Gut Reactions: Preseason Week 2
Aaron's initial impressions from the win over the Cardinals.
By PackerAaron
- Another tough outing for the offensive line.
- Speaking of which, its time to end the Derek Sherrod experiment.
- Really liked what I saw on Alex Green's touches, but if he wants any snaps during the regular season he needs to learn to square up in pass protection.
- The Packers can't afford to lose C.J. Wilson for an extended period of time.
- Graham Harrell looks good - but people saying the Packers need to move Flynn before he hits free agency have lost their minds.
- Ricky Elmore will be lucky to make the team.
- D.J. Smith is fun to watch. He's raw as hell, but he's a missile out there. Once he refines his game a bit he'll make some noise.
- Chastin West is making it impossible for the Packers to stash him on the practice squad again.
- Rodgers made just another unbelievable back shoulder throw on that touchdown to Jennings.
- Nice to see Finley knock the rust off a little bit.
- I absolutely love Pickett back at the nose and Raji swinging out to end in base.
- Disturbing to see both Bishop and Hawk getting dragged for extra yardage on more than a few running plays.
- Rough night for Randall Cobb. Hope he isn't injured too seriously and gets a chance to bounce back next week in Indy.
- M. D. Jennings took advantage of the fact that Anthony Levine was out tonight.
- Brandian Ross is a great story - but I don't see him making the team.
- A lot being made of the struggles with the first team offense. I am not worried in the slightest. McCarthy was calling nothing but deep stuff early. Lots of folks saying the no-huddle got them back on track but what really helped was getting Rodgers some shorter, rhythm throws.
- Hopeful we get good news on Wilson and Cobb. Then gear up for next week and the Colts.
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Comments (50)
August 19, 2011 at 10:38 pm
You see Gordy over Ahmad, I mean Pat Lee?
August 20, 2011 at 11:16 am
hahahaha this is funny
August 19, 2011 at 10:44 pm
I was disappointed with the lack of a pass rush. When Pickett is your sack leader somethings wrong.
O-line looked spotty.
Boy what a nice pass(with a little mustard) by Rodgers to Jennings. Great reflexes by Jennings to twist and snare.
Elmore is a stiff.
Cobb better be alright.
August 19, 2011 at 10:55 pm
I won't be able to see the game until tomorrow at 1 on the west coast, so take this comment for what it's worth.
Based on the first game and Dom Capers in general, he gets his pass rush on blitz schemes not 1 on 1 battles. I doubt Dom is running his full blitz schemes. Also remember how bad the pass rush was last year with CM3 out? that has a lot to do with it as well.
August 20, 2011 at 11:18 am
they are not blitzing everyone the way they usually do you want to see the corners play 1 on 1 and the dline go 1 on 1 to see how they can handle it if we ran our normal defense we wouldnt get the looks we need to get
August 20, 2011 at 08:09 am
No Clay + No Neal + Vanilla defense = no pass rush
PackerAaron
August 20, 2011 at 08:33 am
Absolutely correct Brian.
August 20, 2011 at 01:53 pm
Yeah, but still, Raji was the only guy playing last night who CAN win one on one at this level.
Capers is a genius, but if injuries stay with Neal I don't see anything to keep CM3 from getting double and triple teamed during the year..... Jenkins was the answer to that when he played.
August 21, 2011 at 12:54 am
Actually, it appeared that Raji was winning some of the 1 on 2 battles...
August 19, 2011 at 10:47 pm
Speaking of which, its time to end the Derek Sherrod experiment.
-----I think he's lost his mojo -- he didn't look confident or capable tonight. Too much moving around ??
Ricky Elmore will be lucky to make the team.
-----I think he gets cut. This is two games in a row, where he hasn't really tried to tackle, make a play, or anything. During the CLE game, he held contain on a running play -- but then just stood there: made no effort to tackle as the runner went into the interior of the line. It's like he's not even trying...
Chastin West is making it impossible for the Packers to stash him on the practice squad again.
-----Donald Driver is a great guy, but if he gets injured he'll be out for 2-4 weeks, whereas a younger player would be out 2-4 days. Perhaps an exaggeration, but you get the idea...
All QBs over 126.0 passer rating -- crazy !!
August 20, 2011 at 10:06 am
Yes. An exaggeration.
No receiver on this roster except Jennings is better than Driver yet.
Hold off before you starting writing out his pink slip because he'll make you eat it.
August 20, 2011 at 11:19 am
driver could be here for another year to be honest as long as he is healthy..
August 20, 2011 at 07:12 pm
what franklin said.
