Game #2 - Packers vs Vikings

Another BIG rivalry!  Packers Vikings!

Packers Leads Series - 60-54-3

Last 10 games?  Packers 4 wins - 5 losses -  1 tie
Last 6 games?   Packers 1 win - 4 losses - 1 tie

So, a BAD trend, MUST be broken!

Key, Packer Offense vs Vikings Defense!

Packer Offense, what must improve?

*  Timing of offense, stay away from 1 second left on play clock!  Change speeds, slow down the offense and speed it up!!!

*  Running Game - need over 140 yards!

*  Passing Game - get everyone involved!  Tight Ends!!!  At least 10 receptions & 1 TD!  Wide Receivers, Spread it around & get young receivers involved!  Running backs, safety valve, screen passes, over the middle!

*  No turnovers!

*  NO -  3 & outs!!!

*  Individual Stats
Aaron pass over 300 yards - 2 TDS - no interception
Aaron Jones - over 100 yards
Davante Adams - over 100 yards - 1 TD

More to come in Viking Week!!

Last Look at Packer-Bear Game - The Eye Ball Test?

OK, one last look at the Packer-Bear Game!

The Eye Ball Test!

1 - Packer Defense is Improved!
   Team Speed - Noticeable!
   Tackling - BETTER!
   Young Defensive Backs are for real!
   Sacks - Smith Boys are for real! (Sorry Clay!)
   And, made stops when they had to!!!

2 - Packer Offense - To Early To Tell
   Will give offense time, plus Bears D is good!
   Aaron still holds ball to long!
   Running Game - unknown!
   Wide Receivers - looks like we have something
   Tight Ends - New Head Coach seems to want to use them!
   No Turnovers!

3 - Special Teams
   JK Scott - WOW!  Could we have a Pro Bowl Punter!
   Crosby - still has it!
   Kick & Punt returner - will Davis bust some?

4 - Team Hustle
   Yes!

5 - Overall Organization
  Seemed OK.  Biggest negative offense - seemed too many plays were with 1 second
on the play clock - I blame Aaron
   Body Language of players was good
 
6 - We won Baby!

Next up Vikings!

Packers 10 - Bears 3

Packers win in Chicago!

Packers win to start the 100th year of the NFL Season!

Packers win with the Bears rolling out the '85 Bears!

Packers win with a great defense!

Packers win!

In the NFL, every win is BIG!  16 games in the season, that is it!  So, a win, NO MATTER
what the score, the team you are playing, or the time of the year, a WIN is big!

Now, what about the game?  I always like to look at the drives:

Packer Offensive Drives
1 - 3 plays - PUNT
2 - 3 plays - PUNT
3 - 3 plays - PUNT
4 - 4 plays - 74 Yards Touchdown
5 - 8 plays - 22 Yards - 2 First Downs
6 - 6 plays - 19 Yards - 1 First Down
7 - 2 plays - End of Half
8 - 4 plays - 1 Yard - 1 First Down by Penalty
9 - 3 plays - PUNT
10 - 7 plays - 25 Yards - 2 First Downs
11 - 10 plays - 73 Yards Field Goal
12 - 3 plays - PUNT
13 - 2 plays - End of Game

Packer Offense
13 series & 2 really do NOT count - End of Half, End of Game
2 - Series DO NOT COUNT

So, we are down to 11.

2 of 11 drives were scoring Drives.  Against a VERY GOOD DEFENSE!
We still need more scores down the road this season!  Say, 20 - 24 points.

5 of the 11 3 & OUT - PUNTS!
This is not what we want.  1st downs!  Flip field position!  Run clock!

4 of the 11 drives had a least one first down.  A Packer Goal should be
NO 3 & OUTS!  1st Downs are a GOOD thing!

Packer Defense
12 Series

3 Series - 3 & Outs - Need more of these!
1 Series ended in 4th Down stop

8 Series ended in a Punt!  This is awesome!

1 Series ended in interception - maybe 2-3 a game as a goal?

1 - Series ended in a score - just a Field Goal - no touchdowns!

So, we must be happy with the defense & be encouraged by the fact this
is the first year in the new offense, first year head coach.

And, our punter!  Whoa baby, what a night! 9 Punts, 47.6 average.  Longest
punt - 63 yards.  5 Punts inside the 20.  When was the last time we had an
All-Pro punter?

