Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Packer Plus
First impression is good one for Packers
Editor’s note: This story was published Aug. 6, 1995.
Madison — This was not a day to make judgments, let alone lasting ones, about the 1995 version of the Green Bay Packers.
Exhibition games in the National Football League might be the most misleading events in professional sports, especially opening contests.
Nevertheless, the crowd of 49,071 at Camp Randall Stadium that watched the Packers defeat the New Orleans Saints, 27-17, in sunshine Saturday afternoon saw enough to stir conversation in the week ahead.
Here was how the Packers fared in some questionable areas, the resolution of which will help determine their fate this season.
The running game: It was the first look at the offensive line with Aaron Taylor at left guard and Earl Dotson at right tackle.
The No. 1 unit was intact for five series. The results were touchdown drives of 72 and 38 yards, and a field-goal drive measuring 44 yards.
Taylor, playing for the first time after knee surgery ruined his rookie season, impressed Tim Rooney, director of pro personnel for the New York Giants.
“I thought Taylor looked good,” said Rooney. “I watched him because I wanted to see where he was with his knee. He moved around well. Got out well on traps and pulls. Looks like a good guard to run behind.”
Packers coach Mike Holmgren couldn’t stop looking at Taylor as he was delivering his pre-game speech.
“All I could see was his tears,” said Holmgren. “He was very emotional before the game. I loved it.”
The 6-foot-4, 305-pound Taylor is expected to fill the position held last year by Guy McIntyre (6-3, 280).
Meanwhile, Dotson (6-31⁄2, 318) had few problems working against defensive end Joe Johnson, the Saints’ No. 1 pick in 1994. Last year’s right tackle, Joe Sims, was 6-3 and about 310.
“I think I can do some of the things that weren’t done last year,” said Dotson, alluding to run blocking. “I thought I played pretty well.”
Still, it should be noted that Johnson played just one quarter.
“I don’t think you can evaluate (Dotson’s) performance against what we did today,” said Johnson. “Our defense was setting up containment schemes. We didn’t put on any pressure from the outside.”
Green Bay quarterback Ty Detmer left with a good feeling from having two bigger bodies in the line. With Holmgren calling 29 runs to 28 passes, the Packers rushed for 150 of their 272 total yards.
Bulk means the Packers will try to use more straight-ahead rushes utilizing zone blocking, which is the trademark of the Cowboys. But because Taylor and right guard Harry Galbreath run well, they also will trap, counter and sweep.
“We’ve got a good run package,” said quarterback Ty Detmer. “If you can do both you’re better. Dallas’ guards can’t run.”
Singled out by Holmgren for hard running were rookie Travis Jervey (10 carries, 34 yards), Edgar Bennett (4-16) and free agent Brian Satterfield (3-15).
The Sharpe factor: Brett Favre hardly broke a sweat, going two series and 14 plays. He was 2 of 8 for 16 yards, and all four of his passes intended for Robert Brooks were incomplete.
“Sterling Sharpe is one of the best receivers to ever play the game,” said Kevin Colbert, Detroit’s director of pro personnel. “You can’t minimize his loss. But their system has been in now for four years. And, except for (Mark) Ingram, there’s continuity at wide receiver.”
“You don’t replace him,” Rooney said. “Like Detroit can’t replace Mel Gray. It’s got to hurt any team.”
Brooks played briefly and didn’t catch a pass.
Packers rookie Antonio Freeman had three of the six receptions by wide receivers. Some teams questioned Freeman’s toughness at Virginia Tech, but he made a courageous catch on a 15-yard slant in the third quarter with safety Kevin Gaines breathing in his helmet.
“The whole team is feeling a lot of pressure to pick up for Sterling,” said Brooks. “We can do it because we’ve got a good football team.”
Backup quarterback: For the first time in his four-year career, Detmer is unchallenged as a No. 2. His 7-for-9, 82yard, two-touchdown showing made the team’s decision-makers feel better if Favre goes down.
“I feel I could be a starter in the league,” said Detmer. “So I feel I’d rank up there with the backups. People probably would challenge that because I have no experience, but if I have to play I feel I can step right in.”
Rooney watched tapes of last weekend’s three exhibition games. He scouted the Chicago-Carolina game Friday night and has paid attention to various scrimmages between teams.
“Detmer’s right up there with some No. 2’s and people trying to be No. 2’s,” he said. “He looked very good to me.”
Detmer was under siege in the second quarter when defensive end Ernest Dixon kept beating left tackle Gary Brown around the corner. Then he lost a fumble on his third play when Mark Fields, a rookie linebacker with sensational range and striking power, stripped him as Detmer scrambled toward the first-down markers.
But in the third quarter, when the No. 1 offensive line returned, Detmer hit 6 of 7 passes. His only miss came when Jervey missed a blitz pickup, allowing Fields to register a knockdown that ruined a pass for Bill Schroeder.
“He has to prove that he can do it,” Colbert said, referring to Detmer. “But he moved them well today.”
Return game: Holmgren was blessed in his first three seasons with not one but two talented return aces in Corey Harris and Brooks. But with Harris gone to Seattle via restricted free agency and Brooks occupied with his offensive duties, the search for a return threat seemed to have few answers.
After Saturday, Nolan Cromwell, who coaches the special teams, said he thought Charles Jordan could be the equal of Harris and Brooks. Freeman has a bright future as a punt-returner, too.