BRING IT ON

It’s Rematch Time Against San Fran

The NFL season is finally here. For those who await the first kickoff like a child waiting for Christmas Day it is as good a feeling as there is. Prior to the first game even the Black Hole in Oakland is giddy with expectation and anticipation.

The NFL wasted no time in setting the grudge matches. Super Bowl champs Baltimore open at home against Denver… in Denver. Huh??? The Ravens were to have opened at home but a scheduling conflict with the Orioles has now sent the Ravens o to Denver where they will be the home team. In one of the most head scratching of move the NFL has deemed that Denver WILL be the home field for the Ravens. At Sports Authority Stadium in Denver the façade is graced with the likes of Joe Flacco and the streets re painted purple and black. Yeah… that oughtta do it.

The marquee matchups are all over the NFL map. Atlanta vs. New Orleans. The Giants against the Cowboys. And in a game that has been circled 1,845 times in bold red the Packers open on the road against their nemesis in San Francisco.

It hasn’t taken long for the pre-game posturing to unfold. LB Clay Matthews said on ESPN Radio via

NFL.com “One of the things that the referees have told us is that when these quarterbacks carry out the fakes, they lose their right as a quarterback, a pocket-passing quarterback, the protection of a quarterback. So with that, you do have to take your shots on the quarterback, and obviously they're too important to their offense.

"If that means they pull them out of that type of offense and make them run a traditional, drop-back, pocket-style offense, I think that's exactly what we're going for. So you want to put hits as early and often on the quarterback and make them uncomfortable."

That was perceived by Niners boss Jim Harbaugh as a veiled threat to his bread and butter in Colin Kaepernick. Harbaugh wasted no time in addressing Matthews’s comments. “My opinion is before the quarterback has declared being a runner, then he should be afforded the protection all quarterbacks are afforded” said Harbaugh at a mid-week press conference. “Until he declares and gets out of the pocket and starts running with the ball or running an option or carrying out a bootleg and attempting to run or pass when he's outside of the pocket, but when he's inside the pocket I believe he's a quarterback until he declares that he's a runner. Those are the conversations right now. Haven't gotten final clarification on what it's going to be.”

Mike McCarthy wanted the Packers to be tougher this year. The Niners want to protect their man.

And we all get to witness the spectacle. In San Francisco the Pack goes up against two very stout and tough lines both on offense and defense. If the Packers are to be able to compete with the big dogs they are going to have to muscle up in the trenches. On defense the Niners are a very physical lot and the new guys on the OLine – David Bahktiari and Don Barclay – bookending the line at the tackle positions don’t have the luxury of easing in against the likes of Aldon Smith, Justin Smith and Patrick Willis. Just how tough the Packers are will be displayed very early.

Matthews’s message was far more than mere air time. The hint of pounding these new age running style Read Option QB’s like Kaepernick and Washington’s Robert Griffin III and Seattle’s Russell Wilson is meant to reach the ears of those very QB’s. Run – go ahead – I dare ya to run is the message.

After RG3 got pounded and injured last year it will be hard to imagine Mike Shanahan wanting to risk his franchise player by exposing him to such ferocity.

NFL players and defenses are a very proud lot. They don’t particularly take to well to being shown up. Their ego, ability and very manhood are called into question. When Kaepernick not only broke off a 56 yard TD run in the playoffs last year he rubbed salt into the wound by flexing and mock kissed his bicep.

Kaepernick also was quoted in Sports Illustrated as saying the Packers D was “…arguing in the huddle…” an implication that the Packers were imploding and had no chance against the Niners.

Defensive coordinators also don’t take too kindly to having their defenses shredded. 579 were hung on the Pack’s D in the playoffs a gaudy number that is graciously described as ‘embarrassing’. But those same coordinators and their charges have had an entire off season to watch and review the debacle. The 49ers also accused the Pack of being a ‘soft, finesse’ team.

So now the Packers take the field and can find out if the offseason additions, adjustments and

preparation for the Read Option are enough. The Packers have taken an offseason to retool and restock the D. 1^st round pick Datone Jones will start and will need to grow up fast. His speed and arm span will be counted on to contain Kaepernick. Perry is also back and he, too, will need to step up. The best way to counter the Read Option is by having athletic guys who can make plays on the outside force the QB inside. And the opposite side of Jones and Perry is Matthews. The vernacular employed in NFL-speak lately is “athletic types on D” meaning the OLB’s are going to have to be able to run and run down plays and make tackles in open space. Matthews, Jones, and Perry all fit the bill. On paper.

This game will be viewed as seeing where the Packers are in their process. While how a team is playing at the end of the season dictates how far they can go this is as good a test as the Pack will face as the Niners are almost everyone’s choice as the best in the NFC.

