Packers Periscope: Preseason Week 3 vs Oakland Raiders

Thursday will be the third time in the history of the franchise that the Packers will be playing outside the United States. And if the stage in Winnipeg, Canada wasn’t already big enough, they will take on the Oakland Raiders who are the featured team on this year’s series of Hard Knocks. Are all these factors enough to get Aaron Rodgers on the field for his debut in week three of the preseason? We should have a better indication closer to gameday.

The Packers and Raiders actually met in the third week of last year’s preseason also. DeShone Kizer and Brett Hundley combined for 155 yards while completing 19 out of 37 throws. Not exactly inspiring numbers but at least the defense carried most of the weight so it didn’t get too ugly. Surprisingly, then-rookie wideout J’Mon Moore led the receivers with 62 yards on four catches. Moore could use a performance like that again as his chances of sticking around much longer grow dimmer by the day.

Green Bay did lose the game but held Oakland to 13 points and forced two turnovers. So far, the defense in this year’s preseason has put up two putrid performances. Head coach Matt LaFleur has totaled them at 43 missed tackles in just two games, doubling the amount they had all of last preseason. Mike Pettine’s group needs a bounce-back game this week.

It has become accustomed that the starters typically see a little more playing time this week but an offense without Rodgers doesn’t do much for anyone else. LaFleur has been very noncommittal in pushing Rodgers to play this preseason.

On Saturday, Offensive Coordinator Nathaniel Hackett said they would do “what is best for the team and what is best for Aaron.” While Hackett and LaFleur would prefer to have Rodgers get some work before starts to matter, neither believe it is an absolute necessity. However, reports from camp indicate the offense is well behind the defense to this point. Even in a meaningless game, reps of Rodgers delivering on-time throws to starting receivers even for a series seems like a good next step.

Sadly, we may never get it.

Let’s hope this week Kizer and Tim Boyle can show a little more than they did against the Ravens. The battle for who backs up Rodgers is still an extremely tight race. Facing the Raiders defense will be a tall task on the heels of two solid preseason outings.

Like Green Bay, Oakland took a safety in the first round of this year’s draft and for comparisons sakes, it will be interesting to see who between Johnathan Abrams and Darnell Savage has the better game. Last week, Savage played aggressive recording two tackles but only saw 21 snaps.\

On a side note, this game is huge for Trevor Davis who is back from a stinger he suffered during Family Night. In his absence, Darrius Shepherd has filled Davis’ void nicely. Now, Davis will have to have a strong push in the final two preseason games to make the final 53.

If fans are going to watch any preseason game, you might as well make it week three. The starters are expected to play a little more and the coaches may dial-up game planning a tad as well.

Let’s hope Thursday brings some better Packers football.

 

 

 

Brandon Carwile is a Packers writer who also enjoys watching and breaking down film. Follow him on Twitter @PackerScribe.

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Comments (27)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
porupack's picture

August 20, 2019 at 08:14 am

>>>Head coach Matt LaFleur has totaled them at 43 missed tackles in just two games, doubling the amount they had all of last preseason<<<<

Well that's a bit of bitter, cold, yesterday's coffee for us to swallow. Ugh. I guess we'll all be watching tackling fundamentals on Thursday.

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staffordsneckfat's picture

August 20, 2019 at 02:24 pm

PFF has Summers on the hook for 10 of these...

wake me up when Martinez is whiffing

-Staffordsneckfat

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4zone's picture

August 20, 2019 at 08:18 am

AR doesn't need preseason reps to knock the rust off and get up to game speed timing. That's what the first half of the season is for. . .

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dobber's picture

August 20, 2019 at 08:40 am

You need to follow that with a bunch of ~~~

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4zone's picture

August 20, 2019 at 01:18 pm

Don't mince words Bones, what do you really think?

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Difer's picture

August 20, 2019 at 08:58 am

MLF is right to protect Rodgers from injury during meaningless preseason games. Without him in the lineup, even rusty, the Packers could be out of contention by bye week.

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Turophile's picture

August 20, 2019 at 04:54 pm

Next thing you know Rodgers is held out for meaningful games as well.
Players got to play, Fans get to watch them.

Not giving QB1 real action in a preseason that features a new playbook , new system, new head coach and young receivers is a recipe for failure, early in the season.

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DCPackFan's picture

August 20, 2019 at 10:35 am

Who else is just stoked to see what Packers stuff shows up on Hard Knocks?

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Turophile's picture

August 20, 2019 at 04:56 pm

I don't expect much on the Packers since it's the Raiders who are on Hard Knocks, but we have seen James Jones, Charles Woodson and Clay Matthews on it already.

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Ahgreen30's picture

August 20, 2019 at 11:34 am

I'm sorry fellow Packer fans. Gutty is NOT the answer at GM!!!! This grade and his play does NOT bode well for his future....

