Saturday
- Thread starter Big Daddy
- Start date
Buffalo/GB under 37 (2x)
By Rob Demovsky
Packersnews.com
The Buffalo Bills? blitz package shredded the Packers? offensive line two weeks ago when the teams held a scrimmage at Lambeau Field. The Bills recorded eight sacks.
The Packers? offensive coaches said they didn?t prepare for the Bills? blitzes. This week, however, it appears they spent more time than usual for a preseason game working against an opponent?s plays. Coach Mike Sherman took the team inside the Don Hutson Center on Thursday afternoon for a half-hour session that was closed to the public and the media. The offense spent most of that time working against blitzes.
?We?re still not really game planning, but we?re looking at it, that?s for sure,? center Mike Flanagan said. ?We wouldn?t want to put up another number like eight sacks.?
Last year, the Packers set a team record by allowing only 14 sacks all season.
?We?re a pretty good blitz (pick-up) team,? offensive coordinator Tom Rossley said. ?We take pride in that. We have had some blitz drills this week, and we?ll be much more prepared for this game.?
Hits now, fewer fumbles later: Rossley is convinced one of the reasons running back Ahman Green is prone to early-season fumbles is he doesn?t get hit enough in the preseason.
That?s why Rossley was relieved to learn Green said Friday that he?s over the cold that kept him out of practice for two days. Rossley said Green will play tonight against the Bills.
?We?d like to get him six or eight hits early on to try to get that first- or second-game jitters out of him that he?s had in years past,? Rossley said. ?Once he gets over that, he?s fine. Let?s get him into midseason form at the start of the season.?
Rossley said he and Sherman plan to lean heavily on the running game tonight.
?We want to get our run game going,? Rossley said.
By Rob Demovsky
Packersnews.com
The Buffalo Bills? blitz package shredded the Packers? offensive line two weeks ago when the teams held a scrimmage at Lambeau Field. The Bills recorded eight sacks.
The Packers? offensive coaches said they didn?t prepare for the Bills? blitzes. This week, however, it appears they spent more time than usual for a preseason game working against an opponent?s plays. Coach Mike Sherman took the team inside the Don Hutson Center on Thursday afternoon for a half-hour session that was closed to the public and the media. The offense spent most of that time working against blitzes.
?We?re still not really game planning, but we?re looking at it, that?s for sure,? center Mike Flanagan said. ?We wouldn?t want to put up another number like eight sacks.?
Last year, the Packers set a team record by allowing only 14 sacks all season.
?We?re a pretty good blitz (pick-up) team,? offensive coordinator Tom Rossley said. ?We take pride in that. We have had some blitz drills this week, and we?ll be much more prepared for this game.?
Hits now, fewer fumbles later: Rossley is convinced one of the reasons running back Ahman Green is prone to early-season fumbles is he doesn?t get hit enough in the preseason.
That?s why Rossley was relieved to learn Green said Friday that he?s over the cold that kept him out of practice for two days. Rossley said Green will play tonight against the Bills.
?We?d like to get him six or eight hits early on to try to get that first- or second-game jitters out of him that he?s had in years past,? Rossley said. ?Once he gets over that, he?s fine. Let?s get him into midseason form at the start of the season.?
Rossley said he and Sherman plan to lean heavily on the running game tonight.
?We want to get our run game going,? Rossley said.
Injury report: The following players missed Friday?s practice and weren?t expected to play: safety Mark Roman (hamstring), cornerback Joey Thomas (calf/hip), cornerback Al Harris (quad), fullback Vonta Leach (knee), linebacker Na?il Diggs (knee), defensive tackle Grady Jackson (knee), receiver Terrence Murphy (knee), tight end David Martin (groin), defensive tackle Cletidus Hunt (knee) and defensive tackle Corey Williams (ribs, hip, back).
5 things to watch in the Packers-Bills preseason game
1. The blitz-happy Bills could have seriously injured Brett Favre in the Family Night scrimmage two weeks ago at Lambeau Field had the quarterbacks not been off-limits to tacklers. If the Packers want to preserve the health of Favre and the rest of their quarterbacks, they must find a way to counter the Bills? blitz.
2. Five potential Packers defensive starters won?t play due to injury, including Grady Jackson, Cletidus Hunt, Na?il Diggs, Al Harris and Joey Thomas. Someone coming off the bench has a chance to make an impact, namely cornerbacks Ahmad Carroll and Mike Hawkins, linebacker Ray Thompson, and defensive linemen James Lee and Donnell Washington.
3. Safety Nick Collins can all but lock up a starter?s job with a solid game. The rookie has lived up to draft-day expectations and eventually might make everyone forget about Darren Sharper. Meanwhile, Earl Little and Mark Roman are battling for the other starting safety position.
4. No one in the Packers? organization seems concerned with the absence of tight end Bubba Franks ? yet. Most everyone expects his contract dispute to be settled by the end of training camp. In the meantime, a collection of wannabes is attempting to fill the void. David Martin and Ben Steele must prove they are legitimate NFL tight ends.
5. A Buffalo-area company purchased the remaining tickets this week, so the Bills? preseason home opener at 73,967-seat Ralph Wilson Stadium is a sellout. Quarterback J.P. Losman is attempting to find his way as a starter. He completed 11 of 19 passes for 88 yards and a touchdown to Lee Evans in a 17-10 road victory over Indianapolis last week. Running back Willis McGahee might not play because of a minor knee injury.
? Mike Vandermause, PackersNews.com
1. The blitz-happy Bills could have seriously injured Brett Favre in the Family Night scrimmage two weeks ago at Lambeau Field had the quarterbacks not been off-limits to tacklers. If the Packers want to preserve the health of Favre and the rest of their quarterbacks, they must find a way to counter the Bills? blitz.
2. Five potential Packers defensive starters won?t play due to injury, including Grady Jackson, Cletidus Hunt, Na?il Diggs, Al Harris and Joey Thomas. Someone coming off the bench has a chance to make an impact, namely cornerbacks Ahmad Carroll and Mike Hawkins, linebacker Ray Thompson, and defensive linemen James Lee and Donnell Washington.
3. Safety Nick Collins can all but lock up a starter?s job with a solid game. The rookie has lived up to draft-day expectations and eventually might make everyone forget about Darren Sharper. Meanwhile, Earl Little and Mark Roman are battling for the other starting safety position.
4. No one in the Packers? organization seems concerned with the absence of tight end Bubba Franks ? yet. Most everyone expects his contract dispute to be settled by the end of training camp. In the meantime, a collection of wannabes is attempting to fill the void. David Martin and Ben Steele must prove they are legitimate NFL tight ends.
5. A Buffalo-area company purchased the remaining tickets this week, so the Bills? preseason home opener at 73,967-seat Ralph Wilson Stadium is a sellout. Quarterback J.P. Losman is attempting to find his way as a starter. He completed 11 of 19 passes for 88 yards and a touchdown to Lee Evans in a 17-10 road victory over Indianapolis last week. Running back Willis McGahee might not play because of a minor knee injury.
? Mike Vandermause, PackersNews.com
Nice info Big Daddy. GL on your plays :mj14:
Really nice meeting you and thanks again for the great hats. The "Flame" cap was just as lucky for my brother as it was me
Really nice meeting you and thanks again for the great hats. The "Flame" cap was just as lucky for my brother as it was me
