Official Seattle thread

[Mondio]

I don't like screens at all against Seattle, they're so fast on defense. They don't have a crazy blitzing line and the linebackers flow to the ball better than anybody. we might get one or 2, but i just think they're too fast along the line and in the 2nd level to expect that to gain much. a WR screen? I like that idea better

Eddie needs to find the crease and hit it quickly, no dance. You hit that nail on the head. I think Starks and Lacy are going to be used a lot in this game. As long as Rodgers is upright and somewhat mobile, I think we'll be able to move the ball. It's going to come down to penalties and turnovers again on offense. If we play cleanly, I like our chances. If not, well good luck.

on Defense, they run and run and run and the score is always close and they always have a lead. Then later in the game the defense gambles, rush and wilson scrambles and hits the big play. We need an early lead, and the defense needs to play with Discipline when he breaks contain.

 

[Sunshinepacker]

Also I'll make one final point about attacking the Hawks' defense. It seems like everyone assumes that the Hawks have a fearsome pass rush. They don't. It's not bad mind you, better than Dallas' pass rush. Their QB sacks is pretty modest, Avril is their top guy for sacks and hurries. They are up there in QB hurries, but not near the top. Yet many are expecting that Rodgers is going to be under all sorts of pressure. That ignores how much the Packers OL has improved, especially in pass protection.

A smart game plan combining Lacy running, quick passes and play actions could keep the Hawks defense off balance enough not to let them get to Rodgers very much.

They started slowly, they had something like 24 sacks over their last six games. Also, keep in mind that Aaron is basically immobile.

Cowboys pass rush is pretty poor and they managed to hurry Rodgers 11 times, hit him once and sack him twice. During the regular season Rodgers was hurried an average of 5 times a game, hit once and sacks one-and-a-half times. So even a below average pass rush did fairly well against an injured Rodgers. The pass rush the Seahawks can bring should concern the Packers greatly.

Also, quick passes are hard to come by against the Seahawks due to how they play defense.

 

[longtimefan]

They started slowly, they had something like 24 sacks over their last six games. Also, keep in mind that Aaron is basically immobile.

Cowboys pass rush is pretty poor and they managed to hurry Rodgers 11 times, hit him once and sack him twice. During the regular season Rodgers was hurried an average of 5 times a game, hit once and sacks one-and-a-half times. So even a below average pass rush did fairly well against an injured Rodgers. The pass rush the Seahawks can bring should concern the Packers greatly.

Also, quick passes are hard to come by against the Seahawks due to how they play defense.

how many hurries and knock downs in 2nd half

 

[VolvoD]

Getting closer....all we can do as fans is to hope the Packers have 2 games to play.

GO PACK GO. Underdogs in 2010, Underdogs NOW. Legends FOREVER.

 

[GreenBaySlacker]

Its hard to stop such a dynamic offense that can hit you so many ways. Their main weapon is ballance. Lynch must be accounted for. And that will open up their offense... I will admit I never gave any of the Seattle receivers any credit before. But they have shown to be not only ok, but pretty dang good! Same goes for Wilson. He is easily overlooked being so young, and smallish. but as the realists will tell you clearly that he makes the throws, and he can scramble. He is a smart young dude that brings a twist. Speed. All in all, like Dallas last week. They show great strengths, and few if any weaknesses...

So its a clash of the titans, like a NFC Championship should be...

Strategically, I like our defense against them. First off, our interior D-line is playing stout! Guion is playing like a star. Apparently he wants to stay. Daniels has raised his play to be very destructive as well. The rotation guys all seem to be making their appearances too. Neal, Jones and Boyd are all making their mark. Its a solid rotation with enough beef to hold their own against premiere O-lines and RBs. And still seem to be quick enough to get to the QB. Its a great start!

Our LBs are coming together. Jones and Hawk used to be what we called the middle. Lynch made us look hollow with Brad Jones and Aj Hawk holding the front. Now days .........hehehe. We have two hungry lions. Mathews and Barrington are what we needed. It not only filled a hole, it bacame a strength. Mathews inside blitz is a force of nature. Barrington is a Lynch equalizer. Seattle, doesnt know this yet. and theres a good chance they wont get the production , and the defensive adjustments, that they are used to seeing... Peppers on the edge is blowing guys up. Rushing the passer, and against the run. He is still Julius Peppers, despite the #56. We are tapping into those basketball skills with the batted balls, and interceptions, forced fumbles. He must be accounted for in their game plan, and that is what opens up so much more. Perry, Neal have been strong as well. Our LB group is dominant now! Before it was Perry, Hawk, Jones, and a Peppers who never played OLB. Now we have two all-pro's and two up and coming guys who earned their starting jobs ahead of two LBs making 4-5 mil a year.

