Observations from watching family night game

[The_Dude]

Posted this on Packerchatters.com too,

What I saw:

-Greg Jennings looks like Donald Drivers Clone. Has the same long sprinter stride but runs and (importantly) catches like a Vet. He should be the Number #2 by the end of preseason

-Donald Lee, dropped his first pass but looked pretty good after that.

-Gado and Herron probably averaged around 4 yards a carry and the Zone-Blocking seemed effective against the Defense

-Underwood was around the ball lot, and made an interception

-Hodge looked really good and completly stoned Brown on a running play. Only hit that you could hear on TV

-Barnett and Hawk were in on a decent amount of tackles but didn't notice them much in the passing game. which could be good since they then didn't blow coverage then.

-Farve looked good and had some good throws

-Rodgers prior to the interception was doing really well, his recievers couldn't seem to hold on the the ball at some points but hte ball was there. Threw a bullet for a TD catch.

-Driver looked really good.

-It did seem that each of hte QB had a decent amount of time, which is good for hte Oline but our pass rush seems to be OK, but that might change.

-Ryan (punter) bombed a 65 yard punt on his only try and Sanders got a 48 yard punt off. When Ryan punted, I went " holy crap"

-A. Carroll just looked OK, Driver got by him for a good gain. Missed a couple of tackles. What was Woodson out with??

-They interviewd Poppinga and he looked like he was itching and scatching to get out there.

-Culver seemed to play pretty well, on that play where driver got by Carrol, Culver looked like he was in position to swat the ball away at least but didn't.

-Gardner looked decent but some of the other ones had ups and downs. Rodgers did have the break away catch (ran down by carrol, but he wasn't covering him, showed his sprinter speed) and Lucas had a couple of good catches.

-With all the talk of them staying with the short pass the Offense did throw it's share of long passes.

[b bulldog]

I thought Brett looked average, the Driver jump ball should have been picked off. The only LB making plays tonight was Hodge, Barnett had a few and that's it. KGB looked quick off the edge but still has only one move. The rookie WR's looked good as did the rookie G's although our DT's looked pretty averge. Underwood and Culver were around the ball alot and Rodgers did show some arm strength. In regards to Ryan, if he continues to punt low, long punts, he will outpunt his coverage and set the punt coverage team up for big plays by the opponents return men.

[Tony Oday]

FGs!!!!! AHHHHHHHHH Rayner and Cundiff missed one!

Fricken Cundiff another one missed!

CMON RAYNER!!! Drilled it.

[Deputy Nutz]

I think alot of the starters with their positions secure played like they didn't give a rat's ass, especially across the defensive line.

I thought it was really important to watch the younger cats out their on the field. I thought the interior of the line held up decently. The Packers 2nd string defensive tackles are darn good, infact they were starters last year. Hodge could also be considered a quality type starter on this team, so considering all those fact, I still think the offensive interior did pretty decent.

[b bulldog]

I agree with your assesment of the interior although how much effort did our DT's put forth?

[outflow]

If the philosophy carries over to the regular season...we're going to see ALOT of passes to the tight ends.

It's been said...but Jennings looks like a stud.

[woodbuck27]

The_Dude:

Outstanding report man! You covered a ton there.

I'd say that wasn't a bad outing overall. Really pleased to hear that Gado and Herron averaged even 4 yards /carry.

Yes it appears as though we have Greg Jennings moving into position to start opposite DD.

Abdul Hodge. . .way to show em !! He'll be a fan favourite someday. Head to the ball carrier guy. Hard hitter !!

Did the OL look strong (physically) as a whole? How did they move as a unit? Sounds like Junius Coston had a bad scrimmage?

Thanks a bunch The_Dude.

GO PACKERS !!

[Fosco33]

I watched and recorded the game. I'll do a quick recap of the 1st and 2nd string offense - on QB/RB/OL/WR/TE breakdown. Got nothing much else to do and you guys have given plenty in the past... I'll post it later after rewatching the plays more closely.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I thought Brett looked average

That's surprising. Favre looked pretty sharp. Missed a ball on the sideline to Gardner, and threw into double coverage to Driver (which Driver) caught, but he was sharp other than that. Martin dropped the first ball.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Favre sharp in Packers scrimmage
By CHRIS JENKINS, AP Sports Writer

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) -- Though a lot has changed for the Green Bay Packers since the end of last season, the combination of Brett Favre to Donald Driver still works.

