This Sunday we will see if the Packers are serious about having a positive season. They will travel to Tampa to take on the Bucs and their defense. This is the time to step it up, no drops or missed tackles. Tampa has a defense that gets pressure from their front four and fast linebackers to get to the ball. The one thing that puts the Buc’s defense above the rest is their tackling. They play a basic defense with a two deep coverage and little blitzing. By keeping the play in front of the secondary they can come up and make the tackles and usually put a solid hit on the ball carrier. This is an area that the Packers are pathetic, tackling! It is the same old story, if the Pack makes their tackles, they win the game.

   Green and Wayne will have to take their play to a new level this week. Injuries to Levens and Williams are hurting the Packers chances to gain some consistency. I did notice something in the game on Monday, Henderson could be a weapon. The Viking defense had trouble with Henderson in the open field and they looked reluctant to tackle him. Maybe they could use him up the middle to keep Sapp honest. It also might help wear them down by tackling a big back in the forth quarter. You can wear the Bucs defense down if you don’t let them tee off on your quarterback. (See Lions game) There is something that I think the Pack can try and might work. Send Green in motion to draw a linebacker in coverage. Something similar to what Garner did in the 49er game against Bernardo Harris. I know this sounds like I lost my mind by suggesting throwing to Green at all. If you look at the passes Green drops they are the easy ones in the flat. He looks to run before catching the ball, no concentration. With a linebacker chasing him around the field his concentration should improve.

   I am glad to see shades of the old Brett Favre instead of Santa Claus. He has shown some consistency as of late, keep it going Brett. It seems his mechanics are much better than they have been since the Holmgren era. I still wish he would put the ball down and slide more often. When Brett runs, he moves the chains and shows why he won three M.V.P.’s. This should be a good one so lets keep our fingers crossed for the Pack.