Preseason Week 3 - That's What Cheese Said

That's What Cheese Said is out now for the Preseason Week 3 game against the Oakland Raiders. Find out what the team thought about the bizarre circumstances that impacted the game this past Thursday. 

The Packers found themselves in unfamiliar territory this past Thursday night, both figuratively and literally, as they played their third preseason game, this time against the Oakland Raiders, in Winnipeg, Canada on an 80-yard field due to questionable end zone conditions. 

Due to field concerns, the Packers held out 33 players from the game with almost everyone on the list a roster lock already. Notably, Tim Boyle took starting team reps over DeShone Kizer with Aaron Rodgers sitting out. 

When asked about how the tackling against Oakland compared to the rest of the preseason, Head Coach Matt LaFleur was optimistic. “I thought our effort by everybody was really good.”

Rookie inside linebacker Ty Summers agreed. “I got in my own head the second game, something that I’ve never really done before, so I had to wake myself up and remind myself that I’m a good player, that I got here for a reason, so go out there and just give it my all and have fun. 

LaFleur noticed, too, saying of Summers, “I thought the tackling was better. It’s just more or less being in position to make those plays.”

When asked about Boyle getting the start over Kizer, LaFleur was noncommittal about what it meant long-term, simply suggesting he wanted to get an extended look at Boyle against second-string competition. 

“I just think the plays that were there to be made, were made. And that was encouraging,” he said. “He moved the ball well. We had three straight drives that ended in touchdowns, and anytime you’re doing that, you’re doing something right.”

Even still, the backup quarterback battle is far from over as the Packers head home to Lambeau Field to face the Kansas City Chiefs in their final preseason game. 

“Can you put together back-to-back days and show that consistency that we’re trying to establish at that position?” asked LaFleur. That’s what the team is still assessing regarding the competition for QB2. 

Boyle took the time during his locker room interview to praise the offense as a whole rather than give himself any solo acknowledgement, despite finishing the night 15-of-26 for 191 yards and two touchdowns. 

“I think the important thing was the run game. We got the run game going,” he started, before adding, “Three scores in the first half was definitely good.”

Boyle found both Trevor Davis and Jake Kumerow in the artificial end zone for his two touchdown passes, with running back Tra Carson scoring the third touchdown on the ground. 

Davis impressed in his first preseason action after suffering an injury during training camp. On offense, Davis had five receptions for 78 yards and one touchdown. He also had a few solid returns on special teams.

“It was just cool to see him carry it over from practice to the game. He’s been out for a while now so we gave him a decent amount of plays, and then he was playing on special teams,” said LaFleur. “When his number was called he made plays, and that’s what we’re going to continue to ask from him, but he answered the bell, and he did a nice job.”

Davis knows better than to read too much into one performance, though, even if the performance was a strong one. 

“I’ve just gotta keep stacking up days. Can’t get too high on what’s happened today, in the game, or previous practices. Just every day, have to go up and keep doing the same thing consistently. Consistency is really the biggest thing,” he said. 

For some of the players that may find themselves teetering on the roster bubble, it was nice to have some additional snaps to prove they deserve a place on the 53-man roster. Despite questionable field conditions, the Packers were still able to better-evaluate players they may not have seen enough of previously. 

“The beauty of this was we got a chance to really evaluate some of the guys that may not have gotten the amount of time that we needed to get evaluations on,” said LaFleur. 

One player that stood out? Dexter Williams, who LaFleur indicated had his best run as a Green Bay Packer this past Thursday, despite the 20-yard run being negated by a holding call. 

“He pressed the blocks to the offensive linemen, and it really setup the blocks on the second level,” LaFleur said. “And we cut the defense in half, and he stuck his foot in the ground and went for 20 yards. And he was decisive about it. So that is what it has to be every snap.”

Offensive lineman Justin McCray noticed an increase in his personal snap count, but he wasn’t bothered. 

“Just kept my same mindset that I’m going to go in there and have probably 30-40 plays. And it ended up being a little more, but it just is what it is,” he said. 

“To me it’s still a blessing. I get to go out there and still play, no matter if it’s August or December or whenever, to me I’m still playing outdoor football, get to do what I love.”

When asked whether the starters would see playing time against the Chiefs, LaFleur didn’t feel it was necessary, but also indicated he hadn’t given the schedule much thought quite yet. 

“I think everybody has a different philosophy on that. It really goes back to being confident in the work that you get in throughout the entire preseason and training camp,” he said. “I think that’s a big reason why you see a lot of these teams that are scrimmaging multiple teams, to get the necessary competitive work, yet not put those guys at risk in those games when guys are live and you’re going to the ground.”

While of course a preseason press conference means little in the grand scheme of things, it does sound like LaFleur is interested in continuing to have joint practices with other teams in the future. 

