One of the, if not the, best reads of the Dal vs GB game (credit: swiftwings88 via reddit)

Question

Three Things the Cowboys Need to Stop in Order to Beat Green Bay

The inside run game. Contrary to most pundits I don’t think that Murray is the key to Sunday’s game. Don’t get me wrong I think he is extremely important and that Romo’s (whose play is the key to the game for Dallas) success hinges on his play, but the run game isn’t where Dallas will win and lose. Where beating Green Bay starts however, is the run game. Realistically, the Cowboys defensive backfield is probably in for a long day. Rodgers, Nelson, Cobb, and Co. have been absolutely dynamite at Lambeau and against better DBs than the Cowboys field. Rodgers has dominated Rod Marinelli coached defenses (used to coach in the NFC North) and Green Bay just seems to have the magic touch at home on the deep ball. Moreover, Rodgers hasn’t thrown a single pick at Lambeau in over two calendar years. TWO! So why am I harping on the interior run game? Simple, Rodger’s calf. Rodgers will play on Sunday for sure. He may even be 95%, maybe 100% even. But the Packers aren’t about to take any chances in the cold. Rodgers is going to likely be extremely conservative with scrambles and rollouts and will likely play much of the game from the pistol or shotgun. So how do you defend a non-mobile QB? Well you block well for starters and Green Bay has the No. 1 pass blocking unit. Two, you use safe formations like the pistol and shotgun and use quick slants and check downs. Lastly, you establish a running game. Now Dallas is what I’d call a hustle defense. They’re the Pistons. No one on the defense screams “you must account for me every play or I will make you pay” like a JJ Watt. They swarm to the ball well though. This makes running outside on such a team difficult. Stopping Eddie Lacy from ripping off power runs up the middle is a huge factor in this game then. Now this is easier said than done. Cowboys fans saw just how formidable the Detroit front 7 can be. Levy and Suh don’t mess around. Nevertheless, Lacy had a huge day against them which helped Rodgers a lot. The Cowboys must do better than the Lions did or Rodgers injured calf will be a non-factor. Last note, watch out for the James Starks curveball. While still technically a power rusher in my mind, he is more the mold of a Demarco Murray with better speed than Lacy. The Packers like to use him as a change of pace back and he does it well.
Stop the Packers Blitz Schemes. Dom Capers has taken crap in Green Bay for years (in my mind undeservedly). After coaching a top 5 defense to a Superbowl win in 2010 Capers lost his talisman safety, Nick Collins and playmaking DT Cullen Jenkins to injury and free agency respectively. Years of drafting offensively caught up with Green Bay and the wheels came off for about 2.5 years. While the defense is no Seahawks unit, it has made great strides since the start of the season and is top 5 against the run since the bye and top 10 in opposing passer rating for the year. Most attribute this to contributions from Clay Matthews, who started shifting inside and out, the continued growth of converted WR, now CB, Sam Shields, and the stellar, STELLAR play of Morgan Burnett. Key contributions from ballhawk Micah Hyde (a Charles Woodson type, sure tackler and plays everywhere) and 1st rounder Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix have been huge as well. Arguably the biggest change from years past though is Capers stable of linebackers. Years of drafting, developing talent and a key free agent signing have finally given Capers the flexibility to make his blitzing 3-4 scheme work. Instead of Clay Matthews and some guy from the bus stop playing OLB, the Packers rotate free agent Julius Peppers, Mike Neal, Datone Jones, and Nick Perry into the spot opposite Clay. Up and comer Sam Barrington is a high motor ILB who has all but replaced the aging AJ Hawk. Free agent Letroy Guion has massively overplayed his expectations coming from lackluster years at Minnesota and Mike Daniels the packers best D-lineman has helped too. With this added flexibility Capers can finally do what he does best. Disguise coverages and blitz from everywhere. Capers schemes with the best of them. His coverages never look the way they appear. Make no mistake the Packers defense is not an elite one. However it is one of the best sack producing (and turnover producing) defenses in the NFL. The ball will be extremely cold on Sunday which will make it slippery. Do not be surprised to see a sack or two in this game turn into a loose ball. The Cowboys must be aware of the blitz. Romo was abused on Sunday. The Cowboys must avoid that in Green Bay. It will be around 18 degrees at kickoff with a windchill in the single digits. Getting hit hurts. Getting hit when you’re hurt hurts. Getting hit when you’re hurt and it’s freezing is brutal. The Cowboys must rely on the run game, and quick patterns to avoid sacks

