Originally posted by aaronitout:
The Pack had the number 2 offense last year and teams knew they were going to pass almost every down, so I don't understand the reasoning that NO could only put up big numbers because of there multi dimensional offense.
Its a new game today and the short pass can set up the deep/intermediate passes just as effective as the run can. (BTW Cedric Benson has been an 1000 yard rusher his past 3 seasons).
Im not sold on the 49ers deep ball being significantly better just because the addition of a Wr who is far, far, FAR, past his prime.
Forcing the League MVP in to turnovers and 3 and outs is alot easier said then done, his arm strength, accuracy, mobility and awareness leave the 49ers D with a much smaller margin for error then anyone they faced last year.
And I don't think A-rod is losing any sleep over the Niners not drafting him. (With that shiny SB ring and all..)
In fact, I think the Niners desicion to take Alex is eating them up much, much more than it is to Aaron Rodgers.
The pack has not seen this defense but they will come Sunday. This group gets virtually all of our pressure with as little 3 to 5 men, thus allowing our OLBs and MLBs to set the edge if there is a run and fill the lanes. Also, we have the distinct advantage of having the best MLB tandem in the game with the footspeed to track down speedy RBs and scrambling QBs and the versatility to cover TEs and slot WRs. With the best front 7 in football leaving our secondary with little to no worry up front and pressuring the passer the ball hawks on the back end pounce on WRs for big hits and poach the QB for forced, rushed, and errant throws.
Now Rodgers is the studliest QB in the league right now, but I think he will have to take this beating that we will put on him and still beat 7 defenders back covering WRs and TEs. I am more concerned with how GB will slow us down not how we will slow them down. And yes Moss is old but I want to see if you try to cover him with 1 DB and how that plays out. I want to see if you try to do anything other than stack 8 in the box against Gore then suffer watching him run up the yards on you. I want to see if you leave 1 CB or 1 S or 1 LB on VD and watch him make an example of you. I want to see you stop Hunter, Walker, Crabtree, Manningham, etc with that defense. We have an elite defense and an elite special teams that will force you to score from 85 yards out almost every time and I want to see if you can do that.
If you do as you expect, then I can applaud you and your team but I am telling you that we had the most physical team in the NFC last year and you will feel us when we play you. As for Cedric Benson, cmon bro, we faced him too last year and held him under 65 yards and the team as a whole under 80 yds. We made them quit running like everyone we faced aside form Marshawn Lynch and we faced some elite backs last year too for example McCoy and Rice. And you might apply the same age logic towards Benson as you did Moss. I am not saying GB should not be favored but I am saying don't be surprised if you lose.
Finally, Rodgers ended up in the best place for him because we were in shambles trying to be BAL west under Nolan and GB was in great shape and enduring long lasting success ever since Mike Holmgren turned you into SFO north. Rodgers would have progressed very little at all under our old coaching staffs and Favre would not have been around as an example. I doubt he would be a champion here unless he were here now. Actually he may have been good enough to have kept Nolan around a little too long for us to miss out on Harbaugh. Alex has not been very good but he has a chance to win this year and that is good enough for me.
[ Edited by Pillbusta on Sep 1, 2012 at 8:42 AM ]