Zero2Cool
16 years ago

DENVER Mike McCarthy either isnt too worried about his running [img_r]http://cmsimg.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=U0&Date=20080822&Category=PKR01&ArtNo=80822133&Ref=AR&Profile=1058&MaxW=150&Border=0[/img_r]game or hes so concerned about his first-year starting quarterback that he plans to give Aaron Rodgers as many throws as possible this preseason.

Either way, the Green Bay Packers came out firing in their third preseason game, and this time, the offense clicked. Six days after its woeful performance against the San Francisco 49ers, the starting offense finally found some rhythm on Friday against the Denver Broncos at Invesco Field. Against a Broncos defense that last season ranked 19th out of 32 teams in the NFL in total yards allowed and 28th in points, Rodgers and the No. 1 offense put together a respectable performance that yielded 20 points in a little more than two quarters of action.

The Packers led 20-17 when Rodgers night ended after one series in the third quarter, and they held on to win their first game in three tries this preseason, 27-24.

It was more important for the offense to play a lot better, McCarthy said. Our quarterback has a lot to do with that. I thought Aaron had a good night. I thought he managed the offense, the tempo, was smart with the football (and) was very good on third down. But I thought it was important for our offense to come out and establish some tempo and have some productivity early in the game.

Perhaps McCarthys concern now will shift to his defense, which gave up touchdown drives of 99 and 80 yards in the first half. The Broncos scored on all three of their first-half possessions, totaling 17 first-half points despite only six completions in two quarters by starting quarterback Jay Cutler.

McCarthy set the tone with his play calling when on the first snap, Rodgers rolled to his right and found tight end Tory Humphrey wide open for a 35-yard gain. On the next play, Rodgers fired a dart to receiver Greg Jennings, who ran a comeback route for a 17-yard gain, and the Packers were on the move.

Rodgers completed 4-of-5 passes for 69 yards on the opening drive. His only incompletion was a throwaway, and he capped the 80-yard drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass to receiver Donald Driver, who went in motion on third-and-3 and found a small opening in the defense.

After a run-heavy second possession, which ended with a 59-yard Jon Ryan punt that Jarrett Bush downed at the 1-yard line, McCarthy went back to the air on the final two possessions of the first half. Rodgers looked deep to Driver to start the third possession and picked up a 26-yard pass interference penalty on linebacker D.J. Williams, who was caught in a mismatch. Later in the drive, Rodgers converted a fourth-and-2 on his second of three quarterback sneaks, but the drive stalled in part due to a dropped pass by James Jones on second-and-10 at the Broncos 25. The Packers settled for a 44-yard Mason Crosby field goal.

Then, with an opportunity to run the 2-minute drill, Rodgers led another field-goal drive. Starting at his 20 with 1:25 remaining in the second quarter, Rodgers completed five straight passes, including a 23-yarder on a deep cross to Driver to start the drive. With 11 seconds left, he took one shot at the end zone, but missed Jennings. Crosby then kicked a 46-yard field goal to end the half.

In what was his best half of the preseason, Rodgers completed 16-of-19 passes in the first half for 178 yards and a touchdown. That equated to a passer rating of 123.2.

Rodgers playing time lasted one series into the third quarter, when he capped a seven-play, 40-yard drive with a 1-yard quarterback sneak for a touchdown. When he gave way to rookie Brian Brohm on the second series of the third quarter, Rodgers final stats were: 18-of-22 passing (an 81.8 completion percentage) for 193 yards with a passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown for a passer rating of 118.4.

Tonight was a good step for our offense, Rodgers said after the game. After last week and getting the kind of time we did tonight, we needed to really take a step forward, and I think we did that.

Rodgers protection was better than it was against the 49ers, when he was sacked four times in the first half. The Broncos sacked him just once, when right tackle Mark Tauscher couldnt contain defensive end Elvis Dumervil on a second-and-8 play in the first quarter. That, plus a personal foul on running back Vernand Morency on the next play, forced the only punt of the first half.

