Cheesehead TV Matchup Week 11

OFFENSE:

  • Take Care of the Football. (Yes, I'm Looking At You, James Jones)

This is a Bears defense that does two things: Stops the run and takes the football away from the offense. I don't expect the Packers to make much noise running the football, but they can and will get some positive carries out of Ryan Grant. What they absolutely can not afford to do is give the Bears offense extra chances to pound Matt Forte and score points. Everyone remembers the first meeting between these two teams last year when James Jones fumbled on two first half possessions, both times deep in Bears territory. Those two miscues were instrumental in costing the Packers the game. Jones, the receivers in general, Grant and quarterback Aaron Rodgers must be at their best when it comes to ball security on Sunday. Grant in particular had been putting the ball on the ground with regularity before last week - and he will be called upon early in this game. Don't forget, the Packers ran all over the Bears in the first half of last years contest at Lambeau before Scott Wells left with an injury. Of course, the 2008 Bears are much better against the run, but McCarthy knows how to attack Lovie Smith's defense on the ground when they are in their base set. What he needs to work on is...

  • Be Patient Against The Tampa 2

Last year, McCarthy, Favre, Driver and Jennings had a field day against the Bears in Lambeau in the first half, all while the Bears tried using a mix of different personnel and scheme. After a deep Favre to Jennings touchdown pass toward the end of the first half, the Bears went exclusively to their Tampa 2 defense - and everything fell apart for the Packers. This is the type of game the Packers wanted Rodgers for. He displayed excellent patience against the Colts (another Tampa-2 team) earlier this year, taking what was given him, only forcing one throw (a slant pass to Jennings) the entire game. Sunday can be no different. Rodgers has taken his first bit of heat this week, both from the media and his own head coach, for his faltering play the last two weeks. This week can absolutely be his chance to shine. The Bears are absolutely dreadful against the pass, but Rodgers can't be lulled into thinking that means he'll find large chunks of yardage waiting for him. He needs to take the check downs to his backs and his tightends and work the ball down the field. This will help keep his own defense off the field, which will more than have its hands full.

DEFENSE

  • Blitz On First Down EARLY.

We all know it's coming. Matt Forte left. Matt Forte right. Matt Forte...used in playaction and then throw to Greg Olsen/Desmond Clark. This is the Bears in a nutshell on Sunday. Oh sure, there could be a play here and there designed for Devin Hester and he may even break a return. (God knows I don't expect Frost to be able to keep the ball away from him - that would require some semblance of 'skill' at the punting position) But running the ball and throwing off playaction to the tight end is how Lovie Smith's teams have killed the Packers for four years straight. No reason to think the formula is going to change now. But here's a radical concept for Bob Sanders - blitzing (run or pass) on first down EARLY IN THE GAME. Too often this season, Sanders has used the first few series of a game as a 'feeling-out' period for his defense - and while he's busy 'noting tendencies' and 'studying playcalls' - the opposing team has marched down the field, usually for a touchdown. It has happened the last three games, only one of which the Packers have won. The other two? The Packers lost by 1 and by 2 points. Something tells me not allowing those first points might have made a difference. Sanders needs to send his new middle linebacker and his old strong side linebacker crashing into the line on first down, disrupt the Bears blocking schemes and knock either Kyle Orton or Rex Grossman around early.The Packers simply can not afford to allow the Bears to march down the field and produce points on their opening possession this week.

 

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE.

__________________________

0 points
 

Comments (14)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
nc packer backer's picture

November 14, 2008 at 03:17 pm

Harrell suffered a knee sprain in practice on Thursday and is questionable for Sunday's Game. WTF!!!

0 points
0
0
PackerAaron's picture

November 14, 2008 at 03:31 pm

Saw that. Can't say I'm surprised.

0 points
0
0
Ron La Canne's picture

November 14, 2008 at 04:24 pm

And the award for the worst 1st round draft pcik ever goes to Ted "I'm a genius" Thompson for the "Selection of Justin(e) "I'm a delicate flower" Harrel. What a damn waste of a uniform.

Can we finally admit that Thompson doesn't know how to pick linemen on either side of the ball.

