ANOTHER THURSDAY, ANOTHER GAME
Packers Look to Keep Rolling Against Minnesota
by: Michael Filipelli
Aaron Rodgers is flying high and was named the
Offensive Player of the Week after his dismantling of Chicago in another
impeccable performance last week. The Vikings are coming in after thrashing the
Atlanta Falcons and running over them in the process
The Vikes
used the legs of Matt Asiata and Jerrick
McKinnon to bolster their attack. Missing is All Pro Adrian Peterson still out after being charged with felony child
abuse. The abuse cases that have saturated the NFL have given the shield cause
for embarrassment. The NFL had been glacier-paced slow in responding to the
charges of domestic violence against the players until the hideous video of Ray Rice knocking his fiancée unconscious
surfaced on TMZ. While Roger Goodell
had suspended Rice for 2 games the firestorm of the Rice video shined a necessary light in the very dark areas of the
NFL.
The NFL is a
league that richly rewards very large and very violent men. Bill Parcells was correct in saying “Pro
football is no place for the well-adjusted.” The Panthers Greg Hardy was convicted of domestic violence yet had no such
sanctions until the issue of these cases was brought to light. With Hardy, Rice, the 49ers’ Ray MacDonald
(who has yet to be sanctioned by the NFL or 49ers) and now Peterson what should have been a key contest also has the shadow of
a stigmatic ugliness that had not been exposed to the degree it has been now.
Peterson has been charged with felony child
abuse in response to phots circulated of welts he left on his son’s legs after
whipping him with a switch after the boy knocked his brother off a chair while
playing a video game. Much of the behavior currently under scrutiny is a
reflection of the lives these players lived before they became rich and famous.
Michael Vick was one of the first of
the modern era to endure the wrath of a nation outraged when his involvement in
dog fighting became public.
The NFL and
its’ member teams have taken a serious blow to the image and reputation and credibility
of the league with regards to its handling of these cases. Prior to the Rice video the NFL had taken a
position of allowing due process to run its’ course and quietly sweeping the
mess under the rug. Along the way the acts of violence became so egregious, so
public and committed by not just the fringe players but its bona fide stars
that ignoring it any longer was not an option. In Minnesota CB A.J. Jefferson was released the day
after he was charged with domestic violence. The hypocritical and contradictory
nature of punishments had been driven less by the act and more by the ability
of the player involved. So it was that Jefferson
very quietly was released to little fanfare and later signed by Seattle while Hardy, MacDonald and Peterson prepared to
continue on with business as usual.
Until the Rice video surfaced.
The video
has been a literal game changer. The NFL and Goodell have had to reverse field and approach to what is a now a national
referendum on domestic violence. Goodell
had the unenviable task of facing the media in a well-scripted mea culpa of
contrition but the act rang hollow. It lacked immediacy and contrition and was
an attempt to salvage image. The fallout is being felt immediately by the
Panthers who are currently languishing defensively without Hardy. The Vikings are now playing two otherwise unnoticeable
players who must carry on in Peterson’s
absence.
It is
impossible to profile the Vikings without mentioning the current legal status
of Peterson and others like him that
have tarnished their reputations as well as having committed offenses that have
outraged millions. No longer can the league, Goodell or the teams look the other way when a player regardless of
star power becomes a central figure in these circumstances.
So it is
that with Peterson gone the load now
falls to Asiata and MacKinnon. Rookie QB
Teddy Bridgewater had an impressive first game against Atlanta in throwing
for over 300 yards in leading the Vikings offense. Bridgewater was a relative unknown at Louisville but was tabbed by
Minnesota in the 1st round in the annual search for an answer at QB.
The last time they tried it was Christian
Ponder and now he has backslid to #3 on the depth charts
The Vikes
have an impressive array of pass catchers in former Packer Greg Jennings and 2nd year star-in-wait Cordarelle Patterson. TE Kyle Rudolph
gives the Vikings quality if not quantity in its receiving corps. LT Matt Kalil is and will be a perennial
All Pro and he’s only in his 2nd year. He will draw the assignment
of blocking Clay Matthews unless Julius
Peppers switches over.
