OFFENSE
Luckily for the Browns Aaron Rodgers only threw 20 times, completing 75% of them. I say luckily because he averaged one touchdown per five completions. The one that impressed me the most was his quick release to Donald Driver who was in the slot and tore down the field for 71 yards. I think this was the most impressive of the three touchdown throws because it appears Rodgers checked out of a play and into a quick release to his hot read, Driver. Another bonus for Rodgers, he didnt get sacked the whole game! (Write that down on your calendar, it might not happen again this year). Did you know Rodgers QB rating of 155.4 was the highest in franchise history?

Did you happen to catch Mike McCarthys comments on the running game? I think the first thing for Ryan was two weeks in a row we were able to get him up over 20-plus attempts. That helps any running back, just the ability to get into a rhythm said McCarthy. Boy I wish I could say I told you so like I was a genius. However, all I did was state what we all knew. Ryan Grant is not a special running back. I do believe he can provide the threat at the position we need, if given the proper touches.

I like Grant, sort of. I think he has some hidden potential that he showed us in 07. My biggest complaint on him would be the video below. Youll see him run directly into his own lineman. How does this happen? He has his head down while running. If that doesnt bother you, count the Browns on the field, there are only 10 (notice the shadow at the end, I think that's a ref, some will say it's the 11th player). If he is looking up, makes a cut, hes gone for a 86 yard touchdown run!
[youtube]FuCgDXPcOxI[/youtube]

DEFENSE
Charles Woodson had at least one QB pressure, interception and a fumble force. What a man-beast! He feels this could be his year. Not only to reach the Super Bowl, but WIN it. Hes playing like a man possessed. Dont believe me? I ask you this, how many times do you see balls thrown towards Al Harris versus Charles Woodson? Its changed dramatically after the Bengals game. On his QB pressure he showed great agility for a man in this 30s. 30s? Dang, thats OLD!!!

A.J. Hawk, where have you been my man? Way to man up and play like you want to be on the field. Hawk led the defense with eight tackles, three of which for a loss! The most impressive came on a goal line stand where he cut in the A gap and threw his body into Jamal Lewis legs while being blocked as he fell to the ground.

Nick Barnett, did you not celebrate your tackle for a loss because you could have had an interception that would have nullified the three points the Browns would later score on the first drive?


SPECIAL TEAMS
Zero punts for the first three and a half quarters while the starters were in. Sorry special teams, you can sit this one out! With how Brandon Jackson was attempting to return kicks, thank goodness he wasnt called upon often. The man looks like a scared fish in a small fishbowl trying to swim away from a school of piranhas. RUN NORTH!!

ZEROs PRATTLE
Did you see Rodgers yelling at the side line? I dont know what was said, but you could sure as hell tell he wanted the play to be sent in. He was trying to catch the Browns out of position and the play caller, ahem, failed him. Speaking of the play caller, did we use the I-formation more this game than usual?
We had some more aggressivity on the first play of the game when Johnny Jolly got into a scuffle with a Browns lineman. I love that shit! Make sure the other team knows that they might get their hits, but youre going to hit harder and more often!

The Packers have played well the last two weeks and before you start in on the whole it was the Lions and Browns. I say chew on this. The Steelers played both the Lions and Browns before we did and gave up 20 and 14 points respectively where the Packers gave up only 3. This is the NFL and any team can beat any team on any given Sunday.

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The difference between Grant 07 and since then.. is that in 07 he made the first guy miss. Now he's not making anyone miss. heck he's running into tackles...

But I will say this, when Grant gets the ball more than 15 times the Packers are 4-0. When Grant gets the ball less than 15 times the Packers are 0-2. Make sure the running game are a chance to get into a rhythm and try to keep the play calling more balanced so Allen isn't running straight up the field every snap... also if Lang is in at LT run right at Allen some...

For the defense tell Kampman to put his hand down and rush all game... go back to a 4-3 for this game if you have to but get Kampman rushing in... don't let Peterson beat you but get more pressure on Favre. Make the receivers beat the Packers coverage....

The Packers punting and punt return has been doing pretty bad...


I think this game will be won or lost on how well can the coaches, blockers on how well can they keep pressure off of Rodgers. The Vikings defense has been getting hammered when they haven't been getting pressure/sacks and Rodgers has done great with out pressure and sacks. How much pressure the Vikings can get IMO will decide this game.

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Wow, the Grant video is brutal. You are right: One step to the right, and he's off to the races.

I was really happy with this win, and I agree with all of your points except the one about Brandon Jackson. I thought he ran north-south and got what he could on the kick returns (there were only two). Tramon Williams was dancing around on a couple of those punt returns, but at least he didn't lose yardage on any of them. The punts were high and the cover guys were all over him by the time he made the catch.

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What I see of Grant. He always runs leaning forward, on the play in question, you can see that he is actually prepared for contact when he is going through the line. Which is understandable. How many times in the last two seasons has he made it through the LOS without contact.

Look at his long run in the 4th. He does the same thing, hunches forward and prepares for contact when going through the line. Only this time there is no one to run in to, and he is able to make the first guy miss, 10 yards down field.

Grant runs the way he runs. His big runs in 07' were the same as Sunday. He had a hole and made it to if not pass the LBers before contact. He can make the big ones when that happens. He is not a shifty back. One thing I do like is that when he makes contact, he goes forward. He doesn't fall backwards often. The only benefit of his running style.

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Just a quick note here, in that grant play you can see a shadow walk in at the very end of the play, likely a safety playing deep there. Just as far as the 10 men comment goes!

But i totally agree with you there, it was a good play but it made me pretty pissed, it could have been much better, thats the sort of thing a good RB sees and cuts back inside, gets another 5-10 yards at the very least.

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That play was brutal, but overall he was doing a great job of seeing (and hitting) his cutback lanes this week. That cut was beyond the line of scrimmage, so he might have been taking the "one cut and go" zBS philosophy.

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No complaints about Grant this week. He averaged over five yards a carry and really was consistent. I know the big run is what everyone wants and I agree, it's something that Grant just can't seem to do, but you need to be able to control the clock and put up five yards and even four yards a carry. That was very impressive IMO. The fact that the Packers were able to pickup basically five yards every time they ran the football. They really grind things out.

I also like to see Rodgers show a little leadership or emotion. The Vikings rallied around Brett Favre in game one of this year and I want the players to rally around Rodgers like Minnesota did and will once again do for Favre. That type of leadership or emotion that he expressed was really cool to see and perhaps it sent a message.

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I also want to mention on that play, look at the positioning of the lineman blocking that Grant ends up runing into. The lineman is initially sealing his block to the inside, Grant's right. Near the end you see the defensive player shed back to the left, I believe that Grant took that correctly. I believe he saw the angle of the lineman and appeared to have the seam to his left. I think it was a good play by that defender to stuff it up like that. Would be nice for Grant to stop up, and change directions there at the last moment? Sure, but the way I see that play I don't believe it was read that poorly during the play. My two cents.

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Agreed. Grant was running a little to his left, with Lang blocking the LBer across the field left to right. There was a window to cut, right, that would be a huge cut, and complete momentum stopper. He would have to do a 90 degree change of direction.

I would lay odds that had he tried that he would have been swallowed up and ended up with 3 yards less.

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Updated the article.

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