It’s Colts Week

Do we have to?

Colts are good and they almost beat the Texans.

This game will be no cakewalk even IF Love was playing.

Defense needs a Herculean effort for GB to have any chance in this game. Again, coaches and players need to earn their pay checks this week. Bears showed how you can do it with virtually no offense yesterday.

@Tavis Smiley posted:

Defense needs a Herculean effort for GB to have any chance in this game. Again, coaches and players need to earn their pay checks this week. Bears showed how you can do it with virtually no offense yesterday.

You are correct and this is the type of game the defense really needs to step up and win it for the Packers.  I do worry though that Taylor and Richardson can both put up some rushing yards and that worries me about the defense especially the LBs who are going to have to play the run tough.

Offensively I think they may put a lot emphasis on the run because the Texans Mixon put up 159 rushing yards against the Colts.  Run the ball and pass when you really have to and control the clock.  And the added bonus is that keeps  p the Packers defense off the field and fresh.

Is there a MLF pc today? Will be nice to get some official statements on things.

I don't expect any official statements from MiLF.

Ok, then unofficial. I'm not trying to be a smart-ass, but someone has to say something from the organization don't they rather than just reporters?

Don't disagree, it's just LaFleur et al have become very tight lipped the past few years, especially after a loss.

I expect we'll get a lot of coach speak with few specifics.

It's the NFL...every game is more difficult than the average person can fathom.

My hope is Clifford is the starter...if for no other reason he's been in the system for a full year...the dumbing down of the playbook will be far less than it would be for Willis. It would seem to me that would give the Packers a better chance to win than the other.

IND is going to run ragged on this D with both Taylor and Richardson if he is forced to.

The D will be in-progress all season but hopefully has just enough figured out before it's too late in the W-L column.  I can't say I was encouraged by the DL getting man handled last week.  PHI is good but there are also other teams with good OL's that you have to go through to get to a SB.

@Tavis Smiley posted:

Is there a MLF pc today? Will be nice to get some official statements on things.

@mattschneidman:   Matt LaFleur talks at 3:30 today (CT). My guess is he’ll say they’re taking the week to decide who starts at QB Sunday against the Colts, whether that’s actually true or not.

Will not be surprised if both QBs see action, especially if the starter is only minimally effective.

Has Love been placed on IR?  Assuming Clifford joins the active roster, who gets dropped if Love doesn’t go on IR?  

@Packy posted:

Has Love been placed on IR?  Assuming Clifford joins the active roster, who gets dropped if Love doesn’t go on IR?  

Merrriweather??

@DH13 posted:

IND is going to run ragged on this D with both Taylor and Richardson if he is forced to.

The D will be in-progress all season but hopefully has just enough figured out before it's too late in the W-L column.  I can't say I was encouraged by the DL getting man handled last week.  PHI is good but there are also other teams with good DL's that you have to go through to get to a SB.

Agree that how the Pack defends the run will likely be the key to this game.  We here in Wisconsin know how dangerous Jonathan Taylor is if he gets any running room.

I have not seen much of that Indy QB but that highlight pass to Alec Pierce was Aaron Rodgers like in terms of how easily he threw a 60 yard TD strike.  I’ve heard Richardson from a pure arm strength/size/speed combo is right up there with the top prospects to ever play QB.  The knock on him is a lack of polish.

The Pack is going to need to make sure they pressure him and at the same time not let him get too many huge runs as with his size and speed he’s going to be tough to tackle out in the open.

On offense the key for Malik Willis is to not be making bonehead turnovers like Will Levis did for the Titans.  Considering Levis beat out Willis for a job does not bode well, but hey he’s our guy and let’s hope he’s learned from his poor play in the past.

Richardson is nasty runner as a QB.  He takes big hits and just bounces right up.

Is he Cam Newton with more wiggle?

MLF presser, ongoing:

LaFleur confirms Malik Willis will start at QB unless Jordan Love is cleared

@BillHuberNFL:  Willis is on the roster, Clifford is not. That's the decision, LaFleur says. "He's grinding. He's learned the terminology. We've got confidence in him."

Love will not go on IR

Another QB will not be brought in

@RobDemovsky:  LaFleur took the blame for not giving clear instruction to Keisean Nixon to take the touchback on the last kickoff.

"I'm going to put that on me, and it won't happen again," MLF said. "Didn't get clearly communicated what we wanted done."

@ByRyanWood: Matt LaFleur on #Packers rookie LB Edgerrin Cooper: "He certainly flashed and made some plays. I would anticipate him getting more time moving forward."

Please be cleared. Please be cleared....

I joke sort of.