August 19, 2011 at 11:09 pm
-Three best QBs in the division!
-Elmore needs an offseason as a pro. Remember KGB his rookie season?
-MD Jennings is consistently in the right place at the right time. Dude knows what he's supposed to be doing and does it.
-MM is ALWAYS calling deep passes down the field. If they were running normal WCO chain moving plays, my blood pressure would be normal.
-We might not get West, but we'll have some good players on the PS. For sure.
-Alex Green is going to be FUN to watch. Brandon Saine too, if they keep him.
August 20, 2011 at 12:35 pm
Elmore will get the practice squad. I don't think he'll get picked up on waivers...
August 19, 2011 at 11:39 pm
Oh, by the way, the asking price for Flynn just went up a round (I know, the Pack aren't interested).
Look for more of the dump-off and screen-plays to Alex Green during the regular season.
Speaking of Green, Green Acres probably lost 20 pounds tonight.
August 19, 2011 at 11:52 pm
The Packers can afford to lose CJ Wilson for an extended period of time... they can't afford to lose Mike Neal for an extended period of time.
August 19, 2011 at 11:53 pm
How the hell does the offensive line completely dominate in pass rushing drills in training camp then let our QBs get crushed in games?? Are our pass rushers that crappy?
August 20, 2011 at 10:18 am
Because they are one on one drills, there is no scheme involved.
August 19, 2011 at 11:57 pm
re: Chastin West comment
As this game was winding down, I thought to myself, Jeez, how many NFL-quality WRs are on this team? Lots. Lots.
If I ran the Bears, I would sign every WR on our practice squad on day 1 of this season and they would all be upgrades. Seriously. Not that I'm a Bears fan, of course--just commenting on the (annual) dreadful state of their WR corps.
August 19, 2011 at 11:58 pm
We are cursed in the DT position for letting Jenkins go.
August 20, 2011 at 01:57 am
Jenkins is a DE, Mr. Voodoo
August 20, 2011 at 12:40 am
1- WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE CJ WILSON OR MIKE NEAL FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME!!!
2- I TOO LOVE THAT RAJI AND PICKETT CAN SWITCH IT UP ON THE LINE! BJ HAS MADE MORE THAN ON COMMENT THAT HE ENJOYS PLAYING 3 TECHNIQUE AND WE MAY NEED HIM OUT THERE! *SEE COMMENT #1
3- CHASTIN WEST DEFINATELY IS MAKING IT HARD TO CUT HIM! AND NOT JUST CAUSE OF HIS SATS! DID YOU SEE THAT DUDE BEASTIN OUT THERE??? HE WAS DRIVING THROUGH GUYS AND NEVER GAVE UP ON ANY PLAY! THAT'S WHAT WE NEED FROM EVERYONE OUT THERE!
4- IT WOULD BE SAD TO LOSE COBB, NOT THE END OF THE WORLD.
5- WE NEED TO DRAFT A TOP CB IN NEXT YRS DRAFT IF HOUSE CANT GET HEALTHY AND FILL IN NICELY THIS YR....BUSH AND LEE ARE GARBAGE (KEEP BUSH FOR SP TEAMS,6TH DB)
August 20, 2011 at 08:57 am
Dude - I thought they didn't look good either - but you need to take a chill pill. It. Is. Preseason.
If they suck like this in October/November, THEN I'll get really worried.
August 20, 2011 at 10:41 am
LOUD NOISES!!!!!!
August 20, 2011 at 01:56 pm
lol. +1 RS
August 20, 2011 at 03:18 am
Its end of game 2 preseason. Chill-out a bit hey! But I do want to know how you could figure out keeping Chastin West! Hopefully all injuries are minor, and Sherrod is a Tackle not a Guard. Finally, of course, thankfully, we're playing our vanilla defences.
August 20, 2011 at 03:47 am
Doesn't Rodgers start slow in games normally anyways? Nevertheless if the offense does struggle we know we have the no huddle to go to for offensive production.
August 20, 2011 at 05:14 am
It will be tough to find room for West, we may end up letting him slide. Our D-Line is beginning to look thin. Plus our pass rush must improve, though it's still early days.
August 20, 2011 at 05:28 am
I have always said Pickett would be better at NT and Raji at DE... People thought I was crazy... shouldn't be the case anymore!...
August 20, 2011 at 07:06 am
Gurley looks big strong capable
August 20, 2011 at 07:22 am
The offensive line does their studying of opponents as much as anyone else on the team does. While it doesn't excuse their poor performance, it is a factor in the equation.
