Whatever you want to label him, He was the Jedi Master yesterday against the Texans...
Mark Twain once said "History doesn't repeat, but it does rhyme" or something like that.
So, flash back to Monday Night against the Patriots, week 7 I believe it was. Waaaaay back in 1998. Coming off our championship 1996-7 team, the Packers were struggling. They were dead last in football stopping the run. Raymont Harris (remember him?) ran for 100 yards each time for the Bears against us all ready in that season.
So we were really struggling. What's worse, we were playing that Monday Night against the NFL's leading rusher (Curtis Martin). Not to mention that Drew Bledsoe was either first or second in the league in +20 yard pass plays up to that point as well.
We were reeling and prepared for the worst....
Yet we went in there and dominated, winning by two touchdowns and making a statement to the rest of the league.
And that victory started the momentum toward our inevitable return to the Super Bowl...
Back to the present. This certainly *feels* like a statement game and very much in the style of previous Packer teams. I hate to delve into the realm of psychology, but this team just plain and simply does better when it faces adversity (like the rash of injuries early in 2010 and our backs-against-the-wall/must-win-every-game situation at the end of the 2010 and on through the playoffs).
Woodson even said prior to the game the Packers were coming out "flat" in previous games...
So it seems that when our backs are against the walls (and we are on the road), the team gets serious and focused and just plays better.
Final thought: Collinsworth nailed it. I am baffled that Wade Phillips would play press coverage against our big physical receivers. I feel our receivers are not that great at finding the open spaces in zones. They much rather duke it out one-on-one in press coverage. Teams have been disguising and using various zone/cover defenses (covers 1,2 and 3). Taking away the deep ball has been a huge factor in neutering the Pack attack. Finally, methinks Rodgers has a slight blind spot when it comes to the cover 2 linebacker dropping back into coverage. Two interceptions by Urlacher last two years, INT by San Fran linebacker, and an INT returned for a TD by the MLB of Tampa (2009).
Doubt we'll see that press coverage again...
Lots more to discuss...till next time...
Dynasty.
No comments:
Post a Comment