I wonder if they are just starting to figure out what they can do with Neal ar RB. He was a WR in college for awhile and is comfortable in the passing game. He could be an interesting 3rd down type back if they find they can trust him to handle the "basics". As a runner he's not that special, but as a receiver out of the backfield he seems to offer more than Lacy or Starks. They may end up developing a small package of plays for him if he continues to do what he did on Sat.
Post Game Thread : Eagles Knock Off Packers 39-26
- Thread starter Mark87
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It'd be nice if he cut out a Tony Fisher, third down receiving back role for himself but he has to prove it in pass-pro first. Lacy will be the primary third down back and Kuhn is old reliable as a blocker so it'll be tough to find snaps for him.
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Green Bay – Here are a few things I noticed when watching tape of the game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Green Bay Packers:
- A shift toward veteran players in the secondary over the last two weeks continued Saturday against the Eagles, when starters Sam Shields and Casey Hayward were joined by Micah Hyde in the nickel defense. Rookie Damarious Randall played as the fourth cornerback in the dime defense, while Quinten Rollins and LaDarius Gunter endured long waits for their reps later in the game. When Hyde left the game with neck spasms, Randall played on the edge opposite Shields and Hayward moved to the nickel spot.
- The first touchdown of the game came on a wheel route by tailback Darren Sproles, who hauled in a perfect pass from quarterback Sam Bradford. In coverage on the play was inside linebacker Sam Barrington, who did not make a poor read on the play itself but took a terrible angle to the ball carrier. He ran in a straight line from the middle of the field toward Sproles, allowing the shifty running back to turn up the field easily for a lofted pass.
- The Eagles' receivers used a heavy dose of crossing patterns that functioned as pick plays to create space against defenders. On the second defensive possession for the Packers, two receivers crossing the middle set up a completion to Jordan Matthews. The play forced Hyde, who struggled in the nickel position, to make a choice about going over the top of the cross or trail underneath. Later, tight end Trey Burton hauled in a touchdown pass moving from left to right across the field and passing two additional crossers. For a moment, three receivers and three defenders were clustered, and the offense prevailed.
- Hyde had a difficult time defending the taller Matthews, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 212 pounds. This was especially true on corner routes, which Matthews ran twice against Hyde for easy completions up and over the top.
- Though tight end Richard Rodgers slipped on quarterback Brett Hundley's interception in the first quarter, an important part of the play happened at left tackle, where Don Barclay continued to fill in for the injured David Bakhtiari. Barclay was pushed aside by linebacker Brandon Graham, who stuck both hands in Hundley's line of vision as he attempted the pass.
- The second touchdown allowed by Barrington came on a pass from Bradford to tight end Brent Celek, who ran uncontested up the seam and made a catch in the back of the end zone. After the play, Barrington immediately glanced to his right in confusion as if he expected help from a safety behind him. It was a sign of defensive miscommunication on a night the Packers were shredded.
- Much like the Eagles, the Packers found success with screen passes, turning in three plays of 18 yards or more. Lane Taylor, who started at left guard for the injured Josh Sitton, was out in front on two of those plays — a 25-yard completion to James Starks, where Taylor teamed up with Corey Linsely and an 18-yard gain by Rajion Neal in which Taylor blocked alongside JC Tretter.
- Neal, who performed well enough to all but secure the No. 3 tailback spot, earned an opportunity to return a kick at the start of the second half. He turned in a 31-yard return on his only attempt, which might have served as a pseudo audition behind rookie Ty Montgomery.
- With linebacker Nick Perry back from injury after missing two weeks with a groin problem, Jayrone Elliott bumped down one spot on the outside linebacker depth chart. Perry and Andy Mulumba were the first two subs off the bench to replace veterans Julius Peppers and Mike Neal. Elliott and Adrian Hubbard were next.
- The Packers were flagged for having 12 men on the field on a punt early in the second quarter, which was one of eight special teams penalties overall. On the very next play, a re-kick, they took the field with only 10 men.
- Pressure on the opposing quarterback was a staple of the first two exhibition games for the Packers. But after seven sacks against New England and three against Pittsburgh, Green Bay had just one Saturday night. There was a distinct lack of pass rush success against the Eagles and their up-tempo offense.
