Nonstopdrivel
14 years ago

As they have all season, unsung Packers make big plays
 

By Pat Kirwan NFL.com
Senior Analyst
Published: Feb. 6, 2011 at 11:27 p.m. Updated: Feb. 6, 2011 at 02:04 a.m.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Packers came into the Super Bowl, heck into the playoffs, with 15 players on injured reserve. They leave Cowboys Stadiums as world champions. And they leave with 44 players under the age of 30. The Packers could very well be on the verge of a dynasty.

The quarterback played a phenomenal football game. Aaron Rodgers' third-down conversion to Jordy Nelson for 38 yards early in the fourth quarter to set up his 8-yard touchdown pass to Greg Jennings won him the MVP award.

Having Nelson play such a key role in this game showed the Packers' resiliency when it comes to personnel. I was wondering what was going to happen when Donald Driver went down, because the Packers needed to throw to win the game. Nelson took his game to another level.

The Packers' spread offense is almost unstoppable, especially on those slant plays. No surprise, that big play to Nelson was on a slant. The Steelers blitzed nickelback William Gay on that play, and Rodgers made them pay. The Packers had previously misfired on a few of those slant plays. If they had connected on those, they could have scored three or four more touchdowns.

When the Steelers became desperate and went to six- and seven-man pressure schemes, Rodgers was unflappable. He almost made the same error he did in the NFC Championship Game when he was intercepted by Brian Urlacher in the red zone, but he showed his growth and maturity by taking the sack instead of throwing into coverage. He threw the touchdown to Jennings on the next play.

I can't go any further without talking about the unsung heroes on Green Bay's offensive line. Tackle Chad Clifton was phenomenal all day against James Harrison and anybody else the Steelers sent as a blitzer. Josh Sitton played like an elite guard. Rookie Bryan Bulaga also came through. Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau put Harrison and LaMarr Woodley on right tackle Bryan Bulaga and a running back late in the game, and they responded beautifully.

Three of the Packers' touchdowns were directly related to turnovers, which their underrated defense caused. It's one thing to cause turnovers, it's another to capitalize and score touchdowns.

The defense also had to make adjustments when Charles Woodson went out late in the first half with a broken collarbone. I have to hand it to two defensive backs, Jarrett Bush and Pat Lee, for filling in. Both had to play a lot more than expected because of Wodson's injury, and each came through with critical sacks.

I wrote in my first blog post of the day, that I was surprised that the Packers deactivated LB Erik Walden to go with Frank Zombo, even with the ankle injury. Zombo had a huge sack in the third quarter, which forced the Steelers to attempt a 52-yard field goal, which Shaun Suisham missed. Just another Packer who stepped up when he had to.

With all of these players who have been coming forward, it just shows how good the coaching is in Green Bay and how they get all 53 guys ready to play. Most of the time, they had to.

I picked the Packers to win the Super Bowl back in August. I had some doubts during the season, but they were phenomenal and will probably be the favorites to win it all next year, too. Like I said, looks like we might have a dynasty on our hands.



This article brings up a point that hasn't been mentioned here yet. Everyone keeps saying how they're glad to get this ring for Driver and Woodson, but we can't forget Clifton either. This was the first ring for the old man in the trenches. Maybe now he can retire and let the Packers develop new talent on the line, but I have a feeling we'll see him suit up again next year.