atxcojo · Answer

Three Things the Cowboys Need to Stop in Order to Beat Green Bay

The inside run game. Contrary to most pundits I don’t think that Murray is the key to Sunday’s game. Don’t get me wrong I think he is extremely important and that Romo’s (whose play is the key to the game for Dallas) success hinges on his play, but the run game isn’t where Dallas will win and lose. Where beating Green Bay starts however, is the run game. Realistically, the Cowboys defensive backfield is probably in for a long day. Rodgers, Nelson, Cobb, and Co. have been absolutely dynamite at Lambeau and against better DBs than the Cowboys field. Rodgers has dominated Rod Marinelli coached defenses (used to coach in the NFC North) and Green Bay just seems to have the magic touch at home on the deep ball. Moreover, Rodgers hasn’t thrown a single pick at Lambeau in over two calendar years. TWO! So why am I harping on the interior run game? Simple, Rodger’s calf. Rodgers will play on Sunday for sure. He may even be 95%, maybe 100% even. But the Packers aren’t about to take any chances in the cold. Rodgers is going to likely be extremely conservative with scrambles and rollouts and will likely play much of the game from the pistol or shotgun. So how do you defend a non-mobile QB? Well you block well for starters and Green Bay has the No. 1 pass blocking unit. Two, you use safe formations like the pistol and shotgun and use quick slants and check downs. Lastly, you establish a running game. Now Dallas is what I’d call a hustle defense. They’re the Pistons. No one on the defense screams “you must account for me every play or I will make you pay” like a JJ Watt. They swarm to the ball well though. This makes running outside on such a team difficult. Stopping Eddie Lacy from ripping off power runs up the middle is a huge factor in this game then. Now this is easier said than done. Cowboys fans saw just how formidable the Detroit front 7 can be. Levy and Suh don’t mess around. Nevertheless, Lacy had a huge day against them which helped Rodgers a lot. The Cowboys must do better than the Lions did or Rodgers injured calf will be a non-factor. Last note, watch out for the James Starks curveball. While still technically a power rusher in my mind, he is more the mold of a Demarco Murray with better speed than Lacy. The Packers like to use him as a change of pace back and he does it well.
Stop the Packers Blitz Schemes. Dom Capers has taken crap in Green Bay for years (in my mind undeservedly). After coaching a top 5 defense to a Superbowl win in 2010 Capers lost his talisman safety, Nick Collins and playmaking DT Cullen Jenkins to injury and free agency respectively. Years of drafting offensively caught up with Green Bay and the wheels came off for about 2.5 years. While the defense is no Seahawks unit, it has made great strides since the start of the season and is top 5 against the run since the bye and top 10 in opposing passer rating for the year. Most attribute this to contributions from Clay Matthews, who started shifting inside and out, the continued growth of converted WR, now CB, Sam Shields, and the stellar, STELLAR play of Morgan Burnett. Key contributions from ballhawk Micah Hyde (a Charles Woodson type, sure tackler and plays everywhere) and 1st rounder Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix have been huge as well. Arguably the biggest change from years past though is Capers stable of linebackers. Years of drafting, developing talent and a key free agent signing have finally given Capers the flexibility to make his blitzing 3-4 scheme work. Instead of Clay Matthews and some guy from the bus stop playing OLB, the Packers rotate free agent Julius Peppers, Mike Neal, Datone Jones, and Nick Perry into the spot opposite Clay. Up and comer Sam Barrington is a high motor ILB who has all but replaced the aging AJ Hawk. Free agent Letroy Guion has massively overplayed his expectations coming from lackluster years at Minnesota and Mike Daniels the packers best D-lineman has helped too. With this added flexibility Capers can finally do what he does best. Disguise coverages and blitz from everywhere. Capers schemes with the best of them. His coverages never look the way they appear. Make no mistake the Packers defense is not an elite one. However it is one of the best sack producing (and turnover producing) defenses in the NFL. The ball will be extremely cold on Sunday which will make it slippery. Do not be surprised to see a sack or two in this game turn into a loose ball. The Cowboys must be aware of the blitz. Romo was abused on Sunday. The Cowboys must avoid that in Green Bay. It will be around 18 degrees at kickoff with a windchill in the single digits. Getting hit hurts. Getting hit when you’re hurt hurts. Getting hit when you’re hurt and it’s freezing is brutal. The Cowboys must rely on the run game, and quick patterns to avoid sacks

