Packers at Bears Pre Game Thread

[OldSchool101]

Discuss

 

[chemist]

Discuss

I really liked what Mike mccarthy had to say about this year's team. He compared them to his 2010 team that had to scratch and claw to win games. Every game was a struggle. They had to win their last 2 games just to squeeze into the playoffs as the last seed with a 10-6 record.
By that time they were a hardened, battle tested team. They won the NFC then went on to beat the steelers in the SB.
He then went on to say the next year they went 15-1. They had many blowout games. Just about every game was a cakewalk. They had never been tested, never had to fight hard for a win. They ended up losing in the first round of the playoffs.

This year's team now faces its biggest challenges. We've lost players on both sides of the ball. Adjustments will have to be made. Game plans altered to fit with our current lineup, but there's no doubt we are hardened and battle tested. We couldnt be in a better place!

 

[milani]

I really liked what Mike mccarthy had to say about this year's team. He compared them to his 2010 team that had to scratch and claw to win games. Every game was a struggle. They had to win their last 2 games just to squeeze into the playoffs as the last seed with a 10-6 record.
By that time they were a hardened, battle tested team. They won the NFC then went on to beat the steelers in the SB.
He then went on to say the next year they went 15-1. They had many blowout games. Just about every game was a cakewalk. They had never been tested, never had to fight hard for a win. They ended up losing in the first round of the playoffs.

This year's team now faces its biggest challenges. We've lost players on both sides of the ball. Adjustments will have to be made. Game plans altered to fit with our current lineup, but there's no doubt we are hardened and battle tested. We couldnt be in a better place!

Good analogy by MM. Is it better at this time of the season to be desperate and hope the next man up can make plays? Or is it easier to be in the driver's seat and coast in with players rested? Speaking of battle tested, I believe the Patriots were 18-0 when they lost the SB.
Coughlin did quite a coaching job in his 2 SB seasons.

 

[Pugger]

I appears most of our O will play on Saturday. I hope this time Hadley has someone mirror Williams and tries to keep him in the pocket. He is quick and creates a lot of positive plays for them when he rolls out to his right. His receivers do a nice job going with him and get open. Williams killed us doing that (and against Cleveland last Sunday and their D is one of the better ones).

 

[chemist]

I appears most of our O will play on Saturday. I hope this time Hadley has someone mirror Williams and tries to keep him in the pocket. He is quick and creates a lot of positive plays for them when he rolls out to his right. His receivers do a nice job going with him and get open. Williams killed us doing that (and against Cleveland last Sunday and their D is one of the better ones).

A good point. Perhaps a spy is the answer to that

 

[milani]

I appears most of our O will play on Saturday. I hope this time Hadley has someone mirror Williams and tries to keep him in the pocket. He is quick and creates a lot of positive plays for them when he rolls out to his right. His receivers do a nice job going with him and get open. Williams killed us doing that (and against Cleveland last Sunday and their D is one of the better ones).

Still, we have to stop the run. Make Caleb beat us even if he can. The Bears had an issue this season earlier with drops. And Caleb can sometimes mimic Favre. If we cannot stop the run our D will be exhausted toast. And our offense will be on the bench. I would rather play a shootout.

 

[gopkrs]

I appears most of our O will play on Saturday. I hope this time Hadley has someone mirror Williams and tries to keep him in the pocket. He is quick and creates a lot of positive plays for them when he rolls out to his right. His receivers do a nice job going with him and get open. Williams killed us doing that (and against Cleveland last Sunday and their D is one of the better ones).

I agree about the rolling right part. He's dangerous to take off running when rolling left but he hurt us rolling right. And that seemed his first choice.

 

[milani]

I agree about the rolling right part. He's dangerous to take off running when rolling left but he hurt us rolling right. And that seemed his first choice.

The Bears block extremely well and the D is filled up trying to just stop their conventional running game. It was similar to when Kaepernick had success because he had Frank Gore and a great O line around him. When that went away his career changed.

 

[Krabs]

Now that the dust from the Denver game has settled and I’m less emotional about the loss of both the game and Parsons, I can share some rational thoughts.
Roster Notes:

• It sounds like Odunze will likely be out for the remainder of the season. The team are slow-playing it, but a bears beat reporter on the local radio in Green Bay indicated he’s expected to sit until the playoffs.
• Burden III was injured during the Browns game and hasn’t practiced this week. The same source suggests he will also be out.
• Kyler Gordon was moved to injured reserve. This is a setback for the bears defense.
  Bottom line: They’ll be missing some key offensive weapons.
• Watson appears ready to go. He’s been practicing and says he’s good to play.
• Zach Tom didn't have any structural damage to his knee. The Packers said they will give him the week. I say he is doubtful. This would be a blow.
• Even Williams’ injury came back as a sprain and is listed day-to-day. I’d wager he plays.
• Jacobs is day-to-day as well but recently stated that it's harder to watch a game than play in some pain. He will at least give it a go.
  Overall, the injury situation isn’t as bad as we initially feared. Obviously, Parsons is a huge loss.

