Brandon Jackson has played so well this pre-season that he’s leaving little doubt that he should be #2 on the depth chart at RB behind Ryan Grant.  Jackson has carried the ball 21 times for 100 yards (4.8 ypc) with 1 TD run this pre-season.  He has also caught 5 passes for 44 yards (8.8 avg) so far.  The Packers really hoped that Jackson would start to step up and they hope his good play carries over into the regular season.

The Packers dominated the Colts last night at Lambeau Field.  Aaron Rodgers was razor sharp once again as he completed 21 of 29 passes for 195 yards with 3 TD passes and 0 INTs.  Matt Flynn followed Rodgers in the game last night and he completed 8 of 13 passes for 80 yards with 2 TD passes and 0 INTs.  Graham Harrell finished up this game by completing 4 of 5 passes for 62 yards.  Ryan Grant led the way on the ground for the Packers with 36 yards rushing on 8 carries (4.5 ypc).  Kregg Lumpkin pitched in with 9 carries for 26 yards (2.9 ypc) with a TD run and he also caught 1 pass for 22 yards.  Fullback John Kuhn only carried the ball 1 time for 1 yard but he also caught 2 passes for 7 yards (3.5 avg) with 1 TD grab.  Jermichael Finley (6 rec, 85 yards), Donald Driver (5 rec, 35 yards), James Jones (4 rec, 30 yards) and rookie TE Andrew Quarless (2 rec, 20 yards) each had 1 TD catch apiece last night.  The Packers finished up with 93 yards rushing (2.7 ypc) and 337 yards passing last night.  They held onto the ball for a stunning 37:08 last night!

Undrafted rookie DE Frank Zombo out of Central Michigan led the way for the Packers’ D last night with 9 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 sack and 1 QB hit.  CB Tramon Williams pitched in with 7 tackles last night.  LB Cyril Obiozor also had a solid game last night with 3 tackles, 1 sack, 2 tackles for a loss and 1 QB hit.  The Colts finished up with 81 yards rushing (4.1 ypc) and 308 yards passing last night.  Packers’ FB Korey Hall even got in on the action last night with 2 tackles and a fumble recovery that he returned for a TD.  25-year old WR Jason Chery was the final Packer player to score last night on a 75-yard punt return for a TD.  This was a completing dominating effort by the Packers last night!

The Packers dominated this game offensively but they still had to hold on at the end to win it.  Aaron Rodgers was outstanding again as he completed 8 of 11 passes for 116 yards with 2 TD passes and 0 INTs.  Matt Flynn was so-so for the Packers in this game as he completed 10 of 20 passes for 130 yards with 1 INT.  He also carried the ball 3 times for 19 yards (6.3 ypc) but lost a fumble in this game.  Graham Harrell completed his only pass attempt in this game and it went for 23 yards.  Brandon Jackson led the way for the Packers on the ground in this game with 80 yards rushing on 11 carries (7.3 ypc) with 1 TD run.  TE Jermichael Finley led the way in the passing game for the Pack on Saturday Night with 4 grabs for 48 yards (12.0 avg) with 1 TD grab.  The Packers finished up with 174 yards rushing (4.5 ypc) and 247 yards passing in this game as they had possession of the ball for 35:25.

DE Frank Zombo led the way for the Packers in this game with 5 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 sack and 1 QB hit.  Linebacker Desmond Bishop pitched in with 5 tackles.  The Seahawks finished up with 75 yards rushing (4.2 ypc) and 197 yards passing in this game.

