THURSDAY EVENING WRAP-UP

[OKC PackerFan]

http://www.packersnews.com/includes/newspaper/blogs/insider/index.shtml

Thursday, August 2, 2007
Evening wrap-up
Looks like our updates during practice covered just about everything, but here's a few late updates:

-- Trainers wrapped QB Brett Favre's throwing hand after practice, apparently because of a cut suffered while he was home in Mississippi this week. Coach Mike McCarthy provided no further details but said the injury was nothing serious.

-- McCarthy said he's hopeful TE Bubba Franks, scratched in the eye Tuesday night, will return to practice Friday. An examination today revealed the eye is about 90 percent recovered, McCarthy said.

-- CB Antonio Malone sat out practice after the knee he injured this spring in NFL Europa swelled up. His status isn't certain, but he's a long shot to make the roster regardless.

-- CB Jarrett Bush worked alongside Al Harris and Patrick Dendy in nickel tonight when Charles Woodson sat out the final drill. If today is any indication, Bush has passed Will Blackmon and Frank Walker for fourth on the depth chart at cornerback.

-- The night practice was the longest of camp, running more than 2 hours and 40 minutes. It concluded with a gong show of a place-kicking drill that ended prematurely because Dave Rayner and Mason Crosby both were drenched in water.

-- And your passing stats (7-on-7 in parentheses): Favre 21-for-29 (9-for-10); Aaron Rodgers 15-for-22 (7-for-8); Ingle Martin 7-for-11 (4-for-5); and Brandon Jackson 0-for-1.

Friday's practice begins at 2 p.m.

-- Tom Pelissero, tpelisse@greenbaypressgazette.com
posted by PackersNews.com at 10:33 PM | 0 Comments


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Harrell does OK in drill
First-round draft choice Justin Harrell was OK but nothing special in one-on-one pass rush drills. Harrell didn't beat anybody badly enough to get a sure sack, but he did get decent push on two of his three repetitions. In two reps against guard Travis Leffew, Harrell was able to get decent penetration. But on a third rep against guard Adam Stenavich, Harrell was essentially stopped.
— Pete Dougherty/pdougher@greenbaypressgazette.com
posted by PackersNews.com at 8:32 PM | 0 Comments


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Practice observations
Various observations from tonight's practice:
— Corey Williams and Colin Cole lined up with the No. 1 defense at tackle. Cullen Jenkins rotated into the starting unit.
— Brett Favre found his tight end on two different occasions for long gainers. In the team blitz drill, Favre had a nice completion downfield to Zac Alcorn. Later in the seven-on-seven drill, Favre connected with rookie Clark Harris over the middle.
— The Packers running backs looked improved in the blitz pickup drill.
— Cornerback Patrick Dendy struggled in coverage. In the last two padded practices in one-on-one drills, Dendy has been 0 for 4. He gave up three completions and was called for pass interference one time. However, Dendy had a nice play in a team drill in which he stripped the ball from receiver James Jones.
-- Aaron Rouse missed an interception of Aaron Rodgers and tipped the ball into the air and into the waiting hands of Calvin Russell. It was the only completion on that series for Rodgers. Rouse later made a big hit (tackle) on Zac Alcorn in the secondary, although live tackling wasn't part of the drill.
-- Favre showed some mobility by rolling left for a short gain on one occasion, and scrambling up the middle for what would have been an estimated 20-yard gain on another.
— Press-Gazette
posted by PackersNews.com at 7:31 PM | 0 Comments


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Kickers boom 50-yarders
In a game situation drill, the Packers ran one play from scrimmage and went into a kicking situation. The three resulting special teams plays included: Dave Rayner converting on a 51-yard field goal, Jon Ryan punting 34 yards and having the ball downed on the 6 yard line, and rookie Mason Crosby converting on a 52-yard field goal.
Ryan proceeded to participate in a live punting drill. Five of his punts had 4.4 seconds of hangtime with bests of 4.62 and 4.59. Five of his punts were under 4.0 seconds of hangtime, with a worst of 2.97. Ryan tended to shank kicks when he was aiming to the left, but when he aimed right or down the middle he got more height and distance on his punts. Ryan is currently the only punter on the active roster after David Lonie was placed on injured reserve earlier this week.
— Press-Gazette
posted by PackersNews.com at 7:25 PM | 0 Comments


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Franks sits out with scratched eye
The only player absent from tonight's practice was tight end Tory Humphrey, who is likely out for the year with a broken ankle. Dressed in shorts and not participating in full-scale drills were tight end Bubba Franks, linebacker Rory Johnson, linebacker Juwan Simpson and running back Vernand Morency.
Franks was scratched in the eye on Tuesday and is suffering the effects of that injury. He may wear a shield on his helmet for protection, pending approval from the NFL, according to Coach Mike McCarthy.
— Tom Pelissero/tpelisse@greenbaypressgazette.com
posted by PackersNews.com at 6:47 PM | 0 Comments

