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Clay Matthews is one of the players that can bring some defense back to the NFL.

The first week of the NFL season is usually ruled by defense. Not this year.

Quarterbacks and passing dominated opening weekend in 2011 and it’s going to be interesting to see if the trend continues throughout the season. Some stats:

• Offenses racked up 7,842 passing yards in Week 1, the most in NFL history.
• According to the Elias Sports Bureau, there were five games where both teams QB’s threw for over 300 yards, also a record.
• The Patriots-Dolphins game on Monday night was the first to have one QB throw for over 500 yards (Tom Brady) and the other throw for over 400 (Chad Henne).
• All of these records were set despite the fact that Minnesota’s Donovan McNabb had just 39 yards through the air.

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If there’s one criticism Green Bay Packers fans have about Dom Capers, it is his seemingly consistent use – and failure – of the three-man rush in third-and-long situations. Since last year, the defense has been burned numerous times with this “prevent” approach, and perhaps the most maddening use of the three-man rush was on a December afternoon in Pittsburgh last season.

With only three seconds and a prayer left in the fourth quarter to make the go-ahead touchdown, the Pittsburgh Steelers needed a full 19 yards for the score. On the snap, the Packers sent only three down linemen against quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, leaving the remaining eight defensive players in coverage. The offensive line held the rush, “Big Ben” was allowed plenty of time to throw from the pocket, and he connected with Mike Wallace in the endzone on an amazing sideline pass-and-catch.

After making the extra point, the Steelers ended up winning 37-36.

(It would be prudent to note that Green Bay also allowed a 4th-and-7 conversion on that final drive using the three-man rush. The result? A 32-yard reception by Santonio Holmes.)

The aftermath of that game left a bitter taste in the mouths of many Packers fans, and they can’t help but hold their collective breaths every time Dom Capers is faced with a third-and-long situation.

More recently, against the New England Patriots in Week 15, this concern once again reared its ugly head.  Read more... (2058 words + 1 image, estimated 8:14 mins reading time)

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While doing some film study of the Packers – Patriots game, one thing became painfully clear. The Green Bay Packers’ offensive line has a devil of a time picking up blitzes. Even simple, straight on, undisguised blitzes seem to confuse them and result in missed assignments.

This does not bode well for Aaron Rodgers. Coming off of his second concussion of this year, you would like for him to go through this game as hit-free as possible . But here come the New York Giants, a team that likes to punish quarterbacks. Even if they don’t get the sack, they will hit you and hit you hard. The last thing the Packers can afford is for Aaron Rodgers to be subjected to such abuse.

Going back to the Patriots game, the most obvious example of poor pass protection was the last-minute missed assignment by Bryan Bulaga that resulted in a heartbreaking sack of Matt Flynn, just as was attempting to lead the Packers on a game-winning drive.

What you may not realize, is that the Patriots used the same basic blitz six times in that game. It was correctly picked up only once.  And I’m not even going to discuss other blitzes by the Patriots that gave the Packers fits. Let’s just take a look at these six examples of a very basic blitz that I am referring to.:

Patriots Blitz vs. Clifton – Colledge; Exhibit A:

 Read more... (1113 words + 3 images, estimated 4:27 mins reading time)

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I hoped to file a couple of posts this week examining the play of Bryan Bulaga and the Green bay Packers playcalling, but then I realized it was almost Christmas, so I proceeded to buy presents and hang out with my family.

Instead of a full-blown analysis, I had to go with some quick thoughts and notes. The playoffs start Sunday, folks. It should be interesting.  Read more... (547 words + 1 image, estimated 2:11 mins reading time)

• The Packers’ run game showed some promise against the New England Patriots, but lets not confuse the 2010 Packers with the 2009 Jets. The Packers will go as far as Aaron Rodgers’ arm takes them, not Brandon Jackson’s legs. By all means, Mike McCarthy should try and establish the run early against the Giants. But he shouldn’t handcuff himself into sticking with it for too long if it’s not working. The Giants’ defensive backs are slow. The Packers receivers have a clear advantage and that needs to be exploited.
• What about the Giants pass rush? Getting the ground game going will help slow down the pass rush, but so will short passes. If the Packers can’t run the ball, McCarthy needs to mix in plenty of quick passes, screens and high-percentage throws. The Packers offense has moved the ball every time they’ve reverted to using more short passes. The problem has been punching through to the end zone.

