Some interesting stuff from practice today..

- As expected, Chad Clifton took part in all the activities, but one surprising note was that he worked with the No. 1 offense in the screen drill. That could indicate that McCarthy intends to start him against the Detroit Lions. YES!!!!!

- Pickett returned to practice.. YES!!!

- WR Greg Jennings ran on the side under the watchful eye of McCarthy, but all of the work he did while the media was present was straight-line running. He did some rapid jab-step work before running sprints at less than full speed.

- Missing from practice were: RB James Starks (ankle) and RT Bryan Bulaga (knee). It was thought Bulaga had a decent shot at practicing Wednesday, but Starks' return was not in the plans.

- TE Jermichael Finley was not present.

Finley missing practice? Wonder what that could be about.

darklotus66 wrote:Finley missing practice? Wonder what that could be about.

Getting the stone chiseled off his hands?

Slightly torn on what to do with players. With a guy like Clifton, that would play if it was a normal week, part of me wants to hold him out and get him really healthy for the playoffs, but part also wants to get him some game time before playoffs. Especially if Rodgers is playing at all, want the best line possible to protect him.

And for guys that are healthy, don't want to risk injury. But also don't want them to take 2 weeks off and ruin their rhythm.

I would like to see Clifton get a little game action before the playoffs. Yes, he is a vet, but a half of game action could go along way after being out so long.

I say if your cleared medically, you play a half.

RetardRon wrote:I would like to see Clifton get a little game action before the playoffs. Yes, he is a vet, but a half of game action could go along way after being out so long.

I say if your cleared medically, you play a half.

Probably what I would like to see as well. Yes Clifton has a lot of experience, but to get him back into shape with the line would be nice. Of course, the line likely won't look the same as it will come playoffs, with Bulaga questionable to start, so Lang possibly continuing at RT, unless they put Newhouse over there.

If it weren't the Lions, I might feel better about starters playing a half. But that D-line can be dominating, and we all saw first-hand how crazy Suh is just a month ago, wouldn't put it past him to whip Rodgers around by the facemask.

RT, unless they put Newhouse over there.

Thats what I would prefer...

A - Get your left side of Lang and Cliffy some reps together..

B - You need to have your best guards playing in this game while Rodgers is in..

C - The right side is going to be different come playoffs no matter what you do. But Sitton & Bulaga have plenty of reps together.

Treat it like the 3rd preseason game. Let your starters go into the 2nd half, and pull them at some point. The Lions do have something to play for. A win gets them a trip to New York or Dallas instead of San Fran or New Orleans. Thats a big difference, so they may go all out the whole game.

Hypothetically..you keep Rodgers for just the first half and he throws 3 TD's...

Give him the second half so he can try for 2 more to tie the record?

I wouldn't

I probably would...

But that's speaking as a fan, not someone who has to be accountable to an entire organization and fanbase if something goes wrong.

adambr2 wrote:Hypothetically..you keep Rodgers for just the first half and he throws 3 TD's...

Give him the second half so he can try for 2 more to tie the record?

No

Now, 4 TD in the first half, 2 to break, why not?

I'd pull Rodgers mid-way through the second quarter if the offense looks good. Why, why, why would you keep him out there with the dirty Lions defense? What's in the back of every member of the Detroit defense? If we get a clean dirty hit on Rodgers, the packers go down easy in the play offs. There's 1,000 ways to hit Rodgers, injure him, and not even get fined. It only takes 1. Fuck that.

I think they pull him even if he gets 3/4 TDs in the first half. Remember, McCarthy pulled him early when he had a QB rating of like 98 to break his streak.

Well, he can just as easily get hurt in the 1st or 2nd quarter as the 3rd or 4th, so if we're going to play it safe, you may as well ride Flynn/Harrell the entire game.

Unless we're concerned that Rodgers not seeing any game action from Dec. 25th til January 15th is going to make him less effective at that time than he would be otherwise.

On one hand, I want to go balls out and beat them so you make the Lions a 6th seed, and essentially, not a playoff team, because no one's going into New Orleans and beating them. I'd much rather face the 4/5 winner between Dallas/NYG/Atlanta in the divisional round than Detroit. Detroit is better than all three of those teams.

On the other hand, the Lions are dirty as shit and will be taking every chance they get to eliminate Aaron Rodgers permanently from the equation. Rodgers really shouldn't be active at all on Sunday.

the only thing rodgers should be doing sunday is PhotoBombing the captains pic.

Another reason it might be good to give Rodgers some game time today is the weather. We haven't had a game this season in cold, windy conditions like he will probably be facing in the playoffs. No snow in the forecast until this evening for GB, but certainly cold and very windy.

No go. Rodgers inactive for the game along with Bulaga, Cobb, Starks, Jennings, Woodson, and Matthews. Would be amazing if we pull this one out, as without Woodson and Matthews our defense could give up 600 yards. Just have to hope no injuries.

Literally 0 seconds into the game and Pat Lee makes just an awful play. I guess that's a major reason, other than the presence of Cobb, why he doesn't return kicks anymore.