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Five things to watch Thursday
Posted: Aug. 27, 2008
THE BASICS
Teams: Green Bay Packers (1-2) vs. Tennessee Titans (2-1)
When: 6 p.m. Thursday.
Where: Lambeau Field
Broadcasts: Radio - AM-620. Television - Channel 4.
Injury report: Packers - S Atari Bigby (ankle), S Charlie Peprah (hamstring), LB A.J. Hawk (chest), C Scott Wells (back), OG Josh Sitton (knee), DT Ryan Pickett (hamstring) and WR James Jones (knee) are out; DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (knee), DE Michael Montgomery (groin), CB Charles Woodson (knee) and CB Al Harris (back) are questionable. Titans - WR Lavelle Hawkins (ankle), K Rob Bironas (groin), CB Cary Williams (quad), LB David Thornton (ankle) and LB Keith Bulluck (calf) are out. OT David Stewart (knee), CB Chris Carr (shoulder) and CB Nick Harper (concussion) are questionable.
FIVE THINGS TO WATCH
The bottom line: This will be a huge game for the likes of linemen Tony Moll, Junius Coston, Breno Giacomini and Orrin Thompson. Assuming the Packers go with nine offensive linemen as they did a year ago, there are two spots open for those four. More than likely, Moll and Coston will be fighting for one spot and Giacomini and Thompson for the other. Moll is in the best position because he's going to start at right guard, but Coston will take over at center fairly quickly and then play some guard. It's possible the Packers could keep both and then use Moll as a backup at both guard and tackle, but Moll has to make a move in this game. Giacomini, a fifth-round pick, has some long-term potential, but he might be headed for the practice squad.
Only the weak survive: Desmond Bishop will get a chance to show he can be a solid backup for Hawk. Bishop has been almost exclusively a middle linebacker, but with Abdul Hodge playing at a high level inside, Bishop was moved outside this week to see if he can help on the weak side. Hodge and Bishop are going to make it, but they both can't play middle linebacker. Bishop will take the field after Brandon Chillar goes out and, if he plays well enough, he could surpass Chillar as the backup behind Hawk. Chillar's best position is the strong side, and he'll share time with Brady Poppinga.
Nickel for your thoughts: There's almost no chance Will Blackmon will beat out Tramon Williams for the nickel corner position on opening day, but Blackmon can make a move with a strong performance against the Titans' starters. If Williams lapses as he did last week against Denver, there will be an opening for the athletic Blackmon. The Titans will play their starters into the third quarter and, with Woodson and Harris likely out, Blackmon will get to cover Titans starters Justin McCareins and Justin Gage.
Vince's world: It was supposed to be the Summer of Vince, but the way things have gone in Titans training camp it's been anything but. Quarterback Vince Young has completed just 43.2% of his passes and posted a 44.4 passer rating in three games. The No. 1 offense has not scored a touchdown under Young and was held to three points last week against Atlanta. In playing his starters into the third quarter, quarterback Jeff Fisher wants this to be the game that sets the tone for the regular season. The Packers will only play their starters about 10 plays, so Young should have a chance to build some confidence against the Packers' No. 2s. Former Packers draft pick Ingle Martin has been the top performer at quarterback for the Titans, posting an 84.8 passer rating, but he probably won't make the team. He is an option for the Packers should they decide to sign a veteran after final cuts, but he's not high on the list.
Safety first: Jarrett Bush's best shot at keeping his roster spot is to show he can play safety. Out of the running for the nickel corner position, Bush hasn't shown much improvement at cornerback. Coming out of college, some scouts thought he was better suited for safety and that could ultimately become his position. If Bush makes the roster, it will be because of his outstanding special teams play and ability to play two different spots in the secondary. The Packers have invested a lot of time in Bush and would like to keep him around in case they suffer a rash of injuries at cornerback.
Tom Silverstein
Five things to watch Thursday
Posted: Aug. 27, 2008
THE BASICS
Teams: Green Bay Packers (1-2) vs. Tennessee Titans (2-1)
When: 6 p.m. Thursday.
Where: Lambeau Field
Broadcasts: Radio - AM-620. Television - Channel 4.
Injury report: Packers - S Atari Bigby (ankle), S Charlie Peprah (hamstring), LB A.J. Hawk (chest), C Scott Wells (back), OG Josh Sitton (knee), DT Ryan Pickett (hamstring) and WR James Jones (knee) are out; DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (knee), DE Michael Montgomery (groin), CB Charles Woodson (knee) and CB Al Harris (back) are questionable. Titans - WR Lavelle Hawkins (ankle), K Rob Bironas (groin), CB Cary Williams (quad), LB David Thornton (ankle) and LB Keith Bulluck (calf) are out. OT David Stewart (knee), CB Chris Carr (shoulder) and CB Nick Harper (concussion) are questionable.
FIVE THINGS TO WATCH
The bottom line: This will be a huge game for the likes of linemen Tony Moll, Junius Coston, Breno Giacomini and Orrin Thompson. Assuming the Packers go with nine offensive linemen as they did a year ago, there are two spots open for those four. More than likely, Moll and Coston will be fighting for one spot and Giacomini and Thompson for the other. Moll is in the best position because he's going to start at right guard, but Coston will take over at center fairly quickly and then play some guard. It's possible the Packers could keep both and then use Moll as a backup at both guard and tackle, but Moll has to make a move in this game. Giacomini, a fifth-round pick, has some long-term potential, but he might be headed for the practice squad.
Only the weak survive: Desmond Bishop will get a chance to show he can be a solid backup for Hawk. Bishop has been almost exclusively a middle linebacker, but with Abdul Hodge playing at a high level inside, Bishop was moved outside this week to see if he can help on the weak side. Hodge and Bishop are going to make it, but they both can't play middle linebacker. Bishop will take the field after Brandon Chillar goes out and, if he plays well enough, he could surpass Chillar as the backup behind Hawk. Chillar's best position is the strong side, and he'll share time with Brady Poppinga.
Nickel for your thoughts: There's almost no chance Will Blackmon will beat out Tramon Williams for the nickel corner position on opening day, but Blackmon can make a move with a strong performance against the Titans' starters. If Williams lapses as he did last week against Denver, there will be an opening for the athletic Blackmon. The Titans will play their starters into the third quarter and, with Woodson and Harris likely out, Blackmon will get to cover Titans starters Justin McCareins and Justin Gage.
Vince's world: It was supposed to be the Summer of Vince, but the way things have gone in Titans training camp it's been anything but. Quarterback Vince Young has completed just 43.2% of his passes and posted a 44.4 passer rating in three games. The No. 1 offense has not scored a touchdown under Young and was held to three points last week against Atlanta. In playing his starters into the third quarter, quarterback Jeff Fisher wants this to be the game that sets the tone for the regular season. The Packers will only play their starters about 10 plays, so Young should have a chance to build some confidence against the Packers' No. 2s. Former Packers draft pick Ingle Martin has been the top performer at quarterback for the Titans, posting an 84.8 passer rating, but he probably won't make the team. He is an option for the Packers should they decide to sign a veteran after final cuts, but he's not high on the list.
Safety first: Jarrett Bush's best shot at keeping his roster spot is to show he can play safety. Out of the running for the nickel corner position, Bush hasn't shown much improvement at cornerback. Coming out of college, some scouts thought he was better suited for safety and that could ultimately become his position. If Bush makes the roster, it will be because of his outstanding special teams play and ability to play two different spots in the secondary. The Packers have invested a lot of time in Bush and would like to keep him around in case they suffer a rash of injuries at cornerback.
Tom Silverstein
