Official Arizona vs Pack game day thread

[Guiness]

lol @ some of the sky is falling prophecies after a pre-season week 1 game.

This game is a tryout. Even the moron announcing the game commented that you will see players in unusual situations. Good coaches want to see certain things even if they know they are the wrong call for the situation.

What was Detroit's preseason record the year they went 0-16? Anyone care to check that out?

[wist43]

Well, that was universally ugly...

The main guy I looked at was Bacteria - he wasn't awful. He wasn't good, but he wasn't awful.

Newhouse on the the other hand, was awful... wow. I don't care what anybody says, switching sides matters. The footwork is completely opposite - for some guys it can feel so unnatural, that they simply can't play one side or the other.

How about those awesome displays of power running on the goal line, and in short yardage situations - the league is quaking in fear at our intimidating OL

[pbmax]

They cannot win for losing on the O line. The Guards and Center, including backups looked OK. The holes were almost universally bigger than last year, esp. early.

But, Newhouse has the same problem on the right as he had on the left. With speed rushes to the outside, he fails to maintain the corner and gives up WAY too fast. This is too bad because he does seem better at run blocking on this side (or perhaps that was an artifact of the opposition).

Bakhtiari held up OK, but to be honest, got way more distracted by the backup QBs than I was by him. One problem I saw was twice he got fooled by some kind of twist and someone got free wide to chase the QB.

The Cards in the second half ran some kind of stunt, maybe run blitz where two outside guys would go wide and crash inside to either chase QB or catch a RB. They got Green twice on this when he had room to run. Either stunt or someone missed a block over and over.

For what its worth, EDS did well versus solid interior D line of Cards. Twice I heard (was on radio at time) McCarren say Dockett came off of him to make a tackle of Starks but after 4 yards gain in the middle.

[Iron Mike]

Still trolling the JSO:

[red]

LOL

[TravisWilliams23]

How about those awesome displays of power running on the goal line, and in short yardage situations - the league is quaking in fear at our intimidating OL

MM "talks" a good game about running better this year but then the play calling on the 1st drive has me scratching my head. They had a 1st and goal at the 6. Nice 4 yd run by Starks to get the ball to the 2. Then a slant to Jones and a drop/batted away pass to Finley. There's 2 wasted plays to see if you new improved line has what it takes to shove it down the defense's throat. Granted, they didn't hve Lacey in there and the replay on 4th down could have been called a TD for Starks but if MM wants to get this team in a mind-set to running the ball, he sure as hell has a strange way of doing it.

[Maxie the Taxi]

Just watched first half on NFL Network and I think we'll be OK. MM has always used the first exhibition game to evaluate the marginal guys. Hopefully the next few games we'll see less experimenting. The secondary ones and twos especially need reps playing together.

[wist43]

MM "talks" a good game about running better this year but then the play calling on the 1st drive has me scratching my head. They had a 1st and goal at the 6. Nice 4 yd run by Starks to get the ball to the 2. Then a slant to Jones and a drop/batted away pass to Finley. There's 2 wasted plays to see if you new improved line has what it takes to shove it down the defense's throat. Granted, they didn't hve Lacey in there and the replay on 4th down could have been called a TD for Starks but if MM wants to get this team in a mind-set to running the ball, he sure as hell has a strange way of doing it.

The thing that stood out to me more than the lack of production was the formations.

I knew nothing would change; but still, it's demoralizing to see MM come out in those same weak formations. All those runs were out of the shotgun, 1 RB, spread 'em out... same as last year. OL are weak run blockers, TE's can't block, usually don't have a FB in there... nothing's changed, nothing's gonna change.

They'll keep running the same stuff and hope the results will be different. They may get good results against Jacksonville, but against the big boys?? forget it... might as well just go ahead and pass on every down. I saw they converted a couple of short yardage situations, but without keeping count, it seemed they passed more in short yardage than they ran - typical McCarthy.

[Maxie the Taxi]

The most disappointing play in the first half was at 4:25 to go in the 2nd quarter when Robert Francois had a clear shot at sacking Stanton and tried to tackle him with his head down and his eyes closed. We need a coach who can teach tackling technique or it's going to be a frustrating season.

[pbmax]

OL are weak run blockers, TE's can't block, usually don't have a FB in there... nothing's changed, nothing's gonna change.

Proof you weren't watching. Mulligan played a lot and was quite effective blocking. Its the one offseason development I think that follows McGinn's bigger/tougher reporting.

Also that FB who is not Kuhn (Amosa?) played a ton in the 2nd half.

I have no idea why you want a talented passing team to run 2 backs and 2 TEs and run the ball. Its just plain dumb. You go with the matchups that favor your success.

Also see no mention of some stellar Run D by the defense most of the game.

[pbmax]

The most disappointing play in the first half was at 4:25 to go in the 2nd quarter when Robert Francois had a clear shot at sacking Stanton and tried to tackle him with his head down and his eyes closed. We need a coach who can teach tackling technique or it's going to be a frustrating season.

This. The Packers still get WAY too high when trying to take someone down in the open field. Same drive (possibly next) the RB broke into the second level and no one squared up to hit him. Jolly whiffed on the QB when diving at his ankles.

[Maxie the Taxi]

This. The Packers still get WAY too high when trying to take someone down in the open field. Same drive (possibly next) the RB broke into the second level and no one squared up to hit him. Jolly whiffed on the QB when diving at his ankles.

The best I've ever seen with regard to proper tackling technique was Willie Wood. For a man his size, he could bring down anyone. He always went low with his head up and eyes open.

[Maxie the Taxi]

Things you'd never hear from Lombardi:

"You never feel good when you don't win a game, but it is the preseason." Mike McCarthy after last night's game.

Actually, I think Lombardi played his regulars too much in the preseason. On the other hand, they were ready to play as a unit when the season started. Today's game is different. With injuries as prevalent as they are you have to test your backups pretty thoroughly cause they may be starters after a few games.

[denverYooper]

Proof you weren't watching. Mulligan played a lot and was quite effective blocking. Its the one offseason development I think that follows McGinn's bigger/tougher reporting.

Also that FB who is not Kuhn (Amosa?) played a ton in the 2nd half.

I have no idea why you want a talented passing team to run 2 backs and 2 TEs and run the ball. Its just plain dumb. You go with the matchups that favor your success.

Also see no mention of some stellar Run D by the defense most of the game.

I also thought the DL looked better than it has in years. It seemed like they were getting decent pressure in the second half that was often negated by some leaky secondary play.

[pbmax]

I also thought the DL looked better than it has in years. It seemed like they were getting decent pressure in the second half that was often negated by some leaky secondary play.

Not too many of them got home, but a lot of their QB throws were under pretty severe duress.