@DH13 posted:

Richardson is nasty runner as a QB.  He takes big hits and just bounces right up.

That will definitely shorten his career.

MLF porn music waiting for PC complements of Packers. That's hot.

@D J posted:

That will definitely shorten his career.

IIRC he was knocked out in Game 1 or 2 for the remainder of the season last year after absorbing a big hit on a run

@DH13 posted:

Richardson is nasty runner as a QB.  He takes big hits and just bounces right up.

Is he Cam Newton with more wiggle?

He took a hit last year and didn’t bounce back up til this year.

So who is backing up Willis?

Clifford

Clifford will be the back-up I imagine. He will be elevated from the PS for the game, or signed to the active roster (for a 3 week minimum stay). In that scenario another active roster guy will need to be cut. Can't be Merriweather as he's on the PS.

In those videos that were posted when the Pack traded for Willis, I thought he looked very fast when he ran with the ball.
Of course, I don't think the game plan would feature a heavy dose of rushes from him, but he should be able to replicate what Fields did in Atlanta.
The bulk of rush attempts should come from Jacobs and Wilson, obviously, and I would expect some screen plays or sweeps to serve as rushes, but Willis shouldn't have much more than 20 downfield pass attempts.

Defensively, I would expect a similar plan as they did with Hurts/Eagles. They will probably sell out to keep Richardson contained, and Taylor will run for 100+ yards.
I hope Downs will miss this week, and Jaire can actually cover Pittman and/or Pierce instead of just running his mouth about it. Although trying to force the Colts to be one-dimensional could be risky, I would still load the box and make Richardson beat the defense through the air. It should play to the strengths of our DBs.

Would hope Willis is an upgrade to Seneca Tolzzzzzein era. 

"Time will Tell"

Matt Lafleur isn't closing the door on Jordan Love playing this Sunday

"We'll give him every opportunity." pic.twitter.com/IYodCMxbvu

— Eli Berkovits (@BookOfEli_NFL) September 9, 2024

If Willis plays and throws a TD pass, that will be the first TD he throws in the NFL. He started 3 games plus played in other games, total 67 pass attempts.

Forever Malik.

When things looked bleak,

we turned to Malik.

With a scowl and a shriek,

we began a win streak.

^^^ couldn’t decide between “weak” or “geek”.

@ilcuqui posted:

IIRC he was knocked out in Game 1 or 2 for the remainder of the season last year after absorbing a big hit on a run

Sure. Tell that to the guys he runs over this weekend.

I don't care if his running style shortens his career, I care that our run D is probably still bad and they've got him and Taylor coming to town Sunday.

This seems relevant.

@Timmy! posted:

In those videos that were posted when the Pack traded for Willis, I thought he looked very fast when he ran with the ball.
Of course, I don't think the game plan would feature a heavy dose of rushes from him, but he should be able to replicate what Fields did in Atlanta.
The bulk of rush attempts should come from Jacobs and Wilson, obviously, and I would expect some screen plays or sweeps to serve as rushes, but Willis shouldn't have much more than 20 downfield pass attempts.

Defensively, I would expect a similar plan as they did with Hurts/Eagles. They will probably sell out to keep Richardson contained, and Taylor will run for 100+ yards.
I hope Downs will miss this week, and Jaire can actually cover Pittman and/or Pierce instead of just running his mouth about it. Although trying to force the Colts to be one-dimensional could be risky, I would still load the box and make Richardson beat the defense through the air. It should play to the strengths of our DBs.

I do expect pretty much the same defensive game plan where you contain the QB and take your chances with the RB going for 100+.  I expect game plan to try  to  contain the big plays and let the DBs cover their man to hopefully shut down the passing game.  I do have confidence the DBs can do this because the talent is there.   If they can cover the receivers and Richardson runs with the ball and the QB takes off to run we will  upon the LBs to track him and tackle him and that I don't have confidence in that happening. 

Offensively, I bet we will see a college type of offense for Willis.  Run the ball and  hit jet sweeps to the receivers and let them make plays.  If we have to rely upon Willis sit in the pocket and pass to win the  game  the Packers are doomed IMHO.

But, all that being said the ultimate wild card in this game Tom Clements.  Can he get Willis ready and be serviceable?

Well if Love is going to out for a game or two, and Willis is going to be your QB, this would be the ideal 2 games from a Willis standpoint. 2 AFC South teams, Colts and Titans. He had to game plan against the Colts 6 times already in career, and the Colts are not a fancy blitz team, so that should help a little. I am cautiously optimistic for these next 2 games

@mattschneidman:  Joe Davis, Greg Olsen and Pam Oliver on the Packers-Colts call for FOX from Lambeau on Sunday.