Will the regular players play in this week’s warm-up game?
We’ll find out soon. Jordan Love, Josh Jacobs and most of the starters had a lot to do during the joint training on Friday in Denver. Everything indicates that Sunday’s game will largely belong to the second and third teams.
Wes, how does the redshirt rule work when practicing against other teams? I heard a Denver player hit Jordan Love in the arm on a pass attempt, which drew negative reactions from both teams.
I think that was a lot of ado about nothing. Of course you never want your quarterback to be touched during practice, but it’s also a live drill and not with any bad intentions. Love spoke afterward and was totally cool about it. That’s what happens when both sides play hard. Still, kudos to the offensive players who step in for their quarterback.
My wish list for the Denver game: 1) The defense continues to be tight and stubborn. 2) Both backup QBs get plenty of opportunities to show their skills. 3) AJ Dillon gets enough blocks to show his skills. 4) No missed kicks. 5) The young receivers each get their chances. 6) No injuries. What else would you add?
If I had the chance, I would love nothing more than to see AJ Dillon rush for 60-70 yards on 12-15 runs. It would also be cool to see Emanuel Wilson play well against his former team. The Packers’ second and third teams dominated in Cleveland. Can they do it again now?
Another aspect of vanilla during the preseason is that it’s not just about not showing weaknesses – it’s also about allowing guys to play fast and seeing who plays faster. Once you get the speed of the game down, you work on other things.
That was my main impression in Cleveland and the reason I wrote so much about the physicality of the Packers against the Browns. To me, it’s like UFC on short lead time. You don’t always have eight weeks to prepare for an opponent and create a plan. Sometimes you only need 10 days lead time and may the best man win. For example, Wilson didn’t win a spot on the 53 last year because of how the Packers figured out their opponents in the preseason. He just ran fast, read his blocks and left defenders running into empty space.
The Packers’ two-minute offense was apparently a failure in Denver. In practice, the defense regularly keeps the offense out of the end zone. At some point in the season, the Packers will need a two-minute score to win a game. What do they need to improve about the two-minute drill to be game ready?
I watched the No. 1 defense for most of practice, so some of these questions may have to wait until Monday, but Denver was a great litmus test for Green Bay’s offense. As Matt LaFleur said beforehand, the Broncos are running a 3-4 formation. Their defensive backs were very physical against Green Bay’s receivers. In two minutes, it’s all about the first completion, and the Packers struggled to find it.
Graydon from Menomonie, WI
What would have to happen in this weekend’s preseason game for the Packers to consider it a success?
By following the same plan we followed last week in Cleveland – everyone stays healthy, the offense gets some clean drives, the defense makes some plays and everyone stays healthy. Did I mention they stay healthy?
Weston, please remind us how the new injured reserve amendment works in determining the initial 53-man roster. As I understand it, up to two players can now be placed on the injured list before the initial 53 and still be reinstated during the season. Could players like MarShawn Lloyd and Kitan Oladapo be candidates for this “exception”?
The first part is correct. Teams can place up to two players on the injured list without having to list them on the first 53. If it’s more than two, a player would have to be on the active roster for a day before going on the injured list. Lloyd is a candidate for that right now, but Oladapo is not. He’s back practicing after starting training camp on the non-football injured list.
Was there a particular position or position group during your time that you felt made the transition from college to the NFL the most difficult?
I always said tight end, but Luke Musgrave, Tucker Kraft and Ben Sims proved otherwise with everything they contributed as rookies. All three of them played smart at a complicated position beyond their rookie years. Outside of quarterback, I would probably go with inside linebacker, as that position is the defense’s primary communicator and commander.
On paper, pairing a TE with a safety would be a mismatch. After watching “Three Guys with Three Things,” that doesn’t seem to be the case with Xavier McKinney. Can you give us more details on those matchups?
Spoff watches the one-on-one drills between specialty position players during practice more often than I do, but McKinney is simply an all-around playmaker. While he doesn’t have Musgrave’s size or strength, McKinney has a perfect blend of speed and size compared to other NFL defensive backs. He’s also very smart. All of those traits come into play during those phases.
