Packers hardly bother in last exhibition game - JSOnline
Kansas City — One year ago, the Green Bay Packers were the talk of the National Football League exhibition season.
Aaron Rodgers, Jermichael Finley and the offense were on fire. Dom Capers’ blitzing defense forced turnover after turnover with heavy pass-rush pressure. Even the special teams were more than adequate.
When the dust settled, the Packers’ starters had outscored their opponents’ starters by a landslide, 66-13.
The No. 1 offense gained 646 yards in 74 snaps, an 8.7-yard average, and piled up 34 first downs. The No. 1 defense allowed 343 yards in 67 plays (5.1) and 17 first downs.
On Thursday night the Packers closed their 2010 exhibition campaign in listless fashion with a 17-13 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. An estimated 25,000 fans showed up at the newly renovated venue, which seats 76,416.
Packers coach Mike McCarthy treated the affair with disinterest, not even putting uniforms on Rodgers, Ryan Grant or Charles Woodson. In all, the Packers played without 12 players (seven starters) from a 75-man roster that must be pared to a final 53 by 3 p.m. Saturday.
What passed for the starting offense and defense each went one three-and-out series before donning baseball caps and taking the rest of the night off.
Unlike last year, when the Packers’ point differential was plus-53, the Packers settled for just plus-4 this time (56-52) with the No. 1s.
On offense, the starters gained 548 yards in 78 snaps (7.0) and produced 38 first downs. The 13 possessions included seven touchdowns, three punts, two lost fumbles and one failed fourth-and-1 sneak. Their turnover differential was minus-1.
Defensively, the starters allowed 539 yards in 73 snaps (7.4) and 31 first downs. Their 14 possessions included seven touchdowns, one field goal, five punts and one interception.
From his press-box location, Packers director of football operations Reggie McKenzie wasn’t alone in finding the finale hard to watch. This is the type of game Commissioner Roger Goodell would like to have eradicated in the next labor agreement.
Although the Packers certainly weren’t as dominating this August as they were last August, McKenzie was adamant that the team was every bit as good.
“Remember, we didn’t start that well last year,” said McKenzie. “You can’t put a lot into the preseason.”
The Packers finished 2-2, dropping McCarthy’s five-year exhibition record to 9-11. Kansas City ended 1-3.
From McKenzie’s perspective, the Packers are rightfully being regarded as a distinct contender to play in the 45th Super Bowl.
“I think it’s a reasonable, attainable goal,” he said. “But we have to play together. We’ve got to make it happen. They ain’t going to give it to us.”
On offense, the Packers can send out Rodgers and five receivers — Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, James Jones, Jordy Nelson and Finley — who would be the envy of almost every team in the NFL.
“He is the No. 1 weapon,” McKenzie said, referring to Rodgers. “We feel we’ve got a lot of playmakers. The veteran tackles are feeling pretty healthy. And I think Ryan will be able to pound it.”
On defense, Capers played the summer game as if he was a different coach from a year ago. Wholesale blitzing was the order of August in 2009, when Capers was installing the 3-4 defense and he sent linebackers and defensive backs from every angle just to get the feel for it.
“We didn’t blitz much like last year,” said McKenzie. “We just played base stuff and evaluated personnel.”
When the Packers open in nine days against the Eagles in Philadelphia, the defense presented by Capers will be like nothing that was seen in the summer game.
“I’m OK with the defense,” McKenzie said. “Guys know the scheme now and have the experience.
“Clay (Matthews) hasn’t played and Brad Jones hasn’t played much, there’s no Al (Harris) this year and we’ve got a new safety. But still I think the guys we’ve got are definitely good enough — just watching and being around practice and seeing it.”
Rookie free agent Sam Shields started for Woodson after having taken every rep during the week as the No. 1 nickel back. With Woodson out, Shields started and Jarrett Bush served as the nickel back ahead of Pat Lee, who seems to have fallen out of favor over the last 10 days.
Brandon Underwood, who presumably would be in prime position to challenge Shields for the nickel job, remains out indefinitely with a shoulder injury.
“We’ve just got to get guys healthy there,” said McKenzie. “I do think Shields will be OK.”
Despite an organizational push to improve special teams that bordered on inept last season, the Packers still have major problems. Tim Masthay appears to have beaten out Chris Bryan for the punting job and has the talent to be an improvement over feckless Jeremy Kapinos, but the return and coverage units continued to struggle.
“We’ll need to play better,” McKenzie said. “It’s all about blocking and tackling on coverage and returns. We’ve got to tighten that up.”
Free agent Jason Chery probably squandered any shot he had to steal the return job by muffing the opening kickoff, scrambling to pick the ball up and then fumbling after a 16-yard return. The Packers did recover.
In the third quarter, Chery lost the handle on a punt return but was ruled down by contact.
“You can’t play in Green Bay if you don’t take care of the football,” McCarthy said. “I thought he did a good job making the first guy miss. We’ll take a close look at that.”
McKenzie said he remained hopeful that veteran Will Blackmon, who sat out all week with complications from reconstructive knee surgery Oct. 29, will be an effective returner once again.
“Any time you have a little swelling, you’re not going to be totally comfortable,” McKenzie said. “I’m sure he’s not comfortable with the knee.”
McCarthy gave the play-calling chores to offensive coordinator Joe Philbin.
