Official Preseason Week 1 Packers vs Bengals Meaningless Game Day Thread

[Joemailman]

Offense:

Love expected to play a couple series. My guess is Bakhtiari doesn't play which would mean Yosh at LT and Tom at RT. Might also see Tom get some snaps at C. I'll be looking to see if Rhyan can continue strong camp when he replaces Jenkins at LG. Tyler Goodson expected to get long look at RB. Guys like Toure and Kraft should get a lot of playing time.

Defense:

Hope to see the young DL continue to show something. Jonathan Ford needs a strong showing if he wants to force Packers to keep 6. Luke Ness Monster and Enagbare should see a lot of playing time with Gary out and Preston probably not playing much. Starting Safety positions are up for grabs, so that will be worth watching. A lot of people were excited about Anthony Johnson, but he's had a quiet camp so far. This will be Tariq Carpenter's first game since being converted from S to LB. Jaire probably won't play, so Carrington Valentine should get a long look.

Special Teams:

Carlson has been up and down at K. In practice, he's been having trouble with first kick, often pushing it right. Whelan has been booming punts in practice.

[CaptainKickass]

Obligatory game day post.

[Joemailman]

Obligatory game day post.

And we're off! :pack::glug::pack:

[red]

no excuse for love not playing a half tonight

he's not a vet that doesn't need the work. he needs all the work in the world in game type situations

same goes for all of the young guys on the team. i don't care if they are starters or not, work them out

[red]

they just showed that preston is the 3rd oldest guy on the team at 30 years old

makes you feel like an old bastard

i need more drinks

[Joemailman]

A lot of people in Cincinnati dressed as empty seats.

[Anti-Polar Bear]

no excuse for love not playing a half tonight

he's not a vet that doesn't need the work. he needs all the work in the world in game type situations

same goes for all of the young guys on the team. i don't care if they are starters or not, work them out

This ain’t bitch-ass Soccer FC vs Futbol United where wimpy grown men jog around without contact and fake injuries every minute. This is macho, hard-knock American football.

No need to expose the obvious starters to too much of the elements in a meaningless “friendly.” If Love scores in his first series, bench him. If not, give him another series.

[Anti-Polar Bear]

33 not only suited up, he’s playing. That’s a surprise.

[red]

nice looking throw, but i think cinci knew it was coming

bad throw on 3rd. musgrave wide open and love throws a bullet past him

[Anti-Polar Bear]

Love has learned a lot from Butte. Throws bombs when slot guy is wide open in the middle.

[Joemailman]

Damn. Missed Musgrave.

[Anti-Polar Bear]

Did the Packers re-sign Jimmy Graham? Pretty sure Love just overthrew a wide open Graham.

[red]

how long until teams start using AI

i'm talking like a program where you can look at a play on a tablet and it can let you know that you could have throw to this guy at this point, ot this guy at this point, or if you are throwing to this other guy you need to thrown within this window, etc

[red]

is preson smith gaining weight, or just out of shape?

he's got a bit of a belly on him

[red]

really nice series by the D

[MadScientist]

Awkward catch by Reed on the punt.

[Joemailman]

is preson smith gaining weight, or just out of shape?

he's got a bit of a belly on him

Maybe pregame meal was pasta.

[Teamcheez1]

Love looked amped up the first series. Let’s see if he can settle down.

[Joemailman]

Awkward catch by Reed on the punt.

Yep. Wonder if he lost it in the sun.

[red]

whole line jumps off sides, or the center didn't snap the fucking ball?

[Anti-Polar Bear]

Yep. Wonder if he lost it in the sun.

Nah, just channeling his inner Amari Rodgers.

[red]

Yep. Wonder if he lost it in the sun.

i thought the same thing, looks to be a huge shadow line on that side of the field

[Joemailman]

whole line jumps off sides, or the center didn't snap the fucking ball?

Usually that means snap was late.

[red]

kind of underthrown a bit i think, but not bad

if thats it tonight for love that wasn't half bad

[Anti-Polar Bear]

Love finds Romeo!

[Joemailman]

kind of underthrown a bit i think, but not bad

if thats it tonight for love that wasn't half bad

Not sure if it was underthrown or if Doubs let it get to his body instead of snatching it with his hands. Should have been easier than it was.

[red]

hey walker makes a play without being ejected

nice to see

[Anti-Polar Bear]

Where the fuck is Harrell (the poster)?

[MadScientist]

Nixon and Valentine seem to be everywhere.

