Preseason Game #3 Packers vs Seahawks Game Thread

[gopkrs]

I'm not alone in thinking Kevin Harlan is horrible. You can listen to him all you want, I just thank god he only does preseason, and that is when I turn the sound off.

"Knucklehead." Attempt to troll someone else, I am not the one to try.

Toodle-Loo!

I believe that was sarcasm

 

[gopkrs]

The last half of the last preseason game, 2 days before final cuts, I don't think they cared about how the team looked as a whole. There were probably a number of players they wanted to have one last really close look in specific situations on specific plays.

I wanted to see the two QBs. Especially the Canadian. And the play calling didn't let them play. And it was shades of what we often do during the regular season. Which is try and run the clock when there is too much time left. Although it may be different this year in that I expect the run game to be better throughout the game. No matter. I believe in keeping the pedal to the medal. More points. Kick ***.

 

[Voyageur]

I'm not alone in thinking Kevin Harlan is horrible. You can listen to him all you want, I just thank god he only does preseason, and that is when I turn the sound off.

"Knucklehead." Attempt to troll someone else, I am not the one to try.

Toodle-Loo!

As a question of interest, which announcers do you like? I'm curious.

Kevin Harlan has been broadcasting NFL games for 40 years. He does Sunday games for network, Monday night games, playoffs, and has even Super Bowl games. For someone who's as bad as you think he is, I'm curious as to whom you compare him to.

Preseason games in the NFL is also the time when the announcers themselves start to map out how they're going to work with the equipment they have, and the personnel. It's also a less formal offering, and really more about the show to promote the home team.

 

[Deleted member 18607 aka in gute we trust]

As a question of interest, which announcers do you like? I'm curious.

Kevin Harlan has been broadcasting NFL games for 40 years. He does Sunday games for network, Monday night games, playoffs, and has even Super Bowl games. For someone who's as bad as you think he is, I'm curious as to whom you compare him to.

Preseason games in the NFL is also the time when the announcers themselves start to map out how they're going to work with the equipment they have, and the personnel. It's also a less formal offering, and really more about the show to promote the home team.

I was saying I am glad he only does Packers preseason football. I realize he has been in broadcasting for 40 years, jobs he got because of his father. I can choose to turn off the sound if he broadcasts a Packers game for CBS.

As far as who I like? I think Greg Olsen is fantastic. Greg is my fav of those that currently do NFL games. Kenny Albert is good. Honestly, there are not a lot I like that broadcast todays NFL. One of my all time favs was **** Enberg.

 

[milani]

This is the last preseason game before these games are counted for real.

Hopefully there isn't any any injuries today.

4 Seahawk fumbles. Wish that would have happened a decade ago.

 

[milani]

As a question of interest, which announcers do you like? I'm curious.

Kevin Harlan has been broadcasting NFL games for 40 years. He does Sunday games for network, Monday night games, playoffs, and has even Super Bowl games. For someone who's as bad as you think he is, I'm curious as to whom you compare him to.

Preseason games in the NFL is also the time when the announcers themselves start to map out how they're going to work with the equipment they have, and the personnel. It's also a less formal offering, and really more about the show to promote the home team.

Kevin has always had his own style. Early in his career he did sports talk radio in KC. I would call him up on his show every couple of weeks. Very professional for a young fellow at the time. He did Chiefs football and Missouri Tiger basketball before hitting the networks. He went to Kansas University ironically. He actually worked for the same station that Wayne Larivee did in KC before he got there. I called Wayne when he did the talk radio. Hard to believe these voices are old codgers now.

 

[Voyageur]

I was saying I am glad he only does Packers preseason football. I realize he has been in broadcasting for 40 years, jobs he got because of his father. I can choose to turn off the sound if he broadcasts a Packers game for CBS.

As far as who I like? I think Greg Olsen is fantastic. Greg is my fav of those that currently do NFL games. Kenny Albert is good. Honestly, there are not a lot I like that broadcast todays NFL. One of my all time favs was **** Enberg.

I like Olson too. He's a good color man. But you're comparing a game announcer to a color man, and they are completely different jobs. As an example, John Madden was a color man who teamed well with announcers like Pat Summerall and Al Michaels. It's the combination of the two that makes it work.

I learned over the years that each announcer brings something unique to the table and those that I like the most are those that created more opportunities for their color man to interject information that's interesting to the broadcast. In Harlan's case, combining with John Kuhn in Packer preseason games is a decent combination because Kuhn is pure "homer" and it's acceptable. When Harlan is doing national broadcasts, he's been teamed with Trent Green. As a team, I consider them middle of the pack. Nothing special.

