One thing that is encouraging about Datone Jones is that he flashed some ability during OTAs and early on in training camp. Hopefully that is a sign that his issues are related more to injury than his skill-set.
There isn't a lot of playing time due to the defensive line depth and the schemes they run. Who would have thought that a guy 3 years out of football could come in and play well?
Have to talk about Franklin here. Having an element of surprise vs. the CIN D surely helped but the guy looks like he could be a great changeup to Lacy. Can't wait to see those two vs. DET.
He frequently got yards when the OL blocking really wasn't there. Very optimistic about what I saw from a guy many fans and some in the media appeared to write off.
Franklin looked like a very patient runner but NOT a short yardage back.
Didn't matter who they put back there for that run, they blew up the OL and it had no chance. It's just too bad he had to fumble on top of it. Still feel like the Bengals would have scored, but it was just an ugly play.
Originally Posted by YATittle:
Franklin looked like a very patient runner but NOT a short yardage back.
Given the situation on 4th and short, GB didn't have many options. Franklin was the only healthy back and Cincy's defense was defending the pass well.
I agree on Franklin though... the kid looks like he can play.
He shouldn't be and isn't built to be. See Lacy for that.
DaTone Jones had a very nice game and minus the fumble, Franklin did as well. A healthy Lacy and Franklin now looks like an intriguing 1-2 combo. Nothing against Starks but he can't stay healthy. Jonathan Franklin with 103 yards rushing and a 7.9 ypc avg.
Franklin has a burst that I haven't seen from a GB running back in a long time. Gets upfield very quickly
Still have to watch tape of the 2nd half but thought it a good time to update.
Hyde - around the ball a lot and has a nose for the tackle.
Lacy - just stay healthy and he is gold.
Bakhair - sometimes gets schooled but still holding up as a life raft at LT.
Franklin - kind of on the shelf lately
Datone - maybe coming to life now. needs to keep building on it.
Malumba - good depth.
Eye-opening stat: #Packers have 14 rookies on their 53-man roster, six of whom are undrafted.
With the injuries to vets these Rookies are growing up fast.
Bakhtiari, Banjo, Barrington, Boyd, Franklin, Harper, Hyde, Jones, Lacy, Mulumba, Palmer, Stoneburner, Taylor, White
The players get a lot of press, but Thompson and the scouts find them. McCarthy & staff get them ready.
Super Bowl champs in 2010, 15-1 in 2011... Thompson et al go back to work stocking the shelves with better depth.
Enough can't be said about the work these guys put in every day.
Ted Thompson, Executive V.P., General Manager & Director of Football Operations
Eliot Wolf, Director of Pro Personnel
Brian Gutekunst, Director of College Scouting
Alonzo Highsmith, Senior Personnel Executive
Sam Seale, West Regional Scout
Tim Terry, Assistant Director of Pro Personnel
Lee Gissendaner, Area Scout
Jon-Eric Sullivan, Area Scout
John Wojciechowski, Area Scout
Richmond Williams, Area Scout
Chad Brinker, Pro Scout
Glenn Cook, Pro Scout
Alonzo Dotson, College Scout
Mike Owen, College Scout
she makes the cookies that McCarthy is eating like mad?
Good to see both Banjo and Hyde receiving more playing time. The team appears to have (finally) reached the conclusion that the less McMillan the better.
McMillian may replace Bush on STs next year.
Like Bush, the less we see of him on defense the better.
On Hyde, man I wish they could turn that kid into a safety.
Originally Posted by Hungry5:
McMillian may replace Bush on STs next year.
Maybe...but I think GB was looking at Micah Hyde to fill that CB/S /ST role and he surely looks like a jack of all trades
They also grabbed S Sean Richardson as a big safety/ special teams ace
Bush will be gone next year... and unless McMillian steps up soon, he'll be gone too
Speaking of Richardson, he tweeted today that he has been medically cleared...
WOW. I was not expecting that even a little. Should be interesting whether or not TTMM puts him back on the field. Especially considering Finley's still somewhat cloudy situation.
GB is dragging their feet on Sean Richardson, no room on the 53 so he hasn't even started practicing yet
Back to the rookies.
There has been some talk around here and other places about ROY for GB. Bakhair, Hyde and Eddie Money Lacy. I think Hyde is clearly #3 on that list as of today. And while I pee alittle every time I see Lacy breaking tackles and gaining 8yds on first down, I think Bak gets the nod. It's much harder to find a good LT than it is a good RB. I think it's safe to say LT is much more important position than RB as well. Considering what 2 other backs on the roster have done when given the main load, it makes Lacy's importance a little lesser. And I love what Money does for this team but if you had to pick which one the team could survive losing, I don't know how anyone could pick Germ over Ed.
great post DH
Given all the highly-touted tackles taken ahead of him, Bahktiari's performance is even more impressive
Bakh is playing better than the OT's taken #1 and #2. Of course, Joeckel is out for the year but he wasn't all too impressive while he played.
It's kind of a chicken/egg debate with Bahk/Lacy. Is Lacy making Bahk look better because DE's aren't cheating wide outside or sacrificing running lanes for the pass rush? Or is simply a matter of Bahk opening holes and Lacy is the beneficiary? Bahk has far exceeded expectations absolutely, but I'm leaning towards the success being a result of Lacy's speed, power, and patience. He's not just some sledgehammer, he's patient and he has incredible acceleration when he finds that opening. It's a symbiotic relationship between Lacy and Bahk, but I think Lacy is making Bahk's life much easier!
That's an interesting take and I agree with the premise. But the offense would lose a lot more if they lost Bakhtiari instead of Lacy = Bakhtiari is more valuable.
Nice problem to have - 3 rookies playing so well you can't figure out which one is RoY.
It is really remarkable to be getting the amount and level of contribution this team is getting from the rookie class. We've gotten better almost overnight at possibly 5 positions just by the latest draft.
So... SI has no GBP listed among the eight most surprising rookies this year. (Eight in the Box) I can see some of his reasons (Tyrann Mathieu is certainly a surprise), but not to include Bacteria at all?
Bacteria is the ROY by far, IMHO. I love Lacy and what he's done for the ground game. But without Bac, Rodgers spends a lot more time running for his life or flat on the ground. We would probably still have Newhouse at LT, and that thought alone makes me vote for Bac as ROY.
We don't know how Bulaga would have performed at LT, but Bulaga could have a very difficult time beating out Bac next year, provided the coaches still want to try Bulaga at LT. Hyde is a keeper and I hope DJones really comes on the second half of this year. When all is said and done, this draft combined with the free agent pickups could be TT's best yet.
