Here we go again

The Green Bay Packers’ 5-4 record is not going to scare anyone, and us Packers’ fans know that one win doesn’t exactly mean the Packers have found their stride. Beating the Cowboys the way they did, however, at least keeps us on an even keel. The problem is the Packer have two cupcakes the next two weeks and two weeks ago we saw what happens when the Packers play cupcakes. After losing to Tampa Bay the Packers hopefully learned that they need to prepare for the Tampa Bays of the world the same way they prepare for Dallas.

This week the Packers host the 49ers and I know you guys will give me grief but I think the 49ers might give the Packers grief. My problem is I don’t know why. Call it a hunch. The 49ers have a good defense but only Frank Gore on offense, after Sunday one would think that if Tony Romo can’t beat the Packers there is no way Alex Smith can. Remember Josh Freeman. I want to be as positive as possible and say we will kick ass again on Sunday, but like the court of law, there is that confident beyond a shadow of a doubt aspect, and unlike before the Tampa Bay game, I do have a shadow of a doubt.

On the surface the 49ers should struggle for every yard against the Packers 4th ranked defense. The Packers’ defense has one thing extremely well this year and that is stop the opponents running game and being as one-sided as the 49ers are on offense the Packers really shouldn’t have any trouble much like when they played the Rams and Steven Jackson.

I don’t necessarily mean the Packers have to come out and blow the 49ers away, but they do need to play well again and most importantly win the game. No special teams blunders or a three interception game from Aaron Rodger. The Packers have more talent and therefore should win the game. I think Rodgers might have a big day against the 49ers’ secondary, which is not very good. The 49ers are good against the run however, so yards may be tough to get on the ground.

Here we go again, getting nervous over a game the Packers should clearly win. The Packers are a good team, I just don’ t think they know it yet. Which leaves us with that shadow of doubt.

This entry was posted on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 10:30 pm and is filed under Al Davis. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

  • Mark Troy

    ….and the Packers WIN!!!

    I’m surprisingly not worried myself. :)

    Famous last words…

  • jonnyfootballhero

    Agreed Al, I don’t see this as a cakewalk by any means. I just have a feeling that the Packers are coming out fired up. They finally beat a quality team and I think their confidence is high.
    I’m really hoping for a dominant performance by the Packers, especially since I’ll be there with my 9yr old nephew for the first time in three years. I’m really pumped for this game and have a feeling that last week was the springboard to the post-season. GO PACK GO!!

  • http://jlworden1suddenlink.net LarryTex

    I was devastated by the BUC loss, so much so that I can’t get more enthused over DAL than to apply the “any given Sunday rule”. Tough for me to admit I’ve lost my rose colored glasses.
    Here again, this is a game we should win, but definitly so was BUCs. DAL just proves what could have been. I need a shot of confidence which might very possibly happen against SF, we’ll see.

  • Steve Cheez

    I’m in exile out here in ‘Niner-land. We’d better win, because I have been talking some serious smack all week long. Hopefully I don’t end up like my Bears-fan boss did last week.

  • monty

    Agreed Al, each game for the rest of the season if they want to make it to the postseason has to be approached like the Dallas game. One of the sportwriters that covers the Packers wrote in his mid term grades about who had shown up and who hadnt during the first half of the season. In his article he mentioned John Jolly and said that when Jolly shows up, like he did against Chicago and Dallas, he’s a very good lineman and the defense as a whole plays better, especially against the run. When Jolly decides not to show up then he might as well not be on the field (like the head butt against the Vikings). So here is to hoping that John Jolly decides to play with the talent he has been given and he plays like an All Pro. You know Christmas is just around the corner and even old man scrooge Ted Thompson hands out contract extensions, if Jolly can play like an All Pro who knows. I cant think of anyone else except for Charles Woodson that deserves a Ted Thompson Christmas basket. For sure not any of the O-linemen. If Ted extends Colledge then he doesnt know O-linemen. Colledge is like up one game down the next, not that he is the only squeeker on the O-Line. Anyone else have any thoughts on who you think has been playing outstanding enough to deserve a Christmas bonus from Uncle Teddy?

  • monty

    Good Bye Brian Bohem

    So why did Thompson sign Brohm to the practice squad and then offer him a spot on the active roster? “The Packers needed another quarterback and he already knew the system,” said the scout. “Plus, the pickings are slim when it comes to finding No. 3 quarterbacks. There was no downside to keeping him around for another year and then bringing him to camp next summer.” So is there any chance that a Cheesehead will flip on his TV one day and see Brohm flinging TDs? “Only if he’s watching the UFL,” quipped the scout.

    The End.

