Keys to Today’s Game:
These are NOT your father’s Detroit Lions
Plain and simple, the 2009 Green Bay Packers are a more talented football team than the 2009 Detroit Lions. However, football games are not won or lost on paper or by who simply has the best players, they are won by blood, sweat and tears shed on the football field.
The 2009 Detroit Lions are not the most talented team. Further they are really banged up and missing a number of important starters on offense and defense. Despite this, the 2009 Detroit Lions play their hearts out and will not back down, nor will they quit.
The Keys to the Green Bay Packers continuing their dominance over the Detroit Lions (18 consecutive wins against the Lions at Lambeau) are:
1.) Establish physical dominance. Coming out of the bye week, Green Bay needs to come out of the gate physical - on special teams, offense and defense. Do not let Detroit believe they are as strong or as talented. Detroit has played a series of physical games (including Pittsburgh last week) without a bye; take advantage of the nicks, tweaks and bruises they are all feeling (those not sidelined) by playing physical every play snap to whistle.
2.) Occasionally employ Jujutsu. Detroit has a much more aggressive defense than in recent years -- Mike McCarthy: “It’s a totally different defense. From a starting point as far as the pressure calls, there are definitely a lot more of them, specifically on third down, so it’s clearly a more aggressive defense this year.” Aaron Rodgers is 2-0 against the Lions while putting up spectacular numbers: 45-for-69 for 636 yards, six touchdowns, no interceptions and a 123.8 rating last season. Detroit has looked at the sack stat (Rodgers sacked 20 times in 4 games) and has been game planning on stopping had hitting Aaron all week. Turn their aggression on them with well timed draws, screens, traps and attacking the middle of the field.
3.) Let the dogs loose. Bigby's return should give Capers a much larger playbook from which to unleash a far more aggressive defense. Culpepper has a good arm (esp. deep) but has small hands that cause a lot of fumbles and can be prone to getting happy feet if you hit him hard and often. Dom should show Packer fans and the league why he is considered one of the games most innovative defensive minds. Detroit's offensive line has weaknesses -- attack them with Hell fury and get this new 3/4 defense believing in itself again.
4.) Run the damned football. The Lions also have had a devastating run of injuries on the defensive line, where none of the four starters even practiced late this week. Establish the run and stick with it. McCarthy has been too inconsistent in his play calling. Establish the run and Rodgers will pick this defense apart. Become one dimensional and the Lions will send their LB after Aaron - getting hit frequently is something Rodgers could use a bit more respite from.
5.) Exploit a weak secondary. Lion free safety Louis Delmas has a boat load of talent and a thimble load of brains. Confuse him; use his 12 on the Wonderlic intelligence test against him by keeping him confused. The other safety is former Packer SS Marquand Manuel (the more talented Bill Ko Simpson is doubtful) who can hit, but is horrible in coverage and easy to expose -- as Packer fans experienced far too often during his tenure in Green Bay. The CB's cover decent, but none of them like to hit, Green Bay should get a big share of YAC (yards after the catch) against the Lions if they get any kind of rhythm going in their passing game.