August 31, 2015 at 2:40 p.m.
Shoutouts & Callouts
Shoutouts & Callouts
Thankfully, preliminary reports indicate that the injuries to Cobb, Bulaga and Hyde aren't serious, but still it's no wonder folks want to bubble wrap the rest of the Packers' starters and slap on a label that says, "Do not open until Sept. 13."
Aaron Rodgers called the preseason "meaningless" following Nelson's injury. I understand the sentiment, but I can't say I agree with it.
I view the preseason as a necessary evil and a case study in risk management.
We hear it all the time from coaches regarding their No. 1 goal for preseason games. "Stay healthy," is the common refrain. But there are so many other objectives that make the preseason too valuable to abolish entirely. First and foremost, it's a chance for the starters to get reps in live-game situations. That was part of the reason the Packers' starters played as long as they did in the first two preseason games. Ever since 2011 when the Packers started the year 13-0, they have stumbled out of the gate in the opening month. In 2012 and 2014 the result was having to play key playoff games on the road.
At some point there are diminishing returns. That's why Rodgers didn't suit up for Saturday's game. There was not enough to gain to put Rodgers out there behind a piecemeal offensive line, especially considering the fact that the three starters who didn't play - David Bakhtiari, Lang and Josh Sitton - will all likely be back in the lineup for the regular season opener at Chicago.
The other objective - and a big one at that - is to evaluate young talent and those trying to make the team. Practice can only tell coaches and scouts so much. The true test is how they will perform in a game.
I would say Saturday night was very important for players like Brent Hundley, Raijon Neal, Miles White and Jeff Janis, all of who are fighting to make the team and all of who played fairly well. Hundley finished 22 of 31 for 315 yards and recovered from an early pick-6 to throw a pair of touchdowns passes. Neal and Janis each hauled in a touchdown and White had team highs in targets (12), receptions (9) and receiving yards (89).
Going back to the Nelson injury, the thing about it is it was a non-contact injury. Nelson simply turned to go up field, planted incorrectly and his knee gave out. It wasn't a Pittsburgh player diving at his knees. Cobb tried to make a catch along the sideline and came down hard on his shoulder. Yes, there was contact from the Philly defender, but nothing that would be considered out of the ordinary or unsportsmanlike. My point is, I believe either of these injuries could have just as easily have occurred in practice and were not necessarily a product of the game itself, yet I don't hear cries to eliminate training camp all together.
Injuries are an inevitable part of football and it's only a matter of time before they strike and take out one of a team's top players like it did Nelson last week.
Could there be a change in the preseason structure? Perhaps. When Jeff Fisher coached the Tennessee Titans they played the Packers a number of times in the final preseason game and most of the time, he used that game as the dress rehearsal for the starters, letting them play at least a half of into the third quarter. I tend to like that philosophy - play the starters sparingly, if at all, in the first three preseason games and give them a dry run in the finale.
One reason this makes sense is that the Tuesday is the first roster cutdown, when teams have to trim down to 75 players. That means, generally there's enough depth during the first three weeks where the starters aren't needed. Maybe you throw in a projected rookie starter, someone returning from an injury or players in competition for a starting spot, but otherwise, leave the first three weeks for the reserves.
The final preseason game is always on a Thursday, so teams have between a week (if they are playing in the Thursday night opener) and 11 days (if playing in a Monday nighter Week 1) to prepare for the opener. Each team has a different agenda, so banning starters in the first three weeks of the preseason is something that would never be initiated league-wide (aside from the fact that the networks that carry preseason games want to offer their views as least a glimpse of the stars), but looking at how teams manage the preseason is a valid conversation, especially give the rash of injuries this year.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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