JSO: Cliff Christl blog: 8/26 Camp Report

[the_idle_threat]

SATURDAY, Aug. 26, 2006, 2:31 p.m.
Camp Report, Aug. 26

THUMBS UP

On the one Hail Mary attempt in practice Saturday, Brett Favre let the ball fly from just inside the 50-yard line. On the receiving end, Rod Gardner said he caught it at least five yards beyond the end line. “It’s impressive, but you need to keep it in bounds,” coach Mike McCarthy said with a grin that suggested he was more impressed than displeased. “I thought it was going over the fence when he first threw it. He obviously has a lot of arm strength left.” The fence on the north end of the Ray Nitschke Field was another 10 yards or more away.

No matter the long or short of it, it was some fling for a 36-year old quarterback. For the first week or more of camp, Favre didn’t seem to be as sharp or as accurate as he was in other summers. And he had that one dreadful practice – on the fourth day -- where he threw five interceptions. But, lately, Favre has been throwing the ball better and the offense has been looking much more efficient, if not explosive.

Just this past week, the defenders were instructed during the offensive periods of practice to make the receivers work for receptions, but to back off when the ball arrived, just as they would during regular-season practices. As a result, the quarterbacks’ completion percentages took a jump. Whatever the rules, Favre had an impressive week of practice, completing 70.1% of his passes with only one interception in 11-on-11 sessions.

With 30 practices down and only one to go before the exhibition season ends, it appears once again that Favre is the one player who gives the Packers hope of exceeding expectations.

THUMBS DOWN

For someone picked off the scrapheap, Donald Lee was a productive player for the Packers last season, at least relatively speaking, with 33 catches. First-year man Tory Humphrey, in turn, has flashed the ability throughout camp to get deep down the middle, something which all teams covet in a tight end. From that perspective, tight end appears to be one of the deeper positions on the Packers’ roster and the competition for the third spot seems fierce.

But there are other days when it seems as though the Lee-Humphrey battle is going to be decided by default.

On Saturday, Humphrey dropped a pass in the back of the end zone in an 11-on-11 goal line period and another during a 7-on-7 red-zone period. Humphrey had his arm wrapped from wrist to elbow due to a bruised forearm, but that was hardly a good excuse. Lee didn’t catch a pass all day, at least during the offensive periods. On Friday, Lee dropped a pass right in his mitts over the middle. Both have their redeeming qualities, but both have been inconsistent catching the ball throughout camp.

INJURY REPORT

Defensive lineman Kenny Peterson and Humphrey returned to practice.

Josh Bourke (calf), William Whitticker (hamstring), Mookie Moore (shoulder), William Henderson (knee), Ben Brown (tailbone) and Atari Bigby (hand) continued to miss practice.

ODDS & ENDS

Cornerback Mike Hawkins, back this week after a bout with tendinitis in his knee, showed why his potential is so intriguing when he intercepted a pass in a defensive red-zone period. The receiver ran an up. Hawkins got a good bump and then accelerated to the ball with a gear that not even many corners possess.

Linebacker A.J. Hawk intercepted his fourth pass of camp during a defensive period. Cornerback Jason Horton also had an interception in a defensive period, but the official called him for holding.

Rookie cornerback Antonio Malone, a late camp addition, intercepted Favre in 7-on-7. It was Malone’s second interception in the past five days. He also made a nice play to break up a Favre to Ferguson pass Friday.

Other than the kicker, wide receiver Ruvell Martin and safety Tyrone Culver are the only non-veterans on the first kickoff coverage team.

Rayner kicked field goals from 39 and 44 yards out. Another try from the 39 was whistled dead first.

Rookie defensive tackle Johnny Jolly played better last week against Atlanta and seems to be making a move in his battle for a roster spot. But Monday night’s game figures to be big for him. “He needs to be more consistent and he has got to speed it up,” said defensive tackles coach Robert Nunn. “He can’t take a play off. He’ll have two or three strong plays, then a play where he doesn’t fire his gun.”