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Dear Mike McCarthy,

It is with the deepest pride in the Green Bay Packers that I write to you today. Despite their loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday, I thought they played “one heckuva game.” And for the first time this year, I saw the passion, fire, and determination they had been looking for all season.

First, let me say that Matt Flynn is a keeper. He wasn’t flashy or dramatic, but he got the job done. He kept his head clear and stood tall the entire game, even in the face of adversity. After throwing a pick-six at the start of the third quarter, he came back to march the Packers down the field on thirteen plays for a touchdown.

If that doesn’t speak to his character and ability, then I don’t know what does.

Furthermore, there is a lot both you and Aaron Rodgers can learn from what Flynn and the offense did today.

Did you notice what a solid running game can do for you? Finally, for the first time this season, you gave the ball to Brandon Jackson more than 20 times in a game. And what did he do with those carries? That’s right: 99 yards on the ground, for an average of 4.5 YPC. Of the nine rushing first downs, Jackson had seven and John Kuhn had two.

You ran a balanced offense, and it paid off. Of the 80 snaps on offense, 38 were running plays and 42 were passing plays. Combined with the short yardage passing game, this was a recipe for success.  Read more... (698 words + 1 image, estimated 2:48 mins reading time)

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The Green Bay Packers gave the NFL’s best team all it could handle on Sunday night. Unfortunately, all the Packers have to show for their effort is another close loss in a winnable game.

The game was not the blowout everyone expected it to be. The NBC crew after the game said the Packers have nothing to hang their heads about. Fan reaction split into two factions: Pride in how the Packers overcame injuries and almost beat the New England Patriots and hostility for losing yet another close game.

I’m siding with the angry crowd. If the Packers want to make the playoffs, they will treat Sunday’s loss the same way they treated the Lions’ loss.

Yes, the Packers played well, but losing is nothing to be proud of. The only sport where moral victories count is youth soccer. If the Packers are seriously patting themselves on the back after this game, the season is as good as over. They will get rolled against the New York Giants and Chicago Bears (if the Bears game means anything).

What happened in the game’s final minute is inexcusable. Allowing an offensive lineman to almost return a kickoff  for a touchdown is inexcusable. Stopping on a slant route and causing an interception is inexcusable. Calling a fullback dive on third and goal from the 1-yard line is inexcusable. Barely getting in the Patriots way as they march down the field for the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter is inexcusable.  Read more... (486 words + 1 image, estimated 1:57 mins reading time)

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While the Green Bay Packers put forth a tremendous effort Sunday night against the New England Patriots, they remain a team that shoots itself in the foot.

An interception for a touchdown, a 70 yard kickoff return by an offensive lineman, throwing the ball deep late when extending a drive was needed and finally, not being ready with a play and wasting most of the last 20 seconds of the game.

Unfortunately the mistakes overshadowed a lot of very good things the Packers did:

They ran the ball with success.

They chewed up the clock, keeping the ball away from Tom Brady as much as possible.

They played the Patriots toe to toe, which many people (including myself) thought would not be possible without Aaron Rodgers.

Matt Flynn showed real grit. He doesn’t have the greatest arm, but with the right play calling, he can be and was effective.

They dominated the time of possession, 41 minutes to 19.

So while we can all be satisfied with the effort, handing the Patriots 14 points is a sure way to watch them walk off the field as winners.

The Packers know they outplayed the Patriots, but they have nothing to show for it other than the belief they can play with anyone. But are moral victories useful at this point in the season? Probably not.  Read more... (1622 words + 3 images, estimated 6:29 mins reading time)

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