[OKC PackerFan]

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=642054
Thursday camp report
Posted: Aug. 2, 2007
THUMBS UP
James Campen, the new head offensive line coach, has more players playing more positions than any of his predecessors ever did. One of the few constants has been Orrin Thompson, who has worked exclusively at left tackle. On Thursday night, Thompson continued his effectiveness in the 1-on-1 pass protection drill. Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila surprised Thompson with a bull rush on his first exposure and beat him badly. But Thompson came back to blunt hard-charging Jason Hunter on two rushes. Purely by subjective judgment, Thompson has won nine, lost two and had two draws in 13 cracks during the 1-on-1. Against "KGB," he's 2-2. A defensive tackle at Duke, Thompson was converted to offense by Miami in 2005. Remember Steve Morley? He was the Canadian tackle-guard who stuck around in '04. Thompson might not be as athletic as Morley, but he's a better and much tougher player.

THUMBS DOWN
Last year, one scout said of Oklahoma DE Larry Birdine: "Shuts it down when fatigued. Will hit the wall in tough workouts and struggle to finish. Questionable mental toughness. Likes to play on Saturdays." Give that man a raise. On Thursday morning, the rookie free agent barely made it through one of defensive line coach Robert Nunn's taxing individual periods. Then Birdine barely made it off the field before collapsing on all fours only 2 or 3 yards out of bounds during a team period. After several minutes, defensive end coach Carl Hairston inconspicuously came over to Birdine, leaned down and gave him a quick, sharp piece of his mind. Other players were snickering as one of the trainers stretched out Birdine, trying to get him up. A few fans in attendance snapped some pictures, prompting one defensive lineman to say later, "You can't let cameras get you like that." After 5 minutes, Birdine slowly walked the 100 yards or so to the cooling area and sat in the shade for the remainder of practice. Birdine was back practicing at night but he almost needn't have bothered. After that embarrassing episode, his career in Green Bay won't have long to last.

INJURY REPORT
TE Bubba Franks missed Thursday after getting scratched in the eye 48 hours earlier. The Packers would like him to return today with a shield attached to his helmet, but a new rule for '07 stipulates that teams must get permission from the league on medical grounds in order to use the shield.

CB Antonio Malone (knee swelling) dropped out Tuesday night.

Returning to practice were G Allen Barbre (hamstring), FB Brandon Miree (Achilles' tendon) and DT Daniel Muir (ankle).

ODDS AND ENDS
It has been hot in Green Bay, with temperatures near 90 degrees. Yet there hasn't been a single fight, not even a shoving match, in the first nine practices.

Brandon Jackson threw short and incomplete on a halfback option pass, leaving him 1 for 3 this summer.

About 50 members of the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association were on the sidelines Thursday as guests of the team. After chatting with head coach Mike McCarthy, they lunched at the stadium before heading to a golf outing.

Ruvell Martin capped off a big day, beating CB Frank Walker on a post-corner route for a long TD.

Fumbles had been almost non-existent in camp before QB Ingle Martin bobbled a perfect shotgun snap at night.

Brett Favre returned for the night session after missing five practices to attend the funeral of his wife's stepfather. Favre showed off his fresh legs on a pair of scrambles that drew cheers from the crowd.

SCHEDULE TODAY
Practice in pads at 2 p.m.

[woodbuck27]

Last year, one scout said of Oklahoma DE Larry Birdine:

"Shuts it down when fatigued. Will hit the wall in tough workouts and struggle to finish. Questionable mental toughness. Likes to play on Saturdays."

So what's Larry Birdine doing in Green Bay?

To promote floundering business in fast food restraunts?

DAM ! Brett Favre appears very sharp. He throws it and now he runs it. Just let him go. Knock on wood.

How old was Blanda when he hung em?

Nice report on LT Orrin Thompson. We need some real depth on the OL.

I'm very pleased to find out that Ruvell Martin is doing well.

P John Ryan should work on punting to his left. . . next off season. :)

[BallHawk]

On Thursday morning, the rookie free agent barely made it through one of defensive line coach Robert Nunn's taxing individual periods. Then Birdine barely made it off the field before collapsing on all fours only 2 or 3 yards out of bounds during a team period. After several minutes, defensive end coach Carl Hairston inconspicuously came over to Birdine, leaned down and gave him a quick, sharp piece of his mind. Other players were snickering as one of the trainers stretched out Birdine, trying to get him up. A few fans in attendance snapped some pictures, prompting one defensive lineman to say later, "You can't let cameras get you like that." After 5 minutes, Birdine slowly walked the 100 yards or so to the cooling area and sat in the shade for the remainder of practice. Birdine was back practicing at night but he almost needn't have bothered. After that embarrassing episode, his career in Green Bay won't have long to last.

Sounds like the fat kid that everybody had as a kid in PE that collapsed during sprints and whipped out his inhaler.