Take 2; Packers vs. Lions<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
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Scouts Inc.<o></o>
Tuesday, our scouts filed their advance advance scouting report on this week's matchup between the Packers and Lions. Now they're back with a second look.<o></o>
• Look for Green Bay WR Javon Walker to become the focal point of the<o></o>
offense when the Packers get into the red zone. Walker stands at 6-3" and<o></o>
he has a significant size advantage over Detroit CBs Fernando Bryant and<o></o>
Dre' Bly. He should be able to elevate over both in jump ball situations, so<o></o>
expect Green Bay to run some fade routes. QB Brett Favre has been<o></o>
struggling recently, but he always shown great touch and he will put the<o></o>
ball where only Walker can make a play on it when throwing the fade in the end zone.<o></o>
• In addition, Bryant and Bly can't be too aggressive in jumping the fade route or Walker will make an adjustment known as the fade-stop. Walker will take his normal release off the line, but he will pull up just inside the first pylon, effectively stopping his fade instead of continuing his route into the back of the end zone. This route will require a different type of throw from Favre, as he must put the ball on Walker's back shoulder and use his arm strength to get it there.<o></o>
• While Lions QB Joey Harrington hasn't posted huge numbers in the first four games, he has avoided costly turnovers, throwing just two interceptions thus far. However, the Detroit offense will lose the luxury of being able to stretch the field if WR Roy Williams, who is a game-time decision, pulls up lame with an ankle injury. Without Williams in the lineup Harrington will have to focus on the short-to-intermediate passing game.<o></o>
Green Bay is well aware of this and it will crowd the underneath. Packers FS Darren Sharper has great ball skills and can take advantage of any errant throws or bad decisions. In addition, Harrington must show good poise in the pocket and step up when it collapses around him. RDE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, who has 10 forced fumbles in his career, possesses a long reach and can easily swipe the ball out of Harrington's hand if he gets careless.<o></o>
• Tennessee picked on Green Bay rookie CB Ah mad Carrol I on Monday night and he failed to hold up, allowing a number of big plays, including a touchdown reception. Carroll looked uncomfortable in the starting role and may not be ready for the responsibility. CB Michael Hawthorne, who has been nursing a concussion, is expected to be available and is expected to replace Carroll on the outside. However, the Lions will still target the rookie corner by spreading the field with some three- and four-receiver sets that will force Green Bay to play its nickel and dime packages. Look for Detroit head coach Steve Mariucci to use a variety of formations, motions and personnel groupings when Carroll comes into the game.
• Green Bay offensive coordinator Tom Rossley underwent angioplasty on Tuesday and will likely miss the trip to Detroit. Rossley calls the plays for the Packers and will hand those duties over to head coach Mike Sherman. Sherman has always had some input in the play-calling for Green Bay but it will be interesting to see what differences, if any, arise.
• The Packers' offensive line, widely regarded as one the league's best, has been struggling without the services of OC Mike Flanaqan, who sustained a season-ending knee injury. It has been unable to get to linebackers at the second level and the one-time vaunted Green Bay running game has sputtered as a result. Since Flanagan went down three weeks ago and OC Grey Ruegamer took over the starting job, RB Ahman Green has rushed for just 158 yards. In the two games prior to that, Green rushed for 247 yards.
Things won't get any easier for Green or Ruegamer this week, as Detroit boasts one of the best defensive tackle tandems in the league. RDT Shaun Rogers has been playing extremely well while LOT Dan Wilkinson has the bulk to draw double teams away from Rogers. If the Packers are to have success running the ball between the tackles, OGs Mike Wahle and Marco Rivera will have to give Ruegamer plenty of help.
• One matchup to watch will be Detroit LOT Jeff Backus working against Gbaja-Biamila. In 2001, Gbaja-Biamila welcomed Backus to the league by recording three sacks in Backus' NFL debut. Since then Backus has developed into one of the better young tackles in the league and Gbaja-Biamila won't be as dominant as a result. In addition, Gbaja-Biamila was much more effective rushing the passer as a part-time player when these two first met three years ago than he is as an every-down player now.
