wpr
  • wpr
  • Preferred Member
14 years ago
to complement your story Zero: 

Under Ron Wolf in the 1990s, the Green Bay Packers were built for December slugfests on sloppy fields, where three-quarter-inch cleats slowed down the game and pounding the ball on the ground was vital to a team's success.

Flash forward to 2011 and the Packers are a different kind of team, built by general manager Ted Thompson to excel on the fast playing surfaces that have proliferated throughout the NFL and carpet every domed stadium.

The Packers have a pass-first, spread-the-field offense. They run the ball primarily to keep defenses honest and set up play-action. Their secondary might be the fastest in the NFL. Mike McCarthy constantly stresses tempo and coaches his teams to practice and play fast.

In short, the team functions best, particularly on offense, when there are the fewest speed bumps in terms of playing surface and weather.

"I know we play in cold weather, but this offense is kind of built for speed and we've had some success in domes because of it," said receiver Donald Driver. "I think more than anything, it's just how Ted built the team."

That's why the Packers are practically salivating at the prospect of playing Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium, where the retractable roof will be closed.

"All I can do is smile," said receiver Greg Jennings, who was doing exactly that.

The Packers are 2-2 in domed stadiums this year, but one of the losses was by four points at Ford Field in Detroit, where quarterback Aaron Rodgers left the game in the first half with a concussion. The other was a three-point loss at Atlanta; the Packers went back to the Georgia Dome seven weeks later and won by 27 in the NFC divisional round (48-21).

Green Bay totaled 860 yards in the two games in Atlanta and crushed the Minnesota Vikings, 31-3, at the Metrodome. In the four dome games, the Packers outscored their opponents, 99-51.

"I don't know if it's because we have a lot of fast guys," said receiver Jordy Nelson. "It's just in a dome, everything is perfect. The field is perfect, the weather's perfect and we play fast. And playing fast isn't just running a 4.3 or a 4.4 (40-yard dash). It's a lot of other things, too.

"We don't have to worry about our footing and we feel comfortable in there and everything just caters to the offense, especially the kind of offense we have. We feel real comfortable in domes and I think it shows."

Though the Packers are considered a cold-weather team because they play their home games at Lambeau Field, in reality only a couple games each season are played in bad weather.

When the weather does turn, the team goes inside to practice in the Don Hutson Center, which is for all practical purposes a domed environment with an artificial surface (FieldTurf). The outdoor practice fields are surfaced with DD GrassMaster, a natural turf reinforced with synthetic fibers.

In 2007, the team installed DD GrassMaster in Lambeau Field, where 20 million fibers are stitched into Kentucky bluegrass, creating a fast one-inch surface that is about as close to artificial turf as can be.

Gone are the days when Lambeau had to be re-sodded days before playoff games and the newly laid turf gave way beneath the players' feet.

So, over the last decade, the Packers have by design morphed into a team accustomed to playing and practicing on fast surfaces. Factor in the controlled environment in a dome and all the better.

"The type of offense we are, I think we can be more explosive in a dome," Nelson said. "We're explosive in cold weather, but not as explosive. On a dome surface, you're faster, quicker."

The team's productivity indoors starts with Rodgers, who grew up in northern California and played at Cal.

A few weeks ago, Rodgers was asked if he preferred playing in domes over playing at Lambeau. He playfully chastised the reporter before answering the question the only way he could: Green Bay was home, and he loved Lambeau.

But Rodgers has never made it a secret that all else being equal, he prefers to play in the sterile environment of a dome, where wind, temperature and precipitation are not factors.

"I know Aaron likes to throw the ball indoors," McCarthy said. "If it was up to him, we'd practice in the Hutson Center year-round."

As a starter, Rodgers has a 7-6 record in domes, including playoffs. He has completed 285 of 415 passes (68.7%) for 3,642 yards, with 27 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also has rushed for 269 yards and seven touchdowns.

In four dome games this year, he has completed 86 of 113 (76.1%) for 1,057 yards, with eight touchdowns and one interception. He threw for 366 yards in the playoff game in Atlanta, 344 in the first game in the Georgia Dome and 301 in the Metrodome.

The Steelers have taken notice.

