Rogers Finally Gets Chance Against Vikings

Shapecity · Sep 6, 2008

(Sports Network) - The debut of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, a
mere three years in the making, will finally take place at Lambeau Field on
Monday night.

The first-round pick in the 2005 Draft and former caddy to Brett Favre will
stare down the Minnesota Vikings in both teams' regular season opener, and
will have more than a little to prove.

In the biggest story of the 2008 offseason, Favre opted to come out of
retirement in early August, putting the Packers in a situation where they
would have to deal the most prolific passer in NFL history or put Rodgers on
the bench for a fourth straight year.

In a decision that was mostly unpopular in the state of Wisconsin, GM Ted
Thompson and head coach Mike McCarthy opted for the former. Favre was dealt to
the New York Jets on Aug. 7th.

Now, the white-hot spotlight in Green Bay rests on Rodgers, who has attempted
all of 59 passes in his NFL career but showed some positive signs during the
preseason. The University of California product completed 37-of-54 passes
(68.5 percent) for 436 yards with three touchdowns and an interception,
ranking among league leaders with a 103.6 passer rating.

Then again, those performances didn't count, and Rodgers wasn't staring down
the barrel of Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Allen, as he will on Monday.

Allen, who was dealt from the Chiefs to the Vikings in April, was the biggest
offseason addition for a Minnesota team that ranks as a popular pick to seize
the NFC North from the defending Champion Packers.

In what likely amounts to a make-or-break year for Vikes head coach Brad
Childress, Minnesota will be required by its fan base to make its first
postseason trip since 2004, and snapping a four-game losing streak to the
hated Packers on Monday night would be viewed as en excellent place to start.

SERIES HISTORY

Green Bay leads the all-time regular season series with Minnesota, which
dates back to the 1961 season, 48-44-1, and has won four straight against its
longtime division rival. The Pack was a 23-16 winner at the Metrodome in Week
4 of last season, and finished its second straight sweep with a 34-0 blanking
of the Vikes in Week 10. The Vikings swept the home-and-home with the Packers
in 2005.

The teams' only postseason meeting to date was the Vikings' 31-17 upset of the
Packers at Lambeau Field in a 2004 NFC Wild Card game.

The Packers' McCarthy has a 4-0 edge in his personal series against both the
Vikings and head coach Brad Childress.

WHEN THE VIKINGS HAVE THE BALL

The offensive headlines for Minnesota on Monday night will focus on
quarterback Tarvaris Jackson (1911 passing yards, 9 TD, 12 INT), running back
Adrian Peterson (1341 rushing yards, 19 receptions, 13 TD), and wide receiver
Bernard Berrian (71 receptions, 5 TD with Chicago), but it is another somewhat
more anonymous player - left tackle Bryant McKinnie - who could make the
biggest impact for the Vikings attack. McKinnie will serve the first week of a
four-game suspension for violation of the NFL personal conduct policy, and his
absence protecting Jackson's blind side figures to be felt in a major way.
Journeyman Artis Hicks will take McKinnie's place. Jackson missed the final
two games of what was developing into a productive preseason with a knee
sprain, but will play on Monday. He has a new No. 1 target in Berrian, who
comes off the best season of his year in Chicago. But the offensive plan for
Minnesota will undoubtedly be getting the ball to Peterson, the 2007 Rookie of
the Year who is looking for better health and consistency in his sophomore
season.

The Packers bring back a nearly identical defensive unit to the one that
finished 14th in the league against the rush and 21st versus the pass last
season. The strength of the group is arguably in the secondary, where veterans
Charles Woodson (63 tackles, 4 INT) and Al Harris (37 receptions, 2 INT)
reside along with safeties Nick Collins (46 tackles) and Atari Bigby (86
tackles, 5 INT). Harris is looking to re-establish his reputation after a poor
showing against the Giants' Plaxico Burress in the 2007 NFC Championship.
Looking to help out the secondary will be pass rushers Aaron Kampman (64
tackles, 12 sacks) and Cullen Jenkins (44 tackles, 1 sack). Kampman comes off
a second straight Pro Bowl appearance. The biggest changes for the Packers
come up the middle, where tackle Corey Williams was traded to the Browns and
holdovers Ryan Pickett (39 tackles, 1 sack) and Johnny Jolly (21 tackles, 1
sack) will have to pick up the slack. Linebackers Nick Barnett (131 tackles,
3.5 sacks, 2 INT) and A.J. Hawk (105 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT) were 1-2 on the
club in stops a year ago.