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Kansas City — One year ago, the Green Bay Packers were the talk of the National Football League exhibition season.
Aaron Rodgers, Jermichael Finley and the offense were on fire. Dom Capers’ blitzing defense forced turnover after turnover with heavy pass-rush pressure. Even the special teams were more than adequate.
When the dust settled, the Packers’ starters had outscored their opponents’ starters by a landslide, 66-13.
The No. 1 offense gained 646 yards in 74 snaps, an 8.7-yard average, and piled up 34 first downs. The No. 1 defense allowed 343 yards in 67 plays (5.1) and 17 first downs.
On Thursday night the Packers closed their 2010 exhibition campaign in listless fashion with a 17-13 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. An estimated 25,000 fans showed up at the newly renovated venue, which seats 76,416.
Packers coach Mike McCarthy treated the affair with disinterest, not even putting uniforms on Rodgers, Ryan Grant or Charles Woodson. In all, the Packers played without 12 players (seven starters) from a 75-man roster that must be pared to a final 53 by 3 p.m. Saturday.
What passed for the starting offense and defense each went one three-and-out series before donning baseball caps and taking the rest of the night off.
Unlike last year, when the Packers’ point differential was plus-53, the Packers settled for just plus-4 this time (56-52) with the No. 1s.
On offense, the starters gained 548 yards in 78 snaps (7.0) and produced 38 first downs. The 13 possessions included seven touchdowns, three punts, two lost fumbles and one failed fourth-and-1 sneak. Their turnover differential was minus-1.
Defensively, the starters allowed 539 yards in 73 snaps (7.4) and 31 first downs. Their 14 possessions included seven touchdowns, one field goal, five punts and one interception.
From his press-box location, Packers director of football operations Reggie McKenzie wasn’t alone in finding the finale hard to watch. This is the type of game Commissioner Roger Goodell would like to have eradicated in the next labor agreement.
Although the Packers certainly weren’t as dominating this August as they were last August, McKenzie was adamant that the team was every bit as good.
“Remember, we didn’t start that well last year,” said McKenzie. “You can’t put a lot into the preseason.”
The Packers finished 2-2, dropping McCarthy’s five-year exhibition record to 9-11. Kansas City ended 1-3.
From McKenzie’s perspective, the Packers are rightfully being regarded as a distinct contender to play in the 45th Super Bowl.
“I think it’s a reasonable, attainable goal,” he said. “But we have to play together. We’ve got to make it happen. They ain’t going to give it to us.”
On offense, the Packers can send out Rodgers and five receivers — Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, James Jones, Jordy Nelson and Finley — who would be the envy of almost every team in the NFL.
“He is the No. 1 weapon,” McKenzie said, referring to Rodgers. “We feel we’ve got a lot of playmakers. The veteran tackles are feeling pretty healthy. And I think Ryan will be able to pound it.”
On defense, Capers played the summer game as if he was a different coach from a year ago. Wholesale blitzing was the order of August in 2009, when Capers was installing the 3-4 defense and he sent linebackers and defensive backs from every angle just to get the feel for it.
“We didn’t blitz much like last year,” said McKenzie. “We just played base stuff and evaluated personnel.”
When the Packers open in nine days against the Eagles in Philadelphia, the defense presented by Capers will be like nothing that was seen in the summer game.
“I’m OK with the defense,” McKenzie said. “Guys know the scheme now and have the experience.
“Clay (Matthews) hasn’t played and Brad Jones hasn’t played much, there’s no Al (Harris) this year and we’ve got a new safety. But still I think the guys we’ve got are definitely good enough — just watching and being around practice and seeing it.”
Rookie free agent Sam Shields started for Woodson after having taken every rep during the week as the No. 1 nickel back. With Woodson out, Shields started and Jarrett Bush served as the nickel back ahead of Pat Lee, who seems to have fallen out of favor over the last 10 days.
Brandon Underwood, who presumably would be in prime position to challenge Shields for the nickel job, remains out indefinitely with a shoulder injury.
“We’ve just got to get guys healthy there,” said McKenzie. “I do think Shields will be OK.”
Despite an organizational push to improve special teams that bordered on inept last season, the Packers still have major problems. Tim Masthay appears to have beaten out Chris Bryan for the punting job and has the talent to be an improvement over feckless Jeremy Kapinos, but the return and coverage units continued to struggle.
“We’ll need to play better,” McKenzie said. “It’s all about blocking and tackling on coverage and returns. We’ve got to tighten that up.”
Free agent Jason Chery probably squandered any shot he had to steal the return job by muffing the opening kickoff, scrambling to pick the ball up and then fumbling after a 16-yard return. The Packers did recover.
In the third quarter, Chery lost the handle on a punt return but was ruled down by contact.
“You can’t play in Green Bay if you don’t take care of the football,” McCarthy said. “I thought he did a good job making the first guy miss. We’ll take a close look at that.”
McKenzie said he remained hopeful that veteran Will Blackmon, who sat out all week with complications from reconstructive knee surgery Oct. 29, will be an effective returner once again.
“Any time you have a little swelling, you’re not going to be totally comfortable,” McKenzie said. “I’m sure he’s not comfortable with the knee.”
McCarthy gave the play-calling chores to offensive coordinator Joe Philbin.
via - jsonline
