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Niners take on Packers in cold home turf
By Scary Barry Rodriguez
December 2, 2010
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San Francisco- I hope the stage is not set for another ultra conservative game when the 4-7 San Francisco 49ers travel to the frozen tundra of Lambeau field to take on the always dangerous Greenbay Packers. The Pack are 7-0 against the Niners at Lambeau field. Their defense has only yielded a stingy 15.1 points per game in this 2010 season, tops in the NFL. San Francisco, with quarterback Troy Smith under center is coming off a 27-6 victory over the Arizona Cardinals where the offense had 261 rushing yards.
With the leading Niner Frank Gore out , the seldom used Brian Westbrook and rookie Anthony Dixon will be used in tandem to try and pierce the Greenbay defense which is 18th in the NFL against the rush. Before anyone rushes to conclusions consider the fact that the Niners really don't want Troy Smith to put the ball up unless needed. Game planning for the Packers should be easy. Stop the Niner rush and let Smith try and pass behind a shakey offensive line. Greenbay's offense must be licking their chops. Niner defensive coordinator Greg Manusky seems to espouse the bend don't break method which gives any opponent numerous opportunites to complete short and medium passes in critical situations. The 49ers pass rush hasn't set the world on fire and the secondary is a hit and miss proposition.
My suggestion to coach " Iron Mike " Singletary is to have offensive coordinator Mike Johnson call a flea flicker play and a couple of end arounds early in the game to confuse the Packer defense. With some justification they'll be expecting the straight up the middle running plays on almost every down. Both teams are looking to step up in their respective divisions. Greenbay's starting squad is suffering from injuries and the Niners shouldn't let them off the hook. Unfortunately the Pack leads the NFL in take away scoring with 87 points thus far in the 2010 season. Keeping a good grip on the ball should be the number one priority for the 49ers when on offense.
Despite all the advantages the Packers enjoy on their homefield in Wisconsin they are vulnerable just like all the other teams during this unpredictable season ! If the 49ers have any shot at winning they must not be predictable. They need to establish their passing game and then wear down the Greenbay defense with their run plays. The defense must get in quarterback Aaron Rodger's face ! The Pack can't win on their running attack. Forget this nonsense about " thunder and lightening " just play gritty football. We don't want the gutsy play of Frank Gore and the dreams of renewed glory to be in vain !
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