I think our secondary is just as good as Seattles. less decorated, maybe. less known, for sure... But Williams/Sheilds have been consistant in their play. They face many many dominant WRs and rarely get steamrolled. Backed by a couple ball hawking safeties, that can lay a hit. Burnett has been great this year, and Clinton-Dix is a superstar in the making. He has had games where it seems he is there for every stop. The depth of our secondary is just as impressive. Hayward is a dominant young Dback. So is Hyde. Always making plays, and wrapping up their tackles. House is a wild card as well. Can be great and can be just ok. But he is physical, and I like that. We can cover their Wrs one on one, long enough to get to Wilson. And Thats the key, we need to get to Wilson. Our front 7 needs to take every opportunity they have to pound Lynch. At the same time, we need to blitz from every direction. Peppers, Mathews, safeties, anyone. Get to Wilson fast, and try to get them playing defensively! Then force Wilson and their receivers to beat our secondary.

 

[SeahawkFan80]

Agree on both comments, above. The 'Hawks fans in this thread have been courteous and knowledgeable ~ thanks gentlemen (& ladies??).

With a Super Bowl trip at stake I highly doubt ANY of the players or coaches are looking past this game. They're all attempting to bring their A-game, just a matter of which team stays loose, plays within their schemes and abilities, and executes the game plan better. Everybody has strong and weak spots to their game ~ who gets exposed the least wins this one.

In the presser, Some of the players were asked if they are treating the practice as tho A.R. is injured or hobbled. They came out and said that they are practicing as tho he is not. Just thought I would impart that information. If you want to view the press report..it is on seahawks.com videos and the pressers are just below as files. Doug Baldwin is one I think said that there is no change in philosophy. (missouhawkfan is a lady). Go Hawks.

 

[HardRightEdge]

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2015/01/16/pff-pickem-conference-championships/

I'm with "Gordon"...score early and hold on. The Seahawks have a habit of wearing teams down and taking over the 4th. quarter. At a minimum, the Packers need to control field position and make Seattle traverse long distances to score.

And please, no going for it on 4th. and 2 around mid-field...while the reward can be meaningful, failure is blood in the water against these guys.

 

[DaveRoller]

A lot of other Packer fans are not going to like this, but I genuinely respect what Seattle has done.

I have always liked a tough, aggressive D. The Seahawks are not fancy, they just come out and hit you in the mouth. They tackle really well, but I don't consider them to be dirty. Sherman does talk a lot (personally I prefer Earl Thomas who remains wildly underrated), but he makes the plays so why shouldn't he? After all, Aaron Rodgers is in practically every other commercial on TV these days (and deservedly so).

On offense, what is not to like about Russell Wilson, and not just because he played one-year at UW? Marshawn Lynch is a punishing, old-school, physical back who earns every yard he gets. Sure, they are not flashy on O, but frankly I like to see a team with a tough D along with a solid running game winning in today's NFL. And I sure as heck like Seattle more than the Niners whom they dethroned as the top dog in the NFC West.

Add in that John Schneider has built the team the way I prefer, solid drafting along with key trades (Lynch) and free agent pickups (Avril/M. Bennett), and there is much to respect about this squad.

All that said, I agree with those who believe that the Seahawks are overhyped at the moment. Teams that are patient and don't expect to score 30 points can beat them, because while Seattle's D is truly great their O is just average.

Here is to hoping the Pack wins a NFC Championship slugfest just like they did in Chicago 4 years ago.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

Packers injury report: Rodgers, Lacy, Sitton and Boyd all probable for Sunday's game.

 

[Mondio]

I don't dislike the way Seattle plays at all, I don't know how you could be a fan of football and not appreciate it. I don't particularly care for their coach and didn't care much for Golden Tate. Thought Detroit and him were a good fit. A talented player with a child's behavior.

