Packers preseason week 2 recap.

Time to squeeze in some writing while I have internet!

Here is what I liked from Saturday night. 

1. Eddie Lacy- I realize it was only 9 touches, but Lacy gained 51 yards. It’s nice to see a Packers running back break arm tackles. If he stays healthy, the Pack will have their best balance since about 2009. 

2. Jermichael Finley- The fin! I decided to do some finning for J-Mike since he appears to not be celebrating. That was the best Finley has looked since the end of 2009, early 2010 before suffering a knee injury. Along with Lacy, if Finley proves to be the playmaker he can be, the Packers offense will be without a doubt, in the top three of the NFL.

3. Johnny Jolly- I think the man who loved the purple drank earned himself a roster spot on Saturday night. The Packers could keep seven defensive linemen this year and Jolly has proved he can still play. He just needs to get his endurance up. 

Here are a few things I did not like. 

1. Fumbles- James Starks didn’t see the field until the second half and got lucky when he fumbled and the Rams player was out of bounds. Also the muffed punt was an eyesore.

2. Return game- Micah Hyde looked pretty good returning punts, but I still haven’t seen anyone step up and prove Randall Cobb should be taken off of return duty. 

Packers preseason game 2.

It’s nice to have football back, but with not having internet and cable installed yet I have not been able to write as much as I have wanted about the upcoming season. That will change in a few weeks. Luckily the apartment complex I am in has a place with free internet and I always have the radio station. Today I am going to focus on some things I am looking for in tonight’s Packers preseason game against the St. Louis Rams. Notice things I am looking for and not keys to a victory because, well it is the preseason.

1. Eddie Lacy- Lacy missed some practices and the first preseason game with a pulled hamstring. The Packers running game looked pretty similar to what it was last year with a lot of three yard runs. Lacy was brought in to be the guy to break tackles and I am looking forward to seeing some power running tonight.

2. Back up QB- Will Vince Young be able to learn enough in a month or so to be able to pass Graham Harrell and B.J. Coleman for the back up job? Young isn’t a guy who has had the greatest career but he does have a lot more game experience than the other guys. Harrell and Coleman need to show the improvement I have read so much about from the coaches tonight or the Packers might have one of the worst backup QB situations in the NFL.

3. 4 and 5 receiver spots- Tyrone Walker showed natural route running ability last week and good hands. Jarrett Boykin has had a good camp but fellow second year man Jeremy Ross needs to prove he can be consistent. 7th round pick Kevin Dorsey has finally started practicing while fellow 7th round pick Charles Johnson hasn’t done a thing in training camp because of injury. I think Boykin makes this team but that last spot is up for grabs.

4. Special teams- Hopefully the Packers are in a position tonight to put up some points. Mason Crosby and Giorgio Tavecchio will be battling it out for the kicking role this year while someone needs to step up and prove they can return punts and kicks so Randall Cobb can focus on playing receiver. This could be where Jeremy Ross separates himself from the rest of the receivers or goes down in flames. Rookie running back Johnathan Franklin has tried returning punts but has muffed way too many in practice for me to be comfortable with him back there.

NFL Picks week 17

And just like that we are at the end of the 2012 regular season. It feels like the season just started and there were sunny blue skies which have no given away to over a foot of snow on the ground here in Green Bay. I trail my opponent and friend Josh Brewer by two games so I need to make up some ground in the final week!

1. Baltimore at Cincinnati:

• The Ravens have a chance to move into the third spot with a win over the Bengals and a New England loss to Miami. The Bengals have been one of the hottest teams to end the year but will fall short to Baltimore. 
• Ravens- 23-20

2. Houston at Indianapolis:

• Houston can still achieve home-field advantage throughout the playoffs while Indy is locked in at the five spot. Houston needs to find some momentum going into the playoffs and with Arian Foster good to go they should. 
• Texans- 31-27

3. St. Louis at Seattle:

• The Rams have been a nice surprise this season but go to Seattle to square off against the red hot (cue motley crue) Seahawks and the twelfth man. i think the Rams will put up a good fight and Steven Jackson should be looking to put on a heck of a show but Seattle will be too much. 
• Seahawks- 27-20

4. Green Bay at Minnesota:

• Let me go on record and say AP will not get the record. I have all the respect in the world for him but the Packer defense is healthier this time around as is the offense. So I don’t see the Packers struggling as much to score points which will force the Vikings to rely on second year man Christian Ponder and his arm. 
• Packers- 30-20

5. Dallas at Washington:

• The Redskins have been on a tear and RG3 has dominated the NFC East this season. Dallas and Tony Romo haven’t figured out how to win a big game. Dez Bryant is playing out of his mind but watch for Washington to give a big dose of Alfred Morris to dominate the clock. 
• Redskins- 34-28