  • monty

    hey Steve Cheez….speaking of Bear fans, be thankful that Niner fans dont do to you what Bear fans did to the Steeler fan in a Chicago bar back in September when the Bears beat the Steelers. The fans put grain alcohol in the guy’s drink and he had to be rushed to the hospital as his heart stopped 4 times!! Now he is blinded and suffered some brain damage. We need to remember, Its Just a GAME!!

  • monty

    Yeah guys I know, Im bored, slow day at work :)

  • monty

    Last post I promise..from Jason Whitlock of Fox Sports..he says it all. I rest my case against Ted Thomspon.

    Many people missed the point of my Brett Favre-Ted Thompson column last week.

    The column wasn’t about Favre being better than Aaron Rodgers, which Favre is. The column was about Thompson’s inability to build a complete football team around a quarterback who is ready to win now.

    Rodgers isn’t the problem at Green Bay. He’s capable of winning games. But Rodgers is a victim of the same Thompson-led incompetence that marred Favre’s final years in Green Bay.

    The Packers’ loss to the previously winless Buccaneers should’ve cleared up all confusion about Thompson’s competency to build a football team. He can’t do it. His legacy in Green Bay will be running Favre out of town.

  • Richard Krause didisc d d

    I hope MM will script the first 15 plays with the mind-set to score a TD. If we go 3 and out, we give SF the MO and we show it’s hard for us to regain it.

    I also think we play down to the opposition. We need some of the killer instinct.
    .

  • http://www.myspace.com/themissingrocks DelawarePackFan

    The Packers seem to absolutely struggle against teams with a better than average defense. SF bitch slapped Chicago and I expect their defense to do the same to the Packers

  • aussiepacker

    I love the packers but they are just like the rugby league team that i follow in Australia talented enough to beat any team but allso able to lose to the so called easybeats of the comp. So i watch every game and have confidence in a win but their is always a little doubt in the back of my mind. p.s go pack go

  • Larry

    31 teams a year can’t build a complete team. Whether by injury or misevaluation there is always a week link. The question is can you coach around the weakness. TT isn’t perfect but the same players that beat Dallas lost to Tampa. Keep TT- he has built a good young team with real potential.

    MM is the problem!

  • http://jlworden1suddenlink.net LarryTex

    Now I’m really confused, I think I just wrote that, Larry; at least it sounds like me! I get so addled.
    I think we should all take Monty up on his promise.
    Damn, first Gruden, then Childress lost to us; isn’t TT ever going to get us a decent coach?
    I’m going to so enjoy the MIN collapse! Love the Bearse compared to how I feel about MIN. Can still remember what fools Tarkenton made us look like with his running around forever back then.

  • Larry

    I aiming at Monty…TT hater delux. Looking forward to good game Sunday to quiet the peanut gallery. TTFN.

  • Mark Troy

    Naaa,
    I’m sorry guys. No worries this week (for fans anyhoot). There will NOT be two occurrences of a Tampa Bay type letdown.
    There was not much film of the TB quarterback to study – Plenty of SF film
    That was a road game – this is a home game
    TB had nothing to lose – SF does
    The TB lesson is too close and the fire still too hot for the Packer players and coaches to have a letdown.

    Sunday we’ll see if my analysis is good or bad. :)

  • http://jlworden1suddenlink.net LarryTex

    What can we do to convince McCarthy to go back to the Bill Walsh “West Coast” rather than the John Madden “Long Ball” offense? Walsh went with the smaller, more mobile OL, which I thought we wanted to go with the ZBS for the run game. Still confused!

  • PackerPete

    I think it is time for a leader to step up on this GBP offensive team.

    Woodson has obviously taken up the mantle on this new 3-4 Dom Capers coached defense. His play on the field as well as his communication with his teammates both on and off the field show his leadership.

    There is NO leader on this offense. Guess what people, this is really the only place that AR can be criticized. He needs to be this person and he is not today. A WR cannot do it as much as DD tries,, the position is simply not engaged in every play enough to be a “tone setter”. DD’s leadership is eveident, and it is appreciated, but his leadership is of a secondary and supportive nature while this offensive unit needs a primary leader.

    I believe “this leader guy” can be a RB, QB or OL, but not a WR, TE or FB due to the nature of the contribution and ability to lead by example as well as vocal and spiritual.

    Grant – NO
    OL – c’mon, eh?

    by process of elimination, AR it is. The burden falls directly on his shoulders.

    I see that he is trying, he is a pretty decent leader by example, he has certainly shown availability and toughness, his teammates can count on him to show up. His actions to limit the turnovers and plays that make him, as a QB, look bad have shown up some of his teammates weaknesses instead of him taking actions to help overcome some deficiencies of his teammates, this is something Favre did well, AR needs to expand his scope of understanding of what makes a good offense great in terms of the individuals on the unit, show this understanding through his actions, and that will elevate his leadership.

