Lombardi Ave » Packers vs. Seahawks

Packers vs. Seahawks: Questions to consider

Raymond Rivard — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 00:15:49 +0000

Sep 24, 2012; Seattle, WA, USA; Aerial view of the downtown Seattle skyline and the Space Needle before the NFL game between the Green Bay Packers and the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

With the start of tonight’s Monday Night Football game less than 30 minutes away, here are my quick questions:

• How will the Seahawks slow down Clay Matthews?

• If the concentration is on Matthews, does this mean Nick Perry has a breakout game?

• Everyone’s looking to Marshawn Lynch as the key to this game. That may be true, but let’s look to the other side of the ball and the impact the Cedric Benson could have for the Packers.

• How will the Packers receivers match up against this talented and physical group in the Seahawks’ defensive backfield?

• How will Seahawks’ rookie quarterback Russell Wilson fare against the Packers’ multiple defensive looks.

• This game could come down to the game plans. Will Coach Mike McCarthy get out coached like he was when the Packers faced the 49ers?

• How long will it take before Gruden glorifies Aaron Rodgers?

Lombardiave: Here’s how we see Packers vs. Seahawks

Raymond Rivard — Sun, 23 Sep 2012 14:00:52 +0000

The last time the Packers met the Seahawks in 2009, they were completely different teams. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

12thmanrising.com’s Keith Meyers probed me with a Q&A to get a perspective about the Green Bay Packers for his Seattle Seahawks followers.

We were glad to oblige, answering his questions about the Packers vs. Seahawks Monday Night Football matchup.

But before reading on, don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Here is our exchange:

Q. After having such an outstanding 15-1 regular season in 2011, the Packers had a very early exit from the playoffs. With all of that in mind, what are the expectations for this year’s squad?

A. What was most disconcerting heading into last week’s game against the Chicago Bears was that, going back to the end of last season, Aaron Rodgers had lost three of his last four games. You didn’t hear anyone talking about that. However, with the team seemingly getting their running game going (at least for this week) and Rodgers playing better than he has all season, there is hope. With that said, as the season started, the expectations were Super Bowl or Bust. The team made major additions and improvements to its defense and the offense was thought to be as good as last year, so nothing less than a division championship and a trip to the Super Bowl is expected. We know how difficult that journey can be and this week’s challenge in Seattle is just one example of that.

Q. Clay Matthews is off to an amazing start so far this season. Has his play been that much better, or has it just been the scheme helping him generate the stats.

A. I think there are a couple of factors at play with Clay Matthews. For once, he’s healthy. He has played injured a lot in the past, but this year he has no dings – yet. Secondly, the improvement to the overall personnel on the defense has taken some of the focus off Matthews. With rookie linebacker Nick Perry playing opposite Matthews, a better effort from the defensive line and some new looks in the defensive backfield have helped Matthews. Is he playing better? He seems to have stepped up his intensity and seems a step quicker, especially on his outside burst. Packers fans can only hope that defensive coordinator Dom Capers continues to throw interesting and new looks at offenses to not only slow opponents, but to put Matthews in position to make big plays. So far it’s worked.

Q. The Packers have struggled to stop the run so far this year, and running the football is the strength of the Seahawks offense. Do the Packers have the personnel to slow down Marshawn Lynch, or are they going to have to win this one simply with their offense?

A. If this was last year, I would say the Packers should try to contain Marshawn Lynch with their defense and then let the offense win it. This year, I feel the Packers have the tools to stop the run, they just haven’t put together a consistent effort. If the Packers can crowd the line of scrimmage in the early going to take the Seahawks out of their game plan and force them to throw, they will have a chance to corner Russell Wilson into throwing the ball to them – much like they did with Jay Cutler last week. Overall, it will be an interesting matchup and could decide who wins the game.

Q. Who are some young players who fan outside of Wisconsin might not of heard of yet, who are going to make a significant impact on this game?