atxcojo · Answer

3.Stop the rhythm.   Green Bay feeds off its crowd at home and off their own success. The Eagles, Lions, Panthers, Falcons, Vikings, and Bears all learned this lesson.  In the blink of an eye the Packers will put 14 or 21 points on the board especially in the first half.  The Cowboys must put some space between Green Bay TD drives (the previous teams didn&#x2019;t leading to Packers scores of 53, 30, 38, 43, 42, and 55.  Only one team held Green Bay under 30 at home and that team was the Pats courtesy of some truly uninspired red zone play (0-4 in the red zone on TDs) in a game that could have been a laugher had Green Bay converted.  The best way to slow Green Bay down is this:  go back to number 1 and stonewall Lacy for a yard or 2.  2nd down, Rodgers goes incomplete or Lacy is held up again.  3rd down, make a play.  Rodgers rarely misses two plays in a row.  The onus is one the linebackers and DBs to play physical.  Get flagged if need be but plays need to be made or the Packers will make this a shootout. Making Green Bay punt throws off their mojo. I have watched every play by the Packers this year and trust me when I say that Green Bay will feed off its own success if they aren&#x2019;t given a few speed bumps

atxcojo · Answer

Three Things the Cowboys Need to Do to Beat Green Bay1. Hold onto the football.  Wait Swift! I thought you said you weren&#x2019;t going to discuss turnovers.  You said it was obvious.  That&#x2019;s true I did say that, but I can get away with it because this is my post and because this is a specific type of turnover.  Demarco Murray has been discussed as being a bit careless with the ball.  He&#x2019;s had a handful of fumbles this season.  Watching the Detroit/Dallas game I saw a few plays where he did that thing I hate where he holds the ball out like he&#x2019;s about the throw it.  This may make it easier to run but even with the borderline illegal stickiness of the gloves these guys where nowadays the ball is going to be slippery. This doesn&#x2019;t just go for Murray.  All the Cowboys skill players must be aware. Bryant fumbled against Detroit in a dome with a warm football. It&#x2019;ll be easier to do that on Sunday.  Romo must watch for that if he is sacked.  Kickers and punters must be aware it is easier to mishit and the placeholder as well.  Assuming Rodgers doesn&#x2019;t buck a 2&#x2B; year trend and throw a pick, the Cowboys can ill afford to lose possessions in Lambeau much less give Rodgers anything less than a full field to go down.  As a side note, Eddie Lacy has struggled a game or two with ball control.  Given his style it is to be expected, but don&#x2019;t be stunned if he coughs one up at some point.2. Screen the ball (or otherwise checkdown). Maybe it was a bad day, but Demarco Murray did not light the world on fire with his pass blocking last week.  In my mind he is far more valuable as a safety valve.  The Packers like to blitz.  What is one way to beat the blitz? A screen pass catches defenders upfield and lets Murray do his thing.  Murray must be aware on such plays of three players, Micah Hyde, Morgan Burnett, and Ha-Ha Clinton Dix. The Packers three safeties (though Hyde plays all over) have made a living this year knifing past screen blockers on WR bubbles and RB screens to down tacklers for a loss. Shiftier running backs than Murray have been downed in this manner.  However, if the blockers pick those guys up Dallas could have a few big gains on screens.  I expect to see the screen from Dallas a long second down sometime early in the game.  It&#x2019;s a play that can be a home run for the Cowboys with Murrays talent.  Aside from the screen Romo cannot, just cannot take the abuse he took against Detroit.  This holding onto the ball thing and going down with the ship will not work in single degree temperatures. Murray must be aware of that and be available for a check down, even for no gain.  Romo, for his part, must be ready to get rid of it rather than getting plastered.  He is playing wounded and the refs know it, let them protect you.

