Gut Reactions: 2014 Preseason Game 4 vs the Chiefs

  • The quarterbacks will get all the headlines, so lets get this out of the way up front: As I've said the past two weeks, Tolzien is the backup. Cut Flynn. He's going to be there if you need him. 
  • That said, Flynn did have by far his best performance of the preseason tonight, albeit against backups who were playing extremely vanilla stuff. 
  • I love watching DuJuan Harris with the football in his hands. A rolling ball of butchers knives indeed. His vision has improved too. 
  • Nice showing from Davante Adams tonight, esp on the 3rd down slant where he shook man coverage at the line. 
  • Guion is a strong son of a gun. Scouts say he's slow to locate the ball, and that may be true, but hell. Just have him blow people up and let other guys find the damn ball. He looked country strong. 
  • Nice to see Jayrone Elliott get that sack, esp as he was held on the play. Hope his injury isn't serious. I want him on this team.
  • They can't possibly cut Janis. He'd never make it through waivers. Not only did he flash on the touchdown catch tonight, but that kick return will be in every NFL special team coordinator's inbox tonight. Got to keep him. 
  • Nice reps for Linsley tonight. He's not quite the athlete Tretter is, but damn is he one strong dude. 
  • Very good point from Bill Huber on Twitter: Last year, the kickoff coverage team was a disaster. Tonight (save for one return) they were mostly excellent.
  • Speaking of coverage teams, Chris Banjo looked great. Going to be hard to keep him, but he made his case. 
  • That's a prevailing theme around this team. As I wrote in Gut Reactions earlier this preseason, Ted and his guys have a bunch of really hard decisions to make prior to Saturday night. 
  • I'd just like to thank Matt Flynn and Scott Tolzien. Regardless of who gets kept or cut, they made preseason football in Green Bay watchable again. After a few years of Graham Harrell and BJ Coleman (not to mention Vince Young) it was great to see the offense at least not be ground to a halt once Rodgers was done. Seriously, in years past, Coleman would come in and it would turn into a Lead Iso-fest. Snoozeville. Not so this year.
  • Alright. Enough of that nonsense. Bring on the Champs.
  • Go Pack Go.  

 

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Comments (30)

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Tundraboy's picture

August 28, 2014 at 09:54 pm

Watched entire game and what jumped out at me was

Rolle is a must keep!!!!

Janis made the team.

Hubbard looked pretty dam good, Ugh of course he went down. Keep him

Bradford is useless.

And even the Packers are not exciting to watch with Flynn. His best days are a memory.

Can not wait til next week. They looked as ready as you could ask. On to Seattle!!

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Otto's picture

August 28, 2014 at 10:02 pm

It will be interesting to see how TT shapes this roster. I wouldn't want his job this week.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

August 28, 2014 at 10:36 pm

I bet there are at least twenty-five NFL GM's that do want his job this week.

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Snackpack's picture

August 28, 2014 at 10:33 pm

I disagree about Flynn if only because he's proven he can get it done during real games. A lot of people shine during preseason and fade when the games are meaningful. Keep both this year.

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tm_inter's picture

August 28, 2014 at 10:37 pm

I was impressed by Janis, Elliott, and Banjo. These three really "jumped out". Bradford is OK as inside linebacker. Rolle made some mistakes, but also some good plays.

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Evan's picture

August 29, 2014 at 08:07 am

I think Rolle is 100% on the team.

It's a tough call between Banjo and guys like Bradford, Stoneburner and a 3rd QB.

I'd love for them to find a spot for Banjo - as Cow said, groom him into the next Bush.

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cheddarhead's picture

August 28, 2014 at 10:49 pm

I did not watch the game, but it would be nice to see Janis develop into a return man and receiver.

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RCPackerFan's picture

August 28, 2014 at 10:52 pm

My thoughts..

This is going to be really tough t cut down to 53. There were a few injuries so that may play into the decisions.