A lot of 5 man rushes going on. Good to see the pressure, but I also want to see if these guys can get pressure with just 4.

[Teamcheez1]

Guys playing their way on or off the 53.

[MadScientist]

Nice pass by the big red dog

[Bretsky]

The media guys Tex loves so much have been noting that Clifford has looked way bettter then anybody expected in TC

[MadScientist]

Hell of a catch by Reed.

[Teamcheez1]

I see why there was no reason to keep Etling.

[Joemailman]

Musgrave with nice seal block on TD.

[Anti-Polar Bear]

The media guys Tex loves so much have been noting that Clifford has looked way bettter then anybody expected in TC

Poor man’s Chase Keenum.

[Joemailman]

Poor man’s Chase Keenum.

Matt Flynn II

[MadScientist]

I see why there was no reason to keep Etling.

Clifford is looking like the new Mr. August.

[MadScientist]

Well, the run defense hasn't been fully fixed

[MadScientist]

That should have been DPI on Valentine.

[Joemailman]

Heath is pretty good.

[Anti-Polar Bear]

Heath is pretty good.

Poor man’s Geronimo Allison.

[MadScientist]

Clifford shows our hype is a bit premature with a pick six.

[Joemailman]

Bad, Cliffy. Bad.

[MadScientist]

The downside of hurtling a guy in a meaningless game is that coming down can be a bitch. Whoever he was, hopefully he wasn't on the bubble.

[MadScientist]

Learn the rules and take a knee Toure.

[Anti-Polar Bear]

Van Winkle looks like a one trick pony. Bull rush all day. Not even Vanilla Ice was that vanilla.

[Anti-Polar Bear]

Matt Flynn II

Flynn was never a gunslinger. Clifford is throwing into double coverage.

[Joemailman]

Game isn't boring with Clifford in there.

[Joemailman]

Flynn was never a gunslinger. Clifford is throwing into double coverage.

Flynn knew he didn't have the arm to be a gunslinger. Flynn could not have completed that pass to Wicks.

[Anti-Polar Bear]

Flynn knew he didn't have the arm to be a gunslinger. Flynn could not have completed that pass to Wicks.

So, you’re agreeing with me, Clifford is a poor man’s Keemun?

[Anti-Polar Bear]

Learn the rules and take a knee Toure.

I read something about coaches wanting players to take the rock out no matter what in the preseason, so the coaches can evaluate everyone.

[Joemailman]

Brenton Cox with nice deflection leads to INT.

[Teamcheez1]

Someday the useless WR screen will be removed from the playbook.

[MadScientist]

Ballentine sounds too much like Valentine.

[Teamcheez1]

I hope the coaches are getting some good tape out of the second half because the only thing I’m getting is boredom.

[Joemailman]

Ballentine sounds too much like Valentine.

Especially when they're on the field at the same time.

[MadScientist]

I hope the coaches are getting some good tape out of the second half because the only thing I’m getting is boredom.

The second half of a first preseason game is not going to be exciting, unless there is a hot blonde streaker.

[Anti-Polar Bear]

I didn’t know Patrick Taylor plays both O and D. I am seeing this 27 on both sides.

[Joemailman]

I didn’t know Patrick Taylor plays both O and D. I am seeing this 27 on both sides.

There's 2 22's too.

[Anti-Polar Bear]

There's 2 22's too.

What the fuck? This ain’t college, yo! Why are players sharing numbers?

[Anti-Polar Bear]

Who the fuck is 31?

[Joemailman]

What the fuck? This ain’t college, yo! Why are players sharing numbers?

There's 91 players and some numbers have been retired. And nobody gets 12.

[Anti-Polar Bear]

The rookie kicker sucks!

[Joemailman]

Who the fuck is 31?

He's the guy who just scored. Emanuel Wilson.

[Joemailman]

Oh boy.

[MadScientist]

Nice run by Wilson against the scrubs.

Yet another missed PAT for Carlson. Not good.

[Joemailman]

Nice run by Wilson against the scrubs.

Yet another missed PAT for Carlson. Not good.

Wilson has been making some plays in practice too.

Paging Mr. Crosby.

[Anti-Polar Bear]

There's 91 players and some numbers have been retired. And nobody gets 12.

I thought the NFL has liberalized numbers, like, a cb can now wear 5.

[Anti-Polar Bear]

82 returning punts. The Packers have a white WR but not a single Black TE on their roster. What the hell is going on?

[MadScientist]

I thought the NFL has liberalized numbers, like, a cb can now wear 5.