ON THIS DAY

Aug. 27, 1979 – Defensive tackle Dave Roller, one of the Packers’ most popular players, was waived after four seasons with the team. “I wish they would have gotten rid of me two weeks ago so I could have hooked on,” said a hurt and unhappy Roller. “That’s really chicken s----.” The Packers also waived tackle Gerald Skinner and placed running back Walt Landers on injured reserve to trim their roster to 47, two over the league limit.

SCHEDULE SUNDAY

There will be no practice. The Packers play at Cincinnati Monday night. They will have Tuesday off and return to the practice field Wednesday, but it will be closed to the public. That will be their final practice of camp. They conclude the exhibition portion of their schedule against Tennessee Friday afternoon.

[the_idle_threat]

Thoughts:

1) Glad to hear confirmation that Favre still has the cannon, although I never doubted it in the first place. Favre's problems last season were largely mental rather than physical, methinks.

2) According to Christl anyway, sounds like David Martin's job is safe, and Donald Lee is the one who is battling Tory Humphrey for a roster spot. I guess this isn't too surprising, because I know I've read Martin is valued for his excellent blocking, and they kind of know what they have with his receiving.

3) Nice to hear A.J. Hawk is getting interceptions, even if they are just in practice. Hoping for some big plays outta him sooner rather than later.

4) Was going to make a snide comment regarding Robert Nunn's quote as it applies to Corey Rodgers, but the well is dry at the moment. Oh well ...

[packrulz]

The TE's are good blockers and are able to get open downfield but besides Bubba they've all had drops so far. They need to catch those if they hope to use any 2 TE sets this year. I'd make them work on the Juggs machine after practice and crank it up.

Remember how people said Hawk was not that good in pass coverage and he already has 4 picks, pretty good for a LB.

Jolly has the physical attributes to make this team, I've seen him run around like a rabbit, pretty impressive for a 300+ lb guy. He needs to bust his ass on every snap.

Pretty good camp so far, I just hope they all stay healthy.

[the_idle_threat]

Remember how people said Hawk was not that good in pass coverage and he already has 4 picks, pretty good for a LB.


This is an excellent point. I wonder how many came vs. Favre and Rodgers, though, as opposed to Martin and Wrobel.

[Fritz]

How can you be a sixth round pick hoping to make the team and not be busting your rear end every play? Um, earth to Johnny, earth to Johnny. Wake up, Johnny.

[Scott Campbell]

Cornerback Mike Hawkins, back this week after a bout with tendinitis in his knee, showed why his potential is so intriguing when he intercepted a pass in a defensive red-zone period. The receiver ran an up. Hawkins got a good bump and then accelerated to the ball with a gear that not even many corners possess.



Oh how you taunt us with your ridiculous skilz.

[Scott Campbell]

Thoughts:

1) Glad to hear confirmation that Favre still has the cannon, although I never doubted it in the first place. Favre's problems last season were largely mental rather than physical, methinks.

When and if Favre ever loses it, I'm guessing it will be the legs that betray him before his arm. He's not fast back there, but he is elusive. If he loses that escapability, I think there will be a big drop off in his game.

[ahaha]

Thoughts:

1) Glad to hear confirmation that Favre still has the cannon, although I never doubted it in the first place. Favre's problems last season were largely mental rather than physical, methinks.

When and if Favre ever loses it, I'm guessing it will be the legs that betray him before his arm. He's not fast back there, but he is elusive. If he loses that escapability, I think there will be a big drop off in his game.

Look at pitchers in major league baseball. Guys like Nolan Ryan, Roger Clemens, and Randy Johnson played lights out in their late thirties and early forties. With decent protection, I think Favre could still sling it into his forties.

[Homer Jay]

Thoughts:

1) Glad to hear confirmation that Favre still has the cannon, although I never doubted it in the first place. Favre's problems last season were largely mental rather than physical, methinks.

When and if Favre ever loses it, I'm guessing it will be the legs that betray him before his arm. He's not fast back there, but he is elusive. If he loses that escapability, I think there will be a big drop off in his game.

Look at pitchers in major league baseball. Guys like Nolan Ryan, Roger Clemens, and Randy Johnson played lights out in their late thirties and early forties. With decent protection, I think Favre could still sling it into his forties.

Ryan, Clemens and Johnson didn't have 300+ pound guys trying to take their head off. They weren't tackled, sacked and just plain hit dozens of times a season for 15+ years.