Enjoy the Win!

Go Pack Go!

Packers vs Bears, First a Look at The Injury Report

If you have been a Packer Fan, if you have been reading this blog, you know the Packer players
get hurt!  They miss games!  The miss seasons!  So, what does the injury report look like for the
Packers vs Bears?

Packers
Montravius Adams - Groin
Fadol Brown - Calf
Oren Burks - Chest
Kenny Clark - Ankle
Jimmy Graham - Finger
Ka'dar Hollman - Neck
Josh Jackson - Achilles
Aaron Jones - Hamstring
Kevin King - Hamstring
Tyler Lancaster - Ankle
Cole Madison - Ankle
Blake Martinez - Back
Will Redmund - Ankle
Darrius Shepherd - Hamstring
Danny Vitale - Calf
Jamaal Williams - Hamstring
Alex Light - Wrist
Tramon Williams - Knee

Bears
Rashaad Coward - Elbow
Trey Burton - Groin
Bilal Nichols - Knee

Are you keeping score  Packers 19 - Bears 3

Either the Packers are SUPER honest & report EVERYTHING or....
The Bears are SUPER dishonest and report NOTHING!

Or, what the heck are the Packers doing?????

Hamstring?  As a retired track coach, this is the sprinters nightmare!!
Bears 0 - Packers 4
And, the past few years, I have noticed many hamstring issues!!!  Stretching?  Weight
Training issues??  Something is NOT right!

This to this Packer fan is a BIG ISSUE!

Will The Packers of 2019 Have A Top Ten Defense?

To be a legit playoff team you need a defense!  The offense may stumble, the weather ALWAYS turns colder, and, usually at the end of most NFL games you need a defensive stop!  What will this version of the Green Bay Packers look like??

Packers are in year 2 of the Mike Pettine Era.  We have moved on from Clay Matthews & Nick Perry.  We have dumped Ha Ha Clinton-Dixx (will miss that name) and Josh Jones (he didn't want to be here anyway!)  And, Mike Daniels & his leadership is gone, will miss that guy!

And, now, the 25 defensive players on this years 53 man roster:

(FIRST, a trade!  Today, the Packers traded for an inside linebacker, BJ Goodson.  Looks like they could put James Crawford on waivers.)

Packer Defense   (25 players)
Defensive Ends (4)
Dean Lowry   6'6"   296 lbs   Northwestern    Year 4
Montravious Adams   6'4"  304 lbs  Auburn   Year 3
Fadol Brown   6'4"   282 lbs   Mississippi   Year 2
Kingsley Keke   6'3"   288 lbs   Texas A&M   Rookie

Defensive Tackles (2)
Kenny Clark   6'3"   314 lbs   UCLA   Year 3
Tyler Lancaster   6'3"   313 lbs   Northwestern   Year 2


As defensive lines go, this team looks very average.  Kenny Clark may be an All Pro
very soon and is an athlete!  Dean Lowry made a jump last year, needs another this year!
Adams & Lancaster could also make a step up yo better than average & had good years last
year.  New guy, Kingsley would be a pleasant surprise as a rookie!

Inside Linebacker (4)
Blake Martinez   6'2"   232 lbs   Stanford   Year 4
Ty Summers   6'1"   241 lbs   Texas Christian   Rookie
Oren Burks   6'3"   233 lbs    Vanderbilt   Year 2
BJ Goodson   6'1"   250 lbs   Clemson   Year 4

Our biggest weakness!  In desperation, a late trade for Goodson with the Giants.  Martinez,
without question is the leader.  Smart players from Stanford in year four was in the top 5 in the
NFL in total tackles for the year!  Ty Summers is green(Packer Green), and flies around the field.
Oren Burks is injured and should be our #2, ready to have a breakout season?

Outside Linebacker (4)
Za'Darius Smith   6'4"   272 lbs   Kentucky   Year 5
Preston Smith   6'5"   265 lbs   Mississippi State   Year 5
Rashan Gary   6'5"   277 lbs   Michigan   Rookie
Kyler Fackrell   6'5"   245 lbs   Utah State   Year 4

A new era?  Pick went out and got two free agents - Smith & Smith.  The Packers need
a difference maker, a spark plug!  This needs to come from Smith & Smith!  Packers took
a chance on Rashan Gary, a free athlete!  Will we have a future all pro here??

