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PACKERS OFF TO WINNING START UNDER RHODES
posted 08/16/99
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| QB Matt Hasselbeck threw for 119 yards and 2 TDs against the Jets. |
Overcoming surprising first-half largesse on defense, the Packers put together a winning formula after the intermission, the offense mounting 20 points on the scoreboard while the Green and Gold's defenders contrived to hold the Jets scoreless over the last 30 minutes.
Offensively, quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, taking over with the Packers trailing 16-7 at halftime, was the catalyst in this renaissance, escorting them to 17 points during his tenure. Beginning modestly by presiding over a field goal drive at the start of the third quarter, when he replaced Rick Mirer under center, Hasselbeck produced touchdowns on his last two series, climaxing a four-play maneuver with a 67-yard pass-run collaboration with wide receiver Jahine Arnold for the first score, then returning to execute a 7-play, 60-yard drive capped by a 22-yard strike to tight end Jeff Thomason in the heart of the end zone on the first play of the fourth quarter.
The offense then topped off the evening with Ryan Longwell's third field goal of the evening, a 22-yarder and a score triggered by rookie Basil Mitchell's 52-yard canter around right end, a play which carried the Packers to the Jets' 13-yard line.
Starter Brett Favre, who played only the first two offensive series, had launched the Packers' scoring with typical dispatch, guiding the first unit 80 yards to the game's initial touchdown in just 7 plays, completing the project with a 13-yard bullseye to wide receiver Derrick Mayes in the end zone, staking the Packers to an early 7-3 lead.
Meanwhile, a blend of the Packers' second and third defensive groups confined the Jets' offensive reserves to 132 net yards while holding the visitors scoreless in the second half.
Hasselbeck, followed at quarterback by rookie Aaron Brooks of Virginia, was the Packers' most productive marksman statistically as well as on the scoreboard, completing 7 of 11 passes for 119 yards and 2 touchdowns - without an interception.
Favre, in his brief appearance, hit on 4 of 6 passes for 31 yards and a touchdown, Mirer following with 5 completions in 12 attempts for 63 yards, with one interception, and Brooks completing the only pass he attempted for a 9-yard gain.
The running game, a source of satisfaction to Rhodes, gave initial promise of being more productive than it was a year ago, when wheelhorse Dorsey Levens was forced to sit out nine games with a leg injury. It produced 200 yards in just 26 attempts against the Jets, an imposing 7.7-yard average.
Mitchell, with the aid of that late, 52-yard excursion, emerged as the game's leading rusher with 66 yards in 7 attempts, a 9.4-yard average. Levens weighed in with 56 yards in only 4 attempts, including a 48-yard burst off left guard that keyed the Packers' first touchdown. Second-year pro Edwin Watson, after a season in the NFL Europe League, also had a productive inaugural, gaining 47 yards in 8 attempts, a 5.9-yard average.
Rookie cornerback Mike McKenzie made his presence known on defense, leading his unit with 5 solo tackles. Second-pro Scott McGarrahan also posted 5 tackles, 3 of them unassisted, including a 7-yard sack of Jets backup quarterback Ray Lucas.
In addition to McGarrahan, three other Packers weighed in with sacks - defensive ends Vaughn Booker, Chris Reed and Cletidus Hunt - Booker felling Jets backup quarterback Ray Lucas for a 10-yard loss early in the second quarter.
Both teams closed out the evening with impressive offensive figures, the Packers emerging with 422 net yards (222 passing) and the Jets with 403, including 266 passing, with starting quarterback Vinny Testaverde 11 of 13 attempts for 147 yards and one touchdown during his stint.
Although the final score does not reflect it, the Jets enjoyed a substantial margin in time of possession, controlling the football for 35 minutes, 49 seconds to the Packers: 24 minutes, 11 seconds.
COACH RHODES' POSTGAME COMMENTS:
"It was our first preseason game and, quite naturally, coming into it I was nervous like some of our young players...Getting to the game, our first against their first, Brett (Favre) came out and took 'em down and did a great job of scoring. He made some plays, Dorsey (Levens) comes up with a big run, and the first offense with Brett in there did a pretty decent job the first drive.
"On the flip side of that, defensively, we did not stop 'em. We had some third-down situations and also some first-down situations where we have to get off the field. So I wasn't pleased with some of the coverage with the first defensive group, but when I look at the tape, I'll get a chance to elaborate on that a little bit more...We have to get better with our first group.
"Going into the second half of the game, I felt Mirer (quarterback Rick) had a couple of good runs, as far as moving the football - he moved the ball down the field. We did not convert but we moved the ball down the field.