Honestly, can we go wrong with Flynn or Tolzien? Both played really well. Both made cases to be on the roster. I really don't think they will go wrong with either.

Janis not only sealed his roster spot he also looks like he could factor in the return game.

I can't wait to see how McCarthy plays on using Harris in the offense with Lacy. He is such a different type of RB that will provide a really nice change of pace.

Richard Rodgers really has impressed me. I think he is a sleeper player that could really have a big impact.

Tonight is the first time I thought Perkins could be on the roster. I think he will go on the PS but I liked what I saw from him.

Players I think Packers have to find a way to keep are Rolle, Elliot, Banjo, Pennel.

One week away and it begins.

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RCPackerFan's picture

August 29, 2014 at 07:42 am

My extended thoughts...

Is Quarless on the bubble to making the roster? I thought before he was a lock, but watching him playing last night i started getting this feeling that he may not be a lock. Perhaps they keep Stoneburner instead?

If Thornton is done for the year with whatever he had as an injury, they will be down to 5 DL. (Jones, Daniels, Guion, Boyd, Pennel) Do they add another or is that spot then go to keeping the 3rd QB? Remembering they have Peppers, Neal who could play some DL also.

I honestly didn't think Bradford looked to bad last night at ILB. I watched him a quite a few times and he seemed to flow to the ball pretty well. If its between him and Palmer, I think they will keep him.

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zeke's picture

August 28, 2014 at 11:21 pm

Unrelated to anything...

http://gfycat.com/UnpleasantCavernousErmine

I can't stand SF, but love Chris Borland. Wish it had worked out that he was wearing green instead.

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packsmack's picture

August 28, 2014 at 11:26 pm

Cobb is gonna have to have a monster year to warrant an extension with Adams and Janis waiting in the wings. Just thinking about those 3 guys and Jordy all possibly playing with Rodgers for several years is very exciting though.

I'm worried about the run defense, and that's it.

Flynn is a solid game manager, but he ultimately turns the field into a 20 yard field because he has no deep arm. Tolzien lets you run the whole playbook. That throw to Janis is something that Flynn just can't do.

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PackerAaron's picture

August 29, 2014 at 05:47 am

Not so sure I agree with you on Cobb, Stroh. Unless we see something get done this week, my hunch is they let him test the market the same way they let Jennings. As packsmack mentioned, there's a lot of young talent behind him and while he is undoubtedly talented, and I'm not sure he needs a "monster" year, he does need to show he can be productive on a consistent basis before they hand him an extension.

Just my two cents.

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tm_inter's picture

August 29, 2014 at 07:10 am

Cobb surprisingly dropped a couple of easy passes from Aaron Rodgers in the Oakland game. That was uncharacteristic of him.

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sonomaca's picture

August 29, 2014 at 10:05 am

Funny, if draft were held today, Elliott would be a second round pick, Bradford, Thornton, and Goodson would be UFA's, Pennel would probably go in round 3 or 4, and Janis would probably go in round 3.

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Evan's picture

August 29, 2014 at 10:21 am

The game was surprisingly watchable - but it didn't really do much to change my 53-man prediction.

I have no idea what will happen at QB2. My gut says Tolzien, but my head says Flynn. Flip a coin and move on.

Stoneburner made a strong case to be the 4th TE. Personally, I'd put him on over Taylor. I could MAAAAAYBE see him make it over Quarless - but without Quarless, man, that's an inexperienced TE group.

Rolle, Elliot and Pennel were locks before the game and did nothing to change that, imo. Ditto for Janis.

Banjo had a great game and I would love to see him make it - just not sure there will be room.

Bradford, Palmer, Mulumba....I have no idea who the 10th and 11th LB will be.

