Official Packers at Colts Preseason Gameday Thread

[CaptainD]

Kristian Welch should be ahead of Simmons at this point.

If they cut Welch again, they are stupid; he just makes plays and gives 100% effort. Something they could have used more of last season.

[Joemailman]

I've been watching that play when LLoyd gets hurt. He gets hit low from behind, and hit high from the side by another guy simultaneously. Appears his legs might have gotten pinned underneath him momentarily.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1956780304703644150Happens at :06.

I know his injury history, but a lot of guys might have gotten hurt on that play. Hope his luck turns around.

[texaspackerbacker]

I read an article saying Elgersma over Clifford. No, I don't buy that. I much prefer the mobility and probably the judgment in not throwing interceptions of Clifford. Granted, we don't know if Elgersma is one of those put it up for grabs guys or not, but Clifford seems solider that way, and he definitely is more mobile.

I hope LaFleur is just giving Belton some tough love, not thinking about giving up on him. I much prefer his type O Lineman - a "road grader" to what the Packers have mostly had over the years.

I disagree with any badness about Lloyd. If he's running behind the first string and gets a few holes, he will be special - maybe an Ahman Green type RB. It seems like the Packers were trying to test his durability in that game - a lot of tough running to see if he could take it without injury. The possible dirty hit doesn't or shouldn't count as a symptom of injury proneness.

[bobblehead]

Elgersma has an NFL arm and is a first year UDFA so cheaper for longer. Clifford has a below average arm and I think only 1 more year of team control. We are talking about the 3rd string guy who hopefully ascends to the #2 role next year and probably spends the year on the practice team. I think this one is a no brainer that even you can recognize if you think about it tex.

[Patler]

Elgersma has an NFL arm and is a first year UDFA so cheaper for longer. Clifford has a below average arm and I think only 1 more year of team control. We are talking about the 3rd string guy who hopefully ascends to the #2 role next year and probably spends the year on the practice team. I think this one is a no brainer that even you can recognize if you think about it tex.

Hmmm, so one is bigger, taller, has a better arm, is four years younger and has a lesser background as far as coaching and competition preparing him for the NFL. The other spent 6 years at a major college program and two years on NFL practice squads, yet can't distinguish himself from the first player. I wonder where they might see potential.................

[MadScientist]

Elgersma has an NFL arm and is a first year UDFA so cheaper for longer. Clifford has a below average arm and I think only 1 more year of team control. We are talking about the 3rd string guy who hopefully ascends to the #2 role next year and probably spends the year on the practice team. I think this one is a no brainer that even you can recognize if you think about it tex.

I don't think team control matters with Clifford as he was waved to go on the PS. I wouldn't trust Elgersma in a real game any time soon, but as a #3 on the PS, he has more upside than Clifford, so he's the logical choice.

[Joemailman]

Matt Schneidman
@mattschneidman
Matt LaFleur on MarShawn Lloyd: “He’s gonna miss some time.”

Unless Lloyd ends up on IR, I think his issues probably force Gute to keep 4 RB's.

Jason B. Hirschhorn
@by_JBH

Packers HC Matt LaFleur on Barryn Sorrell's knee injury:

"He will be missing some time as well."

[bobblehead]

Hmmm, so one is bigger, taller, has a better arm, is four years younger and has a lesser background as far as coaching and competition preparing him for the NFL. The other spent 6 years at a major college program and two years on NFL practice squads, yet can't distinguish himself from the first player. I wonder where they might see potential.................

It's a head scratcher

[bobblehead]

I don't think team control matters with Clifford as he was waved to go on the PS. I wouldn't trust Elgersma in a real game any time soon, but as a #3 on the PS, he has more upside than Clifford, so he's the logical choice.

It matters since we lose Willis after this year and they hope the "winner" will become the #2 next season.

[Joemailman]

Just drive killers," Belton said, via the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "All the penalties were drive killers. That touchdown was called back because of self-inflicted penalties. Stuff like that can't happen. I've just got to grow up. I've got to get out of those old habits. I've got to learn quick."

"And that's something I'm on myself about. That's not directly what (LaFleur) said. That's what I'm on myself about."

Perfect response. Taking responsibility. I really like Belton. Morgan too. Very different players, but I believe 2 very good picks.

[texaspackerbacker]

With the talent there, I certainly hope they keep four RBs, and as many as 3 more on the PS.

I'm still sticking with Clifford, although it wouldn't be bad if they could keep both - either four including Willis, or maybe somehow not having Willis. The absolute MOST important quality of a QB after just being athletic enough to be in the mix is judgment to not throwing interceptions. That was GOATISH about Rodgers and to me is about the best thing about Love. Clifford has been around and seems to buy into that. Maybe Elgersma will get there too, it being a Packer tradition for a couple decades now. But if it comes down to a choice, I'd still take Clifford over Elgersma's alleged potential.

Unfortunate about Sorrell, but they are loaded at that position, and IRing him or whatever may allow hanging on to some other talented Edge or LB - Deslin Alexander, Jamon Johnson, etc.

