Wednesday, August 30, 2017

My Take -> Preseason Week 4

Greetings, G-Force.

It was a true delight to belt out my first "GO PACK GO!" at maximum volume on Saturday night. It was spectacular to take my 4 year old to his first game. In his car seat on the way home, he said, "Dad! Roll my window down! I want to yell 'GO PACK GO!' at all of the people wear Packers clothes!" Yes, Dylan. Yes, I will roll the window down. To no one's surprise, he not only made it through 4 quarters. But, he didn't miss a play. And, he wanted to know all the details. Great fun!

I listen to Femi Kuti's "Africa for Africa" album. Femi brings a great bounce to the head as you seek rhythm in life. His energy is uplifting. He takes my spirit up a notch. Plainly stated, it's happy music.

Here are my quick vibes from the Packers visit to COlorado.

* The Packers buzz is healthy. The team is engaged. They feel like the time is now. Fully noteworthy that when the offense was on the field, Rodgers was positioned right next to McCarthy throughout the game. They're working to get on the page. Ensuring that they're seeing the same things. Preparing for a special season.

* I love every Packers team. I especially love the 2017 Green Bay Packers. We have so much personality. The camaraderie is at a championship level. They're having fun together. Seeing true teamship. The culture on this team seems to be surrounded with more both a unified and a fun approach. It's playful.

* Are the Packers trying to hide Taysom Hill, so they can tuck him onto the Practice Squad? Sure seemed like it.

* Ty Montgomery is a true baller. He has all of the traits to be a top-shelf RB. There's no reason he's not touching the ball at least 15 times every game. He's a dual threat. I'm already anxious to see him running a wheel route against a LB.

* Aaron Jones. Really liked the vision to see the cutback. But, where was the speed to take that one to the house?

* Devante Mays is a tough minded man at RB. Love his game in the flat. Hasn't shown that he can step thru an arm tackle yet, but it looks like it's a simple fix if he just picked his knees up a little more. What's interesting is that Edgar Bennett was the master at running with eyes knees in traffic and that was one of the reasons he excelled in the screen game. Hope he passes that trait to Mays.

* Lance Kendricks and Martellus Bennett are open. Especially over the middle of the field on crossing routes. Rodgers isn't used to seeing an open TE running across the middle of the field. He'll have to grow into that option. He'll have to learn to trust that the play is open. If so, we could see multiple games in which both Kendricks and Bennett are grabbing 3-plus passes.

* On two separate plays the Packers ran stop routes on third down that were completed. Both times the receiver stopped his route short of the first down. Once it was Adams. The other time is was Kendricks. Gotta be aware of the marker and run that route to the sticks.

* Surprising to see how Malachi Dupre and DeAngelo Yancey were used. It was clear that Michael Clark was who the Packers really wanted to see perform in the altitude. Appeared as though Clark was ahead of both on the depth chart. I highly doubt that Dupre will make it to the practice squad. Though he's a 7th round pick and Yancey was a 5th round pick, Dupre really passes the eye test of an NFL receiver. I want to see Dupre grow as a receiver in Green and Gold. I'm less optimistic about Yancey evolving into a legit player. He didn't seem to have any separation against Denver.

* Jason Spriggs. Not ready to give up on him yet, but the guy looks like he's lost all of his confidence. He used to look good on his feet. He shuffled well. Now, it appears as though he's thinking and not playing. He might also be suffering from the new CBA rules and the inability to make serious contact during practices. Hard to development as a lineman if you're not consistently blocking with the pads on.

* Kyle Murphy is a much better run blocker than a pass blocker. He's too stiff as a pass blocker. It's too easy to get underneath him. Needs to get lower and extend his hands with a wider base.

* I don't like any of our back-up Guards. Not one of them. McCray, Amichia and Gray were all abused in an ugly way.

* Didn't think I'd say this, but the Packers need Donny Barclay to return.

* If I were TT, I'd be searching for a veteran swing OL that falls victims to waivers over the next week.

* I wouldn't keep Kerridge. He doesn't impress me. Didn't like his penalty, which was unnecessary. He also missed a special teams tackle. Not sure why we'd eat up a roster spot with a 2nd FB. I certainly wouldn't.

* This team needs to sign Ahmad Brooks. With Biegel still in recovery mode and Fackrell looking like he can't play in the league, the Packers need depth. They need a veteran presence who is experienced in the 3-4. Brooks is that guy. He'd immediately upgrade the defense and would be a perfect fit in a rotational role that required him to play 15-20 plays a game. He's a mean dude. He'd bring attitude. Brooks needs to be signed!

* Mike Daniels as a pass rusher. Looked like he's ready to get after the QB on 3rd down. Happy to see that Lowry is healthy again because he'll be able to eat up early down snaps and he'll help keep Daniels fresh. Daniels as a 3rd down pass rusher could net 5 sacks.

* Kenny Clark looks like he's ready to have a break-out year in a big way.

* Ricky Jean Francois was extremely active, once again. Really excited that he's in the mix on the defensive front.

* Christian Ringo looks much quicker this year than in past years. He's been active. He'll be a tough cut as he finally looks ready to be depended on as a rotational DL. There isn't room for Ringo and Price. Tough choice.

* Izaah Lunsford continues to impress. I'm hopeful that he's on the Practice Squad.

* Ahmad Brooks. Make it happen, TT. Go ALL-IN!

* Call me crazy, but I'd strongly consider keeping Derrick Mathews. Mathews absolutely deserves to be on the practice squad, at a minimum. He's active. He sees the field well. Love his instincts. He wraps up well. He finds the football. He looks to have a really big upside. Wish there was a roster spot for him.