Seriously, though, has a more patchwork team ever won the Super Bowl? I can't think of one.
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Fan Shout
beast (18m) : Oh yes, sometimes they make using a cellphone tough. I just wanted to make sure it was the correct article, & thank you for pointing it out.
jdlax (1h) : I can't believe one of my teams went out and wablammo just up and acquired one of the best players in the world overnight
dfosterf (6h) : I do very much appreciate when Beast and others pick up my slack 😊
dfosterf (6h) : I accept Beast's admonishment regarding my failure to link stuff I reference. I simply never learned to link from my cell phone.
beast (6h) : That's not what your she said 😌, she said keep going 😏
Mucky Tundra (9h) : Anything over 4 hours means he needs to get to the hospital
Mucky Tundra (10h) : Someone might want to check on Hafley and make sure his erection has gone down
Zero2Cool (11h) : LaFleur texts "bleep me I cannot sit down"
Zero2Cool (11h) : YouTube has had me last hour or two lol
Mucky Tundra (12h) : Ugh this trade happened right as my shift started and it's killing me
Zero2Cool (12h) : Parsons wore 23 in high school.
Zero2Cool (12h) : Packers just cost Lions more money with Hutchinson too huh
Zero2Cool (13h) : That is fair by me.
buckeyepackfan (13h) : Kenny Clark is the player, 2 1st rnd picks
Zero2Cool (13h) : umm... what?
wpr (14h) : I am stunned
Mucky Tundra (14h) : RICKEY SCOOPS WAS RIGHT AGAIN!!!
Mucky Tundra (14h) : ITS HAPPENING
buckeyepackfan (14h) : DEAL IS DONE
buckeyepackfan (14h) : MICAH IS COMING TO GREEN BAY!!!!!!!!!
wpr (20h) : Me do-ed it gooderly,
Zero2Cool (28-Aug) : Bahah, I was like WTF why isn't anyone posting on PP.com ... oops no one has permissions
dfosterf (27-Aug) : tell her I reckon
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Micah Robinson cut. Probable PS player tomorrow. Has to call mom back and t
Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : New site so much better. Might make switch and deal with it.
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Mecole Hardman to our practice squad
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Nick Nieman from Texans our 5th linebacker. Special teams signing
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Looks like we signed Clayton Tune as QB3
wpr (27-Aug) : TKT people lose their minds over QB3. Point is almost none of them are ready that's why they are on the PS and other teams don't take them.
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Unfortunately he doesn't seem ready to be an emergency QB.
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : As a Canadian and a follower of Canadian University football. I am rooting for him
dfosterf (27-Aug) : I bet a lot of us will follow the Taylor Elgersma journey with interest. Personally, got a Kurt Warner vibe goin' on. I like him
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Not sure if either will be claimed though.
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Tune or Hooker would make sense
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Clayton Tune cut by the Cards? Don't know if that's the guy, we shall see
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Per Bill Huber, the Packers will not be bringing back Taylor Elgersma or Sean Clifford on the practice squad, so a new third quarterback
Mucky Tundra (27-Aug) : Schefter must have deleted his tweet
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Hopefully Jerry reaches under the seat cushions and ashtrays of his jet and scrapes up the 45 million apr and spares us further nonsense
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Have to admit the PO'd Cowboy fan videos would be fun to watch. Problem with draft picks is half their fanbase barely knows what that is
beast (27-Aug) : I think Cowboys fans are ready to get their pitch forks and burning sticks if Jerry were to trade Micah
dfosterf (27-Aug) : If Jerry traded Micah to GB, here in northern Va. they would have to quick build yet another data center to handle the internet hate traffic
Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : its signing and trades that you don't hear about, other then announced
Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : If you hear rumors about Packers sign or trade, won't happen. Not how they work
dfosterf (27-Aug) : 19 players in a contract year. Jones called loss to us worst loss in Cowboy history. Forget Parsons trade. Not happenin' Cap'n
packerfanoutwest (27-Aug) : The Packers, meanwhile, are the youngest team in the league for the third consecutive year.
dfosterf (27-Aug) : That it was darkest before the dawn in Bengals and Commanders before they got deals done
Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : what is Schefter saying?
dfosterf (27-Aug) : He was getting Dorito infusion therapy
dfosterf (27-Aug) : He's outta shape. Why, just the other day I saw him splayed out on the trainers table
Mucky Tundra (27-Aug) : Parsons has followed Rasheed Walker on Twitter. Quite the choice
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