Please note, Mike McCarthy announced that Rodgers and many “key starters” on the offensive side will not play in this game. This announcement came after we posed this article. We’re keeping it up on our blog anyway. Go Packers!
We have reached week three in the NFL Preseason. This week is commonly known as “dress rehearsal” week, meaning that teams play all of their starters through the first half and many even well into the third quarter. The backups finish out the game, and we usually don’t see guys that are deep down on the depth chart get much playing time. Week three of the preseason is where teams run their usual stuff the entire game. So this is “Go Time” where coaches make adjustments during the first half, and really hope to show that their team is ready.
We have reached week three in the NFL Preseason. This week is commonly known as “dress rehearsal” week, meaning that teams play all of their starters through the first half and many even well into the third quarter. The backups finish out the game, and we usually don’t see guys that are deep down on the depth chart get much playing time. Week three of the preseason is where teams run their usual stuff the entire game. So this is “Go Time” where coaches make adjustments during the first half, and really hope to show that their team is ready.
First and foremost, we will get an extended look at Aaron Rodgers in this game. Most fans think Rodgers will play the entire first half this game, maybe even the third quarter. If he is out after just a couple of possessions it would come as a surprise. How will he look in extended play? This is the next step in his full return. Time to put that rebuilt throwing shoulder to the test in some real game time. At some point in this game, the coaches will tell him to “wind up and let it fly deep down the field,” just to see if he’s got the arm in a real time, real game situation. How will that shoulder respond? How will the rest of his body react to it? How will the throwing motion look? These are all questions that this game hopes to have answered before Packers fans can all relax.
Joining Rodgers in extended time will be the rest of the crew. That group will certainly be starters plus key non-starters. That means the three receivers at the top of the depth chart- Davante Adams, Geronimo Allison, and Randall Cobb will play, plus all three rookies. After the impressive showing last Thursday night, Rodgers will get to work with all three tight ends, Jimmy Graham, Lance Kendricks, and Marcedes Lewis. For the run game the healthy backs will get playing time. Jamal Williams, Ty Montgomery, Aaron Jones, Devonte Mays head up that group, with a few new faces there. How will all of these guys look together? How will Aaron spread the ball to them? Here’s a thought. Now that Jordy Nelson is gone, who will Rodgers start to favor besides Adams and Cobb? When one of those rookies drops a couple of Rodgers’ bullets, he’ll surely pass on to the next man.
How will the “new look” defense fare against this Raiders offense? The Raiders have a new head coach in Jon Gruden and the team has the chance to be a force on offense. The Packers have a new defensive coordinatorin Mike Pettine who comes from the Rex Ryan tree. How will the defense look in extended time against a real and potentially good, offense? Is Oren Burks for real or is it just preseason competition he is playing so well against. The closer these teams get to “real time” play, with actual starters, the more we will have answers to our questions.