atxcojo · Answer

3. Keep up.  I said before I don&#x2019;t think Murray is the key for Dallas.  It&#x2019;s true.  The odds are too stacked against the Dallas D with injuries, Green Bay&#x2019;s familiarity with Marinelli, matchup problems, and the cold for Dallas to expect to contain the Green Bay offense.  It could happen, but I don&#x2019;t expect it to.  I think, if the Cowboys win, Romo will shed his (frankly ridiculous) reputation as a choke artist QB. Yes Romo hasn&#x2019;t played well in the cold (small sample size), it doesn&#x2019;t matter. Romo is the man.  This is a passing league and it will be up to him to make the Packers feel the pressure to score just as much as Dallas does.  He has weapons.  All due credit to the speedy and savvy Jordy Nelson, but Dez Bryant is a true weapon and Romo needs to take advantage. The Cowboys need to keep up and the QB who has the better day is the one whose team will win in my opinion.  There will simply be too many points for the running game to be featured down the stretch.Three Players to WatchDavon House.  Sam Shields (remember him, he picked off Romo after Miles Austin decided he wasn&#x2019;t being paid enough to try) and Tramon Williams are Green Bay&#x2019;s corners. They are an underrated pair.  Shields is a converted WR with outstanding speed.  He is still learning the position though and can make mistakes.  Williams is the veteran and may be playing his last year in Green Bay.  He is tough and physical and the two of them win more jump balls than you think.  Despite their talent, both were savaged by Julio Jones a few weeks back.  While Dez Bryant lacks Jones&#x2019; speed, he is the stronger WR and very good after the catch.  If Shields and Williams struggle, you may see Davon House come in to cover Dez.  House has made a living covering other teams&#x2019; number one WR.  He has done well against Calvin Johnson and was the only Packers CB to make plays against Julio in the Falcons game.  His best was breaking up a TD pass to Jones in the endzone.  Both players were injured and House was out for weeks.  Well he is back. House has terrific instincts, speed that&#x2019;s &#x201C;good enough&#x201D; and he isn&#x2019;t afraid of a challenge.  We may seem him on Dez Bryant.Richard Rodgers.  On an offense with Nelson, Cobb, Lacy and Rodgers who cares about tight end? Well most of the time nobody. Cobb attacks the middle of the field with the best of them.  That said, the team has had a void at TE since Jermichael Finley went down and had his career ended.  Andrew Quarless, a team veteran, was given every opportunity to take over and proved that he is, nothing against him, a serviceable backup.  While Quarless would make the odd play now and then he was no playmaker and he wasn&#x2019;t even a very good blocker.  The Packers drafted the other Rodgers (he even went to Cal) this year. Rodgers kind of snuck under the radar after sexier names like Ebron, Sefarian-Jenkins, Fiedorowicz went off the board.  He had a middling start of the year behind Quarless but since December has become more and more featured. He is in no danger of &#x201C;the rookie wall&#x201D; because he hasn&#x2019;t played a ton but his physical skills are undeniable and he&#x2019;s a pretty good blocker too.  Neither as fast as Dallas Clark (man I miss him) or as strong as Gronk, Rodgers has shown big potential.  If the Cowboys have success covering Nelson and Cobb, look for this young guy to make his money.Morgan Burnett.  Morgan was the heir apparent to Nick Collins. He signed a big contract and was promptly one of the most disappointing players of last season.  This season is night and day. No longer saddled with mediocre help at the other safety spot, Burnett has blossomed into one of the Packers top tackling threats.  He isn&#x2019;t quite accurately described as a box safety; he does have coverage skills.  Burnett is seemingly always around the ball.  No doubt you will hear 42&#x2019;s name called a number of times on Sunday. Burnett is a sure tackler and he is decisive.  One of the worse mistakes you can make with a guy like Murray is to let him call the shots. Burnett doesn&#x2019;t make that mistake often.  He takes and angle to the carrier and commits.  He makes the ball carrier dance to his tune and when he gets a hand on him he doesn&#x2019;t often miss.  Burnett isn&#x2019;t a burner and his weakness is still probably one-on-one coverage though.  He compensates by relying on Micah Hyde and Clinton-Dix (both better in coverage) and in focusing on his number one job, not getting beaten deep.  Look for his number

smarterthanyou · Answer

"The best way to slow Green Bay down is this: go back to number 1 and stonewall Lacy for a yard or 2. 2nd down, Rodgers goes incomplete or Lacy is held up again. 3rd down, make a play. "

wow, that's an ingenious gameplan.

JonEphotBall · Answer

Good read thx bro

Agunz173 · Answer

This is too damm long... Just make a pick...

bk1374 · Answer

I&#x27;m emailing Jason Garret right now.

One of the, if not the, best reads of the Dal vs GB game (credit: swiftwings88 via reddit)

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