Week 10 Initial Reactions: Eagles 27 Packers 13

• Injuries injuries injuries
• Seneca Wallace, it was nice knowing you. What’s Matt Flynn’s number again?
• Anyone who is a Packers and a Badgers fan probably NEVER thought that Scott Tolzien would be starting for the Packers in any real game.
• That being said, Tolzien played fairly well all things considered. Showed much improved velocity on his throws and the ability to make that 15 yard out.
• Jarret Boykin is here to stay. The Packers will likely let James Jones walk and feature a top 3 of Nelson, Cobb and Boykin as their top 3 WR. I also wouldn’t be surprised if they used a 2nd round pick on a WR. That group desperately needs an infusion of talent after those three and the Packers struck out with their late picks at the position in 2013.
• Dom Capers might want to get working that resume of his in order. The offense wasn’t great, but the defense was horrid, especially the back 4. Morgan Burnett is decent but he’s no savior. Tramon Williams is a step slow and M.D. Jennings might be one of the 5 worst starting safeties in the league. Aaron Nagler mentioned on twitter that Dom was playing checkers while Eagles Head Coach Chip Kelly was playing chess. Dom seems to be able to really ramp up the pressure against average and below quarterbacks, but routinely beat by potent offenses.  The defense lost a very winnable game.
• Packers didn’t seem to be getting the breaks after the DeSean Jackson and Riley Cooper touchdowns, but I didn’t think the Nick Foles forced fumble by Tramon Williams would be overturned.
• Nice to have Clay back, but he clearly wasn’t himself. Datone Jones played solid, but the Packers are going are going to need someone besides a healthy Clay and Mike Neal for this defense to be better than average.
• Just cut Marshall Newhouse already.
• Free Jonathan Franklin. Lacy and to a lesser extent Starks have been great, but neither have game-breaking speed. Franklin got put in the doghouse because of some early fumbles, but this offense is desperate.

P.S.

I profusely apologize for going dark for the better part of 5 weeks. My computer went haywire and I started a new job. Not a great excuse I realize, but I do want to make it up to my few but loyal followers. If there is ANYTHING you would like me to review the tape of in any Packers game this season, whether that’s how good Eddie Lacy has been or what impact Jordy Nelson has made or how effective Datone Jones has been in his limited snaps in the nickel. I realize not having content is basically the nail in the coffin for any blogger, and I would like to make it up to you all. Thanks for reading!

Week 1 Initial Reactions: San Francisco 34 Green Bay 28

• Defensive coordinator Dom Capers made his intentions clear with his defensive play-calling: have the pass-rushing OLB play contain with zone coverage behind in the secondary to prevent Colin Kaepernick from gashing all levels of the defense with his scrambling ability. For the most part, the execution was solid. Although Kaepernick threw for over 400 yards, the Packers accomplished their goal of limited his running threat.
• Unfortunately for the Packers, as well as Clay Matthews played, he remains their best pass-rusher and best quarterback spy.
• That said, Anquan Boldin and Vernon Davis largely ran free, finding soft-spots the Packers zone time and time again, especially on 3rd down. The Packers did a solid job getting the 49ers into 3rd and medium and 3rd and longs, but were terrible in getting off the field, allowing 9 of 18 conversions.
• The young safeties, Jerron McMillian and the doctor M.D. Jennings showed why the Packers gave Morgan Burnett what some viewed as a generous extension. Poor angles and blown coverages opened up the deep seam time and time again.
• Aside from his fumble and a few empty runs early, Eddie Lacy largely played well, especially considering the sub-par blocking of Green Bay’s interior offensive line. Lacy’s impact will become even more apparent against teams with weaker front 7s.
• Although the guards and center Evan Dietrich-Smith were man-handled time and time again, Tackles David Bakhtiari and Don Barclay more than held their own.
• Who’s Greg Jennings? Between Finley, Cobb Nelson and Jones, the Packers receiving core may not have the depth of previous seasons, but those guys match up with any top four across the league.
• Overall, the Packers played well and lost to a better team on the road. These teams will meet again with more at stake than week 1 supremacy.
• Next week, the Packers will face off with another division favorite: the Washington Redskins in their home opener. Stay tuned to Packer Breakdown for more analysis of Sunday’s game.