Not on this team. That's Hournug's unofficially retired number.

[beveaux1]

Love looked good against scrubs. Clifford looked good against scrubs. Wicks has game. Wilson can fly. Carlson won’t make the season. Starting D played well against scrubs. I like our WRs. Valentine is a keeper.

[Anti-Polar Bear]

Not on this team. That's Hournug's unofficially retired number.

I’ve seen players wore 5 in past years. Besides, the NFL forbids the Packers from retiring the number - to punish Hournung for his gambling ordeal.

[Joemailman]

82 returning punts. The Packers have a white WR but not a single Black TE on their roster. What the hell is going on?

MLF said Tyler Davis has significant injury. Bring back J-Mike.

[call_me_ishmael]

How'd love look? I missed the first part of the game but I thought the second string guy actually looked pretty good. This team seems like they going to overachieve if I was playing armchair QB.

[texaspackerbacker]

Besides, the NFL forbids the Packers from retiring the number - to punish Hournung for his gambling ordeal.

Seriously? If true, that's really fucked up.

[Joemailman]

How'd love look? I missed the first part of the game but I thought the second string guy actually looked pretty good. This team seems like they going to overachieve if I was playing armchair QB.

He played pretty well. Missed an open Musgrave on one pass. Threw TD pass to Doubs. Had deep pass to Watson broken up. Love and MLF said he needs to do better job of looking off the safety.

[texaspackerbacker]

I got to see the game on NFL Network - thankful for that, but not thankful for having to listen to the damned Bengal commentators and their stupid interviews while seldom naming Packer tacklers. I had to have my roster numbers handy most of the time.

It was a fun and entertaining game with a lot more to be happy about than not.

We got a big load of LaFleur offense and game planning - for better or worse. I was thinking early on that Love and then Casey were throwing into some tight spots and making it work. Then, of course, it bit the team in the ass a couple of times. Questionable whether those throws that Rodgers never woulda tried were a net positive or not. Tonight, they seemed to be, but going forward, who knows.

Similarly, Joe Barry's D was in full bloom and especially noticeable in contrast to the way the Bengals played. From first string all the way to the lowest scrubs, it was all out often blind penetration and pressure - again, for better or worse. After the first play or two, I don't think we had any sacks, but there was a ton of "hurries". We'll see going forward whether that is a net positive as well as whether Barry is any more than a one trick pony. I saw a lot of open space in the middle of the field that the Bengals didn't do a very good job of taking advantage of. Other teams very well might be able too.

Jordan Love looked solid but not great. Casey, you could say, looked great but not completely solid. I'm guardedly optimistic that if the rest of the team is as good as I think it is, the QBs aren't gonna make it a loser.

The receivers looked excellent from top to bottom. Toure, Wicks, Heath, and Reed all looked like keepers, Musgrave is gonna be a star too. The 3rd - 6th RBs all looked good, which means the back up O Line mostly did ok. Ditto that on pass blocking. Either they were very adequate or Love and Casey were mobile enough to make them look good, take your pick - I'd say a lot of both.

On D, the back up Corners did great Valentine and Ballentine especially. Hopper (the other 27) late in the game was decent too. Also, surprise surprise, Jean Charles had a decent game. There was a lot of good team D the whole game with hardly anybody in the front seven or Safetys standing out. Late in the game, Anthony Johnson looked good, but that was against the bottom scrubs of the Bengals.

Duds, if any? Early on, 34 - Simone Biles' husband - looked kinda out of it. Quay Walker didn't do much and was beat at least once. If Tariq Carpenter even played, I didn't even notice him. Engabare, who I really like, was kinda a disappointment. Leavitt, despite lucking into an interception, seemed to be a liability on D. Carlson, after making me think positive early, looked horrible with the two missed extra points.

On O, I saw Rhyan get beat at least once, and of course Newman took a large step toward playing himself out of a job. Caleb Jones and Tedford seemed to do good, but they probably won't be around when the season starts.

All in all, it was a decent start.

[Joemailman]

Nice job by Slaton taking on double team, and Wyatt fighting off block to make play. http://https://twitter.com/BenFennell_NFL/status/1690368672378810368

A couple nice moves by Karl Brooks. http://https://twitter.com/DaireCarragher/status/1690362603443249152

Good breakdown by Dan Orlovsky on two misses to Musgrave that Love needs to improve on. http://https://twitter.com/danorlovsky7/status/1690348724562591744

[HarveyWallbangers]

I went to Packers camp for a week with my daughter, and I wish I had time to post about it—because one guy that really stuck out to me was #31. I told my daughter that he looks like how I want my RB to look. He looked like the third best RB on the team to me. He looks how I thought Nichols would look, but with more speed. I like that guy.

