Midweek in the Midwest

Well, suddenly the fall weather that had appeared to be settling in around these parts lately is taking a vacation; As we are expecting temps in the low 70’s (20c’s) for the next week or so.  And with this change, can we get a Green Bay Packers win as well?  Been almost 4 weeks, going back to Detroit Sunday, September 21st.  Enough already - we all want a win!

This weekends upcoming contest should offer quite the fight and from the Packers perspective-may be just what this team needs to turn things around.  Yes, I said the same thing last week vs. Atlanta, but c’mon…This has to be it!  The Pack are losers of three straight games, whereas Seattle, the projected first place team in the NFC West by many accounts (currently third) and losers of their most recent game, a 44-6 blowout last week @ NY vs. Eli and the ‘friendly’ Giants.  The Seahawks have only beat lowly St. Louis for their only win of the year.  They had a bye week in week four, and have lost to Buffalo, San Francisco and the NYG.  We all should easily recall the last time these two teams went at it.  It was here in Green Bay almost 9 months ago (January 12) in a snowy NFC Divisional playoff game.  You remember now don’t you?  The game where we went from a disaster start to a Ryan Grant/Favre led comeback victory. 

As noted in my post-game Packers/Falcons blog earlier this week - some of the biggest problems facing the team during the current three loss streak are defensive and offensive breakdowns in the fundamentals.  On defense, these errors combined with the their lack of a pass rush means Mike McCarthy has his work cutout for him to turn things around.  Left end Aaron Kampman, has just 3½ sacks this season and has been shut out the past 2½ games concurrently as pass-rush specialist Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila is sackless in all five games this year - overall, the team hasn’t had a sack in 10 quarters.  KGB (also the Packers highest-paid player in terms of 2008 base salary) hasn’t been the same since May 08 knee surgery complications began and as a result has been largely ineffective thus far.  The Packers feel his speed has been most effective, and if that can be regained the Packers will benefit greatly.  The loss of defensive lineman Cullen Jenkins (arguably the Packers’ best so far this season at the position) has to be right up there with the loss of cornerback Al Harris.  There has been no help from the inside rush either, and it has not avoided injury either as just last week, defensive end Mike Montgomery sprained his ankle and will be questionable this week.  If he isn’t ready or 100%, look for rookie Jeremy Thompson to step in once again.  Nonetheless, these players, along with Johnny Jolly, really need to stablize there roles and build on one play at a time and focus on doing the little things often, and correctly.  Bottom line, the Packers must find ways to win with the roster taking the field.  They’ve basically got some secondary options and just three pure defensive tackles – Pickett, Jolly and Cole) until help arrives.  And - in the coming weeks, it will.  Starting with linebacker A.J. Hawk (who played last week vs. Atlanta) but should be closer to full strength this week. Safety Atari Bigby is maybe another week away at the most, and about two weeks out; The oft-injured, and probably Ted Thompson’s most current and unpopular 2007 1st round defensive tackle, Justin Harrell.  And - if we want to be really optomistic (and I don’t have a problem being that way - sometimes), then we could also add cornerback Al Harris at some point in say late November- early December.

I think Aaron Rodgers and the offense are going to come back around in this game.  I would look for a total team effort and expect nothing short of a dominating performance this week.  If things do not change drastically this week - changes will no doubt be headed to the Green Bay locker room.

Finally, if you know of - or happen to think you are worthy of being a hard-living Green Bay Packers fan, then why not submit a nomination prior to October 16th and become part of the Green Bay Packers ‘Fan’, Hall of Fame.  Yes - Only in Green Bay right!?  See all the details here.

I’ll have a game preview up by Friday afternoon.  Until then, please keep an eye out for the Seahawks perspective with STB’s own Terry Shilton’s blog.

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