Questions of the Week

by packfan on Jan 6, 2008 11:15 PM CST Comment 10 comments

The pressing questions of the week are:

Can the GBP slow down Seattle's pass rush? They were in Washington's backfield all day. Collins never seem to be able to get comfortable. They had a hard time handling Dallas' ends. Seattle's got a good pair, too. Grant should slow down the pass rush, but that is a fast defense.
How will the Pack d stack up to the Hawk passing game? Will the bump-n-run disrupt the rhythm passing game? Can the Pack get Hasselbeck's jersey dirty? The d-backs should be able to hang with the Seattle recievers. None of them seem to strike terror in the hearts of defenses across the league. My real concern is the Pack pass rush. It has cooled off significantly. Kampman and KGB don't seem to be getting to the qb like they were at the begining of the year. Hasselbeck can't get comfortable or he'll eventually beat you.
Will Dallas be able to beat NY three times in one year? Dallas is hurt and NY is on a roll (8-1 on the road this year). It would be nice to see the NFC Championship where it belongs, LAMBEAU FIELD.

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Comments

Coverage Sacks

With the "emergence" of Harrell, because he's finally getting some PT, and Pickett being healthy, I bet they'll be dropping back seven a lot and hoping Justin and Big Grease can put pressure up the middle. I feel really good about our bye week, and while Seattle was looking like a week 1 team, I think McCarthy is going to have his guys ready to rock Lambeau:

"You feel good, you play good, and I think we feel good." - Brady Poppinga

"I'm excited to get out there and play, and to play a whole game." - Daryn Colledge

"Working out yesterday, and then practicing, I felt very good, well rested so I'm ready to go." - Greg Jennings

"Some of the older guys on the team, play like they're the youngest guys on the team, and they don't look at it like this is they're only shot or whatever, they look at it as this is the opportunity right now, take advantage of it right now" - Ryan Grant

Take advantage right now. We are one of the best teams in the NFL, with depth, speed, and experience. We have a superstar QB, an aggressive, domination capable defense, and play makers at every position on the team. Dallas must be shaking in their gators, after seeing the G-men dismantle the Patriots (almost successfully) and then Tampa Bay's number one passing defense. If we can take care of business against those Gulls, I think New York flies to Wisconsin for a Championship game. It's up to #4 now, he's usually at his best in cold play-off games. I think ole Brett has another magic show in store for us.

Lets Go Pack!

by Billy on Jan 7, 2008 7:06 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I just read

Cullen Jenkins is getting back into shape. He's been playing hurt all year. Which is why he's disappeared this year. That push up the middle might be just what the doctor ordered to get Kampmen and KGB rolling. That's a stout pass rush with those 3 on the field healthy. It seems the bye week has helped a lot of the team out. It would be nice to seem them thump 'em the way they did in pre-season.

by packfan on Jan 7, 2008 2:09 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Pressure, Pressure, Pressure

Seattle has two good pass rushers at end, Darryl Tapp and Patrick Kerney, but they don't get much pressure up the middle except when their linebackers blitz. Washington's guards and backs did a bad job of coordinating the blitz pick up. The Packers have two veteran tackles that have been solid all season in pass protection and should be able to slow the ends down, and the lineman, backs, and tight ends have to be well coached at picking up the blitz.

Don't forget the weather and Hasselbeck's injuries. He certainly wasn't the star of the show last week against Washington. Seattle's generally smaller receivers should have trouble with the bump at the line. The pass rush is going to have to get some help. LB A.J. Hawk and LB Nick Barnett have blitzed a lot more since the Dallas game than they did before it.

I doubt the Giants will win at Dallas. The key to the Giants victory at Tampa Bay was that their defensive line dominated Tampa's offensive line. Even with the injury to Dallas C Andre Gurode their o-line is a whole lot better. It might be a very good game if turns into a shootout like it did in week 1 at Dallas.

by Brandon on Jan 8, 2008 12:31 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

81 & 82. Dallas will lose.

I'll be looking for those guys to have some good looks, they'll be matched against smaller DBs and if Seattle blitzes (which they'll have to if they want to compete) then I think, all our 80s will be open, specifically Ruvell and Koren. Washington was indeed terrible even matching up against the line, let alone picking up blitzes, they couldn't hold a gap if their season depended on it, and it did. Scott Wells will have to be on his A game and he's been solid, we only need worry about the guard play, and with our top blocking TE healthy again, I don't think Favre will get dirty unless he's tackling receivers in celebration.

If you watch our pre season meeting (yeah I know, but still, just watch it) you will notice the disruption our front four can create against their ordinary big uglies. It was dominating. I know that the playoffs are a different kind of monster, but its the NFL, and you don't win 48-13 because you're worse than the other team, or luckier.

I only think NY will win because this whole season I have thought Dallas to be phony, and a lack of character which is easily exposed in big games. If they didn't have Team Obstacle, Romo would be very ordinary looking, just like the Pats wouldn't be perfect without Moss. NY has a good defense, Dallas doesn't. Eli is ascending, Romo is descending. And Dallas just doesn't seem to win as a team, its either Romo wins or loses. I'm just not convinced they're a real contender. Hopefully, they don't prove me wrong.

by Billy on Jan 8, 2008 6:55 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Facts...

