On Andrew Luck, The Offensive Line, Finley's Drops, and The Running Game

by Brandon on Dec 23, 2011 7:02 AM CST in Green Bay Packers News

Merry Clinchmas? | Query & Schultz - SportsRadio 1260 WNDE. As I watched the Colts incredibly win another game on Thursday night, they're now tied with the Rams and the Vikings for the No. 1 overall pick. Could the Vikings end up with Andrew Luck?

The tie-breaker is strength of schedule, and it appears that the Colts would still have the edge. But that won't be determined until the regular season is over. And, as unlikely as it seems, those three teams could still each win another game.

Patchwork Offensive Line Busy Preparing for Bears | Cheesehead TV. LT Chad Clifton is back at practice but he's not expected to play this Sunday. It'll still be Marshall Newhouse trying to slow down Julius Peppers. They're going to have to give him some tight end help. As good as Bryan Bulaga has played this season, they'll be fine with T.J. Lang moving over to right tackle and Evan Dietrich-Smith at left guard. Newhouse's continuing problems are the biggest concern.

Packersnews.com | Green Bay Packers | Insiders Blog " TE coach Ben McAdoo talks Jermichael Finley. His coach says he's surprised by all of his drops against the Chiefs. Haven't drops been a problem for him all season long? I'm surprised by McAdoo's surprise.

Time for Packers to hit the ground running - JSOnline. James Starks and Brandon Saine are back at practice, alongside a seemingly rejuvenated Ryan Grant. Is this the week to expect a big Packer ground assault? Don't count on it. The Raiders run defense is awful. The Chiefs aren't very good either. But the Bears are still hard to run against. Starks had his worst game of the season (11 carries for 5 yards and 1 fumble) against them back on September 25th.

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Grant always runs pretty well against the Bears...

hopefully he has a repeat performance of what he did against them in Week 3

football does not build character, it reveals character.

by sheehan on Dec 23, 2011 7:33 AM CST reply actions

although it'd be nice if Starks could do something this time around as well.

football does not build character, it reveals character.

by sheehan on Dec 23, 2011 7:34 AM CST up reply actions

I don't like Starks against fast defenses like the Bears.

Need someone that won’t dance and makes quick decisions, a large reason why Grant has found success against them historically.

I already told you! I deal with the god damn receivers so the linebackers don’t have to! I have coverage skills; I’m good at covering people! Can’t you understand that? What the hell is wrong with you people?!

by msc32887 on Dec 23, 2011 10:40 AM CST up reply actions

This

Starks dan break tackles well and sometimes find holes Grant want, but Grant is a one cut downhill back so he naturally gets through the holes more quickly even if he has less speed due to his decisiveness

"IF CARDS CAN SIGN SUPPAN THEY CAN GIVE ME A HOME"

by Buddhasillegitimatechild38 on Dec 23, 2011 1:31 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

yeah Starks was horrendous against them in week 3, that's what I was referring to

hopefully they can get him running more aggressively this time, because with his ability to break tackles and always fall forward (something Grant does not have), he could be a lot more effective if he ran with conviction, particularly against defenses like this one.

football does not build character, it reveals character.

by sheehan on Dec 23, 2011 2:55 PM CST up reply actions

Finley..

Man the guy is confident. Quoted in today’s Chicago Tribune when asked about the Bears defense..“They still play the same D and they still have the same players, plus I’m trying to get off the ground right now, so it’s going to be a long day for them.”

I love wins. Wins are good for the soul.- Barry Alvarez Sep 25, 2005

We expect to win.- Ted Thompson July 28, 2011

by White92 on Dec 23, 2011 10:28 AM CST reply actions

At least he knows where he is at the moment with those drops and that they have to be remedied!

by msc32887 on Dec 23, 2011 10:39 AM CST up reply actions

That is a key component for a great receiver though.

The Green Bay Packers...Putting bad coaches out of their misery since 2010

by TrevorR on Dec 23, 2011 11:23 AM CST up reply actions

Swag?

by Charlie Kelly on Dec 23, 2011 11:25 AM CST up reply actions 4 recs

Rec'd

13-1
Thanks, Chiefs, thanks a lot.
MattFlynn4StartingQB

by arodgb on Dec 23, 2011 1:16 PM CST up reply actions

yep..

ya know, I don’t really have a problem with it. As long as he backs it up

I love wins. Wins are good for the soul.- Barry Alvarez Sep 25, 2005

We expect to win.- Ted Thompson July 28, 2011

by White92 on Dec 23, 2011 4:36 PM CST up reply actions

I disagree with this

As good as Bryan Bulaga has played this season, they’ll be fine with T.J. Lang moving over to right tackle and Evan Dietrich-Smith at left guard. Newhouse’s continuing problems are the biggest concern.

Not that Newhouse will be okay, but anytime you’re moving a guy out of position it isn’t good. Lang is a pretty big drop-off from Bulaga & EDS is a drop off from Lang. Two positions are weakened in this shuffling, and while Newhouse has had his problems, it’s not like Clifton was a shut-down LT. He should have his hands full with Peppers, though. I see both as a concern, I’m not going to rest easy on either side of the line.

13.

Build Lasers And Stuff For More Ownage, Dude!

by Wiedmann on Dec 23, 2011 11:43 AM CST reply actions

Yesterday's events:

- Came home from work.
- Repeatedly flipped between bowl game and Colts-Texans.
- Figured both games will probably be uninteresting.
- Left to do holiday shopping.
- Came back, turned on TV.
- Heard “Touchdown Colts! They have the lead with 19 seconds left!”
- Questioned own sanity.

by HailVarsity on Dec 23, 2011 11:49 AM CST reply actions 1 recs

trouble

if we lose to an injury ravaged bears team.

