Matchup: Packers Run Defense vs. Cardinals Run Offense
by Brandon on Jan 8, 2010 7:00 AM CST
in Green Bay Packers Analysis
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PrintHow does the Green Bay Packers' run defense compare to the Cardinals' run offense?
| NFL.com | Rank |
|---|---|
| Packers Run Defense | 1 |
| Cardinals Run Offense | 28 |
| Football Outsiders | Rank |
|---|---|
| Packers Run Defense | 3 |
| Cardinals Run Offense | 16 |
The last time the Cardinals played a run defense as good as the Packers was back on December 6th against the Vikings. In that game, QB Kurt Warner dropped back 32 times, and the Cardinals ran the ball 25 times. But if you go back and look at the play-by-play, the Cardinals ran 7 times on their final drive in the 4th quarter compared to 3 pass attempts. It appears that they were trying to run out some clock up 27-10. Take out that final drive, and the Cardinals ran the ball just under 40% of the time. They put up good numbers overall thanks to a 19 yard run by WR Steve Breaston, but their top 2 backs (RB Tim Hightower and RB Beanie Wells) were held to a combined 19 carries for 78 yards. They will try and run the ball against the Packers, but it's not clear they'll have much success.
The only time in the past 8 games that a Packer opponent has attempted over 20 rushing attempts or ran for over 100 yards as a team was the Seahawks in week 16. QB Matt Hasselbeck was a disaster in that game, but the Seahawks were able to run the ball early with some success, in part because NT Ryan Pickett missed that game due to an injured hamstring. It's been a tough few weeks as he's struggled with the injury, but he's been back at practice this week and he should give a boost to an already dominant run defense.
Despite spending a 1st round pick on Wells last April, it seems like the run offense is still just a complimentary part of the Cardinals' offense. Do you think they'll try and run the ball, and can they be successful?
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Why not?
It’s not like you Pack fans have watched the Cards play all year. That’s what CAR fans thought last year in the playoffs… The Cards running game is highly underrated, regardless of what the stats show. Oh, and Beanie is a better runner than Grant.. and can catch, too. Maybe they can trade tips on how to hold on to the ball, though, because they both have fumble issues.
by TheOriginalCardsFan on Jan 8, 2010 5:46 PM CST up reply actions
Cards run game
I HAVE watched ALL the Packers games and ALL the Cards games!!! I live in Scottsdale, and I can tell you right now w/ certainty that the Cards will NOT run the ball effectively against the Packers!!! I see no way that they even approach gaining 100 yds on the ground. Just not goin to happen!
BTW-Get your FACTS straight before you make a FOOL of yourself!!! Grant has ONE (1) fumble on the year and it was early in the year on a reception! He has not fumbled once this season on a running play! As oppossed to BOTH Wells and Hightower, who seem to fumble nearly every game!!! LMAO
haha
that was funny…go look some stats up there buddy. Wow
Wells a decent back. He’s a rookie though and he’s splitting carries. I am not a huge Grant fan but at this point, I’ll take grant over Wells. Its very possible Wells may end up being the better back but he’s not right now. You clearly haven’t been watching the Packers though…
I’ve watched at least 4 Cards games this year, I know the team fairly well.
It’s not like we all think your running game is horrible. It’s just we ended the regular season ranked as the top run defense in the league..I don’t think it’s out of the question to say your running game is about average, and I don’t think it’s out of the question to say our run defense is well above average. I’ve also gathered that your o-line isn’t all that great run blocking from making some trips over to Revenge of the Birds. So obviously that doesn’t make the chances of you guys running on us more likely.
by packallday555 on Jan 8, 2010 9:22 PM CST up reply actions
Whisenhunt will be like McCarthy, token early run attempts followed by a game-plan that includes pass, pass, pass, and pass.
If the passing game is successful (against Bush-league), the running game will follow.