* Reggie Gilbert needs another year of practice squad development. However, there's no question that he's outperformed Kyler Fackrell this preseason.

* Jayrone Elliott. Going to need much more out of Elliott this year. Wish he'd just let himself go and try to get the edge as a rusher again. The less he engages the OT, the better. He needs to run around the Tackle.

* KENTRELL BRICE! Fantastic presence in the secondary. Loved seeing him grab the pick. Wanted to see him dancing in the end zone, but terrific return nonetheless.

* Marwin Evans can play in this league. Each week - he's seemed to be the best player on the field each and every week. Really wanted him to grab the pick. Would have been such a fun moment to see him striding down the sideline. In some ways, Evans is reminding me of the way I viewed Des Bishop early in his career. Each week - in the preseason - he's the best week, but then when the season starts, Evans is relegated to special teams in the same way that Bishop was prior to the Nick Barnett injury.

* Kevin King. Dude really likes to get in a WR's face. Like the way he jams the WR. He turns and runs well. I'm concerned about his ability to cover the crossing route. Hoping that he has the make-up speed if he's off-balance early in the route or if he loses his initial jam. He's a fighter and he's easy to cheer for. I'm optimistic that King will have a really strong year.

* Lenzy Pipkins had a chance to really make his mark as a legitimate contender for the roster, but he didn't perform as he needed. Now, he seems like he's a prime candidate for the practice squad. He was in position. But, he didn't finish the play.

* Aaron Taylor won't make the roster due to the great depth at Safety. He probably won't make the practice squad either, but Taylor has shown well throughout the preseason.

* Josh Jones showed his speed. Really liked seeing his back-side blitz. He was absolutely destroying plays and loving every moment of it.

* I really hope Capers doesn't continue to call zone coverages in short yardage situations. Man up, Dom!

* How fun would it be for Biegel to be studying the game from the sidelines while standing next to Ahmad Brooks as Brooks awaits his next snap? Needs to happen.

Headed into the Final Preseason Game, here's my Final 53. Admittedly, this is tough to do without attending practices. Also, this is what I would do if I were the GM, not what I think the Packers would do.

QB: Rodgers and Hundley
RB: Ty, Williams, Mays, Jones RIP
WR: Jordy, Cobb, Adams, Janis, Davis, Dupre
TE: Bennett, Kendricks, Rodgers
OL: Bakhtiari, Evans, Linsley, Taylor, Bulaga, Murphy, Spriggs, Barclay, Amichia
DL: Daniels, Adams, Lowry, Jean Francois, Clark, Ringo
LB: AHMAD BROOKS, Clay, Perry, Tripp, Ryan, Thomas, Martinez, Elliott
DB: King, Randall, Rollins, House, Gunter, Hawkins, HaHa, Evans, Burnett, Jones, Brice
ST: Goode, Crosby, Vogel
Suspended: GERONIMO
PUP: Biegel
Practice Squad: Yancey, Clark, Pipkins, Mathews, Patrick, Lunsford, Gray, Gilbert, Price, Hill

Every year - I attempt to get a Packers centric mock draft out prior to Labor Day weekend. As always, I only select players that I've actually watched play. Otherwise, it wouldn't be authentic. I've given the Packers four draft picks due to their losses in Free Agency. OVER THE CAP projects that the Packers will receive a 3rd, a 5th and two 6 round picks as compensatory picks. I've also given the Packers a 7th round pick in the Lerentee McCray trade. I have the Packers penciled in as the 32nd pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. I haven't invested enough time into RB's nor TE's. I've been more focused on CB's and LB's.

Round 1: Bradley Chubb, OLB, NC State. The Packers need depth at OLB. Chubb is stout. He uses leverage to power through blockers. He can also grab the edge with speed. He extends his arms to hold off OL and force run plays to the outside. He destroys QB's with his pass rush.

Round 2: Quenton Meeks, CB, Stanford. I thought that I was locked into Iman Marshall, CB, USC with this pick, but I'm giving the slight edge to Meeks. Meeks brings great length and make-up speed. He plays the ball well. He has football smarts. He has the physical make-up that would allow him to be left alone on the perimeter. Meeks has unlimited potential and appears to have the desire to become a star.

Round 3: Chad Thomas, OLB, []_[]. Thomas has top-tier length. He's overly disruptive as he extends his massive frame. Consistency is his biggest area of opportunity, but when Thomas is dialed in, he dominates the line of scrimmage. I expect Thomas to have a tremendous year.

Round 3: Dee Delaney, CB, []_[]. As I write, I am more excited to watch Delaney than any other prospect in college football in the 2017 season. Delaney has all of the tools to propel himself to a 1st round pick. Because he's a transfer from the Citadel, it's tough to gauge where he'd roughly fall at this stage in the process. Others have him as a 4-5 round pick. I see him as having way too much upside to drop him that low. He has length. He can turn and run. He plays the ball. I'm expecting a break-out year from Delaney.

Round 4: TJ Edwards, LB, WI. Edwards will be under the microscope. He's been surrounded with talent throughout his career, but the loss of Jack Cichy cannot be understated. Edwards led the Badgers in tackles last year. He also had 3 sacks and 3 interceptions. He was a run plugger. He's always in pursuit. I love his game. He drops well in coverage. He can do it all. He'd be a pillar in the heart of the Packers 3-4 defense.

Round 5: Michael Gallup, WR, Colorado State. Gallup's elusiveness and quickness make him a prospect to be an elite NFL slot receiver. Just get the ball in Gallup's hands and watch him get loose. He has a nose for finding the first down marker and when he sees the end zone, he'll juke most defenders in the open field to find his way to pay dirt. Dude can straight up boogie.

