Re: The All new NFL Chat thread including playoff talk : Wed Nov 16, 2011 6:34 am  

ST_CONROY wrote:

It was very obvious that my post was in jest. Oh, and don't confuse me disagreeing with you as me suggesting that we are unbeatable. ANY team could beat us. Maybe it would require a combination of the opposition playing excellent and us having a down game,but it is possible.

He is the best QB in the league against the Blitz. Of course Ware could, and would get to him but it also possible to combat him in the way I suggested. We have done it many times previously against very good pass rushers, especially during the period our line was trash. We motion Finley into the backfield to provide protection until he breaks out on a route, or we send him to the side of the line with the premier pass rushers. In such circumstances the pass rusher either has to cover Finley (matchup nightmare) negating any pass rush or with Rodgers' quick release a pass can be completed to Finley before the blitz gets to him. The same is often done with Nelson. It is a key reason why A-God is so good on 3rd downs.

Matthews has been ineffective for that reason. He is still a phenomenal player but with no pass rush opposite him opponents are able to take him out of the game in coverage. When he does rush he is chipped or given outside leverage and can't get there in time to make the sack, although he can still be disruptive.

Oh, and I do know what the 34 is and how it opperates. (Also i do know enough about the NFL and not just watch games on TV which is something you said in a previous edit of this post).

Another point (and one of the reasons why I made what I thought was an amusing post) was the suggestion that because you have the most plays of 30 yards or more you could compete but in the same breath saying you'd keep Rodgers off the ball. Surely if you have long plays your more likely to give us the ball sooner? An explosive team isn't really a concern for us as we could get into a shootout with anybody. Teams we would struggle with are those who can take an age with possession (Giants, San Fran) and have strong defenses.

Are you not mentioning any matchups where we are better than you? (I assume the total offense was included to suggest your not far behind us).


My post which was meant in jest was not to suggest you could never beat us, but that I thought your reasons (Ware and most plays of over 30 yards) were really weak reasons.

Very nice and long post. In terms of DeMarcus Ware and stopping him, nulifying him etc. It seems you have it locked down. I suggest you send a memo to 31 NFL teams with a fine detail on how it's done. They've been trying for many years. As far as the 30+ plays, that was an example of keeping up with you if needed, i.e if we were behind. The inclusion of DeMarco Murray into the conversation was an indication of how we would keep Rodgers off the field. I apologize for that, I probably should have made that a bit clearer.

Actually, you're spot on pal. We'd never get to Rodgers.




Good luck for the rest of the season. Till we beat you in Lambeau.

Re: The All new NFL Chat thread including playoff talk : Wed Nov 16, 2011 1:26 pm  

What's all this crap about the Pack going unbeaten this season? They've got to get past the might of the Bucs at Lambeau on Sunday which will be tough for them. If they manage it though I really cant see anyone else who could stop them

Re: The All new NFL Chat thread including playoff talk : Wed Nov 16, 2011 2:04 pm  

When's Chad Clifton back? Need to protect A-Rod!

Re: The All new NFL Chat thread including playoff talk : Wed Nov 16, 2011 5:51 pm  

Harrigan wrote:

What's all this crap about the Pack going unbeaten this season? They've got to get past the might of the Bucs at Lambeau on Sunday which will be tough for them. If they manage it though I really cant see anyone else who could stop them

I know your kidding but I still LOL'd

Re: The All new NFL Chat thread including playoff talk : Wed Nov 16, 2011 7:38 pm  

In all seriousness, I think the Raiders D Line could have some fun against the Packers O Line.

Re: The All new NFL Chat thread including playoff talk : Wed Nov 16, 2011 7:44 pm  

In all honesty though you would think that the Packers have to 'slip up' somewhere if (and it's a big if because they don't look like doing it) Rodgers and the O have an off day, they will have to rely on their defence which doesn't look the best right now.

I can see them going 16-0 in the regular season but when it comes to the play-offs they could come unstuck if they are under par and their opponents are on form/get a few breaks(the Seattle/New Orleans game from last year springs to mind), but after last year they certainly have the confidence and momentum!

