Packers-Chargers Preseason Week 1 Dope Sheet

*Two years after he co-founded the Packers with Curly Lambeau, George Calhoun began writing a piece called The Dope Sheet, which served as the official press release and game program from 1921-24. *

*Honoring Calhoun, the first publicity director, the Packers are running this weekly feature as their release, which is being made available to fans exclusively on Packers.com. This is an abbreviated version of the Packers-Chargers Preseason Week 1 Dope Sheet. To read the full version, download the PDF by **clicking here**. *

Here are some highlights from the Packers-Chargers Preseason Week 1 Dope Sheet:

GREEN BAY (0-0) AT SAN DIEGO (0-0)
Thursday, Aug. 9 - Qualcomm Stadium - 7 p.m. CDT

PRESEASON ACTION FOR GREEN BAY STARTS IN SAN DIEGO

• The Green Bay Packers' 2012 season officially kicks off Thursday night when they travel to San Diego to take on the Chargers in a preseason contest at Qualcomm Stadium, the first time the clubs have squared off in the preseason since 2006.
• The '06 preseason meeting between the teams also came in San Diego and was the head-coaching debut of Green Bay's Mike McCarthy.
• Thursday's contest marks the first time since 2005 that the Packers have opened the preseason on a Thursday night. Ironically, that '05 meeting also came against the Chargers, at Lambeau Field.
• This week's matchup features two of the most productive offenses in the league. Over the past three seasons, Green Bay ranks No. 3 in scoring (29.4 ppg) and No. 5 in yards per game (380.8) while San Diego checks in at No. 4 in scoring (27.1 ppg) and No. 3 in yards per game (382.9).
• Thursday marks the debut of rookie and free-agent acquisitions, as well as a potent offense that returns all but two of its starters from 2011. Under the direction of McCarthy, the offensive play-caller, the Packers set franchise records for points (560), touchdowns (70), total net yards (6,482), net passing yards (4,924), passing TDs (51) and fewest giveaways (14). McCarthy has led the Packers to a top-10 ranking in total offense in each of his six seasons at the helm, joining New Orleans as the only team to accomplish that feat from 2006-11.
• Thursday's contest also features a defense in its fourth year under defensive coordinator Dom Capers. In 2011, Green Bay led the league in interceptions (31) for the second time in three seasons (also 2009). That interception total was the best registered by the Packers since 1962 (also 31). The Packers tied for the league lead in '11 with San Francisco for the most total takeaways with 38.
• As has been the case under McCarthy in previous preseasons, starters aren't expected to play more than a few series. Maintaining the health of the team will be the ultimate determining factor, as will the need to see a number of young players in live game action for the first time. Teams must make the first roster reduction, to 75 players, on Aug. 27.
• This will mark the second straight year that the Packers have opened the preseason away from Lambeau Field after opening at home the previous three seasons (2008-10). For the first time since 2005, Green Bay's preseason slate is made up of four AFC teams. The Packers do not play any of their preseason opponents during the regular season in 2012.
• Thursday's game will be televised to a national audience on ESPN. Over the past 20 preseasons, the Packers have appeared on national television at least once in 19 of those years. The lone season that saw Green Bay not appear in front of a national audience over that span was in 2009.
• Thursday marks only the fourth preseason meeting between the teams and the second in San Diego. The all-time series is knotted at 1-1-1.
• Green Bay returns home next week to host the Cleveland Browns on Thursday, Aug. 16, in the 63rd annual Upper Midwest Shrine Game. Each season, the Packers donate a percentage of the gate to the Shriners' Hospitals for Children.

WITH THE CALL

• ESPN is in its seventh season as host of the most successful series in sports television history, Monday Night Football. Play-by-play man Mike Tirico is joined by analyst Jon Gruden for the 43rd season of MNF broadcasts, withLisa Salters reporting from the sidelines.
• The contest also will air as a simulcast locally on WBAY (Ch. 2) in Green Bay and WISN (Ch. 12) in Milwaukee.
• Milwaukee's WTMJ (620 AM), airing Green Bay games since 1929, heads up the 53-station Packers Radio Network, with Wayne Larrivee(play-by-play) and two-time Packers Pro BowlerLarry McCarren (color) calling the action. The duo enters its 14th season of broadcasts together across the Packers Radio Network, which covers 44 markets in six states.

