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A quarter of the way through the season, and it’s hard not to be optimistic. The Packers have made their way through four tough games and they look good. Okay. Three tough games. The Bears still suck.
On paper, as the say, they can beat any team. Unfortunately games aren’t played on paper, but it’s still hard to imagine the Packers being an underdog in many of their remaining games.
The NFL, however, is never so easy.
The St. Louis Rams didn’t look too impressive going into week one. On paper, they don’t look that impressive. They have a reasonably good defense with an elite front but their offense is in the bottom third of the league.
But you know what? They managed to take down both Seattle and Arizona. They are the only team in the NFC West that is undefeated in division play. The Rams are ascending.
The Rams are a team with everything to prove, so the Packers should know better than to take them lightly. Let’s look at how they match up.
Packers O-Line VS. Rams D-Line (Spotlight: Robert Quinn VS. David Bakhtiari)
Rodgers has had to rely on his quick release and his pocket awareness to avoid trouble this season. The o-line has been shaky and Rodgers has been sacked six times.
Now the Packers are facing a team that’s tied for second in the league in sacks. One of the keys to the week one upset over Seattle was the Rams ability to get to Russell Wilson, who was sacked six times for 32 lost yards.
The O-line will have their hands full with Aaron Donald at DT, who has registered 3.5 sacks this season. But his counterpart at right DE, Robert Quinn will be in a key matchup against David Bakhtiari.
Quinn is off to a good start with three sacks. As a pass rusher, he is one of the best at his position, and he’ll be lined up against David Bakhtiari. Bakhtiari was solid last season but his performance this year has been rough at times. The big key for the Packers will be Bakhtiari being on his A game in keeping a proven pass rusher outside the pocket, something he has struggled with off and on since getting the starting job at left tackle. Can Bakhtiari play a near flawless game to hold the pass rush down? If he can return to last season’s form, the Packers offense will be able to exploit a questionable secondary.
Packers Pass Rush VS. Rams Passing Game
One of the best features of the Packers pass rush is how many weapons they have to send at the quarterback. Six players logged at least one sack against Kansas City, and five did against the 49ers.
Adding Julius Peppers alongside Clay Matthews in the linebacking corps was an inspired move last season, and the two have been essential this season. Jayrone Elliott is emerging, and even has an interception under his belt. Combine that with the hustle of the front three, and the packers are getting to the quarterback.
Both teams have 17 sacks on the season and allowed six each in week four. The St. Louis O-line has a pair of rookies, including Wisconsin grad Rob Havenstein at right tackle. But their relative youth has not stopped them from protecting the quarterback. The Rams are solid up front, but can they hold back that many weapons? The Packers have been playing tenacious defense, and the pressure from the front three has been essential in putting pressure on the quarterback. Look for the Packers to have an edge in this matchup.
James Jones and Randall Cobb Vs. LaMarcus Joyner and Janoris Jenkins
James Jones and Randall Cobb are a wonderful combination. Jones has made catches this season that don’t look physically possible, and Cobb continues to be master of yards after catch. The Packers have have a history of living and dying by the passing game, so it would behoove the Rams to limit Rodgers’ ability to find open receivers.
The players who can do that are LaMarcus Joyner and Janoris Jenkins. Two of the best tacklers on the Rams defense, these two will be expected to restrict the Packers two best receivers. They are both gutsy and smart, and we have already seen problems for Rodgers having great protection but being unable to find a target. Jones and Cobb need to get open, and the Rams need Joyner and Jenkins’s A game, as their safeties are not the strongest.
If Jones and Cobb can get to the back of the secondary, it’ll be long day for the Rams. But if Joyner and Jenkins deprive the Packers of their two receiving threats, Tom Clements will have to get creative.
B.J. Raji VS. Todd Gurley
Rookie running back Todd Gurley had a breakout game last week, putting up 155 yards and breaking for 52 yard rush. For only his second week back from injury, that’s not too shabby. Saint Louis’ offense is nothing to write home about (dead last in total yards) so Gurley might just be the playmaker the Rams need.
Nose tackle BJ Raji will be the key to stopping Gurley, as he’ll look to force Gurley to the outside into the waiting arms of Matthews and Peppers. The Packers need to get better at defending against the run, and that’s going to start with Raji, who is back to his old self, to the point i forgot he was ever injured for a season. The D-Line has been extremely effective in stopping some dynamic rushers this season. Especially with Gurley in the backfield, Raji is crucial. Gurley, if he has a game like last week, or better, could be a game changer.
Final Thoughts
As glad as I am to see the Packers finally vanquish the 49ers, It would have been nice to see the offense perform better. A game like last week reminds us that there will be weekends when the offense struggles. The difference, this year, seems to be that the defense has enough to step up when needed and take over a game.
Apparently 15% of the players on the starting 53 man rosters have now been injured. A rough start to the season, but depth has been the answer for the Packers.
Richard Rogers will keep the starting TE spot when all is said and done. He’s earned it.
