Cory's Corner: Pick Your Poison

The Packers are facing another inexperienced secondary — and don't forget about Aaron Jones.

It's deja vu for the Packers. 

Remember last week when the Packers were facing an inexperienced Vikings' secondary? 

It's happening again. Starting cornerback Desmond Trufant has been ruled out for Sunday with a hamstring injury and slot corner Justin Coleman was placed on injured reserve on Tuesday. 

Rookie corner Jeff Okudah will be making his NFL debut at Lambeau Field after missing the season opener with a hamstring injury. The Ohio State corner was taken third overall by Detroit to mask Darius Slay going to Philadephia. 

But here's the thing. If a pedestrian quarterback like Mitchell Trubisky can go 5-for-6 for 86 yards in the fourth quarter and lead the Bears to a comeback win, what is Aaron Rodgers going to do?

We learned last week that Rodgers doesn't have any issues passing to Marquez Valdes-Scantling or Allen Lazard. We all knew that Adams was going to earn the most attention from Rodgers — he's arguably the top three wideout in the league. What impressed me was how quick Rodgers' footwork was and how fast he got rid of the ball. 

I figured that Rodges may take a shot with time running out on the second quarter clock last week, but I didn't think Valdes-Scantling would've hauled in a perfectly-placed bomb with 14 seconds left. 

Rodgers is on fire right now. Many have extolled Russell Wilson as the league's MVP after the first week, but I don't know how Rodgers isn't at least in that discussion.

He looks more sure of himself, but more importantly, he looks more sure of his guys. He knows that Valdes-Scantling is going to chase down a ball, he knows that Lazard will outjump anyone for the ball. And he knows that Adams can beat just about every corner one-on-one. Rodgers' top three wideouts are very dangerous and should be highly respected. 

If you're Detroit, now isn't exactly the best time to throw a rookie corner into the mix and take a peek at your depth. It's going to be the same story once again. One of those three will catch a deep ball, but the Lions wil be preventing the big play by playing more two deep safeties. That just means that there will be plenty of crossing routes and wheel routes for Aaron Jones for this week.

And don't be disappoointed by Jones' 16 carries for 66 yards last week. The Vikings chose to stop the run first and ultimately paid the price. Jones will get his yards. He needs to get at least 17 touches a game and he got 20 last week. 

The Packers look very good right now because there isn't one way to stop them. 

But most importantly, Rodgers is taking exactly what the defense gives him before destroying them. 

Rodgers played exceptional last week, but the scary thing for opposing defenses is that he doesn't have to play lights out for the Packers to win. 

 

 

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Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn

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Comments (25)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
Coldworld's picture

September 19, 2020 at 08:10 am

Running on the Vikings is tough because of Kendrick and safeties. Last week we didn’t stay with it except to keep them honest because we didn’t need to in any case. This will be a much better test of our running game unless their back field is sieve-like. It may be.

I expect a much sterner test of our D in the passing game. Maybe we will get lucky and they will get so excited by the run that they neglect their TEs.

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mrtundra's picture

September 19, 2020 at 08:34 am

Jaire, Savage, Amos and King had better be ready for the Lion's passing game. I think they will be ready, especially if they plan their defense around Hockenson being the top Lion receiver in this game. Too bad the game won't be televised in my area. I will be looking for streaming alternatives to watch the game. GO PACK, GO!!!

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dobber's picture

September 19, 2020 at 09:30 am

Streaming the audio if you can't get the TV is always available: Wayne and Larry call a pretty good game.

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NoNonsense's picture

September 19, 2020 at 03:53 pm

The Yahoo sports app is streaming live games but dont try to screen share to your TV, that option isnt available. Hope you find a way to watch that works for you.

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Packers0808's picture

September 19, 2020 at 09:17 am

Sounds like an easier game than last week. However the Lions are always a good game bunch and test! It does appear Patricia is in over his head and loses games in the 4th quarter way too much! Packers should hum along and get a 2 TD win or more I would think! But in this league you never know week in week out! I think offense will score and score often.