    AR also needs to be more willing to level criticism on players for their on-field contributions and off-field preparation and commitment. I know, I know if he is bashing his teammates all over the press he is an asshole, not a leader. I cannot know how he is at this, because by its nature this form of leadership needs to be internal to the team. He may be fantastic and doing this right now, I cannot know. But… the actions of his teammates and the things that do get reported about player interaction off-the field seem to indicate that AR is positive and supportive at all times and perhaps lacks a little of the “tough love” mentality that I believe is necessary for a leader to be a great leader.

    Comments?…

  • Oddball

    I have to think the Packers come out shooting on Sunday. Force SF to recognize that if all they do is stop the run, we will beat them over the top.

    The niners whipped the Bears because Cutler has nothing but a TE once you stop Forte. We’re a little better stocked. I’d take Jones and Jordy over any of their guys with the exception of Hester on returns. Rogers is every bit as physically gifted as Cutler, and his head is screwed on a great deal better.

    Unless we go all penalty and sack stupid or give up big plays on ST, I think we win pulling away. Disappointing to hear about Wells’s concussion. More hinky-dinky-doo on the O-line I suppose. Anybody have a status on Finley?

  • Oddball

    Pete – I think a leader must follow his own development arc to be authentic and credible. If Rodgers is not the kind of guy to call people out at this point in his development, trying to be that guy would be a mistake on his part. The coaching staff should be dishing up the tough love.

    That said, I loved watching his touchdown run. He’s starting to take command. With some victories and confidence, Rodgers might well grow into the sort of leader for whom others will march across hell with gas cans on their backs because they’ll know he’s backing them up with a tanker truck. You don’t get that kind of loyalty simply by demanding it. It has to be freely given. In my opinion, Rodgers is knocking on the door.

    It would be easier for him to get through with two more solid O-linemen and a badass running back.

  • Devil’s Advocate…

    My thoughts……… First, the Pack win by two touchdowns, maybe three. If it were an away game, I might worry about a let down. Being a home game it’s a “stack the success” game. It’s about momentum more than X’s and O’s, I think. Alot of times it is or they wouldn’t play the games.

    Brohm…….. I can see why TT put him on the PS. I can even understand why he’d do what he prefered not to have to do to keep him, butttttttttttttttttt, I sense it worked out for the best. I think there’s something planted in his head now, that come a bad game or two………….. couple fumbles…………. his head goes in the tank and that’ll be the end of Brohm.

    Also, agree w/Admin. Al about Barnett making plays. Now if he’d also make the tackle when he’s back there………. Gotta finish it when those opportunities persent themselves. They don’t happen alot.

  • Larry

    The two areas of concern on the offense are sacks and penalties…AR can’t bite the hand that feeds him…but where is Clifton and now Tauscher. Both veterans who need to get their own acts together and challenge the young guys including Rodgers to throw the ball away a couple of times a game.

    Both are on last legs and should have every incentive to lead the Packers deep into the playoff’s. ,,,the O line needs to police itself!

  • Pack4life

    Every game will be an adverture until the Pack proves they can block someone.

  • http://jlworden1suddenlink.net LarryTex

    Think you can add Hawk to that D praise. He is fifth in tackles and having a good year, I think. Surprising, at least to me, is that Kampy is #3. Didn’t expect that; can he learn to cover yet?

  • Dan

    Hopefully MM sticks with the 2007 game planning. Dallas game shows what can happen when you use your brain and stop trying to turn every offensive play into a highlight.

    If MM reverts to his play calling when he was in New Orleans and San Francisco, I fear for Rodgers health and the Packers chance at playoff revenge.

    If I remember right, MM coached Alex Smith. If that’s the case, he should know the guys problem areas.

    Last week was critical heading into it. Packers came out fighting. I think this week we find out if MM learned his lesson or if he reverts back to his Ray Rhodes, Saints, and 49ers football habits.

  • http://jlworden1suddenlink.net LarryTex

    Streamed that MM presser, ow, that was painfull. I try to fight it, but I’m not happy – he didn’t look to happy either, like he was just doing it because he had to.

  • roy jamison

    Glad to see the Vikes gave Chilly an extended contract. It’ll be fun seeing him on his knees begging number 4 to come back again after this season is over. I am amazed at how 4 has stood up so far, but the cold dark winds of winter are approaching and those 40 year old bones are about to get shock treatment.

  • roy jamison

    Memo to TT: Just in case something happens to A-Rod, start searching for a Brohm replacement. Maybe the Vikes John David Booty would be a good replacement, altho he’d have to be added to the active roster. He sure ain’t gonna be playing for the Vikes anytime soon.

  • http://jlworden1suddenlink.net LarryTex

    Hey, roy, think Favre has taken Booty under his wing like he did Arod? Wonder what Booty thinks of him? Don’t know anything about him; how does he stack up against Brohm coming out of college?