I jokingly said a few weeks back to St Conroy I thought they would go 18-0 then lose to us in the SB (Karma ), *Kevin Keegan mode on* I'd love it, love it if that happened....love it

Re: The All new NFL Chat thread including playoff talk : Thu Nov 17, 2011 12:56 am  

Story on tbaybucs.com

Rodgers was told by Bucs he would be the 5th overall pick days before the 2005 draft
This is the story of how the Bucs let Super Bowl-winning quarterback Aaron Rodgers get away.

It's a loser's lament that is shared by many teams, for sure, as the California star lasted until the Packers selected him 24th overall in the 2005 NFL draft.

But considering the cross-country private workout arranged by then Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden, the surprise receiver sprung on the 21-year-old Rodgers and the phone call a few days before the NFL draft, well, at least Rodgers was convinced he would be a Buccaneer.

“Jon actually called me, when I was in New York, on Thursday, April 21st, and sounded like at the time they were going to take me with the 5th pick,'' Rodgers said Wednesday.

The Bucs had three quarterbacks on their roster prior to the 2005 draft -- Brian Griese, Chris Sims and Luke McCown. Veteran Tim Rattay was added before the trading deadline from the 49ers.

With Utah's Alex Smith and Cal's Rodgers considered the top two quarterbacks in the draft, Gruden, quarterbacks coach Paul Hackett and general manager Bruce Allen traveled to Berkeley in the spring of 2005. Rice had played for Gruden and Allen with the Oakland Raiders and lived in the Bay Area.

They arranged a meeting and private workout with Rodgers, and after watching film, told him the the guy he would be throwing footballs to would be a surprise.

"Back in 2005, I think it was maybe April or late March, Jon came out with Paul Hackett and said he had a surprise for me after we kind of watched some film and talked some ball,'' Rodgers said. "One of my childhood, favorite players, being a huge 49ers fan growing up, Jerry Rice comes walking down the steps and I get to throw passes to him.

“Think about a 21-year-old kid throwing to one of your idols, how nervous you think you would be, I was that and then some. I overthrew him a couple times, but it was exciting to be able to throw to him and to work with Jon and Paul, great coaches, who had been around the game a long time.''

The rest, as they say, is history. Two days after telephoning Rodgers, the Bucs used the No. 5 overall pick to take Auburn running back Cadillac Williams, who became the NFL's Rookie of the Year before two knee injuries sabotaged his career. (Smith went No. 1 overall to the 49ers). Rodgers was selected by the Packers, sat four years behind Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre, won a Super Bowl last season and has his team off to a 9-0 start heading into Sunday's game against the Bucs at Lambeau Field.

"I don’t fault them for taking Cadillac, he had an incredible college career and a great rookie season,'' Rodgers said. "He was slowed down by some injuries. But I don’t blame them at all or don’t hold any animosity toward Jon and Bruce or the organization. Everything kind of happens for a reason. Looking back on when they came out and visited me in Berkeley, that was one of my top moments in my sports career, being able to throw to Jerry Rice.''

Hurts a bit but hindsight is a magnificent thing. Cadillac looked the real deal before his injuries and no one really know Rodgers would become this beast. Still, what could have been ay?

Re: The All new NFL Chat thread including playoff talk : Thu Nov 17, 2011 9:42 am  

Harrigan wrote:

Story on tbaybucs.com

Hurts a bit but hindsight is a magnificent thing. Cadillac looked the real deal before his injuries and no one really know Rodgers would become this beast. Still, what could have been ay?

Massive balls up. Still, you have Josh Freeman and Raheem Morris now.

Re: The All new NFL Chat thread including playoff talk : Thu Nov 17, 2011 9:46 am  

Michael Vick doubtful for sunday against the Giants due to two broken ribs. Pfftt Tony Romo played for 5 weeks with borken ribs and a punctured lung. Wimp

Re: The All new NFL Chat thread including playoff talk : Thu Nov 17, 2011 12:45 pm  

William Bonney wrote:

Michael Vick doubtful for sunday against the Giants due to two broken ribs. Pfftt Tony Romo played for 5 weeks with borken ribs and a punctured lung. Wimp

Guessing the fact that they have next to no chance of making the play-offs is a big factor in him not playing if it happens, the 'dream team' has made a right bollox of it this year haven't they!

Good to see