Packers vs. Bengals – Game Day First Impressions, Unfiltered: GB 27 CIN 13

30 thoughts on “Packers vs. Bengals – Game Day First Impressions, Unfiltered: GB 27 CIN 13”

1. Nowhere near being alarmed, but I’ve been really underwhelmed by the Packer interior offensive line through 3 pre-season games. Saturday is what I though he would be, very much like Clifton he’s a reliable technician in pass-pro but can barely get in the way for the running game.

   Lang and Sitton have had some really pedestrian if not bad moments in each game. Chalking it up to ‘pre-season’ cobwebs at this point but they’ve shown some really poor technique in pass-pro and occasionally beat of the snap in the run game and easily moved.

   They flash dominance, I’m just a bit surprised at how average that unit has looked on the inside.

   1. I was concerned watching Bulaga last night.. He was having a lot of difficulties, and was very fortunate to have just “squeaked by” on a number of protections.. Things could have easily turned ugly on the right edge last night.

      Very uncharacteristic.

2. I thought Van Roten letting the blitzer through was more of a blown assignment. He went to help out the left tackle, but the center (who did the line call) double teamed the DT with the RG. That left a huge hole in the middle of the line, and Van Roten was way out of position.

   Don’t want to excuse Van Roten — he needs to understand and execute each call — but he has only been with the team 3 weeks or so.

   1. That’s a basic concept in pass protection- you protect from the inside out.

      The most direct path to the QB is up the middle. Van Roten has to identify the pressure and disengage from helping the tackle and AT LEAST get a chip on the inside pressure.

      I like Van Roten, but that’s a cardinal sin he committed. He’ll get chewed out, and then they’ll make sure it never happens again.

3. poor performances across the OL do not surprise me.

   OL is built, step by step and our OL coach, James Campen, is just not a good OL coach.

   He is a really bright guyand Im certain that his wife and dog love him, but he has simply NOT developed a single lineman.

   The only guys we have that perform well either came ready made or are named Josh Sitton.

   I challenge anyone to name an OL that came into Packers camp and was improved by what Campen did.

   1. Lang.
      Newhouse.

   2. “I challenge anyone to name an OL that came into Packers camp and was improved by what Campen did.”

      How does any casual fan either confirm or deny this? A person could point out that Bulaga went from promising to all-pro caliber in a one-year span; Sitton went from solid/dependable early in his career to peer recognition voting him the best in the game during 2010; Wells was an undersized technician (previously undrafted) that just didn’t get beat; Lang decided to take the game seriously and has solid feet and good technique after not even playing guard in college; Newhouse, while still needing work, is leaps and bounds better than what he was as a 5th round pick.

      Would you just counter by saying it’s all ‘god given talent’ and none of the growth could be attributed to coaching?

      Personally, I’ve never seen what Campen drills, teaches during film-study or corrects during walk-throughs so there’s no way I could make a blanketed statement that he’s not good.

      1. awesome…

4. 1. The talent on D is much better than last year (post Nick/Tramon injury).
   2. A pass rush – from both OLB spots and some DL??? Nice!
   3. Benson is going to be a nice addition for this offense. Already looks like the best RB we’ve had since Ahman.
   4. I liked what I saw from Hayward and the other young guys in the secondary too. When House comes back, this will be a good pass defense.
   5. Rodgers is sick. That is all.

5. Newhouse has not resolved the speed rusher problem. This needs to be resolved.

   The oline backups are, let’s be honest, CRAP. TT and MM start to analyze the waiver wite in depth Monday.

   How do you spell Van Roten? I think it should be Van Rotten.

   Any Injury to the starting Oline could be a disaster.

   The D fianlly showed some creativity in the rush packages. Not a lot,but some. More of that please.

   The DB’s showed a whole lot of enthusiasm. A couple of glaring “rookie” erorrs, but over all much better tackling and coverage led by Tramon (awesome against Green).

   Walden is waking up and realising that he needs to stuff the run too. I think he is doing enough right now to stay on the 53.

   Liking the young DB’s enthusiastic play. As a result, Sam Shields may be looking for work. He can’t cover because he keeps tripping over his own feet. Maybe some new shoes are in order. That said – nice INT.

   Wilson filling in for Bishop very well. Who cares if he is 5’11”.

   AR and the receivers are not in sync yet. Lacking real practice because of the CBA could be the problem. Not concerned.

   Glad DD is still around. Borel and Gurley are nowhere.

   Overall, much better than the first two games. Looking like MM and DC were just doing much more evaluation than competing.

