Perspective matters. It’s a lesson that we all need to learn and understand. Last Saturday, the Green Bay Packers won against the Browns in their first preseason matchup. But, that doesn’t necessarily mean it was successful in terms of preseason.
Winning is great! Don’t get me wrong, I do believe that the Packers had a successful preseason game against the Browns. But winning didn’t dictate that the game was a success. Since 2019, Green Bay has a record of 5-8 in the preseason while their regular season record is 55-28. Wins in the preseason don’t determine success.
So, if wins aren’t what we should be looking for in preseason matchups, then what should we be looking for? These are my top five things to look for in a preseason game, and in particular, with Packers at Broncos.
No Injuries for the Packers
This really should go without saying. But Green Bay has to play three preseason games. This means they have to have players out on the field attempting to win a game. Of course, the game of football is inherently dangerous and injuries could happen at a moment’s notice. That is why teams have to heavily weigh the risk and reward of playing players.
For example, in Sunday’s matchup against the Broncos, the Packers will not be playing most of their starters. Matt LaFleur and company believe that the joint practice with Denver was enough for the starters to not warrant them to play in the game. That’s a win for me personally but that’s my perspective. I agree with Coach LaFleur in his assessment. I know the Packers seemingly had a “bad” practice against the Broncos but any experience with another team is good exposure. Especially if the starters won’t have to risk injury in an actual game.
Of course, we also want the other players, who have to play in the game, to come out healthy too. There is not a whole lot more disappointing than a player who has one shot to make a NFL roster just to receive a devastating injury that prevents them from pursuing their dreams. So, success looks like zero injuries to report.
Experience for the Coaches
Something that I don’t think gets talked about enough is the experience that the coaches get in a NFL game day environment. For example, even though coach Hafley has coached in the NFL, it has been a while and so the experience he receives in a preseason game has to be valuable. I’m a high school teacher who has school starting back up this week. This is true for me in my profession too.
We have the summer without our students and its easy to forget the feelings of being in charge of a classroom. It has to be the same way for coaches to on the football field. Just like I need the teacher professional development week and open house to get me ready for my teaching season, the coaches also must feel like they need preseason to get back in their rhythms too.
Also, coach LaFleur uses preseason games to give other coaches responsibilities that they wouldn’t normally have in a regular season game. Coach Adam Stenavich was the play caller against the Browns and LaFleur said that Coach Jason Vrable could possibly see some opportunities at play calling during the preseason. Maybe as early as Sunday against the Broncos.
Experience for the Packers Young Players
Of course, it wouldn’t be considered a game if it wasn’t for the players. Preseason is perfect to evaluate the young players on a roster while providing those players the opportunity to showcase their talents for Green Bay and quite possibly another team after cut downs are made.
The one thing I didn’t view as a “success”, and I know I’m probably alone in this, is that the Packers didn’t take another shot at the endzone against the Broncos. They ran the clock out with a kneel down in the redzone. If it is the regular season, then you better be kneeling down the clock to get the “W”, but in the preseason, that is lost rep in my perspective. I know you also have to weigh the risk and reward, but reps matter more for experience for these young players.
With the starters sitting against the Broncos, this will provide additional opportunities for the young guys. These games are super important to these players. Think about it. This game against the Broncos could determine who the Packers backup quarterback will be.
Packers and the Refs
Preseason isn’t just preseason for the players but also for the refs. Every year, the NFL puts in new rules and points of emphasis that the coaches and players have to learn how to navigate in a game setting. This year in particular has a big time new rule with how kickoffs are now being done. All of these things need to be ironed out in the preseason before someone loses a game in the regular season.
I’d rather lose a game in the preseason because of officiating error then in the regular season. Look for how the Packers handle kickoffs against Denver.
Lastly!
I want to see individual success! There are 91 players on the Packers roster and it’s hard to watch them all. So, I do look for particular players in a preseason game. Two players I will be watching intently will be Lukas Van Ness and Emmanuel Wilson. I’m interested in watch LVN because he has been tearing it up lately and I just want to see if he can continue that success. Wilson I want to see do well in this particular game because he is coming back to the team that initially cut him. I want Emmanuel Wilson to prove them wrong for having done that!
Also, one last thing of the last thing. A win doesn’t hurt.
Go Pack Go!
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Damon is a diehard, fully-immersed cheesehead who currently lives in southern Missouri. He teaches at a local high school and has a family YouTube channel about all things Packers. You can follow him on twitter at @packersfamily and on YouTube at The Packers Family.
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