The Packers blew this game at the end as the Browns scored two field goals in the last 1:27 to win the game.  But, it’s just the pre-season and most of the guys on the field then are going to be cut anyway.  Aaron Rodgers looked razor sharp in his time on the field last night as he completed 12 of 13 passes for 159 yards with 1 TD pass.  Matt Flynn followed him into the game and he completed 9 of 15 passes for 69 yards with 1 INT.  He also carried the ball 1 time for 10 yards.  Graham Harrell finished up the game by completing 3 of 7 passes for 13 yards.  Kregg Lumpkin led the way on the ground for the Packers last night with 11 carries for 42 yards (3.8 ypc) with 1 TD run.  Quinn Porter pitched in with 38 yards on 9 carries (4.2 ypc) last night.  Greg Jennings (3 rec, 68 yards, TD),  James Jones (3 rec, 46 yards) and Donald Driver (3 rec, 19 yards) led the way in the passing game for the Packers last night.  The Packers finished up with 106 yards rushing (3.7 ypc) and 234 passing yards last night.

The defense was so-so for the Packers last night as they got burned quite a few times in the passing game.  CB Brandon Underwood (6 tackles, 2 passes defensed) and LB Spencer Havner (5 tackles) led the way on D for the Packers.  The Browns finished up with 85 yards rushing (3.9 ypc) and 211 passing yards last night.

The Packers have a couple of capable kickoff return men in 25-year old WR Jordy Nelson and 25-year old CB Will Blackmon.  Nelson played in 13 games for the Packers last season and he returned 25 kickoffs for 635 yards (25.4 avg).  He has now played in 29 games in his two years with the Packers and he has returned 36 kickoffs for 843 yards (23.4 avg).  Nelson is a big guy at 6’3″, 215 pounds so he has power to go along with his speed.  This is a good way for the Packers to get Nelson onto the field as he is currently the #4 WR on the team.

25-year old CB Will Blackmon is also a solid return man.  He played in 3 games for the Packers last season and he returned 10 kickoffs for 233 yards (23.3 avg).  Blackmon has now played in 32 games in his four years in the NFL and he has returned 66 kickoffs for 1,393 yards (21.1 avg). 

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE PACKERS KICKOFF RETURNERS in 2010:  C+

The Packers have placed 25-year old cornerback Josh Bell on the Injured Reserve List ending his season with a foot injury.  Bell played in 4 games for the Packers last season in which he had 5 tackles.  He has played in 13 games in his two years in the NFL and he has 39 tackles and he has defensed 4 passes.  This is not much of a blow to the Packers as Bell was going to have a hard time making the team.

Aaron Rodgers took a beating early last season before the offensive line came together in the second half of the year.  34-year old LT Chad Clifton is getting a little long in tooth but he’s still a good pass blocker when healthy.  LG will either be manned by Jason Spitz or Daryn Colledge in 2010.  My money is on Spitz to win the job as he’s a better all-around guard than Colledge is.  Scott Wells really played well at center after Jason Spitz got injured last season and it looks like he will be the starting center in 2010.  RG Josh Sitton is the run blocking demon of his group as he’s a nasty man when he steps between the white lines.  33-year old Mark Tauscher will be the RT for the Packers this year.  Tauscher doesn’t excel at anything but he’s at least solid at everything.  T.J. Lang and first round pick Bryan Bulaga give the Packers quality depth behind the starters for 2010.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE PACKERS O-LINE in 2010:  B

46-year old head coach Mike McCarthy is rising to the top of the NFL as a head coach.  He led the Packers to a 11-5 (68.8%) record during the regular season but they then fell 51-45 in OT against the Cardinals in the playoffs.  McCarthy now has a 38-26 (59.4%) record in his four years as the head coach of the Packers during the regular season and he’s 1-2 (33.3%) in the post season.  McCarthy is a tough guy and a strong leader for the Packers so I expect them to be good for a while.

25-year old kicker Mason Crosby has a very strong leg but he’s not the most accurate kicker around.  The Packers would love to see him improve in that part of his game.  Crosby connected on 27 of 36 field goals (75%) last season for the Packers.  He also made 48 of 49 extra points as he finished up with 129 points.  He has now played in 48 games in his three years with the Packers and he has made 85 of 109 field goals (78%).  He has also made 142 of 143 extra points as he has 397 points in his career with the Packers.  The Packers expect more out of Crosby and I think he will give it to them in 2010.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE PACKERS KICKERS in 2010:  B