Bretsky
08-05-2007, 01:31 PM
Saturday camp report
By TOM SILVERSTEIN and BOB MCGINN
tsilverstein@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Aug. 4, 2007
THUMBS UP
With quarterbacks wearing red, the defense had one hand tied behind its back. Scrimmages such as this are set up for the offense to excel. And it did. Here are some players that stood out. Noah Herron followed Brandon Jackson into the fray at running back and made the most of it. It was Herron's cleaving block on a blitz pickup that knocked Nick Barnett from the affair. Without fanfare, Herron has had another solid camp. He is going to be a hard man to run off. Greg Jennings was his silky smooth self. Carlyle Holiday used his big body for a scrimmage-high five receptions. James Jones didn't shrivel up when the lights came on. While Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers were doing the throwing, no one dropped a pass. Shaun Bodiford made a case for himself as the return specialist with a 54-yard kickoff return that was brought back by penalty. Rookie wide receiver David Clowney, who has had a slow first week, flashed his dazzling speed on a 102-yard kickoff return that probably would have been about 30 if Will Blackmon had been allowed to tackle instead of just "thud."
THUMBS DOWN
The knock on cornerback Frank Walker during his four seasons with the New York Giants wasn't his size, speed or athletic ability. That's all good. What he could never do was make enough plays on the ball. It was one of the reasons that coach Tom Coughlin basically refused to play Walker over the final 75% of last season. Packers general manager Ted Thompson took a $150,000 (signing bonus) flyer on Walker in March; it was his only unrestricted free-agent signing. In the scrimmage, Walker was victimized six times for double-digit completions for a total of 118 yards during the time that Favre and Rodgers were doing the throwing. He gave up a comeback for 22, a go route for 33, a bootleg for 20, a crossing route for 21, a slant for 11 and an out for 11. On a night when Blackmon made a move in the right direction, Walker clearly made a move in the wrong direction.
INJURY REPORT
Tight end Zac Alcorn returned. "His feet are a mess," coach Mike McCarthy said. "He gutted it out." Also returning was cornerback Antonio Malone. McCarthy listed four players with injuries from the scrimmage: fullback Brandon Miree (stinger), running back P.J. Pope (knee), linebacker Abdul Hodge (dislocated finger) and safety Atari Bigby (dislocated finger). Sitting out due to injury were tight ends Bubba Franks (eye) and Clark Harris (ankle), running back Vernand Morency (knee) and linebacker Rory Johnson (abdomen).
ODDS AND ENDS
Rookie defensive tackle Justin Harrell worked with the third team and had one tackle and one pass deflection. Other than that, he made no noteworthy plays.
There were two big hits during the scrimmage: Hodge decked Herron as he came to the line of scrimmage on a running play and cornerback Tramon Williams leveled receiver Chris Francies after a short catch, separating him from the ball.
There was only one non-snap-related fumble during the scrimmage. It came when receiver Donald Driver had the ball on his hip after a short reception and Blackmon poked it loose. Driver recovered.
There was only one sack credited to the defense, although there were a number of plays in which the quarterback might not have escaped had he not been wearing the protective red jersey.
The offense ran a very limited amount of its running plays for the scrimmage, although a good portion of the zone scheme was used. The same plays were run over and over again to keep things simple.
Rookie running back Brandon Jackson did not get out of bounds after a 23-yard reception out of the backfield during the 2-minute drill. The offense was forced to take a timeout with less than 30 seconds left.
SCHEDULE
SUNDAY: No practice.
MONDAY: One practice at 2 p.m. The players are scheduled to wear full pads.
By TOM SILVERSTEIN and BOB MCGINN
tsilverstein@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Aug. 4, 2007
THUMBS UP
With quarterbacks wearing red, the defense had one hand tied behind its back. Scrimmages such as this are set up for the offense to excel. And it did. Here are some players that stood out. Noah Herron followed Brandon Jackson into the fray at running back and made the most of it. It was Herron's cleaving block on a blitz pickup that knocked Nick Barnett from the affair. Without fanfare, Herron has had another solid camp. He is going to be a hard man to run off. Greg Jennings was his silky smooth self. Carlyle Holiday used his big body for a scrimmage-high five receptions. James Jones didn't shrivel up when the lights came on. While Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers were doing the throwing, no one dropped a pass. Shaun Bodiford made a case for himself as the return specialist with a 54-yard kickoff return that was brought back by penalty. Rookie wide receiver David Clowney, who has had a slow first week, flashed his dazzling speed on a 102-yard kickoff return that probably would have been about 30 if Will Blackmon had been allowed to tackle instead of just "thud."
THUMBS DOWN
The knock on cornerback Frank Walker during his four seasons with the New York Giants wasn't his size, speed or athletic ability. That's all good. What he could never do was make enough plays on the ball. It was one of the reasons that coach Tom Coughlin basically refused to play Walker over the final 75% of last season. Packers general manager Ted Thompson took a $150,000 (signing bonus) flyer on Walker in March; it was his only unrestricted free-agent signing. In the scrimmage, Walker was victimized six times for double-digit completions for a total of 118 yards during the time that Favre and Rodgers were doing the throwing. He gave up a comeback for 22, a go route for 33, a bootleg for 20, a crossing route for 21, a slant for 11 and an out for 11. On a night when Blackmon made a move in the right direction, Walker clearly made a move in the wrong direction.
INJURY REPORT
Tight end Zac Alcorn returned. "His feet are a mess," coach Mike McCarthy said. "He gutted it out." Also returning was cornerback Antonio Malone. McCarthy listed four players with injuries from the scrimmage: fullback Brandon Miree (stinger), running back P.J. Pope (knee), linebacker Abdul Hodge (dislocated finger) and safety Atari Bigby (dislocated finger). Sitting out due to injury were tight ends Bubba Franks (eye) and Clark Harris (ankle), running back Vernand Morency (knee) and linebacker Rory Johnson (abdomen).
ODDS AND ENDS
Rookie defensive tackle Justin Harrell worked with the third team and had one tackle and one pass deflection. Other than that, he made no noteworthy plays.
There were two big hits during the scrimmage: Hodge decked Herron as he came to the line of scrimmage on a running play and cornerback Tramon Williams leveled receiver Chris Francies after a short catch, separating him from the ball.
There was only one non-snap-related fumble during the scrimmage. It came when receiver Donald Driver had the ball on his hip after a short reception and Blackmon poked it loose. Driver recovered.
There was only one sack credited to the defense, although there were a number of plays in which the quarterback might not have escaped had he not been wearing the protective red jersey.
The offense ran a very limited amount of its running plays for the scrimmage, although a good portion of the zone scheme was used. The same plays were run over and over again to keep things simple.
Rookie running back Brandon Jackson did not get out of bounds after a 23-yard reception out of the backfield during the 2-minute drill. The offense was forced to take a timeout with less than 30 seconds left.
SCHEDULE
SUNDAY: No practice.
MONDAY: One practice at 2 p.m. The players are scheduled to wear full pads.