• The Packers will rotate their fullbacks in and out of this game, as William Henderson and Nick Luchey have different strengths, making them ideal for different situations. Through the first four games, Henderson and Luchey have split time down the middle, playing 69 snaps apiece. Look for Henderson to lead the way for Green when the Packers are in short-yardage situations or want to run the ball between the tackles.
Henderson has excellent strength and can win the battle at the point of attack working against Detroit MLB Earl Holmes. Luchey will be used when the Packers attack the perimeter, as he is more mobile than Henderson and can get to the outside quicker. It's also important to note that both have done great jobs in blitz pick-up this season. They should help the Packers' struggling offensive line when the Lions bring additional pressure.
• QB Doug Pederson broke a rib, broke a bone in his back and tore a muscle in his back earlier this year. He is done for the season, leaving the Packers with Craig Nail and J.T. O'Sullivan as the replacements should the unthinkable happen and Favre goes down with an injury. Favre has already battled through a concussion and may not have many hits left in him at 35 years old. Nail and O'Sullivan are terribly inexperienced and each would struggle if forced into the starting lineup for an extended period of time. Needless to say, the lack of the depth at the position is alarming.
Special Teams
• On opening day, 27 teams used their punter to hold. With Pederson out that number has increased to 28, as P Bryan Barker is the new holder for PK Ryan Long well. Barker performed adequately in that role on Monday night. He has tremendous experience as a holder and is poised under pressure. In fact, the only four games that Barker has not been a holder during his 14-year career were the first four games of this season. He has good hands and his rapport with Longwell should only improve as the two get a chance to work with one another in practice.<o></o>
<o></o>
Matchups<o></o>
• Detroit WR Roy Williams vs. Green Bay CB Ahmad Carrol!<o></o>
• Green Bay FB William Henderson vs. Detroit MLB Earl Holmes<o></o>
• Detroit LOT Jeff Backus vs. Green Bay RDE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila<o></o>
• Green Bay RB Ahman Green vs. Detroit SS Bracy Walker<o></o>
• Green Bay LOG Mike Wahle vs. Detroit RDT Shaun Rogers<o></o>
<o></o>
Prediction: Lions 23, Packers 21
fficeffice" /><o></o>Scouts Inc.<o
></o>Tuesday, our scouts filed their advance advance scouting report on this week's matchup between the Packers and Lions. Now they're back with a second look.<o
></o>• Look for Green Bay WR Javon Walker to become the focal point of the<o
></o>offense when the Packers get into the red zone. Walker stands at 6-3" and<o
></o>he has a significant size advantage over Detroit CBs Fernando Bryant and<o
></o>Dre' Bly. He should be able to elevate over both in jump ball situations, so<o
></o>expect Green Bay to run some fade routes. QB Brett Favre has been<o
></o>struggling recently, but he always shown great touch and he will put the<o
></o>ball where only Walker can make a play on it when throwing the fade in the end zone.<o
></o>• In addition, Bryant and Bly can't be too aggressive in jumping the fade route or Walker will make an adjustment known as the fade-stop. Walker will take his normal release off the line, but he will pull up just inside the first pylon, effectively stopping his fade instead of continuing his route into the back of the end zone. This route will require a different type of throw from Favre, as he must put the ball on Walker's back shoulder and use his arm strength to get it there.<o
></o>• While Lions QB Joey Harrington hasn't posted huge numbers in the first four games, he has avoided costly turnovers, throwing just two interceptions thus far. However, the Detroit offense will lose the luxury of being able to stretch the field if WR Roy Williams, who is a game-time decision, pulls up lame with an ankle injury. Without Williams in the lineup Harrington will have to focus on the short-to-intermediate passing game.<o
></o>Green Bay is well aware of this and it will crowd the underneath. Packers FS Darren Sharper has great ball skills and can take advantage of any errant throws or bad decisions. In addition, Harrington must show good poise in the pocket and step up when it collapses around him. RDE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, who has 10 forced fumbles in his career, possesses a long reach and can easily swipe the ball out of Harrington's hand if he gets careless.<o
></o>• Tennessee picked on Green Bay rookie CB Ah mad Carrol I on Monday night and he failed to hold up, allowing a number of big plays, including a touchdown reception. Carroll looked uncomfortable in the starting role and may not be ready for the responsibility. CB Michael Hawthorne, who has been nursing a concussion, is expected to be available and is expected to replace Carroll on the outside. However, the Lions will still target the rookie corner by spreading the field with some three- and four-receiver sets that will force Green Bay to play its nickel and dime packages. Look for Detroit head coach Steve Mariucci to use a variety of formations, motions and personnel groupings when Carroll comes into the game.
