It’s week 3 of the NFL season and the Packers are 1-1 after
playing the Seahawks and the Falcons. It could have been worse with losses to
the two of last year’s playoff teams, but honestly it couldn’t have been
better, so 1-1 looks pretty good.
The loss last Sunday night on the national stage was the
second by a lopsided score in the last 3 games to the high flying Falcons. The
season ended last year with a 44-21 loss and last week it was 34-23, so I guess
that was better.
Once again the rusty Packers offense took a long time to get
untracked. Jordy Nelson missed most of the game as did Mike Daniels, which
didn’t make matters any easier, but on a team that goes by the philosophy
literally and otherwise, “the next man up” the backups should have been able to
take up the slack.
The offensive line had the interior intact, but Kyle Murphy
started at left tackle because of a hamstring celebration injury to David
Bakhtiari and Justin McCray, a guard by trade, started at right tackle for the
injured Bryan Bulaga, who has been out since the 2nd week of the preseason with
an ankle injury. Old Man Rivers II (Jahri Evans) at right guard has a groin
injury, but he has been cleared to play.
With all things being equal (and with Ted Thompson as
General Manager they never are) I would rather have T.J. Lang at right guard,
but we all know because Thompson tells us every day with thoughts and deeds that
guards are a dime a dozen with none better than the other, since he as let go
two Pro Bowl guards the past two seasons and replaced them with an undrafted
free agent and an over-the-hill free agent. Does anyone remember Jeff Saturday.
He didn’t make it to Saturday a few years ago.
This week both Jordy and Bulaga are scheduled to play, but
just like Daniels, who has a hip injury, how long will they last. Daniels lasted just 7 snaps. Daniels may not play. Bakhtiari is doubtful and Randall Cobb, who as
great in week one, has an injured chest, so his availability is doubtful, too.
At outside linebacker Nick “Which injury is it this week”
Perry is out after having surgery on this hand and inside linebacker Jake Ryan
is doubtful with hamstring/concussion issues. Joe Thomas has been playing a lot anyway at inside linebacker, but inside linebacker is another position Thompson
doesn’t care about. At one point during the off-season the kiss ass local media
was even speculating Dom Capers wouldn’t even use inside linebackers.
Softening the Perry blow is that big free agent signing
Ahmad Brooks is healthy after having a concussion issue in the 1st 2 weeks, but
how long with he last? I think he will be a non factor, but I hope I’m wrong.
In the rebuilt secondary with No. 2 pick Kevin King taking
over for Damarious Randall at right cornerback, the left cornerback Davon House
is also doubtful with a quad injury. In his 2nd coming House has been sitting
out way more than he has played. I still predict he will not be a starter at
the end of the season, whether he is hurt or not. Hard-hitting safety Kentrell Brice
is also doubtful with a groin injury.
This is what the secondary could be at game time with both
Randall and Quinten Rollins benched. Left corner undrafted free agents Lenzy
Pipkins or Josh Hawkins. Right corner rookie Kevin King. Free safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix
and “Nitro” safety Morgan Burnett. In the slot or the deep safety could be
rookie Josh Jones or undrafted free agent Marwin Evans.
The Bengals are 0-2 and are playing on the road. ESPN
predicts Green Bay ,
21-9 and 27-13; All 8 at CBS pick the Packers straight up. The Sporting News
picks Green Bay ,
33-24. Elliott Harrison from NFL.com predicts Packers 30-17.
I wish someone would have picked the Bengals because upsets
happen when everyone picks one team (it has happened many times during the prep
football season so far).
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