The game had just about everything you could ask for from the Green Bay Packers perspective. Going into the first week of the preseason, you expect there to be some major standouts who follow through on a great start to training camp, but there will obviously be some players who fold under the spotlight for the first game of 2015.
It's important to remember this is just a puzzle piece in the entire process of deciding who will make the 53-man roster and which players to keep an eye on this season for a "breakout" year. But these games do have value and we can start to see what players might be on the rise.
Now let's take a quick look at some players who stood out against the New England Patriots, in both a positive and negative way.
Offense
Scott Tolzien, Quarterback:
Green Bay opted to keep three quarterbacks last year, giving Matt Flynn one more season as Aaron Rodgers' backup, while Tolzien continued to just train with the coaching staff in hopes of being the backup the following year. Tolzien and Flynn were both free agents, the Packers quickly made the decision to bring Tolzien back.
Tonight was the first glimpse of why that was the right decision as Tolzien was sharp throughout the night. It wasn't just the impressive numbers, completing 10-of-16 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown, Tolzien was throwing the football with more velocity and he handled pressure well. Seeing the increased velocity and his ability to fit the ball into closing windows along with his ability to navigate pressure and make the smart throw show the development he has made. The backup job belongs to him and Green Bay is in a better place than they were last year.
Brett Hundley, Quarterback:
Many expected Hundley to be a project when the Packers traded up to the 147th overall pick to select him. He had a slow start to OTA's, sliding behind undrafted free agent Matt Blanchard for practice reps. But Hundley has turned it around recently and that progress carried over into his first preseason game.
Hundley finished four-of-six with 60 yards and a touchdown, showing nice touch and movement in the pocket. One incompletion came when the Packers' were backed up near the goal line, pressure came free and Hundley slipped out of a potential sack, rolled out to his right and attempted a pass to Ty Montgomery. His other incompletion came on a toss up near the sideline that Montgomery got his hands on, but could only get one food in bounds. Hundley is a raw prospect whose touch and pocket presence need a lot of work but this was a big game as he fights to prove why Green Bay should keep three quarterbacks on the roster.
James Starks, Running Back:
Starks may not have flashed in a big way running the football with just five carries for 12 yards, but he was Green Bay's leading receiver on the night. He showed good hands out of the backfield, first catching a screen pass and later rolling out from the backfield and serving as a dump off option for Rodgers. Starks finished the game with three receptions for 38 yards and showed nice movement in the open field to get extra yards.
Ty Montgomery, Wide Receiver:
Montgomery served multiple roles on Thursday, being Hundley's go-to option with the second-team offense and also returning kicks and punts. While he didn't break off a big return, it was a pleasant surprise for Green Bay fans to see a young returner have no issues catching the ball. Montgomery showed the ability to get open, but his most impressive play came on a catch that would have counted in college. Montgomery made a leaping grab but couldn't get both feet down, although the fact that he was able to go up and catch the ball is something that will catch the eye of coaches and his quarterback.
David Bakhtiari and Don Barclay Offensive Tackles:
It's easier to just group these two together as both were mauled far too often during the game. Bakhtiari was beat by Chandler Jones for a sack on the first play of the game, gave up another sack to rookie Trey Flowers and on several other occasions, was either pushed back or got away with holding his guy. Bakhtiari is in no danger of losing his starting job at left tackle, but must improve his technique and fundamentals.
After missing last season with a torn ACL, Barclay returned to right tackle and showed the troublesome turnstile problems from 2013. Whether his opponent wanted to beat him inside or outside, they got after the quarterback and left Barclay reaching for air.
Defense
Datone Jones, Defensive End:
Jones will certainly be looking to get his reps in before he serves is Week 1 suspension to kick off the regular season. With that bad taste in his mouth and many wondering if the 2013 first-round pick would finally have a breakout season this year, Jones came through with two sacks on the night. While some of his work came with the backups, it was important for him to win the one-on-one battles and put some numbers on the stat sheet.
Jayrone Elliott, Outside Linebacker:
Elliott was a preseason sensation as an undrafted free agent last year and he kicked off the 2015 season with another strong performance. Coming off the edge, New England had no answer for the pass rusher, no matter whether they tried having the left tackle block him or a running back chip him and keep him away from the quarterback. Elliott provided constant pressure on Jimmy Garoppolo and with his special teams' ability, is a near certainty to make the 53-man roster.
Jake Ryan, Linebacker:
As picks ticked away in the fourth round, many wondered when the Packers would finally select an inside linebacker. At pick 129 they selected the Ohio State linebacker with the hope he could provide crucial depth at inside linebacker. Green Bay moved the rookie around between the outside and inside on Thursday and he showed surprising explosiveness getting into the backfield, finishing with a sack and two tackles for loss. With Clay Matthews sidelined by a knee injury and an impressive game for Ryan, it opens the door for him to see more reps this week during training camp and more snaps in Week 2.
Quinten Rollins, Cornerback:
Rollins was the Most Valuable Player for the team on Thursday, making four impact plays in the second quarter and always finding ways to be around the football. At times it seemed like someone had cloned Rollins, but it was one first-round pick taking over a game. His impact goes beyond the numbers, though his two leaping pass deflections showed excellent awareness and the ability to adjust his body to make a play. His instincts, ability to read the quarterback and react quickly are things you expect from a veteran corner. This year's second-round pick shined in his first game and while he isn't expected to start at corner, these type of games will make him impossible to keep off the field in the regular season.
Ladarius Gunter, Cornerback
There's always that one undrafted player whose names keeps popping up in training camp reports and then delivers on the hype in the preseason. Gunter has impressed coaches, Packers' writers and teammates along the way. The former Miami Hurricanes' had the size at 6'2" and 202 lbs., but a slow 40-time drove his stock out of the draft. Now he is showing why he doesn't need speed to impress people, he can let his on-field play do the talking. Gunter jumped a pass from Garoppolo and wrestled it away from the wide receiver for the interception. Green Bay needs more help at corner and Gunter is solidifying his case for a roster spot.
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Free Safety
Clinton-Dix showed plenty of promise last season, especially late in the season. The 2014 first-round pick is going to be a very good free safety, but two glaring problems popped up tonight. He whiffed badly on a tackle in the backfield, getting arms out but just not lining up and finishing the play. On Jonas Gray's 55-yard touchdown run, he was the last hope on the edge and he read and reacted to the play horribly, running into a blocker and letting Gray go on free for the touchdown. The instincts are there and he can close on plays quickly but until he can wrap up and finish the play, he will not become an upper-echelon free safety.