Green Bay fell to 2-1 in the preseason following a 21-13 loss to Jacksonville at Lambeau Field. The Packers were on top 10-0 at halftime, but the reserves couldn’t hold the lead. Here’s a look back at the highs, the lows and some of what happened in between:
THE GOOD – James Jones is for real. That doesn’t mean the rookie wide receiver is headed to the Pro Bowl next February, but the way he effortlessly plucks balls out of the air and makes people miss after the catch is very impressive. Remember Jones’ name the next time some draft “expert” criticizes a general manager for reaching on a pick.
THE BAD – The Jags have one of the best defenses in football, but Green Bay’s ground game was anemic. While rookie Brandon Jackson tries hard, he’s simply not ready to be a starter in the NFL. The Packers better hope that veteran Vernand Morency is ready for the season opener. Of course, improved blocking up front wouldn’t hurt either.
THE REST – Injured offensive linemen Tony Palmer and Tony Moll actually improved their chances of making the final roster by not playing this week. That’s because the entire second-string line really struggled….. Defensive end Jason Hunter played his best game of the preseason. The athletic second-year pro was active against the run and flashed some new moves as a pass rusher….. Safety Atari Bigby and corner Jarrett Bush did nothing to make the coaches question their recent promotions. Bigby was aggressive and physical as the starting strong safety and Bush was solid as the nickel back….. Rookie linebacker Desmond Bishop locked down a roster spot with a very good performance. The former Cal star was considered too slow (4.84) by some pro scouts, but he plays faster than he times. More importantly, he learns from his mistakes.
WHAT WE LEARNED – Veteran offensive tackles Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher are still struggling to adapt to the zone blocking scheme. While all the attention gets focused on the young players inside when the running game struggles, the inability of Tauscher and Clifton to consistently execute the backside block too often gets overlooked.
