Day Before First Practice, 5 Players On Injured List

[bobblehead]

So basically our 2 best defensive players by my estimation (shields and Mathews) were out the entire and most of the game.

[pbmax]

So basically our 2 best defensive players by my estimation (shields and Mathews) were out the entire and most of the game.

Shields was out before the game. Neal tweaked his Knee very early.

[pbmax]

Shields was out before the game. Neal tweaked his Knee very early.

Wrong: Shields hurt 2nd play of Defense.

[pbmax]

GameBook:

Defense
LDE 90 B.Raji NT 79 R.Pickett RDE 76 M.Daniels
LOLB 96 M.Neal BLB 50 A.Hawk MLB 59 B.Jones ROLB 55 A.Mulumba
LCB 38 T.Williams RCB 37 S.Shields
SS 42 M.Burnett FS 43 M.Jennings

Mulumba got the start over Perry because of the foot injury. Perry went in when Neal got hurt.

Shields was reported injured in the Game Blog at 3:46 PM. Neal is reported hurt at 3:53 PM.

[hoosier]

All of which should not cause us to forget that the defense played pretty well in that game. It was the offense that really fell short.

[pbmax]

All of which should not cause us to forget that the defense played pretty well in that game. It was the offense that really fell short.

Exactly. The underreported story of 2014 is how the offense needs to bounce back.

[Joemailman]

Exactly. The underreported story of 2014 is how the offense needs to bounce back.

Specifically how they need to improve in the red zone. With just over 6 minutes left, down 20-17, Packers had a 1st and goal at the SF 9. They had to settle for a 24 yard field goal to tie the game. Packers scored TD's 50.72 pct of the time in the red zone. That was 26th in the NFL. While those numbers are likely affected by Rodgers' absence, red zone efficiency wasn't great before he got hurt.

[run pMc]

Exactly. The underreported story of 2014 is how the offense needs to bounce back.

I'm hoping the OL improves...you'd think it almost has to, with Bulaga & Sherrod back and Newhouse gone. There were times when Lacy made that line look good by squeezing 3 yards out of a play that would've been no gain with Alex Green. A full offseason for Tolzien and signing Flynnsanity should improve the QB depth behind Rodgers, and I think they move on without Finley and get by at TE. Keeping Aaron Rodgers healthy and upright makes them the team to beat in the NFCN.

[pbmax]

I'm hoping the OL improves...you'd think it almost has to, with Bulaga & Sherrod back and Newhouse gone. There were times when Lacy made that line look good by squeezing 3 yards out of a play that would've been no gain with Alex Green. A full offseason for Tolzien and signing Flynnsanity should improve the QB depth behind Rodgers, and I think they move on without Finley and get by at TE. Keeping Aaron Rodgers healthy and upright makes them the team to beat in the NFCN.

Pass blocking must be better. When I was re-reading Game Stories for the playoff loss to the 49ers (to find when Neal and Shields were injured), each article mentioned how Rodgers got the team on the board after escaping a sure sack and finding Cobb on 4th and 2 to setup their first touchdown. Its indicative of how much of the year went against strong D lines.

[Joemailman]

Turns out Jerel Worthy had back surgery in the spring. He thinks he'll be back soon. He needs to be. http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/269257471.html

[bobblehead]

Turns out Jerel Worthy had back surgery in the spring. He thinks he'll be back soon. He needs to be. http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/269257471.html

Somewhere i predicted that Worthy might not make this team. I am not quite convinced they waive him, but IR or PuP or something where he doesn't crack the opening day roster seems more and more likely.

[pbmax]

Turns out Jerel Worthy had back surgery in the spring. He thinks he'll be back soon. He needs to be. http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/269257471.html

That always works out well.

[Fritz]

Somewhere i predicted that Worthy might not make this team. I am not quite convinced they waive him, but IR or PuP or something where he doesn't crack the opening day roster seems more and more likely.

Given the nature of the surgery - the back! - and the plethora of defensive linemen with a legitimate shot, I would imagine that they hold him out all camp, then move him to the regular-season PUP.

Not looking good, Jerel.

[Guiness]

Turns out Jerel Worthy had back surgery in the spring. He thinks he'll be back soon. He needs to be. http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/269257471.html

A few little things got out of place? Not sure I think of any back surgery as little.

[texaspackerbacker]

I predicted Worthy would be at least a decent contributor this season. Maybe I will have to rethink that, but I'm not convinced yet. Actually, there is such a thing as back surgery that isn't major. My feeling when I heard about it was a little bit of relief that his absence wasn't a matter of attitude or lifestyle i.e. drugs or something like that.