I actually give the Packers a real chance in this one. We need to slow their run game down and have no 3 and outs this game. Control the ball better in the second have. The Bears are solid, but I still believe they’re not quite as strong as their record suggests.

 

[gopkrs]

The Bears block extremely well and the D is filled up trying to just stop their conventional running game. It was similar to when Kaepernick had success because he had Frank Gore and a great O line around him. When that went away his career changed.

Using that example, it was a huge mistake that we did not take pains to set edges. Better for the QB to have time then to just take off to the side whenever he wants imo. But I'm hoping we also blitz. I think it's better for him to have less time than for us to have more coverage. Especially because it's a weakness of ours. Blitzes can also be used to help stop the run. Probably guesswork in that. Anything's better than the D staying on the field too long. imho

 

[weeds]

No comment on this one until after the Packers win - aside from stating that O hate the Bears.

 

[OldSchool101]

Now that the dust from the Denver game has settled and I’m less emotional about the loss of both the game and Parsons, I can share some rational thoughts.
Roster Notes:

• It sounds like Odunze will likely be out for the remainder of the season. The team are slow-playing it, but a bears beat reporter on the local radio in Green Bay indicated he’s expected to sit until the playoffs.
• Burden III was injured during the Browns game and hasn’t practiced this week. The same source suggests he will also be out.
• Kyler Gordon was moved to injured reserve. This is a setback for the bears defense.
  Bottom line: They’ll be missing some key offensive weapons.
• Watson appears ready to go. He’s been practicing and says he’s good to play.
• Zach Tom didn't have any structural damage to his knee. The Packers said they will give him the week. I say he is doubtful. This would be a blow.
• Even Williams’ injury came back as a sprain and is listed day-to-day. I’d wager he plays.
• Jacobs is day-to-day as well but recently stated that it's harder to watch a game than play in some pain. He will at least give it a go.
  Overall, the injury situation isn’t as bad as we initially feared. Obviously, Parsons is a huge loss.

I actually give the Packers a real chance in this one. We need to slow their run game down and have no 3 and outs this game. Control the ball better in the second have. The Bears are solid, but I still believe they’re not quite as strong as their record suggests.

Good points @Krabs. Let’s talk football!

Those are massive injuries if both Burden and Odunze are out. That = Micah imo. Now my thought is we played them last time without Odunze also. So the net result is minus Burden.

This brings up a thought I’ve had recently. Obviously we all know that when a high performing player goes out? It’s going to negatively impact that team. Particularly at QB first, then other premier players behind QB. This is my opinion, but the greatest impact of a loss happens during that game IF it’s an earlier in-game injury, such as Jayden Reed was Week 2?

The longer the affected team is separated from the injury (across time) the more the Coaching Staff can close the gap by preparing for that injury answer. Now I’m not suggesting the affected team will be made “whole” the following week, if ever. However there have been cases of depth players coming in and performing admirably. Which closed the gap on the loss.

GB only had 6 days to respond to losing Parsons. It’s still better than an “in-game” injury though. With Reed and then Kraft it took a few weeks to kinda get our Bearings. Then eventually got Watson (who has similar to Kraft-like impact) she then returns Reed. Inbetween we had bumps and bruises and it was noticeable.

The Packers were 5-1-1 with Tucker playing his usual 90% snaps. Once those snaps dropped under 50% (Carolina)? We are 4-3.

Receiving leaders through Tuckers injury were:
Doubs- 2 games
Kraft- 2 games
Golden-2 games.
Jacobs- 1 game
Receiving leaders once Kraft fell under 50% snaps or out:
Since Kraft played regular it’s:
Watson 3 games
Doubs 2 games
Wicks 1 game
Reed 1 game

Now what’s interesting is we all probably realize it takes a game or two to rebound or respond from an injury loss. Yet here we seem to be in relatively good shape IF Watson returns.