Harlan's career did not start because of his father. Bob was associated with the St. Louis Cardinals baseball until 1971 I believe, when he joined the Packers in an executive role. Kevin was actually the broadcaster for Chicago Bears preseason games until 2003, and he came to the Packers because he was invited due to his ties with the organization which included being a ball boy for them as a kid. Preseason games are not broadcast with the intent of being unbiased, the teams themselves decide whom it should be not the networks, so yes, to a degree, being Bob Harlan's son did bring him back to the Packers. His roots, as a kid were there. He was already a national broadcaster for the NFL, NBA, and college basketball games. He was a well-known commodity. Actually, a pretty good choice.

What I think you don't like is his style. He's not a flamboyant announcer. He just kind of goes with the flow and lets the color man do his work. I'd bet he would have made a great combination with John Madden back in the day. Madden would have feasted on the combination.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Hopefully Jordan Morgan locks down the LT job today. He deserves to be named the starter over Sheed with a quality performance today. He has put a lot of good things on tape this summer.

I will be glad when the starting 5 are officially named, and can start jelling leading into the Detroit game in 15 days.

Morgan, Banks, Elgton, Rhyan, and Tom should be the starting 5 week 1. Let's go!

I didn't see the game yesterday. I'm guessing you did. Did Morgan start at LT and if so, how did he fare?

I think it's a lock that Walker won't be back next year. So the sooner Morgan can take the majority of snaps at LT, the better.

Anyway, you seem to be on top of what's happening. Just curious why you think Morgan will replace Walker at starting LT.

Thanks PN2025. Oh and that will be the starting OL, totally agree. There is more depth this year with either Morgan or Walker at LT, and at G with Belton. It's encouraging.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Yes.
That would be such a luxury to have Rasheed as our backup at LT or LG, plus Belton our backup at RT, RG turn we’ve got that C from the Georgia Bulldogs, Trey Hill. He looked pretty decent I hope to see him battling Monk for Center play again.
Also Tyler Cooper #60 from Minnesota. At one time he ranked as the #21 and #14 best Guards in the FBS in consecutive seasons. He’s been battling for a spot. He’s only a true Guard. Only played RG, LG but he’s a pretty solid prospect and stacked several good seasons of play. In 2023 he allowed 0 Sacks.

Whether it's Morgan or Walker starting at LT, this is as good as the OL has looked in years. And there will be depth with either Walker or Morgan, Belton, Monk, and others I'm forgetting. Gluten did a great job in the offseason addressing the OL and WR groups.

And if Morgan does start, Walker would be an interesting trade candidate if/when another team loses a LT. Although personally, I'd rather keep Walker in this case to maintain depth. There will be injuries, or just the need to rest starters during a game.

 

[Heyjoe4]

I kinda expected it. Don't wanna get him hurt before regular season starts. Plus I think he's still healing from that thumb surgery he had.

Amazing to me that a player can bounce back from any surgery this quickly. Love will have to use both hands to take the snap under C, and the snap is delivered with a lot of force. We'll probably see a lot more shotgun, even using it for running plays.

I think Hobbs had torn meniscus repaired. That's done with a scope, but healing just takes time. I don't expect he'll start against the Lions, but hey, a guy can hope.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Nice catch by Golden

He seems to catch everything, and has great awareness of where he is. He had a veery good camp imo. Looking forward to seeing him play this season.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Offensive starters playing the first 2 series (at least), WR's are : Golden, Doubs, & Heath. Barring injury looks like Heath makes the 53?

Yeah I think Heath gets the nod over Hardman. Heath is JAG as a WR, but he's a big guy and a good blocker on screens and crossing routes.

That said, he'll likely get waived when Watson is back. Depends on the health of the WRs.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Yeah, Simmons has some upside, but if I lean towards him not making the 53. I do think Gute will try to find a way to keep him. He has value on special teams as well.

It's too bad about Simmons. All that athleticism, a #8 overall pick, and he can't carve out a niche on the 53 - well it seems unlikely.

He would probably clear waivers and be put on the PS. Just my opinion but I'd like to see how he plays with a defined role at LB, and in games that count.

And the Packers have the best LB group that I can remember in a long time, including depth. Gonna be interested to see how Hafley uses them, especially with the emergence of Cooper. I think that will help Walker a lot.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Yeah, he has always been awful. If it wasn't for his father, he would have been sweeping floors somewhere all his life.

Loved Kuhn as a player, but he is a horrible analyst. I have to turn the sound down on those two. Unlistenable.

I can live with Harlan, but Kuhn, bless his heart, is just not a good analyst. It is, on its best days, an average broadcast duo. The Packers or the network have a bad habit of recycling fan-favorite players.

Who did play by play and color years ago on the radio - I know Max McGee did color and I think Jim Irwin was pbp. Irwin was very good, and where he may have fallen short as an analyst, McGee was always fun to listen to.

