Thursday Night Pre-season game thoughts-Packers-Chargers, Steelers-Eagles, Bills-Redskins

I was watching three of the pre-season games intently through the first half of each of them and here are some quick thoughts about these games.

Keep in mind this is only pre-season.

Packers-Chargers

Packers-

The Packers do not look sharp yet. Fumbles, miscues, poor blocking. I think the poor blocking is what sticks out the most–and this could be an issue that has the offense take a step back in 2012 (with how proficient they were last year it’d be hard to imagine they replicate that same kind of success).

Nick Perry had his first sack, though he also tagged on a taunting penalty. Jon Gruden didn’t know what he did to get the penalty, it looked to me like he pushed Rivers’ head down when he was getting up.

James Starks had a rough outing and people will be clamoring for a different running back–is Alex Green that guy?

Chargers

Melvin Ingram absolutely abused anyone who was put in front of him in tonight’s game. He’s athletic and has terrific hustle. The knock on Ingram, of course, was his arm length and whether or not he had a true position. His position is helping out an anemic pass rush and so far he’s looking really good.

The Chargers were also very sloppy in today’s game. Will they ever be a crisp, well run team under Norv Turner? It seems not (obviously not making this conclusion from just tonight’s game). But bad mistakes are becoming a trademark of the Chargers.

Vincent Brown-I will draft you in my fantasy league. I expect a big year from him in 2012.

Steelers-Eagles

Steelers

Did we learn anything about the Steelers from this game? I’m not sure. Mike Adams left the game with an injury. The Oline had trouble containing the terrific Eagles defensive line. And their defense is top notch. Like I said, in the first half not much was gathered about the Steelers.

Eagles

There were some interesting developments.

Mychal Kendricks is fast. He doe snot always make the right decision, but he’s very athletic and all over the field.

The Eagles punting game looks like it might be very scary…Chas Henry and Matt Mcbriar both struggled.

Mike Kafka looked awful tonight, there was a point in the game where Michael Vick hit his hand on the helmet of Jason Kelce (I believe) and had to leave the game. Kafka came in and made bad decisions and bad throws all over the field. If Vick gets hurt, the Eagles are in trouble (that can be said about nearly all starting quarterbacks, but few have Vick’s injury history).

The Eagles like fast little Wide Receivers. Johnson is the next wave of him. He had 4 receptions for 85 yards, and one 70 yard touchdown.

Jaiquawn Jarrett played poorly.
I wondered who would be the Eagles number two back and so far it definitely looks like Dion Lewis will win that spot. (But keep in mind that this is very early still)

Bills vs Redskins

Everyone was excited to see rookie Cornerback Stephon Gilmore’s first game…Must have been all the hoopla.

Redskins

Robert Griffin III-showed some poise and didn’t make any really bad decisions. He went through his progressions pretty well and completed 4 passes in six attempts for 70 yards. He still has to improve his consistency in his foot work and his release and he’ll have to stay healthy, but so far a nice start for the talented rookie.

The Niles Paul TE experiment is still in it’s infancy and Paul has a long ways to go. It’s an intriguing possibility.

Bad Rex Grossman showed up tonight, but who cares.

Really the story beings and ends here with RGIII and his solid debut.
Bills

Tyler Thigpen got first crack at securing the backup quarterback spot….and looked awful.

The WR position is still very much up in the air as to how everyone will be slotted behind Stevie Johnson.

The Bills hope that T.J. Graham can be the deep threat on this team, and if not this offense isn’t diverse enough in the passing game to consistently put up points. Slants, slants, slant. Tashard Choice did not doing anything tonight to inspire confidence that last year’s lack luster performances are a thing of the past.

The Bills pass rush did not overwhelm the Redskins offensive line this game. Doesn’t mean they won’t be great in 2012, but early on not dominant on the field-mostly just solid.

Add in your thoughts about any of these games (or others) in the comment section.