Round 5: Steven Parker, S, OK. Parker has everything you look for in a Safety. Now, it's up to Parker to put it all together. He has the size, the speed and the athleticism. He can step into the slot to assist in coverage. But, Parker has missed too many tackles and has not been the playmaker that I envisioned he'd become. He's now a Senior leader on the Sooner defense. If he takes the next step, he has the gifts to rise much higher than a 5th round pick.

Round 6: Jake Roh, TE, Boise State. Roh is a steady TE. Soft hands. He works the middle of the field. He'll dig in and help out as a blocker. A reliable target who sits down in the zone and falls forward. He's not an overpowering TE threat, but he seems to do everything well enough to warrant a late round pick.

Round 6: LJ Scott, RB, Michigan State. Admittedly, Scott doesn't have the speed that I'm going to be looking for throughout the 2017 college season. But, Scott has the size to be a workhorse and he fights for tough yards. He's been an under-utilized RB as a receiver. He has soft hands and can do damage in space as he's a good athlete. Scott shows heart every time he touches the football.

Round 6: Deadrin Senat, DL South Florida. Senat is a run-stuffing stud. He eats blockers and plays on the other side of the line of scrimmage. He's not going to add much in the way of a pass rush, but he has the physicality to be a solid run stopper in the NFL.

Round 7: Fred Warner, BYU, LB. Warner finds the football. He has NFL instincts. He fights on every play. He diagnoses plays and gets after the football with above average speed. Displays leadership qualities as well on the field. He's in command.

Round 7: Donovan Olumba, CB, Portland State. I actually think that Portland State has two prospects at CB to watch this year. The other being Chris Seisay. Olumba has the size and the confidence to be able to be groomed into an NFL perimeter CB.

This week - The Packers host the Rams. In the classic Midwest Shrine Game. I always loved this game growing up. Festive environment. Lambeau Field. You feel a little of the nerves inside that the real games are just about to kick off.

There's no reason for the Packers to not take it to the Rams. The Packers depth is much better than the Rams. Especially at QB. Additionally, I anticipate that the Packers back-up DL will destroy the Rams back-up OL.

Look for Marwin Evans to make another big play this week.

Expect Brett Hundley to be a star in the early going. He utilizes the depth at WR and hits Michael Clark on a jump ball. Handley rolls right and hits Dupre on an out route.

Jamaal Williams gets to the open field on a cut back run.

It's a blowout.

Packers 23.
Rams 6.

I'm ready for the regular season.

Go Pack Go!

Talkin' S-Mac.
talkins-mac.blogspot.com
https://twitter.com/buzzboy3

Friday, August 25, 2017

My Take -> Preseason Week 3

Greetings, G-Force.

Ah. The start of a riveting two weeks. This week - the Packers COme to visit me. Next week - it's Phish COming to visit. Back to back thrilling weekends of epic proportions. "Everything's right. So, just hold tight."

Phish. 7/21/17. MSG. The kick-off to the Baker's Dozen. It's in my ear. An exhilarating night. I'll forever hold it close. It's a fun one to relive.

Here are my quick vibes on the win over the Redskins:

* Mike McCarthy looks intense. He looks determined to get this team off to a fast start. He's all business. In command of the team.

* Aaron Rodgers appears to be having more fun. Liked seeing him crack a semi smile after Bennett dropped his opening pass. Rodgers seems to be having a lot of fun taking on a heavier leadership role with the team. It feels like he's taking a different approach with his attitude. He's carrying the cool California feel again. His play looked like he was in midseason form. Moving the sticks with his quick-count, his arm and his feet. A treat to watch. He looks like he's ready to be the MVP.

* Jamaal Williams really drives forward. Might need to be a more patient and let the play develop. He seems to be pressing a little bit. I'm hoping to see him get loose this weekend. I want to see him running at the secondary. He hasn't been able to get started yet. Admittedly, I wonder if he's quick enough to play at this level. I was hoping for more speed at the position, which is why I was pining for Marlon Mack prior to the draft. The Packers had a shot at Mack, but drafted Williams instead. I'll forever compare their careers.

* Rodgers to Jordy. Rodgers to Cobb. Rodgers to Adams. Rodgers to Bennett. Get used to it. Spreading the ball around. Using all of his weapons.

* The fade to Bennett will help elevate vocal chords.

* Nice to see Aaron Jones finding the end zone. Jones has displayed soft hands so far. I wonder if he's fast enough to outrun a LB on a wheel route? If so, that could be something to watch at some point this year.

* The Packers have clearly studied the way the Patriots have used RB's over the last couple of years. We're seeing a lot of swing passes in the flat to the RB's. Last year - we saw that when Davante Adams was playing RB - at times - but not much other than that. I've liked what Devante Mays has brought to the swing pass. Want to see if he can step through arm tackles. I'm hoping that he gets a 1st Quarter touch or two this weekend, so that he gets to taste an Aaron Rodgers-led huddle.

* Jordy. I love that guy.

* Adams on the slant for a 1st down!

* Bulaga and Bakhtiari are book-ends at Tackle. Really enjoy watching the Bakhtiari and Rodgers bond grow. It's clear that they've become great buddies.

* Bulaga's injury better not cause him to miss a down this year. Jason Spriggs looks awful. Kyle Murphy looks like he can run block, but as a pass blocker? Well, he'll need Bennett lined up next to him to help double team. If so, look for Bennett to chip often and to be available as a quick dump off option as a receiver.

* It's worth reiterating. Jason Spriggs. WOW. What a disappointment.

