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Packers' terrific CB tandem
by: Matt Williamson
posted: Monday, November 26, 2007 | Print Entry
filed under: Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys, Al Harris, Charles Woodson
Everyone is looking forward to Thursday's game between Dallas and Green Bay, and for good reason. It pits two storied franchises, two exceptional quarterbacks and the two best teams in the NFC against one another in a game that very well could determine where the rematch is played in January with the right to advance to the Super Bowl.
Green Bay has one of the best defenses in the entire league and one of the most important matchups on Thursday will be between the Cowboys' receivers and the Packers' cornerbacks. In this matchup, the Cowboys' receivers will usually be lined up in tight man-to-man coverage against the Packers' elite cornerbacks. The CB tandem of Al Harris and Charles Woodson is probably the best in the league. While the Packers' front seven is deep, very athletic, aggressive and well-coached, their production is glorified by the dirty work that Harris and Woodson are doing against opposing wide receivers.
Harris routinely locks down the opposing No. 1 wide receiver, as he did last week against the Lions WR Roy Williams. He is exceptional at it and is possibly the most-overlooked football player in the entire NFL. The fact that Harris has never been invited to a Pro Bowl is a travesty. He is physical at the line of scrimmage and throughout his routes. He is a reliable tackler, isn't afraid to assert himself against the run and reroutes receivers at the line of scrimmage with exceptional hand usage and strength. Plus, he is quick with fluid hips and has a great understanding of routes and his opponent. This Thursday, Harris will draw the daunting assignment of slowing down WR Terrell Owens. Of course, he will not always be alone on an island with Owens, but help will not always be there and Owens will be Harris' responsibility. As great as Owens is, this matchup looks like a draw.
On the other side, Woodson is battling a toe injury that he suffered on Thanksgiving and may miss Thursday's game. If he does play, he surely will not be at 100 percent. Woodson usually draws the assignment of locking down an opposing No. 2 wide receiver, but he is a No. 1 cornerback on just about any other team in the league. He was a Heisman Trophy winner in college and very obviously has a rare combination of size, speed and overall athletic ability. He is also Green Bay's top punt returner, which shows just how dangerous he is with the ball in his hands. Woodson has very good ball skills and is an aggressive play maker in every sense of the word. The Cowboys could be without WRs Patrick Crayton and Terry Glenn again this week, which obviously plays to Woodson's advantage, even with his toe bothering him. Assuming Woodson is at least close to 100 percent, he should dominate the Cowboys' second WR man-to-man without help. This would allow the Packers to roll a safety to Harris' side of the field against Owens or to bracket TE Jason Witten with a linebacker and safety.
Having great cornerbacks is an absolute must in an aggressive scheme such as this. These two allow Green Bay to blitz without fear of the repercussions on the backend and also to dedicate an extra run defender near the line of scrimmage. The tandem of Harris and Woodson is a fit for accomplishing exactly this.
3 comments on "Packers' terrific CB tandem
by: Matt Williamson
posted: Monday, November 26, 2007 | Print Entry
filed under: Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys, Al Harris, Charles Woodson
Everyone is looking forward to Thursday's game between Dallas and Green Bay, and for good reason. It pits two storied franchises, two exceptional quarterbacks and the two best teams in the NFC against one another in a game that very well could determine where the rematch is played in January with the right to advance to the Super Bowl.
Green Bay has one of the best defenses in the entire league and one of the most important matchups on Thursday will be between the Cowboys' receivers and the Packers' cornerbacks. In this matchup, the Cowboys' receivers will usually be lined up in tight man-to-man coverage against the Packers' elite cornerbacks. The CB tandem of Al Harris and Charles Woodson is probably the best in the league. While the Packers' front seven is deep, very athletic, aggressive and well-coached, their production is glorified by the dirty work that Harris and Woodson are doing against opposing wide receivers.
Harris routinely locks down the opposing No. 1 wide receiver, as he did last week against the Lions WR Roy Williams. He is exceptional at it and is possibly the most-overlooked football player in the entire NFL. The fact that Harris has never been invited to a Pro Bowl is a travesty. He is physical at the line of scrimmage and throughout his routes. He is a reliable tackler, isn't afraid to assert himself against the run and reroutes receivers at the line of scrimmage with exceptional hand usage and strength. Plus, he is quick with fluid hips and has a great understanding of routes and his opponent. This Thursday, Harris will draw the daunting assignment of slowing down WR Terrell Owens. Of course, he will not always be alone on an island with Owens, but help will not always be there and Owens will be Harris' responsibility. As great as Owens is, this matchup looks like a draw.
On the other side, Woodson is battling a toe injury that he suffered on Thanksgiving and may miss Thursday's game. If he does play, he surely will not be at 100 percent. Woodson usually draws the assignment of locking down an opposing No. 2 wide receiver, but he is a No. 1 cornerback on just about any other team in the league. He was a Heisman Trophy winner in college and very obviously has a rare combination of size, speed and overall athletic ability. He is also Green Bay's top punt returner, which shows just how dangerous he is with the ball in his hands. Woodson has very good ball skills and is an aggressive play maker in every sense of the word. The Cowboys could be without WRs Patrick Crayton and Terry Glenn again this week, which obviously plays to Woodson's advantage, even with his toe bothering him. Assuming Woodson is at least close to 100 percent, he should dominate the Cowboys' second WR man-to-man without help. This would allow the Packers to roll a safety to Harris' side of the field against Owens or to bracket TE Jason Witten with a linebacker and safety.
Having great cornerbacks is an absolute must in an aggressive scheme such as this. These two allow Green Bay to blitz without fear of the repercussions on the backend and also to dedicate an extra run defender near the line of scrimmage. The tandem of Harris and Woodson is a fit for accomplishing exactly this.
3 comments on "Packers' terrific CB tandem
