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14 years ago



The blitz is having a hard time getting through Packers' line 

Green Bay If on opening day the Philadelphia Eagles find a way to blitz the Green Bay Packers in a way they haven't yet seen, their defensive coordinator, Sean McDermott, will be in line for an official mad scientist label.

From the start of the off-season conditioning program through the first three exhibition games, the Packers' offense has seen almost every blitz, stunt, twist and zone drop known to mankind. Some of it was by design, some of it by virtue of playing a pair of preseason opponents who have thrown a good array of pressures at quarterback Aaron Rodgers and his offensive line.

Two weeks after facing a Cleveland team that blitzed like there was no tomorrow, the Packers faced an Indianapolis defense Thursday night that dialed up a number of clever pressures during the first half.

In both instances, Rodgers and the No. 1 offensive line appeared ready for every protection call, blitz pickup and hot throw. Unlike much of last season when the line couldn't be trusted to block and Rodgers couldn't be trusted to get rid of the ball, the two looked like they were actually functioning in unison.

"I hope so," offensive coordinator Joe Philbin said. "We spent a lot of time - a lot of time - on that stuff. So, you hope it pays dividends. I think they have a good handle on how to handle that."

So far this preseason, Rodgers has not been sacked, he's been forced to run twice and he has been knocked down three times.

In the case of the Colts, it wasn't that the Packers faced a constant barrage of blitzes, it was the variety in which defensive coordinator Larry Coyer designed them. He dropped ends into coverage, sent linebackers from the inside and outside, brought safeties and stunted and twisted his defensive linemen.

The Packers' two touchdown drives in the second quarter best exemplified the job the line and Rodgers did handling the blitz.

On the first drive, the Colts brought six rushers on a third-and-3 play and, understanding the line wasn't going to be able to block everyone, Rodgers got the ball off quickly to wide receiver Donald Driver for a 6-yard gain.

Two plays later, the Colts rushed seven on second and 2, bringing linebacker Pat Angerer, safety Alvin Bethea and linebacker Clint Session along with their front four. Tight end Tom Crabtree picked up Bethea, center Scott Wells and guard Daryn Colledge picked up Session and Rodgers hit tight end Jermichael Finley for a 15-yard gain.

"I think we've shown him that he can trust us and I think his confidence in us is a lot higher this year," right guard Josh Sitton said. "I think he's a lot more confident in himself to know where he's going, know where the protection is going to be, know where the free guy is going to be, know where he's going with the ball.

"All that goes together. We're rolling right now. It's pretty good."

Two plays later, Rodgers faced a second and 8 at the 15 when the Colts again brought six, this time flooding the right side with a safety-linebacker blitz. Right tackle Mark Tauscher and running back Brandon Jackson teamed up to stymie Bethea, then turned outside and drove Session off course. Angerer eventually got free up the middle, but by the time he hit Rodgers the ball was in the air to a wide open Finley in the end zone.

"The touchdown to Jermichael, they brought the 'Will' (weak-side linebacker) and the free safety and Aaron knew it was coming and made a little adjustment," Philbin said. "We got the communication down. Now the pickup of the blitz wasn't as clean as we would have liked it to be, but those are things we've practiced a lot."

And come Sept. 12, they should be ready for a lot more.


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RainX
14 years ago
It's amazing what having both your starting tackles back and healthy can do for an offensive line not to mention having some decent depth for once.
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earthquake
14 years ago
One thing i'm noticing that is different than last year, as the OLine looked pretty good in preseason then, is that when the #2s and #3s are in, they are looking a LOT better. I remember Flynn having virtually no time to throw last year, it was hard to watch. I think that says a lot about the depth.
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Packers_Finland
14 years ago
It's preseason. If someone says our O-Line is good, I'll believe it when I see it in the regular season.
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gbguy20
14 years ago
yo remember last preseason
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go.pack.go.
14 years ago
I think Colledge is playing a lot better mainly because of the pressure that Bulaga is putting on him. I like the competition, makes everybody play better.
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Dexter_Sinister
14 years ago
I remember last preseason. This line is very different, mostly in their depth. They are also different because of Tauscher and Barbie. If you just look at the surface and not at the players, it may seem similar, but it is night and day different if you look beyond that.
I want to go out like my Grandpa did. Peacefully in his sleep.
Not screaming in terror like his passengers.
tonyagnese
14 years ago
The line seems to be gelling nicely. Lang looks good at RT. Finley is gonna BE A BEAST!!!!! Indy couldn't stop him and I highly doubt 90% of the people he faces will be able to handle him!
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