Cornerbacks (7)
Jaire Alexander   5'10"   196 lbs   Louisville   Year 2
Kevin King   6'3"   200 lbs   Washington   Year 3
Tramon Williams   5'11"   191 lbs   Louisiana Tech    Year 13
Josh Jackson   6'   196 lös   Iowa    Year 2
Tony Brown   6'   199 lbs   Alabama   Year 2
Chad Sullivan   5'11"   189 lbs   Georgia State   Year 2
Ka'dar Hollman   6'   196 lös   Toledo   Rookie

Safety (4)
Adrian Amos  6'   214 lbs   Penn State   Year 5
Darnell Savage   5'11"   198 lbs   Maryland   Rookie
Raven Greene   5'11"    193 lbs    James Madison   Year 2
Will Redmund  5'11"   186 lbs   Mississippi State   Year 4

Here we go!  Going out on a limb and saying, our strength begins here on defense!  Young,
athletic, talented?  As I keep saying, the Packer scouts & leaders need to hit a few home runs
in the draft!  Alexander, King, Savage, and free agent Amos!  The future looks GOOD!!!  Depth,
Greene, Jackson, and veteran Williams.  Looks solid to me!

Top Ten Defense - WE NEED IT!!!!

Packers Have Their 53 Man Roster!

Summer practice is over!  Those EXCITING pre-season games are history!  HOORAY!

Now, what does the 53 man roster look like & what can we expect??

Tonight I will begin with the offense - 25 players.

Quartebacks (2)
   Aaron Rodgers   6'2"  225 lbs  California  Year 15
   Tim Boyle  6'4"  232 lbs  Eastern Kentucky  Year 2

Aaron.  Year 15 & one Super Bowl!  He NEEDS more, at least 2!  So, of course #1
Stay Healthy!  Does he still have it.  Last couple of years do not seem to show it.  Was
the McCarthy-Rodgers partnership that toxic?  They always said NO, I say YES.  Just
as a fan, body language, interviews, facial expressions to me indicated a struggle.  So. my
prediction, if they win a couple early, great things to come.  If they go 0-2, watch out!
Physically, we have not seen Aaron on the field, watch closely this Thursday!

Tim Boyle.  One issue the last 4-5 years, if Aaron was out we had NO chance.  In the
pre-season, Boyle looked good, but only time will tell!  He has the size, the arm strength, but
in the regular season????

Wide Receivers (6)
   Davante Adams   6'1"  215lbs  Fresno State  Year 6
   Marquez Valdes-Scantling   6'4"  206 lbs   South Florida  Year 2
   Geronimo Allison  6'3"  202 lbs   Illinois   Year 4
   Jake Kumerow   6'4"   209 lbs   Wisconsin-Whitewater  Year 2
   Trevor Davis   6'1"  188 lbs   California   Year 4
   Darius Shepherd   5'11"   186 lbs   North Dakota State   Year Rookie

We have an All-Pro type of receiver in Davante, now, can the 5 others get open & catch the
football?  First, love the size of these receivers.  Second, they seem to have plenty of speed.  And,
Kumerow looks like a "Jordy" type - a play maker.  Trevor Davis is a big play ready to happen!
Valdes-Scantling  size & speed!  Geronimo has an AWESOME name and was looking good
at the beginning of the season last year, before injury!  And, new kid on the block, Shepherd
has some speed!  Now, can they make Aaron happy??  Again, Bear game is a start!

Tight Ends (4)
   Jimmy Graham   6'7"   265 lbs   Miami   Year 10
   Mercedes Lewis   6'6"  267 lbs   UCLA   Year 14
   Robert Tonyan   6'5"   237 lbs   Indiana State   Year 2
   Jace Sternberger   6'4"   251 lbs   Texas A&M   Year Rookie

Jimmy Graham, what is left in your tank???  Last few years, NOT so much.  Mercedes,
same question big guy!  Tonyan has looked good.  Rookie, Jace Sternberger - unknown.
Looks like, in the red zone, Graham & Lewis, run 10 yards, turn around, catch the ball!
My questions, can the crew run the seems, get over the middle.  NEED THESE GUYS!

