Second-year cornerback Davon House is having a very good training camp
Twelve months ago, the only similarities between current Packer Davon House and former Packer Al Harris were their hair and uniform number. Unlike the old No. 31, the new No. 31 was a selective hitter in run support who rarely got physical with receivers. Neither is the case anymore. House has been throwing his body at running backs and getting in the face of receivers all summer. Harris would be proud.
Prior to injuring his left shoulder last Thursday night, House was the clear frontrunner at right corner. And as long as he’s not out for too long, that shouldn’t change. There’s simply not much competition at the position. Rookie Casey Hayward is better suited for the slot, slumping Sam Shields is better suited for therapy at the moment and Jarrett Bush is better suited for any role that doesn’t require covering receivers.
Coach Mike McCarthy talks all the time about players making a jump from year one to year two, and nobody on the roster has made as big a leap as House. The 23-year-old was a big tease last summer. He was one of those young players who looked good until he actually had to do something. That’s not the case anymore. House still looks the part of an NFL cornerback, but now he’s also performing like one.
UPDATE: House suffered a dislocation. He’ll be out 2 to 3 weeks and then be reevaluated. If the shoulder doesn’t heal properly, he would either have to wear a harness all season or have surgery.
Devon House is what makes hardcore football fans hardcore. Young guy gets drafted in the middle of the draft, doesn’t show much in rookie season but blossoms in 2nd year. The two plays House made in the SD game were eye-popping. Perfect downfield coverage on a top WR and he played the ball perfectly while in the air. Add to that the hellacious blowing up of the RB in the backfield on a run play. In those two plays House gave Packer fans everywhere reason to be very excited about his future. We need House even more than Bishop becasue the drop-off at CB is much bigger than at ILB. CB also is an impact position. ILB tends not to be.
House and Hayward will be keys to how well the Packer D fares in 2012.
Suggested blog topic: DLine will be area of toughest cuts.
The cupboard seemed bare at the end of last season, with Raji and Pickett the only sure things and neither of them much of a threat rushing the passer.
Wynn and Wilson seem like place-holders, guys you’re looking to replace.
Rookie 7th Rd pick Lawrence Guy looks the part in a uniform but he was IR all season and he was a 7th round pick for a reason.
Then there was Mike Neal, a power guy and a surprise R2 draft pick a couple of years ago who now has more surgeries than Frankenstein. I’m forgetting the big guy who has been jettisoned already, Greene, from the Jets, who had the big play vs Roethlisberger in the SB.
So TT had his job cut out for him this year to retool his disappointing DL. And early results appear as though only Raji and Pickett are assured of returning in 2012.
Mike Neal still has a chance to save his career in GB, once he returns from his suspension depending on if he can stay away from the surgeon’s knife.
TT acquired three free agents: Hargrove; Merling; and, Muir – all whom are having nice, if not outstanding, camps. Hargrove of course, is facing an 8 game suspension. he is only a few years away from his top form in New Orleans’ SuperBowl year. Muir is a former Packer castoff that played well in Indy and has looked far better this season than Green did last year. Merling could be the diamond in the rough. The former top pick of the 2nd round the year the Pack traded out of R1 and drafted Jordy Nelson in R2, was the guy I had circled for the Pack’s pick late in R1. Things never worked out for him in Miami and he has been given a 2nd chance in GB where he’s finally playing the position he is now best suited for; 3-4 DE. It’s early still but he’s looking like a viable replacement for Cullen Jenkins.
Of course, TT did more than just sign FA at DL – he also traded up in R2 for Jerel Worthy, who was widely regarded as a top 28 pick. Thus far, Worthy has not disappointed. He and Merling could be a huge upgrade over Wynn and Wilson at RDE.
And then came another surprise, vertically challenged and undersized Mike Daniels caught TT’s fancy in R4. Daniels looks to be a dynamic inside pass rush guy if he can stay on the field.
At this early stage of camp, here’s my 6 Keepers at DL:
(1) Raji
(2) Pickett
(3) Worthy
(4) Daniels
(5) Merling
(6) Guy or Muir until Neal and Hargrove come back.
I also believe there’s a chance GB will keep 7 DL this year.
I don’t need to write that story – you just did.
Hey Michael wut do u think about this surprise for cuts…. Packers go with 2 quarterbacks this year….Rodgers and bj Coleman…tell me y I’m crazy plz
Don’t know where you got that House wasn’t physical, but he has always played w/ a very physical and aggressive style! First line of his NFL Combine page… House is a physical corner that excels in press coverage. LOL
House is a great fit for the Packers precisely becuz he is physical and excels at press coverage. Something the Packers play the vast majority of the time, or at least they did prior to Tramon Williams injury last year. You didn’t get a chance to see House last year, but he is a very good CB prospect. Rated by CBS higher than Hayward was rated… So he does have alot of potential and upside.
House has alot of Harris in him, both physical CB that excel in press coverage. The difference is that House has alot more speed and better ball skills. Make no mistake House will be a starter for the Packers, unless injuries derail him. It a shame he hurt his shoulder, he seemed to have the starting job locked up. Hope he doesn’t need season ending surgery so he can gain some needed experience. Even if he plays this year, he’ll be wearing a brace to limit movement in the shoulder, so you won’t be seeing the real Davon House.
I don’t judge players by what others say or write. I judge players by what I see with my own eyes, and I didn’t see a very physical player last summer.
Respond to my other comment on this thread plz mike!
I’m in the process of writing a post on that very subject. Look for it later in the week.
Sweet
Thats just it… You didnt see House last year at all. So you really had no basis w/ which to make that statement.
I scouted House heavily leading into the ’11 draft. watched everything I could find on him and he alway showed up w/ his physical press coverage and aggressive style of play. He was rated as a mid 2nd round pick, but played at a small and really bad school and he played his entire Sr season w/ a foot injury that meant he was in a walking boot all week and took it off to play each Saturday. Thought the Packer should have taken him in the 2nd, not that I was upset w/ Cobb and moreso in the 3rd. We got a steal in the 4th round!
He played physical n college…. He however as a wide eyed rookie who wasn’t confident n scheme, his pro ability….etc…. Wasn’t as physical … Wits so hard to grasp story?
Well, I saw somebody running around in a No. 31 jersey when I was at practice last summer.