Pro Bowl Observations

I enjoyed the Pro Bowl yesterday. I have to say it was a very satisfying game to me.

Just as the Packers started off terrible against the Seattle Seahawks and came back to win, the NFC team did the same with the AFC team.

So, you ask?

Mike McCarthy and the Packer coaching staff handled the NFC team.

The coaches of the teams that lose in the conference championship games take the all-stars of their respective leagues for the Pro Bowl. If anyone had any doubts about the quality of coaching the Packers have had the last two years, he or she should be assured the McCarthy group knows what it is doing.

The AFC has been dominant in recent years. But yesterday, McCarthy "put players into the best position to win." The NFC players had a few more such moments. The slant passes at the six yard line were brilliant. With the corners not being able to play bump and run at the six yard line, one yard from where the game's special rules allowed it, the NFC was able to quickly get TDs. And when the AFC defense was looking for it at the end of the game, McCarthy threw a run at them which was successful.

The defense was restricted by the special rules of the Pro Bowl. Al Harris had to play back because of the no bump rule. There was a rule against blitzing. And yet, in the second half, the NFC's defense held the AFC's high-powered offense to two field goals. And the twist which brought Aaron Kampman up the middle for a sack to stop the AFC at the end worked perfectly. It seemed to be the only time it was called. Bob Sanders' style of defense clicked.

Packer fans have every right to be proud of how the coaching staff did in the Pro Bowl.

Coach's strategies

One of the marks of Coach Mike McCarthy's work with the Packers is that his game plans have been effective. How else do you win when you do not have a running game?

One of the things you do not see on the game films of opponents is the opponent coach's game plans. You can get an idea but until you have a history in the league and against a particular opponent, it is hard to know what to expect.

McCarthy's plan to attack the Cowboys deep last Thursday night was a great idea. For a lot of reasons, it failed. It appears the Cowboys' defensive game plan anticipated just that attack. Perhaps they are better at self-scouting than the Packers are just now. Given the average and injury-struck defensive backfield, any smart coach might have done the same as McCarthy did.

McCarthy learned a lesson. Sometimes you have to plan to go strength on strength and let the attack on weaknesses come later. If the Packers get to play the Cowboys for the conference championship, the game plan is more likely to be just that.

But first, McCarthy will have to prepare the team for an emerging Oakland Raiders. The Bears are coming on and the Lions will have nothing to lose. The Packers will have a whole set of battles to win before they can start talking about game planning for the Cowboys!