I can't even imagine what 15 years of never missing a start does to the body. I'd love to see 2 more years, but, I can't see itt going beyond that.

[Scott Campbell]

Somebody needs to dig up the George Carlin bit about football vs. baseball.

[ahaha]

Thoughts:

1) Glad to hear confirmation that Favre still has the cannon, although I never doubted it in the first place. Favre's problems last season were largely mental rather than physical, methinks.

When and if Favre ever loses it, I'm guessing it will be the legs that betray him before his arm. He's not fast back there, but he is elusive. If he loses that escapability, I think there will be a big drop off in his game.

Look at pitchers in major league baseball. Guys like Nolan Ryan, Roger Clemens, and Randy Johnson played lights out in their late thirties and early forties. With decent protection, I think Favre could still sling it into his forties.

Ryan, Clemens and Johnson didn't have 300+ pound guys trying to take their head off. They weren't tackled, sacked and just plain hit dozens of times a season for 15+ years.

I can't even imagine what 15 years of never missing a start does to the body. I'd love to see 2 more years, but, I can't see itt going beyond that.

Favre hasn't had to throw a ball 90+ mph 100 times a game, every 5 days, for 6 months out of the year either. Pitcher's arms take a pounding, that's why they only pitch once every five days.
My point was, in comparing Favre to strong-armed pitchers, is that if they can retain their arm strength into their forties, than so can he.

[Scott Campbell]

Here's the Carlin bit:


I enjoy comparing baseball and football:

Baseball is a nineteenth-century pastoral game.
Football is a twentieth-century technological struggle.

Baseball is played on a diamond, in a park.The baseball park!
Football is played on a gridiron, in a stadium, sometimes called Soldier Field or War Memorial Stadium.

Baseball begins in the spring, the season of new life.
Football begins in the fall, when everything's dying.

In football you wear a helmet.
In baseball you wear a cap.

Football is concerned with downs - what down is it?
Baseball is concerned with ups - who's up?

In football you receive a penalty.
In baseball you make an error.

In football the specialist comes in to kick.
In baseball the specialist comes in to relieve somebody.

Football has hitting, clipping, spearing, piling on, personal fouls, late hitting and unnecessary roughness.
Baseball has the sacrifice.

Football is played in any kind of weather: rain, snow, sleet, hail, fog...
In baseball, if it rains, we don't go out to play.

Baseball has the seventh inning stretch.
Football has the two minute warning.

Baseball has no time limit: we don't know when it's gonna end - might have extra innings.
Football is rigidly timed, and it will end even if we've got to go to sudden death.

In baseball, during the game, in the stands, there's kind of a picnic feeling; emotions may run high or low, but there's not too much unpleasantness.
In football, during the game in the stands, you can be sure that at least twenty-seven times you're capable of taking the life of a fellow human being.

And finally, the objectives of the two games are completely different:

In football the object is for the quarterback, also known as the field general, to be on target with his aerial assault, riddling the defense by hitting his receivers with deadly accuracy in spite of the blitz, even if he has to use shotgun. With short bullet passes and long bombs, he marches his troops into enemy territory, balancing this aerial assault with a sustained ground attack that punches holes in the forward wall of the enemy's defensive line.

In baseball the object is to go home! And to be safe! - I hope I'll be safe at home!

[ahaha]

That is one of the best bits in stand-up comedy history. And, it's so much better when you see Carlin do it. He has that gruff, military general voice for the football stuff, and the girly, Martha Stewart lovin' voice for the baseball lines. Hilarious!

[TravisWilliams23]

I wonder if Cliff could tell us who holds the all-time pre-season touchdown and interception records for the NFL. He seems to be hung up on those stats. Maybe Brett is close to breaking the records this preseason!

[BallHawk]

Brain Droppings is a hilarious book by Carlin, especially his rant about stuff.

Has anybody read When Will Jesus Bring the Porkchops? I was thinking of buying it, but I can't find it anywhere. Damn Walmart.

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

I wonder if Cliff could tell us who holds the all-time pre-season touchdown and interception records for the NFL. He seems to be hung up on those stats. Maybe Brett is close to breaking the records this preseason!

Never thought of that, would be interesting to see.