Being on another forum I found a good portion of their fan representation be that of little kids that finally won something. Not all, but man they were a sensitive bunch overall

Besides that, I like Lynch, always have. I like Wilson, I like the way their defense plays, line up and hit someone and when you get to the ball carrier, TACKLE them. I like Sherman, I didn't like how he called out another loudmouth that probably deserved it last year, but a moment doesn't make the man. I think he disrespected the game by doing it, rather than just the player, but that's me. He's a very good player and seems like a pretty good guy. I'd take that effort and skill on my team any day. I think his perspective on the game is evolving too. Anyway, I'd love him over here. Chancellor, Wagner? Lots of guys I'd take today. I love the way they play. z

But we're pretty good too

 

[SeahawkFan80]

I think we are better coached than Seattle, regardless playing injured win or lose and I hope we win Rodgers deserves MVP. I am having major spinal surgery on Thursday so will be watching from hospital bed, just hope I don't get to excited when we win and jump out of my hospital bed and mess up the pins in my spine. They may have to tie me down a few friends are coming to Hospital for a pre game party with me hope they can sneak one beer past the nurses Go Packers even from hospital bed I will be your twelfth man.
Charles former Wisconsin resident now in Virginia

Sir, I hope your surgery goes well and fixes what you need to be happy. I have had a few in my time and one lower back surgery. Good luck.

 

[Hincha]

So it was the correct call then? Carroll's cheerleading on the sidelines over such an awful call,which he was doing as the review was going on, really rubbed Packer fans the wrong way. You would have never seen a coach like McCarthy or Belichick lobby the refs like that from the sidelines. And he was lobbying them.

Belichick has done the same... he lobbied so much that he even chased the referees off the field after the game (game vs Baltimore that Ravens made last second FG to win... heck... NE even lobbied NFL to extend the uprights higher and won that).

 

[Hincha]

The Packers rank 5th in rushing yards allowed per game, 6th in yards per carry and have allowed only two rushing TDs since the bye week when they started to move Matthews inside.

Packers only played 2 teams in top half of rush offense after the bye week until playoffs.

Philly #9 and MN #14.

Dallas rushed all over Packers defense in the 2nd half of game... Packers rush defense may be improved, but I do not think it is anywhere close to the 5/6 ranking.

I think Seattle will have success running the ball... how much success will determine if Packers have a chance in this game.

 

[red4tribe]

One thing that hasn't been mentioned too much is the huge advantage the Packers have in penalties. Green Bay has commited the eighth fewest penalties in the league this year, while Seattle has committed by far the most. Playing a clean game on the Packers side is huge. The Seahawks will commit penalties, they have in every game of theirs I've seen this season. That needs to be taken advantage of while at the same time not shooting ourselves in the foot by commiting a lot of our own.

 

[Sunshinepacker]

how many hurries and knock downs in 2nd half

That is an excellent question, do you happen to know where that data can be found easily?

 

[SeahawkFan80]

I would think espn.com....they have a litany of information I believe.

 

[Pkrjones]

Packers only played 2 teams in top half of rush offense after the bye week until playoffs.

Philly #9 and MN #14.

Dallas rushed all over Packers defense in the 2nd half of game... Packers rush defense may be improved, but I do not think it is anywhere close to the 5/6 ranking.

I think Seattle will have success running the ball... how much success will determine if Packers have a chance in this game.

Couple of comments/opinions related to the above. Philly HAD a decent run attack but the Packers jumped all over them and forced them to throw. Can't expect Seattle to give up 17 pts. in the 1st quarter like Philly did, but AR/offense getting a good/fast start and scoring early would really help.

Seattle's regular season per game summary is:
D - allow 57.5 plays/game, 81.5 rushing yds/game, 200 passing yds/game and 15.9 pts/game.
O - run 63.6 plays/game, 173 rushing yds/game, 218 passing yds/game and score 24.6 pts/game.

Green Bay's regular season per game summary is:
D - Allow 65.6 plays/game, 120 rushing yds/game, 243 passing yds/game and score 21.8 pts./game.
O - Run 62.4 plays/game, 120 rushing yds/game, 278 passing yds/game and score 30.3 pts./game.

Something's gotta give, either Seattle's D slows-down AR and GB's offense OR AR/offense light them up and win the track meet, forcing Seattle to try to keep up. I'm leaning toward a Philly-like fast start...
GB - 34, Seattle 30 (sorry for those who hate predictions... had to do it and go on-record)

 

[Deleted member 6794]

Packers only played 2 teams in top half of rush offense after the bye week until playoffs.

Philly #9 and MN #14.

Dallas rushed all over Packers defense in the 2nd half of game... Packers rush defense may be improved, but I do not think it is anywhere close to the 5/6 ranking.

I think Seattle will have success running the ball... how much success will determine if Packers have a chance in this game.

