Alex Green » Packer Update

Likes And Dislikes From Practice

Posted by Michael Rodney at 12:17 am 17 Responses »

Aug 032012

Third-year safety Morgan Burnett is having an outstanding training camp

GREEN BAY- Here are my 7 likes and dislikes from Thursday’s practice (the first I’ve seen in person this summer):

1) I liked watching a young quarterback who can really sling the ball. Seventh-round pick B.J. Coleman has a lot to learn and his accuracy is hit or miss, but his physical skills are obvious. Mike McCarthy has made decent quarterbacks out of players with a lot less ability.

2) I liked watching second-year running back Alex Green turn it loose. He doesn’t look like a player less than nine months removed from major knee surgery. He’s going to make an impact this season.

3) I liked watching the right side of the offensive line dominate. A completely healthy Josh Sitton looks as good as ever and Bryan Bulaga looks like he’s ready to go from being very good to being great.

4) I liked watching the energy defensive lineman Daniel Muir and cornerback Davon House bring to the defense. That side of the ball often looked like the walking dead last season. They often played that way too.

5) I liked watching three-time Pro Bowl outside linebacker Clay Matthews hustle all over the field like a free agent trying to make the team. That’s why he’s so special. Of course, the immense natural talent also helps a bit.

6) I liked watching Dezman Moses get physical with running backs. I’m still not sure if he has the physical skills to ever be a starter, but he’s a better prospect than Vic So’oto, last summer’s rookie sensation.

7) I liked watching safety Morgan Burnett mature before my very eyes. This isn’t the same timid player who often went unnoticed on the practice field a year ago. This player appears destined for big things.

1) I disliked watching new No. 2 quarterback Graham Harrell too often settle for check downs when wide receivers were open down the field. He’s definitely improved from a year ago, but he’s nowhere near as impressive as Matt Flynn was in his third training camp.

2) I disliked watching undersized right defensive ends C.J. Wilson and Jerel Worthy get pushed around at times. Offenses are going to run a lot to the left against the Packers, and there’s a good chance they’ll find success. It would be nice to see Lawrence Guy step up. He has ideal size for the position.

3) I disliked watching backup right guard Ray Dominguez leave practice with an ankle injury. The offensive line was extremely thin even before arguably the group’s seventh-best player got carted off the field.

4) I disliked watching inside linebacker A.J. Hawk continue to hold down a starting position. He gives 100%, but he’s exactly the type of marginal veteran player that coaches are almost always looking to replace.

5) I disliked watching cornerback Sam Shields struggle to defend some of the same receivers he blanketed two summers ago. He wasn’t bad, but he’s definitely a young player who needs a boost in confidence.

6) I disliked watching the coaches waste precious snaps on Jarrett Bush at right corner. He’s not the answer, and based on what I saw, Shields, House and rookie Casey Hayward need all the reps they can get.

7) I didn’t like watching practice come to an end. There’s few better things to do on a beautiful summer night than watch the Packers play – even when it’s against themselves. Family Night should be a real blast!

Starks Needs To Stay On The Field

Posted by Michael Rodney at 10:31 am 5 Responses »

Jul 062012

Packer Update will highlight one key position every few days between now and the start of training camp. Today’s post focuses on the running backs.

Under pressure: Much was expected of James Starks after he exploded onto the scene in the 2010 playoffs. Unfortunately, injuries limited him to only 133 carries last season. Injuries have been an issue with Starks for the past three years. He missed his senior season in college with a shoulder, the first nine games of his rookie season in the NFL with a hamstring and three full games and parts of four others last season with an ankle. The Packers still believe in Starks’ talent, but unless he can stay on the field, the team will almost certainly have a new starting halfback in 2013.

