Packers vs. Cardinals: Here’s what Lombardi Ave staffers look forward to …
Overall view of Lambeau Field prior to the game between the Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports photograph
With tonight’s game between the Green Bay Packers and Arizona Cardinals literally minutes away, we here at Lombardi Ave have joined forces to give you our thoughts as we head toward the first preseason game.
That said, a few of us here at the site have put together our thoughts about what we look forward to tonight.
Here’s what we think … if you have some thoughts, leave us some comments below, head on over to our Facebook page, or let us know by following us on Twitter.
Dan Dahlke
Dan Dahlke
I am looking forward to seeing how the Packers running game holds up against an opposing team’s defense. We got a glimpse of what they can do at the Family Night scrimmage, but this was against the Packers defense. What can they do against a team they are not familiar with? I want to see how rookie backs Eddie Lacy (though I guess I have to wait for him) and Johnathan Franklin look against top-notch NFL talent.
I want to see how Franklin will cut, read the holes, and break tackles in the open field. I am also interested in seeing how well he can pick up the blitz and protect the quarterback because that will largely determine how much playing time he will get during the season.
In addition to the rookies, I also want to see how a reinvigorated James Starks and a fully healthy Alex Green look in the backfield. I will also be looking to see how the offensive line progresses in their running block and if they can win at the line scrimmage and get good push off the ball.
Darryl Krejci
Darryl Krecji
So the history books tell of how in 1961 the Bishop’s Charities Game came to be. I believe though there is a deeper secret to this that the history books do not dare speak of. So for me the start of the preseason means two things.
The first is that it is the start of the yearly conspiracy against the Packers and it allows me the first opportunity to begin to dissect the mystery behind the NFL and the vendetta they have against the Packers. Not much will be told, but one must look beyond the Green and Gold to find the hidden messages (aliens, Illuminati, and cyborgs; one must look for any piece of truth no matter how outlandish it may seem).
The second thing I like most about the start of the preseason is that it is one less meaningless game that is played. I strongly dislike the preseason as a whole and gain no pleasure in the games. So with this one out of the way, that only leaves three more to play before the battle begins and that is what is important!
GO! PACK! GO! … and give me the regular season!
John Dewey
John Dewey
I am waiting to see if Tyrone Walker continues to impress at WR. He is not tall or fast but he doesn’t make mistakes or drop the ball. Will he continue his steady play?
Eric Balkman
While we’ll likely only see one (or at most two) series with the starters, I’m curious as to see how much playing time a lot of young contributors will see. For instance, perhaps the most scrutinized player Friday night will be rookie David Bakhtiari.
The undersized tackle may get the start with the ones Friday night, and he will be in charge of making sure Aaron Rodgers isn’t crushed from behind. It’s a tall order, but the reports have been very good on Bakhtiari so far in training camp. The rubber will meet the road at Lambeau against the Cardinals tomorrow, so we’ll see how well Bakhtiari holds up against a Pro Bowl defensive lineman in Darnell Dockett.
Luke Hanish
Above all I’d like to see health. Seems like every year key injuries play more of a role than they should and this team for whatever reason can’t stay as healthy as we’d like to see.
Obviously freak stuff will happen here and there but it seems to be an annual issue with the Pack. Of-field I don’t think I’m alone when I say I would love to see a run solid run game established with Eddie Lacy as the feature back.
He has been getting an extra workload in practice this week with injuries to Alex Green and DuJuan Harris and so far has proven his worth. An established run game would do this team wonders with the Quarterback they have.
Kevin Gibson
Kevin Gibson
I’m looking forward to seeing Eddie Lacy get yards after contact (this was before he got hurt late this week). I’m looking forward to watching Datone Jones hit the quarterback — heck, any quarterback.
I’m looking forward to watching David Bakhtiari pass protect. I’m looking forward to seeing signs of whether Nick Perry is the answer opposite Clay Matthews.
I’m looking forward to seeing the preseason’s first Lambeau Leap, to seeing Johnny Jolly in a Packers uniform again and to laughing at Jermichael Finley when he drops his first pass of the season.
But mostly I’m looking forward to that giddy, child-like feeling I get when I see the Packers on the Lambeau Field turf for the first time in half a year. That’s a feeling that started when I was a child in the 1970s and has never gone away.
Ray Rivard
Ray Rivard
I was looking forward to watching Eddie Lacy lay out a few Cardinals, but I guess I’ll have to wait for that. Instead, I’ll be watching David Bakhtiari in Bryan Bulaga’s stead; I’ll be watching the Italian, Georgio Tavecchio, to see if he can continue to put the pressure on Mason Crosby; I’ll be watching Crosby and hoping that he comes around; I’ll be waiting for the entrance of Vince Young and hope he doesn’t completely fall flat on his face; At the same time, I’ll be watching the other two backup quarterbacks, B.J. Coleman and Graham Harrell, as they try to gain an edge.
But more importantly, like all of us here, I’ll be happy to sit in my chair and once again watch the Green and Gold. Win or lose, I’ll be happy just to see our team on the field. I’ll be excited about spending three hours tonight with a smile on my face.