PackersRS
Cheesehead
Very rarely. The only time we ran various screens was against MN, because we prepared for that game since day 1 of the offseason. We don't run a lot of gadget plays.Thanks man! I do have a couple of questions.
1) What should we look for when we're on defense? Do you run any trick plays or employ any screens?
The most gadget play we run is the run-pass option, where it's a designed run, but Rodgers has the ability to keep the ball and throw a quick pass to the receivers
We don't use the RB on the passing game much, though lately it's happening (thank God).2) Other than Jennings, who should we look out for?
Driver will get his share of catches, now that he's healthy. Look for him in the slot. And James Jones is really coming of age lately. Look for him in go routes wide.
Typical, depends.3) I don't know much about the packers' offense, so was the game against the Vikings typical of the packers offense or more of the product of the Vikings' ineptitude?
The last 3 years, we've been a scoring juggernaut. Last year, we scored 23+ points every game.
This year, we were really struggling. Only the last 2 games, with unninterested teams, we've been able to score at will.
But this offense is capable of scoring in bunches, if they get on a rythm. But they tend to start really slow.
Our DL is really, really good.How good is your D-line and O-line?
It was weak against the pass last year, but now they've been great. We have IMHO 2 pro bowlers in BJ Raji and Cullen Jenkins. Raji is just a beast, a big NT that is very nimble and capable of disrupt the pocket.
And Jenkins was a 4-3 DE, he can really wreak havoc and disrupt the pass.
We were struggling a bit against the run due to short personel before (once we had only 2 healhty DLmen), but since Pickett (330 pounds) came back, and we got Howard Green (340), with BJ (330), we have been really stout against the run. The yardage you see early on is due to QB scrambling against us (Cutler had 50 yards, Vick had 60, Shaun hill had 70...).
Only 1 RB ran for 100+ yards on us all year (Peterson, in 28 carries), and we have never allowed more than 1 rushing TD in a game (only 4 rushing TDs all year).
But the entire D is predicated on 3 players: Clay Matthews, Charles Woodson and Tramon Williams.
Without Clay Matthews, the DL can't bring pressure enough. Without Woodson, there isn't the IT factor, as Woodson is good for 2 gamechanging plays per game. And without Williams, Capers can't bring the whole playbook. Williams shuts down the receiver he covers. He's playing almost as well as Revis did last year, and is playing as the best corner in the league, IMHO.
About our OL, it's not a strenght by any means. It's been much better as of late, but it's not a dominant OL.
We only have one dominant player: Josh Sitton. FootballOutsiders ranks him as the #1 guard in the league, and ProFootballFocus ranks him top 5. He's amazing, he's only 24 and he's great both at the run and at the pass.
Chad Clifton has been renewed. After looking like 40 early in the season, he's been playing as well as ever. He has only allowed 2 pressures the last 4 games, facing Jarred Allen twice, Demarcus Ware and the Jets D. Clifton was furt for much of last year and early on, but he's been fully healhty, and it shows.
Daryn Colledge was a MAJOR weakness last year, but he's been solid. He's been playing really well, even in the run, and is not committing stupid penalties like he was before. But he's not a strenght.
Scott Wells, our center, has been playing solid since he came back on the lineup last year. Against the pass, he's not strong, but he gets the job done EVERY time, and he's GREAT at calling protectins. He's one of the smartest centers in the league. But he's weak. He brings almost nothing at the running game.
Bryan Bulaga is our rookie 1st rounder. He has struggled playing RT. He never played before. While he's good at the running game, he has suffered from foot technique, and has allowed a ton of pressures and sacks. He's the weak link in our OL, and can be exploited. But he's a very smart kid, he doesn't get completely dominated by anyone, he tends to recover from his mistakes
To summarize:
DL against the Pass: A
DL against the Run: B+
OL pass protecting: B
OL run blocking: C+
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Oh, and about the offensive playcalling:
MM comes from the Marty Shottenheimer coaching tree, so he's VERY conservative early on, and usually when with a lead. He's hard in making adjustements, though as of late he's been great.
But one thing, he's the BEST in the league in creating mismatches. THE BEST, bar none. He will exploit you LBs by making them cover Jennings in the slot, he'll stay away from Dunta Robinson, he'll come after your young CBs. He's made Cook's life a living hell (the vikings young corner), he's made the Dallas CBs a living hell. He's got the weapons.
He's kinda predictable, though. If you see Jordy Nelson playing wide in a 2 receiver set, be sure it's a run. If you see Jennings lined up at the slot with 3 or 4 receivers sets, be sure he'll go deep.