All Eyes On Inside Linebackers In Packers’ Thursday Night Tilt

Fans expecting to see Aaron Rodgers take snaps during Thursday night’s Raiders-Packer preseason showdown may be disappointed, as Mike McCarthy is taking a cautious approach with some of his veterans early on, including Clay Matthews Jr. and Julius Peppers, in light of Jordy Nelson’s season-ending knee injury last August.

Two areas of the defense that will be getting a lot of attention are inside linebacker and the defensive line. The former has three players (Sam Barrington, Blake Martinez, and Jake Ryan) competing for two spots in the starting lineup. The defensive line must get more out of two of its rookies (Kenny Clark and Dean Lowry) if they hope to hold up versus the run with Mike Penell sitting out the first four weeks of the regular season due to his suspension for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy.

But before we move ahead, let’s take a step back to understand how efforts to narrow down the roster and get all the key components ready for the Sept. 11 opener versus the Jaguars are coming along.

What we’ve learned versus Cleveland

In their 17-11 defeat of the Cleveland Browns, McCarthy’s crew showed signs of being able to run the ball down their opponents’ throats this year by establishing Eddie Lacy early on. The veteran back pushed the pile and powered his way to 24 yards on four carries.

Third-string running back John Crockett also acquitted himself well by showcasing his pass-catching skills to the tune of three catches for 17 yards including a two-yard touchdown reception.

Rookie back Brandon Burks earned high marks for showing his burst to the outside on runs of eight and 11 yards on his way to leading the team with 45 yards on nine carries.

But the story of the night on offense was the stellar play of the tight ends, which combined for 11 catches.

Recently activated Jared Cook looked very comfortable in using his big frame to secure two short tosses over the middle. Second-year man Kennard Backman, on the other hand, looked very adept on one particular play where he had to adjust to a ball thrown behind him and reeled it in for the short completion.

It was the sure-handed Justin Perillo, however, who separated himself from the group by posting five grabs for 52 yards. No one will ever mistake the stocky pass catcher for the New Orleans Saints version of Jimmy Graham, but the former undrafted free agent has a knack for perfectly executing his routes and being in the right spot.

Members of the coaching staff have also been impressed by Perillo’s blocking prowess. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say he has the early lead as the team’s No. 3 tight end at this juncture.

Over on defense, Datone Jones is successfully transitioning to a full-time edge defender role. He brought the heat all night with his outside rush and ability to bend the corner.

Rookie Blake Martinez wasn’t perfect, but recovered nicely from an early missed tackle by demonstrating great timing on the blitz along with tremendous instincts that allowed him to anticipate plays and put himself in the right position to make stops.

What we can expect versus Oakland

Where is Jake Ryan? That’s a question numerous Packers fans are asking since the former fourth-round pick has been absent from practice sessions due to a hamstring issue.

The more time he misses, the more likely it will be that Martinez and Sam Barrington will occupy the starting roles at inside linebacker once the regular season gets underway.

While Martinez has been recognized for his ability to line up and communicate with his teammates before the snap of the ball, Barrington has been making his presence felt just by the sheer force of his physicality. One fellow defender commented on how the pads “pop” a little louder when No. 58 is out there.

Backups Joe Thomas and Carl Bradford also flashed last week and each is making a case to secure a roster spot. Bradford, in particular, looks like a new man after struggling to find his place since being drafted as a fourth-round pick in 2014.

The Arizona State product is playing with renewed confidence by making textbook tackles in the open field and hitting with a purpose. A repeat performance of his Week 1 showing could force Packers decision makers to think long and hard about cutting him loose.

The biggest concern for the Packers thus far would have to be their lack of depth along the defensive line. The unexpected retirement of B.J. Raji and the aforementioned Penell suspension has forced the coaching staff to ride with a pair of rookies in their rotation up front.

First-round pick Kenny Clark has been as stout as advertised in one-on-one battles in training camp, but he seemed to be a step behind when the lights went on versus the Browns. The Raiders game serves as a valuable opportunity for the former UCLA Bruin to get up to speed.

Fellow rookie Dean Lowry looked like a fish out of water as he continually lost leverage against more experienced pro linemen. At the current time, he lacks the technique and discipline to focus solely on beating the man in front of him to warrant the amount of snaps that many thought he would be getting.

Defensive coordinator Dom Capers may have to shift some bodies around to make up for Lowry’s deficiencies if he doesn’t show immediate improvement.

Look for Christian Ringo to possibly make a case for a bigger role. His bone-jarring sack of Cody Kessler for a safety is a sign of the type of potential Packers brass saw in him when drafting the six-foot-one trench man in the sixth round of the 2015 draft.

Lerentee McCray has been one of the more consistent performers this summer. The outside linebacker has been especially effective in using his bull rush to push blockers into the pocket.

Rookie Kyler Fackrell is still learning the ropes, but he too has shown the ability to apply the pressure by making use of his quickness and length. Both Fackrell and McCray will get a large helping of reps to solidify their respective roles on the team.

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