After a fumbling, bumbling and bruising 21-13 loss at San Diego in the preseason opener, the injury-ravaged Packers return home to Lambeau Field to try and get back on track against the Browns.
Last week Green Bay had three turnovers on offense, fumbled twice more on special teams and gave up three pass plays of at least 35 yards on defense. The Packers had 18 players inactive for that game. And at one practice earlier this week, 21 players sat out, nearly a quarter of the training camp-roster.
They could be missing as many as 18 Thursday night against the Browns, who beat the Lions in their first exhibition game. The health problems have been injurious not just to the individual players, but the team as a whole; coach Mike McCarthy has said his team has not progressed at practice to where it needs to be, thanks to all the setbacks. With the Packers’ well-being as a backdrop, here are five things to keep an eye on against Cleveland:
1. Green light go: Second-year RB Alex Green is going to start and get the biggest opportunity of his career Thursday night. Constrained by a snap count throughout camp as he continues to recover from last season’s torn ACL, Green will test his surgically reconstructed knee in hopes of proving to the Packers he’s the answer to a lot of questions at running back. Due to injuries to James Starks (turf toe), Brandon Saine (hamstring) and Du’ane Bennett (knee), and with recently signed veteran Cedric Benson being held out for lack of practice, the Packers will likely have only three backs active. And while they probably won’t risk Green’s health by leaving him in too long, he should get at least a quarter and maybe a half to display the agility, speed and power he’s demonstrated in practice.
“I haven’t been told anything as far as my workload,” Green said. “I know I’m starting the game off, I know I’ll still be on kind of a limited rep count.” With so few backs healthy, the Packers figure to throw a lot. So at the very least, Green will get a chance to show what he’s got as a pass-blocker and a receiver, two third-down areas of importance on which the Packers place a high premium.
2. Backup: QBs front and center: One crucial question the Packers need to find out the answer to is whether Graham Harrell can be the No. 2 quarterback behind reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers. Harrell is smart and knows the offense. He has good accuracy and decent arm strength. He’s erratic under pressure and his decision-making is not the best with a pass rush in his face. But he’s very inexperienced, and the coaches are adamant he just needs more reps.
“I think it’s very important to see as much of Graham Harrell as we possibly can,” McCarthy said. “That’s where he is in his development. He doesn’t have a lot of playing time under his belt.” He’ll get time Thursday, as Rodgers is expected to play no more than one quarter. It will also be interesting to see how the Browns use their backup QB Colt McCoy, a player long-reputed and recently rumored to be a target of the Packers. Will Cleveland play McCoy extensively in an effort to showcase him for a potential trade? With that (real or contrived storyline) the second and third quarters will be must-watch for Packers fans.
3. Hayward moving upward: Just when one of the candidates for the No. 2 cornerback job was starting to separate from the rest, Davon House went and hurt his shoulder and is out for two to three weeks. With disappointing incumbent Sam Shields injured and physical veteran Jarrett Bush incapable of playing on the outside, it is now rookie Casey Hayward’s chance. The second-round pick out of Vanderbilt has been good in practice and will start Thursday against the Browns. He’s not the tallest (5-feet-11 inches) or the fastest (4.53-second 40-yard dash), but he’s instinctive, possesses excellent ball skills and hasn’t been giving up the big plays that plagued the Packers secondary last season. There’s a very real chance that, with House out a few weeks, Hayward could be a starting cornerback when the regular season begins. That move toward the top of the depth chart needs to gain some momentum against Cleveland.
4. Marshaled together: Last week, LT Marshall Newhouse didn’t play because of a concussion and the result wasn’t pretty. His replacement, Herb Taylor, was visibly overmatched and struggled, once getting Rodgers hit badly. Rodgers’ stated goal is to emerge from the preseason unhurt, and achieving that goal relies heavily on Newhouse, who will play Thursday. He missed 10 days with the head injury but practiced all week and could play on after the rest of the starting offensive line departs. Speaking of those backups, someone besides gritty G-C Evan Dietrich-Smith and veteran G-T Reggie Wells needs to show he can block professionally. Rookie T Andrew Datko and G-T Tommie Draheim have looked the best of the bunch, and depending what the Packers do with injured T Derek Sherrod, they could be fighting for one or two roster spots. In any event, the No. 2 offensive line must be more organized, stronger and more assertive than it was last week.
5. Clean it up: It’s preseason, the offense is incontrovertibly good and ugly is such a harsh word. So let’s be tactful and just say Rodgers and Co. were aesthetically disinclined last week against the Chargers. Turnovers, two technically charged to Rodgers, sieve-like blocking, dropped passes and bad timing resulted in zero points and a general sloppiness in three offensive series. McCarthy preaches up-tempo and mistake-free play in practice and it didn’t carry over in the opener. That could be because injuries have limited personnel and practice time, but the league’s most unstoppable offense of last season needs to get back in rhythm. Expect some early points on the board Thursday night.