THE DOPE ON THIS WEEK'S OPPONENT:

• Packers vs. Chargers:
• Regular season, all-time:9-1-0
• In San Diego, all-time:6-0-0
• Preseason, all-time:1-1-1
• Streaks:The Packers have won each of the last six regular-season meetings.
• Last meeting, regular season:Nov. 6, 2011, at Qualcomm Stadium; Packers won, 45-38
• Last meeting, preseason:Aug. 12, 2006, at Qualcomm Stadium; Chargers won, 17-3

COACHES CAPSULES

• Mike McCarthy: 68-36-0, .654, (incl. 5-3 postseason); 7th NFL season
• Norv Turner:111-117-1, .487, (incl. 4-4 postseason); 15th NFL season
• Head to Head:McCarthy 2-0
• vs. Opponent:McCarthy 2-0 vs. Chargers; Turner 0-2 vs. Packers

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MIKE McCARTHY…Is in seventh year as the Packers' 14th head coach.

• Joined Vince Lombardi and Mike Holmgren as the only coaches to guide the Packers to a Super Bowl title with a win over Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XLV.
• Has led the Packers to playoff appearances in four of his six seasons as the helm, and the team's four postseason berths over the past five seasons are the most by an NFC team.
• His .654 winning percentage (including playoffs) ranks No. 3 among active NFL coaches (min. 50 games) entering the 2012 season.
• One of only two coaches, along with New Orleans' Sean Payton, to have his offense ranked in the top 10 in total yardage each season from 2006-11.
• Was named Packers head coach on Jan. 12, 2006, his first head-coaching job after 13 years as an NFL assistant.
• Became the first Packers coach since Lombardi to lead the team to a championship game in his second season (2007).

NORV TURNER…Is in sixth year as the Chargers' 15th head coach.

• Has the top overall winning percentage (52-34, .605) in franchise history.
• Led the Chargers to three straight AFC West titles in his first three seasons.
• Previously served as the head coach in Washington (1994-2000) and Oakland (2004-05). In 14 seasons as a head coach, has only faced the Packers twice in the regular season (2007 and 2011).
• Was a part of two Super Bowl championship teams in Dallas (1992-93) when he served as the Cowboys' offensive coordinator. Spent 13 seasons as an NFL assistant coach, including seven of them as an offensive coordinator (Dallas, 1991-93; San Diego, 2001; Miami, 2002-03; San Francisco, 2006).

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THE PACKERS-CHARGERS SERIES

• The two teams have met 10 times in the regular season in a series that dates back to 1970, the year of the AFL-NFL merger.
• The Packers have won six straight and nine of the last 10 meetings, including a 6-0 mark in San Diego. Green Bay's only loss in the city came in Super Bowl XXXII to the Denver Broncos.
• The Chargers were the hosts for the Packers' first-ever appearance on Monday Night Football, on Oct. 12, 1970. The Packers won, 22-20, on a 14-yard Dale Livingston field goal with 3:39 remaining.
• Their second meeting, at Lambeau Field in 1974, was won by the Packers, 34-0, and became Dan Devine's final victory in his four-year tenure as Green Bay head coach.
• One of the more bizarre contests in Packers history was played in San Diego on Sept. 14, 1978. With a temperature of 102 degrees at kickoff (tied for the highest in Packers history), the teams combined for 18 sacks, including 10 by the Chargers. The Packers also created 11 turnovers - five interceptions (four by Willie Buchanon to tie a league record) and six fumble recoveries - in a 24-3 Green Bay victory.

NOTABLE CONNECTIONS

Packers LB Vic So'oto is a native of nearby Carlsbad, Calif., and attended Carlsbad High...So'oto is a second cousin of the late Junior Seau, who played for the Chargers from 1990-2002...Packers C/G Tommie Draheim attended El Capitan High in Lakeside, Calif., and played at San Diego State...Other California natives on Green Bay's roster include LB Desmond Bishop (Fairfield), WR Diondre Borel (Oakley), CB Jarrett Bush (Vacaville), C/G Evan Dietrich-Smith (Salinas), CB Davon House (Palmdale), WR James Jones (San Jose), LB Clay Matthews (Agoura Hills), QB Aaron Rodgers (Chico), CB Dion Turner (Oakland) and Marc Tyler (Westlake Village)...Packers secondary-safeties coach Darren Perry spent the 1999 season with the Chargers but did not play that season due to a neck injury…Packers scout Sam Seale played CB for the Chargers for four seasons (1988-91)…Chargers S Atari Bigby played six seasons for the Packers (2005-10)…Chargers LB Ricky Elmore was drafted by the Packers in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft...Packers outside linebackers coach Kevin Greene played for the L.A. Rams when Chargers head coach Norv Turner coached on the staff there…Turner succeeded Packers head coach Mike McCarthy as offensive coordinator in San Francisco in 2006 after McCarthy was named head coach by the Packers…Packers CB Charles Woodson played for Turner in Oakland when he was the head coach of the Raiders from 2004-05…Packers defensive line coach Mike Trgovac coached on Turner's staff in Washington in 2000...Packers offensive coordinator Tom Clements and Chargers secondary coach Ron Meeks were teammates with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 1979...McCarthy coached with Chargers strength and conditioning coach Jeff Hurd in Kansas City...Chargers linebackers coach John Pagano coached in New Orleans with Clements and both were on the staff when Packers tight ends coach Jerry Fontenot played for the Saints…Chargers offensive line coach Mike Sullivan coached at the University of Miami when Packers asst. head coach/inside LBs Winston Moss played for the Hurricanes…Sullivan also coached at Western Michigan when Packers WR Greg Jennings was a senior there...Packers G Ray Dominguez and Chargers LB Darryl Gamble were teammates at Bainbridge (Ga.) High...Packers DE Lawrence Guy and Chargers WR Phillip Payne were teammates at Western High in Las Vegas.