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lucky953's picture

August 29, 2014 at 11:06 am

I don't think they should keep three QBs. Why? In case two QBs go out with injury? Pick up someone off the waiver wire to put on PS. I'm sure they've got the scouting power to do that. Rather, put another OL on the roster to help keep the two QBs upright. Keep another OLB so a one-legged Nate Palmer isn't trying to chase down Kaepernick in a playoff game. Which QB to keep? I'd say Tolzien has more upside in terms of big play capability, but wouldn't be unhappy if they kept Flynn instead. A third QB is a waste of a roster spot in my view.

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real some guy's picture

August 29, 2014 at 11:25 am

ok i'm extending a friendly wager to Nagler: IF Flynn gets cut and isn't on another roster by the end of September, i'll buy you a couple beers in a bar of your choice in NYC.

AND, i'll show up wearing a CheeseheadTV shirt (which i need to purchase regardless).

Either way, totally agree about thanking Matt and Scott. we can't go wrong with either and watching a competent offense all preseason made the games much more entertaining. kudos to both

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sonomaca's picture

August 29, 2014 at 12:34 pm

If only the Giants are interested, then there will be no trade value. It's possible that the Rams might take a look at Flynn. Ditto for other NFC North teams. If the Pack cut Flynn, they risk turning the whole playbook over to the Vikings, Bears or Lions. That's why they'll keep him unless they find a trading partner outside the NFC North.

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Evan's picture

August 29, 2014 at 12:40 pm

Giants have Nassib locked in as the #2.

As for the rest of the North, I don't see a likely place for him. Vikes seem full with Cassel and Teddy. Bears have Clausen and the Lions have Orlovsky (their own version of Flynn).

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zeke's picture

August 29, 2014 at 12:41 pm

"If the Pack cut Flynn they run the risk of turning over the playbook...."

Isn't that true of pretty much everyone on the roster?

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sonomaca's picture

August 29, 2014 at 12:45 pm

Not really. The quarterback, and that QB in particular, have intimate knowledge of the offense. If the Bears scooped up Dorsey, for example, they'd get some help, but nothing like the QB.

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zeke's picture

August 29, 2014 at 12:57 pm

I think if that were the case, no one would ever cut their back up QB.

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sonomaca's picture

August 29, 2014 at 01:02 pm

It's a case-by-case basis. I think the 49er's and Seahawks probably take this into consideration, and I'm certain Belichick does when the AFC East is tight.

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Evan's picture

August 29, 2014 at 01:09 pm

And it didn't exactly happen the last time Flynn was available.

Or Coleman or Harrell, for that matter.

I think the whole "sign a player for intel on a team" thing is way overblown. Roster spaces are too valuable.

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sonomaca's picture

August 29, 2014 at 01:10 pm

Oakland traded for him. He was picked up by Buffalo in mid-October. This is the beginning of the season.

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sonomaca's picture

August 29, 2014 at 01:12 pm

Yes, but Flynn is also a decent backup. You obviously wouldn't sign Harrell for intel only, but with Flynn you get more.

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Evan's picture

August 29, 2014 at 01:25 pm

True. But I honestly don't know if Flynn is an upgrade over the other NFC North backups, guys who have worked in those systems all off-season.

As the Packers showed last year, bringing in a back-up QB this late in the game is a recipe for disaster, regardless of what intel he may have.

I think Flynn has more or less proven he can function in the Packers system and that's about it.

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sonomaca's picture

August 29, 2014 at 01:07 pm

Remember Belichick and spygate. This is important stuff.

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sonomaca's picture

August 29, 2014 at 02:24 pm

Certainly interesting. I remember that episode well. Hard to believe Green Bay is going to retire the number of someone who did that to the Pack. Not only did he help Detroit, but that kind of intel put Packers players in physical danger. Farve was class 1A jerk.

I think the Pack have been showcasing Flynn for a trade. The Giants and Rams are the main candidates at this point.

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lucky953's picture

August 29, 2014 at 01:09 pm

Agree that this was the most entertaining preseason in a long time: well worth the $19.99 I paid the NFL for the privilege of watching on my computer. I had a lot of fun watching replays in slo-mo.

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