Zero2Cool
13 years ago
http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/101235844.html 

Seattle Nobody has any idea yet what the Green Bay Packers' defense will be in 2010.

Everyone can see what's in store for the offense.

Logging two series Saturday night in an exhibition game against the Seattle Seahawks after going four in the opener against Cleveland, the Packers' No. 1 offense polished off two more long touchdown drives, giving it four in two weeks.

The starters gained 137 yards in 17 plays before coach Mike McCarthy pulled the plug after one quarter. Last week, the net was 173 yards in 20 plays. Their total is 310 yards in 37 plays, an average of 8.4 yards per play.

The Packers (1-1) defeated the Seahawks, 27-24, on Brandon Jackson's 12-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

Cleveland ranked 31st in defense last season and Seattle finished 24th. Neither figures to be significantly improved this season.

Still, it would be difficult not to see the talent that was on display with Aaron Rodgers and his starting lineup, which was intact except for Donald Driver. McCarthy gave him the night off.

On the other hand, it is impossible to judge the defense, particularly against Seattle. Seven starters from last year - linebackers Clay Matthews, A.J. Hawk, Nick Barnett and Brad Jones and defensive backs Charles Woodson, Al Harris and Atari Bigby - weren't on the field.

What passed for the No. 1 defense was torn apart for the second week in a row. What did it mean? Probably whatever you want it to mean.

Offensively, Rodgers is off to another magnificent start. In 2 1/2 quarters, he has completed 20 of 24 passes for 275 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions for a passer rating of 154.0. Perfection is 158.3.

The four touchdown drives engineered by Rodgers have measured 84, 72, 71 and 76 yards.

Rodgers played with total confidence against Seattle, starting with the first play. On a bootleg to the right, he had all day to pick a receiver when the Seahawks were fooled completely.

His decision was Greg Jennings, who kept running and running and running from the left side into the middle of the field. Rodgers hurled a high, arching pass more than 60 yards in the air, and it was caught by Jennings for a gain of 56.

Rodgers capped the 71-yard charge with a 1-yard touchdown pass to John Kuhn.

"I don't think Aaron Rodgers is a special, special 25-year-old quarterback," said Jeff Smith, a longtime scout for several National Football League teams now working for the B.C. Lions of the Canadian Football League. "But he will win championships because he plays within himself and works within that structure. He's just a real good, solid player."

When the Packers got the ball back, Rodgers went 25 yards downfield on the first play to Jennings. His pass was on target, but cornerback Marcus Trufant made a great play and stripped the ball away.

On third and 2, Rodgers held the ball hoping a receiver would free himself. When no one did, he turned on a burst to circle right end and make it a yard beyond the first-down sticks.

Once again, Jermichael Finley simply looked imposing.

On the first drive, he flanked wide left against nickel back Kelly Jennings and beat him on a third-and-8 stop route for 12. On the second drive, he looked remarkably fluid turning a wide-open flip from Rodgers on a bootleg into a gain of 12.

Later, Rodgers went to Finley on a pair of third downs.

On third and 5, McCarthy flanked three wide receivers left and Finley alone to the right. Finley ran an inside breaking route against Trufant, a former Pro Bowl cornerback, and Rodgers fired it to him for 12.

Then, on third and 6, Finley accelerated free from a conventional location on the left side. His speed off the ball probably was one reason why linebacker David Hawthorne and safety Lawyer Milloy blew the coverage. They converged on Jennings underneath, leaving Finley open to the post for a 12-yard TD.

Rodgers looked right just enough to draw the defense there, then came back to Finley with what appeared to be perfect timing and footwork.

"The body of work of those receivers speaks for itself," Smith said.

At this point, Rodgers is playing with utter confidence behind a line that has kept him free of sacks and virtually untouched.

Passes are coming out of his hand rapidly and in a tight spiral. His accuracy, other than an overthrown fade to Jennings, was razor-sharp. And his deep-ball touch, honed daily in practice by throwing long rainbows into a net, is superlative.

Seattle's offense, which produced merely three points in three possessions despite ideal field position in the opener against Tennessee, went three-and-out to open the game. New coach Pete Carroll apparently wanted to establish the run, but when the first four rushes gained merely 4 yards he took to the air.

Matt Hasselbeck shredded the Packers' linebackers and secondary, finishing with a passer rating of 120.7. Deion Branch beat Nick Collins for an 11-yard touchdown in the left corner, and a nine-play, 80-yard drive was finished off by Leon Washington's 11-run through the middle of the defense.

Green Bay had to start free agent Robert Francois at inside linebacker because of the injuries. Alex Joseph, a more talented free agent than Francois, also sat out with a thigh injury.

"The whole interior of the defense is hurt," Smith said. "Three starting linebackers are hurt. People don't want to think it but there is a difference between first and second unit."