LAST MEETING, PRESEASON

• Aug. 12, 2006, at Qualcomm Stadium; Chargers won, 17-3
• In Mike McCarthy's head-coaching debut, second-year QB Aaron Rodgers completed 9-of-11 passes (81.8 percent) for 124 yards, but the offense was only able to muster three points on the night. Rodgers added 21 rushing yards on three carries (7.0 avg.)
• Rookie WR Greg Jennings led the offense with four catches for 68 yards (17.0 avg.), including a 47-yard grab, in his pro debut.
• Chargers QB Philip Rivers connected on 15-of-21 passes (71.4 percent) for 169 yards and a TD and RB Michael Turner rushed for 43 yards and a score on nine carries (4.8 avg.).

WHERE THEY'LL BE THURSDAY NIGHT

• Coaches often use the preseason as a test to see where players are best utilized. Head Coach Mike McCarthyis on the sidelines, but here's a look at where the rest of the staff will be Thursday: 
• Press Box: Dom Capers (defensive coordinator), Jerry Fontenot (tight ends), Joel Hilgenberg (assistant offensive line), Ben McAdoo (quarterbacks), Scott McCurley (defensive quality control), John Rushing (offensive assistant/special teams) and Joe Whitt (secondary - cornerbacks).
• Sideline: Edgar Bennett (wide receivers), James Campen (offensive line), Tom Clements (offensive coordinator), Mike Eayrs (research and development), Kevin Greene (outside linebackers), Chad Morton (special teams assistant), Winston Moss (inside linebackers/asst. head coach), Darren Perry (secondary - safeties), Shawn Slocum (special teams coordinator), Mike Trgovac (defensive line) and Alex Van Pelt (running backs).

WHAT IS AHEAD

• After enjoying a day off on Saturday following Family Night, the Packers will hit the practice field three times this week, with two of the three sesssions scheduled for 7 p.m. before the team departs for San Diego on Wednesday.
• All three practices are scheduled to be in full pads, though the health of the team heading into Thursday night's preseason opener against the Chargers could determine if those numbers stay the same.
• Including the Family Night practice, the team will have 11 practices under its belt when it takes the field in San Diego.
• The team will take a break from the practice field this Friday before returning to action next Saturday evening at Nitschke Field. Practices next week are scheduled for 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, with a 3:30 p.m. practice slated for Tuesday leading into the home preseason opener vs. Cleveland on Thursday night.

SAVE THE DATE

Important dates to remember (all times CDT):

• Thursday, Aug. 9 – First preseason game, at San Diego Chargers, 7 p.m., Qualcomm Stadium
• Thursday, Aug. 16 – Preseason game vs. Cleveland Browns, 7 p.m., Lambeau Field (Midwest Shrine Game)
• Thursday, Aug. 23 – Preseason game at Cincinnati Bengals, 6 p.m., Paul Brown Stadium
• Monday, Aug. 27 – Roster reduction to a maximum of 75 players by 3 p.m. (CDT)
• Tuesday, Aug. 28 – Final practice open to public, 11 a.m., Nitschke Field
• Thursday, Aug. 30 – Preseason game vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 6 p.m., Lambeau Field (Bishop's Charities Game)
• Friday, Aug. 31 – Roster reduction to a maximum of 53 players by 8 p.m. (CDT)
• Saturday, Sept. 1 – After 11 a.m. (CDT), clubs may establish a practice squad of eight players
• Sunday, Sept. 9 – Regular-season opener vs. San Francisco 49ers, 3:25 p.m. (CDT)