As long as KW does not have one of those rare magic days (like big-Ben did), the Packers should control on D. Almost all the playoff teams have the personal (at QB and receiving corps) to duplicate what Pittsburgh did. It will be interesting to see how Capers prevents such an event- against a Pittsburgh-like team this weekend. Hopefully QB mobility was the primary factor that made things work.
how many game ending sacks
did ben escape on that last drive?
"I don't know how a guy gets single covered in that situation when you're dropping eight men," Tony Dungy, 12/20/09
Neither can Favre or Brees for that matter, which is good because both their WR corps are fast and explosive just like the Steelers is.
by packallday555 on Jan 8, 2010 4:17 PM CST up reply actions
I hope Capers learned a lot from that game. It worries me a little that Wisenhunt is from the Pitt system too but I think we HAVE to have learned something from that game to prevent it from happening again.
I’m sure he has…I hope. He’ll have to find ways to get pressure on opposing teams.
by packallday555 on Jan 8, 2010 4:18 PM CST up reply actions
Wells is by far the most productive back for them
But yes, they are a pass first team. I think they have a better run game this year than they did last year because of Wells, however. Just my opinion.
They definitely have a better running game with Wells. He got better and better as the year went on. I still think we’ll shut him down though. I don’t think he is as good as some of the Rb’s we’ve shut down this year, and the Cardinals don’t have a very good o-line.
by packallday555 on Jan 8, 2010 12:01 PM CST up reply actions
Ryan being back
and fresh will be huge, pardon the pun
"I don't know how a guy gets single covered in that situation when you're dropping eight men," Tony Dungy, 12/20/09
Cards run game
The Cards run game is OK, but not much worth worrying about. You obviously have to stop it, but it shouldn’t be too difficult for the Packs #1 run D. The Cards would like to run more, or Whisenhunt would like to, but he also realizes that Warner must get in a groove to be good. Warner seems to need to throw alot to get in that groove and be productive. If they run alot early, he never gets it going and the offense becomes stagnant.
Cards, and Whisenhunt are waiting till Warner retires, and then they will unleash a real run game. Wells will get alot better and start next year, but as long as Warner is the starting QB, they will continue to be a pass first team!
Leinart will need a strong run game to be effective! He can’t do it as a pass first QB, simply doesn’t have the arm and overall talent! Give him a stong run game and he MIGHT be OK. I never liked him out of USC… He was very much a product of having alot of NFL level talent around him!
Pack win 27-14, Cards won’t be able to run and Warner will have a marginal day, IMO
Forget Last Week
The Packers showed The Cards what they got last week as the Cards hid and watched.
You can expect the same up beat tempo from the Packers Offense in this one also. You will see more Grant this time around and that was all that was left out of the last match up.
The Cards are not going to have any luck on the ground. The Packer D didn’t become number 1 against the run for being chumps.
Their line is stout and the Linebackers fast.
The key for the Packer defense will be covering the Arizona WR’s while getting pressure on Warner all game long. Hit him hard and knock him down a few times. The old man won’t want to get back up.
The Cardnial Defense on the other hand is suspect at best.
They can put up a great game or Lousy Game.
If Rodgers get’s in a rhythm with his WR’s it is all over.
Rodgers is not your “A” typical sit in the pocket passer as Warner is.
And Rodgers is now getting rid of the Ball a lot quicker than he was when the Packers were losing. They have seemed to fix that aspect of his game. And it has paid off in a big way. Expect a lot more of Rodgers in this one also. He can hurt you in so many ways. He will have that Arizona D sucking for air by half time chasing him all over the field.
I expect him to break off and run some long ones in this game.
My prediction is that it will be..
Greenbay 38 Arizona 17
since my seahawks game prediction didn't seem to impress anyone
and i need attention, i’ll say my prediction like this: the packers will be up by 9 and with under a minute left the cards will score a TD from 10-20 yards out, making it close. they will kick an onside kick which the packers recover, but it will be a contraversial call on the recovery somehow. packers knee it, win the game 30-28
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