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dobber's picture

September 19, 2020 at 09:48 am

Lions DTs are actually not too shabby and they have good size across the DL. Shelton and Williams are credible DTs, but Williams is dinged. Jamie Collins can rush, and Jarrad Davis is athletic (but not terribly instinctual) in the middle. Packers will make hay by running at the edges of this defense and forcing subpar corners to tackle and not-so-athletic OLBs to chase. Should then be able to attack a depleted Detroit secondary and the seams should be there against some nondescript safeties and with Detroit's top slot corner on IR. Okudah will make his debut, and will probably see Tae most of the game. We'll see if he's up to it.

Lions are down two starting OL (Dahl and Vitai), and are missing Golladay. Expect them to try to play fast and hit the short zones with Amendola, the TEs, and RBs. I think they'll try to feature Swift in the passing game to get him squared after last week. We'll find out pretty quickly if AP has anything left...but Lancaster probably moves to Clark's spot on the nose, where he played OK in 2018 when Clark hurt his arm. I think Keke, Adams (if he's active), and Gary get a lot of snaps in that DE spot Lancaster vacates.

In the end, Lions always play the Packers tough, but I think it's another high-scoring game...37-30 Packers. I expect this one to be tight into the 4th quarter.

"The Packers look very good right now because there isn't one way to stop them. "

Um. Your wordsmithing needs a little work here, Cory.

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SpikeHyzer's picture

September 19, 2020 at 01:43 pm

As a former English major and editor, Cory's sentence is perfectly fine grammatically and makes total sense.

Your writing I would rate as very poor, at about the 7th grade level of journalism. It's a shame that someone with some insight into football and specific knowledge of other team's players feels the need to make an egotistical reply.

It's not going to get you a job.

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jannes bjornson's picture

September 19, 2020 at 01:45 pm

Trey Flowers, De shaun Hand, Okudah is back. The LBs are fast. If Stafford is in his zone the CBs better pay attention. he will take them deep with Jones. Hockenson and Jesse James will take some of Galladay's reps. Darrell Bevel loves to play the Pack with scheme.

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CoachDino's picture

September 19, 2020 at 07:32 pm

Good stuff Dobbs - Cory was on today as well.

Dude as I am THEY WORST GRAMMATICAL poster, I will chose to say out of the red ink controversy....

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CoachDino's picture

September 19, 2020 at 07:32 pm

Good stuff Dobbs - Cory was on today as well.

Dude as I am THEY WORST GRAMMATICAL poster, I will chose to say out of the red ink controversy....

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CoachDino's picture

September 19, 2020 at 07:32 pm

Good stuff Dobbs - Cory was on today as well.

Dude as I am THEY WORST GRAMMATICAL poster, I will chose to say out of the red ink controversy....

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dobber's picture

September 20, 2020 at 11:19 am

Lol...no issues.

My point wasn't the grammar: I agree, the grammar is fine. It was the statement and context. Read it and say to yourself what you infer it says. Then read it word for word and try to fit it into the piece based on what it actually says. I was an editor at one point, too, although not an English major. As Inigo Montoya said, "I do not think it means what you think it means."

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CoachDino's picture

September 21, 2020 at 03:15 pm

lol... Classic!!

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CoachDino's picture

September 21, 2020 at 03:15 pm

lol... Classic!!

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KnockTheSnotOutOfYou's picture

September 19, 2020 at 10:33 am

It will be a tough game and with no fans there really isnt home field advantage. There will be a lot of passing yards and quick scores. Look for a high scoring game because the defenses will not stop either offense. Key to game IMO is the Packers battered OL must give Rodgers time to throw.

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SpikeHyzer's picture

September 19, 2020 at 01:46 pm

Last week proved to me that I was right in believing that the Packers had a perfect draft and addressed all the right needs on the squad and made their roster much, much better and more athletic. I did not expect that many points however (I called it 28-10 Packers).

This week, I'm right on board all the way and the Pack win 35-10.