PACKERS vs. RAVENS: Packers DL Rashan Gary

Drafted: Round 1, No. 12 overall

GRADE: D

The Michigan product is an explosive athlete, but those traits rarely translated into impact production as a collegian. Gary remains the ultimate tease at the position, based on his natural gifts and underwhelming disruption. Despite playing significant snaps for the Packers on Thursday, No. 52 didn't make much of an impact against the Ravens. He failed to record a tackle or generate a pressure, which is disappointing from the No. 12 overall pick. The rookie struggles to finish his pass-rush efforts -- his inability to corral the quarterback after a winning move is a bit of a concern for a player expected to make an impact early.

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SmallmouthBass's picture

August 20, 2019 at 01:30 pm

You should tell Rashan how you really feel. Go tweet at him you keyboard warrior. Slide into those Dms. Do it.

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Leatherhead's picture

August 20, 2019 at 02:36 pm

Premature Evaluation is never desirable.

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The_Justicar's picture

August 20, 2019 at 03:59 pm

Kyler Murray got an F. Cards should cut him.

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Doug Niemczynski's picture

August 21, 2019 at 09:16 am

AhGreen30

I agree with you. People have known my opinion about R.Gary, but I have been scorned and laughed at for my opinions just like you.
It was taking him at #12 was my issue. Should have been maybe a 2nd rounder. Oh well. It's done.

All we can do is root for R. Gary now as he is on our team and hope for the best.

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Ahgreen30's picture

August 20, 2019 at 11:34 am

I'm sorry fellow Packer fans. Gutty is NOT the answer at GM!!!! This grade and his play does NOT bode well for his future....

PACKERS vs. RAVENS: Packers DL Rashan Gary

Drafted: Round 1, No. 12 overall

GRADE: D

The Michigan product is an explosive athlete, but those traits rarely translated into impact production as a collegian. Gary remains the ultimate tease at the position, based on his natural gifts and underwhelming disruption. Despite playing significant snaps for the Packers on Thursday, No. 52 didn't make much of an impact against the Ravens. He failed to record a tackle or generate a pressure, which is disappointing from the No. 12 overall pick. The rookie struggles to finish his pass-rush efforts -- his inability to corral the quarterback after a winning move is a bit of a concern for a player expected to make an impact early.

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Ahgreen30's picture

August 20, 2019 at 11:34 am

I'm sorry fellow Packer fans. Gutty is NOT the answer at GM!!!! This grade and his play does NOT bode well for his future....

PACKERS vs. RAVENS: Packers DL Rashan Gary

Drafted: Round 1, No. 12 overall

GRADE: D

The Michigan product is an explosive athlete, but those traits rarely translated into impact production as a collegian. Gary remains the ultimate tease at the position, based on his natural gifts and underwhelming disruption. Despite playing significant snaps for the Packers on Thursday, No. 52 didn't make much of an impact against the Ravens. He failed to record a tackle or generate a pressure, which is disappointing from the No. 12 overall pick. The rookie struggles to finish his pass-rush efforts -- his inability to corral the quarterback after a winning move is a bit of a concern for a player expected to make an impact early.

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4zone's picture

August 20, 2019 at 01:16 pm

Well, one side benefit of posting the same thing 3 times means you can get 3 times the 'dislikes' as normal.

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PatrickGB's picture

August 20, 2019 at 11:55 am

Well, there you go. Say something three times and that definitely means you are right. ;-)

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Ahgreen30's picture

August 20, 2019 at 11:56 am

Sorry, on a plane and accidentally hit the "submit" button 3 times due to delay thinking it didn't take.....

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Coldworld's picture

August 20, 2019 at 12:29 pm

Altitude sickness? Check the oxygen levels.

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Charvid's picture

August 20, 2019 at 09:17 pm

And please remember, the closest exit may be behind you.

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ILPackerBacker's picture

August 20, 2019 at 11:55 am

missed tackles is meaningless without context.

The worst 'offender' by far is 44 and it is impressive in context that his tackles per snap is blowing out the typical packer LB, the bonus is that he also knows where to go and how to get there.

it is also depends on how people grade, ML v MM

and the snaps going to players with no realistic roster chance this year so far is far higher than last year

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PatrickGB's picture

August 20, 2019 at 01:51 pm

Ahgreen, I was pulling your jet lagged leg. But, I am a more wait and see kinda guy when it comes to draft picks.

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flackcatcher's picture

August 20, 2019 at 03:24 pm

Despite what GM Gute says, playing Rodgers is a game time decision. Tough call playing on a unfamiliar field. We'll just to have to wait and see.

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Johnblood27's picture

August 20, 2019 at 07:32 pm

It is F'ing grass and dirt for chrissakes!

Unfamiliar field... SMH

What a crock!

Do YOUR job, just DO your job!

If you are a football player, play football!

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NickPerry's picture

August 21, 2019 at 05:52 am

From what I've heard and read it's actually something like Soldier or Hines Field in January. Now I'd like to see Rodgers and other starters play and get reps, but I'd also walk every inch of that field too.

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flackcatcher's picture

August 21, 2019 at 06:33 am

(sigh.......) This is an CFL league field. Turf and hard bottom. I was there a year ago, Harder than Solider field. Packers have every right to be concern about their players health. Saying so publicly is the smart and the right thing to do.

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