The Green Bay Packers were big fans of the no-huddle in the preseason.
It’s time to huddle up.
Not on the field, but in practice. The Packers’ offense needs to re-group after an embarrassing performance in Seattle last week in the season opener.
The team had issues dealing with cornerback Richard Sherman, avoiding — either by plan or by circumstance — his side of the field the whole game. The Packers’ dynamic passing game? Regulated to one side of the field with a stacked defense ready for anything.
Rookie receivers Davante Adams, a second-round pick, and Jeff Janis, a seventh-round pick, who both beat out more experienced receivers in training camp, were nonfactors against Seattle. Perhaps because they are too raw, or perhaps they have yet to earn the trust of their meticulous quarterback. Whatever the reason, a Packers offense that thrives on having multiple targets was reduced to two.
The offensive line crumbled when starting right tackle Bryan Bulaga went down with an MCL injury. Bulaga, who tore his ACL in the same knee last season, is practicing this week, though with a noticeable limp. He might not be able to play this week, meaning the Packers might have to play Derek Sherrod against the strength of the New York Jets defense.
Not facing the Seahawks’ defense will help, but not if the Packers make the same mistakes they made in Seattle.
“We know the offensive power that we have,” receiver Randall Cobb said. “We know we can be dominant. It’s just about executing the plays as called.”
The Packers, hopefully, took their extra days of preparation this week to get the offense on the same page.
“With the things that went on in the last game, it was clearly about fundamentals,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. “With the Jets coming in here … they’re very confident.”
Being at home will help the Packers’ confidence.
“As a general rule, it’s always going to be easier to go faster and more diverse at home,” quarterback Aaron Rodgers said Wednesday. “I’ll be able to do more verbal stuff. On the road, it has to be 95 percent nonverbal. … We should be able get more done this week.”
The Packers are facing an opponent that has a struggling secondary. Top corner Dee Milliner practiced this week for the first time in a month. The other starting corner, Dimitri Patterson, went AWOL in the preseason and was cut.
Despite that juicy target, Rodgers said the Packers are focused on running the ball better.
“We had, Thursday, a lot of dropbacks,” Rodgers said. “If we’re able to work in some of the action passing game, that’s when you can really open up some of those holes down field.”
Packers running back Eddie Lacy, who suffered a concussion in the opener, has progressed quickly through the protocol this week.
The Packers receivers have focused on breaking tackles, which they couldn’t do against Seattle’s defense.
“(Jets defenders) tackle really well,” Cobb said. “That’s something we didn’t do well last week, break tackles. That’s a big emphasis for us on the perimeter.”
With the defense struggling with new schemes and new players, Rodgers and the Packers’ offense will have to carry the team for a while.
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