And what a smorgasbord that was against Indianapolis. That was the most points scored by the Packers in a pre-season game since the infamous 75-0 rout of the Cedar Rapids Crush back in '38, but the asterisk in the record books notes that Cedar Rapids didn't actually have a football team and that 11 touchdowns were scored in a pasture against cows. Apart from giving up a touchdown 22 seconds into the game, the only thing tempering my enthusiasm after racking up 59 points against the defending AFC Champions is a nagging sense of déjà vu. It was the third pre-season game last season against the defending NFC Champion Cardinals that the Super Bowl hype began around the Packers. Expectations were high coming out of that game. As it turned out, we beat Arizona twice in games that didn’t matter, but lost to them, giving up 51 points in the process, when it did.
I don't want a repeat of that. So I hope everyone in the Packer organization takes a nice big slice of humble pie from that smoargasbord and remembers that this is the pre-season and they need to bring the same level of execution every week of the regular season. From all the post-game interviews, it sounds like the coaches and players do have a “confident without being cocky” mindset. So with that forewarning, here’s my breakdown of what I’m seeing this pre-season.
Offense
QB – Obviously, Rodgers looks super sharp. Like Ginsu knife forged by ninjas using lasers sharp. He went 21 of 29 for 195 yards, 3 TDs and no interceptions against the Colts in just a half of football. In the three pre-season games he’s played so far, cumulatively amounting to about one full game of play, he’s 41 of 53 for 470 yards, 6 TDs and no interceptions. That’s crazy good. He also seems more relaxed and loose this year, perhaps just a function of having a Pro-Bowl season under his belt and the Favre distraction further in the rear view mirror. He's so loose, in fact, that he’s tossing the ball into a tiny net from 50+ yards just for the amusement of the practice crowd.
The other observation at the QB position this pre-season is that Matt Flynn looks pretty darn good himself. He’s athletic, accurate with the football, and very poised and confident. He clearly has a great grasp of the offense – leading a two-minute drive from the 1-yard line in the Seattle game that would have scored a field goal if not for a false start in the final seconds. He’s not Rodgers, yet, but he appears to be a very serviceable back-up who plays with a similar style should the need arise.
RB/FB – Ryan Grant looks like he’ll put up another solid season, even if Jon Gruden refers to him as Dorsey Levens. The concussion and fumble in week one aside, he has shown again why he consistently is one of the top backs in the NFL. Brandon Jackson finally looks like he may be ready to be that 3rd-down, change-of-pace guy the Packers have needed. He had a great 26-yard scamper followed by a 12-yard TD in the Seattle game. He’s also been highly effective in screens, and had a great blitz pick-up against the Colts that enabled Rodgers to hit Jermichael for a TD. Jackson even has a little nickname, B-Jax, which is cooler than the name Merrill Hodge tried to give him -- "Bran-Jo, because when he runs, it reminds me of a banjo!"
Going down the list, Kregg Lumpkin is healthy and could add some punch. Korey Hall and John Kuhn return to provide stability and familiarity at fullback. Apart from the confusion that must ensue at practices by having two dudes named Quinn (Porter and Johnson), the backfield looks solid. Although the running game hasn’t been as impressive as the passing game, if the O-line can stay healthy, we’ll have plenty of run production this season.
WR – Not much to say about these guys. They’re returning the same crew that was stellar for them last season. Jennings remains in his elite form. He sat tonight with a back issue, but it’s minor. Driver appears to be as ready-to-go as ever. And they have great depth with James Jones and Jordy Nelson, not to mention guys that might not even make the team like Brett Swain and Patrick Williams. Hell, Jason Chery who got confused with the water boy on the depth chart, returned a punt for a touchdown. And Rodgers will make all these guys’ stat sheets ring like slot machines.
TE – Finley (again, as I thought after the Arizona pre-season game exactly one year ago) is ridiculous. He may emerge as the best tight end in the NFL this year. His physical gifts are indisputable, but he’s combining that with crisp route-running, great hands, and an incredible rapport with Rodgers. The drive in the final two minutes of the first half against the Colts was a Jermichael highlight reel. If the ball is in the same zip code, he is going to go up and get it, then drag 8 defenders another 30 yards downfield.
What’s really scary is the depth Green Bay has at TE. Obviously Donald Lee is a solid veteran who would be a great first-string starter if needed in that role. Then you have Spencer Havner (who has also been lining up on defense as a linebacker, by the way) and their 5th-round draft pick Andrew Quarless, who looked like he was playing the role of Finley both in terms of size and raw athletic ability on a touchdown grab in the second half. Forget 2 TE sets, I think the Packers should line up in a 4 TE set just to screw with the other team’s minds.
O-Line – My fingers are crossed that the horror show that was the first half of last season has truly ended. The 31 sacks the Packers gave up in the first seven games of 2009 was an embarrassment, and arguably cost them the division. Drafting Bryan Bulaga with the 23rd pick overall was part of the solution, and it sounds like it’s still a possibility he will beat out Daryn Colledge at the left guard spot (though I don’t expect it). The starting five have looked very stable, with Clifton and Tauscher doing an impressive job against two of the best in the league in Mathis and Freeney tonight.
Keeping the starting line healthy will be key, but I also feel more comfortable with our depth this year. Bulaga looks like he’ll live up to the first-round pick and should fill in well for Clifton or Colledge if necessary. T.J. Lang and Allen Barbre both got playing time last year and look serviceable. Jason Spitz would be a very reliable back-up at Center, assuming he’s not traded. The only reserve I’m not real comfortable with is Breno Giacomini, and not just because he has a silly name, but because he got manhandled in the Seattle game -- giving up at least one sack.
But the line itself is only part of the pass protection equation. The Packers overall scheme seems much better suited to reduce sacks this year. Rodgers is getting to the line early. In addition to himself, Wells, and often Sitton and Colledge, are making reads and adjustments at the line. The blitz pick-ups from the backs have been reliable. And Rodgers is getting rid of the ball faster, and they are calling more screens and other short passes. They’ve also dramatically cut down on their holding and false start penalties. All of that should dramatically reduce their pass protection problem, which was their biggest Achilles heel on offense last year.
That’s the offensive side of the ball. See next post for an analysis of defense and special teams.
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