"From the defensive standpoint, in the second quarter of the game, the second group of defensive guys came in and did decent; but, again, there were some plays that we have to take a look at.
"When we got into the third quarter of the game, I felt (quarterback) Matt Hasselbeck came in and played well. He came in and really made some great decisions, executed the offense pretty well, and he made a pretty good statement tonight. Now we'll look at the tape and see how he grades out overall. But, from the sideline - just looking at it - I thought he made some real good decisions.
"Our running game, I thought the second half of the game Ed Watson came in and ran the ball well. He ran with a lot of power, a lot of force, and our young offensive linemen in there with him did a good job of blocking up front. Now you're talking about seconds against seconds and thirds - that's basically what it was, so it wasn't against their first unit.
"But, overall, you know, you look at the game and you look at some of the things that you know you have to improve on and, right now, our defense will have to do a better job."
(on anyone else besides Hasselbeck who 'made a statement') "In the running game, I thought Ed Watson came in and did a great job. From a receiving standpoint, I thought Jeff Thomason came up with a great catch. I mean that's in traffic, getting hit, doing some things. And I have to look at the offensive line because someone up front was doing a good job blocking, so I have to look at the young men and be able to pick those guys out who were doing the blocking when Watson was running the ball.
"Dorsey made a run we bounced outside and we out-flanked the defense But, on that run, Derrick Mayes made a great block on that side to get him clean.
"Looking at defensive guys, I thought (Mike) McKenzie, as a corner, showed up big in a game. Again, I can't see everybody from the sideline but there are a lot of guys I'll be able to mention the next time we talk. But I was pleased with some of the young guys that stepped up and played well. You know, McKenzie, Mack, Watson...Basil Mitchell comes in and makes a big run (52 yards) at the end of the game...But I was pleased with some of the play of these guys."
(on who he is comfortable with at the Number Two quarterback spot) "You know, it's still early. Now we've played one preseason game and for me to say I'm comfortable here or I'm comfortable there, I've got to be honest with myself because, you know, we have to let everybody play. We've got to see everybody. I'm not going to say who I'm comfortable with or not...Right now, I'm comfortable with Brett Favre."
"Next week, I'd like for Hasselbeck to play in the second quarter and reverse the roles (with Mirer, who played the second quarter Saturday night) with the two guys."
(on whether he'd seen the aggressive kind of physical play out of the team 'that you have been talking about') "Well, again, I wasn't pleased with what we did from the defensive standpoint. But I know these guys are prideful guys and they know that we have to pick that part of it up.
"As far as our young guys getting after people from the physical standpoint, there was some hitting going on out there...We still have a lot of work to do from that standpoint, too."
(on whether he was concerned 'about the catches that Keyshawn Johnson had on Craig Newsome) "Well, I'm concerned about any catches those guys have, but I think one of the things you have to look at, Keyshawn caught the ball on all the guys who were in there - not just Newsome, everybody."
(on the effect of the new footballs on the kicking game) "Well, the new balls are different for the punters...they are. I mean, again, he (rookie Josh Bidwell) did not hit it as clean as I've seen him hit it. We'll take a look at it and I'll have a chance to talk to Josh about it. I know he did not hit the ball well.
"And also in the kicking game, the one we kicked out of bounds on the kickoff, as far as Ryan's concerned, we can't do that."
(on the condition of the SportGrass field) "I think it held up well. There were no complains from the players."
THE PLAYER PERSPECTIVE:
Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck (on how he evaluated his performance) "I'm sure I probably didn't play as well as some of the people in the locker room treated me like I played a great game tonight. But I think when we watch the film there's probably some throws I'd like to have back. And, you know, some decisions, probably"
(on 'probably having been a little nervous because of some personal connections with the Jets, yet looking pretty comfortable out there') "I was really anxious to talk to those guys - Dan Henning, the quarterbacks coach, was a real strong influence on me in college as a quarterback. And Bill Parcells, growing up. I came out early with the holders and kickers and didn't hold any kicks - I just went up and talked to those guys. Dan was great to me - I had a great conversation with him, and Bill was very nice. And I talked to Scott Zolak...I was a ball boy with the Patriots...It was a little bit difficult for me just trying to relax and just act like it was a normal game, because it did have a little special meaning to it."
(on whether the coaches have given him 'any clear indication of how all this is shaping up with the backup quarterback situation) "No, and I'd rather that we not talk about it because, you know, it's not going to matter. What are they going to do...count? You know, this guy is playing...It's just another distraction. I'd rather just play and not worry about how many guys they're going to keep, or who they're going to keep.
