Friday, August 21, 2015

Packers Versus Patriots Recap | Alonzo Harris Should Make The Team



Packers versus Patriots Pre Season
As promised, here is our review of some of the individual performances within for the Packers in their first preseason game against the Patriots.

Aaron Rodgers: The 2014 MVP looked decent in his 2015 debut. Rodgers finished the night 11 for 19 passing for 117 yards, all in the first quarter. Ironically that sets the record for the most passes in the first quarter Rodgers has ever thrown in his career.

Scott Tolzien: Wow, what a difference two years makes. This is a completely different Scott Tolzien than the one the Packers were force to throw to the Wolves two years ago when Aaron Rodgers broke his collarbone. Tolzien looks sharp, prepared, confidant, and ready to go if Rodgers gets hurt again. Tolzien finished the night 10 for 16 for 107 yards and a gorgeous touchdown pass to Jeff Janis.

Brett Hundley: The rookie looked like a deer caught in the headlights in his first NFL game, which is about what we expected of him. Hundley finished 4 of 6 for 60 yards and a touchdown. He's improved since the start of training camp, and showed some spark before giving up the ball in the fourth quarter to Matt Blanchard out of Wisconsin-Whitewater, who has no shot of making this team, but it was fun watching him.

Eddie Lacy: Eddie Lacy had a solid night, five carries for 36 yards before his night was done. We won't see much out of him this preseason.

James Starks: The Packers number two back had five carries for a measly 12 yards before his night was done. However, Starks did have three catches for 38 yards as well. Much like Lacy, we won't see much from him this preseason, so don't read into his numbers too much.

Rajon Neal: The first of the three competitors for the third running back spot finished the night with four carries for 15 yards, and did nothing to help his cause.

John Crockett: The candidate number two for the third running back job, had a little bit better of a night than candidate number one, finishing with 10 carries for 26 yards.

Alonzo Harris: On the other hand, candidate number three made a loud statement about his desire to be the third running back. Harris finished the night with seven carries for 41 yards and a touchdown, and found holes to run through all night.

The Packers Defense: The Defense had a solid night collectively, which shows McCarthy spending more time with the defense may actually pay off.

Friday, August 14, 2015

Packers 2015 Game by Game Schedule | Ticket King Green Bay

Packers 2015 Schedule
The Green Bay Packers 2015 schedule doesn't start off with a few easy opponents. Green Bay will start on the road, at Chicago. The Bears have something to prove, and knocking the Pack down in game one would be a huge boost for that hapless organization. Consider that one a "must win."  Following that game, it's the home opener at Lambeau Field. It's the Packers versus Seahawks on 9/20.  This one is a prime time game, with kickoff set for 7:30pm. All eyes will be on the NFC Championship repeat of last year. Although the "strength of their NFL schedule" finds them in the middle of the pack, it sure looks tough on paper.

On 9/28 it's the Packers versus Chiefs. That one is also a prime time affair, on Monday Night Football! Green Bay heads to San Francisco for a noon match up against the 49ers. Then it's back home to Green Bay for the next two weeks.  The Packers will play the Rams and Chargers. The bye week comes up after that.

November 1, the Packers will play a Sunday night game at Denver. Will Manning and Co. pick apart Green Bay?  Will the stout defensive line of the Packers take down aging Peyton Manning? The Panthers will host the Packers on November 8, then it's a home game against Detroit. Green Bay will hit the road for a game against divisional opponent Minnesota.

One of the biggest games in the way of Packers ticket demand is the Thanksgiving night game when Green Bay will retire Brett Favre's jersey.  Green Bay will take on the Bears that night. Getting into December, the team will head to Detroit on 12/3. Then it's time to host the Cowboys, who hope to make up for their loss in the NFC playoffs. December 20, it's Packers at Raiders. The final two games of the season are not going to be easy. The Packers head to Arizona on 12/27, then host the Vikings for the final game of the regular season. 

Monday, August 3, 2015

Packers Special Teams Coach Ron Zook Takes Over as Shawn Slocum is Sent Packing

Packers special teams
The Green Bay Packers 2014 season was one for the ages. The team was just a minutes away from heading to the Super Bowl, before everything came apart. Some of us would like to forget the "muffed" catch during the on side kick that Seattle had certainly telegraphed to the Pack. Brandon Bostick is still having nightmares about that one. What can be done about the Packers special teams? Mike McCarthy is taking this task on at a level that nears "personal handling" status. First lets take a look at how the team did last season.

Green Bay was at the bottom of the rankings in almost every special teams category. First, with seven kicks blocked, the "all season - all types of kicks" debacle forced specific players to stay on the field for special teams plays, when resting them would have been the better bet. But that wasn't the worst of it. Green Bay had the third worst net punting average, so even if the kick was away, the team didn't hold opponents to minimal yards. The Packers were second worst in kickoff yards allowed, and near the bottom for field goals made.

McCarthy made the first move by firing special teams coach Shawn Slocum. He moved Ron Zook into that position, and the team has already started working on the fundamentals. Tim Masthay now has a competitor for the starting position at punter. Green Bay brought in Cody Mandell as an option at that position.

Who was the Packers return man in 2014? That guy they let go the day after the loss to Seattle. Well, perhaps it wasn't the day after, but DuJuan Harris was let go, and Ty Montgomery will be taking the lead at that position in 2015. Don't be surprised if Green Bay puts a few other streaky runners back there, just to see what works. What's the bright spot from last year? Mason Crosby.  Crosby did a bang up job kicking, hitting 81.8% of his kicks.