And that Favre-to-Greg Jennings combination seems to be coming along nicely, too.

After beginning the week by throwing five interceptions in a practice session, Favre looked fairly sharp in front of a sold-out Lambeau Field crowd during the Green Bay Packers' "Family Night" scrimmage on Saturday.

"I'm very pleased," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "I think Brett's kind of reached that point in camp, if my memory serves me right, it's about that week into camp where the ball starts spinning out of his hand."

Favre -- who flew with a Packers contingent to Canton, Ohio, earlier in the day in hopes of catching the Hall of Fame induction ceremony for late teammate Reggie White -- returned in time to drill a couple of big throws to his No. 1 receiver.

On his first series, Favre hit Driver on a 48-yard pass. Three plays later, he found Driver again on a quick slant for a four-yard touchdown pass.

Favre looked for Jennings, a rookie, during a two-minute drill simulation later in the scrimmage. Favre overthrew Jennings on a long pass attempt, then found him on a short pass that Jennings turned into a 27-yard gain with an impressive run after the catch. Favre finished 9-for-13 for 119 yards.

After only one full week into training camp, Favre has singled out Jennings, a second-round pick out of Western Michigan, as a potential new playmaker. Favre compares Jennings to former Packers receiver Antonio Freeman, saying Jennings might have the intangibles to make up for his relative lack of size and speed.

Jennings said he enjoyed playing in a game-like atmosphere, even if it was just a scrimmage.

"It was still practice for us," Jennings said. "But, I feel real comfortable right now. I'm rolling, and with that comfort comes a lot of playmaking opportunities."

Jennings also got work in the return game, including a 40-yard punt runback.

After Samkon Gado capped off the drive with a rumbling 10-yard touchdown -- one of relatively few highlights for the Green Bay running game on Saturday -- Favre found Jennings for a two-point conversion. Jennings looked like a veteran on the play, pushing off cornerback Therrian Fontenot without being penalized.

The Packers' running game was hindered by the absences of running backs Najeh Davenport and Ahman Green, who were among several notable Packers players held out of Saturday's scrimmage because of injury. Packers running backs gained 94 yards on 30 attempts.

McCarthy didn't seem overly concerned about the team's rushing struggles, given the fact that the team is starting two rookie guards and is implementing a new zone-oriented blocking scheme.

Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson watches his team Saturday night, Aug. 5, 2006, during a football scrimmage at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.
AP - Aug 5, 10:18 pm EDT
More Photos
"We're definitely a work in progress," McCarthy said. "We're young there."

Davenport has been practicing with the team since training camp opened last Friday, but Green has yet to receive medical clearance to play.

Other notables who were held out of Saturday's practice included cornerback Charles Woodson, tackle Chad Clifton and tight end Bubba Franks. Receiver Robert Ferguson also was scratched for what the team described as "personal" reasons.

Safety Nick Collins appeared to be injured on Saturday after falling on a narrow strip of concrete at the edge of the field. Collins briefly stayed down and received attention from the team's medical staff, but eventually ran off the field without assistance.

"It was just a little pain that was running down my back," Collins said. "I had to sit up for a minute and recuperate."

Backup quarterback Aaron Rodgers was hindered by a handful of dropped passes while working with the Packers' No. 2 offensive unit on Saturday, and threw an interception to Marviel Underwood during two-minute drill work.

But Rodgers did hit receiver Marc Boerigter on a five-yard touchdown pass, and McCarthy said he was happy with the way Rodgers threw the ball.

"I think he gave the receivers the opportunity to make a lot of plays," McCarthy said.

The attendance was announced as 62,701, breaking the 2005 record.

[b bulldog]

In my mind, Rodgers looked better than Brett until that pic.

[Bretsky]

In your mind Joey Harrington and Ingle Martin are sharper than Favre

[woodbuck27]

Harvey:

Brett Favre will have a solid season. I am a little worried about his WR's though, but maybe Rod Gardner will snap into gear and Boe . . . but Robert Ferguson . . .doesn't appear as though he'll be with us long.

Abdul Hodge. . .Uhhh-Uhhh-Uhhhh !! BIG TIME scrimage. HIT IT !!!

GO PACKERS !

[b bulldog]

Not Harrington but Martin looked decent for a third stringer.

[BF4MVP]

Brian Wrobel outperformed Ingle Martin by a substantial margin..