Offensive Line (9)
   David Bakhtiari   6'4"   310 lbs   Colorado   Year 7
   Brian Bulaga   6'5"   314 lbs   Iowa  Year 10
   Alex Light   6'5"   309 lbs   Richmond   Year 2
   Corey Linsley   6'3"   301 lbs   Ohio State   Year 6
   Lucas Patrick   6'3"   313 lbs  Duke   Year 3
   Lane Taylor   6'3"   324 lbs   Oklahoma St   Year 7
   Billy Turner   6'5"   310 lbs   North Dakota State   Year 6
   Cole Madison   6'5"   308 lbs   Wisconsin   Year 1
   Elgton Jenkins   6'5"   311 lbs   Mississippi St   Year Rookie

This to me is the KEY!!  In the years we had consistent, no injuries line play, we were
awesome!!  So, BIG GUYS - stay healthy & protect Aaron!!!  Bakhtiari - All Pro, Bulaga,
STAY HEALTHY,  Taylor, you need to play well, rookie Jenkins breathing down you neck,
Billy Turner, new guy adds some swagger & Corey at center, All Pro recognition?

Running Backs - (3)  & Full Back (1)
   Aaron Jones  5'9"  209 lbs   Texas El-Paso  Year 3
   Jamaal Williams   6'  213 lbs  Brgham Young   Year 3
   Dexter Williams   5'11"   212 lbs   Notre Dame   Year Rookie

Possible break out year for Aaron Jones!  Do not get caught speeding with marijuana
in your car!  Williams & Williams pound out yards!!!  Need a 1000 rusher & a break away
threat!!!

There we are, 25 players!  This offense needs to be a TOP FIVE OFFENSE this year!!!

Goals
MVP - Aaron Rodgers in the hunt
1000 yard rusher - Aaron Jones
1200 yard Receiver - Davante Adams
Jimmy Graham - 15 TD's!
Win the turnover battle 12 of 16 games!
STAY HEALTHY!

The Race to 53!

The next few days are going to be critical for many NFL players - 32 teams, around 90 on each team, somewhere close to 2880 people whose lives are on hold?  Well, some of those 2880 are safe?  What players on the Packers are safe?

Countdown:
1 - QB, Aaron Rodgers
2 - C, Corey Linsley
3 - G, Billy Turner
4 - G, Lane Taylor
5 - G, Elgton Jenkins (draft pick)
6 - T, David Bakhtiari
7 - T, Brian Bulaga
8 - TE, Jimmy Graham
9 - WR, Davante Adams
10 - WR, Geronimo Allison
11 - WR, Jake Kumerow
12 - WR, Marquez Valdes-Scantling
13 - RB, Aaron Jones
14 - RB, Jamaal Williams
15 - FB, Danny Vitale
16 - NT, Kenny Clark
17 - DE, Dean Lowry
18 - DE, Montravious Adams
19 - OLB, Preston Smith
20 - OLB, Za'Darius Smith
21 - ILB, Blake Martinez
22 - ILB, Oren Burke
23 - CB, Jaire Alexander
24 - CB, Kevin King
25 - S, Adran Amos
26 - S, Darnell Savage (draft pick)
27 - S, Raven Greene
28 - OLB, Rashan Gary (draft pick)
29 - TE, Jace Sternberger (draft Pick)
30 - DT, Kingsley Keke (draft pick)
31 - CB, Ka'Dar Hollman (draft pick)
32 - RB, Dexter Williams (draft pick)
33 - ILB, Ty Summers (draft pick)
34 - LS, Hunter Bradley
35 - P, JK Scott
36 - TE, Robert Tonyan
37 - DT, Tyler Lancaster
38 - CB, Josh Jackson
39 - OLB, Kyler Fackrell
40 - K, Sam Ficken (I just have a feeling)
41 - WR, Trevor Davis
OK,  12 players & some may be other team cuts!  I quick list of possibilities:

TE - Lewis, QB - Boyle, DL - Brown, CB - Tony Brown, ILB - Crawford, WR - Lazard,
WR - Shepherd, S - Campbell, OL - Patrick, OL - McCray, ILB - Sheldon, CB - Williams

Watch closely & let us see who is on the team next week when the Packers BEAT the Bears!!