By Billy Needham
The first preseason game for the defending Superbowl champs was the Browns in Cleveland Brown Stadium. The game was pretty uneventful, even bland through some parts, with the Pack falling 27-17 in the end. The offensive starters played two series, scoring a TD on one of them, the 2nd string played the rest of the first half, scoring 10 points, and the 3rd string stunk up the entire second half, getting shut out, giving up defensive TDs, the whole nine yards. Here is a quick glance at who shined and whose light may be burning out….
STUD: Matt Flynn really looked pretty crisp, finishing 11-18 for 126 yards, 1 TD. Modest numbers but considering the large amounts of pressure coming at him, he really handled it well. The throw on 3rd and 10 from the 11 yard line to Cobb initiating the final two minute drive was fantastic. Getting hit in the chin, he released a laser to Cobb before he had even turned in from his break, sticking the ball into his hands. He went on to engineer a great drive capping it off with a TD (very lucky) to Havner with about 25 seconds left. I can see the buzz surrounding his free agency next season.
DUD: The pass rush!!! Last year, the Pack were tied for 2nd in the NFL and the Brown’s QBs were having a tea party back there, with little to no pressure. Yeah, we did not have CM3 rushing, Capers probably called the most vanilla blitzes, but I still hated to see the perfect pocket every snap. Anyway, the Brown’s QBs carved up the defense for the most part and the pass rush was a big part of it. Kudos to Josh Gordy, for getting the only sack on a CB blitz, well played sir!
STUD: Randall Cobb had him a nice first showing! He caught 3 for 60 yards; one being a beautiful diving catch, one the 3rd and 10 clutch catch deep in their own territory, and another 3rd down catch and run for 28 yards. He averaged 29 yards on his two kickoff returns, and did nothing with his one punt return. I find it hard to believe they only gavr him one punt, but we have plenty of time. He is a rookie but he will give us better field position every game and spell the WRs when fatigue or injuries kick in, and maybe a trick play or two????
DUD: The Offensive line!!! Just like the pass rush, I wish I could single out individual performances but the o-line gave up 5 sacks, two causing fumbles, and one returned for a TD. I cannot elaborate how pitiful it was watching those guys run for their lives or throwing the ball away. Get it together James Campen!!!
STUD: The kicking game was in tune. Crosby hit on his only attempt, and sent every kickoff I saw several yards into the endzone. Masthay hit his punts for a 52.2 average, but unfortunately out kicked his coverage a few times. The two looked as if they had used the lockout time to master their skills, lets just hope it lasts!
DUD: Graham Harrell looked pretty bad to me, finishing 11-22 for 100 yards. He was on the run for a lot of the second half, but showed little to me that he could actually be our primary backup.
STUD: In limited time, Morgan Burnett had a good game, having the two plays in a row, hammering Peyton HIllis in the back with Raji for a one yard gain, and making a great open field tackle out in the flats on 3rd and 1, for a one yard loss. Peprah on the other hand, was in on a few completions, against backups at that so was last year more of the players he had around him, or him actually being starting material. It should be a good battle throughout camp, but Burnett should win and Peprah backing both safety spots.
DUD: Pat Lee and Jarrett Bush looked pretty bad in coverage, giving up large chunks at a time throughout the first half, leading to 14 points for the Browns. Both looked very unimpressive against no name WRs for the Browns. They, especially Lee, better get it together quickly because young guys, like Josh Gordy (1 sack, 1 INT) may take their job.
Overall, it was a Clint Eastwood performance, the good, the bad, and the ugly. We lost to the Browns last preseason in the first game so I am just thinking repeat!!!!!!!!!
Original Story:
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Packer...
