Packers vs Chargers; what to watch

Posted by Justin Hull on Aug 9, 2012 in Packers | 2 comments

Jerel Worthy/Mike McGinnis Getty Images

FINALLY!  “Kinda Football” begins tonight for the Green Bay Packers.  The Packers are in San Diego to take on the Chargers in preseason game #1.  What to watch for?  Here is my 5-cents on just that…

#1:  Defensive Rookies – There are no ifs, ands or buts about it…Green Bay’s defense last year was horrendous!  After a 2010 season where some people (well at least me) felt were the key to their Super Bowl run, the Packers defense fell flat on their face.  How did they combat that?  Ted Thompson went out and spent his first 6-picks on the defense; LB Nick Perry, DT Jerel Worthy, CB Casey Hayward, S Jerron McMillian, DL Mike Daniels, and LB Terrell Manning.  All 6 (well 5 if Daniels is out with injury) get their first chance to impress!

#2: Dom Capers Approach – If you go back to preseason 2009 when Green Bay debuted the 3-4 defense, they went all-out from the get go!  While teams look like they approach the preseason with kid gloves, the Packers went all out that year as they were learning the new system.  I wonder what Green Bay does tonight as 2012 could be a big year for Dom Capers and this defense.

#3:  WR Diondre Borel* - The $64,000 question going into camp was will they keep 6-recievers???  Now, it appears to be a lock they will.  So who?  I like Tori Gurley heading into camp because of his size and physicality, something I think the Packers receiving core doesn’t have.  However, Gurley is out tonight.  As is Greg Jennings.  Burrell, who is a Donald Driver-Jennings type, may have a HUGE opportunity to step ahead of Gurley into 6 on the chart.

#4:  Herb Taylor and Andrew Datko – Marshall Newhouse is out at tackle with a concussion.  Newhouse saw his name show up in black sharpie on the depth chart at LT.  This has been the first year I can remember the Packers went in without a question on the starting O-Line.  Well, now we find out about the potential back-ups.  Hopefully, at least while Aaron Rodgers is in the game, one of them shows something BIG!

#5: Mike McCarthy - How does he handle his starters?  Aaron Rodgers specifically…19 of the 90 guys on the roster are out with injury.  So, how do the snaps get handed out after that?

*Yup, I can’t spell…my bad!

Justin Hull is the host of the “Home Stretch” heard 2p-5p on 95.3 FM, WSCO Radio n Green Bay/Appleton, Wisconsin and Sports Reporter for WHBY Radio in Appleton, WI.  Follow him on twitter (@jh1570) or facebook.