Packers vs. Cowboys Analysis From Blogging The Boys
by Brandon on Sep 19, 2008 11:00 AM CDT
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The SB Nation blogger from Blogging The Boys, Dave (Grizz) Halprin, is on a first name basis with the Football Night In America guys now. Instead of sending an email and begging him for scraps of Packers vs. Cowboys football analysis, I decided just to steal what he said to Jerome, Tiki, and Dan. The analysis is pretty good, but he keeps mentioning some former Packer QB who I guess is playing for the Jets these days instead of focusing on the 2008 Packers:
David Halprin, BloggingTheBoys.com: When the Green Bay Packers visited the Dallas Cowboys at Texas Stadium in November of last year, it was a clash of the NFC titans. Fast forward to this Sunday at venerable Lambeau Field, where the tundra will definitely not be frozen, and you'll find two teams sporting identical 2-0 records and both coming off 13-3 seasons. The expectations are high as they each try to stake their claim to the NFC's best. The power in the conference rests in the NFC East but the Packers are determined to prove that they are the just as good without Brett Favre.
About Aaron Rodgers
Jerome Bettis, NBC Sports: Can Aaron Rodgers replace the legend?
Dan Patrick, NBC Sports: Aaron Rodgers in two weeks has shown a lot of confidence. He's already the best quarterback in the NFC North after only two games. By the end of the year is it a foregone conclusion that you'd take Tony Romo over him?
Collinsworth: This guy has just been dominant. Brett Favre was sensational a year ago and how could Aaron Rodgers be better than that? Well, so far he has been. He's been dead on perfect.
Halprin: So far in 2008, he's looked the same, completing 70% of his passes along with zero interceptions. But Green Bay has yet to battle in a game with Rodgers making mistakes at QB. Expect the Cowboys to make a strong run at rattling Rodgers and forcing him into bad decisions. Outside linebackers DeMarcus Ware and Greg Ellis are the sack-men for the Cowboys and will be counted on to get Rodgers out of his comfort zone. Even though it's Rodgers replacing Favre in Green Bay, Tony Romo is the true heir to Favre's legacy.
About Tony Romo
Collinsworth: Tony Romo may be the best.
Halprin: Tony Romo is a gunslinger who never gives up on a play, sometimes even when he should, but he makes you forget about his mistakes with sparkling play the rest of the game. Romo is making efforts to play more under control in the pocket and spent the off-season working on keeping his feet settled and not sliding forward while reading the defense. The Cowboys will try to neutralize the pass rush from Aaron Kampman and company by making the defense respect the running of Marion Barber. Dallas will work its play-action passes against a Green Bay secondary that likes to play man-to-man, a matchup that favors Terrell Owens and Jason Witten, especially with a very good and large offensive line protecting Romo.
On the Cowboys
Tiki Barber, NBC Sports: Maybe this is because I'm an NFC East guy, but this game is about the Dallas Cowboys and what they can do on offense. We've seen what Tony Romo has done since he's taken over leadership of this Dallas team. His cast of characters are plentiful and they make big-time plays. If you can't stop them it doesn't matter what Aaron Rodgers does on the other side of the ball. So I think the person to watch is Tony Romo in this big game.
Halprin: Dallas overhauled a weak secondary this year by adding Adam "Don't call me Pacman" Jones, and drafting cornerbacks Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick. The Cowboys have revamped their 'dime' defense formation, using four cornerbacks and two safeties, in an effort to matchup a cornerback in the interior against tight ends. Dallas will use the 'dime' formation more than usual to combat a Packers team with multiple options at wide receiver and take their chances with the Packers run game. Strong safety Roy Williams is hurt and will not play, Pat Watkins will take over his duties. This could benefit the Cowboys this week because Watkins is better in coverage.
The matchup
Bettis: The question is, can Aaron Rodgers excercise the demons of the past? Brett Favre couldn't. Every time he played against the Cowboys he always struggled and threw interceptions. Now we saw Aaron Rodgers come in last year (against the Cowboys) in Brett Favre's stead. The question is, can he do it for an entire game?
Halprin: Last year's game had the subplot of Brett Favre vs. Brett Favre 2.0, otherwise known as Tony Romo. In the end though, it turned into a battle of Tony Romo vs. Aaron Rodgers when Favre was injured early on. Rodgers looked cool and composed and had no trouble moving the ball and scoring.
Much was made of the Brett Favre's lack of success at Texas Stadium when these two teams met last year. On the flip side of that, the Cowboys are a big, fat 0-5 at Lambeau Field. The Packers have a very good home record recently, but the Cowboys have been almost as good on the road. Something's gotta give this Sunday. In this case, it will be the Packers defense under the weight of all the Cowboys firepower on offense. Expect a very entertaining game, expect a shootout and expect a Cowboys victory, 34-27.
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How do you stop/contain an "explosive" offense?
By keeping the ball.
If the Packers can maintain possession for a good chunk of the game by gaining modest first-downs and letting the clock run, then the pressure is on Dallas. A solid running game will also help limit Dallas’ pass rush.
Easier said than done, I suppose.
It's called "playing the percentages."
by hilbelink on Sep 19, 2008 12:24 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Third Down Conversions
I totally agree with one addition.
