Gut Reactions: Preseason Week One
Aaron's instant reactions to the game.
By PackerAaron
- It's hard to believe, but the Packers looked to be the same team that played in Arizona last January.
- That said, you saw some promise from a few of the young guys later on in the second half.
- Don't look now, but Jake Delhomme is one of those "veteran quarterbacks" that gave the Packers such problems last year. Once again we saw defensive backs giving way too much space off the line, though we did see a bit more man coverage.
- Brandon Chillar got a whole lot of reps tonight. Will be interested to see how he holds up this week in practice.
- Best part about tonight? No injuries other than Grant getting dinged and Crabtree.
- Aaron Rodgers is a man possessed.
- Mike Neal and Justin Harrell both provided some good moments on the defensive line.
- Back in March, Mike McCarthy said "Special teams will be the most improved area on our football team" Can't wait to see it, Mike.
- Speaking of special teams, can we PLEASE stop trying to turn Sam Shields into a punt returner?
- Or Quinn Porter for that matter?
- Loved what I saw from Brandon Underwood tonight.
- Bryan Bulaga had an overall impressive night, both at guard and at tackle.
- I think it's pretty apparent that Dom Capers will need to manufacture whatever pressure this team is going to get on the quarterback. Without Clay Matthews, they simply don't have a single guy who can beat his man one-on-one.
- With that said, Poppinga actually did a good job off the edge on the second Browns touchdown. He was held and would have had the sack.
- Alright - now to go watch it again.
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Comments (39)
August 14, 2010 at 10:26 pm
I am hoping they part of the issue defensively is that they played pretty simple. However, there's always something to be said about just going out there and taking care of your team man to man. The Packers didn't do that tonight - we were picked apart not just by Delhomme, but by Wallace as well.
August 14, 2010 at 10:32 pm
You hit the nail on the head. It seems as if this team was simply cryogenically frozen after the ARI game and just thawed out a few hours ago. Special teams just as bad, Rodgers just as good, and defense unable to get anywhere near the QB, leading to huge openings in coverage.
Only thing that gives me hope is that last year in the pre-season, our pass rush was solid only to disappear in the regular season. Here's hoping that trend reverses. I say this half jokingly.
August 14, 2010 at 10:33 pm
It looked like they were out-coached at the end of the game. It was embarrassing to finish the game like that.
August 14, 2010 at 10:38 pm
the browns wanted.. and NEEDED the win.. i doubt MM cares at all.. dont read to much into preseason.. you want to win.. but id rather him keep it vanilla and take risks with play calling to see what happens and see who can make big plays.. the browns wanted to win to prove they could beat a good team.. we already are a good team.. we have nothing to prove.. we are just testing the waters i doubt anyone on the packer staff is too worried about it and neither should you
August 14, 2010 at 11:18 pm
Of course you are correct and it a meaningless game but you still think you'd win on pride alone. It just rubs me the wrong way. I'll get over it, hell I'm over it already.
August 15, 2010 at 01:00 am
MM's philosophy is based on "positive thinking." Remember the final regular season game last year? Or the preaseason for that matter? We gameplanned for preseason games and then beat up on the Cards with most of their starters sitting. To MM, that builds "confidence."
August 15, 2010 at 10:17 am
I agree. There needs to be a slight adjustment there on MM's part. Something to be said for building a young team's confidence, but the philosophy seems a little misleading even self-destructive. I guess the end result though is that they taste confidence, get knocked down, and (hopefully) come back hungrier.
August 14, 2010 at 10:33 pm
Best part of this game: no injuries.
Worst part of this game: every side of the football that isn't offense.
The coverage NEEDS to be tighter. Like last year, it looks like they're afraid of the deep pass, so they keep giving everything underneat. EVERYTHING. Pass pro looked solid, though.
And, people, are you really expecting improvement on ST? The punter will be better. The kicking game might improve slightly (79% FG sounds about right). If Blackmon is back, we might have a punt returner. But that's about it.
Anyway, it's just preseason.