It was that punt which set up Denvers in your face, 16-play, 99-yard scoring drive that chewed up 8 minutes and 29 seconds. With the Packers missing run-stopping defensive tackle Ryan Pickett (hamstring), the Broncos took advantage of some substitutions on the Packers defensive line. They ran 10 times including six straight for 55 yards on that drive alone.

We didnt get off the field, defensive coordinator Bob Sanders said. We have to sure up some fundamentals. We missed a few tackles, missed a few gap controls, things we can easily adjust and get to.

The Broncos followed up their 99-yard drive with a two-play, 80-yard touchdown drive. Cutler went after No. 3 cornerback Tramon Williams on both plays. On the first, Williams was flagged for a 31-yard pass interference penalty for contact with receiver Brandon Marshall, who ran a left sideline go route. On virtually the same route, Marshall beat Williams deep down the left sideline for a 49-yard touchdown.

While Cutler completed just 6-of-13 passes for 115 first-half yards and two touchdown passes, the Broncos rushed 15 times for 91 yards (a 6.1-yard average) in the first half. Meanwhile, the Packers ran 12 times for just 31 first-half yards. Brandon Jackson carried six times for a team-high 19 yards.

This was likely the last chance for extended preseason playing time for the Packers starters. In his first two seasons as coach, McCarthy has used the third preseason game as a dress rehearsal for the regular season and has played his starters sparingly in the preseason finale. That means Rodgers and Co. likely will play only a series or two in Thursdays preseason finale against the Tennessee Titans at Lambeau Field.

Tonight we definitely made enough plays to feel confident about our offense going into the regular season, Rodgers said. Hopefully we showed enough that were ready for the regular season.



Watch out for the pass attack!! It'll be interesting to see how we do with Ryan Grant back in the mix.
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4PackGirl
16 years ago
woot - can't wait for regular season to start!!! 😃
Zero2Cool
16 years ago

woot - can't wait for regular season to start!!! :D

"4PackGirl" wrote:



It's already started!! 🙂
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TengoJuego
16 years ago
Aaron looked great last night! I was very pleased with his play. Now the defense, they're a bit of a different story.
wischeez
16 years ago
Rogers did very good. He was pretty much on-the-money with all his throws. It looked like the receivers and Rogers were on the same page all evening. All we have to do now is get the defense on the same page and eliminate the mental errors. Can't wait for Sept.8
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millertime
16 years ago
I'm getting worried about our defense. We've had only one sack in three games!

We need to get more pressure or else we'll continue to get torched by the pass.
gakko
16 years ago
It's a huge advantage for the Packers that they established Ryan Grant as a premier running threat last season, because only the threat of the running game he brings will open up our passing game even more.
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Cheesey
16 years ago

It's a huge advantage for the Packers that they established Ryan Grant as a premier running threat last season, because only the threat of the running game he brings will open up our passing game even more.

"gakko" wrote:


