Pack/Cards Lead Up

[MickeyDavis]

If we don't play better than yesterday we will lose this game. Hopefully Nelson is back but it will be tempting to sit him with the upcoming bye week.

[Newz]

I think Patrick Peterson is the key to this game. Do not let him return a punt for a TD or turn defense into offense and I think we win... because I just don't think their offense can hang with us.

But if he gets off and takes one to the house, I think there is a decent chance we lose.

[emunney]

If Skelton plays, we will get 8 sacks. If Kolb plays, we will get 8 sacks and Kolb will die.

[LUKE23]

This is going to be another fugly game, for sure. Please just get to the bye with a win and no more injuries. I don't care if we win 2-0.

[an_also]

As you might have heard, Hurricane Sandy has forced the NFL to close its New York City offices and, for now, push back the its trade deadline to Thursday at 4 p.m. ET. That gives us more time to speculate on whether the Green Bay Packers will pursue St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson, as ESPN's Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen reported they might on Sunday.

As we've discussed, the Packers' running game has slipped considerably since Cedric Benson injured his foot last month. Benson's return is at least a month or more away, and according to Mortensen, Packers general manager Ted Thompson has long coveted Jackson and attempted to acquire him before.

Jackson, 29, is due more than $3 million for the rest of the season and can become a free agent after this season.

There's a big difference between coveting a player and pulling the trigger on a deal to acquire him. Now we've got a few more days to determine if Thompson is willing to bridge that chasm. History suggests he will not, but Thompson has stepped out of character a few times already in building the 2012 team.

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_ ... en-jackson

[jr lucosa]

I hope Kolb plays, he is just asking to be knocked out of the league and isn't good at all.

[LUKE23]

Jermichael Finley, TE, Packers – Finley was another player whose name has been thrown around at the deadline, per Glazer. Finley is set to make $4.45 million next season and is due a $3.5 million roster bonus in March (per Rotoworld). He is currently playing through a shoulder injury, and has disappointed given his lofty expectations. His public statements that he and quarterback Aaron Rodgers lack chemistry, coupled with his agent’s criticism of Rodgers, have created awkward situations in Green Bay.

http://larrybrownsports.com/football/de ... ade/160262

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

I'd take anything for Jermike at this point.

Also, I'll be at this game so we better win.

[xTitan]

If Skelton plays, we will get 8 sacks. If Kolb plays, we will get 8 sacks and Kolb will die.

Not if Perry doesn't play, not much pass rush from the other side or up the middle without Perry.

[Kerb Hohl]

The Cards now look atrocious. This is a must-win. As Luke said, I'll take any score of victory as long as everyone walks out healthy.

[SpursNBucks]

If Skelton plays, we will get 8 sacks. If Kolb plays, we will get 8 sacks and Kolb will die.

Not if Perry doesn't play, not much pass rush from the other side or up the middle without Perry.

Even with Perry there wasn't. He rarely was getting pressure on the QB. I've probably been more impressed with the inside play of Worthy. To get pressure on the QB they are going to have to blitz a S off the edge or send Hawk/Jones up the middle on a stunt.

[xTitan]

If Skelton plays, we will get 8 sacks. If Kolb plays, we will get 8 sacks and Kolb will die.

Not if Perry doesn't play, not much pass rush from the other side or up the middle without Perry.

Even with Perry there wasn't. He rarely was getting pressure on the QB. I've probably been more impressed with the inside play of Worthy. To get pressure on the QB they are going to have to blitz a S off the edge or send Hawk/Jones up the middle on a stunt.

LOL what games are you watching? Perry was improving every game, They get zero push from Walden on the opposite side and the only time there is much push in the middle is when Matthews and Perry force a QB up in the pocket. I really think Worthy has been a bust to this point and it is no secret that the rush has disappeared since Perry has been gone.

[Kerb Hohl]

I don't think Worthy is a bust by any means yet. Obviously there are other factors but 2.0 sacks when he's still not getting full-time play and had an injury is a bit promising.

Jenkins in most good years was around 5. And again like I did with Perry in the other thread, I'm not comparing the early samples of their careers (I compared Perry to Clay), but we do have to exercise patience in them because as of right now, Worthy and Perry are just as productive as Clay and Jenkins early in their careers...and that isn't to say that either of them will ever match that target player.

[El Duderino]

I don't think Worthy is a bust by any means yet. Obviously there are other factors but 2.0 sacks when he's still not getting full-time play and had an injury is a bit promising.

Jenkins in most good years was around 5. And again like I did with Perry in the other thread, I'm not comparing the early samples of their careers (I compared Perry to Clay), but we do have to exercise patience in them because as of right now, Worthy and Perry are just as productive as Clay and Jenkins early in their careers...and that isn't to say that either of them will ever match that target player.