Breakout candidate: Head coach Mike McCarthy was just getting ready to incorporate Alex Green into the offense when the rookie tore his ACL in week 7. His rehabilitation is going well and it’s likely he’ll be ready to practice on a limited basis when training camp begins. If healthy, Green has a chance to be an exciting change-of-pace back and a weapon out of the backfield on third down. He catches the ball effortlessly and he can make people miss in the open field. How much he contributes this season will be determined by his knee and his ability to pass protect.

Key role player: The emergence of rookie Brandon Saine last season is one of the reasons GM Ted Thompson has shown little interest in re-signing Ryan Grant. The former Ohio State star was promoted from the practice squad in early November, and while he touched the ball only 28 times from scrimmage in eight games, he nevertheless impressed the coaches with his consistency. Saine catches everything and he’s rarely out of position when it comes to picking up the blitz. He probably doesn’t have the run skills to be a starter in the NFL, but he should be a useful role player for years. Older fans can think of him as a more talented Herman Fontenot.

Rookie watch: Thompson didn’t draft a running back in April, but he did sign 3 intriguing rookie free agents. Marc Tyler‘s off-the-field problems and slow 40 kept him from being drafted, but he does have talent. Duane Bennett isn’t as talented, but he was far more productive in college. Fullback Nic Cooper took most of the snaps in place of John Kuhn (knee) at last month’s minicamp. If the Packers once again decide to begin the season with only four running backs, there almost certainly won’t be any room for a new face on the 53-man roster. That means Tyler, Bennett and Cooper will likely be fighting for spots on the practice squad.

Best depth-chart battle: Starks struggles at times to pick up the blitz, so the coaches would like to replace him on third down. Green and Saine both have the ability to fill that role. A healthy Green will probably get first crack, but Saine is too dependable to count out. He just might wind up being the best man for the job.

Green And Sherrod Ahead Of Schedule

Posted by Michael Rodney at 3:00 pm 4 Responses »

May 132012

Second-year left tackle should be ready for training camp

Mike McCarthy spoke to the media following the final rookie orientation practice of the weekend. His most significant comments dealt with the status of three players coming off major injuries. According to the coach, tight end Andrew Quarless will be “challenged” to be ready for training camp. The former Penn State star suffered torn ligaments in his right knee against the Giants last December. On a more positive note, running back Alex Green (knee) and offensive lineman Derek Sherrod (leg) should be good to go when the doors to St. Norbert’s College open in late July.

Even though McCarthy said Quarless is ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation, it’s still likely that the 24-year-old will begin the regular season on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. He suffered a gruesome injury only five months ago and it makes no sense to rush him back. Plus, the Packers are fairly deep at tight end. Ryan Taylor and D.J. Williams should be much improved in their second seasons and Tom Crabtree is a reliable veteran.

That Green will be ready for camp comes as no surprise. Reports on his progress have been consistently positive throughout the offseason. The former Hawaii star will probably begin the regular season behind James Starks on the depth chart, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him take over as the starter at some point. And even if he doesn’t, Green should still see plenty of action. McCarthy prefers not to have one back carry the ball 20 times in a game – a philosophy that makes even more sense when the back in question is as injury-prone as Starks. Green could also see the field on third downs if he shows the ability to pass protect. His elusiveness in the open field will make him a threat on screens.

McCarthy said Sherrod is really progressing, but I have my doubts about his availability for the start of camp. The former Mississippi State standout, who broke the fibula and tibia in his right leg last December, will be 7 months removed from surgery in late July. The average recovery time for this type of injury is 6 to 8 months. If – and it’s a big if – Sherrod is good to go in late July, he’ll almost certainly be given a chance to compete for the starting job at left tackle. Marshall Newhouse figures to be atop the depth chart going into the summer, but he struggled at times last season and is vulnerable to competition – especially if the competition is a very talented former first-round pick.

Notes: Big Extensions Are Coming

Posted by Michael Rodney at 10:05 am 13 Responses »

May 072012

Rodgers will likely receive a huge extension this year

Rodgers' next contract could be the biggest in league history

The Packers will likely spend close to $200 million in the next 12 months to extend quarterback Aaron Rodgers and linebacker Clay Matthews. That’s why the team is being very careful with its money this offseason. While GM Ted Thompson would love to keep ascending offensive lineman T.J. Lang and Pro Bowl wide receiver Greg Jennings – both scheduled to become unrestricted free agents in 2013 – he may have to let them go. Jennings is obviously more of a priority, but his asking price figures to start at around $12 million a year. That might be too rich for the Packers – especially if Jordy Nelson proves himself capable of being a legitimate No. 1 receiver and Randall Cobb develops into a consistent offensive threat in his second season.

Safety Sean Richardson was one of the most sought-after undrafted rookies. Fourteen teams tried to sign the former Vanderbilt standout, but he chose the Packers. A lack of depth at the position, as well as Green Bay’s reputation for treating UDFAs fairly obviously played a part in his decision. Richardson looks like a first-round pick. He’s big (6’2, 216), fast (4.49) and strong (22 reps). Unfortunately, he didn’t play like a first-round pick in college. Or even a seventh-round pick. These “looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane” types almost never make it in the National Football League, but there’s no harm in taking a look at him in training camp. His best chance to make the final 53-man roster is to excel on special teams. His size and straight-line speed should serve him very well in this capacity, but some experts question whether he has the requisite toughness.

Thompson didn’t close the door on re-signing Ryan Grant until he was confident that Alex Green would be fully recovered from his ACL surgery by the start of training camp. Head coach Mike McCarthy was so impressed by Green’s development last season that he was prepared to make the rookie a big part of the offense heading into the playoffs. Unfortunately, the torn ACL put an end to those plans. The one good thing that came from the injury was the emergence of Brandon Saine. The former Ohio State star showed soft hands and the ability to pass protect. He also ran harder than he ever did in college. The Packers feel good enough about these three young backs to move on from Grant.

Some cynics suggest Eliot Wolf‘s rapid ascent up the organizational ladder has as much to do with Thompson’s loyalty to Ron Wolf as it does with his ability to judge talent, but there’s a problem with that theory. In the past 12 months, two other teams have tried to hire the 30-year-old. Philadelphia came calling in May 2011 and Oakland made inquiries just a few months ago. In each case, Thompson promoted Wolf in order to keep him. It remains to be seen what happens the next time a team calls. Besides offering him more money and/or the promise of replacing Thompson, there’s really nothing else the Packers can do to keep Wolf. He’s risen as high as he can go in the front office.

Joe Philbin recently admitted to the Miami media that he played only a small role in the development of Rodgers. He wasn’t being modest, he was being truthful. As offensive coordinator, Philbin spent very little time with the reigning league MVP during practices. Don’t expect former quarterbacks coach and new offensive coordinator Tom Clements to be quite as hands off. With unproven vet Graham Harrell, ex-AFLer Nick Hill and seventh-round draft choice B.J. Coleman vying for the backup job, new quarterbacks coach Ben McAdoo will need all the help he can get.

Healthy Green Equals Excitement

Posted by Michael Rodney at 10:24 am 6 Responses »

Apr 112012

Talented young running back should contribute in 2012

Regardless of which players general manager Ted Thompson chooses in the upcoming draft, I doubt any of them will excite me as much as a young player already on the roster. I’m referring to Alex Green, the second-year running back whose rookie season was ended by a torn ACL in week 7. According to Mike McCarthy, rehabilitation is going well. “Alex looks really good,” said the coach. “Seeing him in the weight room every day, he looks like he’s really progressing.” That’s obviously great news for the player, and it’s also great news for the team. A healthy Green should make one of the most dynamic offenses in league history even better.

Green, who is blessed with both size (6’0, 225) and speed (4.44), averaged over 8 yards per carry as a senior. So why was he still available at the end of round three? There were a few reasons. Scouts were wary because Hawaii used a spread offense, which meant there were often gaping holes for Green to run through. Projecting how he’d fare in a more traditional scheme was a problem. So was his penchant for fumbling. He put the ball on the ground 8 times in 271 touches. Throw in the devaluation of the running back in today’s NFL, and it isn’t all that shocking that 95 players were selected before Green’s name came off the board.

Even after spending a week at practice and watching every snap of every game from August through January, it’s still difficult to evaluate Green as a runner. Practice is just practice. Running plays against your own teammates is hardly the same as taking a handoff against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in late December. And the preseason is just the preseason. Running behind offensive linemen and against defensive linemen who’ll soon be pumping gas or flipping burgers is hardly conducive to evaluating a halfback. So what makes me so excited about Green? Take a look:

I realize it was only one play, but that screen pass was a thing of beauty. Watch how easily Green caught the ball, how quickly he turned up field and how much patience he showed. Then watch the moves he put on in the open field. There aren’t many 225-pound backs who can do that. He reminded me of a combination of Dorsey Levens and Ahman Green. That’s why this young man is going to be a huge addition to the offense in ’12 – regardless of whether he ever carries the ball. Ryan Grant and James Starks are reliable out of the backfield, but neither has the ability to make tacklers miss in the open field. And that’s exactly what an offense needs when going up against defenses that are scared to death about getting beat deep by Greg Jennings or Jordy Nelson or down the seam by Jermichael Finley.

Assuming the knee is OK and the fumbling issue is resolved, the only thing that could keep Green from making an impact next season is an inability to pick up the blitz. McCarthy won’t put a back in the game on third down unless he can be counted on to protect quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Green has the physical and the mental skills needed to do the job. He has good base strength and he pays close attention to detail. His biggest problem last summer was mostly technique. While he was usually quick to locate targets in traffic, he didn’t always face up defenders. If he’s healthy enough to participate in a full training camp, I wouldn’t expect this to be an issue once the regular season begins.

6 PLAYERS TO KEEP AN EYE ON

Posted by Michael Rodney at 11:12 am 5 Responses »

Aug 262011

Rookie running back needs to improve pass blocking

Rookie running back needs to improve in pass protection

It’s not easy finding reasons to stay in on a Friday evening to watch a preseason game between the Packers and the team formerly known as the Colts who won’t actually be the Colts until Sept. 11. But if you’re a big fan, or if you have nothing better to do, here are six players to keep an eye on:

Alex Green: Other than turning a simple screen pass into a spectacular 25-yard gain a week ago, the third-round pick from Hawaii has had a fairly quiet summer. But that one play showed just how much talent this young running back possesses. The offensive coaches would love to use him on third downs this season, but he’ll have to show significant improvement as a blocker in the next two games. He should get plenty of opportunities to impress tonight.

Tori Gurley: The undrafted free agent wide receiver from South Carolina has really come on in the past 10 days. Not only is he making plays on special teams, but he looks a lot more confident catching passes. While Chastin West has been the next best player after the Big 5, Gurley is beginning to close the gap. A big game against Indy might be enough to keep him around as the No. 6 receiver – if general manager Ted Thompson chooses to keep that many players at the position.

Brad Jones: With Frank Zombo out for a while, Jones will likely enter the season as the top backup at both outside linebacker positions. The third-year player from Colorado hasn’t had a bad camp, but he just doesn’t look a whole lot better than he did two years ago. That can’t please Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy, who expect to see major improvement each season from their young players. If Jones doesn’t step up, he could find himself replaced by a veteran from another team prior to the start of the regular season.

Nick McDonald: The second-year player from Grand Valley State has done nothing this summer to suggest he would be an adequate backup to Scott Wells. The coaches admire his intelligence and his toughness, but he appears to lack the strength needed to deal with powerful opponents. Watching him get pushed back like he was on skates a week ago made me cringe. He needs to play well against the Colts in order to hold off Evan Dietrich-Smith, who isn’t as talented but who has performed better all camp.

Caleb Schlauderaff: The sixth-round pick from Utah has gotten better in the past few weeks, but is he good enough to be the No. 3 guard? I have my doubts, but as of now, he would be the first man off the bench should something happen to Josh Sitton or T.J. Lang. And while he’s come a long way from the first few days of camp, he still has a ways to go. A solid performance tonight would probably cement his spot on the final roster – even if Thompson chooses to bring in a veteran before the start of the season.

Brandon Underwood: The troubled but talented corner turned safety was actually looking good prior to spraining a knee. The fact that the former Cincinnati star is still here is a testament to his physical ability. A less talented player would’ve been dumped long before he had a chance to embarrass the franchise for a second time. Now healthy, it’s time for Underwood to prove he’s worth the hassle. If he plays well tonight, Thompson might be able to get away with keeping only nine defensive backs on the final roster.

COLLEGE QB NOW CATCHING PASSES

Posted by Michael Rodney at 12:29 am 5 Responses »

Aug 042011

Offensive lineman Marshall Newhouse and tight end Ryan Taylor are getting most of the ink, but to me, the biggest surprise of training camp thus far has been Diondre Borel. The rookie wide receiver hasn’t been great, but just the fact that he doesn’t look out of place is pretty amazing. That’s because the last time he picked up a football prior to six days ago was when he was playing quarterback for Utah State on December 7, 2010.

Without the benefit of minicamps and OTAs, Borel is more than holding his own against a group of first and second-year receivers who have been playing the position for a lot longer than a week. He’s not ready for prime time just yet, but he’s certainly making a strong push – at least early on – for a spot on the practice squad. Borel, who ran 4.53 at his pro day, is quick getting into routes and he seems to have a feel for coverages. He’ll need to get a lot stronger to play at this level, but that should come with time – something he just may get in Green Bay.

SLOCUM’S FLAWED LOGIC

Even though he has no experience in the role, third-round draft choice Alex Green is currently the team’s No. 1 kick returner. Here’s the reason why: ”Special teams coordinator Shawn Slocum likes using running backs on kickoff returns because the fundamentals are similar to what a halfback uses from scrimmage, running through blocking schemes and breaking arm tackles,” wrote Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. That makes sense, but only in theory. In practicality, over 80% of the league’s top kick returners last season were wide receivers and corners. That’s because being quick and elusive is far more important than being able to run through blocking schemes and break arm tackles. You’d think watching Brandon Jackson and James Starks plow into the backs of their blockers and then fall down at around the 23-yard-line would’ve changed Slocum’s way of thinking. Well, think again.

WHAT’$ CLAY WORTH?

Have you ever wondered how much money it will take to re-sign Clay Matthews? Well, it now looks as if $10 million a year will be the starting point in future negotiations. That’s how much the Steelers will be paying Pro Bowl outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley for the next six seasons. Matthews, who still has three years left on his rookie contract, is a better all-around player than Woodley and he’s far more important to his team. While there’s no rush to extend the former Southern Cal star – he still has three years left on his rookie deal – the longer GM Ted Thompson waits, the more he’s going to have to pay.

WHITE HOUSE FLAP

The Packers will finally visit President Barack Obama next Friday, but only players on the current roster will make the trip to Washington. The decision makers decided not to invite any of the players who signed with other teams or were released in the past two weeks. That means Sampson Genus, Jon Hoese and Chris Donaldson will be at the White House, but Daryn Colledge, Korey Hall and Cullen Jenkins won’t be. How crazy is that? The smart thing would’ve been to invite everybody who was part of last season’s Super Bowl winning team. The former Packers who are currently employed wouldn’t have been able to show up anyway, but at least they would’ve been invited. And players like Mark Tauscher and Brandon Chillar, who aren’t with a team at the moment, could attend. It seems so simple, doesn’t it?