* With Lance Kendricks' versatility, it's really tough to see the Packers keeping two FB's. Kendricks can easily step into that role, if needed. Either RIP or Kerridge has to go. I'd keep RIP.

* Janis vs Davis. Advantage Janis. The only thing Davis could not do during the preseason was to fumble. Had he not fumbled, I'd have considered him a near lock to make the team. But, he fumbled and now, his spot has to be questioned. Mike McCarthy prides himself on building a football team that protects the football and wins the turnover battle. That was a huge error by Davis. Meanwhile, Janis had a solid day as a receiver and as a gunner on punts.

* Brett Hundley looks like he's ready to start in the NFL.

* Joe Callahan needed a perfect preseason in order to be considered for the 53-man roster. That didn't happen last weekend.

* Taysom Hill excites! You can't teach determination. You can't teach intensity. You can't teach will. Hill has all of those things. If Hill continues to play this way, he will make it easier for the Packers to stomach a Hundley trade after the year as Hill could be penciled in as the back-up. At this rate, I'd think it'll be tough to sneak Hill onto the practice squad.

* Geronimo Allison playing as though he's ready to have a break-out year. Might be tough to keep him on the sideline. His fancy dancing led to some riveting yards after the catch.

* Marwin Evans can play on my football team any day.

* Mad props to HAHA. Monster year ahead for HAHA.

* Liking the pace that Blake Martinez is playing with. Playing in attack mode.

* With Blake Martinez, Jeff Janis, Jayrone Elliott, Jordan Tripp and Marwin Evans; I really like the Packers punt coverage unit. Need someone else to become a reliable gunner.

* Ricky Jean Francois will add good snaps throughout the 2017 season. Like him as a rotational defender.

* Fantastic to read the story of Aaron Rodgers being the first to visit Malachi Dupre at the hospital. I want to see more of Dupre in uniform. Hoping he's fit to go. Really optimistic about the size and athleticism that he brings to the field.

* The Packers DL was absolutely dominating. Glad Lowry's injury doesn't appear to be serious. He looks like a man. So, does Kenny Clark.

* Christian Ringo is a fighter. He'll be tough to cut.

* Izaah Lunsford is a fun watch. Great effort. Tenacious. Slippery. He won't make the team, but he has to warrant practice squad consideration. He's been active the past two weeks.

* Q-Rollins. Why would we ever consider playing him on the outside? He really flashes his quickness in the slot. I like seeing him on the blitz. He's fearless. He plays with no care for his body. He understands how to dip his shoulder underneath the tackle and then he quickly transitions into attack mode. I like his burst when he's in pursuit and motivated around the line of scrimmage. It's clear that the Packers are going to have to find new ways to get to the QB. I believe Rollins could get home a couple of times this year on a slot blitz.

* Kevin King. Love the attitude he brings to the field. Dude has confidence. Wants to be THE MAN.

* Our young secondary has so much swag.

* Kinda hope Pipkins makes the team. He has style. Wish he'd have come down with the late pick to seal the game.

* Josh Hawkins. Who is he? Is he the guy that we've seen in the preseason over the last two years? Or is he the guy who was horrible against the Lions last year? He was a stud agains the 'Skins.

* Happy to see the quickness that Clay is playing with right now. He brings speed to the defensive front - when he's healthy. Hoping this trend continues.

* Justin Vogel deserves to be the Week 1 punter.

* If Jason Spriggs and Kyler Fackrell could play in this league, the Packers roster would be littered with depth. Instead, we have two GAPING holes at crucial positions. LT and OLB. Our depth is razor thin.

This week - it's the Donkeys. In Denver. I can't wait. I'm taking my wife and my 4 year old, Dylan.

I'd only play Rodgers for a couple of series. And, I'd be really cautious. Especially without Bulaga. It'd be a lot of quick hits and hand-offs. I'd like to see Montgomery getting a couple of hand-offs out of shotgun. I want to see him attacking the hole with intensity. I want to see his quickness.

Hundley comes in and once again, Hundley performs. He dominates. He moves the sticks. Again, he hits Janis on a deep ball. Hundley hits Jones in the flat. Hundley is in complete control and again, he engineers a TD drive. This time on a pass to Kendricks.

The Packers second string DL applies good pressure and wins the line of scrimmage.

Again, Taysom Hill leads the Packers dancing into the end zone. He uses his mobility to elude pressure and to move sticks. He uses his arm to find Yancey in the end zone.

Pipkins makes another big play this weekend. Wouldn't shock me to see him come down with an interception. And, if so, I can't wait to see him boogie.

Packers 27.
Broncos 24.

Go Pack Go!

Talkin' S-Mac.
talkins-mac.blogspot.com
https://twitter.com/buzzboy3

Saturday, August 19, 2017

My Take -> Preseason Week 2

Greetings, G-Force.

It was great to see the Lambeau faithful receiving some preseason electricity! Heightened voices. A crowd that appeared to be fun loving and enjoying the short sleeved Titletown, U.S.A. weather.

My energy for the Packers is in Regular season mode. I sit with in a pair Packers shorts and a Packers t-shirt. I just slugged down an iced Vietnamese coffee. Ever since I got back from the Phish Baker's Dozen at Madison Square Garden in NYC, I have had difficulty getting Phish out of my ears. I'm listening to the 7/22/17 show. It was the Strawberry Donut night. My 11th anniversary night. Yeah, most people go to a beach for their Anniversary. My wife, Star, and I go to see Phish. Three years in a row, we've taken in Star's favorite band on our anniversary. It was great fun to hear Phish play Brothers Johnson. Though it's written by Shuggie Otis, I think of it as a Brothers Johnson tune and the Strawberry Letter 23 from 7/22/17 is a memory I'll hold forever.