I expect the Seahawks to have some success running the ball as well, but it will be important for the Packers to somehow limit that success.

Murray had two long runs in the second half (26 and 30 yards), other than that the Packers were able to control the second best running game in the league pretty well.

 

[grampi]

I'm prolly one of the few Packers fan in Vancouver, B.C. Literally almost everyone here is a Seahawks fan. All my friends and co-workers too. When we talk about football this is usually how it transpires. 'GB SUCKS, WILL GET BLOWN OUT, SEATTLE IS ALREADY GONNA WIN THE SUPERBOWL, PATS HAS NO CHANCE, ETC. Meanwhile I'm like, 'NOPE, GB BY DOMINATION, GB BY UPSET, etc just to rattle them up.... They usually just call me stupid with words like "WE OWN YOUR WEAK *** TEAM or SEAHAWKS ARE TODAY'S DYNASTY (rolls eyes, yeah okay, cause apparently winning 1 superbowl makes you a dynasty), GB's DEFENSE SUCKS, etc."

LOL I am not making this up. Seattle fans are some of the cockiest most arrogant sobs in the face of the planet. Most of them really think this is a foregone conclusion. I get a lot of 'NO WAY IN HELL GB IS GONNA BEAT SEATTLE" comments.

PROVE ME WRONG GREENBAY!!!!!!! Please Please Please.

I too am seeing a lot of this, and even the people who aren't being a-holes about it are all picking SEA to win...it's these very situations where upsets happen...anyone who thinks this game will be a cakewalk for SEA is in for a rude awakening...this will NOT be a 20 point blowout like the 1st game...this game will be much closer, and I wouldn't be surprised if GB actually wins it...if there's a team good enough to beat SEA, it's GB...

 

[PackerfaninCarolina]

Look I've watched these kinds of games for years now, and I say the biggest way our D can be helped is by our offense. I don't think by any means that we're gonna go marching up and down the field on their D, but there will be drives that the game will come down to us needing to capitalize by scoring TDs and not settling for FGs. If there's one thing I've seen in these championship games just from watching them in the past, it's that the defense thrives off of offensive and special teams TDs, they bring an energy and aggressiveness to them that even scoring TDs in the regular season doesn't. That's what I'm looking for in this game, is our ability to punch the ball in.

 

[pacmaniac]

We need Rodgers to show up for 4 quarters instead of 1. Looks like the lack of practice impacted his game last week. Lacy needs to show up for 4 quarters instead of 2. Jordy needs to show up period.

 

[PackerfaninCarolina]

We need Rodgers to show up for 4 quarters instead of 1. Looks like the lack of practice impacted his game last week. Lacy needs to show up for 4 quarters instead of 2. Jordy needs to show up period.

Well, they all know who Jordy is, and he and Cobb will be getting their attention, that's just a gimme, he's our number 1 guy who always makes the possession key catch. That's why our Devante Adams and Richard Rodgers players are key to winning in these big games.

 

[Sunshinepacker]

how many hurries and knock downs in 2nd half

Ok, luckily Football Outsiders just posted their game preview for this game (http://www.footballoutsiders.com/game-previews/2015/2015-nfc-championship-preview) and that information was in it.

Last year Seattle pressured QBs on 34.4% of passing plays, in their last six games the Seahawks have pressured QBs on 30.8% of pass plays (24.9% for the entire season). For reference, the average for the entire NFL this year was 24.4%.

In depth preview of the game but I certainly hope the Packers do better than what this preview says.

 

[longtimefan]

Ok, luckily Football Outsiders just posted their game preview for this game (http://www.footballoutsiders.com/game-previews/2015/2015-nfc-championship-preview) and that information was in it.

Last year Seattle pressured QBs on 34.4% of passing plays, in their last six games the Seahawks have pressured QBs on 30.8% of pass plays (24.9% for the entire season). For reference, the average for the entire NFL this year was 24.4%.

In depth preview of the game but I certainly hope the Packers do better than what this preview says.

Was wondering how packers faired in the 2nd half of Dallas game on hurries

 

[Bridcarper]

Stats. They can inspire or put the fear of god in to you. But, as in any match up, win the individual battles out there on the park and the game will be ours. I would take Aaron (injured or not) above Russell as my QB all day long in pressure situations like it is certain be on Sunday evening. Expect Rodgers to give Sherman a bit of work in the one!

Also expect TJ Lang to have another huge impact in this game.

I really can see us winning this - but it will probably been edge of the seat stuff again.!