Offense puts the pedal to the metal
Rodgers looks sharp in his exhibition debut
GREEN BAY - At the end of his first – and perhaps only – drive this preseason, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers found the big tight end who’s quickly becoming a favorite target.
Rodgers scooted a few steps to his left Thursday to avoid pressure as veteran Jimmy Graham, the Packers’ prized free-agent acquisition peeled inside. Leaving Pittsburgh Steelers safety Terrell Edmunds on his incut, Graham got enough separation for Rodgers to find him wide open in the end zone.
Graham unveiled his trademark, leaping touchdown spike, then the ninth-year veteran got a first in his career: a Lambeau Leap.
It was the first time Graham and Rodgers have been able to show the chemistry that has been evident since the Pro Bowl tight end arrived in the spring. Earlier this week, Graham had perhaps his most impressive catch of the offseason, a onehanded, back-shoulder touchdown from Rodgers in a red-zone drill.
A few more people – an announced, paid attendance of 74,434 – witnessed this touchdown.
“That was fun,” coach Mike McCarthy told the team’s television broadcast at halftime. “Those two have been having a great camp. You can really see it all week, and that’s really what we were looking for – trying to get Jimmy a couple throws.”
The touchdown highlighted a wild start to the Packers’ second exhibition, which ended in a 51-34 victory.
In the first five minutes and four seconds, the Packers and Steelers combined for four touchdowns. The Packers took a 14-0 lead with 11:53 left in the first quarter. The Steelers tied it with a pair of touchdowns separated by 46 seconds, thanks to Packers running back Ty Montgomery’s fumbled kickoff return.
Rodgers’ lone drive started at the Steelers’ 40-yard line, a short field set up by Steelers punter Jordy Berry’s 30yard shank. The two-time MVP quarterback, playing at home for the first time since Week 4 of last season, finished 2for-4 for 35 yards and a 119.8 rating. He was hit on his first snap by linebacker Vince Williams and avoided pressure a couple other times, including a 5-yard scramble when he ducked under one Steelers rusher.
“I thought Aaron did a heck of a job the little time he was in there,” McCarthy said.
Other than the touchdown, the big play of the opening drive was Rodgers’ 27-yard pass to receiver Davante Adams. Starting from the right slot, Adams got open with a shallow post and ran away from Steelers cornerback Coty Sensabaugh.
In limited preseason snaps, Adams has shown why the Packers were content to make him their undisputed top receiver late last season, signing him to a four-year, $58 million extension before releasing Jordy Nelson in the spring. Adams had a 48-yard reception in the Packers’ preseason debut, beating Tennessee Titans cornerback Malcolm Butler on a deep route.
Right tackle Bryan Bulaga and left guard Lane Taylor did not dress, but left tackle David Bakhtiari made his preseason debut, playing a pair of possessions.
There wasn’t much drop off on offense after Rodgers departed. Quarterback Brett Hundley was the second quarterback off the Packers’ sideline, finishing 6-for-9 for 77 yards and a 93.3 rating. Hundley added a pair of runs for 12 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown when he broke one tackle in the backfield and reversed field to his left.
DeShone Kizer replaced Hundley midway through the second quarter. He finished 7 for 12 for 149 yards and two touchdowns. His big play was an 82yard touchdown to receiver Jake Kumerow, who caught an out route to the left and made Steelers safety Nat Berhe miss in the open field before somersaulting into the end zone.
For Kumerow, who has had a splendid camp since its inception, the play might’ve been enough to finally clinch a spot on the Packers’ 53-man roster.
But his somersault might’ve been costly: Kumerow left the game with a right shoulder injury.
The Lambeau Leaps weren’t limited to the Packers’ offense. Veteran cornerback Tramon Williams loudly announced his return to the Packers, jumping Steelers rookie quarterback Mason Rudolph’s pass to Darrius Heyward on a left out route. Williams finished his first snap of the preseason returning his interception 25 yards for a touchdown.
“Got off to a great start,” McCarthy said, “and just cued the quarterback. Great play by Tramon.”
Early in the third quarter, rookie cornerback Josh Jackson had an almost identical play. He jumped Steelers quarterback Joshua Dobbs’ pass to receiver Damoun Patterson on an underneath route to the left sideline, returning it 22 yards for a touchdown.