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Packers/Bears - Five early questions
Let’s get the Packers-Bears talk started here at the NFP. Less than a week to the NFC Championship game at Soldier Field—and five early questions to ask. Matchups, schemes, X’s and O’s, etc.
1. How much pressure will we see from Chicago?
You talk Bears' defense and the discussion usually leads to the Cover 2 scheme. However, going back to the final regular season game at Lambeau—and what we saw Sunday in the win over Seattle—this Bears’ unit will bring both zone and man pressure. In their zone blitz concepts, Chicago will rush five and drop six into coverage (think 3-deep). Designed schemes to cause confusion in the protection. Is it a risk to pressure Aaron Rodgers? Without a doubt, but you can’t sit in 2-deep the entire afternoon. Curious to see if Lovie Smith carries a game plan with more pressure than usual.
2. Can James Starks produce against the Bears’ front seven?
ICONWill Starks find running room vs. the Chicago defense on Sunday?
Rookie RB James Starks has been an upgrade to this Green Bay offense. Quick first step, runs with power and has some shake to his game that will allow him to get to the second level of the defense. But, can he do this vs. the Bears? Chicago wants to play the run with a seven-man front. We know that, but they will also walk the strong safety down in their Cover 1 and Cover 3 schemes, as well as bring the free safety down weak in Under 10 (think Cover 1 with opposite safety rotation). The key however, is making the Packers a one-dimensional team. Take the run away and force Rodgers to make all of the plays.
3. Are the Bears sound enough in their protection schemes?
I would welcome Dom Capers’ job this week—because there is a lot you can do vs. the Bears’ O-Line. I have to give Chicago credit for the way they protected QB Jay Cutler on Sunday, but go back and watch the tape from the Week 17 Green Bay win. Pressure and multiple players getting home to the QB. The Bears will have to make those corrections and expect some new packages from Capers this week. Very interested to see how Charles Woodson is used as an edge rusher on Sunday.
4. Will Green Bay kick to Hester?
Took one back in the early Monday night win for the Bears and we all know how crucial field position is going to be in a championship game. If I am Mike McCarthy I have no issue sacrificing ten yards by kicking the ball out of bounds this Sunday, because giving up a score (or setting up the Bears' offense with a short field) in the return game could be the difference when the fourth quarter rolls around. Big week for Packers’ punter Tim Masthay—because one “miss-hit” and Hester could be up the sidelines. Don’t put this game on the Packers’ coverage units—that is the wrong call.
5. Will Tramon Williams continue to make big plays?
I will write more about Williams during the week, but how big has he been in the two Packer playoff wins? And he will see some opportunities vs. Cutler and this Bears’ offense. Drive underneath the dig route, break on the slant and bait the Chicago QB into throwing the ball down the sidelines. Green Bay needs that same playoff level production from Williams when he is matched up vs. Hester and Johnny Knox. He is a fun player to watch—because he plays with good technique.
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Winston Churchill:
"Since light travels faster than sound, some people appear bright until you hear them speak."
"If you're not a liberal at twenty you have no heart, if you're not a conservative at forty you have no brain."
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Despite the National amazment at Da Bears being in this position, I believe that this TRULY is the BEST 2 team matchup the NFC could get this year. Every team is flawed in different ways. Some would argue Da Bears are flawed more than others. I do not see that.
What is funny, is NO one is discussing our offensive production against the Sea Hags as a step forward from the last meeting with the Puke. All the rage is the fact that they have scored so many against the Eagles and the Falcons, but in an effort to make the playoffs only managed 10 pts against Da Beloved. Sure, we only managed 3, but we only ran the ball a few times and Forte nearly gained 100 yards in that game on something like 9 or 10 carries, if memory serves.
I think we give the Pack a HUGE dosage of run game punding them into submition and keep the ball out of Rogers hand. We take the lead early, and stop their run, and we win this game 20-13. Close game, hard fought, but we neutralize their offense.
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High Fives / Like - 3 BEAR DOWN!, 0 Dislikes
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What really ruined the game for the Bears in week 17 was field position. The Bears were always starting on their own 10 yard line, while the packers were always starting on their own 40 or the 50. This also means they didn't have to punt to Hester and also made punting out of bounds easier, as there isn't going to be any punt returns when they keep punting at midfield. The Bears were also getting sacked alot which just kept ruining field position even more. When you have Hester, that makes 3 and outs even more important, because teams then have to kick to Hester and there is alot more pressure trying to punt out of bounds when you are already standing at your own 15 versus the 50.
