Packers: Three things to watch in Week 3 of preseason vs. Raiders

Three things to watch in the Green Bay Packers’ third preseason game against the Oakland Raiders.

Week 3 of the preseason is the most important exhibition game for every single NFL team. It’s this week that teams play their hardest. Coaches allow the starters to play longer, possibly for the entire first half.

Offensive and defensive coordinators implement real game plans to see the players on the roster bubble who can execute the game plan. The third game is the closest thing to a regular season game you can get in the preseason.

It is interesting to see how the coaches approach this game. How long will coach Mike McCarthy allow the starters on offense and defense to play?

What play calls and formation will new coordinators Joe Philbin and Mike Pettine show in this game? Most importantly, who will impress the coaching staff enough to keep them on the roster, or move them up the depth chart?

1. How long will the starters play?

Different coaches take different approaches when it comes to Week 3 of the preseason. Some allow key players to play into the early third quarter. Meanwhile, others will play the starters like they did in the previous two weeks, they play a series or two and then come out the game.

Coach McCarthy has some interesting choices coming up in the preseason game versus the Oakland Raiders. Does he risk injury to Aaron Rodgers, being he did just miss half the season last year? Or does he let him play extended time to help develop his chemistry with new wide receivers?

On the other side, does McCarthy allow a defense whose depth isn’t great, risk injury playing an entire first half? At the same time, giving Pettine time to see what works and what doesn’t with the starting defense is crucial. Especially being that Pettine will put in a game plan that he has coached during practice.

2. What will the coordinator show?

As I have mentioned earlier, Week 3 is when real strategy is shown between the coordinators. What’s called this week will be on film for the Chicago Bears for the regular season opener.

Offensive coordinator Joe Philbin has an easier job than defensive coordinator Mike Pettine. Philbin has the luxury of having a veteran superstar in Rodgers to call plays for. Rodgers knows everything about the offense and has seen every defense there is to see. Also, Philbin was the coordinator in Green Bay before so there is some familiarity.

Pettine is bringing an entirely new system over to Green Bay. The Packers played in Dom Capers’ system for nine years. So Pettine brings over a system to players he mostly has never coached before.

If Pettine gets extended time with the starters playing, it will be interesting how creative he gets with his play calling. What kind of blitz schemes, pre-snap looks and overall formations will be presented? Where will players line up in Pettine’s new scheme?

3. What players will put on a great performance?

Thus far this preseason, the Packers have been very impressive. Green Bay is now 2-0. Since the starters have been on limited playing time, mostly rookies and backups have stepped up.

For example, last week rookie cornerback Josh Jackson returned an interception for a touchdown. In addition, backup wide receiver Jake Kumerow had 114 yards on just three receptions and a touchdown.

But this week with the starters playing more, expect the stars to have good games.

On defense, watch out for flashes from different position groups. Can the defensive line and outside linebackers create pressure on the quarterback? Will Blake Martinez and Oren Burks be able to slow down the rushing attack?

Lastly, in a game against one of the top young quarterbacks in Derek Carr, can the secondary show they’ve gotten better?

Making Derek Carr and his offense struggle would give this defense a lot of confidence moving towards the regular season.