Recapping Game 3

The Green Bay Packers destroyed the Indianapolis Colts last night 59-24 at Lambeau Field. Being at that game, Lambeau was electric to say the least. It was amazing to see the team play at a high level against a good team in primetime. This is the section where I give thumbs up and thumbs down. Based on what I seen at the game, there was definitely a lot more thumbs up then down.

THUMBS UP

PASS OFFENSE

The first string pass offense led by Aaron Rodgers continues to impress. But, when Flynn and Harrell got into the game there was no change of pace. All quarterbacks had a rating of at least 118 or above. All the receivers seemed to be playing at a high level. The pass offense as a whole and whoever was playing seemed to be clicking last night.

KREGG LUMPKIN

Lumpkin needed to have a strong last couple games in preseason to have a chance to make the team and he started out on a good note last night. The stats may not jump out at you, with 8 carries for 29 yards and a rushing touchdown, but he did have a nice screen pass catch where he displayed some impressive moves to make it a 22 yard gain. He was playing hard and displayed some quickness and illusiveness. With Porter suffering a knee injury last night, Lumpkin may still have a shot to make the team.

SAFETIES

This is mostly in regards to Nick Collins and Morgan Burnett. Those two seemed like they were ball hawks last night. Collins made two nice third down tips to keep the ball away from Reggie Wayne and to stop the Colts drive. Burnett intercepted Manning in Colts territory and nearly had another one earlier in the game when he came over to help on Wayne and broke up the play. If the defensive backs continue to struggle, these two needs to continue to play at a high level.

ZOMBO AND FRANCOIS

Both of these linebackers needed big games to make the team and both of them did last night and both even contributed on the same play. Zombo forced a fumble in the third quarter when he sacked Peyton Manning in their own territory. The ball was picked up by Francois and nearly returned for a touchdown if it weren’t for Joseph Addai forcing Francois out at the one yard line. Addai paid the punishment though when Francois bulldozed over him. With these two playing at a high level, it’s going to be some very difficult decisions come cut time for the Packers.

RUN DEFENSE

Take away the 50 yard run at the beginning of the game for Addai and the Colts run offense was struggling. The defense was filling the gaps and holes quickly and the Colts were not able to generate a good rushing attack. Kudos to the Packers run defense to stop a good rushing attack with Addai and Donald Brown.

DEFENSIVE LINE

The defensive line finally showed some life in this game. Manning was getting moved around in the pocket and pressure was being put on him. BJ Raji, Mike Neal, and Ryan Pickett played very well. With the absence of Cullen Jenkins, the backups stood up and played a solid game. If the line can continue to play like they did last night, but with more consistency, and keep pressuring the quarterback, it will definitely help their struggling pass defense.

SPECIAL TEAMS

I can finally say that special teams played a good game! The coverage unit was solid, Tim Masthay had a nice punt that was fumbled by the Colts and recovered by the Packers for a touchdown and oh, the Packers returned a punt for a touchdown. It was finally nice to see the Packers special teams play much better.

THUMBS DOWN

TRAMON WILLIAMS

Tramon is going to be the starting cornerback opposite of Charles Woodson for possibly the first half of the year and he struggled last night against Reggie Wayne and the Colts. The Packers pass defense as a whole struggled, but Tramon really stuck out. If he’s going to be the starting cornerback for this team, he needs to step up his game against the top wide outs in the NFL. He has the ability too, as he showed last year, but right now he’s struggling and the Packers can’t afford that.

BRANDON JACKSON

Last week he was on my thumbs up list. This week, because he fumbled in the red zone, he ends up on the thumbs down list. The Packers can’t afford to be taking away their own opportunities to put points on the board and giving the ball back to a guy like Peyton Manning. Jackson is going to be getting a lot of carries this year. He needs to take care of the ball and not put it on the ground

RYANT GRANT

Grant was solid with his 8 carries for 36 yards and 4.5 yard average, but he fumbled again. The Packers didn’t lose the fumble, but he fumbled deep in their own territory. Grant has fumbled twice so far this preseason, losing one. Much like what I said with Jackson, the running backs cannot be putting the ball on the ground. It’s unacceptable and cannot be afforded.

-Dan