I think we will be fine. AR does not like losing.

by Acme on Dec 23, 2011 12:58 PM CST reply actions

The Bears will be lucky to score 10 points on Sunday night.

They’re don’t have any receivers or a quarterback to get them the ball, so the Packers will likely stack the box and dare McCown to beat them with his arm.

Watching the Cubs piss it away for 31 years.

by CarolinaHawk on Dec 23, 2011 2:08 PM CST up reply actions

And given our recent history...

McCown probably will.

by J Sr on Dec 23, 2011 4:37 PM CST up reply actions

LOL

Okay, bro.

by mike_o on Dec 23, 2011 4:43 PM CST up reply actions

Since Cutler went down,

The Bears haven’t scored more than 20 points. Since Forte went down, the Bears haven’t scored more than 14 points (and only made it past 10 once, thanks to a J.Peppers fumble-sack 6).

Also, according to PFT, Marion Barber will be out Sunday with a calf injury, and Hester hasn’t practiced all week and is questionable to play (item #8).

Which leaves them starting Kahlil Bell and Armando Allen at RB, and Williams, Bennet and Sanzenbacher as their 3 best healthy receivers.

My prediction: the only way the Bears get into double digits on the scoreboard is with a defensive score. The bad news is, given the current state of our o-line, dealing with Peppers could be a problem.

by DaveInTucson on Dec 23, 2011 9:59 PM CST up reply actions

The Chiefs hadn’t scored more than 10 points for almost 2 months before we played them. Just sayin’

I didn’t know about Hester…that would be GREAT if he didn’t play.

The Green Bay Packers...Putting bad coaches out of their misery since 2010

by TrevorR on Dec 24, 2011 7:56 AM CST up reply actions

Kyle Orton wasn't the QB before then, and Romeo Crennel wasn't the head coach.

Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!

Read my thoughts on Creighton University athletics at Creightonian.com

I also edit things at Ridiculous Upside. Check it out.

by Omaha Sun on Dec 24, 2011 6:25 PM CST up reply actions

He doesn't like to acknowledge those facts

13.

Build Lasers And Stuff For More Ownage, Dude!

by Wiedmann on Dec 25, 2011 10:46 AM CST up reply actions

WTF Fan Confidence poll?

Really?

13-1
Thanks, Chiefs, thanks a lot.
MattFlynn4StartingQB

by arodgb on Dec 23, 2011 1:16 PM CST reply actions 1 recs

I suppose it's based on "confidence in what?"

Some folks may be interpreting it as “confidence that the Packers will never lose another game, ever”.

Oh, and happy holidays to you and yours.

by bob47 on Dec 23, 2011 11:16 PM CST up reply actions

That was kind.

Happy holidays to you as well. :-)

13-1
Thanks, Chiefs, thanks a lot.
MattFlynn4StartingQB

by arodgb on Dec 23, 2011 11:48 PM CST up reply actions

Agreed.

Knee-jerk over-reaction to one loss, which, as I mentioned earlier in another thread, didn’t even happen until after we tied the franchise record for win in a season.

"Perfection is not attainable,
but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence."

"We're nobody's underdog!"

"We don't play scared!"

by NorthStarr on Dec 24, 2011 12:05 AM CST up reply actions

Its going to happen. They’ve slowed down a little and the Oline is pretty banged up and we lost for the first time in a year. Of course some people will be slightly less confident.

(I didn’t vote on it yet, kinda forgot about it)

The Green Bay Packers...Putting bad coaches out of their misery since 2010

by TrevorR on Dec 24, 2011 7:57 AM CST up reply actions

*wins

"Perfection is not attainable,
but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence."

"We're nobody's underdog!"

"We don't play scared!"

by NorthStarr on Dec 24, 2011 12:06 AM CST up reply actions

Also I believe that

the Colts have such a dominant lead in “weak schedule” that even if all their opponents on the season won the rest of their games and all the Rams opponents lose theirs, the Colts will still get the #1 pick assuming they lose to the Jags this weekend.

The Vikings have by far the hardest schedule of the 3 teams and will pick 3rd if they all lose out.

by Archibaldcrane on Dec 23, 2011 2:04 PM CST reply actions

wouldn't be at all surprised if they beat the Jags

the Jags are just as horri-awful as the Colts

football does not build character, it reveals character.

by sheehan on Dec 23, 2011 2:57 PM CST up reply actions

Seifert linked a techmo bowl version of McCown>Vikings that sent us into the playoffs a few years ago

I lol’d

"IF CARDS CAN SIGN SUPPAN THEY CAN GIVE ME A HOME"

by Buddhasillegitimatechild38 on Dec 23, 2011 2:34 PM CST via mobile reply actions

NOOO! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

football does not build character, it reveals character.

by sheehan on Dec 23, 2011 2:57 PM CST up reply actions

I was AT the Packer game against Denver. Everyone stayed in the stands watching the end of the Viking game. I got in my car to beat the traffic out (had to drive back to MN) and had to pull the car over cause I was so excited hearing the call. I had Sirius at the time so I was listening to Paul Allen’s call of it. Thing of beauty!

The Green Bay Packers...Putting bad coaches out of their misery since 2010

by TrevorR on Dec 23, 2011 3:34 PM CST up reply actions

Everyone stayed in the stands watching the end of the Viking game.

Well, that and the end of the DEN@GB game. I have the WTMJ audio (not the whole game, but ~8 minutes of the end). The Cards’ clinching TD came right before the 2mw of DEN@GB.

by DaveInTucson on Dec 26, 2011 12:23 AM CST up reply actions