"Oh, man, I go back to the days of St. Louis when they had the 'Greatest Show on Turf,'" said linebacker James Farrior. "Those guys look amazing on turf. The game I watched a lot was the Atlanta playoff game. They were outstanding. Rodgers was almost perfect that day so it's definitely going to be a little tougher defending those guys on turf."

The Packers have functioned well in domes even when Rodgers has had to go to a silent count because of crowd noise. They have been successful spreading the field with Driver, Jennings, Nelson and James Jones.

"We have four great receivers and a great quarterback," said fullback Korey Hall. "If he can get them the ball in all areas of the field, when you have five guys in an offense like that and distribute the ball like that, they're going to be tough to beat inside."

The Packers aren't slouches on grass. They beat the New York Giants and Chicago Bears in the final two regular-season games, both played in cold weather at Lambeau. In the playoffs, they beat the Philadelphia Eagles and the Bears on the road, the latter on the notoriously poor grass surface at Soldier Field.

But they clearly relish playing Super Bowl XLV indoors.

"I mean, you go from playing in Chicago in late January, to Dallas and they close you inside a dome," Jennings said. "Obviously the surface is going to be perfect. The atmosphere is going to be unmatched. It's going to be exciting."

jsonline wrote:


UserPostedImage
wpr
  • wpr
  • Preferred Member
14 years ago

Under Ron Wolf in the 1990s, the Green Bay Packers were built for December slugfests on sloppy fields, where three-quarter-inch cleats slowed down the game and pounding the ball on the ground was vital to a team's success.

Flash forward to 2011 and the Packers are a different kind of team, built by general manager Ted Thompson to excel on the fast playing surfaces that have proliferated throughout the NFL and carpet every domed stadium.

jsonline wrote:



I find it a bit ironic that the current team is built for speed. They tried that back in the 80's and after The Fridge hammered George Cumby in the endzone (along with a few other plays where the smaller, quicker GB team was manhandled by bigger, slower and stronger players) GB decided to get bigger and stronger too even if it meant giving up speed.

I am not saying that this GB team is not strong but at key positions they are definitely a quicker team than in the past.
UserPostedImage
14 years ago

I don't think the roof matters. I think it's the playing surface. I think there's only two playing surfaces that are carpet on concrete now where as 15 years ago, I believe there was nearly a dozen.

"Zero2Cool" wrote:



I think it does matter, at least a little. Rodgers throws a better ball than just about anyone out there, so wind or any other conditions that affect passing negatively generally hurts us more than it does an inferior passing team. It evens the playing field a little, unless we are playing against another elite passing team.

"get_louder_at_lambeau" wrote:



Wind doesn't effect a quarterback's throws as much as one would think. When it his 15mph+ then it does on deeper throws that are touch throws. A guy with a rocket arm who gets low trajectory on his throws, won't effect him much.

"Zero2Cool" wrote:



Trent Green talking about Rodgers and domes, from JSOnline today-

Green himself played on fast turfs, especially with the St. Louis Rams, but he said Rodgers likes the dome environment more for no wind than the fast track.

Really it depends on how the team is built, said Green. Our team in St. Louis was built for the turf. Some of our teams in Washington, when I was with the Redskins, we were built for grass. We were a power running team. Terry Allen and Stephen Davis those are power running guys. But as a quarterback, youre always going to like playing inside because wind is the biggest factor. Cold, hot, rain, snow everybody wants to talk about those things. Really its wind that is the biggest factor.



