YH already posted the rosters, so I'll go right into my strategy. This is long, but I hope everybody takes the time to read this, as it's key in this match-up.
My Defense vs. YH213's Offense
I like this match-up, mainly because, from having watched basically every snap Eli has taken his entire career, I know the guy pretty well. His major strengths come from his intelligence, where his pre-snap reads, audibles, and blitz protection calls are fantastic. He also is very successful with intermediate routes. At the same time, his main weaknesses are that he makes poor decisions with pressure coming up the middle, often throwing off his back foot, and he throws a very poor deep ball. I'll look to take advantage of his weaknesses, and combat his strengths.
Because of his inability to throw the ball down the field, and because of the lack of time that my defense will give him in the pocket, I'll be able to load the box (sometimes with as many as eight guys), which should really help me against the run. Roman Harper and Antrel Rolle are two safeties that are adept at playing up in the box, so they fit right in with this scheme. I think Harrison and Ware will do a good job of holding containment on the edge, and Ratliff, along with my ILBs, should be able to clog the middle on runs between the tackles.
On passing downs, in order to counter Eli's pre-snap reads, my defense will show him various different looks. While we'll still line up in a classic 3-4 at times, he'll see a lot of the 'walk-around defense', with some, if not all of my down linemen up in motorcycle stances. This should throw off his blitz protections, making it extremely difficult to give blockers their assignments. Also, along with my classic edge rush, many of my players, including Harrison, Ware, Lofton, Rolle, and Harper, will be swung around to the middle of the field at times, and will blitz the A and B gaps. Along with Ratliff, these 'between the tackle' blitz packages should be able to dominate the pocket, and even when they don't get home, they'll be able to obstruct Eli's vision and force him to throw without stepping up, a bad habit that he often falls into. My defense will also show a great deal of zone blitzes, where, at any time, players such as Harrison, Wright, Spears, James, and Lofton may drop into coverage, clogging up the short and intermediate routes, and also helping counter the screen game.
My Offense vs. YH213's Defense
In order to counter YH's strong pass rush, I'll go to a great deal of spread packages and formations. These will include many one running back and empty backfield sets. I'll almost always have three WRs on the field, sometimes four, and Cooley also will be split off the line at times. Rodgers should have a great deal of success picking apart the secondary on short and intermediate routes, working the ball to all his options on stop routes, crossing routes, fade-stops, out routes, and quick slants. Also, if Polamalu is pulled up into the box, I think Cooley could be very successful running straight down the seam, and finding the soft stop in the coverage. Additionally, I think I'll be able to get some big plays against Talib, who tends to be very aggressive against short routes, and can be susceptible to double moves, which he'll see at times from Nicks and Holmes. Rodgers will also be focused on always accounting for a possible Polamalu blitz on his pre-snap reads, ready to find the hot receiver if necessary.
So with much focus on my passing game, I like my chances to get some plays on the ground out of passing sets, especially on draw plays and half back counters. Hali and Lawson are excellent OLBs, but I think there will be times when they'll be too aggressive, and it will cost them their containment on the outside. If that happens, the speed of Bradshaw and Bush will make them pay. I also like my chances of getting the ball to Bush in space, especially if YH blitzes, on screen plays and half back circle routes.
Special Teams
As YH said, the special teams are pretty much a wash in this match-up. Against his dangerous returners Rackers will show a variety of different kickoffs, ranging from deep kicks to squib kicks to pop-up kicks. I also trust Morestead to angle his punts towards the sidelines, limiting YH's punt return game. On the other end, hopefully Washington, Bush, and Royal can get a big return or two. I also trust Rackers when it comes to field goals.
I won't offer a prediction, as that's up to you guys, but I obviously like my game-plan and personnel here.