Here are my quick vibes from the win over the Eagles:

* It's clear to me that the Packers have zero confidence in their ability to apply pressure from their front 4. We are going to see a large multitude of blitzes this year. The Packers will attempt to bring pressure from all over the field. We cannot afford any injuries in the secondary. Teams are going to attack the Packers with the pass and it feels uncertain as to whether the Packers will be equipped to get to the QB. It feels like Dom Capers has studied the Arizona Cardinals defense with the wide array of blitz packages that were shown in the first preseason game. Normally, the preseason is a time to show a vanilla defense. Not this year. Capers showed all of his cards. The Packers defense will be in attack mode. I just hope that we have the horses to get home. It feels like the Packers are going to need Vince Biegel and Montravius Adams making plays as pass rushers this year. I'm really concerned about our pass rush and my gut tells me that the Packers are also worried about it. To me, that was the #1 takeaway from the preseason opener.

* Really sloppy start with all of the penalties and missed tackles. But, when you can't practice in pads, what brand of football do you expect to get at this stage in the season? I'm not concerned about those issues continuing. But, I didn't like seeing Bulaga and Perry jumping offsides.

* Brett Hundley. Loved the dude's swagger. Looked like a California kid. Carried himself with poise. Great confidence. Smiling in the huddle. Cool as a cucumber in hot sauce. Liked to see him muscle through the pass to Adams when his arm got hit as he stood near his own goal line. Good to see Adams adjust to the ball as well and come down with the catch. Hundley was really impressive. That pump fake on the TD pass to Janis had me giddy!

* Speaking of Janis. It's the preseason, so of course he's catching a TD pass. Janis is in a heavy contest to make the roster. Feels like it'll be tough to keep both Janis and Trevor Davis. Neither is much of a play maker as a receiver. And, while the Packers are likely to keep 6 WR's, you have to believe that Nelson, Cobb, Adams and Allison are locks. So, after Allison returns from his 1 Week suspension, there will only be two roster spots left. Barring injury, it's hard to imagine TT cutting both Yancey and Dupre. Therefore, I envision the Packers releasing either Janis or Davis. Both have special teams prowess. And both showed it in the preseason opener. Janis was solid as a gunner on Vogel's first punt. And, Davis was responsible for the most exciting play of the game with his punt return for a TD. Additionally, I'd argue that his second long return was even more impressive than the TD return as I didn't think his blocking was as good on the 24 yard return as on the TD. Janis vs Davis. It'll be an interesting competition. Both had bad drops. It's important to remember that when the Packers lost Micah Hyde, they lost their PR man as well. Davis took the first step in winning that position. It'll be tough to get rid of Davis after that showing as a PR.

* What were the Packers doing with the run game? It felt like they were handing out participation trophies. There was absolutely no way that anyone RB could've been evaluated. Ty Montgomery fumbles and then gets another touch on a reception and he looks really explosive on the play, but then we don't really see him again. That's fine because we need to see the rookies. I was really hoping that they'd give Jamaal Williams a minimum of 7 touches. Instead, he got 4. And, he looked pretty good. He plowed forward upon contact. He got thin through the hole. He displayed good vision. But, we didn't see much of him. Then, it was Aaron Jones' turn and it was clear that the Packers wanted to see him in the pass game, but the Packers attempt at running a screen was laughable. Jones finished with 3 touches for zero yards. Then, they gave Devante Mays a look. But, he only got one attempt and it came on a swing pass on 4th and 2. Mays caught the ball short of the marker and made a defender miss with a shifty move and then he sought contact and fell forward for another yard. It was the last play of the 3rd Quarter. I anticipated that Mays would get the 4th Quarter. Especially since you can know hold onto players until after the final preseason game. So, I figured Mays would get the bulk of the 4th Quarter action. I wanted to see his big body barreling through the tackles. Instead, he gave way to William Stanback. Stanback yawned his way to 0 yards on 2 carries. Finally, Stanback was replaced with Kalif Phillips. Phillips actually looked OK on one 10-yard carry, but other than that run, his blocking was terrible and he was eaten up. In total, he had 3 carries for 4 yards. And, yes, that total included a 10 yard gain. I was shocked by the Packers approach. They under utilized each back and because of it no one got into the rhythm of the game. Ultimately, we learned nothing about any of them. I'm really hopeful that the Packers just give the bulk of the 1st half carries to Williams and the bulk of the 2nd half carries to Mays with Jones being utilized as the 3rd down back.

* Joe Callahan. He reminds me of Doug Flutie. Just a gamer. Put him on the field and he'll perform. Outside of the time he missed McCaffrey down the sideline, I really thought Callahan looked like a guy who could play in this league.

* After the Packers added Taysom Hill, I wrote: "Taysom Hill. I'm really animated to see Hill play at the NFL level. He has a great arm. Plays with field awareness. Terrific mobility. Smart QB. Can make all of the throws. Was somewhat surprised that he went undrafted. He fits the Packers scheme of a targeted QB. I'd think that he'll outperform Callahan in camp. Hill has all of the tools to be an NFL QB. He's tough. He has NFL size. Really like his pocket presence. Good accuracy on the deep ball. Not afraid to gun it into traffic. Throws receivers open. A true gamer at the college level. He could sneak onto the 53-man roster and if he doesn't make the roster, I'll be really surprised if he doesn't make the practice squad." Hill played exactly the way I'd expect him to. He knew where the yardage marker was when he was on the run. He was mobile. He put the ball where his guy could catch it. He engineered a TD drive. A joy to watch.

* Jason Spriggs. You have to be better than that. He was disappointing in both the run and the pass game.