  • packer_bob

    We don’t have any sure win games so to call the 49ers “cupcakes” is a joke imo. I loved last week’s game (have had a computer issue so haven’t been able to rewatch the game just yet) but the part I liked best was the INTENSITY.

    We play with that kind of passion and fire every week, I think we’ve got a chance to make a run. But in the back of the mind, I also realize one game does not a season make. The Dallas game could be a turning point in our season, or just a hightlight of our season. The good news is the players get to choose.

    I’m going with my head and saying the Niners just don’t have enough offensive firepower to hang with us. Their defense is good, but in the end we should be able to put up the points that Cutler threw away for the Bears last week. We need to put together a run and can ill afford to lose either of the next two games. If we can’t sustain the intensity level at this point of the season, we don’t deserve to win or go to the playoffs anyway.

    I’m saying Packers win by 13 or more points. Go Pack Go!

  • packer_bob

    It’s funny how the schedule works out. In the pre myself and several others were looking ahead and would have counted Cincy and TB as sure wins, and probably most thought we at least split with the Vikes. It was widely assumed the last half of the schedule was the tougher one.

    Now, after beating Dallas, I think it is reasonable to expect to win the next two games (I’m saying for a fan to expect, the players best be preparing like they’re playing Greek Gods every week) and Baltimore certainly looks beatable. Putting together a 4 game run is certainly a possibility, not just a pipe dream.

    I’m not predicting we’re going to do it—we’ve been too Jeckyll and Hyde to make a prediction like that following one solid victory. But this is the time of the season to be playing your best football so hopefully we’re rounding into form.

    It’s nice to at least be able to talk about a winning streak and not feel like somebody is going to come throw me in the rubber room like this:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnzHtm1jhL4&feature=related

    I wear a tin foil hat just like that when I play poker online or post on this forum. That way they can’t scan your thoughts.

  • RayL

    AR will not pull a Jay Cutler and give the game away. He is way too good for that. I do not think SF is a cupcake game. They are tough on Defense and they have a weapon on Offense that should not be overlooked and that is Vernon Davis and now Crabtree. VD will kill our LB’s in coverage. This one wil not be easy. Pack by 7.

  • PackerPete

    VD has been known to cause some problems in pro athletes.

  • Monty
  • packer_bob

    You know, I’ve been pretty hard on this team according to some of you. I feel for good reason, but that’s debatable. I’ve just felt that with where we ended up a season and a half ago, and with the promise of the preseason (although clearly I put too much stock in that) I had the right as a fan to expect to us to be able to compete with the top teams in the league.

    Whether we can get there or not this season is anybody’s guess. I’m thinking that with some of the endemic problems on the O-line, we are probably not going to make a deep run in the playoffs.

    But I think back to a couple of the Sherman years where we started fair to middling (or worse) and finished strong. And I’m feeling like we have the chance to do it again. I’m not taking anybody lightly—I mean ANYBODY! But I think it’s pretty clear that if we come out tomorrow and Thursday against the Kitties with the intensity we showed last week, there is no way we should lose to either team. (Again, I’m not saying that’s a given, I’m saying if we play to 80% of our ability and don’t make the horrible mistakes, we win both games.)

    That would put us at 7-4. Looking at the remaining schedule, I mark Pittsburgh as the only game that us winning would clearly be an upset. And I’m starting to see some things that I think make a 10 win season surely possible.

    Woodson is a given barring injury, but if he keeps up at his current pace he will at least be a candidate for D player of the year. Hawk has been playing much better in my mind since his snaps were cut down a few games back. Barnett is starting to return to 2007 form, when I thought he got jobbed out of the Pro Bowl. Grant is running better, perhaps he will make a second half push as he did last year. I also think Ahman Green has a few plays in him yet this season.

    Clay Mathews makes plays and appears to be getting better each week, and I think Raji is rounding out as well, no pun intended.

    In short, between the schedule and these other positives, I think we can make a playoff push. I’m trying not to swing between the extremes of the low against Tampa and the high against Dallas, but this wouldn’t be the first time this team gets its shit together from mid-November through the end of the season. I’m more optimistic now than I have been at any time since the pre-season.

    Next hurdle tomorrow—-I like our chances!

  • packer_bob

    Wow, I just read the Press-Gazette staff’s take on this game, and while they all have us winning it, it was by 8, 3, 4 and 6 successively. That would suggest I’m being overly optimistic.

    I think we’ll win by 13+. May have to search out the spread on this one and place a bet. If we don’t win by at least 10 somebody’s (meaning MM) screwed up.

    Then again, I’m nuts and off my meds. We’ll see whose crazy tomorrow!

  • Lew

    I hope you are right packer bob. But I think the Gazette’s numbers are about right. Vegas has us -6. Consistently winning on NFL gambling is very tough for a reason (allegedly).