0 points
0
0
PackerAaron's picture

November 14, 2008 at 05:03 pm

Please. You're old enough to remember the Tony Mandrich pick, Ron. And the Terrell Buckley pick. And the John Michels pick. etc, etc, etc...

Every GM misses on 1st round draft picks.

0 points
0
0
dustybricks6's picture

November 14, 2008 at 05:30 pm

Sunday has to be the Aaron Rodgers Show. MM is scheming us out of games, if our strongest positions on the field are our QB and our WRs -- there's your gameplan - and in hearty doses, please. Thank you Jermichael, your services won't be needed this sunday.

0 points
0
0
Ron La Canne's picture

November 14, 2008 at 06:12 pm

Aaron, Who knew Mandrich would go off his meds? I mean steriods. John Michels, you've got me there.

0 points
0
0
Andrew in Atlanta's picture

November 14, 2008 at 06:35 pm

C'mon Ron. TT drafted a number of lineman in later rounds as well as spending a #1 on Harrell. Sometimes you hit, sometimes you don't. Plus, remember that Will Blackmon didn't see the field for 2 years due to injury. Maybe not bringing in another free agent or 2 - now that's a point. I can't fault him for the draft tho. I think he's been pretty good actually

0 points
0
0
Ron La Canne's picture

November 14, 2008 at 08:08 pm

Andrew, One impact lineman that TT got us. Either side off the ball. Any of them going to the Pro Bowl this year? Kampman went last year. Opps Sherman drafted him. O-line Clifton was an alternate last year as I recall. Opps, Sherman again.

TT is horrible at IDing o or D line talent.

0 points
0
0
PackerAaron's picture

November 14, 2008 at 10:03 pm

Well, Jolly was a late round find. A Pro Bowler? Not yet, and the jury is def starting to come in on Spitz and Colledge (though I think Colledge is playing better than people give him credit for) but Thompson's brood will grow over time. It takes more than two years for linemen to grow into Pro Bowl performers - Clifton was drafted by WOLF - and only made it as an alternate LAST YEAR. And Kampman? Yes, a Sherman draftee from the 5th Round that took how many years to make his first Pro Bowl? It just takes time, esp on the O-line.

0 points
0
0
Ron La Canne's picture

November 14, 2008 at 10:23 pm

Love your optimism Aaron and usual I hope your right and I'm wrong. Question on Kampman. He is listed at 265. He sure doesn't look that big this year. He looks awful small next to the other linemen.

0 points
0
0
Dale Z's picture

November 15, 2008 at 06:22 am

lol, out of all the good picks Thompson has made, people choose to focus on Justin Harrell. Classic.

0 points
0
0
packerhigh's picture

November 15, 2008 at 08:39 pm

Justine was supposed to step up to the plate NOW! He's hurt again?! #@*^%! If you don't understand it get rid of it!

0 points
0
0
keeley's picture

November 16, 2008 at 09:12 pm

1st impressions:
1. Brilliant - using the nickel package to line-up one on one with the tight ends on any down. Seemed to thoroughly disrupt the Bears offense - sent a message to be sure.
2. AJ Hawk - played with passion, flying to the ball. Did you miss Barnett?
3. Chillar covering Forte out of the backfield further stymied the cubs offense.
4. Kyle Orton - special shoe or not, he's never been mobile and really didn't factor into the game plan. He simply had no one open.
5. Ryan Grant - finally showing some patience. And I loved the misdirection at the point of attack.
6 thru 10 - I'll leave that to you aaron.
3.

0 points
0
0
Ron La Canne's picture

November 16, 2008 at 10:14 pm

MM is my game MVP. He had a great game plan and stuck with it. Two hundred yards running and approximately two forty in the air. He got the players to play at a high level for all sixty minutes. Now let's keep this up for six more weeks.

AJ is what a MLB is supposed to look like. Plugged the gaps at the line not six yards down field. Chilar is an awesome cover LB. Woodson, Harris, Williams and Collins are superb. Bigby missed a few plays today, but the rest of the DB's had his back. Bears complete four passes to Wide Receivers.

Outside of the first drive and Harris' face mask the penalties were in control.

Now if the O & D lines can keep this up ....

0 points
0
0