NFC Wildcard Round: Packers @ Washington (Sunday Jan 10 @ 3:40 LFT)

Fandame posted:

From an SI article today on the Texans and how they prepared for last week's game: "Following the blueprint in New England—where O'Brien and Godsey worked under Bill Belichick—Houston has developed what's called a 'game-plan offense,' meaning that it varies based on the strengths and weaknesses of the opponent." (link)

I would like to think all coaches do this, but this season I have wondered about MM's "we do what we do" mentality and lack of imagination... He should be doing better than calling plays where receivers run directly into the safeties or each other.

I think most don't do this because they are bound to a system mind-set. I do agree this is the best way to go about playing in the NFL. I am also frustrated by MM's lack of creativity and adjustments this year. He seemed to have been on a roll with both of these the past few years. I wonder how much losing his brother affected him this season. I'm frustrated but certainly not calling for MM to be fired.

This whole "game plan" for a "team" is not new nor rocket science.

Guess what, every team does it every week, but they may not just interview with SI so they can have some pub.

Now, when you are a team like The Green Bay Packers, you keep a vault of 'stuff' that other teams have no 'tape' on.

MM knows this.  AR knows this.

MM is now the OC.  Don't be surprised if this team breaks out this weekend.

You heard it here first.  Maybe 2nd because I heart Boris. 

Seems to me their biggest problem is game planning every play at the line of scrimmage and players getting lost along the way trying to keep up with 12.

I think MM telling Sitton to worry about his own business is more about the Sitton/Lang combo vs 12 checking out of run plays than criticizing MM for not calling them in the first place.  Both 71 and 70 have been chirping about running more for weeks on end.  70 blowing up at 12 on the goal line seemed a culmination of things to me.  I think that battle has been going on a good while this season with 12/AVP/Clements leaning toward letting Rodgers do as he pleases with the offense and 27/71/70/Bennett wanting more dedicated running.             
MM had to step in and try to get the two sides working together again and MM doesn't want anything 71 says in the media getting back to 12 and starting fires again. 

/rampant, baseless speculation

An interesting point is that given the new HC openings, the best OCs/DCs, Assistant/Position Coaches will naturally be in demand.
IF  changes are going to be made in Green Bay, MM had better be on top of this. No rest for the weary...

Think you're on to a core issue, titm. 12 controlling the offense.

Another indicator was sticking with that damn 3 WR 1 TE package with all the receivers lined up with wide splits, no stack formations and rare use of motion. Some guru earlier this season (I think it was SI's Doug Farrar) wrote that this formation is the easiest for Rodgers to rapidly run through his progressions. Problem is that when the 4 receivers out there can't beat man coverage you're screwed, a problem compounded by going no huddle meaning you're stuck with the same 4 stiffs on the field.

Where/when did McCarthy tell Sutton to worry about his own business?

Sunday weather for DC. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Sunday: Showers may dampen our morning (60% chance), but they shouldn’t be too heavy, as it appears now. Midday clearing may allow for some afternoon peeks of sunshine. We’ve earned it. And earned high temperatures in the upper 50s to low 60s. Wow. Comfortable, and pleasant with un-muggy air. Although, we could have some gusty westerly breezes at times, so don’t discount needing a wind breaker or other jacket. Especially if attending the Redskins playoff game. Confidence: Medium

Hungry5 posted:

Where/when did McCarthy tell Sutton to worry about his own business?

MM in yesterday's presser was asked about Sitton saying the offense needs to run more. MM replied that 71 needs to play guard and then went on to explain that he will. I took that to mean he doesn't need to talk about scheme.  To be fair it could be interpreted differently, but that was the impression I took from it. 

[Packernet.com Custom Podcast] McCarthy: "It's right in front of us" => http://prod.video.packers.club...-mike-export-32k.mp3 

Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy spoke with the media Friday morning for the final time before his team travels to Washington for its NFC wild-card game Sunday afternoon. Here are some highlights.

On David Bakhtiari’s status: David Bakhtiari, tomorrow he’s expected to do some work. So we’ll see tomorrow.