The DL as a whole unit has been really disappointing to me when it comes to helping generate pressure. The unit has some sacks, but to often they get completely stalemated up the middle and thus the QB can easily step up in the pocket if there is any pressure from our outside linebackers.

Sure actual sacks are important, but sack totals can sometimes be quite misleading because it doesn't factor in pressures which disrupt a passer, yet doesn't result in a sack. Look at the game Sunday. The Packers and Jacksonville each had two sacks, but i thought Rodgers was under pressure more often and that was with them rarely blitzing while the Packers blitzed more often.

Maybe i'm being over-critical as fans tend to be of their own teams, but in a lot of games, it just seems like the Packers can end up with say 2-3-4 sacks which looks decent to good on paper, but on the vast majority of the other throws, there is very little pressure unless Capers sends 5 or 6 guys or Matthews creates a pressure on his own.

[LUKE23]

Arizona is right there with Jax for worst offense in the league. I don't care how good their D is, if we lose this game we should be embarrassed.

[Scoops]

Time to avenge that playoff loss from a couple years ago!

[xTitan]

I don't think Worthy is a bust by any means yet. Obviously there are other factors but 2.0 sacks when he's still not getting full-time play and had an injury is a bit promising.

Jenkins in most good years was around 5. And again like I did with Perry in the other thread, I'm not comparing the early samples of their careers (I compared Perry to Clay), but we do have to exercise patience in them because as of right now, Worthy and Perry are just as productive as Clay and Jenkins early in their careers...and that isn't to say that either of them will ever match that target player.

I believe Worthy has more snaps than any other DL on the team, or close to it, he does have 2 sacks, but has very very few pressures (CJ Wilson has 2 sacks as well). I believe one of Worthy's sacks was because the outside rushers forced the QB up in the pocket, this is why many people prefer to look at pressures.

[Bernman]

To throw around the word bust, even w/ the qualifier "to this point", is pretty damn stupid. It's halfway into his rookie year. He's 22. I expected a more impactful, mature player but what he's done for a 2nd round rookie has been pretty much par for the course. Raji was a top 10 pick and had 1 sack in 14 games his rookie year. I also think you're pulling that he's played the most snaps, or close to it, out of your butt. He wasn't playing much early in the season. He only became a regular due to injury, and he was knocked out of this last game for that reason.

[SpursNBucks]

LOL what games are you watching? Perry was improving every game, They get zero push from Walden on the opposite side and the only time there is much push in the middle is when Matthews and Perry force a QB up in the pocket. I really think Worthy has been a bust to this point and it is no secret that the rush has disappeared since Perry has been gone.

LOL - I would ask you the same. No one has been getting consistent pressure from the side opposite Clay. I don't argue with you on Walden. Worthy has had some moments when given the chance. Go back and look at the games you just didn't see a lot of consistent pressure from Perry- a lot of times you forgot he was in the game. His strength seems to be at the point of attack and against the run- one of the issues with him is he was thought as more of a 4-3 DE/3-4 OLB tweener coming out of USC- with that leaning towards more of a DE in a 4-3 prospect. He had great combine #'s, but doesn't have the great body lean and burst you see in the better 3-4 pass rushing OLBs. I'm not saying he is a bust and a lot could change, but to think Perry is a real difference maker at this point from what he has shown thus far is just not the case. The guy I would like to see get some more opportunities is Moses.

As far as the pass rush disappearing since Perry (2 sacks)- it is about the same- 7 sacks since he went out in HOU (counting that game after he left). You have to look at matchups- if not mistaken they lead the NFL in sacks - in fact they are tied with ARZ with 26. Just hope Perry isn't a guy that is injury prone- wrist game #1, and the Knee game #6.

[SpursNBucks]

I believe Worthy has more snaps than any other DL on the team, or close to it, he does have 2 sacks, but has very very few pressures (CJ Wilson has 2 sacks as well). I believe one of Worthy's sacks was because the outside rushers forced the QB up in the pocket, this is why many people prefer to look at pressures.

Interior D-Linemen usually take the longest to develop in the NFL. There are exceptions like N Suh, but those are the rare exceptions. On the other hand pass rushing OLB's/DE's can come in as rookies and make big impacts (just like RBs). While I think Perry can be a solid/good/maybe very good player I haven't seen anything to make me think he will be a pass rushing stud- in the mold of Pierre-Paul, Aldon Smith, Von Miller, etc. IN all fairness to him - those were never the expectations and which is why he was on the board when the Packers took him at the end of round 1.

There's a couple of things I like about Worthy- he has great initial burst- his anticipation of snap count has caused a flag or two, but I like the idea. He also has shown some athletic moves that I haven't seen from a Packer interior linemen for awhile- as was the case on his last sack.

Keep in mind when you talk about pressure- job#1 for these guys in a 3-4 is to take on the run-these guys aren't going to have big stat lines, a lot of what they do does not show up in the box score. I would be interested to see the snap count data- It would be surprising to me if he was leading all D-linemen.