http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/115370394.html 
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beast (14m) : But the Return from IR designations had to be applied by the 53 man cutdown.
beast (15m) : It's a new rule, so it's not clear, but my understanding was that they could be IR'd at any time
Mucky Tundra (5h) : *had to be IRed at 53
Mucky Tundra (5h) : beast, I thought the designate return from IR players had to be IR at cutdowns to 53, not before
beast (6h) : It's a brand new rule, either last season or this season, prior, all pre-season IRs were done for the season
beast (6h) : But the Packers would have to use one for their return from IR spots on him, when they cut down to 53.
beast (6h) : I think the NFL recently changed the IR rules, so maybe the season might not be over for OL Glover.
Zero2Cool (6h) : Packers star Howton, first NFLPA prez, dies at 95 😔
dfosterf (9h) : Apparently it is too complicated for several to follow your simple instructions, but I digress
dfosterf (9h) : Zero- Did you see what I posted about Voice of Reason and his wife? She posted over at fleaflicker that they are both "In"
Zero2Cool (7-Aug) : Well, not crazy, it makes sense. Crazy I didn't notice/find it earlier
Zero2Cool (7-Aug) : it's crazy how one stored procedure to get data bogged everything down for speed here
dfosterf (7-Aug) : to herd cats or goldfish without a bowl. They reminded me of the annual assembly of our fantasy league
dfosterf (7-Aug) : out on a field trip, outfitting them with little yellow smocks. Most of the little folk were well behaved, but several were like trying
dfosterf (7-Aug) : Yesterday my wife and I spent the afternoon on the waterfront here in Alexandria, Va. A daycare company took about 15 three/four year olds
wpr (7-Aug) : seems faster. yay
dfosterf (7-Aug) : Wife of reason posted on the in/out thread on fleaflicker that both she and vor are in
Zero2Cool (7-Aug) : This page was generated in 0.135 seconds.
Mucky Tundra (7-Aug) : Tbh, I can never tell the difference in speed unless it's completely shitting the bed
Zero2Cool (7-Aug) : Sure does feel like site is more snappy
Zero2Cool (6-Aug) : I thought that was the Lions OL
Mucky Tundra (6-Aug) : Travis Glover placed on IR; seasons over for him
Zero2Cool (6-Aug) : found bad sql in database, maybe site faster now?
dfosterf (5-Aug) : I'm going to call that a good move.
Zero2Cool (4-Aug) : Packers sign CB Corey Ballentine
Zero2Cool (4-Aug) : I'm not sure how to kill the draft order just yet so it's not so confusing.
Mucky Tundra (4-Aug) : *to be able
Mucky Tundra (4-Aug) : and because it's not a dynasty league (which makes a lot more sense to be ability to trade picks)
Mucky Tundra (4-Aug) : Oh I know; I was just exploring and it blew my mind that you could trade picks because of the whole reordering thing
Mucky Tundra (4-Aug) : Zero, I think I preferred my offer: your 1st for my 15th rounder
Zero2Cool (4-Aug) : Keep in mind, we do a draft reorder once all members locked in
Zero2Cool (4-Aug) : You can have my 12th Rd for your 2nd round
Mucky Tundra (4-Aug) : Hey i didn't know we could trade picks in fantasy
Mucky Tundra (3-Aug) : Update: Rock has tried a cheese curd, promises it's not his last
Zero2Cool (3-Aug) : watch it!! lol
Mucky Tundra (3-Aug) : you're right, we never did leave, the site just went down :P
Mucky Tundra (3-Aug) : Rock claims to have never eaten a cheese curd
Zero2Cool (3-Aug) : We did not leave.
Mucky Tundra (3-Aug) : Family Night! WE ARE SO BACK!
Mucky Tundra (2-Aug) : To this day, I'm still miffed about his 4 TD game against Dallas on Thanksgiving going to waste
Martha Careful (2-Aug) : Congratulations Sterling Sharpe. He was terrific and I loved watching him play.
beast (2-Aug) : I believe it's technically against the CBA rules, but Jerry just calls it a simple unofficial chat... and somehow gets away with it.
beast (2-Aug) : Jerry Jones is infamous for ̶n̶e̶g̶o̶t̶i̶a̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ chatting with players one on one... and going around the agent.
Mucky Tundra (1-Aug) : Oo just saw a blurb saying that Dallas negotiated directly with Parsons and not through his agent
Mucky Tundra (1-Aug) : I assumed that both guys will get paid, just a matter of when or how we get there
Zero2Cool (1-Aug) : McLaurin nor Micah going anywhere. They will get money
Mucky Tundra (1-Aug) : the Synder years or do they take care of one of their own?
Mucky Tundra (1-Aug) : Do the Commanders risk losing a top WR with an emerging QB just because he's turning 30 and potentially risk damaging the rebuild from
Mucky Tundra (1-Aug) : Turns 30 this September, plays at a high level and Washington has some cap space I believe
Mucky Tundra (1-Aug) : More interesting is Washington with Terry McLaurin
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