As the offense needs to convert 3rd downs into 1st downs to keep Dallas’ offense off the field, the defense has to stop Dallas on 3rd down to get the ball back, something the Packers weren’t good at in the week 1 game against Minnesota. The defense has to do their part to let the offense run out the clock. Unfortunately Dallas’ offense is very good and as a result they convert a lot on 3rd down, so that’s easier said then done too.
by Brandon on Sep 19, 2008 1:22 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Dallas Cowboys are 0-5 alltime at Lambeau Field
Great post-
think this subject was interesting
Dallas fans think otherwise at
AmericasTeam.info
Check out this Dallas Cowboys blog entry about the game sunday at Lambeau Field
http://americasteam.info/2008/09/18/cowboys-cursed-at-lombardis-lambeau/
by www.AmericasTeam.info on Sep 19, 2008 5:37 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
thats kind of a gay article......
anyway i was just stopping by to see whats being said……as you can guess i’m a cowboy’s fan……and as far as the cowboy’s not beating GB in lambeau field ,it’s more of a compliment to how well you guy’s have been coached over the years, than how poorly we have played……you should be proud of the fact that some very good teams have lost to your very good teams…….anyway to get to sunday’s game….i think you’re overall team is playing better without favre than with him…..i think you guy’s have a well coached, and highly talented team and i wouldn’t be bummed out at all if we lost this game…..this cowboy’s team is far from perfect and although i think and hope we win, i can see this game going all kind of way’s……
I don't need a compass to know which way the wind shines....
by hashishkabob on Sep 19, 2008 6:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I like the insight but..
it was completely one sided. They made it seem like the Packers were yet to win a game but yet I’m bias about the Packers too so I can’t say to much. I think we can exploit there secondary especially with Williams out. I do agree with the article above that Williams isn’t the best coverage guy but he isn’t a slouch either. I believe we have the receivers to take advantage of the true weak spot in the Cowboys D. For whatever reason I’m fairly confident about this game. I’m nervous yes but I really think we match up well with the Cowboys. I’m not ready to throw out a prediction just yet.
"Go Cubs Go"
by mkcubs21 on Sep 19, 2008 9:20 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Roy's Impact
Roy is BAD in coverage, despite having decent INT numbers a couple of years ago. Many of those were tip-drill INTs. In fact, late last year and so far this year they have been pulling Roy on obvious passing downs. He’s great in run support, though he tends to hit rather than tackle too much. Loosing him due to the broken arm doesnt have many Cowboy fans worrying. Actually, alot or happy he wont be on the field at all. Im not one of them personally, but there’s no denying his weakness. Patrick Watkins will be filling in for Roy for the weeks to come. He was originally drafted by the Tuna crew to be our next FS until we signed Ken Hamlin in free agency. His measurements seem to scream FS. 6’5, 208, pretty fast with long arms and good range. The current staff sees him more as a SS however. He’s a good hitter, although not a punishing/imposing as Roy, but IMO he’s a better tackler than Roy. In some respects he’s definetly an upgrade. We also get Terrence Newman back at close to 100% this week. Adma Jones has had another week to knock some rust off and our 2nd first rounder Mike Jenkins had a good week last week and may be starting to turn the corner as an NFL caliber CB. Our secondary is no longer the glaring weakness it was last year. The key for the Packers to do well in the passing game Sunday is going to be keeping Rodgers upright and/or his ability to move around and buy time. That’s what McNabb and the Eagles did Monday night and the reason they were able to put up decent numbers. To me, I think this game is more important for the Cowboys than it is for the Pack for one simple reason….we DO NOT want to have to play you guys in the playoffs, in January, at Lambeau unless global warming really kicks it up a notch this coming winter. This is going to be a helluva game. Im psyched for our first win at Lambeau :) Most importantly though, I hope both teams come out of it healthy. Good luck to you guys, after Sunday anyway.
by WB3forMB3 on Sep 20, 2008 3:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree with you completely..
I know you’re secondary is much more improved this year over last years model but compared to the rest of your D it probably still is your weakness. I agree with your assessment of Williams he can hit but man when it comes to pass coverage the other team was always licking its chops. I agree that if Rodgers can stay upright, and thus far this year he has been able to, we should be able to do alright. Any person that watched last Monday night saw that the Cowboys are going to give up points (I know, I know Cleveland only scored 10 against you, but they also only scored 6 against Pitt so some of that might be there offense as well) but you have keep the pace b/c they are going to score as well.
Finally you are completely right, this might be bigger for you than us b/c you don’t want to have to come back up to Lambeau in January. But I will argue that this is just as big for us as many people (experts) figured we would be good again this year but would take a step back without Favre, well this is a big game for Rodgers to put him in that next level of QB’s in the NFL. Either way I expect a great close game. Good Luck!!
"Go Cubs Go"
by mkcubs21 on Sep 20, 2008 8:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
pack over cowboys
Hopefully Harris can shut down TO unlike last year. This may not be an easy win but I have faith that Rodgers can continue what he started last season and lead the Packers to a victory. Worst case we have Crosby with that awesome leg.
I was supposed to be at the game, unfortunately I had to leave the country last minute. :(
by mikehendo on Sep 21, 2008 12:14 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
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