Published: Saturday, December 26, 2009
Packers’ ‘swagger’ is back’
Seahawks face Green Bay team that has won five of six
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Carlos Osorio / Associated Press
The Packers have allowed an NFL-high 49 sacks, but Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been sacked only once in three of the past four games.
RENTON — Like the Seattle Seahawks, the Green Bay Packers struggled through a losing season in 2008.
And like the Seahawks, the Packers thought a quick turnaround from a down year could happen this season. Very much unlike the Seahawks, the Packers actually are accomplishing that goal.
At this time last season, the Packers were in the midst of a stretch that saw them lose seven games in eight weeks on the way to a 6-10 record. A year later, the Packers are 9-5 and in good position to earn an NFC wild card berth. Before a one-point loss to Pittsburgh last weekend, Green Bay had won five in a row and is playing a lot better than the team that started the year 4-4.
“I like where we are at right now,” Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. “Unfortunately we lost a heartbreaker last week but I think we have been playing pretty good the last six weeks. It’s an important time right now and we have to try and finish this thing off the right way and get to the second season.”
Rodgers has been a big part of this season’s turnaround, and not surprisingly his play has gone up and the team is winning more now that the offensive line has gotten healthy. The Packers have allowed an NFL-high 49 sacks, but Rodgers has been sacked only once in three of the past four games.
“I think the main thing is confidence,” Rodgers said. “We had that swagger back that I felt like we had coming out of training camp and the preseason after the things we were able to do in the preseason. We are very confident on both sides of the ball that we were going to take the ball away on defense and be tough to stop on offense. The first eight games we were very inconsistent in that regard. We just shored things up and guys started making plays. There was more of an urgency around the facility and guys stepped up their preparation and that has acquitted to better performances and more consistency on the field. Guys are playing with a lot higher level of confidence, they are believing that they are going to make a play or the guy next to them is going to make a play where before there might have been indecision and some doubt.”
The Packers offense, which ranks sixth in the NFL, is hardly the only reason that Green Bay is winning. The defense ranks second in yards allowed and run defense, and third in takeaways. Leading the charge on that side of the ball is cornerback Charles Woodson, who is a serious contender for defensive player of the year honors. At 33, an age when most cornerbacks are battling declining skills, Woodson is having one of his best seasons of his decorated career.
“I’m very, very impressed with Charles Woodson,” Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said. “He’s probably the most important part of their coverage scheme. He’s really a great player. He’s got a bunch of interceptions this year. They put him on put people and he locks them down. He does a nice job of blitzing. He’s probably one of the top three corners in the league, and it shows on film.”
Curry, Burleson still doubtful
Receiver Nate Burleson (ankle) and linebacker Aaron Curry (shoulder) are both listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game, and neither practiced this week.
Running back Julius Jones is questionable with a rib injury, though he was able to practice fully on Thursday and Friday. Receiver Ben Obomanu (hamstring) is also questionable. With Burleson doubtful, the Seahawks might need to make a roster move if Obomanu can’t play. That could possibly mean activating Mike Hass from the practice squad.
Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com. For more Seahawks coverage, check out the Seahawks blog at heraldnet.com/seahawksblog
And like the Seahawks, the Packers thought a quick turnaround from a down year could happen this season. Very much unlike the Seahawks, the Packers actually are accomplishing that goal.
At this time last season, the Packers were in the midst of a stretch that saw them lose seven games in eight weeks on the way to a 6-10 record. A year later, the Packers are 9-5 and in good position to earn an NFC wild card berth. Before a one-point loss to Pittsburgh last weekend, Green Bay had won five in a row and is playing a lot better than the team that started the year 4-4.
“I like where we are at right now,” Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. “Unfortunately we lost a heartbreaker last week but I think we have been playing pretty good the last six weeks. It’s an important time right now and we have to try and finish this thing off the right way and get to the second season.”
Rodgers has been a big part of this season’s turnaround, and not surprisingly his play has gone up and the team is winning more now that the offensive line has gotten healthy. The Packers have allowed an NFL-high 49 sacks, but Rodgers has been sacked only once in three of the past four games.
“I think the main thing is confidence,” Rodgers said. “We had that swagger back that I felt like we had coming out of training camp and the preseason after the things we were able to do in the preseason. We are very confident on both sides of the ball that we were going to take the ball away on defense and be tough to stop on offense. The first eight games we were very inconsistent in that regard. We just shored things up and guys started making plays. There was more of an urgency around the facility and guys stepped up their preparation and that has acquitted to better performances and more consistency on the field. Guys are playing with a lot higher level of confidence, they are believing that they are going to make a play or the guy next to them is going to make a play where before there might have been indecision and some doubt.”
The Packers offense, which ranks sixth in the NFL, is hardly the only reason that Green Bay is winning. The defense ranks second in yards allowed and run defense, and third in takeaways. Leading the charge on that side of the ball is cornerback Charles Woodson, who is a serious contender for defensive player of the year honors. At 33, an age when most cornerbacks are battling declining skills, Woodson is having one of his best seasons of his decorated career.
“I’m very, very impressed with Charles Woodson,” Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said. “He’s probably the most important part of their coverage scheme. He’s really a great player. He’s got a bunch of interceptions this year. They put him on put people and he locks them down. He does a nice job of blitzing. He’s probably one of the top three corners in the league, and it shows on film.”
Curry, Burleson still doubtful
Receiver Nate Burleson (ankle) and linebacker Aaron Curry (shoulder) are both listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game, and neither practiced this week.
Running back Julius Jones is questionable with a rib injury, though he was able to practice fully on Thursday and Friday. Receiver Ben Obomanu (hamstring) is also questionable. With Burleson doubtful, the Seahawks might need to make a roster move if Obomanu can’t play. That could possibly mean activating Mike Hass from the practice squad.
Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com. For more Seahawks coverage, check out the Seahawks blog at heraldnet.com/seahawksblog
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