   1. Right. It is absolutely imperative that we be ready to peak in September.

   2. Our best two backup OL were not on the field last night, Sherrod and Datko.

6. Maybe a little sigh of relief but still think this team has a loooooong way to go. If this was the 1st preseason game I would say ok that looks good. We are close to the real season and I see lots of issues yet. With the strength of our division a slow start is not going to cut it folks. Coach you need to light a fire under their azzes.

7. Hope Crabtree is okay, but it’s great he was the only injuried. Let’s keep it that way.

   Knocks on wood 3 times.

   1. Pickett was also injured…

      1. Unfortunately the ever mysterious calf injury.

      2. Thanks for the info. Any notion to the extent?

         1. Won’t play next week.

            Francois out with Hammy
            House to have sugery on shoulder

            1. Surgery? Damn. Out for season? Any idea how long?

            2. Where did you hear he’s confirmed for surgery? I just read a an article dated today that said they don’t know if he needs it or not, but that so far all indications coming from the trainers was that his rehab is progressing well..?

               This is not good news.

               1. Reported on WSSP yesterdy PM

8. The first team offense will be in for a long day in week 1 if this is how they come out period…’No Excuses’..Rodgers will get hammered against the Niners if has to run like that last night.

   1. You’re right, the line needs to gel quickly. That being said, Rodgers has little motivation to stay in the pocket if teams keep playing man coverage with two safeties deep. The Packers are getting 7 guys cleared out of the box, at least 10-15 yards deep. Only one linebacker.

      If more teams choose to play man with two safeties deep Rodgers is going to tuck and run almost every time. Calling it now, Rodgers has one 100 yard rushing game this year and at approaches 50 yards another 3-5 times.

      I don’t like seeing him run, but how can’t he with that coverage.

      1. Yes,I get that…but I really don’t want to see a steady ‘tuck and run’ from Rodgers no matter how often it’s warranty…sooner or later he will get the ‘hit’ no one wants to see.

9. I hope Walden continues to play the run well. Call me skeptical, but it’s rare for a full grown pro athlete to go from complete liability to non-issue, especially in one season. Hope for the best, though.

   I like Cedric Benson’s quote:

   “I’m like a kid in the candy store. All I have to do is press the hole and let the linemen get their head on one side and explode through the hole on the backside.”

   Let me take some liberties and translate:

   ‘Wow, Green Bay’s running backs don’t know how good they have had it- if they just did what the coaches are telling them to do, or if they had any talent, they should be racking up the easiest yardage they’ll ever encounter in pro game.. Dude, just be decisive and GO, the yards are there practically BEGGING you to take them!”

   Very disappointed with Green’s showing tonight. He was close to breaking one, but again- any hesitation is too much.

   Nick Perry’s ability to seemingly collapse any OT that lines up across from him at will is going to make scenes like the Raji/Matthews sack a weekly occurrence. Once he learns the position more intimately and develops his hand use and a few inside pass rush moves, we can start seeing his blazing-fo-a-big-man speed come into play, and it’s going to be glorious.

   1. “Nick Perry’s ability to seemingly collapse any OT that lines up across from him at will is going to make scenes like the Raji/Matthews sack a weekly occurrence”
      This is why I say put Perry at End and Moses at OLB. Let them do what they do best.

      1. Whoops, OT is supposed to be TE. My bad.

         I don’t know that at 267 lbs Perry would be nearly as effective as a DE as he is at OLB. Plus, putting him at DE negates all of his athleticism and speed that he possesses- those natural gifts will come to the forefront as Perry gains experience. He’s a 4.64 speed guy with a 38″ vert and 10’4″ broad jump at 267 lbs.. That’s a guy you want at LB, not DE.

         I like Moses as well; but the Packers have Perry where he should be. Just be patient.

10. Saw a better prepared, inspired defensive performance against Bengals. Too bad offensive line forgot to show up, even Aaron Rodgers was a little rusty on throws to Jennings and Driver. Can’t ignore Walden and Moses play–I had preferreed Pack let Walden go but he’s making a case along with Moses for a spot on roster. Secondary is playing better with Woodson at safety, with Davon House on the field this team is immensely improved especially in the tackling. C’MON McCarthy, let’s get the Packers Express ready for prime time.

11. I’m not going to panic because I’ve seen some great Packer teams block poorly in the preseason and then dominate. However,if Benson is for real ,and I have no reason to think differently, this offense with a running attack would be a wonderful thing to behold. I’m a suffering Mets fan and can’t wait for football to finally start.

12. I wonder how Herb Taylor feels when an orange cone is higher on the depth chart than he is.

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