Golden.
This will be Matthew’s 3rd game back from injury. Yet he only played 5 snaps against Chicago with zero production. He played 35% snaps last week and we began to see glimpses of his former self. His usual earlier season snaps they kept him around 70%, so that gives an indicator that we expect him to continue to rise off last weeks snaps. Possibly to limit Watson a little bit also. Golden is an +add in Chicago we didn’t have last meeting.

Reed.
We have to remember that this at Chicago game is only Reed’s 3rd game back from injury. In our 1st Chicago meeting? he played 25 snaps (47%) and was shaking rust. Last week at Denver he played 43 snaps (63%). He’s normalizing. Reed missed practice yesterday, but for personal reasons not injury. He returned to practice today and seems ready to pick up where he left off.

 

[OldSchool101]

Using that example, it was a huge mistake that we did not take pains to set edges. Better for the QB to have time than to just take off to the side whenever he wants imo. But I'm hoping we also blitz. I think it's better for him to have less time than for us to have more coverage. Especially because it's a weakness of ours. Blitzes can also be used to help stop the run. Probably guesswork in that. Anything's better than the D staying on the field too long. imho

I agree with this. Especially if we lean towards flushing Caleb to his weaker
left side.

Also the Bears run a decent amount. It’s really their strength overall. So bringing added pressure to that side allows the second level to immediately shift opposite protection the second the ball gets snapped. Simply meaning there’s more for the RB to contend with before he gets going and he can’t wait as long for blocks to develop with an extra Defender shooting into the backfield and honing in for a TFL.

 

[AmishMafia]

Caleb drops back to pass on the first play, confident that things were different this time and he didnt have to fear the Packers pass rush, when suddenly, the lights went out.

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[OldSchool101]

Caleb drops back to pass on the first play, confident that things were different this time and he didnt have to fear the Packers pass rush, when suddenly, the lights went out.

You must be logged in to see this image or video!

Wait! Did they operate on Micah’s foot?? Those idiots I told them it’s his ACL!!

Flashbacks of Bakhtiari in the background. and what the Heck is #69 international PS player DT, Dante Barnett doing out there?! Is Hafley nuts!

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[milani]

Using that example, it was a huge mistake that we did not take pains to set edges. Better for the QB to have time then to just take off to the side whenever he wants imo. But I'm hoping we also blitz. I think it's better for him to have less time than for us to have more coverage. Especially because it's a weakness of ours. Blitzes can also be used to help stop the run. Probably guesswork in that. Anything's better than the D staying on the field too long. imho

Exactly, even though Rodgers was so good against the blitz in his younger years, pressure is better than not.

I still recall the " Owens caught it " pass in 1998 that was do or die to win or lose the game. Shurmur foolishly sent only 3 men on the rush. Steve Young slipped on the dropback, but with no pressure he had time to reset and still found a crease. Pressure would have forced him to throw sooner and even if he took off there were only 8 seconds when he snapped it. Unless he could run for 25 yards and a TD or get out of bounds for a 1st down after gaining 3, there would not have been time for another play.

Using that example, it was a huge mistake that we did not take pains to set edges. Better for the QB to have time then to just take off to the side whenever he wants imo. But I'm hoping we also blitz. I think it's better for him to have less time than for us to have more coverage. Especially because it's a weakness of ours. Blitzes can also be used to help stop the run. Probably guesswork in that. Anything's better than the D staying on the field too long. imho

 

[OldSchool101]

Odunze and Burden ruled out per Adam S.

That’s a huge gift of this becomes a higher scoring game.

 

[milani]

Now that the dust from the Denver game has settled and I’m less emotional about the loss of both the game and Parsons, I can share some rational thoughts.
Roster Notes:

• It sounds like Odunze will likely be out for the remainder of the season. The team are slow-playing it, but a bears beat reporter on the local radio in Green Bay indicated he’s expected to sit until the playoffs.
• Burden III was injured during the Browns game and hasn’t practiced this week. The same source suggests he will also be out.
• Kyler Gordon was moved to injured reserve. This is a setback for the bears defense.
  Bottom line: They’ll be missing some key offensive weapons.
• Watson appears ready to go. He’s been practicing and says he’s good to play.
• Zach Tom didn't have any structural damage to his knee. The Packers said they will give him the week. I say he is doubtful. This would be a blow.
• Even Williams’ injury came back as a sprain and is listed day-to-day. I’d wager he plays.
• Jacobs is day-to-day as well but recently stated that it's harder to watch a game than play in some pain. He will at least give it a go.
  Overall, the injury situation isn’t as bad as we initially feared. Obviously, Parsons is a huge loss.

