Charles Woodson

Defensive coordinator Dom Capers also likes to blitz safety/corner/linebacker Charles Woodson, creating several different looks using the All-Pro. He can blitz because he’s got the most under-publicized shut-down corner in the NFL in Tramon Williams and an excellent nickel corner in Sam shields.

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Are you all Super Bowl-ed out? Not until you read the Final Drive you’re not! After all the commercials, drama, alleged rape jokes, and seating malfunctions, there was a game on Sunday. Let’s break it down!

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n for their man-to-man coverages, the Packer secondary is dynamic, talented and has few weaknesses. Charles Woodson and Tramon Williams form the best corner tandem in the NFL (note how I’m saying that a lot about this team), but when you add nickel corner Sam Shields into the mix, it’s hard to pass effectively on the Packers. Woodson is one of their best tacklers and he’s used all over the field in a variety of ways. They send him on the blitz; they like to bring him in the box as a safety or they can have him man-up on your best receiver. Williams is getting plenty of well-deserved publicity this postseason for his timely interceptions and coverage skills. Shields was supposed to be a return man for the Packers, but they ended up getting a fantastic third DB instead. Behind the corners are safeties Nick Collins and Charlie Peprah. Collins makes big hits and big plays but isn’t completely reliable in pass defense. Peprah’s even worse. If there’s a spot to attack the Green Bay defense, it’s the safety position.

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g four picks just isn’t going to cut it, and against the corner tandem of Tramon Williams and Charles Woodson, he could have issues if he forces a ball where he shouldn’t. Williams and Woodson should see time on Knox, Hester and Bennett most of the game, but Greg Olsen could have another explosion on Sunday. Green bay has given up big yards to tight ends this season and Olsen has the speed to capitalize on their man-to-man coverages. Aside from Matthews, Green Bay’s linebackers aren’t extraordinarily speedy. And if they waste Matthews by putting him on Olsen on passing downs the Bears win that match-up by default. Erik Walden came on late in the season, but he’s not consistent enough in pass coverage to be a game-changer. A.J. Hawk is as solid as they come, but he’s a bruiser, not a flier. If Martz gets Olsen involved early like he did against Seattle (but never came back to), Green Bay’s defense could be loosened up for runs on the edges.

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trenches, the Bears will have to contend with a defense that can be exposed with the passing game. Charles Woodson is still a phenomenal defender, but he's only one man. The Bears glut of good but not great receivers fit Martz's system well and can take advantage of the Packer secondary if they get the opportunity. Johnny Knox and Devin Hester need to show up tonight if the Bear offense will move the ball. Greg Olsen should be in for a huge game as well, especially if the short passing game is Martz's primary focus. Matt Forte and Chester Taylor won't find a lot of room to run against a Green Bay front seven that has four dynamic linebackers on the prowl. A.J. Hawk may not be their best linebacker anymore, but he's no slouch. It'll be rough going on the ground, so screen passes will help get the Packers on their heels.

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Hawk are excellent young linebackers, and Matthews adds his pass-rush skills to the mix. Charles Woodson was the Defensive Player of the Year in 2009, but this year he'll be another year older and without Al Harris on the opposite side for part of the season (PUP). Still, Woodson is used in so many ways it's mind-boggling. Morgan Burnett and Nick Collins at safety concern me, as Atari Bigby joins Harris on the PUP list and Will Blackmon was lost to injured reserve.

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I have been holding out on writing about the Green Bay Packers until this whole Brett Favre incident would pass and it finally has. Brett Favre has been traded to the New York Jets. This means 2 things. 1, Aaron Rodgers is finally the starting quarterback of the Green Bay Packers with no ifs, ands, or buts. And 2, everything I wrote about the Jets when I was writing about them means nothing now. Oh well. Its football, it happens. The Packers are one of my favorite teams, so lets get started.

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y dropped back to pass in what was going to be known as the “Snow Bowl,” and cornerback Charles Woodson blitzed Brady and sacked him. The ball came loose and the Raiders recovered.

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