On Damarious Randall's status: Just being cautious, not only with where we are not only in the season but the week. I think anytime you have something with one of your players on Thursday, you have to be cautious.

On Sam Shields' status: Sam was in the training room, and nothing has changed.

On whether Shields will travel: I can’t answer that right now.

On whether Shields had a setback: I think when you’re talking about a concussion, it’s obviously different than other injuries. You don’t just get to 70, 80, 90 percent. Until he comes through the protocol, that’s where we are.

On the increase in John Kuhn's snaps late this season: It’s more scheme. It’s more game plan. Certain things that are available. It’s just really about rotating through concepts. Any time you're in and out of personnel groups there's obviously a reason for it. It has nothing to do with Eddie (Lacy) or James (Starks). John Kuhn is an excellent football player.

On B.J. Raji's bounce-back season: Anytime a player goes through 16 games, I think that’s a threshold for all your players. I think he’s had a very good year, and we’re definitely going to need him and all our big guys to play well Sunday.

On urgency in playoffs: It’s playoff football. We’re going about our business like we normally do, but obviously the urgency is playoff urgency. We all understand what these games mean. We’re excited about our opportunity.  We’re focused on taking care of the things we need to do. The weather report looks to be pretty good. The wind's going to be up but ... those are things we're focused on. We're not trying to flip some switch. We're focused on the things we do very well and making sure we don't make the big mistake. We’re not focused on flipping a switch.

On whether past success can help offense: Not only is each season so specific, but each time of year is so specific. It’s as specific as what this week in front of you looks like. Today, I’m not thinking about what went on in the past at all. Even if you’re still playing at a high level, you’re still trying to improve. I understand we have to answer these questions. It's all about being getting better and being prepared for the next contest. We're just focused on the things we feel we do very well and how they apply to attacking Washington.

On turnovers: I talked to the team about it. You can’t win football games with our giveaways the past few weeks. It’s clearly an anomaly looking at the way we have played over the past 10 years and the way we train. Everyone understands the importance of taking care of the football.

On Washington’s ability to take away football: Definitely. We showed the tape to the offense. They’re very good at taking the football away. Not only taking it away, but when they take it away. They take it away in the red zone and on third down. Their defense is very good.

MM ain't getting fired after this game.   He's earned a down year and will be given the opportunity to bounce back.   

Look what his involvement in Special Teams and Defense have led to..  The man can coach.  That said, he can't hire assistants or game manage to save his ass.  

The way that I read the Sitton statement was that Sitton is going to play guard and not Left tackle. The experiment during the game against the vikings was over.

Washington's offense is playing well. They have a hot quarterback in Cousins with some very nice weapons - Rough match-up with Jordan Reed(he's a big WR not a TE although he supposedly blocks well)....please don't let us see Ryan, Clay, or Thomas trying to cover him.  Will have to keep a close eye on Desean Jackson, his deep speed is concerning with no Sam Shields. Garcon on the other side is no slouch either. Their run game hasn't been much this season, which of course means they will light it up Sunday. 

I think the Packer defense will have their hands full. Packer offense is going to need to score some points.

I know the offense has it's troubles, but they've also played some top rated defensive units. The Pack has played against the following defenses (ranked by least points allowed):
1 (SEA)
3 (KC)
4 (DEN)
5 (MIN) - Twice
6 (CAR)
7 (ARI)

That's 7 games against the top 7 defensive units. They also went up against the Rams who have a good defense(their offense hangs them out to dry). Doesn't explain what happened against the Bears and Lions other than being  intra-divisional matchups - often a dog fight. 

Gotta believe we see some new wrinkles to overcome WR limitations on Sunday. If not...let's talk draft !! 

@WesHod: Eighteen on injury report but 13 probable. Good sign for Datone Jones (neck) who is estimated as limited/questionable.

Serious breakdown on the o-line

Troubling how this unit cannot see eye to eye

Hungry5 posted:

I like Micah Hyde and Clinton Dix matching up with Jordan Reed in man coverage situations.. Jake Ryan out there should mean zone, hopefully

— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) January 6, 2016

Er, NO!. Reed smokes all 3 guys one on one. 

