The following is the analysis of the Packers' 34-12 victory over the Detroit Lions at Ford Field and his look at the rest of Green Bay's season.
Q: Lets take a quick look back at the Detroit victory and the significance of that game. Its both true that the Packers accomplished something in winning three games in 12 days and that the Lions are not a very good football team. So what is to be learned from that game? Remember, they beat Detroit and Cleveland in consecutive games and then got whipped at home by Minnesota.
A: This Detroit game was bigger than people think. You have four Pro Bowl players on defense and two of them were out. If you had Al Harris and Aaron Kampman, then, yeah, you beat a team youre supposed to beat. But after the Tampa Bay game, you cant say that anymore. You have to win the games youre supposed to win. This game was a little different because you had some inexperienced guys playing like Jarrett Bush and Brad Jones. To me, the Packers did what they had to do. They went in and dominated. Matthew Stafford was coming off 400 yards and five touchdowns, but it seemed a little disrespectful to the Packers to play a guy with an injured shoulder. They should have played the healthier guy. I think you saw a little chip on the Packers shoulder because of it. Either way, you have to put it into perspective. These are important victories now. Youre 7-4 and winning three games in a row is very good. The future is bright and theyre in the drivers seat for the fifth playoff spot. Whats going to help the Packers is that no other team in the NFC is hot right now other than New Orleans and Minnesota. Thats why this game against Detroit was big. They were very prepared and ready to play. Now they have to come back healthy and face a Baltimore team that got beat up by Pittsburgh and win that game.
Q: Its apparent Charles Woodson is playing on a different plane than most anybody he faces these days. Its obvious hes in line for NFC defensive player of the year, but is it legitimate to start thinking he could be in the running for NFL most valuable player? The last defensive player to earn that award was Lawrence Taylor in 1986.
A: You have to have just a great year to overtake a running back or quarterback as MVP. But it was the same thing with the Heisman Trophy. This guy won a Heisman Trophy. Defensive players just dont win that award. So if there is anybody who could win the MVP, its Charles Woodson. He will get votes. I think its hands down right now, him and Darren Sharper, for defensive player of the year. Consider this: Woodson was on a 6-10 team last year, playing on a defense that was rated very high. Now hes on the top-rated defense in the NFL. And you dont have your other top cornerback, Al Harris, and hes still dominating the game. Whenever hes close to the line of scrimmage, hes dominating. Wherever you put him, he makes plays. Not only that, where would the Packers be without him? Thats how you rate an MVP. How good would they be without him? Take Brett Favre away from Minnesota and they wouldnt be where they are. MVP candidate. Take Peyton Manning from Indianapolis and they wouldnt be undefeated. You look at Drew Brees. Without him, New Orleans wouldnt be undefeated. With Charles Woodson, the Packers wouldnt be 7-4. So is he an MVP candidate, of course he is.
Q: What role do you see the defensive line playing in making up for the loss of Kampman and Harris? It seems since Cullen Jenkins bought into the system and B.J. Raji started to play better, theyve been the cornerstone of the defense. Is that true?
A: Absolutely. I think the emergence of Raji the last three weeks has been very good. Jenkins, to me, will get some Pro Bowl votes. Johnny Jolly has probably been the steadiest lineman the last couple years. Not only are these guys making the linebackers better, but youre beginning to see that the only thing that could really hurt the Packers is not having Al Harris. You have a lot of special teams guys playing in the secondary. You have a rookie at outside linebacker, but he plays with a lot of energy. I think with all the young guys theyre using, theres more energy out there. I think this defense understands now that theres no turning back, theyre going to be aggressive, aggressive, aggressive. Theyre saying, Youre going to have to find the weakness, were not going to show it to you. Early on, the Packers were basically showing their weakness. Now quarterbacks have to find it. And if you dont, youre going to get sacked or intercepted or there will be a big play. Now you have to make sure you keep the integrity of the defense. If you have a man-to-man assignment, play it. If you have a chance for an interception, catch it. I think these young guys will continue to grow. Theres a difference in the meeting room and they dont call your name, theyre not talking to you. But now youre in that meeting room and theyre calling your name and putting your number up on the board. Now these guys understand that the only way the Packers are going to make the playoffs is if they do their job.
Q: Youve been in cornerback Jarrett Bushs corner when other people have wanted him to be on the bench. You saw in certain situations against Detroit he had good coverage and in other situations he couldnt make a play on the ball. Is it possible hell get better at ball awareness or is that an innate ability you cant teach?
A: The reason why Im going to give him a pass on those is that he hasnt done it. Hes a special teamer. He was signed to be a special teamer. They didnt sign him to be a third or fourth corner. Hes an emergency corner. So you have to give him time to develop. Now he has ball skills, but not to the level of a guy like Al. Now what he can do, is wherever Woodson goes, he should collide with him. In other words, he should follow Woodson all over the building and try to find out how you become a ball hawk. What do you do? How do I watch film? How do I get myself in position to catch balls? How do I get in position to defend? For instance, if I cant touch the receiver I dont look at the ball. Things of that nature will put you one step closer to an interception. Theyre going to have to give him time to develop. Hes going to have to work on ball skills, ball skills, ball skills, because 30% of the balls are going to go in his and Brandon Underwoods area. Theyre not going to throw at Woodson anymore. Theyre not going to do it. These guys have a chance to make a name for themselves or they can be the Achilles heel. Its their choice.
Q: The Packers have had to fight like crazy to get back into the wild-card race, and now they have five games left. How much do you think its taken out of them to get back and what do you see ahead for them the rest of the season?
A: This is what I see. I see the Packers being hot. I see a Baltimore team that is beat up and not playing to its potential. I see a Pittsburgh team that has a lot of injuries and is not playing to its potential. I see a team like Arizona that doesnt play well at home. The Packers are in position to win out. Realistically, they can get to 10 or 11 wins and be in a comfortable position. I think theyre hot right now. You have to ride that. You have to get in position to not make mistakes. In other words, people have been screaming for the offensive line to play well and theyve been doing that. Weve been screaming at them for the penalties to come down and theyve been steadily coming down. Now its all in front of them. As long as you have a quarterback like Aaron Rodgers, youre going to be in games. Hes a top three quarterback, whether people want to accept that or not. Maybe hell be the top quarterback statistically. This is a hot team. Packers fans should be very, very excited.