When wins and losses really don’t matter, it’s important to recognize what those three hours of preseason football accomplished. For the Green Bay Packers, a team currently set as favorites to win Super Bowl 50, there were plenty of meaningful moments in their exhibition victory over New England Thursday night.
Here are the five biggest takeaways from the Packers’ 22-11 win:
A lot of Aaron Rodgers at QB, not enough execution
Rodgers didn’t even play in the first preseason game in 2014. While the league’s reigning Most Valuable Player was expected to start Thursday night against the Patriots, it seemed he’d get one series – or maybe two if the first was short-lived. Instead, Rodgers surprisingly played three drives, amounting to the entire first quarter.
In all, Rodgers took 33 snaps. That is a ton of preseason snaps for a quarterback as accomplished as Rodgers.
Somewhat concerning for Green Bay is that Rodgers’ time on the field only amounted to three points. The Packers failed on a fourth-and-goal play from the 2-yard line, and they were also unable to get a first down on a fourth-and-1 situation. New offensive play-caller Tom Clements is going to find out very quickly the pressure that comes with the job, especially if this becomes more than just a preseason issue.
Scott Tolzien is more than ready to be QB No. 2
Just a couple months into his Packers career during the 2013 season, Tolzien was ill-equipped to take over the offense after Rodgers’ fractured collarbone. However, two-plus years in McCarthy’s system has made a significant difference for Tolzien.
Tolzien was accurate and confident in his passes. He threw a perfect ball to Jeff Janis in the end zone for a touchdown and finished the game with a 102.9 passer rating. Should Rodgers find himself sidelined at any point in the regular season, Green Bay can feel good about its chances to be competitive with Tolzien behind center.
Struggles for Don Barclay and David Bakhtiari
Bakhtiari has had two seasons of protecting Rodgers’ blind side. Thursday night, Bakhtiari did a poor job of it. Bakhtiari was beat for two sacks in the first quarter and found himself getting pushed around on another play. The Packers’ starting offensive line is capable of being among the NFL’s best, but Bakhtiari will have to improve quickly for the group to realize that potential.
Barclay didn’t make it out of training camp in 2014, suffering a torn ACL and missing the entire season. A year later, Barclay doesn’t look comfortable again yet. As the backup right tackle, Barclay consistently lost his battles against oncoming Patriots defenders. Barclay is expected to be the first offensive lineman off the bench at several positions, but he has a lot of work to do in order to be successful in that role.
Ladarius Gunter is for real
Cornerbacks coach Joe Whitt has been singing the praises of Gunter since minicamp. Gunter went undrafted earlier this year, mainly due to concerns over his slow 40-yard dash time. But it’s been clear since Gunter arrived to Green Bay in May that he was unfairly overlooked
It’s obviously still early, but Gunter sure looks capable of being the next Sam Shields or Tramon Williams. Both Shields and Williams also went undrafted yet thrived with the Packers. Gunter becomes closer to a lock for the 53-man roster with every passing day. Soon, the discussion could turn to how impactful of a rookie season he might have.
Bubble players who shined
Janis has been on the safe side of the bubble, but inconsistency has kept him from securing a guaranteed role in Green Bay’s offense. Well, just like he did in preseason last year, Janis caught a touchdown. Janis’ speed is unquestioned. Quality routes and dependable hands (like he displayed Thursday night) should help him inch closer to contributing this season.
Undrafted rookies Alonzo Harris and John Crockett have work to do if they’re going to surpass Rajion Neal for the No. 3 running back job and earn a spot on the 53-man roster. Neal entered the game after Eddie Lacy and James Starks exited, and he was followed by Harris and then Crockett. The good news for Harris and Crockett is that they both made positive impressions. Harris broke a run outside to the left and got in the end zone for a 25-yard score. Crockett got open on a route and made a nice catch on a pass from Brett Hundley for a touchdown.
Carl Bradford is the very definition of a bubble player. The Packers are invested in him after spending a fourth-round pick in 2014, but Ted Thompson isn’t going to wait forever for Bradford to perform. Bradford’s sack Thursday night was a step in the right direction, but he’ll need several more like it over the next month.