I actually give the Packers a real chance in this one. We need to slow their run game down and have no 3 and outs this game. Control the ball better in the second have. The Bears are solid, but I still believe they’re not quite as strong as their record suggests.

It certainly makes it more difficult for the Bears and puts more pressure on their run game. I would look to see Caleb go with the quick shots for 1st down rather than down the field as much. The exception will be Kmet. They will use him all over on any down. At least we are not chasing Cortland Sutton this week.
I believe Zayne Anderson can fill in at safety or at least take a lot of reps. Kinnard may have to weather it. If Tom cannot backstop effectively they will blow by him. Jacobs is a gamer. The guy reminds me of Jimmy Taylor. He is more focused on hurting the tacklers instead of getting hurt by them.

 

[Pkrjones]

Tom battling thru knee & back issues, Questionable for Saturday. Equally concerning is Kinnard with a neck, also questionable. Will we see Morgan at RT? Who's left as swing/replacement OT?

Will MLF just roll with 4WR's & a RB & mix up the run/pass, rather than 6 OL or 12 personnel & telegraph the run?

 

[gopkrs]

Tom battling thru knee & back issues, Questionable for Saturday. Equally concerning is Kinnard with a neck, also questionable. Will we see Morgan at RT? Who's left as swing/replacement OT?

Will MLF just roll with 4WR's & a RB & mix up the run/pass, rather than 6 OL or 12 personnel & telegraph the run?

I would definitely move Belton to R tackle if Kinnard nor Tom could play. I don't know who I'd put at R guard but don't have much confidence in Morgan.
and I like the 4 wr idea. Although I have confidence that Musgrave can run a good route also. And send them out so they don't bump into each other but each at least 7 yards deep. But yeah, don't telegraph runs.

 

[milani]

Tom battling thru knee & back issues, Questionable for Saturday. Equally concerning is Kinnard with a neck, also questionable. Will we see Morgan at RT? Who's left as swing/replacement OT?

Will MLF just roll with 4WR's & a RB & mix up the run/pass, rather than 6 OL or 12 personnel & telegraph the run?

More likely that Kinnard could start. Tom is not strong enough this week.

 

[Thirteen Below]

They had never been tested, never had to fight hard for a win. They ended up losing in the first round of the playoffs.

I think they lost to the Giants because New York was smart enough to use the same game plan that Kansas City used to beat us in our single loss that season.

 

[milani]

I think they lost to the Giants because New York was smart enough to use the same game plan that Kansas City used to beat us in our single loss that season.

It was similar. Play press coverage. Stop the run. Earlier in the season we beat the Giants 38-35 on a Crosby walk off FG in Jersey. It came down to which team had the ball last. The Packers had a few players not playing in the KC game that were there for the Giant game. The Packers just could not get jacked up for this one. Coughlin had a great game plan and executed it. The turning point in the game came on the last play of the first half. A Hail Mary by Eli in the end zone that added 7 points to our deficit. We should have easily knocked it down. As bad as our defense was in 2011 we did force turnovers. And one player we could have used that season and more so in that game was Nick Collins who suffered a career ending neck injury in Carolina early in the year.

 

[chemist]

It was similar. Play press coverage. Stop the run. Earlier in the season we beat the Giants 38-35 on a Crosby walk off FG in Jersey. It came down to which team had the ball last. The Packers had a few players not playing in the KC game that were there for the Giant game. The Packers just could not get jacked up for this one. Coughlin had a great game plan and executed it. The turning point in the game came on the last play of the first half. A Hail Mary by Eli in the end zone that added 7 points to our deficit. We should have easily knocked it down. As bad as our defense was in 2011 we did force turnovers. And one player we could have used that season and more so in that game was Nick Collins who suffered a career ending neck injury in Carolina early in the year.

After watching tbe rams lose to seattle in a game they had wrapped up leading 30-14 with 8 min left in the 4th i dont feel as bad
about our denver game. Especially with the loss of all the big time players we had to deal with.
The bears game tomorrow will tell the tale of whether GB is ready to pull it all together with our current lineup and play up to the standards everyone expects.

 

[milani]

After watching tbe rams lose to seattle in a game they had wrapped up leading 30-14 with 8 min left in the 4th i dont feel as bad
about our denver game. Especially with the loss of all the big time players we had to deal with.
The bears game tomorrow will tell the tale of whether GB is ready to pull it all together with our current lineup and play up to the standards everyone expects.

If they make the playoffs it will be a plus at this point. And if they go down in the first round it will be understood.