Three keys to Packers-Bengals game
Fisher King
If the Packers can’t run the ball well today, it will bode poorly for playing the rest of the season without halfbacks Ahman Green and Najeh Davenport. Cincinnati’s defense is ranked 27th in the NFL in rushing yards allowed and 30th in yards allowed per carry, and the run defense was punished in recent losses to Jacksonville (181 yards rushing) and Pittsburgh (221 yards rushing). Tony Fisher, the Packers’ new starter, is no Fred Taylor, Willie Parker or Jerome Bettis, but Cincinnati hasn’t shut the door on lesser-light running backs, either, allowing Chicago’s Thomas Jones to rack up 106 yards. Fisher has only 14 carries on the season, but he’ll get a chance to carry the load for a full game. Their chances of winning will go up if they have something approaching a respectable running game.
Here’s Carson
Cincinnati has a rising young quarterback in Carson Palmer and premier receiver in Chad Johnson, who combine with halfback Rudi Johnson to give the Bengals one of the better offenses in the NFL. Palmer has put up big numbers, Chad Johnson is third in the NFL in receptions (43) and Rudi Johnson is a between-the-tackles runner who churns out yardage every week (609 yards), though he doesn’t have breakaway speed. The Packers don’t have much of a pass rush when they rush only their front four, so defensive coordinator Jim Bates might have to blitz to make Palmer uncomfortable. Bates also has to decide whether to match cornerback Al Harris on Chad Johnson all over the field, or play the standard defense, which could put Ahmad Carroll or others on Johnson occasionally.
New offense
Regardless of the running game, coach Mike Sherman and coordinator Tom Rossley have to tweak the Packers’ offense now that they’re missing not only Javon Walker and Terrence Murphy, but also Robert Ferguson at receiver. Antonio Chatman moves up to the No. 2 receiver behind impressive Donald Driver, but even if Chatman has developed into a functional receiver, he’s too small a target to be a major part of a game plan. Sherman and Rossley have no alternative but to shade their passing game to their strongest position, tight end, where backups David Martin (11 receptions) and Donald Lee (five receptions) have enough speed and skill to get more favorable matchups among the team’s watered-down skill players.
article source : www.packersnews.com
If the Packers can’t run the ball well today, it will bode poorly for playing the rest of the season without halfbacks Ahman Green and Najeh Davenport. Cincinnati’s defense is ranked 27th in the NFL in rushing yards allowed and 30th in yards allowed per carry, and the run defense was punished in recent losses to Jacksonville (181 yards rushing) and Pittsburgh (221 yards rushing). Tony Fisher, the Packers’ new starter, is no Fred Taylor, Willie Parker or Jerome Bettis, but Cincinnati hasn’t shut the door on lesser-light running backs, either, allowing Chicago’s Thomas Jones to rack up 106 yards. Fisher has only 14 carries on the season, but he’ll get a chance to carry the load for a full game. Their chances of winning will go up if they have something approaching a respectable running game.
Here’s Carson
Cincinnati has a rising young quarterback in Carson Palmer and premier receiver in Chad Johnson, who combine with halfback Rudi Johnson to give the Bengals one of the better offenses in the NFL. Palmer has put up big numbers, Chad Johnson is third in the NFL in receptions (43) and Rudi Johnson is a between-the-tackles runner who churns out yardage every week (609 yards), though he doesn’t have breakaway speed. The Packers don’t have much of a pass rush when they rush only their front four, so defensive coordinator Jim Bates might have to blitz to make Palmer uncomfortable. Bates also has to decide whether to match cornerback Al Harris on Chad Johnson all over the field, or play the standard defense, which could put Ahmad Carroll or others on Johnson occasionally.
New offense
Regardless of the running game, coach Mike Sherman and coordinator Tom Rossley have to tweak the Packers’ offense now that they’re missing not only Javon Walker and Terrence Murphy, but also Robert Ferguson at receiver. Antonio Chatman moves up to the No. 2 receiver behind impressive Donald Driver, but even if Chatman has developed into a functional receiver, he’s too small a target to be a major part of a game plan. Sherman and Rossley have no alternative but to shade their passing game to their strongest position, tight end, where backups David Martin (11 receptions) and Donald Lee (five receptions) have enough speed and skill to get more favorable matchups among the team’s watered-down skill players.
article source : www.packersnews.com
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