Several players I'm not gonna mind seeing gone: Isaiah Simmons, Jacob Monk, Donavan Jennings.

[Fritz]

I've been watching that play when LLoyd gets hurt. He gets hit low from behind, and hit high from the side by another guy simultaneously. Appears his legs might have gotten pinned underneath him momentarily.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1956780304703644150Happens at :06.

I know his injury history, but a lot of guys might have gotten hurt on that play. Hope his luck turns around.

I know we - and I include myself - often blame the guy who is hurt often for his injuries. That comes from wondering about guys like Jaire Alexander, who seemed reluctant to participate while hurt but not injured.

So while I am guilty of piling on (resulting in Lloyd getting hurt - oh, there I go again, shoot), it's also a fact that in his first one-plus NFL seasons, Lloyd has been injured a lot. A lot.

That's just a fact. Now whether you think he can come back from all that and be a productive NFL back and a regular contributor, or if you think he's just always gonna be hurt, well, that's more opinion.

But I too wish him well.

[Joemailman]

Top and bottom PFF grades vs. Colts.

Top 5 offense

TE Johnny Lumpkin: 77.7
TE Ben Sims: 76.0
OL Lecitus Smith: 75.7
OT Jordan Morgan: 74.6
RB Amar Johnson: 72.2

Lumpkin got solid grades as a run blocker, and he caught two passes for 22 yards (21 yards after the catch). Sims caught his only target, and he had a 20-yard touchdown on a contested catch called back via penalty. Smith didn't give up a pressure and was solid in the run game while playing 15 quality snaps at center, a position where the Packers need someone to emerge. Morgan didn't allow a single pressure over 15 pass-blocking snaps and earned a near-elite pass-blocking grade, building on his impressive performance in the preseason opener. Johnson gained 20 yards after first contact, forced a missed tackle, scored a touchdown and caught one pass for 11 yards in an all-around solid showing.

Top 5 defense

DL Karl Brooks: 91.2
S Kitan Oladapo: 75.8
LB Ty'Ron Hopper: 74.0
CB Micah Robinson: 69.1
LB Jamon Dumas-Johnson: 67.0

Brooks had two hurries, an assisted tackle and a batted pass over just eight snaps against the Colts first-team offense. Oladapo broke up a pass, didn't have a missed tackle and didn't give up a catch over 39 snaps. Hopper was solid against the run, had a run stop, and didn't allow a completion into his coverage -- he has stacked good performances to start the preseason. Robinson wasn't targeted in coverage despite playing 18 snaps against the pass. Dumas-Johnson didn't have a missed tackle and played the run fine over 22 snaps.

Bottom 5 offense

T Anthony Belton: 36.6
RB MarShawn Lloyd: 48.1
QB Taylor Elgersma: 52.4
RB Emanuel Wilson: 52.6
WR Isaiah Neyor: 52.7

Belton committed five penalties and allowed a team-high five pressures, including a quarterback hit, across 62 snaps at right tackle. Lloyd caught only one of his four targets and was credited with a drop, and his longest run of the game was only four yards. Elgersma had a turnover-worthy play, an interception called back via penalty and struggled under pressure. Wilson allowed a sack as a pass protector and lost a fumble. Neyor was open a couple of times but didn't have a catch despite running 18 routes.

Bottom 5 defense

LB Isaiah Simmons: 28.6
S Omar Brown: 39.2
DL James Ester: 40.9
DE Deslin Alexandre: 41.1
Kamal Hadden: 41.9

Simmons missed a tackle on a run play and gave up a team-high five catches for 52 yards in coverage, earning him the team's lowest coverage grade. Brown missed a tackle and gave up a 12-yard completion. Ester had a hurry but struggled against the run. Alexandre came free for a sack and finished with four pressures, but he also missed a tackle and struggled against the run. Hadden gave up four catches for a team-high 71 yards and committed a holding penalty.

Special teams

Kristian Welch, Deslin Alexandre, Matt Orzech, Israel Abanikanda and Micah Robinson all had tackles covering kicks or punts. The Packers missed five tackles on special teams, however, including one from Isaiah Simmons. Kamal Hadden had a holding penalty. Mark McNamee missed two kicks, including a 39-yard field goal. Daniel Whelan put three punts inside the 20-yard line and had an average hangtime of almost 4.7 seconds.

Quarterback play

Malik Willis (57.5 grade) had two big-time throws but also a turnover worthy play, and he was under pressure on nine of his 14 dropbacks. Taylor Elgersma (52.4) completed 7-of-11 passes but also had a turnover worthy play. Sean Clifford (58.3) used his legs well but completed only 1-of-4 passes on his only drive.


Rookie spotlight

Sixth-round pick Warren Brinson (45 snaps) produced a team-high four pressures, including a quarterback hit, but he was one of the team's lowest-graded players against the run.

[MadScientist]

If Belton wasn't a second-round pick, play like that would earn him a ticket out of Green Bay.

[Fritz]

I’m going to go out on a limb and say either Brooks or Wilson doesn’t make the team but Amar Johnson does.