The Green Bay Packers took to the field for the final time yesterday (August 11th) before their first preseason game this week.
While only so much can be taken away from any day during training camp, the clear highlight of the practice was the performance of the defense, which made life tough for quarterbacks Jordan Love, Tyrod Taylor, and company.
From the jump, the offense looked a bit shaky, with Love fumbling the first snap and running back Marshawn Lloyd slipping in the backfield before being touched.
The defensive effort started in the box with every Green Bay quarterback under heavy pressure from guys like Zaire Franklin.
Franklin spoke to Seehafernews.com and said that while they had the upper hand today, there’s been plenty of days when Love and the offense seemed unstoppable.
He also added, “I feel like when we are able to execute and run the scheme the right way. We could play with anybody. So obviously we, you know, iron sharpens iron, we sharpening them boys. If they don’t play against people as good as us then they’re going to run them off the field.”
However, the offense would pick it up in the second scrimmage portion of the day, which started with five straight completions from Love, who continues to look to spread the ball around.
But in goal-to-go situations, the Packers D would once again flex their muscles with QB pressure, pass breakups, and airtight coverage, something veteran defensive back Xavier McKinney attributed to simple execution.
“We’re just executing,” the former All-Pro stated. “I think that’s what it’s going to come down to. If we can go out there and schematically execute every time, we’ll be in perfect shape.”
He also spoke to how they found success in the red zone in some situational reps.
“It’s easy when you have people that are ball players, but they also have the brains to understand situational football. And I think we’re getting better with that as we continue to get more reps in,” McKinney explained.
Despite the effort put in from the defensive side, the offense was able to find the end zone once in those goal-to-go situations, thanks to a short out route from second-year wide receiver Matthew Golden.
Golden told us he’s feeling good entering his second year in the Green and Gold.
“I’m feeling confident, you know, excited for opportunities, excited to go out there, play with the with the group we’ve got now,” Golden told us. “Just being able to go out there and do my job, you know, I feel very confident in doing that at a high level. Like I said, man, we just continue to build chemistry each and every day with Jordan.”
Green Bay will have the day off today before taking on some familiar faces in Aaron Rodgers, Mike McCarthy, and the Pittsburgh Steelers in their first preseason game tomorrow (August 13th).
