Preseason Game 1

[RashanGary]

finishing; The love machine looked decent; if giving grades I think the B- would be fair. Good start but lots of improvement needed

My son and I gave him a B too. It’s preseason. There was a certain level of play that I was hoping for so I could still have my hopes up and he just hit that bar. I thought he looked solid and showed a lot of potential.

My son son and I were both impressed with his touch on a couple of the shorter ones. He reminds me of Rodgers with the fundamentals and with the way he’s using the cadence. He’s just mimicking so much of Rodgers game. That’s a very good sign. He’s really lucky to be in Green Bay and to get one more full season of apprenticeship.

[smuggler]

Love looked decent. Benkert also decent until that botched handoff. One of the DL (Heflin) has a damn good motor. Previlon also made a few plays. Jean-Charles needs work. Josh Jackson is gone. Ento looked good in coverage but left in the concussion protocol. Another LB looked good, too, but I can't really remember which one, so must not have been so great. Hah

[run pMc]

Per JSO:

In four games, Rodgers’ first preseason ended with 20 of 37 passing for 172 yards, a touchdown, an interception and a 64.25 rating.

So while I doubt JL will ever be as good as the current QB, MLF's offense might still run at least ok if not fine with him, given another year to apprentice. Waaayyyy too early to say. Would like to see better accuracy and zip; he's still a project.

Seems like the OL and DL were overmatched. Not having Bahk, Jenkins, or Turner dress will weaken your OL. I didn't expect them to win with 30 players sitting out. Would have liked to see Stokes get more time, but I think they want to look at the depth behind him. Not a great game for several players (Josh Jackson got beat repeatedly by Conley), Funchess was ok.

Justin Fields looked decent -- a few rookie mistakes but he has tools. Didn't even bother with the Vikings (who I think could be decent this year, they were a weird team last year and could regress to the mean) as I don't think Kellen Mond is the heir apparent to Cousins. That team is a Covid disaster waiting to happen (thanks Kirk!)

[Bretsky]

LOVE MACHINE dinged his shoulder and per JS might not play next week

[red]

imo, love didn't have to look great, but he couldn't afford to look completely lost

the first 2 series had me start to worry, but then he hit some decent passes

he did what he had to do, he got his first NFL minutes and didn't look like a joke

[RashanGary]

imo, love didn't have to look great, but he couldn't afford to look completely lost

the first 2 series had me start to worry, but then he hit some decent passes

he did what he had to do, he got his first NFL minutes and didn't look like a joke

That’s what I’m saying. He looked like he had his shit together and made some passes. It’s just enough to still have hope.

[SudsMcBucky]

imo, love didn't have to look great, but he couldn't afford to look completely lost

the first 2 series had me start to worry, but then he hit some decent passes

he did what he had to do, he got his first NFL minutes and didn't look like a joke

People need to remember that was the first football game the Love Machine has played in in 2 years.

[George Cumby]

A B- at this point in Love's career is a good sign.

[bobblehead]

Yet we lost to a weak team that apparently also was sitting their starters. I haven't seen the game yet - not until it is replayed on NFL Network, but it sounds to me like the team as a whole stunk. We're so deep in the O Line, yet they couldn't block Houston's scrubs. I don't know what to say about Love except that a lot of people seem to have a low bar set for him in terms of expectations. Yeah, if this is the kind of team people are satisfied with, he'll take you there hahahaha.

Tex, we started our 4th string LT and he stunk on Ice. My thoughts. Yosh is finished. I was right about Hill being the steal of the draft. I was wrong about Josh Jackson being a 2nd round steal. Some hard choices will be made at safety come cutdown day. Kabion Ento is the 2nd coming of Sam Shields. Oren Burks either had an outlier game, or Barry knows how to play people to their strengths. Burks will probably be my most watched player next week as I am unsure about him, but pretty sure about everything else I said here.

