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Packers vs. Colts; What To Watch For

By Bill Michaels

Story Created: May 15, 2009

Story Updated: May 15, 2009

    

The key to this game is simple, run Ryan Grant and keep Peyton Manning and the Colts offense off the field.
The Colts come into this contest with the 29th ranked defense against the run in the entire NFL.  The Packers aren’t much better but the difference is the running backs.
Joseph Addai, the Colts premier back, is out with an injury along with Mike Hart the rookie.  That leaves Dominic Rhodes to carry the entire load.  The Packers defense looked a little better last week but not enough to proclaim them as “arrived”.  Aaron Rouse should be back this week but let’s face it, they’re a M*A*S*H* unit on defense.  Atari Bigby won’t return, Al Haris is still out, A.J. Hawk is still nursing a groin injury, Ryan Pickett is a game time decision at best and how effective can he really be with a strained tricep muscle?  KGB has been non-existent, Justin Harrell is back but will he play and if he does, how effective will he be?  Michael Montgomery has a bad ankle and Jason Hunter has a hamstring strain and he’s going to be absent as well.  That said, Tramon Williams and Charles Woodson will have their work cut out for the with man coverage on Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne.  That leaves Anthony Gonzalez, the 2nd year player from Ohio State .  Will he play a factor in this game before it said and done?

Again, if Ryan Grant can get 25 carries, chew up yardage; keep the offense on the field with first downs and long drives all the while putting point on the board, that’s the method to the Packers madness this weekend.  If it all falls into place, the Packers will walk into the bye week with a win.
The x-factor in all of this; the Lambeau Field crowd.  It’s going to be a decent day, a late afternoon start (3:15 p.m. CT), they should be primed and ready to make some serious noise and that just might disrupt Manning’s offense.  A few false start penalties could prove the difference between continuing a drive and stalling one out, thus putting the Packers offense back on the field.
No turnovers, a good run game, loud crowd will add up to a Packers victory.
Oh yeah, stay healthy.  This team can’t afford any more devastating, nagging injuries

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Bill Michaels

Who will go deeper in the NCAA Tournament?

  • Marquette
  • Wisconsin