- Though he had not participated in a public practice since suffering a concussion against the Patriots, tight end Justin Perillo returned against the Eagles. He reclaimed his spot as the third option behind Rodgers and Andrew Quarless, taking the field at the start of the third quarter. Mitchell Henry was the fourth tight end to enter the game, while sixth-round draft pick Kennard Backman, who later caught a touchdown, was fifth.
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- A shift toward veteran players in the secondary over the last two weeks continued Saturday against the Eagles, when starters Sam Shields and Casey Hayward were joined by Micah Hyde in the nickel defense. Rookie Damarious Randall played as the fourth cornerback in the dime defense, while Quinten Rollins and LaDarius Gunter endured long waits for their reps later in the game. When Hyde left the game with neck spasms, Randall played on the edge opposite Shields and Hayward moved to the nickel spot.
- The first touchdown of the game came on a wheel route by tailback Darren Sproles, who hauled in a perfect pass from quarterback Sam Bradford. In coverage on the play was inside linebacker Sam Barrington, who did not make a poor read on the play itself but took a terrible angle to the ball carrier. He ran in a straight line from the middle of the field toward Sproles, allowing the shifty running back to turn up the field easily for a lofted pass.
- The Eagles' receivers used a heavy dose of crossing patterns that functioned as pick plays to create space against defenders. On the second defensive possession for the Packers, two receivers crossing the middle set up a completion to Jordan Matthews. The play forced Hyde, who struggled in the nickel position, to make a choice about going over the top of the cross or trail underneath. Later, tight end Trey Burton hauled in a touchdown pass moving from left to right across the field and passing two additional crossers. For a moment, three receivers and three defenders were clustered, and the offense prevailed.
- Hyde had a difficult time defending the taller Matthews, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 212 pounds. This was especially true on corner routes, which Matthews ran twice against Hyde for easy completions up and over the top.
- Though tight end Richard Rodgers slipped on quarterback Brett Hundley's interception in the first quarter, an important part of the play happened at left tackle, where Don Barclay continued to fill in for the injured David Bakhtiari. Barclay was pushed aside by linebacker Brandon Graham, who stuck both hands in Hundley's line of vision as he attempted the pass.
- The second touchdown allowed by Barrington came on a pass from Bradford to tight end Brent Celek, who ran uncontested up the seam and made a catch in the back of the end zone. After the play, Barrington immediately glanced to his right in confusion as if he expected help from a safety behind him. It was a sign of defensive miscommunication on a night the Packers were shredded.
- Much like the Eagles, the Packers found success with screen passes, turning in three plays of 18 yards or more. Lane Taylor, who started at left guard for the injured Josh Sitton, was out in front on two of those plays — a 25-yard completion to James Starks, where Taylor teamed up with Corey Linsely and an 18-yard gain by Rajion Neal in which Taylor blocked alongside JC Tretter.
- Neal, who performed well enough to all but secure the No. 3 tailback spot, earned an opportunity to return a kick at the start of the second half. He turned in a 31-yard return on his only attempt, which might have served as a pseudo audition behind rookie Ty Montgomery.
- With linebacker Nick Perry back from injury after missing two weeks with a groin problem, Jayrone Elliott bumped down one spot on the outside linebacker depth chart. Perry and Andy Mulumba were the first two subs off the bench to replace veterans Julius Peppers and Mike Neal. Elliott and Adrian Hubbard were next.
- The Packers were flagged for having 12 men on the field on a punt early in the second quarter, which was one of eight special teams penalties overall. On the very next play, a re-kick, they took the field with only 10 men.
- Pressure on the opposing quarterback was a staple of the first two exhibition games for the Packers. But after seven sacks against New England and three against Pittsburgh, Green Bay had just one Saturday night. There was a distinct lack of pass rush success against the Eagles and their up-tempo offense.
- Though he had not participated in a public practice since suffering a concussion against the Patriots, tight end Justin Perillo returned against the Eagles. He reclaimed his spot as the third option behind Rodgers and Andrew Quarless, taking the field at the start of the third quarter. Mitchell Henry was the fourth tight end to enter the game, while sixth-round draft pick Kennard Backman, who later caught a touchdown, was fifth.
Continue reading...