Name: J.D. Gold
Email: jdgold@idatasports.com
Date: Thu Nov 2 0:12:48 2006

Headline: NO CARDINAL RULES BROKEN AS PACKERS BEAT ARIZONA 31-14
Game MVP: Offensive Line
Offensive Player of the Game: Ahman Green
Defensive Player of the Game: Aaron Kampman

The Packers beat the lowly Cardinals Sunday at Lambeau field 31-14 in what maybe there strongest "team" effort to date this season while moving the Packs record to 3-4. With a power running game featuring backs, Ahman Green and Verand Morencey, each going over 100 yards a piece, a feat not seen since 1985's duo of Eddie lee Ivery and Gerry Ellis, and top it off with a defense which continues to improve each week. Maybe, just maybe, the second half of the season could be quite interesting.

Players of the Game Recap; GAME MVP: OFFENSIVE LINE - When you can steam roll an opponent for 203 rushing yards and give up no sacks this unit has done its job in a big way. OFFENSIVE MVP: AHMAN GREEN 21 carries for 106 yard and 2 touchdowns. Throw in a couple of catches for 27 yards too boot. DEFENSIVE MVP: AARON KAMPMAN 8 tackles and two sacks for the always hustling d-lineman. SUSAN B. ANTHONY GOLD COIN PLAYER OF THE GAME: DAVE RAYNER Rayner apparently didn't know the fake field goal play was "on" based on the Cardinals defensive formation. So when the wrong formation presented itself he didn't call "off" the fake thus the botched play and the honor off wearing the dress for the week.

QB 4 GOLD BARS - Four gold bars for a 17-25 180 yards 1 touch down performance? Everyone knows Brett Favre can wing it with the best of them when needed. He has also in past few seasons "winged" it when not always needed. So as he finished his third game in a row without a pick it is evident Favre is taking what is being given to him. Seemingly not forcing the ball down field. But keep in mind he run the plays called by McCarthy. Just as he did under Sherman. So if Brett Favre and his decisions seem smarter maybe its because the person making those decisions now is smarter then his predecessor.

RB 4-1/2 GOLD BARS - Ahman Green looks all the way back. Pre 2004. Ahman gutted it out on a bad wheel for most of 2004 and part of the 2005 season before season ending surgery. Now seemingly back to 100% "Dirty 30" is back to punishing would be tacklers. Green ran right through the Cardinals secondary. Notice how easily he makes catching balls out of the backfield look. Always keeping his spacing and availability to Favre. Morency had a great game, 11 carries for 101 yards, not faltering when presented with opportunities to rip off big runs with the gaping holes paved by the o-line. Again Brandon Miree had a nice game at fullback getting to defenders, not letting them come to him.

WR/TE 3 GOLD BARS - There seems to be some surprise in the disappearance of Bubba Franks in the offense but none here. Franks never was one to get yards after the catch but had hands of glue. This season Bubba has dropped far too many balls to have his number called as often as in the past. Regardless of the fact he is being kept in more for Qb protection. He needs to catch the ball or look for David Marin to supplant him as the go to guy at Tight end. Martin had another solid game with 4 catches for 48 yards and a score. Now in his sixth season, it seems as Packer fans maybe rewarded for there patience as he is apparently on the verge of a break out season in a contract year. Donald Drivers 5 catches for 48 yards would've been for 20 yards instead if not for an assortment of dazzling moves to pick up extra yards. Ruvell Martin showed nice hands on a his 2 catches for 26 yards.

OFFENSIVE LINE 4 GOLD BARS - What keeps this grade from being higher is the opponent. Right from the get go the Packers shoved the Arizona Cardinals D-line around. Blasting holes I could run through at times. The line has looked especially sharp the last two weeks picking up blitz's. This can be attributed to center Scott Wells film study of opponents blitz packages, his ability to recognize them on game day, and then calling out the proper protection. Now if Chad Clifton and Daryn Colledge could stop getting called for what seems like a penalty a game there wouldn't be much to complain about with this group. Like the linebackers as this group plays together longer the better they will get. Mark Tauscher is destroying people in the run game. Moving towards a Pro-Bowl season.

DEFENSIVE LINE 3-1/2 GOLD BARS - This was the d-lines best game so far this season from start to finish. Through out the game they kept constant pressure on Matt Leinart. Harassing him into off target throws all day long. Colin Cole had his best game of the year. Shedding his blocker on more then one occasion to move down the line to help stuff the run. Ryan Pickett had another solid outing. Even John Jolly has been getting into the action in limited snaps the last few weeks and is made some plays. Corey Williams was OK. One thing about KGB to keep in mind is that most teams are still sliding a TE, RB or a guard over on passing downs as help against him. This enables the hard working Aaron Kampen to work his magic alone with the pocket sliding towards him on some passing downs as teams move there protection away from KGB. With Kampmans emergence teams will be looking to start playing the Packers straight up enabling KGB to hopefully get more sacks the rest of the way.

LINEBACKERS 4 GOLD BARS - This game wasn't the most eye popping for this unit but it was there best. Can you tell me who the Cardinal TE was Sunday? From watching the game you wouldn't know who he was because which ever LB covered him shut him down. The same can be said of there coverage of the backs out the back field This unit held Edgerin James to 3 catches for 25 yards. This was an area the Cards were looking to exploit and were unable to do so. It seemed as if Nick Barnett was every where during the game. Knocking down passes, sacking the QB, and wreaking havoc in general. AJ Hawk had a good game being ever so close to making a few big plays but not being able to cash in. He again led the team with 8 tackles this week.

SECONDARY 4 GOLD BARS - Al Harris may have started the season a little slow and has even dropped a few easy INT's the past few weeks. Yet as he showed Sunday against the Cardinals, and in particular Anquan Boldin, he still is a top flight cover corner. Same can be said of Woodson. As he gets more comfortable in the defense and his surroundings he seems to be in position to make the big plays Packer fans want to see him make for the money he's being paid. Marquand Manuel may not be the best cover safety but it is not due to lack of film study or being a heads ups player. When the Pack lined up with a receiver not being covered just before the snap of the ball, Manuel hopped off sides to prevent a big play from happening.

SPECIAL TEAMS 2-1/2 GOLD BARS - The botched fake field goal lowers this grade. Otherwise the special teams were very solid. Jon Ryan keeps booming his punts. Two for a 53.5 yard average. Dave Rayner booted his 42 yarder through the uprights for his only FG and continues to kickoff deep.. Woodson is oh so close to busting one off in the punt return game. Kickoff coverage was outstanding. Holding JJ Arrington to a 15 yard average on 5 returns.

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