Preseason Week Two: What We're Watching

A week after getting our first taste of the 2017 Green Bay Packers, the team travels to D.C. this evening for their second preseason game. As is normal in the preseason, the Packers came out of last week’s game against Philadelphia with more questions than answers and significant room for improvement in more than a couple areas.

With that said, here are three things I’ll be keeping an eye on as we inch one game closer to the regular season:

Tackling

Probably the number one most frustrating aspect of preseason week one was the amount of missed tackles by the Packer defense. Maybe they were shaking off the dust and getting back into the flow of game action, and maybe inexperience played a part at times, but Packer defenders seemed to be sprawled all over the field against Philadelphia. Mike McCarthy said tackling work would be a priority at practice this week, and hopefully we’ll see some marked improvement because of that.

Running Backs

For the most part, we didn’t quite get to see what we wanted from the running game against the Eagles. Jamaal Williams provided a slight glimpse of what he’s all about, and that was about it. Ty Montgomery remains the leader in the clubhouse despite an early fumble, though it will be interesting to monitor whether Williams can make that a more interesting decision over the next couple weeks. With Montgomery unlikely to play against Washington, rookies Devante Mays and Aaron Jones should figure more into the box score this week as they battle, at least for now, for the third spot at the table. It would be great if all three of the rookies got a chance to show off their unique skill sets and put a little more on tape this week.

Quarterbacks

The most interesting battle here has become the one between Joe Callahan and Taysom Hill. Callahan’s most notable moment in last week’s contest came when he avoided a sack with a nifty spin move, while Hill—perhaps not surprisingly to some—impressed with a lofted deep ball to DeAngelo Yancey, as well as a touchdown on a fade pattern to Michael Clark. Barring a complete disaster at the top of the quarterback depth chart, neither player will likely take snaps more meaningful to their young careers than the ones they see over the next three weeks. While Callahan’s story has been fun to follow, he’s certainly no lock to be the third option so long as Hill continues to progress.

What are you most interested in tracking during preseason week two?

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Comments (12)

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cheesehead1's picture

August 19, 2017 at 12:07 pm

Looking for improvement on D.

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Bedrock's picture

August 19, 2017 at 12:15 pm

I gotta see more out of Spriggs. Also very curious to see the top DB picks improve. We need production from them.

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dobber's picture

August 19, 2017 at 01:10 pm

Last week I was looking for interior OL depth, and it seems to be panning out. This week, I think you hit on an important one: Spriggs HAS to look better.

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Turophile's picture

August 19, 2017 at 10:03 pm

It gives me no pleasure to say he looks worse.

It's a long climb to the light, out of the hole he has dug, but there are still two preseasons left. Put the crampons on, lad.

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Since'61's picture

August 19, 2017 at 12:24 pm

I'm looking for no injuries, better tackling and better run blocking. Thanks, Since '61

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PatrickGB's picture

August 19, 2017 at 02:02 pm

Besides the above, I would like to see the kick off returns and coverages. I also would hope to see some improvement from Fackrell and Elliot. The backups at OLB need work and improvements. The play on special teams for our backups will determine a possible spot on the finial cutdown.

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Bearmeat's picture

August 19, 2017 at 02:06 pm

I would love to see a pass rush. Any pass rush at all - but especially one from someone other than Perry. Someone, please just beat a NFL caliber LT or RT please.

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chugwater's picture

August 19, 2017 at 04:17 pm

I'm looking at Elliott and Fackrell plain and simple.

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Matt Wayne's picture

August 19, 2017 at 02:36 pm

Do we know who is not going to play tonight?

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ricky's picture

August 19, 2017 at 05:55 pm

The rules against contact during practices means that tackling will almost always be sloppy even through the first few real games. So, allow more contact and invite more unnecessary injuries, or put a diluted product on the field? The NFL and NFLPA have opted for the latter.

The rookies will be pressed into service with Montgomery being held out. So that should give us some idea of what they have to offer under relatively real conditions.

Is there really a battle between Callahan and Hill? Callahan is 24; Hill, 27, with a history of injuries in college. Assuming the Packers trade Hundley after this year, who would you rather have as a backup? A younger scrambler who seems to have "Favre-ian" moments, or the older, injury prone Hill?

JMO

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Finwiz's picture

August 19, 2017 at 06:15 pm

I'd love to see NUMBER 12 roll the ball down the field using Martellius for the short game, move the chains, and spread a couple to the WR's. No 3 and outs out of your 1st string. Fingers crossed!

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flackcatcher's picture

August 19, 2017 at 10:20 pm

Huh! Now you can see into future too.(Man, I want your crystal ball:)

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