Sorry, I'm mixing up radio and TV. Wayne Larrivee (sp?) is great and seems he wanted that job for a long time.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Quay gets the sack after GB rushes 6. Opposition (Jets, Seahawks) have been exposing the short middle passes... hoping Hafley has a regular season remedy.

I'm thinking that with the emergence of Cooper as a rusher - Walker can patrol the defensive backfield and provide coverage on these short passes. Walker is well suited to short coverage - he's fast, rangy, and has a good wingspan. I expect a big year from Cooper and Walker.

 

[Heyjoe4]

I like Olson too. He's a good color man. But you're comparing a game announcer to a color man, and they are completely different jobs. As an example, John Madden was a color man who teamed well with announcers like Pat Summerall and Al Michaels. It's the combination of the two that makes it work.

I learned over the years that each announcer brings something unique to the table and those that I like the most are those that created more opportunities for their color man to interject information that's interesting to the broadcast. In Harlan's case, combining with John Kuhn in Packer preseason games is a decent combination because Kuhn is pure "homer" and it's acceptable. When Harlan is doing national broadcasts, he's been teamed with Trent Green. As a team, I consider them middle of the pack. Nothing special.

Harlan's career did not start because of his father. Bob was associated with the St. Louis Cardinals baseball until 1971 I believe, when he joined the Packers in an executive role. Kevin was actually the broadcaster for Chicago Bears preseason games until 2003, and he came to the Packers because he was invited due to his ties with the organization which included being a ball boy for them as a kid. Preseason games are not broadcast with the intent of being unbiased, the teams themselves decide whom it should be not the networks, so yes, to a degree, being Bob Harlan's son did bring him back to the Packers. His roots, as a kid were there. He was already a national broadcaster for the NFL, NBA, and college basketball games. He was a well-known commodity. Actually, a pretty good choice.

What I think you don't like is his style. He's not a flamboyant announcer. He just kind of goes with the flow and lets the color man do his work. I'd bet he would have made a great combination with John Madden back in the day. Madden would have feasted on the combination.

All good points. I think Harlan is a good, not great, play by play guy. And you're right about chemistry between pbp and color. When it works best, the pbp guy is setting up the color guy. Michaels and Madden perfected this to an art form.

Of all the network color guys, I really like Olson the most. He relies on facts to inform his analysis, and doesn't stretch a lot to predict the next play (Romo does this and it's bothersome to me).

Aikman is pretty good as long as the Cowboys aren't playing. Joe Buck is a very good pbp guy, maybe the best. I did like Romo when he started, but he is wrong as often as he is right.

Olson makes comments that I would never think of, and he does it without a lot of ego.

Finally, Brady is horrible at color, IMO. But his real strength is being Tom Brady. His style though is - I guess average......

 

[gopkrs]

Whoever is doing it, I like to know the names of players who make tackles. Blocks are tougher but someone could at least try. These announcers obviously haven't taken the time to memorize numbers. And in many cases can't even dissect a play well enough to know what players contributed. I think Kuhn might be able to but doesn't like contradicting the other guy. The game just isn't taken seriously. And that's a shame imho.

 

[Deleted member 18607 aka in gute we trust]

I didn't see the game yesterday. I'm guessing you did. Did Morgan start at LT and if so, how did he fare?

I think it's a lock that Walker won't be back next year. So the sooner Morgan can take the majority of snaps at LT, the better.

Anyway, you seem to be on top of what's happening. Just curious why you think Morgan will replace Walker at starting LT.

Thanks PN2025. Oh and that will be the starting OL, totally agree. There is more depth this year with either Morgan or Walker at LT, and at G with Belton. It's encouraging.

Well, Elgton and Banks didn't play at all yesterday, so they had to move guys around on the OL. Morgan played LG while he was in the game, Sheed played LT. Morgan played well at LG, but I feel he won the job at LT in camp. We will see what happens. Still not official from LaFleur, and it still comes down to between Sheed or Morgan. I hope Morgan gets the nod.

Sheed will be valuable as a backup. Depth is important. Always injuries on OL at some point in the season.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Whoever is doing it, I like to know the names of players who make tackles. Blocks are tougher but someone could at least try. These announcers obviously haven't taken the time to memorize numbers. And in many cases can't even dissect a play well enough to know what players contributed. I think Kuhn might be able to but doesn't like contradicting the other guy. The game just isn't taken seriously. And that's a shame imho.

Very true. When I watch the national games on Sunday, Monday, and Thursday nights the broadcast guys have clearly done their homework. They look at stats and interview players and coaches the week ahead of the game. It's amazing how well they prep.

So there's no excuse for the local broadcasters not to do this, they are already familiar with the Packers.