WHEN THE PACKERS HAVE THE BALL

The maturation process for Rodgers (218 passing yards, 1 TD in 2007) will be
made that much easier by the terrific supporting cast at his disposal.
Wideouts Donald Driver (82 receptions, 2 TD), Greg Jennings (53 receptions, 12
TD), and James Jones (47 receptions, 2 TD), along with tight end Donald Lee
(48 receptions, 6 TD), make up one of the best groups of pass-catchers in the
league. The quartet combined for over 3,000 receiving yards a year ago. Jones
(knee) may not play Monday, meaning second-round Draft choice Jordy Nelson
(Kansas State) will get increased opportunities. The offensive line protecting
the first-year starter gave up just 19 sacks a year ago, though based on its
shaky showing in the preseason, that number figures to swell without the
quick-triggered Favre behind center. Rodgers will need to have help from the
running game, but a couple of things figure to stand in the way of that
assistance on Monday. First, the Vikings are the best run-stopping team in the
league. Second, starter Ryan Grant (956 rushing yards, 8 TD, 30 receptions) is
coming back from a hamstring injury and might not be ready to carry a full
share of the load. Second-year-pro Brandon Jackson (267 rushing yards, 1 TD,
16 receptions) will spell Grant.

Rodgers' biggest task on Monday will be avoiding the pass-rushing exploits of
Allen (64 tackles, 15.5 sacks with Kansas City), who has been heralded as the
missing link in the Vikings' Tampa-2 scheme. The Idaho State product led the
NFL in sacks a year ago, despite facing constant double-teams. Opposite end
Ray Edwards (30 tackles, 5 sacks) will benefit from the attention paid to
Allen. A secondary that aided in a last-place NFL finish against the pass last
year should have things easier thanks to the pass rushing enhancements.
Cornerbacks Antoine Winfield (67 tackles, 1 INT) and Cedric Griffin (92
tackles) will be responsible for Driver and Jennings, with safeties Darren
Sharper (63 tackles, 4 INT) and rookie Tyrell Johnson (2nd Round, Arkansas
State) lending support over the top. Johnson is subbing for injured free agent
pickup Madieu Williams (neck), who could miss all of September. The Vikings
have finished No. 1 in the league against the run each of the past two years
thanks mostly to tackles Pat Williams (62 tackles, 2 sacks) and Kevin Williams
(38 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 INT). Linebackers E.J. Henderson (118 tackles, 4.5
sacks) and Chad Greenway (105 tackles, 2 INT) make a ton of stops behind the
two massive DTs.

FANTASY FOCUS

Taking Rodgers was a risky proposition for fantasy owners, but you should feel
secure starting him given the Packers' fine receiving corps. On Monday, he's a
particularly worthy start since Minnesota doesn't give up much in the running
game. Driver, Jennings, and Lee should all be in the lineup as well, as should
Green Bay kicker Mason Crosby, but you might want to sit running back Ryan
Grant due to his recent injury struggles and an unattractive matchup.

Peterson is the only bona fide starter on the Minnesota offense, though you
might want to give Berrian a look as a No. 2 or flex option if you're
desperate. The Vikings defense can also be counted on for some big plays, and
kicker Ryan Longwell is always solid.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

The pressure is great on Rodgers, who is going to hear groans at Lambeau with
every sack he takes, turnover he coughs up, or ball he throws into the dirt.
Determining how he'll handle that scrutiny is impossible at this point, but
all indications are that he'll keep Green Bay in games, at the very least.
Minnesota is dealing with high expectations of its own, but figure on the
Vikings being a looser group in the opener than their counterpart. With
newcomers like Allen and Berrian in the fold, the Vikes have caught up to the
Pack in the NFC North, and it will show on Monday.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Vikings 20, Packers 17
Click to expand...

Source: Sports Network

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Rogers Finally Gets Chance Against Vikings

Shapecity S2/JBB Teamster Staff Member Administrator

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Rogers Finally Gets Chance Against Vikings

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