Game one is in the books and I have to admit it was not nearly as sloppy as I expected it to be. With all the players having the entire offseason off of workouts and minicamps, it was clear that today’s NFL player knows he has to stay in shape all year around. The usual rust was evident but for the first time hitting a non-teammate it went fairly well.
About the only thing I am going to watch with a little concern is the offensive line. After the starters left for the night the line was a sieve. Backup quarterbacks Matt Flynn and Graham Harrell were under constant duress and the running game looked like the running game of the first half of last year. If the Packers were to lose more than one starter to injury they could be in trouble.
Browns quarterback Colt McCoy looked like Bernie Kosar carving up the Packers in the first quarter. Charles Woodson and Sam Shields didn’t play and the case could be made Pat Lee didn’t either. Lee and the Packers’ secondary couldn’t make the play even when in position. I’m not too worried there, though, Dom Capers will figure something out.
I thought Flynn and Harrell played pretty good. Flynn showed a stronger arm I think than last year. The pass he rifled downfield to a wide open Tori Gurley was a rocket, of course Gurley dropped it and it had touchdown written all over it. Been nice knowing you Tori. Harrell was under pressure every drop-back but kept his poise and made some plays. I think Harrell is a must-keep player given the fact Flynn is gone after this year. Won’t be any sneaking Harrell to the practice squad, I promise you that.
With Aaron Rodgers’ history of concussions guys will be going for the head to knock Rodgers out and the Packers can’t be caught with their pants down with only two capable quarterbacks on the roster. Harrell can come in and at least run the offense and is young and improving. Keeping him this year means he’s No. 2 next year without missing a beat afterl Flynn leaves.
Rookie wide receiver Randall Cobb is just a case of the rich getting richer. Cobb will immediately help the return game and I have to believe they will find a way to get him snaps at receiver. He looks explosive and against the second-teamers he was clearly a man among boys. Can’t wait to see Rodgers throwing the ball to him. Rodgers is good at throwing guys open and in Cobb’s case that is going to mean big plays with his run-after-the-catch ability. Going to be fun to watch.
All-in-all it was a good way to open the year, nobody got seriously hurt and with the night practices behind them we should see plenty of improvement over the next three weeks. Round two is Friday night when the Cardinals come to town. That should be a good test for the Packers’ secondary with Larry Fitzgerald finally having a decent quarterback to throw to him again. Kevin Kolb may not be Kurt Warner but he’s no doorknob either.
It’s good to be back to football!