BACK TO THE SCENE OF THE CRIME

Packers Kick Off NFL Season in Seattle

 

It was an interception.

 

The last time the Green bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks hooked up in a meaningful game history was made on the now infamous “Fail Mary” last second heave by then rookie QB Russell Wilson. What ensued was a domino effect bordering on the theater of the absurd. Partisan fan or not what can clearly be seen is WR Golden Tate shoving CB Sam Shields from behind to clear some space, S M.D. Jennings taking the ball away as Tate tried to wrestle it back and a moron named Lance Easley signaling a touchdown. So bitter were the Packers that G T.J. Lang took to twitter and made history in becoming the most retweeted tweet in history by tweeting “F*** it NFL. Fine me and use the money to pay the real refs.”

 

Who the hell is Lance Easley?

 

Lance Easley was part of the replacement officials brought in to do the job while the real refs were

on strike. So embarrassed was the NFL that two days later the strike was settled and Easley and the rest of the imcompetents….errr… replacements… went skulking back into anonymity.

 

Pete Carroll fanned the flames briefly this week by saying “They [the refs] called it the way they saw it.” Mike McCarthy isn’t buying any of the hubbub over it. After that call an obviously furious McCarthy was somehow able to corral his rage and give one of the most dignified post-game interviews to a salivating press waiting for him to go postal.

 

That was then; this is now.

Since that game Wilson and the Hawks have taken wing and decimated Denver and their highly-touted offense in a defensive smothering of a Super Bowl last year. Tate is now gone but Carroll is becoming the NFL’s oldest teenager with his college enthusiasm. Unlike San Fran’s explosive Jim Harbaugh Carroll comes off as a likeable, excitable guy in spite of his failing eyesight. Wilson has matured and has become the backbone of the Seahawks offense. Mature beyond his years Wilson is at the top of the class of the ‘new age QB’. Cam Newton may do it better, Donavan McNabb and Randall Cunningham may have done it first and the jury is out on whether or not SF’s Colin Kaepernick and Washington’s Robert Griffin III may ever really do it but Wilson has not only the feet to run away from trouble but the arm and pocket presence to pierce a defense that tries to run up to stop him.

 

Stopping Wilson has become a priority for Dom Capers. Julius Peppers joins the Pack and opposite Clay Matthews then Packers will look to neutralize Wilson’s ability to buy time and yards with his legs. The Packers have been gashed deeply by running QB’s in the past few seasons so now they look to beef up the interior and keep Wilson in their sights.

Seattle also has Marshawn Lynch, who when in Beast Mode is a beast and a load to try and bring

down. The Hawks desire to pound Lynch inside to open up Wilson’s deadly play-action passing is their key. Percy Harvin is healthy and will be Wilson’s top target.

 

Stopping Lynch helps stop Wilson from getting started. The Pack committed heavily to youth on defense and stopping the run is on the top of the list. The addition of Julius Peppers will make Clay Matthews all the more dangerous. Matthews still led the Pack in sacks last year with 7 in spite of missing 5 games with a badly broken thumb and playing 4 more with a club on his hand. Having Peppers means teams can no longer afford to double team Matthews and ignore the other side. Peppers will not be counted on to play every rep as he did in Chicago. MM and Dom Capers are looking to strike a balance with multiple looks and fronts to keep the offenses in the NFL guessing.

 

On the official roster Peppers, Mike Neal and Nick Perry are all listed as OLB’s. However all three have experience playing DE and with 11 LB’s on the roster you can bet your cheese curds that you’ll see all three at time playing the end position. Where they play is less relevant than getting the best 11 on the field. Expect a whole bag of tricks on D and not just in this game; it will be a season long venture of defensive creativity.

 

One look that is to be expected is the Big Nickel defense that adds Ha Ha Clinton-Dix at S in the middle flanked by Morgan Burnett and Micah Hyde in the nickel back role. And if Casey Hayward joins the group on passing downs the Pack likes their chances. Getting Hyde on the field more frequently is no secret. McCarthy has beaten that drum in the off-season and his desires will be a reality. Once the safeties get a pick the Packer faithful will be allowed to collectively exhale.

 

If there is to be any discussion on defense the Seahawks are a good place to begin. Their

brutalization of the Broncos sent manning and Co. back to Omaha ready to be put out to pasture. As the years roll past the Hawks D will be compared favorably to the Bears of ‘85 and the Ravens of ’00. One difference is the Hawks D peaked and gelled collectively in its’ playoff run. Richard Sherman leads a very loud defense and the secondary is second to none in the NFL. Bruce Irvin is fast tracked to becoming a bona fide NFL star up front but the real gems are found among Sherman, S Earl Thomas and S Kam Chancellor. How many can be retained in Emerald City after the Brinks truck drops its’ payload on Wilson’s doorstep next year is anybody’s guess.

 

The key matchups in this game will be Jordy Nelson against Sherman and Sam Shields against Harvin. Nelson is a big, physical receiver and this is the most intriguing pairing of the evening. How many flags fly is yet another side bar story as both teams will push the envelope on the physical play. Nelson is also one of the best sideline receivers in the NFL and if Aaron Rodgers has the time Rodgers can hit the out throw better than anyone in the NFL. Randall Cobb will be another favorite target and Jarrett Boykin along with rookie Davante Adams may work the middle on crossing routes underneath.

 

Eddie Lacy and Marshawn Lynch are both the keys

to starting their respective offenses. Lacy is every bit the load Lynch is and whichever team can establish the run has the advantage. Both teams are very similar in their approach to offense in using the run to keep the defense from dropping back against the pass. Rodgers’ ability to see the defense and check off at the line is an asset he will look to exploit.

 

The NFL knew what it was doing when it put these two marquee teams on its first broadcast of the year. The ratings will be thru the roof and it will be a very physical, very entertaining game. The Packers match up very well against the Seahawks so get the popcorn out. The noise in CenturyLink Field may shatter records and eardrums. But the Packers may just quiet them down tonight.

 GREEN BAY  30  

  Seattle      27