woodbuck27
09-17-2006, 01:51 AM
Posted September 15, 2006
Notebook: Morency likely will be active
By Rob Demovsky
rdemovsk@greenbaypressgazette.com
Newly acquired running back Vernand Morency almost certainly will be activated for Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints at Lambeau Field, but there's little chance the Green Bay Packers will use him at running back.
Morency, the second-year pro who came to the Packers from the Houston Texans in Wednesday's trade for Samkon Gado, didn't arrive at the team's headquarters until Thursday morning, took his physical and went right to the practice field.
Even though he was in a similar type of zone-blocking offense with the Texans, all of the Packers' terminology is different. So, asking him to pick up much of their offense before Sunday probably is unrealistic.
"He's got about two hours in our (system)," offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski said after Thursday's practice. "He's just learning the snap count right now."
The 5-foot-10, 213-pound Morency was a third-round pick of the Texans in 2005. He also played in a zone-blocking offense in college at Oklahoma State.
"We ran a lot of the same stuff in college," Morency said.
Morency is a quick runner whom the Packers view as a third-down back. Because they have only two other running backs  starter Ahman Green and backup Noah Herron  on the roster, they almost certainly will need to keep Morency on the 45-man game-day roster in case there's an injury to Green or Herron. However, most of the load will fall on Green. Herron likely will be used as the third-down back this week.
In last Sunday's loss to the Chicago Bears, Green carried 20 times for 110 yards. It was his first regular-season action since he sustained a ruptured quadriceps tendon on Oct. 23 at Minnesota.
"I'd like to get (Green) more (carries) than that," Jagodzinski said.
Morency could be used on special teams, including as a kickoff returner. Last season, he returned 20 kickoffs and had a 21.9-yard average.
Gado's reaction
A day after he was traded to the Texans, Gado seems to have come to grips with his abrupt departure from Green Bay.
Gado initially was unhappy about the trade.
"He was shocked," Herron said. "He really didn't know what to expect. Obviously, he put a lot of into Green Bay, and it's always tough to go. He felt rejected."
Herron and Gado became close friends last season, when both arrived in Green Bay. They planned to share a house on Green Bay's west side this season.
"I woke up yesterday thinking I was a Packer for at least another season and then before the end of the day, I'm actually in Houston," Gado told reporters in Houston on Thursday. "It happened so fast. The turn-around is incredible, but the adjustment needs to be just as fast."
Robinson's role
Receiver Koren Robinson, signed as a free-agent on Monday, said he expects to play Sunday against the Saints despite being added to the injury report on Thursday with a sore knee. He was listed as questionable.
Robinson said his right knee is sore because he hasn't been doing football drills since he was released by the Minnesota Vikings last month. Robinson had been working out in Raleigh, N.C.
"It's just from me not cutting and stuff for a couple of weeks," Robinson said. "But I've been working out and keeping my wind up. No matter how much you work out, it can't simulate what you do on the practice field, so I think (I) aggravated it."
The Packers have been practicing Robinson at both receiver spots, the split end and the flanker, but he's more likely to see time as a kickoff returner. In fact, the Packers could go with an entirely different look on kickoff returns if they pair Robinson and Morency. Last week against the Bears, they used Herron, Gado and Robert Ferguson.
"They haven't told me, but I pretty much think I will be active," Robinson said.
Odds and ends
Left guard Jason Spitz missed practice again on Thursday due to a bruised thigh, and if he doesn't practice today, fellow rookie Daryn Colledge will start against the Saints.
GO PACK GO !!
Notebook: Morency likely will be active
By Rob Demovsky
rdemovsk@greenbaypressgazette.com
Newly acquired running back Vernand Morency almost certainly will be activated for Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints at Lambeau Field, but there's little chance the Green Bay Packers will use him at running back.
Morency, the second-year pro who came to the Packers from the Houston Texans in Wednesday's trade for Samkon Gado, didn't arrive at the team's headquarters until Thursday morning, took his physical and went right to the practice field.
Even though he was in a similar type of zone-blocking offense with the Texans, all of the Packers' terminology is different. So, asking him to pick up much of their offense before Sunday probably is unrealistic.
"He's got about two hours in our (system)," offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski said after Thursday's practice. "He's just learning the snap count right now."
The 5-foot-10, 213-pound Morency was a third-round pick of the Texans in 2005. He also played in a zone-blocking offense in college at Oklahoma State.
"We ran a lot of the same stuff in college," Morency said.
Morency is a quick runner whom the Packers view as a third-down back. Because they have only two other running backs  starter Ahman Green and backup Noah Herron  on the roster, they almost certainly will need to keep Morency on the 45-man game-day roster in case there's an injury to Green or Herron. However, most of the load will fall on Green. Herron likely will be used as the third-down back this week.
In last Sunday's loss to the Chicago Bears, Green carried 20 times for 110 yards. It was his first regular-season action since he sustained a ruptured quadriceps tendon on Oct. 23 at Minnesota.
"I'd like to get (Green) more (carries) than that," Jagodzinski said.
Morency could be used on special teams, including as a kickoff returner. Last season, he returned 20 kickoffs and had a 21.9-yard average.
Gado's reaction
A day after he was traded to the Texans, Gado seems to have come to grips with his abrupt departure from Green Bay.
Gado initially was unhappy about the trade.
"He was shocked," Herron said. "He really didn't know what to expect. Obviously, he put a lot of into Green Bay, and it's always tough to go. He felt rejected."
Herron and Gado became close friends last season, when both arrived in Green Bay. They planned to share a house on Green Bay's west side this season.
"I woke up yesterday thinking I was a Packer for at least another season and then before the end of the day, I'm actually in Houston," Gado told reporters in Houston on Thursday. "It happened so fast. The turn-around is incredible, but the adjustment needs to be just as fast."
Robinson's role
Receiver Koren Robinson, signed as a free-agent on Monday, said he expects to play Sunday against the Saints despite being added to the injury report on Thursday with a sore knee. He was listed as questionable.
Robinson said his right knee is sore because he hasn't been doing football drills since he was released by the Minnesota Vikings last month. Robinson had been working out in Raleigh, N.C.
"It's just from me not cutting and stuff for a couple of weeks," Robinson said. "But I've been working out and keeping my wind up. No matter how much you work out, it can't simulate what you do on the practice field, so I think (I) aggravated it."
The Packers have been practicing Robinson at both receiver spots, the split end and the flanker, but he's more likely to see time as a kickoff returner. In fact, the Packers could go with an entirely different look on kickoff returns if they pair Robinson and Morency. Last week against the Bears, they used Herron, Gado and Robert Ferguson.
"They haven't told me, but I pretty much think I will be active," Robinson said.
Odds and ends
Left guard Jason Spitz missed practice again on Thursday due to a bruised thigh, and if he doesn't practice today, fellow rookie Daryn Colledge will start against the Saints.
GO PACK GO !!