Jclombardi reviews final Chiefs preseason game.
Summary: Thursday evening, in the final exhibition game, the Packers offense, without QB Rodgers and many starters who didn’t suit up for the final preseason game, struggled getting only one touchdown as the Packers fell to the Chiefs 17-13. Chiefs QBs Cassel and Croyle each led touchdown drives leading the Chiefs past the Packers.
Headlines : Chiefs 17, Packers 13. Several starters sit, offense struggles in loss . McCarthy on roster cuts: Its the worst time of year. Notebook: Flynn Replaces Rodgers. Notebook: Shields gets longer look with Woodson out. Backups get the call in lackluster preseason finale. Last chance for Packers’ bubble players . Trade talk centers on Spitz. Insider: Starters didnt miss much . Packers hardly bother in last exhibition game.
Quick Hits:
1. Rough final exhibition game . Backup QB Flynn played the first three quarters getting good numbers (23-of-37, 304 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions, 88.1 rating), but he didn’t get the offense moving early. Against mostly backups, Flynn went three and out on his first four series and didn’t pick up a first down until the first possession of the second quarter .
2 . Swain shines– WR Swain finished the game with six catches for 130 yards including a 77-yarder to set up the Packers’ first touchdown . Also, WR Dillon caught six for 85 yards and WR Williams had five catches for 70 yards.
3. OTs struggle —With Clifton (knees) and Bulaga (hip flexor) both out, the backup left tackles struggled. Lang, who started, gave up a sack to LB Williams. Also, rookie Newhouse also allowed Flynn to get hit by LB Belcher .
4. Havner everywhere– LB Havner played TE on offense, LB on defense, and on special teams.
5. Shields solid– Without Woodson, undrafted rookie CB Shields started and CB/S Bush worked as the third corner in nickel. Shields didn’t have any impact plays, but he generally was solid.
6. Chery returns– Special teams coordinator Slocum, on Chery’s adventures returning kickoffs (16.0-yard average, one fumble) and punt returns (9.0 average, almost a fumble): “He’s definitely got potential .”
7. Blackmon’s status –McCarthy said, “He’s coming off of a major surgery. If you sat in on the doctor meetings, this all falls in the normal protocol, particularly of a perimeter player, that had a significant injury to his knee. He’s going through a tough spot right now .”
8. Crosby solid– Crosby kicked two 41-yard field goals for the Packers.
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Commentary : We read two A+ outstanding rave reviews from Packers bloggers about game:
GBPN Blogger:
1. First few plays Frank Zombo got sucked into the play too much-let up his containment responsibility
2. Lang allows a sack in the 1st quarter from the LT spot. Thank goodness Clifton and Bulaga are ahead of him. Also beaten badly from RT in the second quarter. He has not looked good.
3. 3 guys around Bowe in the endzone on a TD pass from Cassell. Still not getting any comfort in the non-starters back there .
4. Lumpkin had a terrible first half, but a much better second half. Curious if its enough to make the cut.
5. Dare I say Jarrett Bush had a decent game? He definitely stated his case for a roster spot with an interception and flying all over the field. But if he is our Nickel back against the Eagles we are in trouble [actually Bush missed several open field tackles].
TP Blogger:
1. Bush continued to play ahead of Pat Lee at cornerback and for the first time in history, actually looked like a decent NFL cornerback . Bush intercepted a pass in the first quarter and had solid coverage on Dwayne Bowe on a deep ball, which is an area he usually fails in.
2. Flynn looks like a real NFL quarterback. Not only did he look poised in the pocket, but he delivered balls accurately, often into tight coverage, and was impressive in making his reads. The only complaint about Flynn is he didn’t throw a touchdown and he could have done better in the red zone, but his receivers could have done better, too.
3. Poppinga looked like crap . Granted, he was playing with scrubs and didn’t get much help, but he gets blocked out of running plays or overpursues far too often. If Poppinga has to be anything more than a situational pass rusher, the Packers are in trouble.
4. Lang started at left tackle for Clifton. Bulaga was also out. Lang’s performance can probably be described as shaky, at best.
5. Masthay has won the punting job. He hit a long of 51 yards on Thursday while Bryan’s long was only 37. Also, Masthaykicked off and it seems he could fill that duty more than adequately once the regular season begins .