A. Remember the names of Dezman Moses, Jarron McMillian and Casey Hayward. All of them are rookie defensive players who have not only brought some life to the Packers’ special teams, but have brought a new attitude to the Packers defense. Moses is an undrafted linebacker who is all over the place. Young, raw, and sometimes a bit overzealous, Moses has impressed coaches and fans alike. McMillian is a safety who likes to sneak up and stop the run. He sticks his nose into the line and does a good job in coverage as well. Hayward is a ball-hawking cornerback who continues to play himself into more time on the field. Throw in rookie linebacker Nick Perry and second-year corner Davon House, and the Packers have a solid group of defensive players who could make a difference in the long run.

Q. How do you expect this game to go down, and what’s you prediction for a final score?

A. I expect Aaron Rodgers to test the Seahawks with intermediate throws to start the game, test the line with Cedric Benson rushes up the middle and then try for a quick score with long passes to Jordy Nelson if they get out to midfield. The Packers defense will focus on stopping the run first, slowing the Seahawks attack – especially in the red zone – and forcing them into field goals instead of touchdowns. If the Packers can do that, I suspect they will win the game. I think the first half will be close, but I have a feeling the Packers rush will eventually get to Wilson, who will throw at least one interception in this one.

Final score: Packers 27 Seahawks 17

Packers vs. Seahawks: The view from the West Coast

Raymond Rivard — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 15:18:49 +0000

The last time the Packers faced the Seahawks – in December of 2009 – Matt Flynn was slinging passes for Green Bay. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

I had the opportunity to pick the brain of Keith Myers over at the 12thmanrising.com, the Seattle Seahawks fan site under the fansided.com umbrella of NFL sites.

We had the chance to exchange questions to get a feel of how things are looking out on the West Coast. Clearly, this is a team on the rise – one that will surely be a tough test for the Packers come Monday night.

Keith gives us a bit of an insight into why this team is showing vast improvement. He talks about the Seahawks’ rookie QB Russell Wilson, the pounding run game with Marshawn Lynch and the team’s young, smothering defense.

I also had a chance to answer questions posted by Keith and will post our exchange here on Lombardiave.com tomorrow.

So, without further adieu, here is our exchange.

Q. Rookie quarterback Russell Wilson has impressed in the early going. Given that us folks here in Wisconsin know a thing or two about both Wilson and Matt Flynn, tell us something we don’t know about each of them.

A. Considering I don’t know what you know, I’ll have to do my best. How about this:

Matt Flynn played well enough in the training camp and the pre-season to win the starting job, Wilson was just better. The Seahawks really liked what Flynn showed, and would have been happy to have him as the starter right now had Wilson not simply electrified the team with his own performance.

As for Wilson, we’re still learning who and what he really is, but one thing we’ve learned is that his height (5-10 5/8) hasn’t proven to be factor at this level. He plays like he’s 5 inches taller than he actually is.

Q. We all know the Seahawks are young and rising. Do they have a legitimate shot at a division crown and will they even have a chance against the Niners when they meet?

A. Last season, the 49ers barely scratched together enough to win against the Seahawks in both of their meetings. One required 2 special teams TDs by Ted Ginn, and the other required Tarvaris Jackson to melt down at the end of the game. Neither should be a problem this year, as the Seahawks have greatly improved their special teams, and no longer rely on Jackson. I expect both games to be very close.

As for winning the division, the Seahawks have a shot, but with a rookie QB it’s tough to believe they will get there. You never know with the way injuries can quickly change a team’s dynamic in this league, but a wild card berth into the playoffs appears to be a much more reasonable goal for the Seahawks this year.

Q. The Packers have had issues stopping the run. Do you feel Pete Carroll will stick with the run throughout the game and use Wilson’s skills only when needed?

A. That will be the plan, and it’ll be up to the Packers to change that plan. The Pack will either have to stop Lynch, or score enough points that the Seahawks have to pass the ball in order to try and keep up. If neither of those things happens …

Q. Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Friday that the Seahawks smothering defense will be “a challenge.” Is this a simple tip of the hat or will Aaron Rodgers and the Packers have difficulty moving the ball?

A. We’ll have to wait and see. This is going to be a huge test for the Seahawks defense. They’ve looked like they have the makings of being a truly special unit, but they also haven’t been challenged. Opposing teams are only averaging 2.6 yards per attempt – which is incredible. Tony Romo and the Cowboys abandoned the run completely trying to go away from the strength of the Seahawks defense, and still only managed 7 points.

