The Green Bay Packers have one of the best defenses in the National Football League and they excel at defending the pass. They have an outstanding pass rusher in outside linebacker Clay Matthews and their secondary is one of the best you can find.
Their cornerbacks do great job of getting up in the faces of wide receivers in what’s call a press technique. They jam the receivers as they come off the line of scrimmage and run with them all over the field. That forces the quarterback to hold the ball until the pass rush gets there.
Jamming the receivers when they come off the line of scrimmage is called rerouting the receiver. This disrupts the timing of the receiver and the quarterback. You must have quality cornerbacks to employ this system.
Cornerback Charles Woodson is as good as they come and on the other side Tramon Williams has held his own with his speed and aggressiveness. They both love to play out of press technique, so they can get their hands on the receivers.
This has given DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin and the Birds receivers trouble since they have been in the league. The Redskins and Cowboys had limited Jackson’s and Maclin’s contributions to the offense in previous years by jamming them at the line of scrimmage. I don’t know why every team in the league doesn’t line up a cornerback in these guy’s faces and make them beat the jam before they release.
The jam forces the quarterback to hold the football and allows the pass rush to get closer to him before he throws the ball.
The Packers love to have their safeties line up deep over the top and lock down the wide receivers with their corners playing man-to-man out of the press technique.
One of the guys who could have a big game this week is tight end Brent Celek. The Birds tight end will be in matched up with Packers strongside linebacker Desmond Bishop all day long. If he can beat Bishop down the middle, he will force the Packers out of their two-man coverage.
Bishop has got good speed so Celek isn’t going to be able to run away from him, but he must use his experience and size to outmuscle him and get position.
It might also be a good idea to even to go some double tight end and get Clay Harbor down the seam. I know Harbor dropped an easy pass last week when he was wide open, but it’s all hands on deck time.
The guy who will have the biggest advantage will be running back LeSean McCoy, who will matched up A.J. Hawk. This young man isn’t a bad linebacker but he’s nothing special. Quickness and speed isn’t his strong point, so I love McCoy’s chances against him in one-on-one situations.
Last week the Bears Matt Forte eight passes for 60 yards. Hawk is the guy to attack and McCoy is the guy to take advantage of him with arrow routes to the flat, angle routes inside, curl and hooks as well as seam and wheel routes when they want to go deep.
I know it will be asking a lot of McCoy to carry the ball at least 20 times and catch it another ten, but this could be a bid day for him.
The defense the Packers are to play is going to make Michael Vick sit in the pocket for awhile before he decides where he’s going with the football. Vick must be patient and not come off of Jackson every time he is jammed. I would like to see the Eagles roll Vick out in preparation for Jackson being jammed. Rolling Vick out would give him more time and allow him to get the ball to Jackson deep.
Jackson will get his opportunities because the Packers are confident enough in their corners that they will leave them on him one-on-one.
I remember very well, the 2nd half of the week 1 matchup….and LeSean went off in the 2nd half…I also remember the starting Defensive tackle of the Packers saying what a difference and what a nightmare Vick was to defend compared to Kolb..C’Mon Birds..Believe in yourselves and the game plan and hammer these QUEER ASS CHEESEHEADS into oblivion!!!!
Baldinger said that they have put down a new field at the linc and it is going to be a fast track. The Eagles are going to make Greenbay look lost and confused. They will jump on them early and Aaron Rogers will begin to press and throw at least 2 ints. This one will not be as close as everyone thinks. Andrew Reid is going to shock Eagle fans by running Shady early. Even Shady said so in a lockerroom interview. Shady will break a few big ones and when Greenbay adjusts, the Birds will go up top with Maclin first then Jackson. The Eagles will lead 21 -7 at the half. Greenbay will cut the lead to 21-17 and the end of the 3rd and Akers will pad the lead for a 27-17 Eagles win. It maybe more depending on Asante Samuel. If he takes his pick to the house then make it 31-17.
All this talk about Aaron Rogers. Last I checked it was Vick who is being considered for league MVP. The national audience will be reminded why on Sunday evening. No turnovers by Vick.
Eagles Victory. Big game for Shady and his backup. Celek will be staying in to block this game.
thanks for that post bsm. jsut got off of a long shift at work taking bets with coworkers and customers.
they all pounced on the pack, jsut like our birds hopefully will this sunday.
nice pick me up, i was thinkin something similar to what you said b/c mccoy needs 18-25 touches
mr. bsm I agree celek should stay in to block, you have confidence that Reid will run ball w shady, I don’t, big red passaholic, birds win if offense with the pass establishes early, o line must play big, Vick must not resort to Atlanta days, play the system first, then improvise on certain plays, but I am in, birds win
3 Players who I think could have a big games and a positive impact Sunday
WR-J Avant — the middle of the field and ishort to intermediate sideline routes will be open most of the game.
TE- C Harbor – in double TE’s sets,when Celek stays in to block, Harbor can be overlooked and could get out in pass patterns against the Packers LB’s which is a good matchup for the Eagles
FB – O Schmitt – After chipping pass-rushers, should be open, out in the flats most of the game..
Woo, G! You are really “putting it down” with the terminology. I’m lovin’ it!!!
GCobb
More explanations of the routes, please. For example, what are wheel routes, angle routes, etc.
Paul
I can’t disagree, but I’d have to include McCoy. I’m sure they’ll be keying on him, but he’s so deceptive.
Keep it up, G. You’re giving us Pro Football 101!!!
Please continue with the explanations of plays, routes, assignments, etc.
G-man,
Great stuff, but you forgot to mention the Eagles “Double-Secret-Probation Weapon”.. Chad Hall….
Where are his plays going to come from????