Now preseason is hard because there are so many new names and numbers. Regardless, Harlan and Kuhn do a passable job. Nothing spectacular. I'm ready for the regular season to start.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Well, Elgton and Banks didn't play at all yesterday, so they had to move guys around on the OL. Morgan played LG while he was in the game, Sheed played LT. Morgan played well at LG, but I feel he won the job at LT in camp. We will see what happens. Still not official from LaFleur, and it still comes down to between Sheed or Morgan. I hope Morgan gets the nod.

Sheed will be valuable as a backup. Depth is important. Always injuries on OL at some point in the season.

Thanks PN2025. You've been at a lot of practices and are well informed on the team and player status.

I will certainly be very interested who starts at LT. Your point is good, the guys who don't start are still good as backups. Gluten really improved the OL situation from starters to depth guys - most of them capable of playing any OL position.

And I hope Morgan gets the nod at LT. Having a very capable guy at that position, on a rookie deal, is just good all around.

 

[Deleted member 18607 aka in gute we trust]

Whoever is doing it, I like to know the names of players who make tackles. Blocks are tougher but someone could at least try. These announcers obviously haven't taken the time to memorize numbers. And in many cases can't even dissect a play well enough to know what players contributed. I think Kuhn might be able to but doesn't like contradicting the other guy. The game just isn't taken seriously. And that's a shame imho.

Yeah, it seems my dislike of Kevin Harlan has triggered some people. You are correct, he is not prepared and seems like a senile old man calling the game. Just spewing out whatever and moving on. Getting players names wrong and generally just lost during the game.

Kevin is 65 now, it may be time for him to call it a day. There are many qualified individuals to take over the play-by-play duties for the Packers preseason games going forward.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Yeah, it seems my dislike of Kevin Harlan has triggered some people. You are correct, he is not prepared and seems like a senile old man calling the game. Just spewing out whatever and moving on. Getting players names wrong and generally just lost during the game.

Kevin is 65 now, it may be time for him to call it a day. There are many qualified individuals to take over the play-by-play duties for the Packers preseason games going forward.

I don't watch enough to make a call on Harlan but trust what you've seen and heard.

They need a new color guy too. I like Kuhn, seems like a nice guy. But why do the broadcasters think an ex-Packer should be in the booth just because he was a Packer?

I feel the same way about Larry McCarren on the twice weekly MLF show during the season. I'm 70 and was able to retire a little early at 62. Generations, almost by definition, change. This will make me, a 70 y/o sound ageist. It would just be nice to have a new face on that show, a guy closer in age to the guys he covers.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Whoever is doing it, I like to know the names of players who make tackles. Blocks are tougher but someone could at least try. These announcers obviously haven't taken the time to memorize numbers. And in many cases can't even dissect a play well enough to know what players contributed. I think Kuhn might be able to but doesn't like contradicting the other guy. The game just isn't taken seriously. And that's a shame imho.

Agreed. These guys seem to come into the game unprepared. At a minimum, they should be well acquainted with the team they cover - meaning knowing their names/numbers, and how they are playing away from the ball.

In PS games, I'm looking for some intel on how the guys on the roster bubbles are playing. All it takes is brushing up on camp news and interviews with guys like MLF and Gluten. And they don't do a good job with that.

So I don't watch the PS games. Yesterday's game added some light on the WR position competition between Hardman and Heath. I think Harman played more than Heath, and their line stats were underwhelming. But how did Heath do when he was required to block? How did Hardman do on kick returns?

Bach to an old and I guess touchy subject for some, I think Heath makes the cut and Hardman is released. They play PS games to get insight on these guys. Seems like the broadcast team missed that.

 

[gopkrs]

Agreed. These guys seem to come into the game unprepared. At a minimum, they should be well acquainted with the team they cover - meaning knowing their names/numbers, and how they are playing away from the ball.

In PS games, I'm looking for some intel on how the guys on the roster bubbles are playing. All it takes is brushing up on camp news and interviews with guys like MLF and Gluten. And they don't do a good job with that.

So I don't watch the PS games. Yesterday's game added some light on the WR position competition between Hardman and Heath. I think Harman played more than Heath, and their line stats were underwhelming. But how did Heath do when he was required to block? How did Hardman do on kick returns?

Bach to an old and I guess touchy subject for some, I think Heath makes the cut and Hardman is released. They play PS games to get insight on these guys. Seems like the broadcast team missed that.

I agree with you but I watch to glean what I can about the bubble players. I did not learn much about that yesterday though. It's such a hodgepodge this year which is probably what the NFL wants so they can have more regular season games

 

[gopkrs]

One thing I did glean is that Hopper, like I thought, is a player. Someday he and Cooper together in the game is going to be awesome. I'm not down on Q and think he'll do very well this year.