Packers Cardinals preview

Posted by Mark Daniels on

The Packers play their first game as Super Bowl Champs on the tundra tonight, meeting the Arizona Cardinals in the 62nd Midwest Shrine game.  Mike McCarthy will continue to evaluate personel giving his starters perhaps an extra series.  Two key defensive players are likely to sit this one out as Mike Neal recovers from a knee sprain and Clay Matthews tries to loosen up a tight hamstring.  Matthews has had hamstring issues in all three of his pro training camps now.  He missed a couple of games his rookie year and all four pre-season games a year ago with a hamstring pull.  McCarthy said it tightened up Wednesday night and Thursday morning giving Matthews the Thursday walkthrough practice off.  He doesn't think it's as bad as prior years but he'll likely be an observer.  T.J. Lang gets the start at left guard after number one pick Derek Sherrod opened there against the Browns last week.  The Packers second and third string offensive line will need a better showing in pass protection, giving up five sacks last week.  Watch for rookie running back Alex Green to get some carries, handling the chores of Brandon Saine a week ago when he picked up 35 yards on 10 carries.  With starters expected to play a considerable amount next week against the Colts, this is a big game for the fringe players to show up.   The first cut to 75 won't be made until after the third game but here's a list of players who are moving toward, if not sitting directly on the bubble.  Thanks to free agency and cap related cuts, the veteran attrition is all but over.  There are still some vets who were either on the roster or the practice squad last year that are getting pushed, hard. At receiver, Brett Swain is in huge trouble because an injury hasn't allowed him to practice at all.  Chastin West has flashed but is getting pushed from rookie free agent Tori Gurley and Diondre Borel.  Safety Anthony Levine's concussion at practice last week came a bad time for him, Spencer Havner is another veteran who might become the odd man out at a very competitive tight end position.  Same for Brad Jones, working behind Frank Zombo and Eric Waldon at outside linebacker.  Brandon Underwood has also missed a lot of time and could be squeezed out by the likes of draft pick Davon House and free agent Josh Gordy.  On the offensive line, Nick McDonald moved to center and it's been a struggle.  His versatility at guard could save him.  Even with Mike Neal nursing the sore knee, it's a huge night for Jarius Wynn.   Several young players should also be bracing for a visit from the turk.  At receiver, Shaky Smithson is shaky, along with Kerry Taylor.   Other relatively easy cuts would be safety Anthony Bratton, fullback JonHoese, defensive back Brandian Ross, despite his family night pick for six, linebackes Elijah Joseph, Jamari Lattimore, K.C. Asiodu and Cardia Jackson.  Draft choice Ricky Elmore is also in big touble.  Among the bigs, defensive linemen Chris Donaldson, Eli Joseph, Vic So'oto and Jay Ross, offensive linemen Adrian Battles, Sampson Genus, Chris Campbell, Ray Dominguez and draft choice Caleb Schlauderaff are extreme longshots to stick.

 

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