Postgame: W 23-14, 8-4, Crosby > Walsh

spilltray · Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Posts: 8657 Location: Green Bay, WI

A couple friends of mine who are Vikings fans are trying to tell me Peterson could have carried that game himself if given more carries. I'm sorry, but this just isn't true. Yes he had a huge overall day, and yes every run counts, but there is a reason he only got 21 carries. The Vikings were unable to sustain drives with Peterson. Carry by carry, the Packers overall did decent, other than 3 big plays

1 Behind LG, 2 yds
2 Middle, 3 yds
3 Middle, 3 yds
4 Behind RG, 5 yds
5 Behind RG, 8 yds
6 Behind RG, 3 yds
7 Right End, 3 yds
8 Behind RG, 2 yds
9 Behind RT 9 yds
10 Left End, 4 yds
11 Middle, 2 yds
12 Behind RT 0 yds
13 Right End 82 yds, TD
14 Left End, 48 yds
15 Middle 4 yds
16 Behind LT, -1 yds
17 Behind RG, 6 yds
18 Left End, 3 yds
19 Behind RT, 0 yds
20 Left End, 1 yd
21 Behind LT, 23 yds

Give Peterson credit (and sloppy tackling blame) for those big runs but that 21 carries for 210 yards is deceptive. 153 of that came on 3 carries. On the other 18, Peterson was held to 57 yards, or 3.17 YPC. That meant that the Vikings were repeatedly in 3rd and long enough to make you need to pass fairly consistently. Ponder couldn't convert, so the drive stalls and Peterson gets no more carries. They TRIED to feed him and pound away and yes he broke loose and did some damage, but he couldn't sustain drives himself. Something like 12 of Ponder's pass attempts were late in the 4th down by 2 scores, and I think only 1 of Peterson's runs. That means in the first 3 quarters, the Vikings had 20 runs to 13 pass attempts.

Big play offense is poor % and it really doesn't work in the running game. There were too many carries of 2 yds or less (7, 1/3 of his total) and that just means it's unsustainable as a run first offense.

I also don't see the complaining about the overturned Rodgers INT. That was a call they are going to make just about every time. The QB got rid of the ball and there was a clear late shot after the ball was away. The officiating was mediocre all around, but didn't give either team any advantage.

On Crosby:

They've been doing Crosby no favors with the spots they've been putting him in. It's obvious he's been in a funk and they keep trotting him out there for 50+ yard kicks which are 50/50 anyway. That gets him pressing and overthinking and things just stay bad. I've been saying for a while they need to cut back on the long kicks, realize he just isn't hitting them right now, and that is going to carry over to the rest of his game. Once he settled down with a shorter kick, he seemed to get more comfortable with his swing. Stop trying those 50+ yard kicks for a little bit. Let him get into a comfortable swing. MM really needs to help his K a little work out of this slump.

On Starks vs Green

People are going to like what they saw out of Starks more because of the end of the game, but I don't see it that way. Green got more carries early because he does a better job running out of spread and 1 RB sets. Starks does better out of I formation and more power type sets. Green's style is valuable all game. That is the base offense the Packers want to run. Starks carries are going to come like that only late in the game trying to kill clock and hold a lead.

Both did well yesterday, but I see Green as the better RB in this offense overall.
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Pugger · Joined: 01 May 2010 Posts: 4361 Location: N. Fort Myers, FL

spike64 · Joined: 19 Sep 2011 Posts: 34

I've seen quite a few people on this board, and on others saying that "Crosby almost missed that!" so? An almost miss counts all the same as a kick right down the middle. Off the post and thru is good enough for hockey and soccer, I'll take it for the Packers as well.

I'd much rather have "almost misses" than "almost made its"

MNPackfan32 · Joined: 22 Sep 2010 Posts: 5585

Mendeleev · Joined: 07 Aug 2008 Posts: 2897 Location: Ontario

kgthekid · Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2012 4:42 pm Post subject:

Count me in the Barclay at RT camp. He did well in the run game, but wasn't so great in pass protection. But I'm sure that's what you'd expect from your RT. Also glad that they chipped the pass rushers on his side and gave him help. If only they had kept trying to do that against the Giants.

Good thing the Vikings have Christian Ponder at QB. Bailed the Packers out when the Vikings were threatening a few times. I also like how they essentially dared Ponder to throw to anyone other than Rudolph. I don't like that they lost containment on him a few times.

Also, props to the corners for making it that difficult for Ponder to find a WR open.

Yeah. Tackling is a mess on this team like always. Looking at you, Morgan "Hit Stick" Burnett.

Why does Kuhn continue to get carries? Seriously?

Very pleased with Finley in the passing and even the running game for a change.

And lastly, I believe we've made our point about the officiating to some of the Vikings fans that posted here in this game. No need to belabor it.
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"There is a reason the IRS doesn't punish murderers who pay their taxes." -- Andy Staples

Kal-El · Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2012 4:44 pm Post subject:

ramonesfan · Joined: 03 Nov 2005 Posts: 1389

Hurricane_Seasn · Joined: 11 Aug 2012 Posts: 148

Pugger · Joined: 01 May 2010 Posts: 4361 Location: N. Fort Myers, FL

Another good thing about yesterday's game was that 11 minute drive in the 4th quarter. We didn't score a TD but ate up a bunch of time and scored 3 to make it a 2 score game. That drive could be one of our better ones this year when you consider we had to over come a couple of big penalties too.
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JCamGOPACKGO · Joined: 14 Jan 2012 Posts: 719 Location: New Jersey