* Kyle Murphy. Wanted to see him at Guard. Liked his run game effort. Finishes the play. A little too stiff as a pass blocker. Want to see him continue to develop.

* Martellus Bennett. Fantastic to see him running the slot and picking up yards after contact. Looking forward to being a more dominant blocker than he showed in the preseason opener though.

* Liked the two TE looks. Going to give Rodgers options as he surveys the defense at the line of scrimmage.

* Max McCaffrey really looked like his Dad. Crisp route runner. Smooth hands. Great strides. Always open.

* Malachi Dupre. Hated seeing him get hurt. Looked like our most athletic WR. Hope he's OK and that he isn't held out for an extended period of time.

* DeAngelo Yancey. Good to see him making the play on the deep ball. Wanted to see him power through the tackle and walk into the end zone, but fun to see him haul in the 46 yarder.

* Michael Clark. Book it. He'll be on the practice squad. A treat to watch a big bodied Packers WR in the preseason winning a jump ball.

* Joe Kerridge saw a lot of snaps. He played well. But, I don't feel like the Packers can keep 2 FB's on the roster this year. Need numbers elsewhere. Is he trade bait?

* Trevor Davis. Speed. Wow. Riveting!

* If only Clay Matthews had brought Carson Wentz to the floor. If so, we'd be thrilled with the performance of the first team defense. We wouldn't have seen Kevin King tossed to the turf on a stiff arm by Mack Hollins, a rookie who is a 4th round pick. We'd also be viewing Kevin King differently who played really well outside of that play. I liked the way he turned his hips and saw the field. I enjoyed seeing him playing bump and run coverage. It was fantastic to see him stick multiple receivers when the play was in front of him. Not only was he physical, but he was aware as each time he came off of his receiver to make the play. Yes, there was the miscommunication, but that sort of thing doesn't worry me at this stage.

* Josh Jones showed his speed and quickness. Loved seeing him force the 4th and 1 when he beat the back to the spot and kept him short of the first down. It was also thrilling to see him step up and make the play on Pumphrey on 3rd down with roughly 4 minutes left. 3rd and 11. Dump off to the back. We're so accustomed to seeing that become a first down and once again, this appeared to be on it's way to a first down, but Jones came flying in - off the TV screen - to step up and make the play 4 yards short of the first down. He did overcommit once on a dump off to Clement in the open field, but overall, a really impressive initial performance from Jones.

* Kenny Clark looked like the real deal. He could be a dominant figure on the DL this year. I'm expecting him to be a monster. Other than Marwin Evans, Clark was the most impressive Packer for my eye.

* Dean Lowry appears to be ready to make a big time impact.

* Ricky Jean Francois showed why he was brought in as added depth to the DL.

* Blake Martinez showed aggression in pursuit. He is being challenged for playing time and he really responded well.

* I like the look of Morgan Burnett at ILB. We feel like a faster defense.

* Kentrell Brice might've missed a handful of tackles, but I really like the way he attacks. Brings intensity to the defense. He'll get those missed tackles cleaned up.

* Damarious Randall. Is he tough enough to play in the slot? Really like his playmaking ability. And, yes, it appeared to be a cheap shot that knocked him out, but man, he's often injured.

* Quinten Rollins. By all accounts, his play has improved in the preseason. It's great to read. I'm hoping that our Week 1 perimeter CB's are King and House.

* Ladarius Gunter. Interesting to see him operating in the slot. Looked good on the blitz. Showed his length. Liked the forced fumble and recovery. Guy gives his best.

* Lenzy Pipkins. Gangsta goodness. Confidence. Athletic. Treat to watch his demeanor. He flashed in a big way. His name has to be in the mix for a roster spot.

* Marwin Evans. The most impressive player on the field. And, that was prior to the interception. He was dynamite on special teams and on defense. A team high 7 tackles. On the interception, I wish he'd have high pointed the ball. A true star of a game from Evans.

* I'm worried about Kyler Fackrell and Jayrone Elliott. We need one of them to be able to play as a regular on defense. I am not sure that I see it from either of them. I was hopeful about Fackrell taking that next step. Didn't wow me.

* Reggie Gilbert had a couple of decent pressures, but he needs to show more if he's going to push for the 53. He looks the part of a 3-4 OLB. We need him to take that next step. He needs to be a bruiser on the edge. I'm pulling for him.

* Really big game from Joe Thomas. He was active. Looked confident.

* Thought Brian Price played well. Made me wonder if he could eat up valuable snaps this year.

* HaHa. Mid season form. I don't need to see him this week. I'd play Evans and Brice extensively at Safety with Josh Jones at ILB against Washington.

* Justin Vogel. The []_[]! He made his mark. Sure, the first punt was bad, but that was just jitters and there was no return. After that punt though, he had 5 punts. All were downed inside the 20 and his average was 44 yards per punt. It's also noteworthy that two punts were dropped. Wonder if he had a spin on those kicks that were tough to catch. It was nice to see the way the ball bounced on those punts that hit the turf. Impressive night from the undrafted rookie. The job should be his.

* Welcome back, Brett Goode!

* The Packers have extra roster space. They need to add a DL for depth purposes only. Maybe a CB as well. Might be wise to get rid of a RB soon and to add depth on the DL to keep those big bodies fresh.