Kaepernick has shown to be more than a runner and is quite capable of passing. While top WR’s Michael Crabtree and Mario Manningham are out (PUP list) the 49ers will be counting on Anquin Boldin, Kyle Williams and new faces in the disappointing 1^st failure in Kansas City Jon Baldwin (trade) and rookie Quinton Patton. Freakish TE Vernon Davis also had a monster day against Green Bay and is a valuable tool in the Niners offense. With Casey Hayward scratched look for Davon House and rookie Micah Hyde to see the field. And you can bet your bottom dollar that Harbaugh and Kaepernick will test the kid to see how well he can play much like they did against Perry last year. It will be a good barometer to see whether or not the Packers have improved if they can get to Kaepernick and slow down the passing offense.

And as if the 49ers didn’t have enough RB Frank Gore leads the ground attack. Twice last year Gore gashed the Pack for 100+ yards rushing. In much the same way McCarthy wants Eddie Lacy to take the pressure off the passing game the Niners use the Read Option, or more the threat of the read option to open up lanes and space for Gore.

SF had a bevy of picks in the draft and used them to stock up as they are already stacked. Picking up

WR Anquin Boldin for some draft picks adds veteran leadership and great hands to the SF attack. SF was loaded going into the draft and have come out much the same way. But with youth at the WR slots they may not have a complete passing game yet. On paper.

On defense the most intriguing match will be SF’s DE Aldon Smith against rookie LT David Bahktiari. Mike McCarthy will find out whether or not the kid filling in for Bryan Bulaga is ready. No doubt extra blockers will be called upon to help out as Smith and his running mate Justin Smith are matchup nightmares for anyone. Aldon Smith’s speed, quickness and long reach complement Justin Smith’s brute strength bull rushes. They routinely use stunts and twists to shed blockers and Bahktiari will be challenged immediately to keep pace. The Pack will counter by adding TE chip blocks and most likely assigning FB John Kuhn with helping to protect Aaron Rodgers. LB Patrick Willis is also back and SF looks every bit as good on the field as they do on paper.

But the Packers didn’t just beef up the D. RB Eddie Lacy will be counted on to add a dimension the Packers did not have in last year’s meetings with SF. The Smith ‘Brothers’ and Willis completely ignored the deficient Packer running game, a game so sadly lacking it had qualified for milk carton status, and were able to tee off on Rodgers. The combination of pressure applied by the front 3 or 4 and coverage of targets hurried Rodgers but also took away any deep balls or audible. It’s hard to catch a defense anticipating when there is no counter balance to keep them honest.

Now the 49ers will have to contend with a RB who can legitimately gash a defense for yards. Lacy is also powerful enough to take on NFL LB’s and more than hold his own. MM has stated his intent to run the ball and pound. If Lacy does indeed prove himself early the airwaves will only open up. No longer will teams, like San Francisco, be able to defense the Packers with only 3 or 4 up front. The key to the Packers success this year will be in Lacy’s ability to make teams respect the Packers running game. If that can happen Rodgers can go back to his deadly play action plays, and he’s one of the very best at freezing a D on a play fake.

One thing that will help is getting Jordy Nelson back. Nelson underwent a minor knee procedure to clear up a nagging problem but would be ready to go on week 1. The Packers had the luxury of playing the entire preseason knowing the vast majority of who their starters would be. But the 2^nd teamers didn’t exactly inspire much confidence as too often the 2nd and 3^rd teamers in preseason looked flat, unmotivated and overmatched. There are a few standouts however. CB Micah Hyde (5^th Round/ Iowa) showed he can play. He had better be able to play with Casey Hayward already scratched with a hamstring. Hyde will see time on the Special Teams and may get a lot more time, especially in this game when Dom Capers goes to a Nickel coverage package. The linebacking corps is also young and green, but Matthews, Perry, and A.J. Hawk will eat most of the minutes. Brad Jones will be out with an injury and emerging LB Rob Francois will have to ramp up his game as he’ll see many minutes.

One addition that is far more than a feel good story is the return of Johnny Jolly. Jolly appears to

have picked up right where he left off 3 years ago when he was banned for his involvement with banned and illegal substances. Jolly was a pass deflecting, space eating beast inside and earned his spot on the roster by doing that all preseason.

The Packers are looking to show they are still in the elite team mix. The Niners are looking to reinforce the same thought. While teams can’t win the Super Bowl in September they can also begin to establish and identity. This will be the 3^rd meeting in less than 365 days between the 2 teams, and SF holds a 2 – 0 advantage. In the process the 49ers have taken the tag of best in the NFC away from the Packers, and the Packers want it back.

It will be a very physical game but a very entertaining game. The side bar theater makes this all the more compelling. The Packers will put up a good fight and turnovers could be the difference. As much as we hate to say it right now the 49ers are a better team on paper.

And on the field. In a year SF goes 3 – 0 against a Packer team that shows that they are young but will still have a huge upside for another meeting later in the year. But the game itself will be played on the field, not on paper.

 

 

 

 

 

 SAN FRANCISCO  27 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Green Bay     20