Thursday is the final training camp practice and Saturday is the third and final preseason game. Real NFL football is fast approaching. So far, through two preseason games, the Packers have shown a lack of focus. The team has accounted for 19 total penalties. With a little over two weeks to go before the Detroit Lions come to town, the Packers need to focus on their attention to detail.
This past Saturday, in their comeback victory over the Indianapolis Colts, the Packers were penalized 11 times in the first half. Five penalties were called on rookie T Anthony Belton. On his way into the locker room at halftime, Belton received an earful from HC Matt LaFleur. On the bright side, the Packers played a much cleaner second half. The team was flagged only once and scored 20 points. Hopefully, the team can build off of that performance.
The Packers have dealt with the injury bug, especially to several key players. As a result, the majority of the starters have not spent much time together. This is a double edge sword. On one side, there is hope that the sloppiness will improve once the starters take the field. On the other side, their lack of reps could lead to continued ugly play. It is frustrating to see penalties and drops highlight the two preseason games but in the grand scheme of the season, it is still very early.
Packers Look to Improve in Their Final Preseason Game
The Packers do have a big opportunity in front of them this week with the Seahawks coming to town for a joint practice and the final preseason game. LaFleur told the media this week that he expects to play some of his starters. With Jordan Love returning to practice this week, he is still very unlikely to play Saturday. The good news for Green Bay is this is a solid opportunity to bounce back before the regular season kicks off.
The key players to watch this week are Anthony Belton and Donovan Jennings. Belton’s second half performance against the Colts was much better than the first half. It would be an encouraging sign for Belton and Jennings, who also struggled against the Jets and the Colts, to have a strong final preseason game. Neither are expected to start but the Packers need to have reliable back up options. With G Jacob Monk, who has also struggled, sidelined with a hamstring injury, Green Bay’s offensive line depth becomes a concern.
Although the status of who exactly will play on Saturday is up in the air, the Packers’ goal should be to leave the field with fewer penalties, drops, and an overall decent performance. The team does not need to win the game but a fairly clean performance would be a sign of progress. Sometimes it is a good thing for a team to make a mess because it identifies what needs to be address. Hopefully, a strong performance in both the preseason game and the joint practice will help right the ship for the Packers.