Sam Shields started slow, but that interception has reminded me what he is capable of at the top of his game.
Continue reading...
On paper, as the say, they can beat any team. Unfortunately games aren’t played on paper, but it’s still hard to imagine the Packers being an underdog in many of their remaining games.
The NFL, however, is never so easy.
The St. Louis Rams didn’t look too impressive going into week one. On paper, they don’t look that impressive. They have a reasonably good defense with an elite front but their offense is in the bottom third of the league.
But you know what? They managed to take down both Seattle and Arizona. They are the only team in the NFC West that is undefeated in division play. The Rams are ascending.
The Rams are a team with everything to prove, so the Packers should know better than to take them lightly. Let’s look at how they match up.
Packers O-Line VS. Rams D-Line (Spotlight: Robert Quinn VS. David Bakhtiari)
Rodgers has had to rely on his quick release and his pocket awareness to avoid trouble this season. The o-line has been shaky and Rodgers has been sacked six times.
Now the Packers are facing a team that’s tied for second in the league in sacks. One of the keys to the week one upset over Seattle was the Rams ability to get to Russell Wilson, who was sacked six times for 32 lost yards.
The O-line will have their hands full with Aaron Donald at DT, who has registered 3.5 sacks this season. But his counterpart at right DE, Robert Quinn will be in a key matchup against David Bakhtiari.
Quinn is off to a good start with three sacks. As a pass rusher, he is one of the best at his position, and he’ll be lined up against David Bakhtiari. Bakhtiari was solid last season but his performance this year has been rough at times. The big key for the Packers will be Bakhtiari being on his A game in keeping a proven pass rusher outside the pocket, something he has struggled with off and on since getting the starting job at left tackle. Can Bakhtiari play a near flawless game to hold the pass rush down? If he can return to last season’s form, the Packers offense will be able to exploit a questionable secondary.
Packers Pass Rush VS. Rams Passing Game
One of the best features of the Packers pass rush is how many weapons they have to send at the quarterback. Six players logged at least one sack against Kansas City, and five did against the 49ers.
Adding Julius Peppers alongside Clay Matthews in the linebacking corps was an inspired move last season, and the two have been essential this season. Jayrone Elliott is emerging, and even has an interception under his belt. Combine that with the hustle of the front three, and the packers are getting to the quarterback.
Both teams have 17 sacks on the season and allowed six each in week four. The St. Louis O-line has a pair of rookies, including Wisconsin grad Rob Havenstein at right tackle. But their relative youth has not stopped them from protecting the quarterback. The Rams are solid up front, but can they hold back that many weapons? The Packers have been playing tenacious defense, and the pressure from the front three has been essential in putting pressure on the quarterback. Look for the Packers to have an edge in this matchup.
James Jones and Randall Cobb Vs. LaMarcus Joyner and Janoris Jenkins
James Jones and Randall Cobb are a wonderful combination. Jones has made catches this season that don’t look physically possible, and Cobb continues to be master of yards after catch. The Packers have have a history of living and dying by the passing game, so it would behoove the Rams to limit Rodgers’ ability to find open receivers.
The players who can do that are LaMarcus Joyner and Janoris Jenkins. Two of the best tacklers on the Rams defense, these two will be expected to restrict the Packers two best receivers. They are both gutsy and smart, and we have already seen problems for Rodgers having great protection but being unable to find a target. Jones and Cobb need to get open, and the Rams need Joyner and Jenkins’s A game, as their safeties are not the strongest.
If Jones and Cobb can get to the back of the secondary, it’ll be long day for the Rams. But if Joyner and Jenkins deprive the Packers of their two receiving threats, Tom Clements will have to get creative.
B.J. Raji VS. Todd Gurley
Rookie running back Todd Gurley had a breakout game last week, putting up 155 yards and breaking for 52 yard rush. For only his second week back from injury, that’s not too shabby. Saint Louis’ offense is nothing to write home about (dead last in total yards) so Gurley might just be the playmaker the Rams need.
Nose tackle BJ Raji will be the key to stopping Gurley, as he’ll look to force Gurley to the outside into the waiting arms of Matthews and Peppers. The Packers need to get better at defending against the run, and that’s going to start with Raji, who is back to his old self, to the point i forgot he was ever injured for a season. The D-Line has been extremely effective in stopping some dynamic rushers this season. Especially with Gurley in the backfield, Raji is crucial. Gurley, if he has a game like last week, or better, could be a game changer.
Final Thoughts
As glad as I am to see the Packers finally vanquish the 49ers, It would have been nice to see the offense perform better. A game like last week reminds us that there will be weekends when the offense struggles. The difference, this year, seems to be that the defense has enough to step up when needed and take over a game.
Apparently 15% of the players on the starting 53 man rosters have now been injured. A rough start to the season, but depth has been the answer for the Packers.
Richard Rogers will keep the starting TE spot when all is said and done. He’s earned it.
Sam Shields started slow, but that interception has reminded me what he is capable of at the top of his game.
Continue reading...