Green Bay Packers versus SF 49ers: Top Packer of each quarter
By Brad Miller
The Green Bay Packers looked fairly sharp from top to bottom during Friday night’s game against the San Francisco 49ers.
Granted, Aaron Rodgers and the first string offense took a little while to get going but when it finally clicked they looked ready for the season opener.
During each quarter of the game there were specific players who made their case that they are ready for the regular season. Let’s take a minute or two to recap on those guys.
There was a lot of optimism surrounding the first team offense being together for the first time this preseason. We didn’t get to see Jordy Nelson but the rest of the squad went out and gave us a glimpse of what the 2016 offense will have in store. Aaron Rodgers looked pretty good. Eddie Lacy showed a lot of what he had shown in his first two seasons with the Packers by running hard and with purpose.
Like the offense, the Packers defense had to shake off a few rusty areas at the start of the game but soon found their rhythm. Clay Matthews got to get his motor running a little bit and had the firs tackle of the game.
That all being said, the player of the quarter was new tight end Jared Cook.
He runs nice routes. He has great hands. His speed is better than advertised. He was ready for the ball on every play.
The Rodgers-to-Cook connection should be a great tool for the upcoming season. When Rodgers was maneuvering through the pocket Friday night he seemed to be looking for Cook a lot. Cook had a team-leading four catches and his 54 yards was second only to wide receiver Geronimo Allison. It looks like Ted Thompson has picked another free agent winner in Cook.
The second quarter we had a Randall Cobb sighting.
More than once.
After being double-teamed and watched like a hawk by opposing defenses last year with the absence of Jordy Nelson, Cobb made some plays during Friday’s game capped it with his six-yard screen pass for a touchdown in the second quarter.
Cobb worked to get open and used his speed to gain the separation for the Packers QBs. He looked like the Randall Cobb of old. The Packers will need to see more of that if they want to bring the Lombardi Trophy back home.
By the start of the third quarter most of the starters we out and wearing their sideline caps.
In came the players hungry to make the team. For most of these guys, it is do-or-die time to make an impression on Ted Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy. The Packer defense blanked the 49ers’ offense in the second quarter and with the reserves in they also did it in the third quarter.
There may not have been one play that stood out, but ILB Carl Bradford, like all training camp, seemed to be in each play. He was all over the field. His tackling seems to have improved over the years and his football instincts seem to have kicked in. Granted, he has been hurt a lot during his time in Green Bay but if he stays healthy he will earn a lot of playing time this year for Dom Capers’ defense.
This quarter was a bit of a toss-up. You have a lot of guys trying to make a good showing in front of the coaches and other teams watching the game.
With only a handful of spots available, guys are fighting to make this already talented roster.
Yet, there was one play that involved two players who did everything they could to make this team. With 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter and facing a third and 19 QB Joe Callahan spun out a 49ers blitz, rolled right and launched a perfect pass across his body to complete a 51-yard strike to Geronimo Allison as he was heading to the right sideline. Allison vaulted high with a defender in his back pocket and pulled down an amazing grab when they needed it most.
With Rodgers being held out of the preseason until Friday night and the re-injury to back up Brett Hundley, Callahan has received a lot of reps and has done nothing but take advantage of them.
As the preseason has progressed you can see Callahan gaining confidence and making the right readss. He ended up going 16-for-24, 167 yards and one touchdown.
Next: Bart Starr was best at #15
Allison, fighting for a spot on a fully loaded wide receiver team, has also shown the skills and desire to make this team and contribute to the Packers offense. Allison finished Friday’s game with three catches for 78 yards.