The Packers need to be careful how much they use Green. He’s had an injury problem the past few years. He’s got to be at least part of the reason sacks have dropped of since he’s been starting. I’d rather see him in there pass blocking than out with an injury before the playoffs.

D∈T

Just 8 in the last 4 games, which is a huge improvement over 37 sacks in the first 8.

Only 2 sacks last night, one of which was nullified by penalty. Of course, there was 4 holding calls on the O-line, but holding is better than a sack, if for no other reason than the long-term health of A.Rodgers…

D∈T

I also thought it was obnoxious how many commercials they ran last night. Do they really have to sandwich a kickoff between two commercial breaks? Combine it with the penalties and that game was brutal to watch. And, I also hate all the graphics, charts, players introducing themselves, player profiles, weird camera angles before the snap, and crap they run on MNF. You are right, it does seem like a choreographed show and I would rather just see the game. Is it too much to ask to see the formation before the snap?

Before the game you suggested it was a good idea to have Woodson cover Rice some of the time. I keyed on Rice on most Raven’s plays as he is the crux of that offense and to see how Capers dealt with him. I thought Nick Barnett was outstanding in covering Rice last night. He just had an excellent game covering Rice and playing the run. Taking Rice away caused “check-down Flacco” to make his typical mistakes.

Overall, the 3-4 defense is LB driven and I think the Packers have found a real good starting four. You have got to have the hogs up front but I am very impressed how Jones, Hawk, Barnett, and Matthews play together. Throw in Woodson and this defense just clicks right now.

The Packers currently have Biren Ealy on the 53 man roster. Replace him with kickoff specialist that can get some touch backs or at least some deep kicks and help our coverage units. That would add far more value to this team then Biren Ealy.

As for TT, the biggest knock that remains is the fact that despite the number of O-linemen he has drafted that position is still a concern now and in the future. I count Sitton (totally agree that he is a beast, I have started to watch him since you pointed him out a few weeks back and now I think he is a future pro bowler), Spitz pre-injury and maybe T.J. Lang as starting NFL linemen that TT has drafted. Barbe was terrible and Colledge is still mostly terrible. Haven’t seen or heard much out of the rest of them. That said, when you look at the overall depth of the team you have to give credit to TT for Jennings, Finley, Matthews, Raji, Collins, Nelson, Jones, Brandon Jackson (late bloomer), Bigby . . . Not to mention Rodgers, Woodson, Hawk, Pickett. We have debated the philosophy of acquiring lots of young talent through the draft and only rarely supplementing that through FA, and I think it is starting to really pay off. I had become skeptical, but the proof is on the field.

Overall, the biggest factor in this team is the ability to dominate the line of scrimmage on defense and be very strong up the middle. Jolly, raji, Jenkins, Pickett have been outstanding in the trenches, the 3-4 seems to make the best use of the type of LBs we have and Collins and Bigby have quietly been very good.

because of the return of (75% strength?) Clifton and tauscher, the o-line has gone from a liability to a nuetral and that has allowed the overall depth at the skill positions to make the difference. Nelson, Jones, Finley, Jackson and Green are not household names, but I think they are so much better than their counterparts that the odds favor the Pack more and more on offense.

I was ready to throw these guys over a few weeks back, they were just so sloppy . . . amazing to see it gel over the past month or so. They really have a chance to make some people sweat in the NFC now and in the future.

Crosby is either injured or in a mental funk. In the last four games and hopefully the playoffs, he will likely be called on to win a game. Right now, I don’t want want him to be in that position. In addition, his kickoffs are coming up short and putting even more pressure on an already weak coverage team. They need to get Slocum to fix it now or find someone who will. Once again last night the coverage team put the opponents in a position to come back. MM needs to get personally involved in the ST’s and get them on track.