August 14, 2010 at 10:47 pm
the only thing i really care to see as far as special teams improvement would be not giving up bad field position on kickoff and kick return... which i honestly think is improved... we really dont need a return game what so ever.. our offense is highpowered we can drive down the field from anywhere.. and i think our defense gets victimized when they dont have their backs to the endzone.. most teams with veteran qbs dont have great return games.. so they usually drive the length of the field.. but thats just my opinion cause delhomme is a veteran.. but he has a noodle arm.. we shoudl have had our cbs pressing the WR all game taking away short routes cause delhomme cant throw it deep
August 14, 2010 at 10:34 pm
its preseason... MM doesnt want to show his whole playbook.. DC doesnt want to show his stunts. I am shocked woodson was in for so long.. and im glad chillar got a lot of reps but it is to be expected with him being a part time starter as well as a backup.. plus they are going to want to look at him outside and inside and see how versatile he is. in the next few weeks id like to see hawk get a lot of reps on passing downs.. cause its preseason.. nows the time to put your players where they arent comfortable and see how they can adjust. as for special teams.. the browns have one of the best special team games in the league.. so i cant say im to shocked about our special teams strugging.. it was a big step for them. hopefully it was a wake up call for them as well. our offense looked solid.. clay matthews being gone is a killer for the team and we have a lot of guys lacking experience on the d line rotating in our defense struggling in the first game does not surprise me overall saw what i expected.. and im glad the defense got run over... last year we won all the preseason games and got over confident
August 14, 2010 at 10:38 pm
1st string pass D was horrible. Bush wasn't even the game
August 14, 2010 at 11:15 pm
"It’s hard to believe, but the Packers looked to be the same team that played in Arizona last January." = YES
"Back in March, Mike McCarthy said “Special teams will be the most improved area on our football team” Can’t wait to see it, Mike." = FUCKIN A
"I think it’s pretty apparent that Dom Capers will need to manufacture whatever pressure this team is going to get on the quarterback. Without Clay Matthews, they simply don’t have a single guy who can beat his man one-on-one." = Sadly, YES
So disappointed in the 1st string D on that 1st series. That's Jake friggin' Delhomme people. JAKE FRIGGIN' DELHOMME. I just hope we're playing 'possum and saving it for the regular season, 'cause if not... I don't even want to think about it. I'm trying to temper myself, thinking back to how excited I was last preseason, still disappointed though.
Stock up on Tums boys, It's looking to be a season of shootouts. Thankfully our offense is capable of outscoring anybody in the league.
GBP 4 LIFE
August 15, 2010 at 01:04 am
Jake "The Fake" might not be so bad under the tutelage of Holmgren. Dude has been known to coach up a QB or two.
August 14, 2010 at 11:56 pm
Wow, one PRESEASON game, and this team sucks? Yeah right. They'll be fine.
August 15, 2010 at 12:21 am
Who said it?
PackerAaron
August 15, 2010 at 12:30 am
Who said they suck?
August 15, 2010 at 01:41 am
No one has said it. It's just the general attitude of "this is the same team as it was in January." I think that's BS. It's the PRESEASON. For a contender, all that means is that it's 4 games you play and try to avoid injury.
August 15, 2010 at 02:21 am
Hope you're right 'Smack. The Colts perennially suck in the preseason, yet they win 12 games a year when it counts.
I got way too excited this time last year, I'm not going to beat them up too much now (live and learn). You are right, it's preseason. However, I watched the Philly game, and I sure hope we're just not showing our hand right now. That's a dangerous team.
GBP 4 LIFE
August 15, 2010 at 02:22 am
Did you not think of the Arizona game on that 1st drive Smack? If not, you were the only one. Just sayin'.
August 15, 2010 at 03:57 am
I thought of the first 2 Arizona games last year and how everyone was excited even though they meant nothing.
August 15, 2010 at 06:01 am
Maybe you suppressed the playoff game (don't blame you), 1st drive was eerily similar.
GBP 4 LIFE
August 15, 2010 at 11:48 am
Except the part where there was no Jolly, no Matthews, no Bigby, and a limited Barnett. In other words, 4/11ths of the defense was different. And my point is that by the time the season starts, the team will be just fine, and the defense will have adjusted. The preseason is for shaking the rust off and re-establishing chemistry.
August 15, 2010 at 12:20 am
Slocum is a joke. With a supposedly deep roster, full of athletic bodies suited to a 3-4 defense and more mature, and all the extra time spent in training camp on schemes and what not... and this is the result??? Absolutely unacceptable lack of foresight by McCarthy promoting Stock's understudy to oversee a third of our team's production. Piss poor blocking and tackling again.
August 15, 2010 at 01:06 am
Yeah first punt and there were 12 men on the field D'oh!
