Green Bay Packers vs. Seattle Seahawks: 5 things to watch
PRESS-GAZETTE AUGUST 20, 2010
1. Will Blackmon missed a good chunk of training camp waiting for his surgically repaired left knee to feel better. Blackmon returned to practice this week and looked good returning kickoffs and punts. Can he answer the bell tonight, and will his knee withstand the rigors of all that cutting and stress?
2. The No. 1 defense looked shaky in pass defense last week against the Cleveland Browns, the worst-ranked offense in the NFL in 2009. In the absence of Charles Woodson, who isnt expected to play, the secondary will be put to the test. Can young cornerbacks Brandon Underwood and Pat Lee and rookie safety Morgan Burnett hold their own in the secondary?
3. Undrafted rookie halfback Quinn Porter has flashed potential and could take a major leap up the depth chart with a solid performance. While Kregg Lumpkin and rookie James Starks languish on the bench with bad hamstrings, Porter has the chance to grab hold of the No. 3 halfback job behind Ryan Grant and Brandon Jackson.
4. Some of the same old special teams problems cropped up last week, including penalties and coverage issues. One reason, according to special teams coach Shawn Slocum, was he used just about everyone on the roster. As the Packers get closer to the regular season, Slocum hopes to identify his No. 1 units and let them show what they can do. That process starts tonight.
5. Quarterback Matt Flynn hasnt looked particularly sharp in his third training camp. He must prove to himself and his teammates that he can be trusted as a reliable backup behind Aaron Rodgers. His time to shine comes during the preseason.
Mike Vandermause, mvandermause@greenbaypressgazette.com