The fact that the Packers' offense dominated the Seahawks when it was 1s against 1s shouldn't be a surprise. In the last three meetings, Green Bay won by 42-20 in the 2007 playoffs, 27-12 in '08 and 48-10 last year.

Matt Flynn took over for Rodgers with 12 1/2 minutes remaining in the second quarter and immediately threw two of his better balls in a Green Bay uniform. The first was a 21-yard pass to Brett Swain and the second was a 19-yarder to Jordy Nelson in the middle of the field.

The pass to Nelson was positively drilled.


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dfosterf (25m) : Surprisingly low initially is my guess cap wise, but gonna pay the piper after that
dfosterf (27m) : The number on Love is going to be brutal.
Zero2Cool (43m) : May 3rd. Extension day for Jordan Love. (soonest)
Zero2Cool (19h) : USFL MVP QB Alex McGough moved to WR. So that's why no WR drafted!
earthquake (23h) : Packers draft starters at safety ever few years. Collins, Clinton-Dix, Savage
beast (1-May) : Why can't the rookies be a day 1 starter? Especially when we grabbed 3 of them at the position
dfosterf (1-May) : Not going to be shocked if Gilmore goes to the Lions.
dfosterf (1-May) : I hear you dhazer, but my guess would be Gilmore Colts and Howard Vikings from what little has been reported.
Mucky Tundra (30-Apr) : S learn from McKinney who learns from Hafley who learns from the fans. Guaranteed Super Bowl
Zero2Cool (30-Apr) : could*
Zero2Cool (29-Apr) : Safeties should learn from Xavier.
dhazer (29-Apr) : And what about grabbing a Gilmore or Howard at CB ? Those are all Free Agents left
dhazer (29-Apr) : out of curiosity do they try and sign Simmons or Hyde to let these young safeties learn from, they can't be day 1 starters.
Zero2Cool (29-Apr) : I miss having Sam Shields.
Zero2Cool (29-Apr) : Not that he's making excuses, just pointing it out
Zero2Cool (29-Apr) : That's for dang sure. Make our erratic kicker have no excuse!
packerfanoutwest (28-Apr) : having a great long snapper is gold
Zero2Cool (28-Apr) : LaFleur looking like he had some weight. Coachin will do that lol
Zero2Cool (28-Apr) : Thanks Mucky and whomever created topcos for each pick!
Zero2Cool (28-Apr) : Insane about Kingsley
dfosterf (28-Apr) : Putring it here so Mucky sees it. He was our guy!
dfosterf (28-Apr) : Bowden long snapper Wisconsin. Consensus best LS in college.
dfosterf (28-Apr) : We got Peter Bowde
dfosterf (28-Apr) : I personally interpret that as a partial tear that can be recovered from with rehab
dfosterf (28-Apr) : MLF said Kingsley Enagbare did NOT tear his ACL and did NOT require surgery, and that he is "looking good" for the 2024 season!
beast (28-Apr) : T.O. son signs with the 49ers
Mucky Tundra (28-Apr) : damn those vikings
beast (27-Apr) : UDFA Vikings sign TE – Trey Knox, South Carolina
beast (27-Apr) : Kitchen was all high from Miami, he was more lucky than talented in 2022 and it showed in 2023
beast (27-Apr) : Reportedly Packers have UDFAs Jennings and Jones
beast (27-Apr) : OL – Donovan Jennings, USF OT – Trente Jones, Michigan
TheKanataThrilla (27-Apr) : Interesting draft. A bit shocked that we didn't select an early CB. Definitely have Safety help. Pretty happy overall.
dhazer (27-Apr) : wow the last 2 picks are really stupid and probably will be special teams players Top 10 draft pick next year book it
TheKanataThrilla (27-Apr) : I think he ended up with a terrible RAS score
dhazer (27-Apr) : Anyone know what went on with Kitchens from Florida? At 1 point he was to be the Packers 1st round and he is way down the board now
Martha Careful (27-Apr) : Z, could you please combine my thread with yours please. I obviously did not see it when I Created it
Martha Careful (26-Apr) : Re: 'Kool-Aid' McKinstry. Other than Icky Woods, has there ever been a good NFLer with a childish nickname?
Martha Careful (26-Apr) : Packers looking to trade up
Martha Careful (26-Apr) : Flag?
Martha Careful (26-Apr) : Sag?
Nonstopdrivel (26-Apr) : It rhymes with "bag."
beast (26-Apr) : Family? That's Deadpool's F word
Nonstopdrivel (26-Apr) : Not THAT f-word.
Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : fuck
beast (25-Apr) : 49ers are Cap Tight
beast (25-Apr) : Fuck
Mucky Tundra (25-Apr) : Kanata, I will be when I'm on my lunch later
TheKanataThrilla (25-Apr) : Love you NSD
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