[texaspackerbacker]

The Bengals commentators were saying Wilson had a lot of teams after him when Denver cut him, but he thought he had the best chance to stick with the Packers. Him or Patrick Taylor, I hope they keep both.

Rereading my post from last night, I see I screwed up Clifford's name - twice. That could be good luck, though. I remember way way back in his first or second year, I got Aaron Rodgers' name wrong - I think I called him Thompson or something.

[Joemailman]

I went to Packers camp for a week with my daughter, and I wish I had time to post about it—because one guy that really stuck out to me was #31. I told my daughter that he looks like how I want my RB to look. He looked like the third best RB on the team to me. He looks how I thought Nichols would look, but with more speed. I like that guy.

Emanuel Wilson of Fort Valley St. Originally signed with Denver after draft. Had average RAS score hampered by poor agility scores.


Strengths
Possesses the build of an NFL runner.
Scored 14 total touchdowns over his final five college games.
Plus acceleration through the line of scrimmage and to the corner.
Shows off agility for back-side cuts from zone.
Capable pass-catcher out of the backfield.

Weaknesses
Would like to see more physical finishes to runs from him.
Running style can be too upright through the line.
Pass protection lacks knee bend and a functional anchor.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fu9ugmyX0AApVVp?format=png&name=900x900

[Anti-Polar Bear]

Seriously? If true, that's really fucked up.

That’s the theory floating around the internet. The NFL seems to be saying, Hornung’s lucky he ain’t Pete Rosed; retiring the 5 will only glorify gamblers.

[Joemailman]

Packers best and worst grades from PFF:


Top 5 offense

1. RB Emanuel Wilson: 93.5
2. OL Elgton Jenkins: 85.6
3. OL Zach Tom: 78.5
4. OL Luke Tenuta: 76.5
5. WR Dontayvion Wicks: 76.3

Wilson produced three runs over 10 yards on just six carries, including the 80-yard touchdown. Jenkins, who played 14 snaps at left guard, didn’t allow a pressure and earned the second-best run-blocking grade. Tom played 16 snaps at center and 12 at right tackle without giving up a pressure, earning him the top pass-blocking grade. Tenuta played 10 snaps at right tackle before his injury and was the top run blocker. Wicks caught three passes for 68 yards on 16 routes run.




Top 5 defense

1. CB William Hooper: 90.3
2. CB Carrington Valentine: 89.8
3. DL TJ Slaton: 89.5
4. S Tarvarius Moore: 81.7
5. S Anthony Johnson Jr.: 76.5

Hooper allowed only three catches on eight targets for 18 yards and broke up two passes. Valentine had a run stop, and he allowed only two catches on six targets for 16 yards while breaking up two passes and intercepting one. On just eight snaps, Slaton had two pressures, including a quarterback hit, and two run stops. Moore allowed only nine yards on three targets in coverage and earned the team’s top tackling grade. Johnson had two tackles and a near interception.


Bottom 5 offense

1. QB Alex McGough: 28.1
2. OL Royce Newman: 35.4
3. WR Duece Watts: 43.3
4. TE Tucker Kraft: 44.8
5. FB Henry Pearson: 48.5

McGough turned the ball over on his only passing snap. Newman gave up two pressures, including a quarterback hit, and had two penalties over 45 snaps. Watts had a holding penalty that wiped away an explosive run. Kraft caught one of three targets for four yards, lost out on a contested catch that turned into an interception, and earned poor run-blocking grades. Pearson graded poorly as a run blocker.


Bottom 5 defense

1. DL Devonte Wyatt: 29.1
2. DL Jason Lewan: 34.8
3. S Jonathan Owens: 35.0
4. OLB Lukas Van Ness: 40.8
5. OLB Kenneth Odumegwu: 51.4

Wyatt had a pressure on a stunt but also two missed tackles, including one resulting in an explosive run for Chris Evans. Lewan earned poor run defense grades over nine snaps. Owens, who started, missed a tackle and gave up an explosive passing play over 15 snaps. Van Ness played 20 snaps but delivered just one pressure. Odumegwu played 15 mostly empty snaps.

[Tony Oday]

Love consistently could make it to his second read, I was surprised.