A quick summary of preseason game 1

[RashanGary]

This is a compilation of everyone who contributed to the game thread.

GOOD

Holliday, Blackmon, Rodgers, Jackson, 2nd Oline, Crosby, Jenkins, Bush, #1 defense, Ryan, Jones, No injuries

BAD

Favre (with starting WR's)
Bubba Franks
Bigby
Underwood
Dendy
3rd string had VERY bad conditioning. They were tired after less than a quarter.

[Joemailman]

Really bad night for Dendy because the 3 guys he's battling with (Walker, Bush and Blackmon) all played better than he did. Same thing with Fergy. Jones, Ruvell Martin and Holiday all had a better night than Fergy.

[vince]

It doesn't show in the stats, and I didn't see the game (just listened online to a Pittsburgh broadcast) so I'd like to hear from others who saw the game, but it sounded like Will Blackmon did a nice job with his punt and kick returns. He had a long one that was called back and was pretty elusive in some others...

First cuts don't happen before a couple more games yet, so a lot can happen between now and then obviously, but I'd have to believe the coaching staff and TT would love for their returner(s) to provide quality position depth as well as providing a strong return threat - which neither Bodiford nor Clowney seem to offer. Blackmon's continued emergence in the return area - combined with solid play at CB - could mean Bodiford and Clowney may be either on the practice squad or the street.


Also, the post-game analysts on WTMJ were very complimentary of Harrell... He had some nice plays and looked big out there in limited action...

[HarveyWallbangers]

I take little away from preseason games--especially the first game. That said, they were better than in recent years. They had lost 5 of the last 6 preseason openers, and in many of them, they didn't look competitive.

[Scott Campbell]

Was Harrell's sack enough to get him on the good list?

[pack4to84]

Re: A quick summary of preseason game 1

This is a compilation of everyone who contributed to the game thread.

GOOD

Holliday, Blackmon, Rodgers, Jackson, 2nd Oline, Crosby, Jenkins, Bush, #1 defense, Ryan, Jones, No injuries

BAD

Favre (with starting WR's)
Bigby
Underwood
Dendy
3rd string had VERY bad conditioning. They were tired after less than a quarter.

You forgot to put Larry Birdine DE under Good. He did a nice job tonight 1 sack and a few other hurry s that came close to sacks.

Bigby played himself off the team tonight. 3 bad tries at tackling. The one for the TD was horrible. He tried to hit with his shoulder instead of wrapping up.

[vince]

I take little away from preseason games--especially the first game. That said, they were better than in recent years. They had lost 5 of the last 6 preseason openers, and in many of them, they didn't look competitive.

What I think you CAN take from the preaseason games is the same as what TT and the coaches take away from them... Who and what needs work in what areas, and who should be where on the depth chart... I think you can learn more about your team relative to itself more than the opposition, as there is little to no game planning for the opposition. You can't really project preseason W's and L's to the regular season of course, but you can get more information from these games than from practice...

[Iron Mike]

The only memorable thing for me is that on the play where Jenkins stripped the ball away from Roethlisberger I remember thinking "I'll bet that had this game been played last year, that would have been KGB getting walked back 10 yards past the QB"

I'll jump on the TT bandwagon. Both OL and DL lines look miles ahead of last year.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Re: A quick summary of preseason game 1

Bigby played himself off the team tonight. 3 bad tries at tackling. The one for the TD was horrible. He tried to hit with his shoulder instead of wrapping up.

That's why I didn't believe the talk about him having a stellar camp. Same thing was said last year, and he wasn't very good in the preseason. He's a hard hitter, but he's awful in space. He's a poor man's Marquand Manuel.

[BallHawk]

Re: A quick summary of preseason game 1

He's a poor man's Marquand Manuel.

Marquand Manuel doesn't deserve to have a poor man version of him. He's already a poor man's version of other safeties, as is.

[RashanGary]

I laughed when I read that too, ballhawk. The sad thing is that, that is exactly what Bigby looked like; a poor mans Manuel. Bigby was so bad that he might have played himself out of a roster spot in that one game.

[RashanGary]

I thought the 1st team offenses poor play was exaggerated.

1. Favre pleaded with McCarthy to get continuity through pre-season play
2. McCarthy and the Packers NEED to see Rodgers

Solution:

Play Favre for only 12 snaps so you can see Rodgers with some good offensive players. However, since Favre wants continuity in the passing game, have him throw the ball every time so he gets his needed reps with the WR's.


Problem:

The Steelers were all over short routes and for whatever reason, FAvre was getting rid of the ball on short routes as quickly as possible.

Conclusion:

Tip your hat to the Steelers for smothering our short routes and stopping our short passing game. Don't, however, assume that Favre or the whole #1 offense sucks. It was a couple quick passes that were smothered. It was half of a quarter. Did it inspire shit loads of confidence? NO, but it was hardly a reliable sample of what we can expect. Let's let this preseason play out. The Oline looked pretty good. Jackson looked decent. We know Favre is decent. IT was just a couple short, smothered patterns.

I would have rather seen 12 plays for 80 yards, but I'm not jumping off any cliffs about the offense yet.

[esoxx]

Don't forget, one of the drives was ruined with a holding call on Colledge. Instead of 2nd & 7 and manageable, it's 2nd & 17 backed up at the their own 12 yard line.

A little too early to make any judgements on the 1st teamers when they play less than a quarter of the game.

[esoxx]

The best thing tonight was no injuries to a key player or starter. Kenny Irons tears his knee up for Cincy...nice to see them come out unscathed.

[Him8123]

i didnt see the game listened to it on sirius but our running game seemed non existent and jackson seemed like a better reciever did he look good on tv anyone????