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LeotisHarris's picture

September 19, 2020 at 09:12 pm

Slow your roll, All Star Editor and self-professed-super-smart-edumacated-writer-dude. I'm here to help!

Suggested edit:

Last week proved to me I was right to believe the Packers had a perfect draft. They addressed the needs of the squad, and now field a vastly improved, more athletic roster.

I did not expect the offensive explosion we witnessed last Sunday; I called it 28-10 in our favor. This week, however, I foresee a 35-10 Packers win.

Comments:

It's difficult for teams to address all the wrong needs in a draft, but I suppose it's possible. The Cleveland Browns exist for a reason.

Reach for those elusive powerhouse adjectives rather than repeating words. Less is always better when striving for clarity (not much, much better) unless you're being paid by the word.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

September 20, 2020 at 02:52 am

LOL! I am itching to rearrange your second paragraph (and to replace the semi-colon with a colon in the 3rd paragraph since it appears to be introducing an example or explanation for the earlier clause), but I wasn't an English major, so I lack credentials.

I shared one of my earliest articles with my family. That was a big mistake and one that I should have anticipated. I got an avalanche of criticism over technical grammatical errors, improper structure and paragraph development, and a whole lot more to that tune.

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TarynsEyes's picture

September 19, 2020 at 02:18 pm

"Rodgers' top three wide outs are very dangerous and should be highly respected."

To suggest that MVS and Lazard have done enough to be 'highly respected' on equal levels of Adams is absolutely an over statement of an absurdity and totality disrespectful of what Adams has accomplished.

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CoachDino's picture

September 19, 2020 at 07:43 pm

I hear ya Big T but I see it meaning:
Adams is a Top 3 receiver in the league
MVS has the speed and size to get behind any DB and make plays (yes, we know he just as likely to drop it)
A Lazard is a High IQ, precise route runner who as special size and connection with Arod.

Match those recs with Arods ability and Teams IMHO do need to highly respect these WR's when they game plan.

My statement is in that context.

In the context that AL and MVS, as stand alone wr, in a FA are highly respected and coveted would be very different in my opinion. As in "not". So in that way I'm with ya

Guess it's how you read or read into it.

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flackcatcher's picture

September 19, 2020 at 02:19 pm

I think this game will be decided by the offensive lines on both teams. Packers right side is one big unknown, and the Lions interior is an adventure waiting to happen. With two top ten QB in this league unhurt and on their games, this could be decided by which OL keeps their guy clean and upright. Lions have always played tough and smart against the Packers, so the chances of a brain fart is low this week. (nuts...) With both sides being pretty basic this early in the season, execution and teamwork and outright talent will determine the final outcome. Like everyone else, I expect a close and high scoring game. Packers win 33-27. (Empty Lambeau is weird....)

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Rebecca's picture

September 19, 2020 at 05:07 pm

I wouldn’t be surprised if we see some new offensive plays and maybe even a score on special teams. Maybe get Lazard a jump ball in the end zone again. I’m looking for the linebackers to make a bigger impact vs. Lions. Defense will step up, and the Packers scoring machine chews up the Lions defense. Another high scorIng game Sunday.

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arthurl's picture

September 19, 2020 at 09:37 pm

I don’t see this game all that close. Last year Detroit had the Packers on the ropes both games, but GB looks lot better this year. Don’t know if it’s the second year in the offensive system or what, but GB looks strong on offense. I see the Lions hanging around, but Packers looking lot better than most thought.

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arthurl's picture

September 19, 2020 at 09:37 pm

I don’t see this game all that close. Last year Detroit had the Packers on the ropes both games, but GB looks lot better this year. Don’t know if it’s the second year in the offensive system or what, but GB looks strong on offense. I see the Lions hanging around, but Packers looking lot better than most thought.

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dobber's picture

September 20, 2020 at 11:15 am

"But here's the thing. If a pedestrian quarterback like Mitchell Trubisky can go 5-for-6 for 86 yards in the fourth quarter and lead the Bears to a comeback win, what is Aaron Rodgers going to do?"

Hopefully play with a lead in the 4th quarter?

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