Historically, our deep passes have been created because of our slants and screens. We threw slants so much we would get defenses to cheat for the screen opening up the go and slant and go's.

This year we have been throwing long so much that the defenses have been playing deeper in their zones making the longer balls harder to complete. We haven't been balanced in our short/long routes. There should be a short route on every passing play.

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The thing is we don't get adequate blocking to run it. Yeah we can continue to run the explosive downfield offense and put up some points for a while but it won't last, Rodgers won't make it. We are damn lucky that we still have him relatively healthy at this point in the season.

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I disagree. Sorry. Why is it that EVERY great passing team like the Colts, NE, Cards, and Saints, now the Vikes, and teams in past years have ALL had the middle and deep route threat? These are NOT teams that all throw it short most often and then catch defenses cheating. They all CAN throw it short because they have to worry about letting guys get behind them.

I wrote this thread based on what is left on our plate. Who we face and what we have to do. I can say we can probably play it safer in some of these games. This week against the 49'rs we can be a little safer. Detroit, Chicago, Seattle, probably so. I think we can put up enough points and keep them from scoring much.

BUT, when we play Pittsburgh and Baltimore we have to go over the top and make big plays. That's what got them beat so far. Both those teams would LOVE for us to come out throwing a bunch of short passes. When we go to Arizona we have to score points. Going four and three aint going to cut it and if we don't have the full playbook out for some of these teams we will lose.

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Minnesota is still pretty much a short passing team. I think that's fair to point out, since the Vikings are now an example of a great down the field passing team, but they got there using the short passing game. Now that defenses have adjusted, Favre can hit players like Rice and Harvin down the field. The Vikings' offense is where it is today because of the short passing game they used early in the season and of course Adrian Peterson.

It's apples and oranges though. You can't compare GB to the teams mentioned. The Packers have by far the worse offensive line of those teams. They just can't go down the field all game long. The Packers need to play the field position as well and keep the ball too. The defense is at it's best when the field they have to work with is shorter and they're well rested.

The drive against Dallas which was the best drive of the Rodgers' era had a little bit of everything. That's what the Packers need to do against a Baltimore and Pittsburgh. If GB tries to go down the field all game long, Rodgers will be hammered as much as he was against Minnesota. To be fair, I think the Packers are over-matched against Pittsburgh, but the Ravens' defense isn't near as good as it was a year ago. They've taken a slight step back which I think plays into the Packers' favor. Considering the weather for that game, and it will be cold, GB will definitely have to play at a high level on the defensive side of the ball too win that game. So will Baltimore of course. The identity of this team should and will be defense if they make the playoffs IMO.

Nothing wrong with that.

The Packers have to worry about winning one game at a time. The best approach for the next two weeks remains the short pass and run to setup everything else. As you said, it'll probably work against Seattle, Chicago, and possibly Arizona as well, and that's why you do it. It just so happens that it makes things much easier up front.

IF the line proves it can block one on one, then maybe you go back to the down the field passing attack. That hasn't worked yet though and it's time to accept that in my view.

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Brett made his career on the slant and screen and is doing the same thing this year. Brady lives off Welker on the under neith pass.

Just like teams run to set up the pass. The short game is used to setup the big ones. Sure we need to have the deep threat, that doesn't mean we have to throw it every play. And we shouldn't.

The WCO has been built on short passes setting up the big hitters. It has been built on high percentage, and YAC. Why did our WR lead the league in YAC in the past. Because we threw short and let them make the plays. Nobody is calling for us folding the long ball. Only that we run the WCO the way it is suppose to be. Short passes, to work as a running game, setting up for later.

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I just wanted to say that this has been a really great thread, thanks to warhawk, porky, and everybody else.

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Now I know how to kill a thread: Just say something nice.

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