August 20, 2011 at 07:25 am
Swain lost a job and they will keep 6 WR. Gonna be tough for a couple TEs to make the team with West and Harrell grabbing spots.
August 20, 2011 at 12:56 pm
Last year we had 26 offensive players: 2QBs, 5WRs, 4TE, 2RBs, 3FBs 10OL. If we drop to 1FB and 8OL we can fit all the people we want at skill positions and QB.
August 20, 2011 at 09:59 am
won't be able to hide Harrell on the practice squad this year. but he's not quite ready to be the #1 backup, either. so does he make the 52?
good problems to have!
August 20, 2011 at 10:20 am
"The Packers can't afford to lose C.J. Wilson for an extended period of time."
I never thought I'd hear this and agree with it.
August 20, 2011 at 10:47 am
Smith reminds me so much of Bishop in his early years. And Hawk gets dragged after contact ever. single. time. Sigh...
Oh, and MM or Campen, whoever is responsible for the OL shuffling: screw you. Apparently you are a moron, because you haven't learned the lesson from years' past.
Choose the best position for each guy, and let them play solely in there. Why the hell was Newhouse playing RT if he had not practiced in there? Why the hell is Lang playing LT? Enough already. Lang is the starting LG. Newhouse is the backup LT. Sherrod is a rookie without OTAs and Minicamp that is nowhere near ready to play in the NFL, and that will have to sit and learn.
Enough.
August 20, 2011 at 12:44 pm
Totally agree.
August 20, 2011 at 02:01 pm
Fuck yes RS. Give lang a chance to get settled in at LG, everyone knows he's gonna get the job... Why not give him the rest of pre season to settle in? I'm gonna be really disappointed if Lang doesn't get all the snaps with the ones from here on out.
GBP 4 LIFE
August 20, 2011 at 03:24 pm
Totally right!!!!!
August 20, 2011 at 10:48 am
1) absolutely trade Flynn whenever possible for a solid tackle or guard. Lets face it, if Rodgers goes down for any period of time the season is over anyway. might as well give it to Harrel. the GLARING weak spot on this team is the left side of the O-line. not a good position to be in with an all world QB.
2) Swain is cut
3) Sherrod looks lost. keep him at tackle and let him learn. same with TJ. but please trade for another O-lineman
4) Nick McDonald continues to be solid and no one talks about him. Like this guy a lot.
5) Worried about D-line ability to pressure QB. Need Clay and Neal to stay healthy
6) Finley can not be let go. can not let him go. Pay him now for a bargain compared to what he will demand at the end of the season
7) Like Morgan Burnett.
August 20, 2011 at 11:58 am
i wouldn't be too upset if they traded Flynn, but i doubt they'd get anything other than a draft pick.
lets say TT agreed to trade Flynn...how high a draft pick would he get for him?
August 20, 2011 at 02:04 pm
Probably a fifth or sixth... Lee evans just went for a fourth.
August 20, 2011 at 04:29 pm
Young QB >>>> old unproductive receiver.
August 20, 2011 at 01:28 pm
Morgan Burnett has been the best DB in the preseason games.
He looks MUCH, MUCH more aggressive than last year. He's not being dragged down, he's not hesitating, he's flying all over and making plays. Some worried he was too soft to play SS last year (which was a reasonable concern). He looks anything but soft.
Dream team my ass. Woodson, Williams, Shields, Collins and Burnett is the best secondary in the league BY FAR. It might even go down as an all-time unit. It just needs a cacthy name.
August 20, 2011 at 02:12 pm
Pass rush is non-existant. It'll cost us if not fixed. (I know it's pre-season). Burnette is a real gem, a great draft pick. Shields is playing so far off the WR that his speed can't make up the space. That bothers me. Does Sitton have a brother?....cousin?...good friend?
August 20, 2011 at 04:30 pm
Sitton gave up a sack last game. Even he isn't as sharp as necessary.
But, yeah, another Sitton on the OL would be the tits.
August 20, 2011 at 09:14 pm
Let's remember that every team has to get to 53. Ted will be out there picking up key cuts from other teams to fill the O line concerns. Might be a veteran QB out there to give us the solid opp to get something for Flynn.
August 21, 2011 at 01:01 am
Do you really think so? I don't. I believe that Thompson has such a deep roster that it's going to be too difficult to look at picking up somebody new... e.g. who would you cut to make room?
One nice thing tho, since the Bears did so well this year, almost any other team would have priority over our waived receivers.
August 20, 2011 at 10:15 pm
Not a single mention of Jarious Wynn? I thought he made some nice plays out there. Yeah, he whiffed on that one sack but stood out with the 2s in my mind.