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High Fives / Like - 1 BEAR DOWN!, 0 Dislikes
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I just hope Joe Buck doesn't call the game.
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High Fives / Like - 3 BEAR DOWN!, 0 Dislikes
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Originally Posted by
4th and 26 
I just hope Joe Buck doesn't call the game.
Boy, I do. I want to stick it to him when we're busy kicking the Packers' asses on Sunday.
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Originally Posted by
4th and 26 I just hope Joe Buck doesn't call the game.
How could it not be him. If FOX is covering the game, then it will be the number one team and both he and Aikmen will be here. It will be funny to hear them fawning over how far Cutler has come and how they really knew how good he could become.
BEAR DOWN!!!
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I seem to remember that the last time we were in the NFC Championship Game, they played clips and music from "The Super Bowl Shuffle." I wonder if we wind up in the position to win the game if they'll do it again.
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I want the same guy signing the national anthem. Then I want to see the offense preform like they did against the Eagles and Seahawks.
Without weaponz it's just another airline!
I am here to chew bubble gum and kick butt and I am all out of bubble gum!
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Junior Member
1. Given the shakiness of our line, less is better. Honestly, Peppers, Harris, and Idonije alone could probably get to Rodgers enough to make him a little uncomfortable. Peppers alone demands two guys, especially with Bulaga playing so fresh against him.
2. Probably won't get a lot of yardage, but he'll get the important ones. Between him and Kuhn, we should be able to get the 3rd and short, which has been killing us all year. I worry about them on the goal line though.
3. This is where we can really hit you on defense. We have quite a few different blitz packages where we can move CM3 around, and mix up our formations with Woodson. What I like about Woodson is that you can never tell when he's going to drop back into coverage or blitz, unless he's off the line. We also have Cullen Jenkins back, who's always good for at least a few knockdowns and QB hurries. With how suspect your line can be at times, this is our key to getting your offense off it's rhythm.
4. God I hope not. My heart stops beating every time we do.
5. Yes. The guy has been unbelieveable. He's been playing shutdown corner at a level on par with Revis, nevermind the Pro Bowl snub. One of the most improved Packers players over the past 2 years, this guy has earned himself a spot amongst the elite corners in the league, and he's only now getting noticed, even though he's been quietly keeping WR's quiet all year.
I'm so excited for this game. Our teams may very well match up better than any in the National Football League.
“I think he did [tarnish his legacy]. Not only this season, but the last few seasons, going back and forth [on retirement] and bouncing to a few different teams. I think about it, and I have to really think hard to think back to when he was a Green Bay Packer and when he played his best football and was in Super Bowls and when he became the Brett Favre we all know."
-Kurt Warner
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Defensively:
The Bears have to both keep pressure and Rodgers and contain him. Watching him against Atlanta I noticed that most of his escapes come from rushers not squaring up on him before they launch. To many guy come at him from an oblique angle and he slips the sack by twisting away. So......put him in your sights, keep your head up and eyes on his waist and just nail his ass. We need some serious pressure up the middle as well as from the edges so it would be nice if Tommie Harris has another two sack game and the interior guys get consistent pressure.
Starks can be contained by the LB's and DB's if we can push him wide and cut down any cut back lanes by staying in the right gaps. He's a lot like Forte in size and style so I don't see him running through alot of tackles from guys like our LB's. I'm acutally more concerned about how they utilize Kuhn. When our Dline penetrates the way it does it leaves some running room up the middle that power backs like Kuhn can use. He's a load for even the best LB's.
Passing wise we just have to stop the big play all game long. Not stopping it all game long was what got us beat a few weeks ago. I'd much rather see the Bears get up in the WR's faces like they did against the Seahawks than to play with 8-10 yard cushions. The safeties are gonna have to be on their toes this Sunday both against the long ball and on slants. No long gainers.
On emore thing. I don't think blitzes will help much unless we can occasionally sneak a safety of nickel back through. If blitz the LB's much Rodgers will pick that apart with his mobility and "hot reads".
Offensively:
This a little easier. Just establish the running game and make them respect it. They won't be anywhere near as easy to run on as Seattle was but it needs to be done in order to make play action effective. The Cutler needs to have another mistake free game and really take up the challenge of facing down Rodgers for the NFC crown. The winner of this game gets the ego trophy as the NFCN's best QB.
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