August 15, 2010 at 02:28 am
No shit. I thought the switch to the 34 was going to bring in all these 'athletic linebacker' types, and that was going to 'fix' the ST's? In theory that made sense when I heard it, but WTF, it's the same shit different year. Frustrating to say the least. Oh and, SHIELDS = ROUND HOLE, RETURN = SQUARE FUCKING PEG. Jesus f'ing C.
GBP 4 LIFE
August 15, 2010 at 01:36 am
I was unable to watch the game, so I appreciate the recap. I take very little away from preseason games. Even one on one match ups. Our offensive line won their match ups last preseason, and we all saw how that didn't translate into the regular season.
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One thing I did not like, is the fact that #12 was still in the game in the second qtr. That made absolutely no sense. And even with Rodgers, I take very little away from his 12-13 performance. I would be saying the same thing had he went 1-12.
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That said, Rodgers is going to have a monster year. I was saying that before this game. Yeah, I know, I'm really going out on a limb. But seriously, I'm expecting MVP type numbers from #12.
August 15, 2010 at 02:29 am
You and me both dude.
August 15, 2010 at 07:39 am
Excuse me for my critical focus but Coach Mike must have thought his special teams resourced there skills from last year as a basis "back to the chalk board" on Monday.
August 15, 2010 at 07:45 am
Yes special teams needs some very serious re-work and I would suggest as a fan Coach Mike communicate on the carpet ranting to special teams coach urgently!!!!!!
August 15, 2010 at 07:52 am
Suday Morning and here I am being critical of my fellow human beings, I should be getting ready for mass. Can't because now my dream of a Packer Game is restraining myself from being confortable after I think I saw a defense of the Packers get smeared. Someone pinch me and say things will get better even in the preseason!
August 15, 2010 at 08:02 am
A lot of experimenting on special teams and defense in this game with personnel.How abought Havner going old school playing both ways.That is what the preseason is for.It's not to win games(but to see what will work).Let us not forget no Woodson,Mathews or Harris.This is preseason you don't " Play to win the Game" Hello!
August 15, 2010 at 08:40 am
"Brandon Chillar got a whole lot of reps tonight. Will be interested to see how he holds up this week in practice."
I thought the same about Bulaga, but he needs them more.
August 15, 2010 at 10:29 am
Preseason? yes. Experimenting? yes. Little to no game planning? yes. Repeatedly allow 15+ yard pass plays with little coverage? Now that is a little scary. Having said that, I have seen an inordinate number of wide open receivers in nearly all the preseason games against the #1 Ds. I think it just comes with the territory. Its good they got their asses kicked a little. It'll be motivational and now's the time.
August 15, 2010 at 11:53 am
Make no mistake, the Browns gameplanned against us.
Playing bunch formations, when they were basically a running team last year?
They gameplanned, at least on O.
August 15, 2010 at 02:00 pm
This makes a lot of sense, especially after the shellacking we handed them last year, the stink certain coaches made about the Packers gameplanning against their teams during the preseason, and the fact that the Browns, of all teams, need the confidence boost to go along with the changes in leadership and get things moving in the right direction.
Although, the Browns were a running team last year because the had to be, and they know what they've got with the ground game for the most part. They may not have weapons to air it out, but they completely revamped their roster at QB in the off-season, so it would stand to reason they'd test the waters.
Definitely agree that the WR formations were specifically called to challenge our D, and that's fine by me- it's actually doing our defense a huge favor to get picked at and get that stuff on tape.
August 15, 2010 at 02:54 pm
You are absolutely correct. Holmgren is in the process of turning over a roster and possibly a coaching staff after this year. He's assessing the entire franchise and, considering the number of offensive packages + defensive blitzes and it's apparent they game planned.
That first drive by the Browns will proved some valuable tape for walk-thru's this week.
August 16, 2010 at 05:57 am
Holmgren is not even at the game and I got those goose bumps that some how he is in control.
August 16, 2010 at 05:59 am
Barnett?????????????///
August 16, 2010 at 06:15 am
Thinking about special teams I suspect it is really hard to put a collection of good people on the field before final cuts. I give them that much for excuses. But neglecting a good showing via the first game is unacceptable. Hometown pride along with basic football skills on the defensive side was missed by the younger fans. Sure and alot of the fans present are not regular season fans and they deserve a better showing I would think. I did not see any coaches playing down "Super Bowl Run".