"I have a feeling (tongue in cheek) that Brett Favre's going to be the starting quarterback here. Other than that, I think if Brett stays healthy - and that's one of the great things about Brett and why he's been so successful - is because he doesn't get hurt. And he's one of the toughest guys around. And I don't think that will change."
(on 'how much confidence' he has in his ability to be the No. 2 Quarterback) "This has always been my goal - probably ever since last year when I was put on the practice squad. And that was really difficult for me because the last thing in the world that I wanted to do was be on the practice squad And my goal has been to be a guy that, if something were to happen to Brett - and we all hope it doesn't - that I'd be a guy that the coaches would feel confident - 'We can call every play in our playbook...we're not going to fold up and go home because Brett's not in there - we have confidence in this kid that he can get it done.' And it's tough. I had to learn the system and everything - that took a little bit of doing...it sure didn't happen in the preseason last year. I think it was probably around week five or six, and that was too late."
Running back Edwin Watson: "I felt real comfortable back there and had an opportunity to carry the ball a few times...I had fun out there. The offensive line did a great job - they opened up the biggest holes all night. I just took advantage of them."
(on where he is physically, in coming back from an ankle sprain) "I think I'm about 90 percent right now...You can't make the club in a tub. I realize I need to get out there and show them that I really want to be here. You can't make it if you're not practicing, so I know I need to be out there."
Wide receiver Derrick Mayes (on his touchdown reception): "That's why Brett is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. He has a sixth sense when he is scrambling of where the receivers are going to be, and we connected."
Cornerback Antuan Edwards "On my first play, my guy ran me over. He said: 'Welcome to the NFL.' After that, it was a lot of fun. I had a good time and made some plays out there. It felt real good."
Tight end Jeff Thomason (on his touchdown catch): "I wasn't going to let another one drop after that first one. Matt (Hasselbeck) made a nice pass and I went and got it."
Wide receiver Jahine Arnold (on his touchdown reception): "I just came across, Matt found me, and all I saw was open field. When I got to the end zone, I was too tired, I didn't know what to do...It was real exciting."
NOTE-WORTHY:
-With Saturday night's game, the Midwest Shrine Series reached the half-century mark. The charity series launched at Milwaukee's State Fair Park in 1950. The victory was the Packers' 23rd in the series, compared to 24 losses, with 3 ties.
-The series has raised nearly $3 million for the Shrine's burn centers and hospitals for crippled children since its inception, according to the estimate of Director Norm Christenson of the sponsoring Tripoli Temple.
-Saturday night's victory was the Packers' fifth over the Jets in seven preseason meetings to date.
-Ten Packers were held out of the opener because of injuries. They included tight end Mark Chmura (neck); guard Joe Andruzzi (knee); safety Kerry Cooks (hand); cornerbacks Fred Vinson (foot) and Denorse Mosley (knee); fullback Jim Kitts (back); center Mike Newell (back); kick returner Desmond Howard (hamstring); and defensive tackle Howard Burns (ankle).
-Tyrone Davis started at tight end in Chmura's absence.
-Quarterback Brett Favre and right tackle Earl Dotson (offense), strong safety LeRoy Butler and defensive tackle Santana Dotson (defense) and Jude Waddy (special teams) were the Packers' captains for Saturday night's contest.
-Rookie running back De'Mond Parker was a jack-of-all-trades, in essence, gaining 7 yards in 3 rushing attempts, making one pass reception for 20 yards, returning two kickoffs 57 yards (a 28.5-yard average) and posting a tackle of Jets kickoff returner Robert Farmer late in the third quarter to end the latter's 20-yard runback.
-Safety Scott McGarrahan endeared himself to the vocal faithful on the opening kickoff when, leading a swarm of would-be tacklers that forced Jets returner Dwight Stone into circuitous retreat, he zeroed in to fell Stone after a scant 9-yard runback.
-Jermaine Smith, who sat out the 1998 season after suffering a fractured elbow in a motorcycle accident, indicated he is back to his 1997 form, posting 4 tackles, a total only one shy of the platoon's leaders. He punctuated his return by breaking through to fell the Jets' Leon Johnson for a 2-yard loss in the second quarter for his first stop of the evening.
-Jerry Markbreit, who retired at the close of the 1998 season after 23 years as an NFL referee, returned to Lambeau Field Saturday night to preside in the instant replay booth as the Replay Assistant. Instant replay, under a new system, is back after a six-year absence.
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