LaFleur said of his own opportunities for growth this preseason, “It’s been great just having to be in charge of the game management piece but still, you’re calling plays and you’re still trying to think ahead, so that's why I wanted that game to take place because every opportunity that I have to go out there and go through the process is good for myself and for our staff.” 

The Packers stay home this week as they prep for the Chiefs on Thursday at 7:00pm CST. And the good news is, we already know Lambeau Field is in great condition for a football game. 

 

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Maggie Loney is a writer for Cheesehead TV and podcaster for the Pack-A-Day Podcast and Pack's What She Said. Find her on Twitter at @MaggieJLoney.

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7 points
 

Comments (20)

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

August 24, 2019 at 03:20 pm

Maggie, The field will be ready, but will the starters be? ;-)
Right now I think that the team is more concerned with the first game of the season then they are over the last preseason game. I happen to like the idea to practice on a split (100 yard) field so that both the starters and backups can get some time in. With the injuries, cut down day might be pretty interesting.

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Alberta_Packer's picture

August 24, 2019 at 03:27 pm

"Even still, the backup quarterback battle is far from over..." !!!

Unless Matt Flynn has finished counting his money and is planning on coming out of retirement - the backup QB position should be a no contest. Clearly Tim Boyle for a myriad of reasons - while Kizer NOT - also for a long list of reasons.

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flackcatcher's picture

August 24, 2019 at 08:10 pm

Boyle still locks up mentally on the field, his mechanics are garbage under center and yet the backup QB spot is still in play. At this point, Matt Flynn unretiring is looking better and better every day.

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Coldworld's picture

August 25, 2019 at 09:27 am

Quarter 1 Boyle or Quarter 2 Boyle? Realistically, the greatest value of either of these is not starting but entering a game and not blowing it. Boyle is the epitome of a player you don’t want in that situation at this point.

Looking only at the good is a very unsound way to build a roster.

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Biggar's picture

August 24, 2019 at 03:44 pm

It sure sounds like lafleur is not even close to being a head coach. At has to be thinking what did Murphy do. After listening to the game on Thursday guden spoke and our.hc did not say a word.ong season ahead

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LeotisHarris's picture

August 24, 2019 at 04:31 pm

Could we get Big gar on the podcast, please?

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fastmoving's picture

August 24, 2019 at 05:00 pm

Bigar….. and you been close to beeing a halfway decent poster here??????

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Alberta_Packer's picture

August 24, 2019 at 05:09 pm

I attribute this to - that Gruden generally likes to hear himself talk. Also what was his record last year with Oakland? 4-12 wasn't it?

Question(s):
1. Who is the best coach in the NFL? A. - Bill Bellichick
2. Who is the worst interview in the NFL - A.- Bill Bellichick

There is no co-relation between interview grades and season records.

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Coldworld's picture

August 25, 2019 at 09:30 am

Why talk about the season ahead? Serves zero purpose. Talk means nothing and Gruden has a restless fan base he has to amp up. From a Raiders perspective nothing much positive in that game in the period when possible roster players were on the field.

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Gianich's picture

August 24, 2019 at 04:07 pm

Great work. Really liking this column!

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MaggieLoney's picture

August 26, 2019 at 09:34 am

Thank you, Duke! Glad you enjoy it. It's been a blast to write each week.

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Leatherhead's picture

August 24, 2019 at 04:50 pm

Will we be ready to beat the Vikings? Everything else is irrelevant if we win that game. If we don't,we're probaby 0-2 in the division.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

August 24, 2019 at 09:23 pm

Winning one of those games would be great.

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Coldworld's picture

August 25, 2019 at 09:32 am

Although the dispassionate observer would likely expect a team in our position to start slower and gain momentum.

I still see this as year two of a rebuild. I expect an upward curve.

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Leatherhead's picture

August 25, 2019 at 09:50 am

You don’t rebuild around a 36 year old QB with an injury history. We’re not rebuilding, we’re trying to win now during the remainder of the Rodgers window.

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Biggar's picture

August 24, 2019 at 06:31 pm

Speaking of bill b now might be the time to call him and.make a deal to Graham to the Patriots for inside lb. Or a.running.back.

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Coldworld's picture

August 25, 2019 at 09:43 am

Or not

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bad-y's picture

August 24, 2019 at 08:31 pm

Maggie, just what to say thanks, not only for your informative and concise articles, but also for your well written articles. You are either awesome on the keyboard or you at least proof read before you post. It is refreshing to read reports with proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling.

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Tedlyflyfisher's picture

August 25, 2019 at 01:13 pm

Amen to that! Good job, Maggie.

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MaggieLoney's picture

August 26, 2019 at 09:34 am

Thank you, bad-y! Appreciate the kind words :)

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