Let's be honest. Michah's one handed reverse underhanded swipe pick off left handed Tiny hand was ridiculous. 

Michah is a football player. He has no speed. But that guy is football smart. 

Datone out.

McGinn reports:

... On the mend: Defensive end Datone Jones said he has been diagnosed with an injury to his trapezius muscle on the left side of his neck and shoulder area. He received a second medical opinion earlier in the week and will travel with the team but won't play Sunday.

"I got checked out and I'm good to go," said Jones. "I'm playing next year. I'm waiting to see what the team doctor (Patrick McKenzie) says."

Jones said he "probably" wouldn't be able to play if the Packers advance in the playoffs.

He was injured late in the second quarter Sunday against Minnesota on a pass rush when he came into contact with guard Mike Harris, his former teammate at UCLA.

"I was pretty sore the week before, too," said Jones. "It happened. I was just, 'Wow.'" ...

http://www.jsonline.com/sports...618z1-364723511.html

Nice summary of the Washington secondary, from a longer article by Pete Dougherty.

http://www.packersnews.com/sto...-cut-loose/78510838/

... The Packers’ wild-card opponent also could be an elixir for their 25th-ranked passing game, at least for a week. Washington finished the regular season No. 28 in the NFL in yards allowed and No. 17 in points allowed, and its secondary is its defense’s weakest link.

Washington lost its best cornerback, Chris Culliver, to a knee injury in November. According to a scout from one of the team’s NFC East rivals, second-year cornerback Beshaud Breeland is the best remaining cover man, yet Dallas picked on him time and again in the regular-season finale.

Former Packers fourth-round pick Will Blackmon is a starter after being signed off the streets in mid-September, but at age 31 and after two ACL surgeries his cover skills are diminished. Washington also was desperate enough this week that it signed former Baltimore, Philadelphia and Seattle cornerback Cary Williams. The Seahawks had cut him in early December, and there’s a chance he’ll play extensively against the Packers.

Washington moved 32-year-old DeAngelo Hall from cornerback to safety in late November in part because of the decline in his cover skills. And the other safety, 31-year-old Dashon Goldson, is a thumper who never was much of a cover man.

“Rodgers will watch the tape and see Will Blackmon continually getting attacked,” the scout said. “They’ll pick on Will Blackmon. He plays outside and sometimes in the slot. That’s where (Washington) will probably lose this game. I don’t think they’ll get enough pressure, and I don’t think they’ll hold up on the outside in coverage.”

Ordinarily I'd think this game would be a shoot-out. So much riding on the Packers' receivers rising to the occasion.

Shields is officially out. Both rookies need to step up big.

Yep. Other players:

@WesHod: Sam Shields (concussion) is ruled out. Jay Elliott (quad) downgraded to doubtful. David Bakhtiari (ankle) remains questionable.

So MM said Sitton is guard no matter what.  Does that mean Barclay again if Bak can't go?    

Can't imagine Barclay starting. Would almost have to be Tretter if Bakhtiari can't go again.

@RobDemovsky: According to a source: Yes, Sam Shields has missed a month because of his concussion, but the Packers top cornerback "will definitely make a full recovery in the near future." No word on availability if the Packers advance.

Hmmm.

@ByRyanWood: In theory, #Packers path to SB could start at NFC East champ, thru 1 seed/NFC South champ, then at division rival in NFCCG. Sound familiar?

While that would be fun, no way MIN beats SEA.

I've spent the better part of the day thinking of winning an NFC Title game in Minny to add another road pelt. 

But Minny will **** that up too tomorrow. 

Can see Minny-Seattle as a close game, much closer than the last game. Seahawks have questionable running game while Minnesota has AP. That actually could be the difference in this awful cold. Although, I'd still like to see Minny get smoked!

It's a put up or shut the f up game for Peterson.

Don't know if it's been posted anywhere else already, but Shields has been declared out for this game.

Orlando Wolf posted:

It's a put up or shut the f up game for Peterson.

And his blockers

Sick  and tired about hearing the redskins this redskins that ---time for a woodshed beating

WTH!