NO TIME TO PANIC

After only a couple weeks of preseason there are a few things that have become pretty obvious. These have made themselves clear and we’ll dissect each one individually.

Injuries will play a large role in the Packers lineup (again/ already – take your pick).

The Green Bay Packers of 2012 are pretty deep at many positions.

 Quarterback is not one of them.

 The running game is the biggest question mark.

 There is nothing wrong with the special teams.

 Youth shall be served.

 Preseason is absolutely irrelevant to the regular season.

 There is no reason to panic after losing back to back games to San Diego and Cleveland.

 INJURIES – Already out for a chunk of time will be ILB Desmond Bishop. Bishop sustained a nasty tear of his hamstring and a sprained knee against SD. Surgery followed and the big question mark hanging now is how long? No one is saying for sure and hope is being held out against hope for Bishop’s return.

Don’t count on it.

 Bishop factors large into the Packers defensive scheme and will be sorely missed. While Bishop is out it means the next guy up is D.J. Smith, a 2^nd year dynamo who now gets his shot. Other injuries have included almost everyone in the running game; James Starks (turf toe) is listed as ‘week to week’, Alex Green (coming back slowly from a blown knee), Brandon Saine (hamstring), John Kuhn (sprained ankle), UDFA Du’uane Bennett (knee) leaving only camp legs RB Marc Tyler and newly signed RB Cedric Benson as the only healthy bodies in camp. Never mind FB’s Nic Cooper or Jon Hoese; don’t expect either to stick.

GM Ted Thompson went outside his modus operandi to nab FA RB Cedric Benson while former feature back Ryan Grant remains unsigned anywhere. While Benson has been durable and has posted 3 consecutive 1,000 yard seasons the former #4 pick overall (in the same infamous draft that saw Aaron Rodgers languishing until taken by Green bay at #24) of the Chicago Bears and late of the Bengals has ball security issues. Grant was the one cut type of RB needed for the now scrapped Zone Blocking Scheme while Benson is a more explosive between the tackles hit the hole runner. Maybe MM and TT aren’t happy with the lineup. Maybe the injuries are worse than stated. Maybe Starks glacially paced movements to being any every day runner have tested the Pack’s patience thin. In any event Benson presents some intriguing options for MM and will look to be there in game one of the real season.

The injury bug that has plagued the Pack also includes WR Greg Jennings T’s Derrick Sherrod (rehabbing last year’s broken leg), TE’s Ryan Taylor and Andrew Quarless (last year’s knee injury), Marshall Newhouse, rookie DL Mike Daniels and CB Davon House (shoulder). The injuries have hampered Head Coach Mike McCarthy’s ability to conduct a full practice forcing him to cut several short.

DEPTH – Thankfully the Packers are among the NFL’s deepest teams as far as talent in camp. The RB’s, WR’s, TE’s and DL all have a lot of talent. The Pack has a made hand already on offense, especially at WR. Jennings, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, James Jones and Donald Driver are the incumbents but a lineup of Tori Gurley, Diondre Borel, Andy Brewer and Jarrett Boykin has the ability to be at least the 4, 5, or 6 receivers elsewhere. Driver’s age and the ascension of Borel make an interesting watch as camp grinds on.

At TE Jermichael Finley is a lock and Tom Crabtree improves by the day. D.J. Williams has come to camp leaner and stronger and has impressed. Will GB go 5 deep at TE again? Or will Gurley become a hybrid with his size? He has 2 games left to make his case.

On the defensive line TT imported free agents Anthony Hargrove, Daniel Muir and Philip Merling to bolster an anemic pass rush and then drafted Jerel Worthy and Mike Daniels. Hargrove (8 games) and Mike Neal (4 games/ banned substance) will both be out to start the season and the earth under Neal is beginning to open up. He hasn’t seen much time in preseason and may be out of time to show what he has. Adding C.J. Wilson and Jarius Wynn to the mix and with only 6 or 7 roster spots open the Miami Dolphins and Indianapolis Colts of the world are waiting to raid the cut list pantry like vultures.

 The depth also means that Green Bay’s preseason is much different than most other teams. They need to see more of the new guys and have the luxury of being able to look closer with their depth.