• Green Bay offensive coordinator Tom Rossley underwent angioplasty on Tuesday and will likely miss the trip to Detroit. Rossley calls the plays for the Packers and will hand those duties over to head coach Mike Sherman. Sherman has always had some input in the play-calling for Green Bay but it will be interesting to see what differences, if any, arise.
• The Packers' offensive line, widely regarded as one the league's best, has been struggling without the services of OC Mike Flanaqan, who sustained a season-ending knee injury. It has been unable to get to linebackers at the second level and the one-time vaunted Green Bay running game has sputtered as a result. Since Flanagan went down three weeks ago and OC Grey Ruegamer took over the starting job, RB Ahman Green has rushed for just 158 yards. In the two games prior to that, Green rushed for 247 yards.
Things won't get any easier for Green or Ruegamer this week, as Detroit boasts one of the best defensive tackle tandems in the league. RDT Shaun Rogers has been playing extremely well while LOT Dan Wilkinson has the bulk to draw double teams away from Rogers. If the Packers are to have success running the ball between the tackles, OGs Mike Wahle and Marco Rivera will have to give Ruegamer plenty of help.
• One matchup to watch will be Detroit LOT Jeff Backus working against Gbaja-Biamila. In 2001, Gbaja-Biamila welcomed Backus to the league by recording three sacks in Backus' NFL debut. Since then Backus has developed into one of the better young tackles in the league and Gbaja-Biamila won't be as dominant as a result. In addition, Gbaja-Biamila was much more effective rushing the passer as a part-time player when these two first met three years ago than he is as an every-down player now.
• The Packers will rotate their fullbacks in and out of this game, as William Henderson and Nick Luchey have different strengths, making them ideal for different situations. Through the first four games, Henderson and Luchey have split time down the middle, playing 69 snaps apiece. Look for Henderson to lead the way for Green when the Packers are in short-yardage situations or want to run the ball between the tackles.
Henderson has excellent strength and can win the battle at the point of attack working against Detroit MLB Earl Holmes. Luchey will be used when the Packers attack the perimeter, as he is more mobile than Henderson and can get to the outside quicker. It's also important to note that both have done great jobs in blitz pick-up this season. They should help the Packers' struggling offensive line when the Lions bring additional pressure.
• QB Doug Pederson broke a rib, broke a bone in his back and tore a muscle in his back earlier this year. He is done for the season, leaving the Packers with Craig Nail and J.T. O'Sullivan as the replacements should the unthinkable happen and Favre goes down with an injury. Favre has already battled through a concussion and may not have many hits left in him at 35 years old. Nail and O'Sullivan are terribly inexperienced and each would struggle if forced into the starting lineup for an extended period of time. Needless to say, the lack of the depth at the position is alarming.
Special Teams
• On opening day, 27 teams used their punter to hold. With Pederson out that number has increased to 28, as P Bryan Barker is the new holder for PK Ryan Long well. Barker performed adequately in that role on Monday night. He has tremendous experience as a holder and is poised under pressure. In fact, the only four games that Barker has not been a holder during his 14-year career were the first four games of this season. He has good hands and his rapport with Longwell should only improve as the two get a chance to work with one another in practice.<o
></o><o
></o>Matchups<o
></o>• Detroit WR Roy Williams vs. Green Bay CB Ahmad Carrol!<o
></o>• Green Bay FB William Henderson vs. Detroit MLB Earl Holmes<o
></o>• Detroit LOT Jeff Backus vs. Green Bay RDE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila<o
></o>• Green Bay RB Ahman Green vs. Detroit SS Bracy Walker<o
></o>• Green Bay LOG Mike Wahle vs. Detroit RDT Shaun Rogers<o
></o><o
></o>Prediction: Lions 23, Packers 21