* I have started preparation for my annual Packers mock draft. Yes, I know the draft is nearly 8 months away, but one of the keys to putting together a thorough mock draft prior to the draft is the homework before the season. As always, I'll have an initial Packers mock draft prior to Labor Day weekend. I'm still trying to find out whether the Packers received the Bills 7th round pick in the Lerentee McCray trade. I haven't seen it reported as to whether McCray met the necessary conditions of the trade. If so, the Packers will go into Draft weekend with 12 picks. 7 of their own picks, 4 compensatory picks and 1 pick for McCray. It's fair to estimate that the Packers will get roughly a 3rd, a 5th and two 6 round picks as compensatory picks. Thus far, the only players that I'm committed to having as Draft picks in my initial mock are Iman Marshall, CB, USC and Dee Delaney, CB, []_[]. More to come on them in a couple of weeks. I'm going to be studying CB's and LB's heavily throughout the next 8 months.

This week - the Packers head to the Nation's Capital. A Saturday night treat.

I would not play Aaron Rodgers. There's no benefit. In fact, there's more benefit for the Packers to play Hundley than there is for the Packers to play Rodgers. Hundley needs the reps. It'd also be good for other teams scouts to lay eyes on Hundley and when Hundley performs at a high level, it'll increase his future trade value.

I also wouldn't play Nelson, Cobb, Bakhtiari, Daniels, Matthews, Perry, Bulaga, Linsley, HaHa or Burnett. I'd give Taylor, Evans, and Kenny Clark one series.

This week - we see Ty Montgomery explode early in the game. I think Montgomery will evolve into one of the best receiving backs in the league. We see him in open space. Montgomery burrows forward for yardage.

Then, Williams gets his turn. We see his tools. His vision. His shifty-nature. His underrated power. Williams moves sticks.

Jones catches a screen and flashes quickness.

Mays gets action and pushes the pile forward for extra yardage.

Clark and Lowry win the line of scrimmage.

Brice finishes plays.

It's Callahan to McCaffrey for a TD.

It's Hill to Clark for a TD again this week.

Reggie Gilbert grabs a sack.

Marwin Evans is all over the football again this week.

Packers 27.
Redskins 16.

I love the Green Bay Packers.

Go Pack Go!

Talkin' S-Mac.
talkins-mac.blogspot.com
https://twitter.com/buzzboy3

Tuesday, August 8, 2017

My Take -> Preseason Week 1

Greetings, G-Force.

It's that time of year again. Raging with enthusiasm. The buzz around the team seems healthy. There's cause for optimism. There's a new personality. New leadership. The team seems relaxed as we head into the preseason opener.

I sit with Sly and the Family Stone's Live at the Fillmore East spinning as my entertainment. "Are you ready?" Yes, yes I am. In face, I sit with an overwhelming amount of anxious excitement. I want to see this team bounce. While I'm still on a mini beer drinking hiatus, I did pick up a beer I'm excited to sip in the future. It's the Avery Nuttiest Professor. 15% ABV. An Imperial Stout that is aged and bourbon barrels. Peanuts are added to the flavor. When I'm off the full-on fitness train and back on the beer train, I'll be sure to dive in.

2017 has a chance to be one for the ages. A Super Bowl victory and Aaron Rodgers enters the discussion of the top 10 greatest QB's to ever play the game. A Super Bowl victory and both Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy become Hall of Famers. If Clay Matthews erupts for a 15 sacks season, he could be in the top 50 in sacks in the history of the NFL. Count your blessings, Packers fans. We're fortunate. There's plenty of reason to be off of your ass and on your feet this year. From Week 1.

It’d be easy to talk about my excitement to see Martellus Bennett and Lance Kendricks in uniform. I try to not bring easy. So, here's 10 players that I'm excited to watch in the preseason opener:

10. ) Reggie Gilbert. Clay Matthews and Nick Perry are fully entrenched as the starters, but both have battled off-and-on injury concerns for most of their careers. So, it’ll be important for the Packers to ensure that they have depth at OLB. Thus far, Jayrone Elliott has underachieved in the regular season, Kyler Fackrell is unproven and Vince Biegel is injured; so, there’s opportunity for an under-the-radar player to make an impact. Gilbert flashed in the preseason last year. He has the athleticism to drop in coverage, the power to hold the edge, and the speed to get the corner in pass rushing situations. Additionally, he might have the physicality to be used as an inside rusher on passing downs. I’m excited to see how he’s used in the preseason games this year.

9.) Malachi Dupre. When focused, Dupre was a star at the college level. He can work out of the slot, he can line up on the perimeter, he excelled when he was in motion and he was a terrific go-to threat on 3rd down. I want to see Dupre targeted early. I want to see Dupre targeted often. I’d like to believe that Dupre can dominate 2nd and 3rd string DB’s. I don’t envision Cobb, Adams, and Nelson grabbing many snaps, so I’d like to see Dupre and Yancey on the field early in the game. With Hundley throwing to Dupre, I’d like to think that the Packers will experience success moving the football throughout the preseason. Dupre’s successes might give the Packers leverage when they step to the negotiating table with Davante Adams in the future. Dupre has all of the tools, if he can put it together. I’d like to see him targeted on a deep ball at some point in the 1st half.

8.) Kyler Fackrell. There were times last year that Kyler Fackrell looked like he could emerge as a pass rushing specialist. He looked the part against Detroit and against the Giants. He had a couple of big plays. Further, there were moments in the preseason that he excelled as a 3-down OLB. He looked like he could possible become a solid rotational OLB. And, then, he got injured and he disappeared. The Packers need Fackrell to play a role in the rotation. He’s a key to the overall depth of this defense. I’m looking for Fackrell to have a couple of splash plays on Thursday night.

