Cheesehead
Well-known member
- Mar 19, 2019
- 2,854
- 0
Ethan from Iowa City, IA
What matchup do you think is most important on each side of the ball? I'm tempted to say pass rush vs. blocking on both sides. Does GB stop Mack and do they achieve pressure after so much investing into our front seven, or what say you?
Mack gets a lot of the attention and rightfully so, but the chess match between Za’Darius Smith and Charles Leno Jr. will also be fun to watch. Those are two of the more underrated players at their respective positions.
Lori from Brookfield, WI
Wes, what has Aaron Rodgers had to say about the back tightness that kept him from playing in the preseason games?
The Packers listed 19 players on their injury report this week. Rodgers wasn’t one of them. He’s good to go.
Steve from Davenport, IA
Is the O-line depth good enough?
I feel good about it. Elgton Jenkins is a talented guy who can play multiple spots. Lane Taylor is a solid NFL left guard and Jenkins pushed him for that starting post as a rookie. I think that says a lot about his long-term potential. Lucas Patrick is also as steady as it goes inside. Alex Light is an intriguing tackle prospect, but the Packers also have some flexibility there with Billy Turner being able to play tackle.
Stephen from Chicago, IL
Early preseason storyline was missed tackles. And for good reason. In my opinion, absent turnovers, the game still comes down to blocking and tackling. Did you see improvement down the stretch and will you be adding missed tackles to your personal stat sheet as you watch the opener?
Sure, but the starting unit was neither the culprit nor the corrector. What happens today, for better or worse, is not directly tied to how the team tackled in the preseason. The defenders who take the field tonight are the conduits to the Packers achieving their goals for 2019. The time for talking is over. Offseason narratives no longer matter – from today on, they write their own story.
Jagger from Mishawaka, IN
I feel like we take running back pass blocking for granted, as if it's a lower-tier skill. How important do you think RB blocking is and who in the RB room does it best?
It’s critical, especially with a quarterback like Aaron Rodgers. Fortunately, the Packers appear to have two natural pass protectors in Jamaal Williams and Danny Vitale, while Aaron Jones has grown by leaps and bounds over the past year. Green Bay has three guys who are all more than capable of standing back there with Rodgers on third downs. That’s a blessing for any passer.
Mike from Atlanta, GA
Biggest thing for us will be third-down conversions. They've got one nasty D and will aim to keep Aaron on the sidelines, or running towards them. Not sure we'll do much on the ground. Defense wins this game.
The Packers must establish their ground game if they want to consistently win third downs. If they move the ball and can create third-and-short situations consistently, the Packers stand a good chance to win this ball game.
Bill from Bloomfield Hills, MI
Having not seen any of Rodgers this year, how does he look moving and throwing on the run? Does the new offense build that in to get him outside or will that continue to be more related to scramble-drill type plays? I'm anxious to see if we get less throwaways and off-target passes than last year. More than anything else that just didn't seem like Aaron's game that I have watched for 10 years.
From what I’ve seen, Rodgers looks like a great fit for this offense with its designed rollouts and play-action passes. Furthermore, he seems to be happy with what the offense has been doing behind the closed doors of practice. Again, we’re not going to know what he’s fully capable of in this scheme until the team gets a few games under its belt. The early signs are promising, though.
Lee from Leesburg, FL
How much will injuries (from both sides) affect tonight’s game with the Bears?
Not much. The Packers are missing one of their starting inside linebackers, but I imagine we were going to see a lot of Raven Greene in that hybrid role regardless. The biggest question mark right now is whether Trey Burton plays. He’s the go-to-guy for the Bears and Mitchell Trubisky.
Chad from La Crosse, WI
If you were a fantasy football guy, would you rather start Marquez Valdes-Scantling or Geronimo Alison for the whole season? Why?
If all things are equal, Allison probably gets more targets but MVS is the bigger home-run threat. If it’s PPR, I say Allison. If not, MVS. They’ll both get their opportunities.
Daniel from Los Angeles, CA
I'm really excited about seeing what Darrius Shepherd can do. He honestly reminds me of Randall Cobb, with his build and style, which bodes well for us seeing how successful Cobb has been against the Bears. Am I the only one seeing a reincarnated Cobb on our team?
It’s always good to see players like Shepherd make it because it’s a reminder measurables and 40 times aren’t everything. Some guys are just football players. Shepherd is dealing with a hamstring injury and won’t play against Chicago, but I’m excited for the day he makes his debut. There is no one quite like him on the roster.