Key Battles, Week 10 Edition: Green Bay at Chicago
The season is on the line for Green Bay in its Sunday visit in Chicago. Here are some of the key battles for that contest.
By dnicholson
Fire Capers. Marty B the turncoat. McCarthy deposed in the Kaepernick case. The week following Green Bay’s loss to Detroit has created some interesting narratives, to say the least. But Sunday the Packers will take the field regardless of the rants on social media, in chatrooms, living rooms, and pubs across the country. The opponent? Chicago. Three-game skid be damned, it’s Bears week.
This week’s Key Battles feature a team facing an existential crisis of sorts, so a few of the Packers’ key battles are with themselves.
Pack must finally cash in on the big play
The game tape from the short-lived Brett Hundley era has provided a sobering conclusion: Big-play opportunities are there, but the Packers aren’t cashing in. Monday’s inept performance against Detroit featured Davante Adam’s downfield drop, Jordy Nelson running free to the end zone on the opening drive sack, and a handful of other plays where receivers created space to no avail. Even if these potential plays don’t change the final outcome against Detroit, they certainly make things more interesting. And when pressed in the final minutes, something in Hundley changed and he let it fly, fitting in some tight throws worthy of hope for Sunday. Against the low-scoring Bears, a handful of big plays could be the difference.
Battered O-line against impressive Bears front seven
The strength of the Bears, outside their impressive running back tandem of Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen, lies in their defensive front seven. And what would be a strength for the Packers, the offensive line, has barely played together at full strength this season. Now with Bryan Bulaga gone for the year (and hopefully no more) with an ACL tear, the Packers are down another man. Swingman Justin McCray is also questionable, so Green Bay’s musical chairs routine will persist another week. If the Bears are able to control the line of scrimmage, expect more happy feet from Hundley. Moreover, the Packers’ league-best DVOA in the run game would be in serious peril.
Good, good—let the hate flow through you
Mike Daniels spoke before the Detroit game about bringing a meanness to that contest, clarifying the remark that they’re not out there to hurt people but they need to play physical. Then on the first defensive drive, after a third and long incompletion no less, Daniels headbutted Lions center Travis Swanson after the whistle. That play was the closest thing the Packers had to forcing a punt. The thing is, though Daniels was horribly wrong in his application of the playing nasty mantra, he wasn’t wrong to suggest the Packers needed to play with an edge. Against Chicago, the Packers would do well to treat the contest like the entire season is on the line. They’ll do it in enemy territory against their most (historically speaking) hated rival. Play smart, Packers, but play with a sense of urgency. Play mean. Let the hate flow through you.
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Comments (8)
Pauly
November 11, 2017 at 01:16 pm
Once in a DECADE OPPORTUNITY to draft multiple ELITE SKILL players for the next several years AR will still be playing....
Only opportunity with 12 picks,, for as long as AR plays,, to draft multiple top skill positions,, 2 elite WRs 1 elite TE,
2 top pass rushers all out of top 100 players plus 3 more great players in round 4.
FOCUS, focus..... Need lots of continual talk, opinion columns, discussion on this rare opportunity over next several months.
Contrary to TT's philosophy,,, I believe with this draft's RARE opportunity,,,, QUALITY over QUANTITY is FAR more important for the next decade's elite skill players.
Drafting at NUMBER 5 to 7 in 2018 with 12 draft picks of which right now,, 5 will be in top 100 players and 7 more picks in rounds 5, 6, 7 which should be available to bundle together for trading up for higher picks. This could result in 7 to 8 picks in rounds 1 through 4.
I suggest trading bottom 5 picks combined with Rds 4 & 5 picks to move up higher. For instance, Packer's picks # 2,5,6 should trade for a #10 or mid first round pick. Drafting and using all 12 picks as quantity picks and then maybe cutting 5 of them like TT did in 17, is NUTS when picking at # 5-7. It makes more sense when picking at # 29.
