Here we go, kinda sorta real football. Well, at least for those fighting to make a roster.
One more step. Towards World Title #14, early next year.
I believe.
Silverstein with a short preview over at Packersnews.com, reproduced below (http://www.packersnews.com/sto...ngs-watch/543488001/) :
Green Bay Packers (0-0) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (0-0)
When: 7 p.m. Thursday.
Where: Lambeau Field.
Broadcast: Radio - WTMJ AM 620. Television – Packers Television Network across the state.
Injury report: Packers – DT Montravius Adams (foot), tight end Beau Sandland (knee) and cornerback Davon House (hamstring) are not expected to play; TE Richard Rodgers (undisclosed) and WR Colby Pearson (ankle) are questionable. Eagles – G Brandon Brooks (ankle), WR Alshon Jeffery (shoulder), QB Nick Foles (elbow), RB Wendell Smallwood (hamstring), WR Paul Turner (shoulder) and OL Josh Andrews (hand) may not play.
Five things to watch
1. Cutting corners: The Eagles are not very talented at cornerback, but defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz isn’t going to back off from playing man-to-man defense, which means Packers QB Brett Hundley needs to come out firing and show he can exploit match-up advantages with his receivers. Aaron Rodgers is being held out, so it’s Hundley’s show.
2. Five is a crowd: The coaches want to get a good look at rookie running backs Jamaal Williams, Aaron Jones, Devante Mays and Kalif Phillips, but they also have to get starter Ty Montgomery some work. It’s not like he’s an experienced back. It’s better he work on pass protection when Hundley or Joe Callahan is in the game rather than Rodgers.
3. Putting on the kicks: Punter Justin Vogel was OK in the Lambeau Field practice Saturday night, but OK isn’t good enough. There should be some opportunities for him to kick away and he has to show he can consistently hit the hang times he has shown in practice. He may get to punt to former high school teammate Nelson Agholor, the Eagles’ first-round pick in 2015.
4. Super talented: Eagles coach Doug Pederson, who was a backup behind Brett Favre on the Super Bowl XXXI team, said before the start of camp he felt his team was as talented as that Packers team, which won it all under Mike Holmgren during the 1996 season. That’s probably a stretch, but if he’s right it certainly gives the 2017 Packers a good measuring stick.
5. Show me: Defensive coordinator Dom Capers said he is not going to hold back when it comes to working on his new defensive packages in the exhibition games. He indicated during the week that he would not be hesitant to use his “nitro” package because he thinks it’s more important for his players to practice it under game conditions than to hide it from future opponents. Expect rookie safety Josh Jones to see a lot of time playing at inside linebacker in the package.