You say NY has a good defense but Dallas doesn't...here are some facts that you might have considered before making this statement:

1.) Dallas allowed merely 2.5 yards more per game than the Giants.
2.) Dallas averaged 1.5 points against fewer per game than the Giants.
3.) Dallas had four more interceptions than the Giants.
4.) Dallas had four more forced fumbles than the Giants.
5.) Dallas was third in the NFL in sacks with 46. One behind the Patriots at 2nd and 7 behind the Giants (who tied an NFL record with 12 in one game against the Eagles).

"Lack of character which is easily exposed in big games..." While this is a statement of opinion and cannot be directly refuted with facts, I can say that this. We went 13-3 this year, beat the Packers in a "big game," and went 4-2 in a division that sent 3 teams to the playoffs. I understand that you aren't a Cowboys fans but respectfully I must insist that some of your observations just simply don't make much sense. Time will tell whether we can beat the Giants for the third time this year and then the Packer/Seahawks in the NFC championship. All in all I am very proud of what my team has don so far this year.

by WittenRocks on Jan 8, 2008 12:19 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Opinions & Facts

FootballOutsiders ranks Dallas defense, decent against the pass, ranked 9th, and poor against the run, 14th. NY is rated 15th and 10th. Similar, yes. It also ranks game-to-game performance variance, regarding consistency: Here Dallas is rated 29th, while New York is 14th. NY has a better D.
http://footballoutsiders.com/stats/teamdef.php

The Cowboys beat the Packers under some various circumstances that probably won't happen again. It wasn't really that big of a game since we rested starters that could have played. We also had a chance for the #1 seed in the NFC, without beating you. We should never have had that chance. Also, we almost won the game against Dallas with our back-up, please don't forget this embarrassing fact.

The lack of character is evident and supported by the team members off-field antics and comments, as well as on-field performances. So while you may not be able to discredit it, most football fans can certainly distinguish it.

By all means, have pride in the Cowboys accomplishments. After how the season ended last year, I would only hope you'd still have some pride left.

by Billy on Jan 8, 2008 12:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Really...

"It wasn't that big of a game..." What is certain is that you would be singing a different tune if the packers had won that game. It was a big game. It determined who had the number one seed in the NFC. "Off field antics..." What are you talking about here? "On field performances" 13-3...I would call that performing well on the field. "Almost won that game" Almosts don't end up in the stat columns...just wins and losses. "Don't forget this embarassing fact" Believe me...I was at that game and there was absolutely nothing to be embarassed about. Its not like you guys brought in Vinny Testeverde as your backup. Aaron Rodgers is an up and coming professional who proved he had a place in this league. Nothing to be embarassed about there...plus we won the game.

by WittenRocks on Jan 8, 2008 1:32 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Good Points

I don't know why, but Seattle makes me nervous. The Pack needs to run. I forgot Bubba Franks will be back. It will definitely help the run game with him back. They were good before, they will be better now. I think they can pass on anybody. MM will exploit any miss match in the defensive backfield.

With regard to the Dallas/Giants game. Dallas does have a much better line than Tampa. I think this will be a slug fest. I think Terrell Owens (here forward refered to as UFE:Universal Force for Evil) accounts for ten points. These two teams know each other so well it will come down to the end. I can even see ot. A couple of trends leaning in NY favor. 1. Mr. September (Romo) is on a slide. The other Manning is on an up swing. 2. The long ball leans to NY now. Buress is playing better and UFE is injured. 3. Big Mo is in NY favor. They've strung together some good victories in the last month and have positive momentum going into this game. Dallas on the other hand is wounded and lost 2 of 4 going into the playoffs. 4. It's extordinarily difficult to beat a team 3 times in one year.

P.S.
Any team that not only has UFE on it but embraces him can not have their character questioned. They have none.

by packfan on Jan 8, 2008 1:40 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

crazy stat

Just took this off a comment on a story regarding if Dallas can sweep the Giants thrice.
"Howie Long just gave a very interesting stat on that subject.

He said 53 times a 3d time match up occurred in the NFL since the merger.

And only 11 times has a team gone on to sweep all three.

So the Cowboys had better be focused."

by Billy on Jan 8, 2008 4:36 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

WAIT!

If you read further (which I didn't do), it goes on
about that "stat"

"A quick clarification on that...

53 times team A & Team B met three times in a season.

in 36 of the 53 meetings, team A & team B were 1-1 vs each other in regular season

in 17 of the 53 meetings, one team was 2-0 in reg season

in 11 of the 17 mentioned above, the 2-0 team defeated the other in playoffs for 3-0 sweep

obviously, the other six meetings did not result in a sweep.

short story: it has occured 53 times. Of those 53 times 17 were regular season sweeps. Of those 17 reg season sweeps, 11 went 3-0. Result is a 65% success rate when given a chance to go 3-0.

saying only that 11 of 53 went 3-0 implies that all 53 had a team with a chance to for 3-0 resulting in only a 21% success rate. it's the same as saying 42 out of 53 meetings (79%) have not resulted in a 3-0 sweep. "

by Billy on Jan 8, 2008 4:40 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs