Zero2Cool
13 years ago
http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/113860874.html 

Green Bay Rookie James Starks, a sensation against the Philadelphia Eagles, looked like just another running back Saturday night in the Green Bay Packers' 48-21 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC divisional playoffs.

Starks carried 25 times and gained 66 yards, a paltry 2.6-yard average that paled in comparison to his 23 carries, 123 yards, 5.3 average six days earlier in Philadelphia.

"I'm a lot better than that," Starks said. "My standards for myself are a lot higher. I've got to pick my legs up. Break more tackles. I've got to break the big one."

Four of Starks' carries were for minus yardage, four for no gain and four for a gain of 1 yard. His long rush was 13 yards.

"That's something I have to look at," said Starks when asked if he missed any holes. "I think I could have done better."

Counting playoffs, Starks has rushed 77 times for 290 yards (3.8) and no touchdowns.

Moving up: The Jets' Darrelle Revis and Nnamdi Asomugha, who won't be back with Oakland in 2011, probably would be the choice of scouts as the league's top cornerbacks.

After intercepting two more passes Saturday night, Tramon Williams was asked if he had played better than any cornerback in 2010.

"I think it's definitely up for argument," Williams said. "Obviously, those guys have big names. But on the film, I guess you could say . . . "

One of the marks of cornerback play is interception total. Williams has nine, including three in the playoffs. Neither Revis nor Asomugha had an interception this season.

Revis and Asomugha were joined by New England's Devin McCourty on the AFC Pro Bowl team. The NFC selections were the Packers' Charles Woodson, the Eagles' Asante Samuel and the Redskins' DeAngelo Hall.

"Tramon is catching balls over receivers that are 6-4, 6-5," nose tackle B.J. Raji said. "I mean, who's really doing that in this league? Not many."

First ever:Counting playoffs, Greg Jennings has played 80 games with 71 starts. The first lost fumble of his career came on the Packers' third play from scrimmage.

Jennings broke free in the middle, turning a short third and 13 pass into a 30-yard gain, before he was stripped from behind by linebacker Stephen Nicholas. Cornerback Brent Grimes recovered.

"We saw quite a bit on film that they had holes in their secondary, and we were going to try to exploit it as much as possible," said Jennings. "On that particular play we got it, exploited it and I lost the ball in the process."

Jennings' only other fumbles of the season (two) came against Atlanta. From 2006-'09, he had been charged with three fumbles.

"We feel like we can get after anybody," Jennings said. "It doesn't matter who we play."

Rodgers redux: On Sunday, Falcons coach Mike Smith conducted his normal day-after press briefing. He said that only once before in his 12-year NFL coaching career had he encountered a quarterback as hot as Aaron Rodgers. It was New England's Tom Brady.

"We had four opportunities to get the quarterback on the ground," said Smith. "The penalty on the third-down sack (second quarter) changed the whole complexion of the football game.

"Aaron had a good game. Mike McCarthy had a good game plan. Their receivers caught the ball and we didn't play up to our level as a team. It's something you run into."

Defensive end John Abraham, who beat Chad Clifton inside for one of the Falcons' two sacks, blamed himself for blowing two other sack chances on third-and-long situations.

"We just didn't do a good job containing him," said Abraham. "Whatever we did, it didn't work."

Said cornerback Dunta Robinson: "I don't know who that team was. We picked the wrong time to play our worst game of the year.

"(Rodgers) did some amazing things. He was unbelievable. He was in a zone. He felt that there wasn't anything he couldn't do. When any player on the professional level gets in a zone like that, they are going to be tough to stop."

Raji said one of the differences between Rodgers and Matt Ryan was offensive philosophy.

"To be honest, I feel our offensive coaches have more confidence in Aaron," said Raji. "They both can throw the ball. Recently, they opened up the offense for Aaron. For whatever reason. Maybe it's because he's better. I don't know. But I know one thing: I'm happy we have him on my team."

In the third quarter, the Packers opened with a sack and short completion to set up third and 13. Under heavy pressure, Rodgers escaped and found James Jones for 15 yards.

"Third play, we leave a guy free off the edge, somehow the Lord was helping me with eyes in the back of my head today," said Rodgers. "I was able to spin out and make a great play. After that first down, we got rolling."

On a roll: In the last decade, only two teams in playoff games scored more than the Packers did against Atlanta.

In a pair of wild-card games, Indianapolis beat Denver, 49-24, after the 2004 season and Arizona beat Green Bay, 51-45, after the 2009 season. In the Super Bowl after the 2002 season, Tampa Bay downed Oakland, 48-21.

"I think the only team that could have beaten us tonight was us," safety Charlie Peprah said. "Things didn't go our way early but everybody just kind of kept playing."

"If we keep playing like this we'll be there," Raji said, referring to the Super Bowl. "We're a very good team.

"A lot of people were on our bandwagon last week. Everybody's going to be a Packers fan this week. We just have to stay the course and keep focused. Everything will take care of itself."

Looking back: The Packers lined up 13 starters Saturday night that also started in the overtime playoff loss to the Cardinals last January. They were favored by three points before a poor start and bad finish doomed them.

"Last year, we went against a team we felt like we were going to beat, but we didn't," said Jenkins. "A lot of people realized how real the playoffs are and how much you have to bring it because everybody steps it up to another level.

"I think the guys understand that now and we're bringing it to another level."

"Bob McGinn" wrote:


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Dulak
13 years ago
nice article
musccy
13 years ago
I disagree with the suggestion that Starks bonked. If you have 4 runs for negative yardage, that's typically not the fault of the RB. He was able to break a few, provide a threat to make play action work, and still showed he can get to the edge (something Kuhn and Bjack can't do effectively).
Zero2Cool
13 years ago
Again, I love stats, but with those negative yards, no gains, did he miss the hole or was he attacked at the time he received the hand-off?

I wish I had more time and got paid to analyze this stuff more thoroughly.
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Nonstopdrivel
13 years ago
All I have to say is I look forward to hearing Soldier Field erupting with roars of KUUUUUUHHHHN on Sunday.
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musccy
13 years ago

Again, I love stats, but with those negative yards, no gains, did he miss the hole or was he attacked at the time he received the hand-off?

I wish I had more time and got paid to analyze this stuff more thoroughly.

"Zero2Cool" wrote:



Yeah, I frankly don't know, but generally I give the RB a "pass" if they have -yards...you have to be Darrell Thompson-slow to the line for it to be your 'fault' for getting hit in the backfield.
Pack93z
13 years ago
I thought the rookie that struggled more Saturday was Shields more so than Starks.

Shields got turned around and played with is back to the ball several times that I caught in the first viewing of the game.

Starks had a solid night IMO.. I was especially impressed with his blitz pickups and blocking.
"The oranges are dry; the apples are mealy; and the papayas... I don't know what's going on with the papayas!"
musccy
13 years ago

I thought the rookie that struggled more Saturday was Shields more so than Starks.

Shields got turned around several times that I caught in the first viewing of the game.

Starks had a solid night IMO.. I was especially impressed with his blitz pickups and blocking.

"Pack93z" wrote:



I actually thought that was who the reference would be about when I opened the thread, but even though he was a little lost on the PI, I still feel he played a pretty damn good game.
Nonstopdrivel
13 years ago
Considering the penalty Shields incurred against the Falcons was his first penalty of the season, I'm inclined to give him a pass for his performance that night. I believe he'll show up en force against the Bears.
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Pack93z
13 years ago
I am not saying he played awfully.. what I am saying is if I were to pick rookie out that looked the part Saturday night at times.. it would have been Shields.
"The oranges are dry; the apples are mealy; and the papayas... I don't know what's going on with the papayas!"
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Martha Careful (3h) : You can wear long-johns mittens and a hat. We want Hill and their other skill guys FROZEN
Zero2Cool (7h) : I'm not sure I hope for that. I'll be at the game.
Martha Careful (21h) : I hope it is colder than a well-diggers ass on Thanksgiving night.
Zero2Cool (25-Nov) : doubt he wants to face the speedsters
beast (25-Nov) : Dolphins offense can be explosive... I wonder if we'll have Alexander back
Zero2Cool (25-Nov) : No Doubs could be issue Thursday
Mucky Tundra (25-Nov) : Bears. Santos. Blocked FG
Zero2Cool (24-Nov) : Bears. Vikings. OT
Mucky Tundra (24-Nov) : Thems the breaks I guess
Mucky Tundra (24-Nov) : Two players out and Williams had an injury designation this week but Oladapo is a healthy scratch
Zero2Cool (24-Nov) : Packers inactives vs 49ers: • CB Jaire Alexander • S Kitan Oladapo • LB Edgerrin Cooper • OL Jacob Monk
TheKanataThrilla (24-Nov) : Aaron Jones with a costly red zone fumble
Zero2Cool (24-Nov) : When we trade Malik for a 1st rounder, we'll need a new QB2.
packerfanoutwest (23-Nov) : Report: Aaron Rodgers wants to play in 2025, but not for the Jets
beast (23-Nov) : That's what I told the Police officer about my speed when he pulled me over
packerfanoutwest (23-Nov) : NFL told Bears that Packers’ blocked field goal was legal
packerfanoutwest (22-Nov) : 49ers are underdogs at Packers, ending streak of 36 straight games as favorites
Zero2Cool (22-Nov) : 49ers might be down their QB, DL, TE and LT?
packerfanoutwest (22-Nov) : Jaire Alexander says he has a torn PCL
Zero2Cool (20-Nov) : Even with the context it's ... what?
Mucky Tundra (20-Nov) : Matt LaFleur without context: “I don’t wanna pat you on the butt and you poop in my hand.”
beast (20-Nov) : We brought in a former Packers OL coach to help evaluate OL as a scout
beast (20-Nov) : Jets have been pretty good at picking DL
Zero2Cool (20-Nov) : He landed good players thanks to high draft slot. He isn't good.
Zero2Cool (20-Nov) : He can shove his knowledge up his ass. He knows nothing.
beast (20-Nov) : More knowledge, just like bring in the Jets head coach
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : What? Why? Huh?
beast (19-Nov) : I wonder if the Packers might to try to bring Douglas in through Milt Hendrickson/Ravens connections
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : The Jets fired Joe Douglas, per sources
packerfanoutwest (19-Nov) : Jets are a mess......
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : Pretty sure Jets fired their scouting staff and just pluck former Packers.
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : Jets sign Anders Carlson to their 53.
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : When you cycle the weeks, the total over remains for season. But you get your W/L for that selected week. Confusing.
packerfanoutwest (19-Nov) : the total and percentage are the same as the previous weeks
packerfanoutwest (19-Nov) : the total and percentage are the same as the previous weeks
packerfanoutwest (19-Nov) : the totals are accurate..nrvrtmind
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : I don't follow what you are saying. The totals are not the same as last week.
packerfanoutwest (19-Nov) : ok so then wht are the totals the same as last week?
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : NFL Pick'em is auto updated when NFL Scores tab is clicked
Martha Careful (19-Nov) : The offense was OK. Let's not forget the Bear defense is very very good.
packerfanoutwest (19-Nov) : Who updates the leaderboard on NFLPickem?
beast (19-Nov) : Has the Packers offense been worse since the former Jets coach joined the Packers?
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : Offense gets his ass in gear, this could be good.
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : Backup QB helped with three wins. Special Teams contributed to three wins.
bboystyle (18-Nov) : Lions played outside thats why. They scored 16 and 17 in the only 2 outside games this year
Zero2Cool (18-Nov) : The rest of the NFL is catching up to Packers ... kicking is an issue throughout league
packerfanoutwest (18-Nov) : Packers DL Kenny Clark: We knew 'we were going to block' Bears' game-winning field goal attempt
Zero2Cool (18-Nov) : Lions seem to be throttling everyone, but only (only) got 24 lol maybe the rain is why
Zero2Cool (18-Nov) : Packers vs Lions game doesn't seem so bad.
beast (18-Nov) : Dennis Green "They are what we thought they were, and we let them off the hook!"
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