 BACKUP QB – Oh, my. It was hoped that 2^nd year man Graham Harrell would be a capable backup to Aaron Rodgers. To give this some perspective even if Tom Brady or Drew Brees were somehow to become suddenly available they would still be #2 to the reigning NFL MVP. Gone is Matt Flynn but Harrell has been tentative, lost, short with his throws and in general looked every bit the part of a guy not ready in case disaster or a 14-1 start calls. The good news is as long as Rodgers is healthy the Pack will have a top 5 offense. Without him it is almost irrelevant as to who plays. But it would be disingenuous to suggest that Harrell could step in and do even a Matt Flynn imitation at this point. One hot rumor worth listening to is a Colt McCoy or Tavaris Jackson trade to GB for a late round pick. Both would provide the right level of experience but GB may want Seattle to eat some of the supersized contract they dumped on TJack. Rookie B.J. Coleman is PS material and is raw and MM is painfully aware there is precious little NFL ready material on the shelf should Arod not be there.

THE RUNNING GAME – Who is going to carry the mail? 2 weeks into the preseason the answer is no clearer. Benson’s signing is a clear marker neither TT nor MM is satisfied with the Pack’s backs. Alex Green has looked good in a limited role and Starks’ progress has been excruciatingly slow. Starks has all the tools; he can’t seem to stay healthy enough or be in long enough to apply it. Benson is the insurance policy that also cut the legs from under the Pack’s newest pretender to the throne in Detroit who also pursued the former Bengal back. There is no question Benson can shoulder the load. The question is can he do it without fumbling? If he puts the rock on the ground MM will put him right on the bench. On the flip side picture the Packers offense with a running game to be feared and respected. Aaron Rodgers could kick back with his feet crossed, hands laced behind his head saying “Yeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaahh……”.

SPECIAL TEAMS – Remember when Special Teams was more like Special Ed? No more. There is absolutely no reason to tinker with what works. The kicking game is not only solid it has become a stable part of the Packers game. K Mason Crosby, P Tim Masthay both have big legs and after the Jon Ryan/ Derrick Frost disaster there has been little mention of the ails of the kicking game. For all his faults on D Jarrett Bush continues to be a ST ace and the new guys have added some exuberance to the coverages, all of which can make Packer fans breathe easier not seeing Tramon Williams out fielding punts anymore. With Randall Cobb back there a new element of breaking one has been added to the Pack’s potent arsenal.

THE NEW GUYS – Rookies Jerel Worthy, Nick Perry and CB Casey Hayward will all see time during the regular season. It wasn’t long ago that a long haired kid from USC showed up about the 5^th game and began wreaking havoc on the NMFL. Now Clay Matthews III has some help to take the heat off and hopefully free him up to run wild again. Perry has shown quickness and has to adjust to the pro speed but he looks to be an early complement to CM3. Worthy’s motor and mouth run non-stop. He will help B.J Raji, no greybeard himself on the inside. The two surprises at CB – Hayward and 2^nd year standout Davon House are both making strong claims to playing time. With Sam Shields slipping down the depth chart both House and Hayward will see much time early. At LB the camp phenom has been Dezman Moses and while it will be tough to get him on the field it will be harder keeping him off the roster. With Charles Woodson sliding into part time spots at safety the hard hitting Jerron MacMillian and 2^nd year man M.D Jennings are in hot competition. MacMillian’s hitting ability and speed gives him a nod.

THE PRESEASON LOSSES – Okay, the Pack has a two game losing streak. So what. Heidi Klum also has a mole on her back. The preseason is a functionless entity to Green Bay. It only serves as an opportunity to knock off the rust for the first team, give some much needed time to the 2^nd team and a chance to get a long look at the 3^rd team. Take the Packer’s approach to the Cleveland game for example. The 1^st team defense strips the ball, causes a fumble and Rodgers and co. punch the ticket for 6 points 3 plays later. Business as usual. It’s what the Packers do, so they are already there. Now get the core guys out of there and let’s see how the others face adversity. Yeah, yeah, yeah, the Brownies won. Now look a bit closer at some of the scenarios. MM is to good of a coach to make a career of attempting a 4^th and 2 pass from his own 45. And in the meaningless grind of preseason with second team out there, he went for it anyhow. But how many times will McCarthy really be going for it on 4^th and 2 from midfield right before the half? It was a good opportunity to try a situational play that cannot be replicated in practice. Oh, the play can be run. It’s much different when there is another team trying to defend it with the hitting for real in the regular season. And before any Packer diehards head for the 6^th story ledge the 2012 season will categorically NOT come down to the likes of Harrell, dropping back being protected by Herb Taylor trying to hit Jarrett Boykin for a last minute win over Da Bears.

Keep it in perspective. The preseason is nothing more than the NFL’s ability to print more $$$ for the owners and for the better NFL teams – like the Packers – to get a long look at the 2^nd and 3^rd strings. The casual fan should look for the same things. When September rolls around and the hitting is for real the Packers will be there – all year long.

NEXT: Our Roster Predictions