Partial
08-14-2007, 11:54 PM
JSO Article by Big Bobby Mcginn (http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=647445)
THUMBS UP
If the Packers hadn't drafted Justin Harrell in the first round and returned four capable defensive tackles, rookie Daniel Muir would have been attracting a lot more attention.
uir, a free agent from Kent State, received a hefty $15,000 signing bonus after running 40 yards in 4.9 seconds in March and bench-pressing 225 pounds 37 times. In camp, Muir has gotten better and better. Against the run, he's hard to move. Against the pass, he has proved to be more than a typical slug. Whereas Harrell is almost exclusively a bull rusher, Muir flashes quickness, a spin move and a bull rush. In the last two days, Muir has won six of nine turns in the one-on-one drill. Without compromising the integrity of the defense, he has a knack for getting to the edge of blockers and applying pressure. A four-year starter for the Golden Flashes, he was fast enough to play end in '06. One could make the argument that Muir has performed as well if not better than Harrell in the first 2½ weeks of camp. Muir might have had a case of the jitters in Pittsburgh and didn't play as well as he was practicing. But with a better showing in the next few games, it's possible that he could displace one of the veterans and make the team.
THUMBS DOWN
Patrick Dendy, who replaced Ahmad Carroll as nickel back for the final 12 games, has been at left cornerback in the nickel defense since camp began and is scheduled to be there Saturday night against Seattle. The coaches like Dendy because of his conscientious approach, knowledge of the defense and understated approach. But cornerback also is one of the most competitive positions on the roster. Dendy is being challenged by four players, all of whom probably run faster than him, and he's been beat deep more than any of the top seven cornerbacks. The Steelers' Nate Washington appeared to grab a 38-yard bomb behind him but officials later ruled no catch. On Tuesday night, Shaun Bodiford torched Dendy deep, but a waffleball from Ingle Martin enabled Dendy to break it up. Dendy proved to be adequate in the role a year ago, but he could end up without a job come Sept. 2.
INJURY REPORT
TE Donald Lee made it through the morning practice with a stiff back but was unable to finish at night and left for treatment.
G-C Tony Palmer (hamstring) and T Orrin Thompson (knee) sat out both practices.
CB Al Harris left in the morning when his back condition flared up but returned for the night session.
ODDS AND ENDS
Coach Mike McCarthy said he was committed to starting Brett Favre against Seattle and Jacksonville. Favre's performance in those two games will determine how much, if at all, he is used at Tennessee, according to McCarthy. The plan is for Favre to play 25 to 30 snaps against the Seahawks.
Ryan Pickett's wife gave birth to a boy Friday night. Pickett caught a flight to Pittsburgh Saturday morning and didn't arrive at the hotel until 12:30 p.m. It was Pickett's bull rush on the third play of the game that prevented Ben Roethlisberger from stepping up on the first of Cullen Jenkins' two sacks.
Bubba Franks made one of his few catches in the deep middle, adjusting nicely to a throw from Favre for about 25 yards. The Packers charged Franks with a drop in the second quarter Saturday night on a 15-yard pass from Aaron Rodgers. It appeared as if Franks, who suffered a scratched cornea July 31, didn't see the ball until far too late.
McCarthy devoted almost all of the team portion of the night practice to schemes employed by the Seahawks. He was in good spirits after an efficient practice ended at 9 p.m., 16 minutes ahead of schedule.
Dave Rayner and Mason Crosby each was perfect on seven field-goal attempts.
In virtually a fight-free camp, a pair of brief skirmishes broke out at night. DE Jason Hunter pushed G Jason Spitz and C Tyson Walter. Then, DT Johnny Jolly got into it with G Allen Barbre.
SCHEDULE WEDNESDAY
No practice. The last day of camp with two practices will be Thursday (8:45 a.m., 6:30 p.m.).
THUMBS UP
If the Packers hadn't drafted Justin Harrell in the first round and returned four capable defensive tackles, rookie Daniel Muir would have been attracting a lot more attention.
uir, a free agent from Kent State, received a hefty $15,000 signing bonus after running 40 yards in 4.9 seconds in March and bench-pressing 225 pounds 37 times. In camp, Muir has gotten better and better. Against the run, he's hard to move. Against the pass, he has proved to be more than a typical slug. Whereas Harrell is almost exclusively a bull rusher, Muir flashes quickness, a spin move and a bull rush. In the last two days, Muir has won six of nine turns in the one-on-one drill. Without compromising the integrity of the defense, he has a knack for getting to the edge of blockers and applying pressure. A four-year starter for the Golden Flashes, he was fast enough to play end in '06. One could make the argument that Muir has performed as well if not better than Harrell in the first 2½ weeks of camp. Muir might have had a case of the jitters in Pittsburgh and didn't play as well as he was practicing. But with a better showing in the next few games, it's possible that he could displace one of the veterans and make the team.
THUMBS DOWN
Patrick Dendy, who replaced Ahmad Carroll as nickel back for the final 12 games, has been at left cornerback in the nickel defense since camp began and is scheduled to be there Saturday night against Seattle. The coaches like Dendy because of his conscientious approach, knowledge of the defense and understated approach. But cornerback also is one of the most competitive positions on the roster. Dendy is being challenged by four players, all of whom probably run faster than him, and he's been beat deep more than any of the top seven cornerbacks. The Steelers' Nate Washington appeared to grab a 38-yard bomb behind him but officials later ruled no catch. On Tuesday night, Shaun Bodiford torched Dendy deep, but a waffleball from Ingle Martin enabled Dendy to break it up. Dendy proved to be adequate in the role a year ago, but he could end up without a job come Sept. 2.
INJURY REPORT
TE Donald Lee made it through the morning practice with a stiff back but was unable to finish at night and left for treatment.
G-C Tony Palmer (hamstring) and T Orrin Thompson (knee) sat out both practices.
CB Al Harris left in the morning when his back condition flared up but returned for the night session.
ODDS AND ENDS
Coach Mike McCarthy said he was committed to starting Brett Favre against Seattle and Jacksonville. Favre's performance in those two games will determine how much, if at all, he is used at Tennessee, according to McCarthy. The plan is for Favre to play 25 to 30 snaps against the Seahawks.
Ryan Pickett's wife gave birth to a boy Friday night. Pickett caught a flight to Pittsburgh Saturday morning and didn't arrive at the hotel until 12:30 p.m. It was Pickett's bull rush on the third play of the game that prevented Ben Roethlisberger from stepping up on the first of Cullen Jenkins' two sacks.
Bubba Franks made one of his few catches in the deep middle, adjusting nicely to a throw from Favre for about 25 yards. The Packers charged Franks with a drop in the second quarter Saturday night on a 15-yard pass from Aaron Rodgers. It appeared as if Franks, who suffered a scratched cornea July 31, didn't see the ball until far too late.
McCarthy devoted almost all of the team portion of the night practice to schemes employed by the Seahawks. He was in good spirits after an efficient practice ended at 9 p.m., 16 minutes ahead of schedule.
Dave Rayner and Mason Crosby each was perfect on seven field-goal attempts.
In virtually a fight-free camp, a pair of brief skirmishes broke out at night. DE Jason Hunter pushed G Jason Spitz and C Tyson Walter. Then, DT Johnny Jolly got into it with G Allen Barbre.
SCHEDULE WEDNESDAY
No practice. The last day of camp with two practices will be Thursday (8:45 a.m., 6:30 p.m.).