Official Packers at Tennessee Titans Discussion Thread

[bobblehead]

This will be that game that shows what type of coach MLF is. Last game, everyone knew the Packers had to run the ball. But, the game plan with he great mix of running plays kept the Colts guessing. Now, however, with game film of the formations and the plays the Packers ran off of those formations, it will be much more difficult for the Packers to "JUST RUN" the ball. They are going to need Willis to actually throw the ball effectively and efficiently to allow a good balance on offense. Like Greg Olsen said on Sunday's broadcast, it is much easier to throw the ball on 50/50 downs.

So if I were betting, we will see everything we saw in the Indy game and add in about 10 plays for downfield more. Ideally we would revamp things to attack the Titans weaknesses, but my guess is that to maximize Willis they won't do that, but instead utilize what he already learned and add some things to it for the 9 man box. They will still run early and often to hopefully force the 9 man box, but once it happens they can't play like they did in the 2nd half last week. My guess is that they will force 8 man box very quickly and then adjust the play calling from there.

[Patler]

I often wonder how much of tactical thinking is in play when making decisions like whether to put a guy on IR.

Do The Flower and Stenavich talk, and say, "You know, the kid's not really picking this offense up all that well, so why don't we just shut him down so he can heal not just the ankle, but the hammy, and he can spend his time with his head in the playbook, 'cuz he needs to learn that stuff better before he can be on the field." Whereas, if The Marshmallow were really picking it up well and blocking well and so on, would they be more tempted to make it week-by-weeki? Or do the new IR rules just make it easier to put a guy on and take him off later? There must be some minimum that they have to be on IR, and probably some point at which they have to decide if it's season-ending.

Minimum of four weeks.

Now that teams can bring back eight from IR, can activate players from practice squad for games, and have to designate game day inactives anyway, I think the question is mostly medical, at least early in the season before small injuries add up.

If a player just isn't up to speed, I don't think he can catch up on IR, because he can't practice.

[Fritz]

He could be studying the play book. And watching film.

Or maybe because it's just easier to put people on and off IR and they have more designations, it's not such a big deal.

I'm wondering if Tennessee is going to come out with eight-man fronts right off the bat and dare the Packers to throw. I'm guessing their run defense is better than Indy's, so that will likely force the Packers into relying more on Willis's arm.

I wonder too if Tennessee will also play a defense that leaves the middle more open, as it seemed clear that MLF was not in a hurry to have Willis throwing over the middle.

Points seem like they'll be hard to come by. Even moving the ball will likely be more difficult.

Maybe MLF mixes it up and scripts the first dozen plays with lots of play-action passes - call for the kinds of throws Willis can make - and get Tennessee to back off the heavy boxes that way.

[Joemailman]

Jordan Love is back at practice. Or should I say...

JORDAN LOVE IS BACK AT PRACTICE!!!!

https://twitter.com/i/status/1836460315539542363

[run pMc]

If Willis the the QB, I don't like their odds. If Love is the QB I like them much better.

I think TEN's run D is much stouter than Indy's, and their secondary is better too.
Plus I don't trust Hafley's run defense yet.

This comes down to how well the QB's play, and Love vs. Levis is better for GB than Willis vs. Levis.

[Joemailman]

Titans defense has been very good, but had only forced 1 turnover. That shortcoming has been magnified by their offense turning it over a league-leading 5 times. They've also had 2 punts blocked.

[Joemailman]

Ah. Back to normal with the length of the Packers injury report.

[Joemailman]

If Willis the the QB, I don't like their odds. If Love is the QB I like them much better.

I think TEN's run D is much stouter than Indy's, and their secondary is better too.
Plus I don't trust Hafley's run defense yet.

This comes down to how well the QB's play, and Love vs. Levis is better for GB than Willis vs. Levis.

The Titans have been ahead or tied entering the 4th quarter of both their games. This is not the Carolina Panthers. Jordan Love is listed as limited participation. If he doesn't have any setbacks, I would expect him to play.

[Anti-Polar Bear]

Jordan Love is back at practice. Or should I say...

JORDAN LOVE IS BACK AT PRACTICE!!!!

https://twitter.com/i/status/1836460315539542363

In the end, it’s all about the Love they’re sending out.

[King Friday]

I will be surprised if Love plays this week. If it was a postseason game, I’m guessing he would play. This isn’t a postseason game. There is a long season ahead, and it is better to wait until Love is close to 100% than to put him out there at 75% for a relatively meaningless matchup against an AFC opponent in week 3. If he does play, then he must be near 100%. It’s possible, but I still don’t think that is likely.

[Joemailman]

Wes Hodkiewicz
@WesHod

Another positive sign for Jordan Love, who’s practicing in pads on Thursday.

WR Jayden Reed (calf) and G Elgton Jenkins (illness/glute) returned after sitting out Wednesday.

Tucker Kraft (shoulder) is practicing but wearing a red non-contact jersey. #Packers

https://x.com/i/status/1836817267167732173

[run pMc]

If Love is practicing in pads that's a very promising sign. Indicates he didn't have any setback from practicing Wednesday.
Nice to see Reed back, although he'll be on the injury report all year (he pretty much was last year).

Kind of funny (in a very depressing way) to see their arguably top 5 OL on the injury report.

[Joemailman]

If Love is practicing in pads that's a very promising sign. Indicates he didn't have any setback from practicing Wednesday.
Nice to see Reed back, although he'll be on the injury report all year (he pretty much was last year).

Kind of funny (in a very depressing way) to see their arguably top 5 OL on the injury report.

Jacobs, Kraft, and 5 OL on injury report is what can happen when you run the ball 53 times.

On Thursday, Love went through the pre-practice warmup routine inside the Don Hutson Center. As his teammates gathered to go outside for practice, Love went into a room inside the Hutson Center with a trainer.

For a moment, it seemed Love might not practice. But, he came out moments later – perhaps after a tweak to the brace he’s wearing on his left knee. Practice started with a ball-security drill, with Love high-stepping over some dummies. The media portion of practice concluded with Love slinging some passes to his receivers.

If you think Las Vegas has insight on who’s going to play and who is not, you might find this interesting:

At DraftKings Sportsbook, the Packers are 2.5-point underdogs for Sunday at Tennessee but 2.5-point favorites at home against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 4.

[run pMc]

If you think Las Vegas has insight on who’s going to play and who is not, you might find this interesting:

At DraftKings Sportsbook, the Packers are 2.5-point underdogs for Sunday at Tennessee but 2.5-point favorites at home against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 4.

that's pretty interesting. Vegas is as good as a lot of the "NFL insiders" on ESPN. It wouldn't surprise me if they give Love's knee another week to recover and return in a home game. You want him healthy for the long haul.

I'm not sure how well regarded the Titans' field is, I doubt it's MetLife field bad.

[Joemailman]

that's pretty interesting. Vegas is as good as a lot of the "NFL insiders" on ESPN. It wouldn't surprise me if they give Love's knee another week to recover and return in a home game. You want him healthy for the long haul.

I'm not sure how well regarded the Titans' field is, I doubt it's MetLife field bad.

In 2023, Tennessee switched to this:

Tennessee Titans
Stadium: Nissan Stadium

Field surface: Matrix Helix Turf with organic infill (coconut/cork), instead of black shredded rubber (artificial)

Any recent changes or plans to make changes? Grass was used before this season.

Field-related issues: The Titans said the old grass surface was inconsistent and undependable, and that Nissan Stadium had among the most lower-body injuries of any stadium in the league, which prompted the change to turf.

Other events held here: Concerts, Music City Bowl, Tennessee State University football games


Stadium owner: Metropolitan government of Nashville and Davidson County.