Bridgewater had a sizzling first showing but also
left the game when his left ankle was rolled last week. It will be a last
minute decision as to whether or not Bridgewater
plays and most likely will not be made until the 11th hour. The
Vikings are considerably better even with a rookie than when underwhelming
journeyman Matt Cassell is at the
helm.
On defense
the Vikings lost Jared Allen and now
rely on the likes of Sharrif Floyd
and newcomer Anthony Barr to hold
the fort. Barr was also a 1st
rounder as Minnesota had an excellent draft this year. S Harrison Smith returns with a bevy of new faces around him. The
Vikings are clearly in rebuilding and development mode on D and will be tested
by Rodgers and his golden right arm.
It took 3 games
for the Packers offense to knock the rust off. Against the Bears it looked as
if the game would be a back and forth shootout until Jay Cutler began turning the ball over as he pressed too hard to
try and match Rodgers score-for-score. When
Rodgers is on, and he was most certainly on last week, there are few, if
any, QB’s who can match him throw for throw. Jordy Nelson leads the league in catches and yards while Randall Cobb finally broke out and is
currently tied for the NFL lead in TD’s with 5.
Rookie TE and WR Richard Rodgers and
Davante Adams also
had 2 catches each and are slowly being folded into the mix. Rodgers had a sweet 43 yard catch and
run against the Bears and may start seeing more time especially in the seams. Adams at times looks like a rookie but
has shown enough flash to warrant playing time as he grows into his slot at the
pro level.
The most disturbing
issue in Green Bay is the inability to stop the run. The Bears posted almost
500 yards of total offense yet the Packers pitched a defensive shutout in the
second half. Cutler’s penchant for throwing
costly picks also aided in masking what is a bottom of the barrel run D. The
Packers sit at 32nd currently and if they are to improve it needs to happen consistently
and soon.
On paper the
Packers are the much better team. The questionable ability to stop the run will
be tested, especially if Teddy B is out. If Bridgewater plays how well he can
move in the pocket will be the big question as Matthews, Peppers and Co will
bring some heat. The Packers pass rush has been improved. While not posting
high sack totals there has been consistent pressure applied on opposing QB’s.
The interior of the line, Josh Boyd and Letroy Guion specifically, have to
start bottling up and clogging the inside lanes. At # 32 the run defense is
atrocious right now.
Brad Jones is
still nursing a sore quad but it may be a moot point as Jamari Lattimore is
making the most of his chance to start. Lattimore was all over the field in
leading the Packer tacklers last week and has been a pleasant surprise. CB
Casey Hayward is playing but has not yet factored into any key plays. His help
is needed as the Packers try to raise their defense from the depths.
In this one
the Pack simple has too much firepower for Bridgewater and Minnesota to keep
pace. For the second time ever in NFL history last week’s slugfest with Bears
had no punts from either team, a testament to the strength of the offenses or more
pointedly and indictment of the defenses inability to stay off the field. Mike
McCarthy is also waiting for RB Eddie Lacy to look like Eddie Lacy again. So
far Lacy has been stood up and manhandled at the point of attack and has not
looked anything like the bull that came charging out last year. Part of the has
to do with the offensive lines not opening holes but the other part falls on
Lacy’s broad shoulders for not hitting the holes when they are there.
Lacy has
also begun to run more upright which has led to fewer long gainers. McCarthy is
a coach who preaches ‘pad level’ and Lacy needs to heed the big guy’s admonitions.
Lacy has been stood up and held until help arrives. Last season Lacy was part
running back, part snow plow and part freight train. He has had to deal with
ball security issues and now needs to get under the tackler and explode thru as
he did a year ago. The question is not if but when Lacy finally gets untracked
the Packers will have a true juggernaut of an offense. The weather forecast is
for rain and it could mean Lacy will get touches.
McCarthy
also sat James Starks last week in spite of his stellar 5.0 yards/ carry
average. “That was mistake” McCarthy acknowledged in his post-game interviews.”
It won’t happen again.” Starks may have simply been overlooked as McCarthy
tried to find the key to get Lacy going. Look for the running game to get back
on track against Minny. If Rodgers has a solid run game and is anywhere close
to the level he played last week this will be a long night for Minnesota.
GREEN BAY 27
Minnesota 13
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