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49ers opponent Q&A: Sports Scribes Green Bay Packers blogger MJ Kasprzak
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Containing an explosive wide receiver group will be a top priority
for the 49ers.
(AP Photo/Brian Blanco)
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As the 49ers prepare to face the Packers this Sunday, I checked in with Sports Scribes Green Bay Packers Blogger, a good friend of mine, MJ Kasprzak.
We exchanged a handful of questions with each other about our teams.
Here's what I asked:
At 5-4 and in the middle of a playoff hunt, have the Packers met up to expectations? With all the talent on the team, are the Packers the team that everyone expected to be in the beginning of the season?
I expected the Packers to be 7-2 to this point, originally projecting losses to the Bears and Vikings (in Minnesota). In looking at what we now know about their opponents, the loss to the Bengals is understandable. Likewise, given the talent we now know the Packers and Bears have (and the lack thereof on our offensive line), the outcomes of all the games except the Bucs were predictable. Thus, I would say we are one game short of expectations.
The talk all week surrounded the 2005 NFL Draft and the selection of Alex Smith by the 49ers over Aaron Rodgers. It’s been several years since then and both teams have had some up and down times. How would you assess Rodgers and his success in Green Bay?
Rodgers has been a monster success in Green Bay. He has a career passer rating of 95.1 and a rating of 101.8 this season. Including his 483 career rushing yards and five fumbles lost, he has generated four miles of offense, 53 touchdowns and only 23 turnovers. And he has done all of that in the shadow of one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. Only Steve Young, who was already a Pro Bowl player by the time the team chose to let Joe Montana go, has accomplished so much in that situation.
The Packers have won 11 of the last 12 meetings between the two since 1995. The only win came in the infamous Wild Card game in the 1998 season. In those times, both teams were fueled by huge offensive attacks. This year, both teams have found success through their defense. An example of this is their veteran leadership of the secondary in Al Harris and Charles Woodson. Woodson had a career day against the Cowboys last Sunday, forcing two fumbles, and recording a sack and interception. Do you think the secondary of the Packers can overpower the young receivers in Josh Morgan and Michael Crabtree?
First, let me say how glad I am to hear a Niners fan acknowledge that game was "infamous." It may not have been worth it to you, either, since it was the beginning of the transformation of TO from another player to prima donna. (For the record, Don Beebe was touched down in 1996.) However, I disagree that both teams were fueled by their offenses—we built the team on the defense, and once that failed us, we could not score enough to keep up. Our defense carried us from 1992-1995, worked with our offense in '96 and '97 when we went to the Super Bowl, and was average by '98.
As for this year's secondary, it is the best in the league, bar none. Only Baltimore is even in the discussion. We will again place at least two guys in the Pro Bowl, including the best defensive player in the NFL, and we also have the best nickel back in the league in Tramon Williams—he would be starting on any other team, but here he is behind our "weak link" Al Harris.
Thus the secondary can match up against every receiving corps except maybe the Cards and Patriots. However, in the modern NFL, I would not describe any secondary as being able to overpower a receiving corps—the Niners certainly have a better corps than the Bears, who were able to have some success when Jay Cutler wasn't throwing it to us.
Both teams are in the Wild Card hunt and this game can either make or break their season. A loss for the 49ers sends them to 4-6 and a playoff appearance is going to be hard to come by. If the Packers lose and go to 5-5, does their schedule play favorably for a playoff push?
Whoever loses this game is out. In the Packers' case, that loss would cost them the tiebreak to the Niners and the Falcons, not to mention having to chase either the Falcons or Giants and likely the Eagles. The Packers still have to play several tough games, such as at home against the Ravens and on the road against the Steelers, Bears, and Cardinals. The only saving grace is the Cards may not have anything to play for the last week of the season. I believe it will take ten wins to get into the playoffs in the NFC, so obviously if the Niners lose they would have to win out.
Who wins this game and who is the game MVP?
The Packers one Achilles Heel can't be exploited well by the Niners. Don't get me wrong, you will get four or five sacks, but we have not lost to any team that has not generated six. The Niners cannot score enough points against a great Packers defense to keep up with the Packers high-powered attack if Rodgers has any time to work with: Packers 24, Niners 16; Aaron Rodgers throws for 250 yards, two scores, and no picks to get the game ball.
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Check out the questions MJ asked me at the Sports Scribes Packers page.
Follow me on Twitter for updates. Check me out here @SLam49ersRelated Articles:
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