16 times, mostly a credit to his mobility and smarts in getting rid of the ball, because he has been pressured. Green Bay has started three rookies on the line this year in Tony Mall, Daryn Colledge and Jason Spitz.
“They’ve got a good young offensive line that is coming together but they are still rookies and rookies in the NFL have to go through their growing pains, and that’s what they are doing right now.”
That rookie line also accounts for some of the Packers troubles in running the ball. The Packers rank 20th in the NFL in rushing, but after three weeks straight of not reaching the 100-yard mark, Ahman Green pounded out a 102-yard outing against the Jets last week.
“Ahman is getting back to his old form. He’s gone through a couple of injuries and has overcome him but he’s been one of the top backs in the NFL without his injuries and I think he’s getting healthy again. He’s one of the most explosive backs in the NFL.”
Vernand Morency also gets his fair share of reps and against Arizona in late October, both he and Green produced 100-yard days. The 49ers need to get back to containing the run and making the Packers one-dimensional. If they can force this showdown into a passing game, the line should be able to pin back their ears and get after Favre and that young offensive line.
Of course, no one keeps a play alive like Favre and he’ll keep an eye always downfield for his money receiver Donald Driver.
“Donald Driver and Brett have been together for a long time now and they’ve got their timing down now and they are on the exact same page. Brett’s getting it to his rookie receiver too, but Donald is the guy.”
Driver leads the team with 64 catches for 943 yards and 6TD, with rookie Greg Jennings trailing at second on the team with 38 catches for 575 yards and 3TDs.
A great way to shutdown the passing attack is to intercept Favre. With his confidence in Driver, he will lay the ball up for grabs. In the Packers last three losses, he’s thrown five interceptions and just two touchdowns.
When it comes to the redzone, look for veteran tight end Bubba Franks to pop up on the radar.
“Bubba is a guy who Brett is real familiar with and they really know each other because Bubba has been there for several years. Especially down closer to the end zone Bubba really comes alive in the passing game and catches a lot of balls for them.”
Defensively, the 49ers will be without a key mainstay at linebacker. Derek Smith has been ruled out this week after suffering a hamstring injury in New Orleans.
“Anytime you lose a veteran guy of Derek’s caliber, you take a little step back but it gives an opportunity for the guys who haven’t been out there to show what they can do. We’ve been very fortunate with the guys Scot McCloughan and his staff have brought in. They’ve really been able to step up and been able to fit in right away like Hannibal Navies did last week when we came out in the 3-4, and that’s what we expect Jay Foreman to do. We’ve got Jeff Ulbrich back out there too, and the guys who have an opportunity, we’re excited to see what they are going to do with it.”
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With the LB's hurting I would expect the Packers to be doing some crossing routes. Driver may be clearing things by taking defensers deep.
Jeff Jagodzinski is officially running up the offense as offensive coordinator, but make no mistake, this is head coach Mike McCarthy’s West Coast offense – one that defensive coordinator Billy Davis knows pretty well.
“It’ll be fun going against Mike after all the good times we had last year and all of the things we went through in year one coordinating together,” said Davis. “They’ve made their share of changes but there’s still a lot of Mike’s influence in it. Most of use the same schemes that we believe in and then you’ve got to attack that within your players’ abilities. He’s got a different set of weapons then he had here so last year’s training camp is a little different than what we’re facing this week, but it’s similar.”
McCarthy has one of the NFL’s best signal callers running the show on the field and that’s the future Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre. After a very down year in 2005 with an alarming interception rate, Favre has been back to his true form this season with 15 touchdowns and 12 picks and only 152 yards shy of the 3,000 passing mark.
“Brett Favre is one of the all-time greats and he still is. He’s got that mystique about him. He makes plays where most people can’t. They’ve struggled a bit this year but Brett is still Brett and he can put 30 points on you in a second.”
Favre can orchestrate long drives, quick drives and scoring drives better than almost anyone in the NFL, but he’s had a rough go of it to a certain degree with a very young offensive line charged with his protection.
He’s only been sacked 16 times, mostly a credit to his mobility and smarts in getting rid of the ball, because he has been pressured. Green Bay has started three rookies on the line this year in Tony Mall, Daryn Colledge and Jason Spitz.
“They’ve got a good young offensive line that is coming together but they are still rookies and rookies in the NFL have to go through their growing pains, and that’s what they are doing right now.”
That rookie line also accounts for some of the Packers troubles in running the ball. The Packers rank 20th in the NFL in rushing, but after three weeks straight of not reaching the 100-yard mark, Ahman Green pounded out a 102-yard outing against the Jets last week.
“Ahman is getting back to his old form. He’s gone through a couple of injuries and has overcome him but he’s been one of the top backs in the NFL without his injuries and I think he’s getting healthy again. He’s one of the most explosive backs in the NFL.”
Vernand Morency also gets his fair share of reps and against Arizona in late October, both he and Green produced 100-yard days. The 49ers need to get back to containing the run and making the Packers one-dimensional. If they can force this showdown into a passing game, the line should be able to pin back their ears and get after Favre and that young offensive line.
Of course, no one keeps a play alive like Favre and he’ll keep an eye always downfield for his money receiver Donald Driver.
“Donald Driver and Brett have been together for a long time now and they’ve got their timing down now and they are on the exact same page. Brett’s getting it to his rookie receiver too, but Donald is the guy.”
Driver leads the team with 64 catches for 943 yards and 6TD, with rookie Greg Jennings trailing at second on the team with 38 catches for 575 yards and 3TDs.
A great way to shutdown the passing attack is to intercept Favre. With his confidence in Driver, he will lay the ball up for grabs. In the Packers last three losses, he’s thrown five interceptions and just two touchdowns.
When it comes to the redzone, look for veteran tight end Bubba Franks to pop up on the radar.
“Bubba is a guy who Brett is real familiar with and they really know each other because Bubba has been there for several years. Especially down closer to the end zone Bubba really comes alive in the passing game and catches a lot of balls for them.”
Defensively, the 49ers will be without a key mainstay at linebacker. Derek Smith has been ruled out this week after suffering a hamstring injury in New Orleans.
“Anytime you lose a veteran guy of Derek’s caliber, you take a little step back but it gives an opportunity for the guys who haven’t been out there to show what they can do. We’ve been very fortunate with the guys Scot McCloughan and his staff have brought in. They’ve really been able to step up and been able to fit in right away like Hannibal Navies did last week when we came out in the 3-4, and that’s what we expect Jay Foreman to do. We’ve got Jeff Ulbrich back out there too, and the guys who have an opportunity, we’re excited to see what they are going to do with it.”
***********************************************************
With the LB's hurting I would expect the Packers to be doing some crossing routes. Driver may be clearing things by taking defensers deep.