The dress rehearsal for Aaron Rodgers’ coming out party went off without a hitch Monday night and Packer nation let out a collective sigh of relief. Everybody knows it was a preaseason game, so no need to go into that, but like the man he replaced will face Saturday night in his first start for the Jets, this was bigger than most preseason games. Rodgers did not disappoint. He made few if any mistakes and handled himself professionally as he has all training camp. Yes, he will have bad games, Brett Favre had more than his share, but the Packers do not have to worry about that position, at least as a starter. Backup is a whole another thing. Third-stringer Matt Flynn looked better than second-stringer Brian Brohm but neither looked to be the next big thing. Look for a veteran backup to be signed before the end of the preseason.
I thought Brandon Jackson did enough to put some pressure on Ryan Grant, who held out until last week waiting for a new contract. Jackson did miss a couple of blitz pickups, but if he fixes that like he fixed his ability to run the ball, he could be something special. He can either juke a guy or run him over sometimes but always keeps his feet moving. I bet Grant’s hamstring felt a lot better Tuesday morning.
Tramon Williams is another up-and-coming player who will certainly replace either Al Harris or Charles Woodson in the coming years. Even much maligned Jarrett Bush appeared to hold his own with the starters. Nick Barnett looks poised for a huge year if you ask me, he is a beast in the middle and continues to get better with age.
I think along with praying Aaron Rodgers stays healthy the Packers should also be praying Will Blackmon stays healthy. Blackmon is a Devon Hester in the making at least on punt returns while Jordy Nelson and Williams also look good there, Blackmon seems to be a step above them. Blackmon seems to have that knack for big plays. I think we have seen the last Woodson in that capacity.
The defensive line is in big trouble I think. Without the expected development of Justin Harrell, the Packers are woefully thin in talent and experience in a crucial position. If general manager Ted Thompson needs to fix something now, it is the d-line. I still believe a second-round pick for Corey Williams was a good deal, but injuries have a way of making good deals look bad. I think Teddy will do something here in the next few weeks. Call Grady Jackson if you have to.
Looking forward to Saturday. Favre makes his first start for the Jets at six and the Packers and 49ers tee it up a eight. Rodgers against Alex Smith for the first time. The way things are looking right now, the 49ers took the wrong guy. Of course, Smith didn’t have the luxury of learning for three years behind a Hall-of-Famer. This is Smith’s make or break year.
Finally, I think Tony Kornheiser is an absolute idiot. When he said the standing ovation for the first-team offense was for the “Packers team” and not for Aaron Rodgers he just showed how little he knows about sports and the Green Bay Packers in particular. That ovation was for Rodgers first and the team second and now we are all as one because of it. To further show his man-love for Favre he disrespected the Packers on national television by wearing a Jets number four jersey in the third quarter. And ABC took heat for putting Dennis Miller in the booth? I’d take Miller any day over this bozo. I’ll still watch PTI but my respect for the penguin is all gone (not that there was much in the first place).
More to come…