I agree.......hopefully Grant will bring that to the table. Jackson has looked pretty good too! I can't WAIT to see that one/two punch on the field!
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Fan Shout
Zero2Cool (9h) : Bears. Vikings. OT
Mucky Tundra (10h) : Thems the breaks I guess
Mucky Tundra (10h) : Two players out and Williams had an injury designation this week but Oladapo is a healthy scratch
Zero2Cool (10h) : Packers inactives vs 49ers: • CB Jaire Alexander • S Kitan Oladapo • LB Edgerrin Cooper • OL Jacob Monk
TheKanataThrilla (12h) : Aaron Jones with a costly red zone fumble
Zero2Cool (13h) : When we trade Malik for a 1st rounder, we'll need a new QB2.
packerfanoutwest (23-Nov) : Report: Aaron Rodgers wants to play in 2025, but not for the Jets
beast (23-Nov) : That's what I told the Police officer about my speed when he pulled me over
packerfanoutwest (23-Nov) : NFL told Bears that Packers’ blocked field goal was legal
packerfanoutwest (22-Nov) : 49ers are underdogs at Packers, ending streak of 36 straight games as favorites
Zero2Cool (22-Nov) : 49ers might be down their QB, DL, TE and LT?
packerfanoutwest (22-Nov) : Jaire Alexander says he has a torn PCL
Zero2Cool (20-Nov) : Even with the context it's ... what?
Mucky Tundra (20-Nov) : Matt LaFleur without context: “I don’t wanna pat you on the butt and you poop in my hand.”
beast (20-Nov) : We brought in a former Packers OL coach to help evaluate OL as a scout
beast (20-Nov) : Jets have been pretty good at picking DL
Zero2Cool (20-Nov) : He landed good players thanks to high draft slot. He isn't good.
Zero2Cool (20-Nov) : He can shove his knowledge up his ass. He knows nothing.
beast (20-Nov) : More knowledge, just like bring in the Jets head coach
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : What? Why? Huh?
beast (19-Nov) : I wonder if the Packers might to try to bring Douglas in through Milt Hendrickson/Ravens connections
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : The Jets fired Joe Douglas, per sources
packerfanoutwest (19-Nov) : Jets are a mess......
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : Pretty sure Jets fired their scouting staff and just pluck former Packers.
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : Jets sign Anders Carlson to their 53.
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : When you cycle the weeks, the total over remains for season. But you get your W/L for that selected week. Confusing.
packerfanoutwest (19-Nov) : the total and percentage are the same as the previous weeks
packerfanoutwest (19-Nov) : the total and percentage are the same as the previous weeks
packerfanoutwest (19-Nov) : the totals are accurate..nrvrtmind
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : I don't follow what you are saying. The totals are not the same as last week.
packerfanoutwest (19-Nov) : ok so then wht are the totals the same as last week?
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : NFL Pick'em is auto updated when NFL Scores tab is clicked
Martha Careful (19-Nov) : The offense was OK. Let's not forget the Bear defense is very very good.
packerfanoutwest (19-Nov) : Who updates the leaderboard on NFLPickem?
beast (19-Nov) : Has the Packers offense been worse since the former Jets coach joined the Packers?
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : Offense gets his ass in gear, this could be good.
Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : Backup QB helped with three wins. Special Teams contributed to three wins.
bboystyle (18-Nov) : Lions played outside thats why. They scored 16 and 17 in the only 2 outside games this year
Zero2Cool (18-Nov) : The rest of the NFL is catching up to Packers ... kicking is an issue throughout league
packerfanoutwest (18-Nov) : Packers DL Kenny Clark: We knew 'we were going to block' Bears' game-winning field goal attempt
Zero2Cool (18-Nov) : Lions seem to be throttling everyone, but only (only) got 24 lol maybe the rain is why
Zero2Cool (18-Nov) : Packers vs Lions game doesn't seem so bad.
beast (18-Nov) : Dennis Green "They are what we thought they were, and we let them off the hook!"
Martha Careful (17-Nov) : comment of the day Z2Cool "Bears better than we want to admit. Packers worse than we think. It's facts."
Mucky Tundra (17-Nov) : my worst case scenario: Bears fix their oline and get a coach like Johnson from the Lions and his scheme
Zero2Cool (17-Nov) : Bears get OL fixed amd we might have a problem
buckeyepackfan (17-Nov) : Pretty sure they already have scouting reports on guys who aren't even starting for their college team. The future is now for me.
buckeyepackfan (17-Nov) : I tend to let Gute and Co. Worry about the future.
beast (17-Nov) : That's great news and Packers need to keep upgrading their OL, DL and DBs this off-season, so missing one guy doesn't kill them
beast (17-Nov) : That's great news and Packers need to keep upgrading their OL, DL and DBs this off-season, so missing one guy doesn't kill them
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