Packers ready to handle the rush

Updated: Saturday, 14 Jan 2012, 7:38 PM CST
Published : Saturday, 14 Jan 2012, 7:36 PM CST

GREEN BAY - The Packers allowed twelve sacks in the last four weeks of the regular season and the task of protecting Aaron Rodgers doesn’t appear to get any easier against the New York Giants pass rush but according to guard Josh Sitton the team isn’t changing a thing.

“We prepare the same way. We go about it the same way if we're playing Green Bay East High School or playing the All-Stars. Our goal as an offensive line is to keep guys off the running backs and to keep number twelve clean.”
The Giants pass rush is more like an all-star team than a prep squad after getting to the quarterback 45 times in the regular season, 3rd most in the NFL.

Jason Pierre-Paul led the way with 16 1/2 sacks.

He’s one of 5 Giants to record at least 4 sacks this season.

T.J. Lang says that he and the offensive lines job will start with the Giants front four.

“They're definitely the strength of their defense the way they can rush the passer and it makes it a lot easier for the defense if they're getting to the Quarterback.”

The Giants were without Osi Umenyiora in the early December match up and with him back the defense look much different from the tape. Bryan Bulaga will get matched up against Umenyiora from time to time and says that the veterans return expands the playbook for the Giants.

“With him in there it gives them a different rotation where they can put him, JPP, and Tuck down at the same time, work different rotations.”

Aaron Rodgers agrees that Tom Coughlin’s crew have made strides since these two last took the field against each other.

“There hasn't been those occasional holes that we saw a few weeks ago when we played them and they dropped a couple coverages. They've been playing really sound together and it's going to be a good challenge.”
Whether the Giants show the front with 4 defensive ends or a new look that hasn't been seen on tape, the Packers say, the game will be determined by how they play, and that begins says Rodgers with getting a fast start.

“If you get ahead in the game you can dictate some of those coverages and situations a little better.”

Ryan Grant added, “At the end of the day you just have to execute. It's not really about what they do.”