LOTS OF FAMILIAR FACES

• General Manager Ted Thompsoncontinued his philosophy of building through the draft in the 2012 offseason, but also added some veteran players in free agency.
• Green Bay welcomes the return of 19 of 22 players that started against the N.Y. Giants in the NFC Divisional playoff.
• Seven Packers earned Pro Bowl recognition in 2011, the largest contingent Green Bay had voted into the all-star game since 1967. Six of those players return in 2012, with C*Scott Wells *departing to St. Louis in free agency.
• The Packers filled the void left by Wells through unrestricted free agency when they signed veteran CJeff Saturday, a five-time Pro Bowler with the Indianapolis Colts.
• Green Bay also added to its defensive line with the signings of DEAnthony Hargrove(Seattle) and free agentsPhillip MerlingandDaniel Muir.
• The continuity extends to the coaching staff, where almost the entire group returns for 2012 with a few changes in duties.
• Tom Clements, who tutored the quarterbacks for the past six seasons, moves into the role of offensive coordinator in 2012 after Joe Philbin left to become the head coach of the Miami Dolphins.
• Ben McAdoo, who coached the team's tight ends from 2006-11, will now direct the quarterbacks, whileJerry Fontenot, who tutored the running backs in 2011, will take over as tight ends coach.Alex Van Pelt, a six-year NFL assistant, enters his first season with the club as running backs coach.
• Two other coaches will have different duties, withJoel Hilgenbergserving as assistant offensive line coach andJohn Rushing as offensive assistant/special teams.

MEET THE DRAFT PICKS

• Training-camp storylines always hover around new players and just how they figure into the depth chart. This past April, the Packers added to an already deep and talented roster with an eight-man draft class.     
• LB Nick Perry, the first Southern California defensive player to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft since the Packers picked Clay Matthews in 2009, earned first-team All-Pacific-12 recognition as a junior in 2011. His career-high 9½ sacks led the conference and he was one of six finalists for the Hendricks Award, which is given to the nation's top defensive end.
• The Packers moved up in the second round to select DE Jerel Worthy out of Michigan State, the first of three times that GM Ted Thompson traded up in the 2012 NFL Draft. Worthy was a consensus first-team All-American as a junior in 2011, the first Spartan defensive tackle to earn first-team honors since Ronald Curl in 1971. Worthy was also the school's first All-Big Ten first-team selection since 1989.
• Green Bay traded up into the second round to draft a second player, CB Casey Hayward from Vanderbilt. Hayward twice earned second-team All-Southeastern Conference honors for the Commodores and tied for No. 3 in the country with a career-high seven INTs as a senior in 2011. He posted 15 INTs at Vanderbilt, tying him for the most in school history with Leonard Coleman (1980-83).
• In the fourth round, the Packers drafted DT Mike Daniels from Iowa. He  earned second-team All-Big Ten honors from the coaches following his senior campaign in 2011 when he posted a career-high 67 tackles and nine sacks. Daniels posted a team-high 24½ tackles for loss and 13 sacks over his final two seasons.
• Green Bay selected S Jerron McMillian out of Maine with its second selection in the fourth round. He was a first-team All-Colonial Athletic Conference selection in 2011 and earned second-team All-American honors from Phil Steele. McMillian finished second on the team in both tackles (92) and tackles for loss (11½) as a senior.
• Thompson traded up for the third and final time on draft weekend to select LB Terrell Manning from North Carolina State in the fifth round, the last of six consecutive defenders chosen by the Packers to open the draft. Manning earned second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors as a junior in 2011, recording a career-high 83 tackles despite missing two games with a knee injury.
• With the first of two choices in the seventh round, Green Bay selected T Andrew Datko from Florida State. He was a four-year starter at LT for the Seminoles but saw his senior campaign cut short after just four games due to a shoulder injury. Datko was named to the preseason watch list in 2011 for the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award. He allowed just one sack and was penalized only three times in 11 starts as a junior in 2010.
• The Packers drafted QB B.J. Coleman out of Tennesee-Chattanooga in the seventh round with their eighth and final selection. He finished his career at UTC ranked either first or second in every major statistical passing category despite playing only three seasons there after transferring from Tennessee. Coleman started 29 games in his three seasons at Chattanooga and threw for 6,871 yards and 52 TDs.

*This is an abbreviated version of the Packers-Chargers Preseason Week 1 Dope Sheet. To read the full version, download the PDF by **clicking here**. *