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To prepare for the Kansas City Chiefs and Green Bay Packers preseason finale on Thursday night, I spoke with Tex over at Acme Packing Company, SB Nation's Packers blog. Our Q&A can be seen below. Read this for a list of potential Packers roster cuts that could interest the Chiefs.
Who is one player on the Packers offense Chiefs fans don't know but should?
APC: The big player Packers fans will be watching is fifth-round draft pick Corey Linsley. He'll be taking over for the injured JC Tretter as the starting center, and seven days after this game, he'll be anchoring the line against the Seattle Seahawks' defense.
Both centers have played very well this preseason, especially in the run game, and Linsley is known for his strength and experience at center in college (which is rare for the Packers, since most of their offensive line draft picks play left tackle in college). He's got the added benefit of playing between two very good guards, though, so it will be interesting to see how he plays with the starters.
Who is one player on the Packers defense Chiefs fans don't know but should?
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APC: Normally, I'd say Mike Daniels is the guy to know, but he's been making the rounds this season in the media and is an easy pick for a breakout year. Since he'll get substantial playing time and is fighting for a roster spot, I'll say outside linebacker Jayrone Elliott is the guy to watch.
He moved from 4-3 DE to 3-4 OLB in his last year as a Toledo Rocket, and has transitioned well to the pros as an undrafted free agent. Furthermore, he has four sacks in the past two games, including a ridiculous stretch of three sacks in just four plays (!) against the Rams' third-string line. That's insane no matter who's blocking you. Mike McCarthy said that Elliott will play more than he ever has against the Chiefs, and you'll see him on both defense and special teams.
If this were a regular season game, what's your prediction?
APC: Regular season pick:In a regular season game, I'd be leaning towards the Packers. The pass rush appears revitalized thanks to the addition of Julius Peppers, who had a fantastic game last week, so doubling Clay Matthews on every pass rush is no longer an option for opposing teams. The Packers' starting offense has been prolific in their eight drives this preseason (four TDs and a field goal) and the balance with Aaron Rodgers and Eddie Lacy is exciting to think about.
The biggest concern for the Packers' defense is against the run, which plays into the Chiefs' strengths. I think a big run or two from Jamaal Charles keeps it relatively close, but the Packers would win a home game by a score of about 31-23.