WR situation,,, Jordy wants to retire soon, Adams is a great #2 possession receiver,, Cobb will go because of $,, Monty will take Cobb's slot position. Allison is at best only a #5 receiver, bring Clark from PS for #6. Janis and Davis questionable to be here in 18.
Pass rusher situation, draft 2 in top 5 picks, Perry questionable, move Matthews to ISLB with Martinez.
IMPORTANT,, that TT drafts for positions not best athlete,, based on SPEED and the proven history of players.
NOT on measurables like Rollins, (slow BB player with good hands) Fackerell (big, long, fast, But WEAK, 16 reps bench when Biegel, Mathews, TJ Watt repped 21-24)
Converting players and 2nd round picks that are hopeful projects usually sucks as a strategy. Need that natural skill and instinct of excelling play at a position since HS, look at the instinctive differences between Monty and RB Jones as natural running backs.
Right now the draft look's like PACKERS will be drafting at the 5th to 7th position:
Rd 1 = 1 pick
Rd 2 = 1 pick
Rd 3 = 2 picks
Rd 4 = 1 pick
Rd 5 = 2 picks
Rd 6 = 3 picks
Rd 7 = 2 picks
No drafts are guaranteed of course,,, but for this draft, I believe QUALITY over QUANTITY is FAR more important for the next decade's elite skill players.
Look at 2017 draft where TT used quantity to draft 10 players and then cut 3 of them. Diamonds in the rough are just that,, rare diamonds. Maybe makes more sense when drafting at #29.
flackcatcher
November 11, 2017 at 01:09 pm
Ah..... a little to much time spent of the fantasy football board my friend. Besides, lets wait until we know how this season plays out. Plenty of time...
Pauly
November 11, 2017 at 01:25 pm
No FF for me,, just a retired guy looking ahead, taking advantage of situational opportunity. Trying to find a positive in current situation.
FF is a waste of time to me.
flackcatcher
November 11, 2017 at 01:04 pm
"Play mean. Let the hate flow through you". Yup. It's Bears Week. I want this Packers team to play fast and smart. There are going to be a lot of angry players this week, and angry players make mistakes which hurt their team. Mike McCarthy is a really good (sometimes great) football coach. (I don't give a damn what the twitter and other social media says. The proof is his win lost record) Get off the mat and fight. Just win.
TarynsEyes
November 11, 2017 at 01:16 pm
You mean Rodgers win/loss record,right?
NickPerry
November 11, 2017 at 03:18 pm
Look at the games without Rodgers, Favre, or Matt Flynn. McCarthy has NEVER won a football game without one of those 3. Just think if Thompson didn't finally swallow his pride and brought back Flynn in 2013. Flynn managed to salvage a tie against the Vikings in a game Tolzien had started and was losing, just like the previous 2 or 3 games before that game. McCarthy is 0-5 in games started without Favre, Rodgers, and Flynn. This years showing just proves McCarthy needs a new team to coach and the Packers just need a new coach. Sometimes change can be the best thing for EVERYBODY.
CAG123
November 11, 2017 at 01:06 pm
To add on to what the guy above me said and I know people may not agree but if HHCD is able to turn his play around the Packers should trade him rather than try to pay him top dollar. He’s a FS that is scared of contact he’s always late to break on the ball. If he’s in the open field he’ll either shuffle his feet to stall the ball carrier so someone else can make the tackle or he’ll do some weak easily avoidable leg tackle. He’s not athletic have you seen him try to return a pick? He falls almost all the time and he has no moves. His best season wasn’t even his pro bowl season it was the year before when he made better tackles in the open and at the LOS. If he can render them a 2nd round pick I say go for it.
TarynsEyes
November 11, 2017 at 01:20 pm
But HaHa's so good at catching deflected passes by his teammate for INT's for his undeserved credit...much like a couple certain Linebacker/Pass rushers....pay the man now.....we love weekly no show credit grabbing mooches.