7.) Jason Spriggs. When the Packers traded for Spriggs last year, it was written in ink that he was going to be the back-up Tackle. It was an off-and-on rookie campaign for Spriggs and if history holds true, the Packers will need Spriggs to shine as an OT at some point this year. Injuries are a part of the game and in today’s pass-heavy NFL, teams need 3 solid tackles in order to be a threat to have Home Field in the playoffs. Spriggs was drafted to be that guy. Last year – Spriggs was quick off the snap. He used his feet really well, but he often got over powered and/or lost due to hand positioning. I’m hoping that an NFL offseason has improved Spriggs’ strength, so that he becomes a vital component along the OL. We need him to be a reliable core to this team. I want to see Spriggs dominate this week.

6.) Kentrell Brice. Last year, Brice was as impressive as any player on the roster in the preseason. The UDFA played as though he was a 1st round pick. He flew around the field. He hit with a vengeance. He was always around the football. With the Nitro package in place, which will have Burnett lined up at ILB, it’ll be important for Brice to pick up where he left off last preseason. During the season, in limited action, Brice showed flashes of goodness. But, it wasn’t constant. I fancy that he’ll get more opportunities to shine this year. If so, he’ll bring a speed/power combination. I want to see him in command of the middle of the field. I have often wondered how people would view Brice had he held onto the interception in Dallas. Would people be more bullish on his potential impact in 2017? I venture to say so. Nonetheless, expect Brice to be a figure in the heart of the Packers secondary in the preseason opener.

5.) Dean Lowry. As the weather turned cold last year, Dean Lowry became a force. It can’t be overlooked that he had 2 sacks in December. He became a presence in the middle of the Packers DL. And, from everything that you read online, Lowry has been a force in training camp. The Packers will be exploring new ways to get to the QB this year. Lowry’s smarts, heart, height, and power combination might bring pass rushing gifts that were missing in 2016. If Lowry can show pass rushing ability, he’ll bring great value as a potential 3-down DL.

4.) Brett Hundley. Clearly, it's the Packers goal to eventually get something in return for Brett Hundley. Hundley will get his chance to shine this preseason. A Ted Thompson run organization will always have it's eyes on the future. It's a lock that Hundley will be showcased over the next month in an attempt to try and increase his trade value after the 2017 season. Entering his third year, Hundley should have a firm command of the offense. With the plethora of options for him to work with, Hundley is expected to be a shining star.

3. ) Josh Jones. You can't coach speed. You can't coach willpower. Josh Jones appears to have both. If the Packers are as committed to becoming faster on defense as they say they are, there's no way that Josh Jones can be on the sidelines. Jones is needed on the field. And, not just for 7-10 snaps per game. He might not be an every down player, but I want him to get a heavy dose of snaps in the first preseason game. I'd limit Burnett's reps. I'd let Jones run and hit. Eventually, I'd like to see a defense that has both Jones and Burnett on the field. But, for now, I'll just take Jones in a preseason game trying to get sideline-to-sideline. I want to see him in coverage against a TE. Let's see Jones try and plug the defense. I'm animated to witness Jones as the nitrogen of this defense.

2.) Jamaal Williams. It'd be great to watch Williams carry the ball 7-10 times. Let's expose Williams to action early. It's important for him to get game action early. He needs to be tested on a 3rd down blitz to see how he handles the pressure. Rodgers cannot be exposed unless we're absolutely positive that Williams can handle his duties as a pass blocker. Williams has a chance to be a real star for the Packers. It wouldn't surprise to see him as the Packers leading rusher at the end of the year.

1.) Kevin King. If the Packers are going to be a legitimate Super Bowl contender in 2017, Kevin King is going to have to be a star from the get-go. Over the first 6 weeks, the Packers schedule is brutal. The host Seattle, then travel to ATL, then they host Cincy, they host the Bears, they travel to Dallas and then to MN. Week 7? They host the pass-happy Saints. When you have to cover the likes of Doug Baldwin, Julio Jones, AJ Green, Dez Bryant and Adam Thielen; you need a shut-down CB. It’s my belief that King is the only player on the roster that has the size/speed combination to legitimately limit an opposing teams #1 WR on a consistent basis. I want to see how King turns and runs in a pro-style game. I want to see him jamming WR’s and using his length at the line of scrimmage. I am really hoping King gets starters reps. I want King to get accustomed to seeing the intensity of the huddle when Mike Daniels, Clay Matthews, Nick Perry, Morgan Burnett and HaHa are leading the communication. If Daniels, Matthews, Perry, Burnett and HaHa are on the field, King needs to feel the passion inside the huddle. Kevin King is among the most crucial components of the Packers success in 2017. He needs to be immediately immersed.

The Eagles travel to Lambeau Field to kick-off the 2017 preseason. Look for the vast array of Packers weapons to be on display. With the starters seeing limited action, it's Hundley to Trevor Davis on a comeback route. It's Hundley to Montgomery on the dump off. It's Montgomery bursting through a big hole for first down yardage. It's Hundley to Kendricks down the seam. It's Montgomery punching it in for a TD.

The Eagles might play their starters into the 2nd Quarter. If so, they might move the football and have some success against the Packers 2nd unit. But, as depth becomes the topic. Look for the Packers to dominate.

Williams slashes through holes. Using his fantastic vision, Williams gets into the secondary.

Dupre grabs a deep ball.

Yancey fights for extra yards after the catch.

Joe Callahan moves the football well. Rolling left, he hits Michael Clark for a TD in the corner of the end zone.

Marwin Evans looks like a stallion in the secondary. He's all over the field. He forces a turnover.

Jermaine Whitehead is also active in the secondary.

Brian Price is dominating the line of scrimmage.

The Packers defense forces two turnovers.

Packers 24.
Eagles 13.

The curiosity of seeing this team for the first time this year burns from within.

Go Pack Go!

Talkin' S-Mac.
talkins-mac.blogspot.com
https://twitter.com/buzzboy3