The Packers have a uniquely elite offense. If the Seahawks can shut them down then we will know we are dealing with a special defense here. If not, then I think Rodgers will expose any weakness that the Cowboys and Cardinals weren’t able to show.

Q. Give us your take on the game and, of course, we would like to see your final score prediction.

A. As you can probably tell, this is a strength against strength matchup of the Packers elite offense vs the Seahawks defense. I expect the game to be lower scoring than most analysts will predict, since the Seahawks should be able to run and ball and keep Rodgers and company on the sideline.

I also expect the game to favor the Packers early, but to favor the Seahawks late. The longer the Seahawks can keep it close the more likely I think they’ll win. Unless the Pack gets the lead up over 14 points early, the Seahawks will have a shot to win this one at the end.

Unfortunately though, I just can’t pick a rookie QB to out-duel Rodgers in this one.

Packers 24 – 20 Seahawks

Packers injury list longer than your arm

Raymond Rivard — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 01:44:44 +0000

The Green Bay Packers were back at work again today as preparations for their upcoming Monday Night Football game against the Seattle Seahawks continue.

As the Packers go through the paces in figuring out ways to stop Marshawn Lynch and the Hawks’ running game, while looking at ways to confuse rookie quarterback Russell Wilson, they also have a familiar foe they must once again face.

The Packers released the injury report for today – a list that showed Greg Jennings, Tom Crabtree and Jamarri Lattimore sitting out and several others with limited participation. In all, 10 Packers made the report, six for the Seahawks.

Coach Mike McCarthy said at the beginning of the week that he expected Jennings on the field for next Monday night’s game.

The full report released by the Packers today is below.

Packers Preview: Week 3 Vs. Seattle

Jonathan Schweitzer — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 03:51:21 +0000

Aaron Rodgers will lead the Packers into Seattle Monday Night. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

It seems like the Green Bay Packers play the Seattle Seahawks all the time.
Well, at least for this guy it does.
It seemed like the Packers-Seahawks played almost every year for a while there. But I was surprised to learn that the last time the Pack played Seattle was back in 2009 – the year Rodgers and Company lost to Arizona in the first round of the playoffs.
In 2009 the Packers dominated a Seattle team in week 15 that ultimately put up a 5-11 record and fired its rookie coach, Jim Mora Jr.
This year, the Seahawks are 1-1, with a loss against Arizona and a win last week against Dallas.
They boast great specials teams – forcing and recovering a fumble on a kick-off last week and blocking and then returning for a touchdown a punt on the very next series.
In all, they (special teams + defense) forced three turnovers in the first quarter! The Seahawks also almost blocked another punt deep in Cowboy territory last week.
Against the Cowboys, the Seahawks went heavy with Marshawn Lynch runs and shallow underneath routes in the passing game. Based on his last game, Seattle QB Russell Wilson will give the Packers some chances at interceptions.

Familiar Foes
Sidney Rice. Remember him? He’s the guy who rode Brett Favre’s arm all the way to whatever bank they have in Seattle. He’s been hurt for the last couple years and just starting to contribute at a high level in Seattle this year.
Frank Omiyale, yea, you remember him. He spent the last three years being the appropriately-labeled scapegoat for the Bears’ shaky offensive line. He was supposed to be a back-up for the Seahawks, but was pressed into service in their game against Dallas last week and held his own against DeMarcus Ware.

Clay Matthews is off to one of his best starts ever … could he break the NFL sack record? Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Can he do the same against Clay Matthews?
Seems pretty unfair for Omiyale, asking him to go against Ware and Matthews in back to back weeks.

Cheesy Connections
Matt Fynn – Packers, beater of Lions
John Moffit – Wisconsin lineman
Russell Wilson – Wisconsin, in retrospect looking like savior of 2011 season
Jon Ryan – The punter Ted let get away
Marshawn Lynch (Ted ALMOST traded for him during the Super Bowl season – NOT!)
Kregg Lumpkin – 3rd string running back, Packers
Chris Maragos (who?) – Badgers
Favorite Packers Memory vs. Seattle
A 2003 wild card game in which former Mr. August for the Packers, Matt Hasselbeck uttered words he almost immediately wished he could take back. Watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzpowxGfVFE