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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!

Dominguez Offers Big Potential

Posted by Michael Rodney at 7:07 pm 4 Responses »

Aug 022012

Second-year offensive lineman Ray Dominguez is still learning to play inside

I noticed that Ray Dominguez was playing out of position the moment I laid eyes on him at training camp last summer. Why it took Mike McCarthy and offensive line coach James Campen so long to realize he wasn’t a tackle is a mystery, but they did eventually move the massive rookie to right guard. He immediately showed improvement. I’m anxious to see just how much improvement he’s made in the past year.

Dominguez wasn’t drafted despite starting 33 games in the SEC in part because he ran a 5.45 40 at the combine. And while that time is slow even for an offensive lineman, the former Arkansas standout looked pretty athletic on the practice field. In fact, he probably moved better than starters Josh Sitton and T.J. Lang.

Ironically, the 340-pounder’s biggest problem a year ago was a lack of strength. Despite his size, Domiguez didn’t create much of a push on running plays. That was probably due to his body. He looked more like a contestant from The Biggest Loser than a pro football player. Heck, he was flabby even for an offensive lineman. His body should look a lot better after an offseason in the weight room, and if it does, his play should also improve. That would be a potential boon for a position that lacks depth.

(I’ll be at practice tonight and at the Family Night scrimmage tomorrow. Check back all weekend for new posts.)

Packers Are Thin On Offensive Line

Posted by Michael Rodney at 11:03 am 2 Responses »

Aug 022012

Evan Dietrich-Smith is the only proven backup offensive lineman on the roster

Nobody’s really talking about it, but the Packers are dangerously thin on the offensive line. After the five starters and Evan Dietrich-Smith, the most battle-tested backup on the roster is journeyman Herb Taylor, who has started one game since 2007. Everyone else is either an undrafted free agent or a late draft pick.

Going into next week’s preseason opener against the Chargers, Taylor and Andrew Datko figure to be the second-string tackles. They’ll be joined by center Sampson Genus and guards Ray Dominguez and who the heck knows. A healthy Derek Sherrod would improve the situation, but last year’s first-round draft pick is still rehabbing a severely broken right leg and might not be back until later this month – if then.

Assuming Sherrod isn’t ready to play when the season opens and assuming GM Ted Thompson doesn’t add a veteran between now and then, left guard T.J. Lang would likely move to tackle in case of an injury and Dietrich-Smith would step into his spot. That wouldn’t be ideal, but the offense should be able to function. A second injury, however, could spell disaster. And that’s a word you never want to have associated with an offensive line – especially an offensive line that protects the league’s best player.

While the Packers are thin inside, the situation is actually worse outside. The coaches came into training camp expecting Datko to challenge for the No. 3 tackle spot, but the former Florida State star has done little to distinguish himself thus far. Taylor his been OK, but there’s a reason he was playing for the Las Vegas Locomotives less than two years ago. Unless either Sherrod comes back healthy or Datko improves significantly, Thompson will have to do something. I wonder what Chad Clifton’s up to these days?

Time Running Out For Injured Players

Posted by Michael Rodney at 8:57 pm 2 Responses »

Aug 012012

Linebacker Frank Zombo is injured again and may not make the final roster

Inside linebacker Desmond Bishop and fullback John Kuhn were activated from the physically unable to perform list Tuesday, but tight end Andrew Quarless, left tackle Derek Sherrod, offensive lineman Jaymes Brooks, outside linebacker Frank Zombo and defensive lineman Johnny Jones remain on PUP.

Quarless will almost certainly begin the season on the list, meaning he’ll miss at least the first six games. Sherrod could face a similar fate if his surgically repaired right leg doesn’t allow him to get on the practice field in the next week or two. The former Mississippi State star broke his tibia and fibula last December and then suffered what head coach Mike McCarthy recently termed a “setback” in the spring.

As for Brooks, Zombo and Jones, their chances of making the team are dwindling by the day. And it’s too bad because all three players – especially the first two – would’ve been right in the mix for spots on the final roster. Brooks is a better athlete and boasts a more impressive resumé than the other young interior linemen competing for backup jobs. And Zombo, who started in the Super Bowl only 18 months ago, has more upside than Erik Walden and Brad Jones and more experience than Dezman Moses and Vic So’oto.

There’s always a chance Brooks and Zombo could stay on PUP once the season starts, but that seems doubtful. More than likely, they’ll either be activated and eventually released or they’ll receive an injury settlement. Either way, their time in with the Packers appears to be running out. And that’s a shame.

Tyler Must Overcome Lack Of Speed

Posted by Michael Rodney at 12:27 pm 3 Responses »

Aug 012012

Rookie running back Marc Tyler runs very hard but not very fast

How fast a player can run 40 yards doesn’t mean much at some positions, but it does at running back. That’s why rookie Marc Tyler will have a difficult time finding success in the NFL. The former USC star ran a 4.74 at his pro day, and just as problematic, he doesn’t play faster than he times. Some players do.

Former Cowboy Emmitt Smith, for example, didn’t run a fast 40, but he played fast. The Hall of Famer was rarely caught from behind. You could say the same thing about ex-49er Jerry Rice, arguably the greatest receiver in league history. That’s not the case with Tyler. In fact, I counted four instances where he was tracked down from behind in the two games I watched last week – once by a defensive lineman.

I’m not suggesting Tyler should pack his bags and leave camp immediately. He does have talent. He’s blessed with excellent size and the ability to sense the cutback and run to daylight. He’s also a pretty good receiver. There are a number of teams in the league that could probably use a three yards and a cloud of dust type back like Tyler. Pittsburgh, San Francisco and the Giants come to mind. Green Bay does not.

As of now, Tyler is fourth on the unofficial depth chart behind James Starks, Alex Green and Brandon Saine. The Packers have kept four running backs in the past, but they went with only three a year ago. With Starks’ long history of injuries and Green still rounding into form following major knee surgery, it might make sense to keep an extra player at this position. Whether that player would be Tyler remains to be seen. After all, when it comes to running backs and the NFL, slow and steady seldom wins the race.

UPDATE: Tyler didn’t practice this morning after injuring his shoulder on Tuesday. He obviously needs to get back on the field ASAP. Undrafted free agents don’t make football teams from the trainer’s room.

Durability The Question With Daniels

Posted by Michael Rodney at 8:15 pm 2 Responses »

Jul 312012

Rookie defensive lineman Mike Daniels left Tuesday’s practice with an injury

While it’s probably unfair to compare Mike Daniels to Mike Neal, that won’t stop some fans from making the analogy after the rookie from Iowa left Tuesday’s practice with a groin and/or knee injury. Neal has played in only 10 games since joining the Packers in 2010. Daniels, whose durability was questioned by scouts prior to the draft, lasted less than three padded practices before being forced to the sideline.

Hopefully, Daniels’ injury is minor and he’ll be back practicing shortly. The undersized defensive end was off to a very good start in training camp. His quickness and relentless motor have made him tough to block. Then again, few questioned his ability to play. Most of the questions surrounded his ability to stay healthy.

“Durability needs to be considered – is not built to withstand a 16-week pounding and has been dinged up, including multiple concussions,” wrote Pro Football Weekly’s Nolan Nawrocki.

Coordinator Dom Capers doesn’t plan on playing Daniels more than 25 snaps a game, so the wear and tear on his body should be minimized. Still, he’s coming into the league with a history of injuries and he’ll be facing offensive linemen who outweigh him by 20 to 50 pounds on a weekly basis. That combo hasn’t worked out well for Neal so far. The Packers are hoping that history doesn’t repeat itself with Daniels.

Injury Opens The Door For Smith

Posted by Michael Rodney at 11:40 am 4 Responses »

Jul 312012

Linebacker D.J. Smith has been working with the starters since the opening of camp

If there’s any bit of good that could from Desmond Bishop injuring his right calf prior to the start of training camp, it’s that D.J. Smith will now get plenty of snaps with the starters. And if the second-year linebacker plays well enough, there’s always a chance he could stay in the lineup even after Bishop returns.

I realize that the two inside linebacker positions aren’t the same, but the idea that Smith couldn’t play A.J. Hawk’s spot is foolish. While it might take him a few weeks to get comfortable, it’s really not that big of a deal. The bigger deal will be for Smith to perform well enough to force the switch. And based on the amount of money Hawk is making and how adamantly the coaches keep defending him, that won’t be easy.

Unless Smith morphs into Patrick Willis in the next couple of weeks, the odds are he’ll remain a backup for at least another season. But he should see more snaps than he did a year ago. He has spent the first five practices of camp working as the lone linebacker in the dime package. That could continue into the season. Hawk has always been liability in coverage, and while Bishop is adequate given the right matchup, he’s a little stiff and tends to struggle to hang with quicker backs and tight ends.

Smith will also be auditioning for a starting job in 2013. Hawk is scheduled to count over $7 million against the cap next season, and unlike this season, the team would save a sizable amount of money by releasing him. But that will only happen if Smith proves capable of getting the job done. The audition starts now.

Size Could Be Borel’s Biggest Problem

Players 7 Responses »

Jul 302012

I jumped on the Diondre Borel bandwagon the very first week of training camp last summer and I’m still on it today. The former college quarterback has what it takes to play receiver in the NFL. Unfortunately, he might not get that chance in Green Bay.

The Packers have five veteran receivers pretty much locked into roster spots, and even if GM Ted Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy decide to keep a sixth player at the position for the first time in years, Borel still faces an uphill battle. That’s because he doesn’t add anything unique to the mix.

Borel is smallish, but very athletic. He can burst in and out of cuts to get separation and he usually makes the first tackler miss. He also returns kicks. If that sounds familiar, it should. Randall Cobb is the same kind of receiver – only more experienced and more explosive. And I’m not sure the Packers need another Cobb.

That’s why Tori Gurley probably has a better chance to make the final 53. I don’t think he has the long-term potential of Borel, but he has rare size for the position. That makes him a potential weapon in the red zone. It also makes him the slight favorite to be the No. 6 receiver, if of course, there is a No. 6 receiver.

Bush Says Defense Was ‘Damn Good’

Posted by Michael Rodney at 1:23 am No Responses »

Jul 302012

Jarrett Bush thinks last year’s defense was damn good. I have a pair of questions for the team’s current starting cornerback (I nearly gagged while writing that). The first is, what exactly do you consider bad? The second is, are you freaking kidding me?

I’m actually glad Bush said what he did because it allows me to make a point about playing defense – a point I made over and over last season. Forcing turnovers doesn’t equate to good defense. Stopping the run, rushing the quarterback, tackling and covering equates to good defense. If a defense does those four things and forces turnovers, then that defense is playing damn good. Got it, Jarrett?

Part of the problem last season was that too many people on the defensive side of the ball – coaches included – seemed to buy into Bush’s way of thinking. We kept reading about how important turnovers are and how all that matters is wins. No argument there. Turnovers are important and all that does matter is wins. But forcing turnovers and winning games is a lot easier to do in November than it is in January.

After New Year’s, a defense has to be able to get off the field by actually stopping the run, rushing the quarterback, tackling and covering. And no matter how explosive a team is on offense, that’s still the formula that wins in January. Add in a few forced turnovers, and you have the formula that wins in early February. Just ask the 2010 Super Bowl champion Packers. By the way Jarrett, that was a damn good defense.

It’s Too Soon To Get Excited

Posted by Michael Rodney at 11:20 am 8 Responses »

Jul 292012

One of the things I know about the National Football League is that it’s a mistake to get too excited over any young player after one week of training camp. So while it’s certainly encouraging, for example, to see rookie cornerback Casey Hayward blanketing receivers and intercepting passes, it’s simply way too soon to draw any conclusions. I learned this lesson over 20 years ago. The following is my annual cautionary tale:

In 1988, I covered the Philadelphia Eagles’ training camp for a local TV station. That team featured a head coach named Buddy Ryan and high-profile players like quarterback Randall Cunningham, tight end Keith Jackson, wide receiver Cris Carter, defensive end Reggie White, linebacker Seth Joyner and cornerback Eric Allen. So guess who I was sent to interview about a week into camp? Martin Booker, a little-known wide receiver from Villanova who had spent the entire previous season on injured reserve. Why him? Because the incredibly fast world-class hurdler had been lighting up Lehigh University for days.

I went into the cafeteria and found Booker (who, by the way, turned out to be one of the nicest athletes I’ve ever met). As we walked the few hundred yards to where the cameras were set up, hundreds of fans cheered wildly. They adored the hometown hero who proved to be the one receiver the strong-armed Cunningham could never overthrow. After the interview, I shook hands with Booker and wished him luck. He smiled and started on his long walk back to the dorms. He would be gone three weeks later.

Life at Lehigh became a lot more difficult for Booker once he started running routes against the No. 1 corners. He was no longer able to get away from the line of scrimmage as easily as he did against backups Izel Jenkins and Eric Everett, and even with his blazing speed, he wasn’t able to separate himself from Allen and fellow Pro Bowler Roynell Young. Booker soon started to slide his way back down the depth chart. By the end of the following week, nobody was cheering for him anymore. Nobody wanted to interview him anymore. In fact, even his own position coach seemed to have forgotten about him.

That’s the thing to remember about young players in training camp – the better they do early, the more difficult the challenges become later. For example, a lot of Hayward’s success in 11-on-11 team drills has come against backups. He’ll likely see a lot more of the starters next week. That’s when we’ll really begin to find out what kind of impact, if any, the former Vanderbilt star will have on the defense this season. Or to put it more simply, a lot can change between July 29 and Aug. 29. Just ask Martin Booker.

Pack Could Always Play Tag With Jennings

Posted by Michael Rodney at 2:55 pm 3 Responses »

Jul 282012

Jason Wilde wrote an interesting story on Greg Jennings’ contract situation. The Pro Bowl receiver is eligible for free agency at the end of the season, and while there have been some talks between the team and agent Eugene Parker, nothing appears imminent.

Wilde covered a lot of ground in his story, but he left out one scenario. If the Packers can’t sign Jennings to an extension between now and the Super Bowl, they could always place the franchise tag on him. In fact, that might make the most sense. It would keep him around for another season, and it wouldn’t force the organization to commit multiple years and perhaps as much as $25 million in bonus money to a player who turns 29 in a few months. It would also give GM Ted Thompson more time to find out if Jordy Nelson can be a true No. 1 and if Randall Cobb is as good a receiver as he is a returner.

The franchise tag for wide receivers figures to be around $10 million in 2013. That sounds pricey, but remember, linebacker A.J. Hawk’s cap hit this season is almost $7 million. If Thompson is OK with that, it’s hard to imagine him balking at $10 million when it comes to one of the best receivers in the league.

Do I think there’s a chance a long-term deal could be reached? Yes, but it won’t be easy. As much as Jennings loves playing for the Packers, he’s not going to sell himself short. Remember, the reason he accepted a three-year extension in 2009 was so that he could have one more crack at free agency while still in the prime of his career. Thompson is going to have to meet his demands – or else come darn close – in order to get something done. Or he could use the tag. It’s available and it makes a lot of sense.

Pass Rush Drills Don’t Mean Much

Posted by Michael Rodney at 7:50 am 2 Responses »

Jul 282012

One-on-one pass rush drills are among the highlights of any July practice, but they really don’t mean very much – at least when it comes to the defensive players. According to Bob McGinn of the Journal Sentinel, nose tackle Ryan Pickett, end Mike Neal and outside linebacker Frank Zombo won the highest percentage of one-on-one battles a year ago. That trio combined for one sack during the regular season.

The drill does seem to have more merit for offensive linemen. Guard Josh Sitton, center Scott Wells and tackle Bryan Bulaga posted the second, third and fourth-highest winning percentages a year ago. Who came in first? Tackle Marshall Newhouse, who went on to give up 11 sacks despite playing only 76% of the total snaps. Of course, he didn’t have the luxury of facing his own teammates on Sunday afternoons.

Kuhn Still Bothered By Knee

Posted by Michael Rodney at 4:46 pm No Responses »

Jul 272012

John Kuhn had an unidentified procedure done on his right knee late last month. The veteran fullback first injured the knee in the Packers’ playoff loss to the Giants in January.

“It was just not as good as we’d like it (after minicamp),” Kuhn told the Press-Gazette. “It’s something I could have played with the whole season, we just wanted to cross all T’s and dot all I’s. I probably could go right now, that’s speculation, but this is just ensuring that everything’s perfect.”

Last season, Kuhn rushed 30 times for 78 yards, caught 15 passes for 77 yards and scored 6 TDs. He was also voted to his first Pro Bowl and finished 92nd in the NFL Network’s ranking of the top 100 players.

Kuhn’s roster spot is probably safe, but it’s certainly fair to bring up the subject. He turns 30 in July and his cap hit is $2.4 million this season. And while there isn’t another experienced fullback on the team, powerful rookie Nic Cooper enjoyed a solid offseason and there’s a pretty good chance former Packers Quinn Johnson (Tennessee) and Korey Hall (New Orleans) will be available at the end of the summer.

Big Opportunity for Bigger Safety

Posted by Michael Rodney at 1:47 pm 1 Response »

Jul 272012

The Packers defensive coaches wanted M.D. Jennings to gain at least 10 pounds during the offseason. Mission accomplished. The young safety, who played at under 190 as a rookie, reported to training camp on Wednesday morning at 197.

Jennings was clearly the third-best safety on the roster last summer behind Nick Collins and Morgan Burnett. He was always around the ball and he seemed to make at least one eye-opening play on a daily basis. Still, he never seriously challenged a struggling Charlie Peprah during the season. That’s because he wasn’t big or strong enough to compete against NFL receivers.

After spending the past six months in the weight room, size and strength should no longer be a major issue. Of course, that in itself doesn’t guarantee success. Jennings still has two more things he must overcome – neither of which he could do anything about during the offseason. He played against a lower level of competition in the Sun Belt Conference and he ran consistently in the 4.5s prior to the 2011 draft.

Jennings is now big enough for the NFL; We’ll soon find out whether the NFL is too big for him. With Peprah no longer in the picture (he was released on Wednesday), Jennings will line up against much more talented offensive players on a daily basis. He’ll quickly find out that working against Aaron Rodgers and Jermichael Finley is a whole lot different than taking on Graham Harrell and Tom Crabtree.

Jennings took snaps with the starters throughout the offseason, and from all reports, he more than held his own. But now the pads go on and the intensity goes up. The former Arkansas State star has done everything he could to be ready for this day. Now it’s time to find out whether all that hard work is going to pay off.

Is Aaron Getting Married?

Posted by Michael Rodney at 11:42 am 3 Responses »

Jul 272012

October might be a very busy month for Aaron Rodgers. Not only will he be quarterbacking the Green Bay Packers, but if terezowens.com can be trusted, he’ll be getting married. I have no idea who Terez Owens is and I have no idea whether this site is even the slightest bit reputable, but here’s what was written:

I’ve been receiving a bunch of tips lately regarding Aaron Rodgers and his girlfriend/possible fiancee Destiny Newton — Here’s what our source says about Rodgers possibly getting married in October, “Now in Chico there is talks about a possible wedding in the family…One of my friends knows the Newton family, her dad is good friends with Destiny’s father. Shawntel Newton tweeted ”I say…YES!! @adriannlema so excited and honored, love you!!” A while back I had Destiny on twitter and followed her under a fake account which was ”@adriannalema” the same account Aaron followed and tweeted to her. She later deleted the account. But Shawntel tweeted that same account with a picture the picture reads ” – Bridesmaid? 10-20-12.” Rodgers is super private, and if true, is definitely keeping the details under wraps.

OK, so there you have it. And heck, even if it’s not true, it gives me an excuse to post this, this, and this.

Now back to real football news.

Woodson Belongs At Safety

Posted by Michael Rodney at 9:45 am 6 Responses »

Jul 272012

The release of Nick Collins in late April probably cemented the decision to move Charles Woodson to safety, but the transition was inevitable.

The future Hall of Famer can no longer be trusted to line up at corner in the base defense. At age 35, he just doesn’t run well enough to keep stride with speedy receivers down the field. In fact, Woodson’s poor performance against Carolina’s Steve Smith last fall was probably a major reason why Tramon Williams returned so quickly from his shoulder injury.

Woodson has the potential to be a very good safety, but he’ll have to be more reliable. It’s one thing to gamble as a slot corner; it’s a whole different thing to gamble as a safety. The eight-time Pro Bowler can’t allow wide receivers to get behind him – something that happened to Morgan Burnett and Charlie Peprah too often a year ago. Woodson also must tackle a lot better. He swung and missed 18 times in 2011.

The Packers opened camp with Jarrett Bush starting opposite Williams in the base and M.D. Jennings playing alongside Burnett in the nickel. Bush is likely holding the spot until either Sam Shields regains his ’10 form or second-round pick Casey Hayword proves he’s ready to play at this level. But no matter what happens, things are going to look very different in the secondary. After last season, that can only be a good thing.

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