TimesFour

J-Barn’s Keys to the Game – week 10

by on Nov.09, 2008, under Game Previews

Sorry to have left everyone without my insight, or lack thereof, for last week.  I had surgery to remove a cyst from my right wrist so I was really not up to typing.  I am back and as good as ever.

When we look forward to this game let’s think of the facts.  We played well against the Vikes in week one, but emotion and the home crowd make that a different world.  Our rush defense is looking better. Harrell, for all the anger on timesfour, did play pretty well last week in his return.  The best part of his return is the rotation at the DT spot is deeper.  Big part of our run defense is the resting of DTs.  The other problem with just looking at our raw rushing number is we have played six of our eight games against the top 12 in rushing offense.  #1 Atlanta, #3 Tennessee, #6 Minnesota, # 9 Tampa Bay, #10 Dallas and #12 Seattle. Still, Minnesota is not as two dimensional as they would like people to believe.  Green Bay has the fifth ranked pass defense and Minnesota will bring in the 17th ranked pass attack that is seventh worst in INTs (9 INTs in eight games).
Packers vs. Vikings 12:00 PM LFT

Packers vs. Vikings 12:00 PM LFT

Green Bay leads the league in INTs. The biggest fear when Green bay is on defense is still the fact that all our LBs have been massively under performing this year.  Minnesota’s TE actually had some decent numbers against us last time.
 

Green Bay’s offense is looking better every week.  Rodgers became the first QB to throw for 300 yards against Tennessee this year.  Grant is getting stronger and seeing the holes better in the last three games.  Grant got 86 yards on 20 carries against the eighth best rush defense on the road last week. Count on the Packers continuing to attack the weak underbelly of the Vikings defense… the pass defense.  Minnesota is 23rd in total pass defense with only 6 INTs this year (compare to Green Bay’s 13).  Green Bay’s 17th in scoring defense and Minnesota is 20th. In terms of scoring our offense and defense are better than the Vikings.  There really is no secret to how to attack the Vikings.  Sharper is a gambler and will get burned more often than he makes a big play at this point in his career.  E.J. Henderson is gone in the MLB slot, but he was never involved in the pass game.  He had zero passes defended last year. Crazy stat for a MLB. Green Bay needs to use screens and draws as well as they did last week.  Slowing the injured Allen more. When we run we should run between the tackles.  Attack the spot where Henderson used to be.  We should run over the Guard spot to make people move around to get Grant.  No one is afraid of the Metrodome any more. Detroit led Minnesota most of the game there and only lost on a last second field goal after a terrible PI call.  The Colts came back from 15 down to win in the Metrodome.  
 
Coaching will come down to which coach has a better imagination.  This is why McCarthy has been so good against the Vikings.  If he can get back to that the Packers have a great shot. Childress has little imagination in play calling or play types.  
 
Keys for the Packers to win
  • 1- tackle better, Peterson will not go down easily,
  • 2- pass block like week one,
  • 3- CBs will need to be aware of runs to outside, too often looking the wrong way,
  • 4- attack on pass game,
  • 5- never count a lead as safe (McCarthy needs a dagger)
Keys for the Vikings to win
  • 1- running game has to work,
  • 2- no INTs,
  • 3- LBs have to get involved in pass defense

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