[bobblehead]

Sidenote. How pissed is Gutes that he has to cut either Funchess, Taylor or Winfree to keep Randall Cobb? I think EQ is as good as gone. Taylor also from what I have seen/heard. So you have to lose Funchess who is balling out, or Winfree who is younger and balling out. Or keep 7 WR which seems a bit far fetched.

[texaspackerbacker]

Tex, we started our 4th string LT and he stunk on Ice. My thoughts. Yosh is finished. I was right about Hill being the steal of the draft. I was wrong about Josh Jackson being a 2nd round steal. Some hard choices will be made at safety come cutdown day. Kabion Ento is the 2nd coming of Sam Shields. Oren Burks either had an outlier game, or Barry knows how to play people to their strengths. Burks will probably be my most watched player next week as I am unsure about him, but pretty sure about everything else I said here.

True, I suppose, although we scored our only TD I think, with him in there. I still haven't seen the game, so I'm withholding praise of Hill, but I'm hopeful. Yeah, Jackson apparently stunk, and I was wrong about him being a good pick too. I've never been nearly as negative about Burks as a lot of people. Maybe there is hope for him, and yeah, Barry's specialty supposedly is LBs, especially ILBs. Ento also is a reason to hope. Is he super fast like Shields was? Or just a ball hawk/cover guy? I get more of a Ladarius Gunter vibe from him - another Packer I kinda liked.

I'd keep St. Brown over any of the four you mentioned. With the enhanced practice squad rules, though, we ought to be able to keep just about all of those guys.

[smuggler]

Sidenote. How pissed is Gutes that he has to cut either Funchess, Taylor or Winfree to keep Randall Cobb? I think EQ is as good as gone. Taylor also from what I have seen/heard. So you have to lose Funchess who is balling out, or Winfree who is younger and balling out. Or keep 7 WR which seems a bit far fetched.

I was thinking this, too. I don't know the terms of Funchess' contract, but I do feel like he was a bit of a longshot before this game.

[call_me_ishmael]

Sidenote. How pissed is Gutes that he has to cut either Funchess, Taylor or Winfree to keep Randall Cobb? I think EQ is as good as gone. Taylor also from what I have seen/heard. So you have to lose Funchess who is balling out, or Winfree who is younger and balling out. Or keep 7 WR which seems a bit far fetched.

Why would he be pissed? Randall Cobb was a legit #2 last year. The Packers need a legit #2. Funchess and Cobb both probably make the roster at 2, 3. The #5 receiver is going to have to be great on ST. The receivers are pretty much set AFAICT. Adams, Cobb, MVS, Lazard, Funchess and Amari Rodgers. That's the group. Cobb and Rodgers are the slots, the others the outside bois.

[texaspackerbacker]

We need a "legit #2" What the hell do you think Lazard and Valdez-Scantling are? Sheeeeesh.

I hate to root against any Packer, but sorry, I just don't like Funchess. And it's downright idiotic to consider him better than Lazard or MVS.

Adams 1, Lazard/MVS 2/3, Rodgers/Cobb 4/5, St. Brown 6, Funchess/Taylor 7/8, Winfrey 9

[Sparkey]

Observations:

Game was your typical 1st preseason game. Little to no continuity, spotty line play and overall drudgery.

Some random thoughts:

Oren Burks. Yes the same guy that does nothing every year looked fluid and fast. I don't trust it lasts but we can hope for a few weeks.

Jordan Love. Looked composed with no rushing game to speak of. Made some nice throws and showed a live arm. Good 1st start after 20 months of no live action.

Kylin Hill could be special.

Funchess gets a roster spot. For a guy who has not played since week 1 of 2019, he looked good.

T.Slaton is f'n huge and can move but has a long way to go.

Josh Jackson, don't let the door hit your ass on the way out of town.

Vernon Scott and Henry Black made some plays.

Bubble Stash IPA is extremely drinkable, unfortunately at 11.75 a cup it's not THAT good.