The Green Bay Packers went into training camp focused on doing a better job of protecting Aaron Rodgers.
The early returns have not been encouraging.
Having allowed nine sacks through two pre-season games, the team's protection problems appear to be deeper than simply deciding whether to start TJ Lang or Derek Sherrod, the rookie first-round pick, at left guard.
Since Rodgers took over at quarterback from Brett Favre three years ago, the Packers have given up 123 sacks, an average of 41 per season.
In the five years before that, they allowed an average of 20.6 sacks per season.
While the ability of Rodgers to extend plays on his feet is a factor in the increased number of sacks, his numbers (34 in 2008, a league-high 50 in 2009 and 31 last year) are still too high, Joe Philbin, the offensive co-ordinator, said.
"If you look at our offensive production since [Rodgers] has become the quarterback, the one thing that doesn't fit what we're all about is the amount of sacks we've had," Philbin said.
"We rank about 27th in the league, where we used to be in the top five. So that's an emphasis. We did not get off to a good start with five sacks [in the first pre-season game]. That's not anywhere near where we want to be. So it's a little bit frustrating.
"We've got to do a better job."
Given how much Sherrod has struggled so far this pre-season, it came as no surprise when Mike McCarthy, the coach, decided to start Lang this week at Indianapolis and in the September 8 regular-season opener against New Orleans.
Sherrod, who was playing out of position at left guard after playing only at tackle in college at Mississippi State, sprained his knee against the Arizona Cardinals last weekend, but McCarthy said the injury had little bearing on the decision.
Lang, meanwhile, was rewarded for his professional approach."I've been here long enough to know that the depth chart can change day by day," he said. "It's my job now to play to a higher level and be an impact player for this team. I don't want to come in as a new starter for this team and have any glaring holes. I want to fill that spot and do my job."
Lang said he was motivated by the coaches giving Sherrod most of the work with the first team.
"Honestly, it made me work that much harder. I don't know if that was their goal, to kind of light a fire under [me], but whatever they did, it definitely worked," Lang said.
"Now I'm ready to set new goals for myself: be an impact player and be a guy that goes out there game after game and be consistent and continue to do my job."
COMPANY PROFILE
● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
SERIE A FIXTURES
Saturday (UAE kick-off times)
Atalanta v Juventus (6pm)
AC Milan v Napoli (9pm)
Torino v Inter Milan (11.45pm)
Sunday
Bologna v Parma (3.30pm)
Sassuolo v Lazio (6pm)
Roma v Brescia (6pm)
Verona v Fiorentina (6pm)
Sampdoria v Udinese (9pm)
Lecce v Cagliari (11.45pm)
Monday
SPAL v Genoa (11.45pm)
Squad: Majed Naser, Abdulaziz Sanqour, Walid Abbas, Khamis Esmail, Habib Fardan, Mohammed Marzouq (Shabab Al Ahli Dubai), Khalid Essa, Muhanad Salem, Mohammed Ahmed, Ismail Ahmed, Ahmed Barman, Amer Abdulrahman, Omar Abdulrahman (Al Ain), Ali Khaseif, Fares Juma, Mohammed Fawzi, Khalfan Mubarak, Mohammed Jamal, Ahmed Al Attas (Al Jazira), Ahmed Rashid, Mohammed Al Akbari (Al Wahda), Tariq Ahmed, Mahmoud Khamis, Khalifa Mubarak, Jassim Yaqoub (Al Nasr), Ali Salmeen (Al Wasl), Yousef Saeed (Sharjah), Suhail Al Nubi (Baniyas)
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The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
On sale: Now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: eight-speed PDK
Power: 630bhp
Torque: 820Nm
Price: Dh683,200
On sale: now
Grand slam winners since July 2003
Who has won major titles since Wimbledon 2003 when Roger Federer won his first grand slam
Roger Federer 19 (8 Wimbledon, 5 Australian Open, 5 US Open, 1 French Open)
Rafael Nadal 16 (10 French Open, 3 US Open, 2 Wimbledon, 1 Australian Open)
Novak Djokovic 12 (6 Australian Open, 3 Wimbledon, 2 US Open, 1 French Open)
Andy Murray 3 (2 Wimbledon, 1 US Open)
Stan Wawrinka 3 (1 Australian Open, 1 French Open, 1 US Open)
Andy Roddick 1 (1 US Open)
Gaston Gaudio 1 (1 French Open)
Marat Safin 1 (1 Australian Open)
Juan Martin del Potro 1 (1 US Open)
Marin Cilic 1 (1 US Open)
RESULT
Copa del Rey, semi-final second leg
Real Madrid 0
Barcelona 3 (Suarez (50', 73' pen), Varane (69' OG)
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
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What She Ate: Six Remarkable Women & the Food That Tells Their Stories
Laura Shapiro
Fourth Estate
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UAE players with central contracts
Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Rameez Shahzad, Shaiman Anwar, Adnan Mufti, Mohammed Usman, Ghulam Shabbir, Ahmed Raza, Qadeer Ahmed, Amir Hayat, Mohammed Naveed and Imran Haider.
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Classification from Tour de France after Stage 17
1. Chris Froome (Britain / Team Sky) 73:27:26"
2. Rigoberto Uran (Colombia / Cannondale-Drapac) 27"
3. Romain Bardet (France / AG2R La Mondiale)
4. Fabio Aru (Italy / Astana Pro Team) 53"
5. Mikel Landa (Spain / Team Sky) 1:24"
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
Quarter-finals
Saturday (all times UAE)
England v Australia, 11.15am
New Zealand v Ireland, 2.15pm
Sunday
Wales v France, 11.15am
Japan v South Africa, 2.15pm
Company%C2%A0profile
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