Holmgren Expects A Falcon Blitzkrieg
As he surveyed videotape of Atlanta’s upset win last week over San Francisco, Green Bay coach Mike Holmgren counted more than 30 blitzes by the Falcons.
He expects even more today in an NFC first-round playoff game against the Falcons.
Defensive coordinators have decided blitzing is the best way to slow the Packers’ passing offense and quarterback Brett Favre.
Pittsburgh tried it last week - more than 40 times - with some success in their 24-19 loss to the Packers. The Steelers twice knocked Favre out of the game.
Favre, however, kept coming back for more. He finished with 301 yards passing and two touchdowns.
More important, the victory gave Green Bay its first NFC Central championship since 1972 and its most victories (11) since legendary coach Vince Lombardi led the Packers to 12-2 record and a 35-10 win over Kansas City in Super Bowl I.
For Green Bay to win, Holmgren said the Packers must handle Atlanta’s blitzing. Pittsburgh, he said, provided a good test.
“Pittsburgh creates a lot of problems, and not just when they sack you,” he said. “They can create a lot of panic with your quarterback and Atlanta is the same way.
“But if you talk enough about it and prepare enough, you shouldn’t be thrust into a panic situation.”
Atlanta blitzes to create a frenzied pace. It helped the Falcons force 30 turnovers and finish fourth in the NFC in turnover-ratio.
Unlike most teams, the Falcons also use a lot of zone coverages when they blitz in an effort to negate the number of plays their gambling defense allows. They must gamble to compensate for their leaky defense, which ranks 30th against the pass and 29th in total defense.
“Their style scares you a little because Atlanta has nothing to lose, but we’ll be ready for them,” Favre said. “We just have to be productive. It’s a game we should win.”
Favre has had one of the best seasons in team history. So has receiver Robert Brooks, who replaced Sterling Sharpe this season as Favre’s primary target. A severe neck injury in 1994 ended Sharpe’s career.
Brooks responded with 102 catches for a team-record 1,497 yards and 13 TDs, but failed to make the Pro Bowl. Tight end Mark Chmura did.
The four-year veteran from Boston College caught 54 passes for 679 yards and seven touchdowns. Running back Edgar Bennett added 1,715 yards rushing and receiving.
They provide Favre with plenty of options.
“It comes down to execution,” Atlanta coach June Jones said. “We have to be at the top of our game to excel at Lambeau Field. They’re as good an all-around team as Dallas or San Francisco.”
For the Falcons to win, their offense must control the ball and the game. They have the tools to do it.
The Falcons have a 1,000-yard rusher in Craig Heyward, a 4,000-yard passer in Jeff George and three 1,000-yard receivers.
They insist the potentially frigid weather in Green Bay will not affect their offensive production.
“The weather is not going to be a major factor,” Jones said. “Whoever plays the best will win.”
Heyward could be one of the keys, especially if the weather is bad. He is only the second Falcon running back in the past 10 years to gain more than 1,000 yards.
He has averaged a career-high 4.6 yards per carry, and Atlanta has won eight of its last nine games when Heyward gets at least 15 carries.
If the Falcons can use him just enough to slow the Packers’ pass rush and create a threat on the ground, it will help take the pressure off George, who sprained his shoulder and jaw against the 49ers.
“Jeff is a physically tough guy,” Jones said, “and over the past two years he has turned into the quarterback we thought he could be.”
Now, the question is whether he leads them to playoff success.