Lance Allan: Sports Glance with Lance
Packers Second Thoughts After First Game
The Debut Is Always Scary
I had part of the Packers debut right. I figured a tight game, since first games are usually teams trying to fight to establish themselves, especially division rivals. I just figured it would be 31-27 Pack...not an 21-15 slugfest where the offense was sluggish until the last 2:28, when it matter most.
If it hasn't been said before, Mike McCarthy is a masterful playcaller. Third and 1 on the 50. Problems at right tackle all night? Ah, who cares...let's go for the jugular and throw to the best receiver on play action. And it worked perfectly.
Is Jay Cutler the reincarnation of Rex Grossman? No wonder he has a losing record with how careless he is with the ball. Four interceptions easily could have been 6 or 7.
Cullen Jenkins is set to have a monster year. Did you notice him with a sack, tackle for loss, and creating havoc just like he did last year before he got hurt?
Ted Thompson better have Mark Tauscher on speed dial, because Allen Barbre made Adewale Ogunleye look like Reggie White. Even when the Packers kept DeShawn Wynn, Jordy Nelson, or anyone else in to chip....Aaron Rodgers tended to be on his backside.
When Rodgers left the field, I notice he was very subdued...just three fist pumps to the crowd. At least he doesn't have to answer that question about no comeback victories and 7 losses by 4 or fewer points.
Let's see, the Packers wanted to be a more physical team. They dislocated Brian Urlacher's wrist, he's scheduled to have surgery today. Pisa Tinoisamoa, Trumaine McBride, Desmond Clark, and Frank Omiyale all knocked out of the game...and Devin Hester was laying on the Lambeau turf late in the contest. I'd say mission accomplished.
The Packers won the game, but the Bears certainly helped wrap it and seal it with a bow. Long snapper Patrick Mannelly should not be snapping it to upback Garrett Wolfe deep in Packers territory with a 2 point lead in the 4th quarter. I don't care if he was trying to get the Packers with 12 men on the field. That's stupid. And challenging Tramon Williams non-fumble, just to try and get the ball on a touchback? That cost them 2 yards, a timeout, and allowed Ryan Grant to waltz into the end zone.
Emails at lallan@todaystmj4.com
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