Keeping Tabs on the TEs: DJ Williams emerges as viable H-back

Finley had a big first half, but was limited to no
catches in the final two quarters. (image via)

Maybe it's because I played the position throughout high school, and then again in interhall football , but I love tight ends. The perfect combination of strength and speed, they can do it all. So with the Packers now carrying an unprecedented 5 TEs on their roster, I'm paying attention. What follows is the first in a series of weekly assessments focusing on how Green Bay utilizes its plethora of TEs.


Jermicahel Finley - Finley started off the 2011 season hot. He caught 3 passes for 53 yards in the first half alone. The Packers used him in-line, from the slot, and split out wide, and it certainly looked like he was going to be a central part of the offensive attack.

But with Packers offense essentially off the field for the 3rd quarter and out of attack mode in the 4th, Finley's receiving production went static.

Nonetheless, I thought he played well in other areas of the game, too. I unfortunately don't have the technological capabilities of some more advanced blogs, so I wasn't able to DVR the game, but I do remember him making some nice blocks. Not bone-crushing pancakes, but plays where he utilized good positioning to do just enough. And that's really all they're expecting from him. Watch Starks' 17-yard TD run for an example:

It may not seem like much, but Finley's impedance of Saint's DE Jeff Charleston is probably the difference between an 8 yard gain and a touchdown. 

All in all, it was a solid showing by Finley in his first regular season action since going down with an injury in Week 5 of 2010. He didn't necessarily "redefine" the position, but there's no reason to doubt that he will be an integral part of the Packers' passing attack throughout the year, and one of the most productive tight ends in the league.

So about those Panthers...

I, along with the rest of Packernation, was under the assumption that the Green and Gold would be able to stroll into Charlotte next week and come out with an easy win against the hapless Panthers. You know, the same Panthers team that went 2-14 last season and is now relying on an unpolished rookie QB, who completed only 42% of his passes and recorded a passer rating of 64.9 this preseason.

But that was before this afternoon.

Packers bend (a lot), but don't break against Saints

The Packers defense stood stout when 
they most needed to. (via LA Times)

20%.

That's the only stat that matters from last night's action. Not the fact that the Saints owned the Packers D in-between the 20s, or New Orleans' ability to convert 64% of their third downs, or even Drew Brees' 419 yards passing.

I repeat: 20%.

It's the percent of times the Saints were able to score a touchdown after making it inside the Packers' 20.

The Packers defense, on their heels for much of the game, nonetheless found their resolve at just the right moments. There was Walden's third-down sack that held the Saints to a field goal on the opening drive of the second half. There was the pressure put on Brees that forced an incompletion on 4th and 1. And, of course, there was the way the game ended.

The last drive was a perfect testament to how the Packers defense played the entire game. After allowing Brees and Co. to march 77 yards down the field in only 1:03, the Packers made a goal-line stand for the ages, stone-walling rookie back Mark Ingram on a run from the 1-yard line with no time left on the clock.


The Packers sure as heck did a lot of bending. But more importantly, they didn't break, holding on for a wild 42-34 victory to open up the 2011 season.

Ongoing thoughts on Packers vs Saints

I think I'm supposed to say something about how this is not a substitute for play-by-play....so, this is not a substitute for play-by-play.


1st Quarter
Randall Cobb with a nice little run back on the opening kick-off...C'mon Aaron, you gotta get rid of the ball when they're showing the blitz that badly...Rodgers is money on third down...Wow, I'll admit when I'm wrong: Driver looks spry...And there's your first touchdown of the 2011 season. Rodgers and Jennings have that back-shoulder pass down-pat. Unstoppable. Packers 7, Saints 0